The Danville Register from Danville, Virginia • Page 12

Second Section Local News THE DANVILLE REGISTER FOUNDED FEBRUARY 1847. DANVILLE, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 21, 1972 Classified Second Section NO. Jury Now Will Consider Damages Ambulance Driver Found At Fault In Wreck That Took Five Lives ANTIQUE DOLLS and a doll house svon the attention of the judges in the Parks and Recreation Department-City Beautiful Christmas decoration contest. Mr. and Mrs.

Roderick Sparks of Hurt St. came away with first prize. Daniel Blasts Navy Inspection On Discipline Congressman D. a Daniel, a member of the Armed Services i on disciplinary problems in the U. S.

Navy, lambasted the Navy yesterday for its response to such'problems. "The Navy's most critical problem is Admiral Zumwalt's refusal to recognize that he has one," Daniel said. As an a of ap- peasement of those who create disciplinary problems. Daniel referred to a sit-down strike aboard the Constellation. Harshest punishment meted out was a S50 fine for one of the leaders, lie said.

After the hearing, this man was returned to the ship with a more desirable a i a before. Daniel went so far as to say that "a conspiracy cannot be discounted-as there have been a number of disruptive incidents in the a with i ingredients in recent weeks." Discipline in the Navy is necessary, he concluded, because "an armed force without discipline is an armed mob." Local Real Estate Firms Incorporated Two local groups. Nor lodge Inc.j,,and MRM a become incorporated to engage in geneal real estate businesses and related activities. I i i a directors of Norlodge Inc. arc E.

Mayo Clark. James T. Whitehursf and John a i registered agent. Maximum capital stock to be issued is 500 shares at $100 par. value.

Robert E. Musgrave. Keister L. Richardson and Preston McElheney. registered agent, are initial directors of MRM Inc.

The group is authorized to issue a maximum of 1.000 shares of common stock with a par value of $100. 15 From Gretna In Regional Band i members of the Grelna Senior High School band and one member of the Gretna Junior High School band will perform in the annual regional band concert Sunday. Feb. -1. at Radford College.

Promotes Burton To Asst. Vice-Prcsidcnl First National Names Michaels, Thompson As Board Directors First a i a a of Danville has elected Robert Thompson and i i a Michaels to the bank's board ol directors and promoted Ted. C. to assistant vice president. E.

Ballou Bagby, president, announced yester- day. Thompson, a a i of Greensboro, N. is executive vice president of Thompson- Arthur Paving Co. of Danville. He graduated Carolina Stale University with a degree in civil engineering.

Following a a i he joined Thompson-Arthur of a i i and moved to Danville in 1962. He was named vice president and general a a of the i i i a division of the company in 1964. Thompson is a member of the board of directors of the Virginia Asphalt Association and the Danville YMCA. a member of the Board of associates at Averett College and a member of the executive board of Danville Memorial Hospital. i a is senior vice K.W.

THOMPSON" Processing Co. of Tillsonbury, Ont. i of five Dibrell Brothers subsidiaries, he is First vice president of the Tobacco A i a i of the United States. Michaels was formerly president and director of employed by Venable Tobacco Dibrell Brothers president Co. of Durham, N.

and was of Dibrell Burford Inc. of president of that company. A Bowling Green, and native of Roxboro, he is a president of Canadian Tobacco graduate of Mars Hill College. I A Burton i the First National Bank staff in 1957 and was promoted to assistant cashier in 199. He has been serving as manager of the bank's Wilson Ridge branch and will continue in that capacity.

a a of George Washington High School and the i i i a a land Bankers School, Burton is a member of (he a i Chamber of Commerce and is a board member of Grace i Methodist Church. Salvation Army Bell Ringing Wearing Job But Cause Worthy I I 1 I 1 I What could possibly possess a person to make him want to stand in a box for eight hours a clay ringing a bell? A worthwhile cause. Three of the Salvation Army's bell ringers a af- ternoon agreed that the "prime motivation is a belief in what they're doing. Mrs. Rachel Massey, who mans the pot in front of Belks for eight hours a day.

does it "to help out." A member of the Salvation Army's church, she also drives a church bus on Sundays. She gets tired, naturally, and sometimes hears bells in her sleep, but would do it again if they asked her. Contributions come about half-and-half from children and adults, she said. Some of the "little bitty ones" can hardly reach the pot. Victor B.

