The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 2

2-BJ Saturday, Dec. 6, 1980 Philadelphia Inquirer METROPOLITAN- The Scene Prosecutor in Brinkley trial urges Ist-degree verdict in Ross slaying In Philadelphia and its suburbs saying that another man, Mark Cour-vertier, may have committed the March 14, 1979, rape, strangulation and bludgeoning of Ms. Ross, 32, an Arco assistant manager. Courvertier, a prison inmate, had confessed to the crime before Brink-ley's arrest. He testified that he had given a false confession in hopes of collecting the reward and making a deal to get out of jail, and to get even with three other men he said he implicated for personal reasons.

Ms. Ross was killed in her town-house on Lombard Street in Society Hill. Her body was found the next day in an empty lot in Deptford Township, N.J. Dugan said Ms. Hill's testimony itself was enough to convict Brinkley because it was corroborated by statements of admission that police said the defendant gave them after his arrest on Sept.

10, 1979. In a methodical review of all the evidence, the prosecutor noted that homicide detectives had found Cana noted that Brinkley, who did not testify, mentioned that the victim had a remote-control garage-opening device in her car, which Courvertier did not mention. James said Courvertier was an "unmitigated liar." Noting that Courvertier had accurately described much of the furnishings and layout of the victim's house in his confession, James said the descriptions proved Courvertier must have been in the house. During the trial, Courvertier said he had based his statements to police on accounts of the murder he read in newspapers. Brinkley was convicted earlier this year of the slayings of two other women: his girlfriend's sister, Sheila Hill, 15, and insurance company employee Kathryn Johns, 27.

He is awaiting trial in Pittsburgh in the murder last year of college student Monica Jones, who attended the University of Pittsburgh, where Brinkley's girlfriend once attended. dian and Brazilian currency in Brinkley's wallet after the murder. He said Ms. Ross had obtained the currency during vacation trips. Dugan said it would be too much of a coincidence for Brinkley, a construction worker, to have made trips to the same countries and have the same currency in his wallet.

Ms. Ross' "life experiences (her travels) take you to her killer," Dugan said, pointing to Brinkley. Comparing the murder confessions by Brinkley and Courvertier, Dugan said Brinkley's was far more "accurate" than Courvertier's. (Murder charges against Courvertier were dropped after Brinkley's arrest.) Dugan said Courvertier told police Ms. Ross had a Firebird automobile with "mag" wheels, when she actually had a six-year-old economy car without mag wheels In his confession, which he refused to sign, Brinkley said he put the victim's body in the trunk of her car and drove it to New Jersey.

Dugan I i By Michael A. Hobbs Inquirer Slatt Writer Assistant District Attorney Gerald Dugan yesterday for a first-degree murder verdict against Sidney Brinkley, telling jurors at Brink-ley's murder trial that they could decide the case solely on the testimony of the defendant's girlfriend, Es-telle Hill. Ms. Hill testified for the prosecution that Brinkley, 21, had jokingly told her before his arrest in the murder of Arco executive Nancy Ross that she could collect a $25,000 reward offered by Arco because he had committed the crime. She added that after Brinkley's arrest, he told her he had confessed to police.

Both Dugan and defense lawyer Arthur H. James made their closing arguments in the case yesterday. The Common Pleas Court jury will begin its deliberations today after being charged by Judge Robert A. Latrone. In his closing argument, James urged the jury to acquit his client, 8 arrested in Montco drug raids By David Harris Special to The Inquirer Two Philadelphia men and six Montgomery Lountv residents have been arrested as the result of an "intensive" six-month police under-coverinvestigation of drug trafficking, Montgomery County District AttorneV JoseDh A.

Smvth Jr. said vesterdav. The arrests, which began last Friday and concluded Thursday night, are part of what Smyth called a "county-wide police crackdown on drugs" that is being coordinated by his office. He said that small quantities of LSD, methamphetamine (speed), hashish, marijuana and methaqualone were confiscated. On Thursday night, Conshohocken Borough police and volunteer firefighters using power boats and searchlights recovered 150 methaqualone tablets allegedly thrown into the Schuylkill as the two Philadelphia men surrendered.

