The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 8

A-8 Saturday, March 17, 1990THE COURIER-NEWS FROM THE FRONT PAGE Lawmaker says writer, a convicted bank robber, spied for Israel newspapers said. The main demonstration will be today outside the British Embassy in downtown Baghdad, the papers said. The ruling Baath Party called on its hundreds of thousands of members to participate. "This poisoned campaign against Iraq cannot bide the dirtiest type of politicial hypocrisy to undermine Iraq's lawful and sound decision to hang Bazoft," the Baath newspaper Al-Thawra said. Condemnation was universal in the Iraqi press, with one newspaper claiming Britain was an ally of Iran during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war so that it could regain sovereignty over the region.

Bazoft, a stateless Iranian, worked as a freelance reporter for the weekly Observer newspaper and traveled on British papers. He said at his trial that his televised admission of spying was made under duress. He told a British diplomat shortly before his execution that he was just a journalist in search of a scoop when he went to the Al-Iskandaria military complex south of Baghdad in September to check reports of an explosion. Conservative Party lawmaker Rupert Allason, who writes on espionage, said it was "highly likely" Bazoft was a spy for Israel but "highly unlikely" he was working for British intelligence, in view of his criminal record. "I think that Bazoft knew that the moment his criminal conviction became known to The Observer he would have been out on his ear.

He probably capitalized on the time he was there and his background by offering himself to the Israelis," he said. Allason also claimed to reporters that Bazoft "offered himself four times to the British police in recent months as an informer." Scotland Yard made no comment. Observer editor Donald Trelford said: "If Mr. Allason has a single scrap of evidence that Farzad spied for anyone, let him produce it. If not, he should keep his fevered speculation for his books." LONDON (AP) Britain said yesterday its outrage at Iraq's hanging of a London-based journalist was not diminished by news of his robbery conviction, but some lawmakers said it raises questions about his background and whether he was a spy.

"The questions of any incidents in the past are irrelevant to the charges he faced in Iraq," said a Foreign Office spokesman. "Our dismay at the execution has been made quite clear by the government and remains unchanged." Iraqi president Saddam Hussein ignored international appeals for clemency and ordered 31-year-old Farzad Bazoft hanged Thursday for spying for Britain and Israel. Britain recalled its ambassador to Iraq, ordered all six Iraqi military trainees out of Britain, and canceled ministerial visits. It did not break diplomatic relations or impose economic sanctions. In Iraq, weekend demonstrations were planned to protest the British measures, government-run ii Report: Death toll of journalists doubled in '89 ly assaulted in 1989, figures it said were higher than the previous year.

The report listed 16 countries as "cases of concern" because of their treatment of journalists. They included Lebanon, where three journalists including Anderson are being held hostage, and China, where editor Wei Jingsheng has been jailed 11 years. However, two-thirds of last year's killings occurred in Latin America, the committee said, including 14 in El Salvador, where a civil war is raging. There were 11 deaths in Colombia; five in Peru; two in Brazil; and one each in Ecuador and Guatemala. slayings "censorship by death." The formal release of the report at a news conference came a day after Iraq hanged a London-based journalist it accused of spying.

It came on the fifth anniversary of the day Terry Anderson, the chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, was kidnapped in Lebanon. Goldenberg said expulsions, which she called another form of censorship, also doubled to 60. She said journalists were most frequently expelled from China, Ethiopia and Romania. The committee also counted 325 journalists arrested and 102 physical WASHINGTON (AP) Latin American democracies proved the most dangerous places for journalists to work last year, according to a report released yesterday. The 53 killings in 1989 included many murders "where journalists were killed in retaliation for what they had written or to prevent what they were going to write," Sonia Gol-denberg, executive director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said yesterday.

The death toll last year was more than double the 1988 total of 26 dead, the committee reported. It called the SIGH OF SPRING President Bush and the first lady view cherry blossoms that bloomed early this year because of the recent warm spell in Washington, D.C. Unity dominates debate as elections near in East Resentment fuels anti-communist fervor strictions and empty store shelves. They are bitter about wasted lives in a drab society that squashed all individual ambitions. "We don't trust the Communists anymore," said Andreas Orlik, a 28-year-old plumber from Leipzig.