Phillips took over the pol in front of Harnsbcrger's for an hour yesterday for the Sertoma Club. The Salvation Army fund raising a i i has more meaning this year than ever before, he said, because of the recent eviction notice the group received. Manning one of Ihe booths is "the least we can do for them as citizens." he said. Phillips, more fortunate than the other solicitors, had.one bell for each pot. and noticed that the money was distributed about equally between them.

After a half-hour of practice, he could almost plav jingle bells. "God Bless You! Merry Christmas!" ereeted all thnso Prize Drawing Cone hides Food Drive The -Salvation A "Operation Food Basket" concluded yesterday at the Riverside Theater i a drawing for an RCA portable television set donated-by Link Watson. Winning the set was Mrs. Dura Gilbert of 30-4 Virginia attended all but one of the Wednesday morning movies with her sister and 90 year old mother, Mrs. Mitchell.

In presenting the prize, Howard Smart. Link Watson V.P. remarked. "I wish the spirit of Operation Food Basket could prevail all year round." Mrs. Vivian Giles, in behalf of the Army's Women's Auxiliary, (hanked all those who had at- tended the movies.

While precise figures were not kept, Riverside Theater who put a few pennies in the pot in front of Thalhimers manned by Betty a a Most enthusiastic of any of the workers, she denied ever feeling tired, bored, or having a echo ringing through her ears at night. Member of the a a i Army for eight years, she's been i i the bell at Christmas for two years. Yesterday she took out a few minutes to read the latest details on the Shearin case but usually she devotes her entire attention to her booth. "I love it. I believe in it," she explained her devotion.

"I feel we're doing something for somebody that they can't do for themselves." Larceny Cases Bound Over Two larceny cases have been bound over to a grand jury by Municipal Court. Cecil Martin Shelhorsc, 33. of Sulherlin Rt. 2, is charged with larceny of a a a i loaded with paneling, valued at $13.000. Other defendant to face a grand jury is Norman Lee Parsons, 19, of Newport News and formerly of Danville.

DCC Offers Course In Keypunching Applications for a keypunch operations course offered by DCC in conjunction with Dan River Inc. are available at the College's admissions office. Both employes and non- employes of Dan River may register, said W. Leigh Taylor, director of training for the Danville Division. Applicants must have a high A Corporation Court jury yesterday a a driver Donald Vasser guilty of negligence in the May 23 am- bulance-oil tanker collision at a i i i tersection in which five persons died.

Ernest Shearin. the tanker driver, was found not guilty of negligence. As a result. Corporation Court Judge Stuart L. Craig im- mediately ordered the jury back this morning at 10 o'clock to consider the amount of damages to be awarded the Shearin Estate.

The seven-member deliberated approximately hours before a i its verdict, climaxing a three-day trial which heard testimony from over 25 witnesses. The case turned on whether Vasser or Shearin was at fault in the operation of his vehicle, causing the accident which killed both drivers and three others--Jon Lemly, Swicegood a a a a Minnie Brooks, who was being carried to the hospital for treatment; and Mrs. Virginia Brooks Parham, her daughter, who was a passenger in the ambulance. The widow of both drivers had filed cross claims charging negligence resulting in wrongful death. Filial Argu me ills After the lunch break yesterday, the jury heard final arguments from Frank Meade, one of the attorneys for the Vasser estate, and Charles R.

Warren Jr. for the Shearin Estate. Meade re-capped events Two Thefts Of Christmas Gifts Reported Thieves made off with part of the Christmas goodies at two Danville concerns yesterday. Armed and hooded, a man held up an employe. Mrs.

Nancy Barber, in Sparks Sandwich Shop on Watson St. after she arrived early to prepare food and made off i two Christmas stockings. Mrs. Barber reported that she was alone in the restaurant when a man wearing a yellow hood approached her behind, pushed a gun against her back and demanded "all Ihe money." When she told the man that the manager had not yet arrived with the money, he took the employes' i a stockings and fled. No evidence of forceful entry was found.