Smyth said that Mike Baker, 41, of City Avenue, and Joseph Brown, 20, of Reed Street, were apprehended on the Fayette Street bridge after a high speed cnase mrougn umsnohocken. The two were charged with possession with intent to deliver illegal drugs and criminal conspiracy, smvth cniH VS111J 111 JUIU, The others arrested were Sandy Kim, 30, and John Hennessey, 34, nom oi west Lonshohocken; Henry Noble, 30, Angeline Maresca, 56, and Shirl Koniewicz, 18, all of Conshohocken, and a juvenile. They were charged with possession of illegal drugs, Smyth said. He said six more arrests are expected next week. Associated Press CHIM-CHMINEY, CHIM-CHIM1NEY chim-chim cheree, the life of a chimney sweep is not what it used to be.

Actually, the basic demands of the job havent changed much since the time of "Mary Poppins." But top hats and morning coats seem to be making a comeback in 1980. At least that's the look adopted by Joe Emanuel, who was photographed at work in Indiana, Pa. College, A hot time in the old town last night Time was running out, and the editors of the Temple University News were getting nervous. Here it was, almost the end of the semester, and there hadn't been one good catastrophe to use as the theme of the last-paper-of-the-term party. In semesters past, the students had celebrated the end of an arduous publishing By CLARK DeLEON scneauie by celebrating Hurricane David, the Jonestown Massacre, the Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown Bash, the Skylab Falling Festival, the Iranian Hostage party, and last spring's Angelo Bruno Requiem.

Those are tough acts to follow, and the fall semester of 1980 wasn't being cooperative. But just as sure as disaster and Associated Press THE MAKER ALSO LOOKS: Janice Peroni, 23, have on display at Provident National Bank, of Richland, N.J., takes a look at some of the Broad and Chestnut Streets. The exhibit by paintings she and other handicapped artists more than 75 artists opened Thursday. TV appeal for black schools bad taste are inevitable, something happened to save the semester. That's why the student journalists at Temple celebrated last night with an MGM Grand Hotel party.

Music played at the party included, "Light My Fire" and "Disco Inferno." Asked about the party, a Temple News staffer said, "After a hard semester, the staff is burned out and ready to let off steam." And that brings to mind the observation of the paper's former business manager, Mike Hagen, who said before one of the other parties, "When you go tasteless, you go all the way," Auctions, 'Me mountain climber, you Sherpa' The Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club is holding a fund-raising auction at the Academy of Natural Sciences on Wednesday evening and, as you can imagine, the items up for bids are just chock-full of outdoorsy things. You'll be able to bid on a sleeping bag, an ecological landscaping consultation and a Sherpa service for the weekend (You don't have to go to the Himalayas for that; there are local Sherpa guides). Also up for bids are chair-caning instruction, a mime performance, a letter from Isaac Asimov and an autographed photo of Ted Kennedy. People. Some words for a very special person Yesterday was Eleanor Gaynon's last working day at The Inquirer.

It was probably like any other day during the 43 years she worked here. Inevitably she leaped from her desk with such vigor that it startled those one-third her age. She would spring to her files that contained the secrets of the universe, or at least the secrets of solving the thousands of problems she has tackled in her years as the chief researcher for Action- Line. Her last day, no doubt, resembled her first in 1937 when she was a newly minted graduate of Rosemont College, she is that fresh and enthusiastic today. Is it possible that someone who has never said an unkind word about another human being truly exists? Is it possible, if such a person does exist, that she isn't insufferably pious or boring beyond belief? Yes, it's possible, and her name is Ellie Gaynon.

To know Ellie Gaynon is to love her. I know I do. I had the special privilege of working with her daily for almost a year. I witnessed her spunk and polish and irrepressible good humor. I learned that it is possible to live a life full of burdens without having that rare human sparkle tarnished by care and cynicism.