Orlik said he would vote conservative in hopes that a free-market economy will finally reward his hard WOrk. "For the past eight years I have lived in a damp apartment with crumbling walls, and they wouldn't even let me install a bathtub even though I'm a plumber," Orlik said. "I worked overtime for three years to buy a 17-year-old car on the black market for 10,000 marks The average monthly salary is 1,100 marks, about $215. Such sentiments are shared by many East Germans. The most optimistic forecasts say the revamped munist Party will gain only 18 percent of the vote tomorrow.

LEIPZIG, East Germany (AP) When 12-year-old Michael Thiel, son of a top Communist Party official, stood up for his father in school recently, he was beaten up by classmates who broke his glasses. It has been a long way down for the party that ruled East Germany like a fiefdom for 40 years until its leaders were toppled by a popular rebellion in the fall. "There is a lot of hatred against the party, and the children pick it up from their parents," said Michael's father Frank, deputy chief of the Communist Party in Leipzig. Nearly 2 million party faithful have fled the party since the nationwide anti-communist uprising began. The 600,000 who remain have renamed themselves the Party of Democratic Socialism and have frantically tried to convince voters before tomorrow's election that they have moved from dogma to democracy.

But most East Germans have had enough after four decades of secret police terror, corruption, travel re EAST BERLIN (AP) Political parties made their final campaign pitches yesterday, two days before East Germans elect their first democratic parliament and complete the transition from 40 years of Communist rule to a democracy. Tomorrow's first free vote in East German history could also be the last as the two German states rush toward unification. Unification has been a central issue in the election, which was forced on the government by last fall's peaceful rebellion that ousted hardline Communists, opened borders and led to the creation of opposition parties. The makeup of East Germany's new 400-seat parliament could decide the pace of unification. Some conservatives urge quick unification, while some leftists favor a more cautious approach.

All major parties support A nationwide survey published yesterday suggested nearly half of all East Germans favor immediate unification, although a third of the electorate would prefer a slower joining of the two Germanys. The poll found that 84 percent fa- The trend toward greater violence and censorship was broken by good news at year's end from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Goldenberg cited the freeing of imprisoned journalists and new press freedoms in several countries. Farzad Bazoft, who was reporting for The Observer of London, was hanged Thursday after the Iraqi government convicted him of spying. He had been investigating reports of mass deaths in an accident at a military complex.

Goldenberg said his execution will be a top priority for the committee this year. in beer halls, an end to closing hours and a lifting of strict drunken driving laws. They also don't want too much "thin" foreign beer. The Communists ruled East Germany with an iron fist after the country was founded in 1949 from the zone occupied by Soviet troops in World sibility of a closing. "We're going to have to look for a new location," he said.

Gertie Drake, another vendor who has worked at Packard's for its entire history, agreed that the announcement came as a complete surprise. "Business was pretty good around the holidays," she said. "I don't know what the reasoning is for closing it." Drake, a Hillsborough resident who works at a booth called Den-ise's Army and Navy, ran her own booth, "Gertie's Treasures," for 37 years. Yesterday she reminisced about the early days of the market, when A.J. Packard was in charge and farm animals and produce were the main attractions.

"They were selling chickens and everything," she said. Since then, the market has expanded into six interconnected cement buildings holding about 75 booths. Shoppers can choose from a potpourri of merchandise, from deli About 12.3 million East Germans are eligible to vote tomorrow, selecting from 24 parties and groupings. Parties include the Communists, independent groups and those allied with West German political parties. There's even the Beer Drinking Union, which wants better ventilation LIST: Jury selection to begin PACKARD: Hillsboro landmark Associated Press photo Germany Most East German newspapers are backed by political parties and have supported their own candidates.

According to recent polls, the front-runners are the leftist Social Democrats and the Alliance for Germany, a coalition of three conservative parties. The alliance has received campaign backing from West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who is a Christian Democrat. The Social Democrats also have help from West German politicians, who have taken to the road en masse to speak at election rallies. The Bonn government poured in $11.8 million to help major East German parties mount campaigns. The East German election is seen by many as a dress rehearsal for West German elections in December and West German politicians have worked hard to build up an East German base for the time when unification comes.