Lawyer Earle a complained that three boxed for his employes, each containing a $20 bill, had been stolen from his offices in the Masonic Temple at some unknown time. leading up to the accident. He said the ambulance was called to take Mrs. Brooks, who had become ill and fallen down some stairs, to the hospital. Vasser came down N.

Main St. hi)) and approached the intersection with his red light flashing and his siren sounding, the attorney said. The vehicle passed two telephone company men who said they could see Mrs. Brooks being ad- ministered oxygen. At the crosswalk, Meade said the vehicle stopped, Vasser looked in both directions and then moved into the intersection he was struck by Shearin.

Didn't Look Meade blamed Shearin for the accident, claiming the tanker driver failed to maintain a proper lookout. "If he saw the ambulance, lie should have done something," he said. "If he didn't, then he was the cause of the accident." Meade, however, held the ambulance driver blarheless. He said the driver stopped, as required, and looked to see if his way was clear. "It was either clear or he saw the truck," the attorney said.

"So Vasser assumed, and rightfully so, that accusing him of failing the truck would yield the right exercise reasonable care in his i of way." Once the saw--or should a a bulance, Meade said it was Shearin's to yield to (he emergency vehicle. the attorney said, the a driver elected to beat Ihe ambulance of tjje operation of i regardless emergency situation. Vasser could have safer route to the hospitjjil. Warren said, yet he chose'-to follow a course that made him through the intersection. "Had enter a dangerous intersection Shearin slowed for one-third of against a light.

By doing this, second, he would have saved the attorney said the driver hfi'd five lives." Sharp Issue Warren took sharp issue with Meade on this point and said that Shearin had not survived 17 years as a tanker-driver by i to beat a a through intersections. As for the truck slowing down. Warren said no law requires a driver to slacken his speed when approaching a green light. In fact, a driver has a right to assume he can proceed until it becomes obvious his path is not clear. And, he said, if a driver finds himself in this position with no time to take protective action, then he can't be held responsible for Ihe con- sequences.

Warren then turned his at- tention to the ambulance driver, an obligation to use even mqee care, "yet he traveled down N. Main St. in the northbound lane." Warren also cited testimony that Mrs. Parham, who wjis sitting beside the ambulance driver, waved him through Ihp intersection. When Vasser did this, the attorney said, he reliecl on someone else to do a job thai, under the law.

he could not waive. Viewed She Earlier yesterday, the jury viewed the accident site at lh intersection of N. Main and River Sts. After returning to court, the i i i a arguments were presented by Don Bagwell for the Shearin Estate and Charles Carter for the Vasser Livestock Market Prices Are Ujl But Volume Light At V-C Sales I --) Prices on veals, slaughtei cattle and stock feeders were up in light volume on Tuesday's i i i a a i a Livestock Market sale, according to a market spokesman. Some $24,000 changed hands on the sale of 173 animals.

A total of 90 hogs. 40 veal. 15 cows and 22 stock-feeder cattle were sold. Virginia Dept. of Agriculture- graded cattle and hogs brought the following prices per hun- dred pounds: Hogs: top weight, heavy butchers.

$26 to $30; light butchers, S26 to butcher sows, $22.50 to $27.50. Veal: choice and prime, S62.50 to S65; choice and prime heavy, S57 to S62: choice and prime light. $57 to $65; good, $55 to $60; standard, $49 to $54. Heavy Slaughtec Calves: good and choice, $49 to $54; standard, $41 to $48. Cows: utility and commercial $25 to S28.25; canner and cutter; $23 to $24.50.

Stock-Feeder Cattle: Steer (300-500 choice and fancy. $47 to $52: good, $45 to $49. medium, $41 to $45. Heifers (300-500 choice and fancy. $43 to good, $41 to $44; medium, $36 to Steers (500-750 good and choice, $41 to $45; medium, $36 to $40.