There are so many words of appreciation that could be written about Ellie, but knowing her, she's already embarrassed by this little tribute. When people retire after 43 years of service, they usually receive the hearty thanks of the company. But I think I can speak for those of us who were graced by the presence of a person like her in the type of world we live in: "Thanks, Ellie, we needed that." With song, he seeks the program, "The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars," will be seen on Channel 17 tonight at 8. Although UNCF, a primary source of income for the nation's 41 predominantly black private colleges, will not move from its traditional funding sources, the television show has "opened doors to a new kind of donor the college fund has never reached before," Melvin Shaw, the fund's director for national special promotions, said in a recent telephone interview. air time long.

The other is to rent "studio time" at one of about 10 recording studios in the area. This covers only studio facilities and does not include fees for musicians, whether a single pianist or a group, either instrumental or vocal. You either find your own musical back-up or the studio will provide it. Either way, the cost goes up. What keeps Len Stark, checker of produce for more than 40 years, moving in pursuit of the brass ring in the record business? "Hope" he said.

"The hope that you get that one big break." Brief By Charles B. Fancher Jr. Inquirer Stall Writer In a departure from traditional fund-raising techniques for educational institutions, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF.) has taken its appeal directly to a mass audience instead of concentrating on corporate givers and wealthy philanthropists. It has done so by producing a three-hour live and videotaped variety show that will be seen in 48 cities by the end of the year. In Philadelphia, Stark got into the recording field for the same reason that many would-be authors go to "vanity" publishers and pay to have books published.

"But then," he said, "I got smart. I made up my own label, which helped me control the costs somewhat. Even so, it isn't an inexpensive venture." For the musical tyro in the Philadelphia area, there are two ways to make a record and have it released. One is to convince a record producer (there are only three in Philadelphia) to take on a song and the odds against that happening are Metro News in According to Christopher F. Edley, executive director of UNCF, the decision to use the traveling video road show came after the college fund experimented successfully with smaller-scale television programs in three Southern states, where most of UNCF's schools are located.

He said that the "state of the art of direct-mail appeals is not what it should be, so we thought we should learn the telethon business." The technioue. which Shaw esti. mated will gross about $5 million this year, has also been introduced at a time when the heads of many institutions of higher education fear that the incoming Reagan administration will sharply reduce funds for education. Major personalities appearing on tonight's telecast include Lou Rawls, Ed McMahon, Muhammad Ali, Lola Falana, Bill Cosby, Paul Williams and Charley Pride. Their performances were taped in Las Vegas last fall, and they have been edited for use in the program, which will also include live appearances by local personalities.

Pledges totaling more than $2 million have already been raised in the 25 cities where the program has been broadcast this year. Shaw said the college fund expected to raise be-tween $650,000 and $700,000 in Philadelphia. ing of the tax would cost Atlantic City more than $1.4 million a year. "Now we want to give people a chance to think about what we're going to do next." No leads in shooting death of Pennsauken restaurateur Investigators said yesterday they had no suspect or motive in the early morning shooting death of a Pennsauken, N.J., restaurant owner. The body of Michael J.

Botte 30, owner of the Shenanigans restaurant on Route 73, was found yesterday at 2 a.m. in the first-floor apartment of Michael Swift, of the Village of Ston-ey Run. in Maple Shade, N.J. Botte had been shot in the chest, abdomen and head, the Burlington County medical examiner said. Swift, 29, a laborer, said he found Botte's body in his living room and notified police.

West Cape May firefighters choose bingo over parade Volunteer firefighters in West Cape May say they will not march in tonight's annual Christmas Parade because it conflicts with their weekly bingo game. SONG, from 1-B a copy of the record," he said. "So far, zilch." Stark, who has written lyrics for close to 500 songs since he started putting words together as an avocation in 1952, recorded "American Message" on Nov. 9 and released it under his own label (Melrofl Records), which he established in 1961. To date, he has released 25 single records and one album and figures he is "about S2S.000 in the red." Thus far, he has spent "easily $1,500" on "American Message" and has yet to realize "one thin dime." New Jersey and 'Delaware Day' celebration planned in Dover tomorrow Delaware residents were expected to converge on the Old State House in Dover tomorrow to celebrate the 193d anniversary of the state's ratification of the U.S.