Kohl yesterday called East Germany's elections a "destiny vote" on the road to German unification, and promised to protect East Germans from hardship during their nation's economic overhaul. BODIES Continued from Page A-1 Murphy said the entire 24-unit building apparently was being renovated. On Jan. 30, 1988, Murphy said, the gas hot water heater and a gas space heater were disconnected in the victims' apartment because servicemen found a clogged flue that created a hazardous situation. The stove remained connected.

notified the owner that the appliances would be reconnected only if the blockage was cleared, he said. The apartment was the only unit receiving any kind of gas service in the building, he said. Prosecutor Paul DePascale said autopsies had not yet been conducted, but that the cause of death apparently was asphyxiation. The bodies were discovered after neighbors on the residential street detected a strong odor coming from the apartment and were unable to get anyone to come to the door, McCarthy said. About a year ago Baczkowski noticed an advertisement that "Unsolved Mysteries" had placed in a publication for Vietnam veterans.

They offered the opportunity to locate and reunite long-lost friends from the service. "I figured the program was the only way I would stand a chance of inding her," he said. Baczkowski and Caldwell talked on the telephone for a long time Thursday night They had 22 years of catching up to do. "I can't wait until we see each other," the mother of three said. "I guess that will all be handled after the show is aired." The "Thanks, Captain Sharp" segment will run as scheduled, according to Rajter.

It was filmed last summer and cannot be pulled because it's too close to air time. If it had happened two weeks ago, they could have yanked it, he said. After the show, when callers ring an 800 number to provide information, they will be told the woman has been located. WarU. But the Communist leadership collapsed in October under popular pressure and East Germany has been run since then by a broad coalition caretaker government headed by Premier Hans Modrow, a reform-minded Communist The parliamentary election originally had been scheduled for May, but with state authority collapsing rapidly, the ballot date was moved up.

Most political parties staged their final rallies across the country yesterday, following a recommendation by East Germany's election commission. But one or two parties planned rallies for today as well. Dozens of television networks from throughout Europe have set up mobile satellite transmission stations in the parking lot in front of the Parliament building in East Berlin to prepare for election day. Campaign posters are all over East Berlin. One of them, put up by a coalition of conservative parties, proclaims, "Never Again Socialism." East German TV, freed from strict Communist control, has given equal time to election spots by all parties and has interviewed the candidates.

closing down meats to posters, baseball cards to jewelry. The original market burned to the ground in 1951 but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. It nearly burned down again in 1972 when an early-morning fire was extinguished before it could reach nearby tanks of ammonia. The market, which sits on a tract of about six acres, is part of a 40-acre parcel owned by the West Essex Industrial Park. McDonald said vendors will continue their business until the end of April.

"I don't think anybody will want to give up the Easter season," he said. The market is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"There should be sales to get rid of all this," Gertie Drake predicted yesterday, looking over the booths inside the market "They'll never get rid of it otherwise." only about four inches were left. He was trying to write a letter to his wife and was having a rough time doing it I asked him if I could help, so I helped him put the words together. "Ski said he would feel better if I wrote to his wife, too. So I did. I don't know exactly how Ski lost his leg, but he was awarded the Silver Star.

And that's something he probably wouldn't tell you himself." Jim Baczkowski, now 42, lives with his wife and two children in Colorado. "I never forgot Linda Sharp," he said last night in a telephone interview. "There we were in a battlefield hospital and she made me feel like I was somebody special. She gave me confidence and the will to keep, going." Army regulations required that Baczkowski write to his wife before they would release him from the hospital. "Emotionally, I just couldn't handle it," he recalled.

"I've been looking for Linda Sharp to say thank you for a long time; I've never forgotten her." vored unification in general, according to a survey conducted jointly by the Central Institute for Youth Research and the Institute for Market Research in Leipzig. The institutes did not say how many people were polled or list the survey's margin of error. vide the answer to the question. At the end of the state's case, the defense normally moves for dismissal of the charges on the grounds that the jury could not reach a verdict of "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" on the evidence presented. Such motions almost always are denied with a minimum of legal argument.

The defense then presents its case. The trial concludes with closing statements first from the defense, then the prosecution and the judge's charge to the jury. In the charge, the Judge's explains the legal elements that the prosecution must have proved during the trial in order for the jury to find the defendant guilty. List is charged with five counts of murder, but even if convicted on all counts, he could not be sentenced to death because the crimes occurred during a period when New Jersey didn't have the death penalty. Verdicts involving lesser charges could be made available to the jury.

