Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 7

StateNation Saturday, January 4, 2003 Page 7 Family continues to wait By RON WORD J89 Writer 3K Tia radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front chimed responsibility for a fire that destroyed four vehicles at an auto dealership in northwestern Pennsylvania this week. (AP photo) I Environmental group claims responsibility for vehicle fires Shelton Chappell, of Jacksonville, dosed his eyes in Brunswick, Go. in silent prayer as he touched the name of his mother, Johnnie Mae Chappell, on a stained glass window honoring martyrs of the Civil Rights movement. (AP photo) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A photograph of his mother's body in the morgue is a constant reminder for Shelton Chappell of her shooting death in 1964 during a period of racial unrest.

The photo, published in Jet magazine, Is the only picture Chappell has of Johnnie Mae ChappelL who was gunned down March 23, 1964, while race riots rocked this Southern city. A jury found the killing of the black woman by a carload of white men was accidental The shooter was convicted on a reduced charge of manslaughter. Three other suspects in the car were never tried. But the dogged persistence of former sheriff's detective Lee Cody is bringing the case back to life. Cody, who had helped crack the case after it had gone unsolved for months, showed up at a Chappell family reunion sue years ago, alleging there had been a police cover-up, that the initial investigation was shoddy and that evidence including the gun used in the killing had disappeared from police custody.

"We didn't know it was a cover-up," said Shelton Choppell, who was four months old when his mother was killed. Cody sent a letter to President Bush, who in turn asked the Justice Department'to review the killing and the police investigation that In addition, a civil rights lawsuit filed by ChappeU's nine surviving children has been revived. Filed two years ago, the lawsuit demanded accountability from the four men implicated in the shooting and Sheriff's Office for their mother's death None of the four men J.W. Richf Wayne Chessman, James Alex, Davis and Elmer Kato hired a lawyer to contest the lawsuit, but three of them wrote out their responses and filed them with the court. "There was not a conspiracy," wrote.

Rich. Chessman and Kato denied any wrongdoing. U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger, who said the four-year statute of limitations had run out, dismissed the lawsuit last December.

Now on appeal with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, it is scheduled to be heard this month. "It's a deep dark nasty story," said Cody, 72. Mrs. Chappell, the mother of five boys and five girls, cleaned houses for wealthy white people.

Her husband, Willie, worked two jobso help put food on the table. The 35-year-old woman was walking along a Jacksonville road looking for her wallet, wliich had apparently fallen out of a grocery bag when she crossed-paths with four young white menwhd were out cruising in a blue Plymouth. "All she was trying to do was to raise her children and have a normal life," said Shelton Chappell. From the beginning, the shooting death of a poor black housekeeper was not a high priority among Duval County deputies. After the initial investigation, no further action was taken for almost five months.

But on Aug. 10, 1964, Cody and his partner, Donald R. Coleman, who were investigating an unrelated crime, were approached by a young- man who said he knew something about Mrs, ChappeU's death. Under questioning, he acknowledged his and implicated his three friends. They were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

A grand jury indictment SepL 25, 1964, charged Rich, Chessman, Davis and Kato with the killing. Rich was charged with firing the weapon that killed Mrs. ChappelL The other three were charged with "aiding and abetting." After a one-day trial on Dec. 2, 1964, an all-white jury found Rich guilty of manslaughter. Neither the gun nor any other evidence was presented to the jury.

Rich was paroled after serving three years of a 10-year sentence. said. "I have no reason to doubt that it's an individual who committed the acts on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front," said Rudge, who is based in Eric, about 10 miles from Girard. The posting said the attack targeted SlJVs and that it was done as part of a fight "to remove the profit motive from the killing of the natural environment." The ELF Web site told The Associated Press in an e-mail that the communique came in anonymously, as do all reports of attacks. The site is operated by an organization calling itself the ELF Press Office, which says it does not represent the ELF and serves only as a media conduit for the group.

The ELF is loosely organized. Anyone who carries out an action under the group's guidelines and claims responsibility as part of the organization is considered a member. Rudge said the posting appeared to be authentic because it included in California town in spotlight again after woman disappears By TODD SPANGLER Associated Press Writer PITTSBURGH A radical environmental group claimed responsibility for a fire that destroyed four vehicles at an auto dealership in northwestern Pennsylvania this week, continuing a string of fires in the region set in the name of the organization over the past year. t. A posting on the Earth Liberation Front's Web site Friday morning said an "attack" was carried out on several vehicles at Bob Ferrando Ford Lincoln Mercury in Girard, about 110 miles north of Pittsburgh, early Wednesday morning.

Two pickup trucks, one sport utility vehicle and a car were destroyed. Jugs of gasoline under three vehicles were set ablaze, FBI Special Agent Bob Rudge said. Three other vehicles that had jugs of gasoline -under them failed to light, although car parked nearby did bum, Rudge Kidney donor responds to ad in paper MADISON; Wis: (AP) A 5-year-old received a kidney Friday from a donor who answered a newspaper ad placed by the girl's mother. Angela Rusliford and the donor were in stable condition Friday at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, a hospital spokeswoman said. Doctors expect the two to remain hospitalized for a week to 10 days.

"I owe David Harper a lot," Angela's father, Tony Rushford, said shortly after the surgery. "When I was a kid, my hero was Spider-Man. Now ifs David Angela has polycystic renal failure, a condition doctors say is usually seen in older people. Harper, 38, of Mount Morris, HI, responded to an ad her mother placed in the Rock River Times. The ad offered money, but Harper declined.