Heifers (500-750 good and choice $3H to $41; medium $31 to SJ7. Next auction sale will be Tuesday, Jan. 2. Giles Capitulates In Bid Abortion To Regain Title To House Crusader Indicted ABCO To Hold Supper, Dance On Wednesday Action lor a Better Com- munity Organization is holding a banquet and dance Wed- nesday. Dec.

27. at 7 p.m. at the King of the Sea Restaurant. Ronald Charity will be guest speaker for the banquet, and the Artistic Band will perform at the dance. Tickets for the dinner-dance are $3.

Delores Fitzgerald (797- 2713) and Janice Howard (792- 1303) will answer any questions about the activity. L. Melvin Giles, Chatham lawyer, has dropped his bid to have the Corporation Court of Danville award him a house he claims he purchased for a woman he once considered marrying. Giles said he has now con- veyed his interest in the house to his former girl friend, Mrs. Amelia Gilbert Parsons Har- mon of 853 Franklin according to an article published yesterday in the Star- Tribune, a county newspaper.

At the same time Giles, a former state legislator and commonwealth's attorney, said he "terminated all relations with the ex-girl friend and the whole matter was dropped," the article said. Giles last week filed suit to have the court award him (he Franklin Tpke. residence on which he made a S5.000 down payment and on which $19,000 still is owed. He said he bought the house in November 1969. A deed was drawn conveying the properly to him and Mrs.

Harmon (she was Mrs. Parsons, a divorcee, at the time) as joint tenants with right of survivorship. At the time. Giles said "it was understood and agreed between the two that in the event the parties were not married or the relationship that existed bet- ween the two was otherwise terminated." the a would be entitled to the real estate. In the Star-Tribune article, Giles said he began seeing Mrs.

Parsons in 1968 and had been going with her for about four years. He said he had con- sidered marrying her, but in August of this year he recon- ciled with his wife and broke off with the girl friend. Later--in October--Mrs. Parson, a waitress, married Hansel Harmon. Giles said he asked the couple to transfer their interest in the property to i but as of early last week he had received no deed.

Since Mrs. Harmon and her husband now are separated and the possibility of getting a good deed appeared nil. Giles said he instituted legal action to obtain good title to the property. Now. Giles said he has dropped the matter and has conveyed his interest in the house to Mrs.

Harmon. In the Star-Tribune aritcle, Giles had this to say about the whole a a i "It was just one of those things. I got caught up in the web. My wife knew about it." He also was quoted as saying he had "broken off all relations" with the girl and had reached a reconciliation with his wife. ARLINGTON (AP)-An Ar- lington County grand jury has indicted'birth control and'abor- tion crusader William R.

Baird on charges of disorderly con- duct, steming from a incident at the National Confer- ence of Catholic Bishops. Philip J. Hirschkop, Baird's lawyer, said Baird. now in New York, will appear for arraign- ment on the misdemeanor charge in early January. Baird was arrested after he allegedly disrupted the confer- ence at the Marriott Twiiv- Bridges motel, while seeking permission to address the bish- ops and show a ten-minute film on what he called natural abor- tion.

The arresting officer was an off-duty Arlington policeman employed by the bishops. Hirschkop said the officer ar- rested Baird after blocking Baird's way as he tried to ap- proach a bishop he knew and wanted to talk to him. On Monday, the county com- monwealth's attorney's office dropped the original charge against Baird when a county cour't judge ruled that the prosd ecution would have to disclose a narrative report of the im cident given by the vestigating officer and wit nesses. The prosecution chose instead to seek the indictment Tuesday. Manager Paul Jones estimated school education or equivalent THEY RING THE BELLS.

Mrs. Rachel Massey (left), Victor B. Phillips (above right) and Betty Walthall (below right) add the sound rf bells from Salvation Army booths to downtown Christ- mas "shopping noises. that more than four tons of food were donated by those at- tending the series of ten Pepsi- Cola-Dr. Pepper sponsored movies.

and must be able to touch-type. Classes will begin Wed- nesday, Jan. 10, and will meet on Wednesday and Thursday nights for 11 weeks. LIGHTING THEIR WAY WITH CANDLES, Moffett Memorial Baptist youth gather around the live nativity scene at the junction of N. Main St.

and Rt. 360 for a candle-light service and carols..