Wertheimer said the charge he delivers to the List jury will be determined, as in all cases, by the testimony produced during the trial. Only after that will the 16 jurors be reduced to the panel of 12 that will decide the case. The four alternates will continue to serve by remaining available during the deliberations. They will be called back into court whenever the deliberating jury has questions to pose to the judge, or asks for certain portions of testimony to be read back to them. One of the alternates would be selected to replace any juror who may become ill or otherwise incapacitated during deliberations.

No one is going on record with a guess as to when verdict can be expected. But there are some estimates that the trial could be concluded by mid-April. Continued from Page A-1 tionnaire drawn up by the attorneys. Jurors can be excused by the judge if either they have a legitimate reason for being unable to serve, or are obviously unable to be impartial. If the judge finds a candidate acceptable, each side has an opportunity to eliminate that juror without cause.

The defense has 20 such preemptory challenges, while the prosecution can exercise 12. Once 16 jurors are selected, they will be instructed to avoid any news account or discussion of the case outside of the courtroom. Wertheimer will then hear arguments on a series of defense motions. While List's presence in court for jury selection is expected to attract throngs of the curious, knowledgeable followers of murder cases are expected to come out in full force for the hearings on motions to suppress evidence. Often, these hearings produce complete outlines of the state's case.

Among items Miller is seeking to keep out of evidence is a letter police have described as a confession, which List allegedly wrote to his pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in West-field before he disappeared in 1971. The defense also will dispute any evidence gathered at List's Westfield home, where the bodies of his mother, Alma; his wife, Helen, and their three children, Patricia, 16, John 15, and Frederick, 13, were discovered on Dec. 9, 1971. Once the motions are decided, the trial will begin. Opening statements, first by the prosecution and then the defense, will outline what each side expects to prove during the trial.

Will List testify in his own defense? The law clearly states that the jury cannot draw any inferences if he decides not to take the stand. But Miller's opening statement could pro SOLVED: Thanks to TV, vet finds his nurse Continued from Page A-1 market in the township to announce a closing this week. The Foodtown supermarket, located at the Hillsborough Club Plaza shopping center on Route 206, will close for good at p.m. today. Thomas McDonald, a Hillsborough resident who has managed Packard's since 1979, delivered the bad-news to each vendor late yes terday afternoon.

"Some of these people think they're going to be here forever," he said sadly, shortly before spreading the word. By 6 p.m., vendors were standing in small groups, shaking their heads and talking about their uncertain futures. "We had no idea. Total shock," said Matt Tondera, a Pennsylvania resident who has run Matt's Meat Market ever since Packard's opened in 1949. He said business has been slower for about a year, but he said nobody had mentioned the pos SPILL Continued from Page A-1 An estimated 500 gallons went into the sewers and will eventually make its way into the Arthur Kill, Griffin said.

The driver of the truck, Richard Vass, suffered a cut to his shoulder but stayed to help with the cleanup, said DeFalco. Vass has not been charged with any crime, but an investigation continues, Ramos said. The Arthur Kill has been the site of three oil spills this year, including a leak in an Exxon pipeline that released 546,000 gallons of oil Jan. 1-2. In the latest incident, a barge owned by a Bronx, N.Y., shipping company blew up in the Arthur Kill on March 6, spilling 127,000 gallons of heating oil into the waterway between New Jersey and Staten Island.

Cleanup from the last spill is still under way, but the barge Ci-bro Savannah was moved to New York on Thursday, opening up the channel for the first time since the accident Continued from Page A-1 "I asked her, 'Are you Linda and she said, 'I used to "In the course of questioning her, I realized she was the woman," Rajter said. Caldwell excitedly recounted the week's sequence of events. "It happened at the end of the show when they were previewing for next week," she said. "They mentioned a Vietnam vet who, for 22 years, has been searching for the nurse who took care of him when he lost his right leg. He wanted to say thank you.

They said: 'Her name is Linda "I almost fell off the couch! I said to my husband, Brent, 'Did you hear I was trying not to get too excited." In spite of the fact that everything happened 22 years ago, all of the details are still vivid in Caldwell's memory. "I was with the 67th Evacuation Hospital in Qui Nhon at the time. Jim Baczkowski had lost his right leg What would sports be without argument? Between coaches and umps, fans and coaches, sports writers and sports writers, sportswriters and readers. Join the game. SPORTS FORUM Every Sunday in The Courier-News.