"In the beginning I wasn't set on doing it," Harper said before the surgery. "Nothing could change my mind now." He said his faith prompted him to help: Tm just trying to relate what Christ would da" formation that hadn't been made public. The fire was the latest in a series of blazes set in the name of protecting the environment. Lastmonth, theELF'sWebsitesaid anonymous cells from the group and from' the Animal Liberation Front set a Nov. 26 fire at an Erie mink farm, claiming the facility was responsible for the deaths of thousands of animals.

The fire destroyed a barn, but no animals or people were harmed. The group also previously claimed responsibility for an Aug. 1 1 fire at an unoccupied forest research station near Warren and the torching in March of a construction crane at a bridge work site in Erie, Rudge said. An investigation into the car dealership fire was continuing and a $10,000 reward is available for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who set the fire orwas responsible for the other incidents, Rudge said. nearby foothills.

Last year, a jury convicted motel handyman Cary Stayner and gave him a death sentence Tliis time, the 186,000 residents hope things will turn out differently even though police scouring neighborhoods, creeks and irrigation canals for Peterson have so far come up empty. Volunteers have been undaunted. For 10 days, they have taken over a suite at the Red Lion Hotel, coordinating distribution of thousands of fliers and receiving supportive e-maiis from across the nation. "The more exposure they get the more chances mere is she'll come home safe," said Dave Montgomery, a Fdlsom resident who drove nearly 90 miles to pick up fliers to post in suburban Sacramento. Kevin Jaeger, of Oklahoma City, also drove from Sacramento for fliers to pass out in various towns along Interstate 40 as he flew his airplane around the area over the weekend.

"They haven't found out- what actually happened to her," he said. "This way it gets out on the road." While many believe Peterson may still be missing, police are looking into the potential alleged role of her 30-year-old husband, Scott, in her It'sTIiyieto Look ArlEAd At the beginning of the new year, we would like to express our gratitude for all of your toyal support over the past year, w. hope that your new year will be filled with joy, and that a feeling of goodwill lasts all year long. Happy New Year! disappearance. He has not been declared a suspect, nor has he been ruled out Police said Scott Peterson has cooperated "to some degree," but declined to confirm whether he has an attorney.

Family members vigorously defend Peterson, a San Diego native who met his wife at California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo and married her five years ago. Both majored in agriculture. After reporters' bruising questions to police this week about Peterson, Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, said, "We feet Scott has nothing to do with it" Joan Pernicano of San Diego, a longtime friend of Peterson's family, said, "It breaks my heart to see what he's going through right now. I know Scott. There's no way-Peterson said he last saw his wife about 9:30 a.m.

Dec. 24. He told police she planned to take their dog, McKenzie, for a walk at nearby East La Loma Park. Peterson said he left that morning to fish in San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve, launching his small boat from the Berkeley Marina. Peterson reported has wife missing when he returned to Modesto that evening.

inson- 36 North Seventh Street: Malaria. Richard T. WolfesJr. OwnerSupervisor (724)349-9700 SELECTED Bradley L. Adamson mg Richard T.

Wolfe, Jr. Funeral Director Timiln'Tr 1.1 1 OwnerSupervisor By JIM WASSERMAN Associated Press Writer MODESTO, Calif. The yellow ribbons. The news trucks. The fears for the worst Chandra Levy's hometown has been through it all before.

With the disappearance of Lact Peterson eight months pregnant and gone since Christmas Eve this Central California town is once again at the center of a missing person case that has captured' the attention of the nation. In May 2001, the 24-year-old Levy, disappeared in Washington, D.C., triggering speculation about her relationship with Democratic Rep. Gary Condit and his possible role in her disappearance. One year later. Levy's body was found in a Washington D.C park, but police have made no arrests.

Condit lost a bid for re-election last year. Modesto also served as command center in the February 1999 disappearance of three women who vanished whUe visiting Yosemite National Park. Five weeks later, authorities found Carole Sund, 43, her daughter, Juli, 15, and Argentina exchange.student Silvina Pelosso, 16, murdered in The 16 year-old, who now lives in a foster home, testified his lunch money was withheld, he was forced to sleep outside, and was awakened with dousings of cold water, among other allegations. The couple claimed they had tried to prevent their son from stealing and lying. mmW Classes Start The Week Of January 5th FOR MORE INFORMATION Pair to face retrial You want exerciser? Daily life can put a strain on your health.

But a Indiana Gazette newspaper route can put you back on the right track, providing a great cardiovascular workout, stress relief and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Call today. Get what you want. Get a route. jf NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.

(AP) A Jsheriff 's sergeant and an elementary (school principal will be retried for Uhe alleged "tough love" abuse of 3helr son, prosecutors said. Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Machnick and his wife, Debo-jrah, had expected the misdemeanor 'charge to be dropped and were disappointed by the decision Friday, (their attorney John Bamett said, A jury last month acquitted the tYorba Linda couple of a felony conspiracy charge hut split on a misdemeanor child abuse charge that carries a six-month jail sentence. The Machnicks, both 46, were ac-'cused of abusing their son between 997 and 2001. Grady Machnick had worked at a 'Jxs Angeles County jail.

His wife had Iworked in the Walnut Valley Unified School District. Om fip 4m immrf WQ1 mmj ad cfcnta. tm MM -WMMt Cm" mm mam rfurty X-arau Uiiwl mmm W-T Wm cm aacfcafinf. Mta. aai GnM PlUa lihi Ma mm 42).

Haas tfefMy Mar hh Ma Call the Indiana Gazette Circulation Department Today Vv CALL YMCA 724-463-9622.