Constitution. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on Dec. 7, 1787. The celebration, known as Delaware Day, is sponsored by the state Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. Scheduled activities include a candlelight musical program at 7:30 p.m.

by Tayler Vrooman, a balladeer at the restored taverns in Williamsburg, Va. VA awards first contract for hospital in Camden The Veterans Administration announced in Washington yesterday that it awarded a $1,329,900 contract to a firm in Westville, Gloucester County, to provide preliminary construction plans for the proposed Veterans Administration hospital in Camden. The firm of Francis G. Viletta Associates is the first company to be awarded funds leading toward completion of the 120-bed facility. The hospital is expected to be in operation by March 1986 and will be affilat- ed be to rejected a defense request to lower Gates' bail, which had been set at $100,000 cash.

No trial date was set for Gates, who was returned to Montgomery County Prison in Norristown, Camden man found shot in head suspect sought Camden police are seeking a suspect in the shooting yesterday of Lee McBride, 30, of the 500 block of North 30th Street. McBride was found shot in the head at about 2:30 a.m. on the sidewalk at the corner of Lewis and Liberty Streets in South Camden. He was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and remained in critical condition last night, police said. Wanamakers spokesman! Strike not hurting store A John Wanamaker spokesman said yesterday that a strike by nine maintenance workers at its Center City store was having only a "minimal" impact on operations during the Christmas season, even though several other unions were honoring the picket line of Teamsters Local 115.

The parade kicks off at 7 p.m. The firefighter's weekly bingo game, their primary source of revenue, begins at 8 p.m. Driver dead, passenger hurt in Hammonton, N. crash A Hammonton, N.J., motorist died yesterday of injuries he sustained when his car smashed into two trees and a house on North Third Street, police said. Wayne Beebe, 21, died at 1:30 a.m.

yesterday at Kessler Memorial Hospital. A passenger in the car, Richard Kaiser, 24, of Hammonton, remains in intensive care at the hospital. Man ordered held for trial in Whitemarsh break-in A Philadelphia man who allegedly held seven people at gunpoint for 90 minutes at a Whitemarsh Township estate last Saturday was held for trial after a preliminary hearing yesterday. Richard L. Gates 28, of the 7000 block of Forrest Avenue in West Oak Lane, was ordered held on charges of robbery, burglary, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and various firearms violations.

District Justice James T. Speers, of Lafayette Hill, with the Medical and Dental Hospital of New Jersey and the Cooper Medical Center" in Camden. This contract award is the first to appropriated from $75 million Congress set aside for the construction of the new hospital. Man found shot to death in empty lot in Camden A Philadelphia man was found shot death in Camden early yesterday morning by police officers on routine patrol, authorities said. Dennis Wixted, assistant Camden County prosecutor, said the dead man was tentatively identified as Miguel Diaz, 30.

He was found with nine gunshot wounds in the head, neck and body in a vacant lot in the 700 block of North Erie Street at about 3:45 a.m. An autoposy said that death had been caused by the gunshot wounds. Authorities have no suspects or motive, and an investigation is continuing, Wixted said. J. starts ordered cleanup of leaking chemical site The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun a court-ordered cleanup of I a chemical warehouse believed to be contaminating the Raritan River with toxic pesticides.

DEP officials Thursday began ing test wells to determine the extent of the contamination at Blue Spruce International in Bound Brook, Somerset County, said Bruce Schwartz, deputy chief of the DEP's enforcement bureau. The pesticides could be endangering fish and shellfish and affecting company employees. The company was prohibited by a Nov. 26 court order from "handling, manufacturing, mixing, formulating or packaging hazardous substances" at the facility. Atlantic City fines buses $500 to protest voiding of tax City inspectors yesterday slapped $500 parking fines on more than a dozen charter buses, including buses going to casinos, in retaliation for a judge's decision striking down Atlantic City's bus tax.

Revenue and Finance Commissioner Michael J. Matthews said that the ticketing continued for nearly 18 hours, until Superior Court Judge Robert Steedle issued an order late yesterday afternoon halting the issuance of further tickets. "I think we proved our point," said Matthews, who claimed that the void-.