The Danville Register from Danville, Virginia • Page 4

Tht Register: DqnvHIe, Siindoy, Aug. 7, 1966 There Were Shadowy GuidepostiAlong The Wa The Tangled Trail That Led Charles Whitman To His Day Of Wrath KSwSSSTS ii 01 i mfc BySAULPETT AND JULES LOH AUSTIN, Tex. (AP) On March 2, 1966, a synny day in the seaside town of Lake Worth, where mothers used to ask their kids, "Why can't you be like Charley Whitman? Charles Joseph Whitman, now 25, full grown, handsome, was walking up and down out- aide his father's house. He didnot go in. Instead, paced the sidewalk and as he he was seen wiping his eyes.

Was it dust or was it tears? The overwhelming evidence, now crying out from the soul and braia of a dead man, votes for tears. Tears, then, we as- sume it was, although few peo- ple ever saw Charles Whitman troubled. Not good old Charley, the nice guy, the boy with the all-Ameri- can look, the good friend, the earnest student, the playful kid- der, the reliable altar boy, the smiling paper boy, the first Ea- gle Scout around at the age of 12, the sharp-eyed deer hunter of the Everglades, the boy who never forgot to say ma'am and sir, the best college roommate a fellow ever had the boy, the adolescent, the man who always appeared on the promise. sunny side of March 2, a. Wednesday, a day of tears five day of wrath.

months before a Inside the house, Charles Whi- tman's mother was packing her things. She was leaving his fa- ther. She would drive to Austin with her eldest son and live there. So he waited, not going in, and began to worry. He found a phone and called the police and asked them to protect his moth- er on her last day in his father's house.

The call would become the first of many crushing iro- nies. The police came, found no reason to stay. In Austin, Charles Whitman found an mother. It apartment for his was just two miles mu J111JC9 from the small brick duplex Charles lived with his where pretty wife, Kathleen. It was ii, wao one mile from the landmark he liked to visit the soaring bell tower of the University of Tex- as, where a man could see the campus, the town, the rolling prairie, the big sky and, per- 1 a way out of pain and haps, hate.

But most people saw no pain no hate in Charley Whitman. He seemed like a guy who had ev- his Kathy, still erything. He and pretty as Queen of" the Fair back in her home as still as lovely as the day she became his bride four years ago. He had a comfortable home which Kathy kept so tidy other campus wives marveled. They both had good summer jobs, she at the telephone company, he as an assistant at the university's engineering research lab.

He had his guns. He and three brothers were brought up with guns. Charley liked guns so much he once got into a spot of trouble on account of one. Dur- ing a hitch in the Marines after high school he was busted in rank for keeping a pistol in his barracks and aboard ship. With a campus buddy and feUow gun lover, Charley liked to discuss guns, heft them, work their pre- cisely engineered bolts, caress their smooth walnut stocks.

He was going well enough in his architectural engineering courses. After a wobbly start, he was pulling his grades up. In high school he ranked seventh in his class. Now, in college, he was trying to get back on the bail. He and Kathy enjoyed picnics and outings at the lake with friends.

Charley, ever the out- doorsman, found time to be scoutmaster at the First Meth- odist church which Kathy at- tended. Calming down lately, said Kathy Whitman. Friends This, then, was the way most thought this, too. Almost every- people saw Charles Joseph Whi- body, it seemed, thought Char- tman. But behind the warm there were dark spots.

friends noted them Lawrence ley "Whitman was calming his glow, private storm. Everybody but which. Charles Whitman Close Fuess and his wife, whom the went to see a university psychi- Whitmans often had over for atrist on the advice of a doctor. candlelight dinners, saw an in- First, terior tension, a temper that sonal needed checked. to be Charley consciously Whitman, it seemed, thought Charley Whi- tman needed watching.

There is no evidence that anybody else did. 'Even when he looked per- fectly normal," said Elaine Fuess, "he gave you this feeling of trying to control something in himself. He knew he had a tem- per and he hated this in himself. He hated the idea of cruelty in himself and tried to suppress it. He had seen cruelty before and he didn't want it in his own house." The Fuesses and other friends saw something else a con- stant, gnawing need to succeed and excell.

"He was nervous quit a bit," said Don Thornbury, a former college roommate. "He pushed himself so much to dp well in school. He set such high standards for himself. He just pushed and pushed." Kathy Whitman once told Mrs. Fuess that when she first met Charley he was "very high- strung." But lately, Mrs.

Whi- Youth tman told her friend, "he was form. "That's why I'm here, harley wrote. He didn't know problem. He was hoping HARD TO PUCE AUTO LIABILITY, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND COLLISION INSURANCE. ASSIGNED RISK ON FINANCE PLAN.

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Sponsored By: DanviUe-Pittsylvanra Mental Health Association This Space Donated By BENDALL'S DRUG 300 Croahtad St. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE! Patrolman Ramiro Martinez, 29, who felled Whitman, is led wounded from the tower. Charles Whitman (above) is the 24-year-old student who went on that rifle rampage atop the University of Texas' 27-story Tower, killing 13 per- sons and wounding more than 30 from there. Hours before that grisly 80 minutes he stab- bed his wife to death and shot his mother fatally in her home. Charley Whitman.

Late in the day, March 29, he a "Per- he was handed Data Form." Charley fljs neat, iresumably one," no one' apparently saw my sign of his inner struggle. No one noticed behavior Chief problem?" asked the teachers, his employer, his fel- someone else could tell him. "Do you have: hay fever asthma headaches skin disorders back trouble stomach trouble high blood pressure allergies physical handicaps or limitations?" 'No--no--no--no--no--no--no -no--no." "Marital status of parents?" Jharley checked "separated" with a quick stroke. "Whom do you consult re- garding personal problems: fa- MOTHER "Nei- ther." "List interests or hobbies." 'Hunting, karate, scuba diving, main interest how to make money." Now the psychiatrist was ready to see him. They talked or an hour.

Charley left and Dr. Maurice Dean Heatly, closing out a long day, began dictating his notes. massive, muscular youth seemed to be oozing with hostility as he initiated the hour with the statement that some- thing was happening to him and be didn't seem to be himself. Past history revealed a youth who grew up in. Florida where the father was a very successful plumbing contractor without an education, but who had achieved considerable wealth.

He identified his father as being brutal, domineering and ex- tremely demanding of other members of the family. "He expressed himself as being very fond of his wife, but admitted that his tactics were similar to his father's and that he had on two occasions assault- ed his wife physically. He said she had become more comforta- ble with him, that she really has less fear of him now than in the past because he had made a more intense effort to avoid los- ing his temper. "The real precipitating factor for this initial visit after being on the campus for several years seemed to stem from the sepa- ration of his parents some 30 days ago. He says that his fa- ther has averaged calling every 48 hours for several weeks peti tioning him to persuade his.

mother to return. He alleges to have no intentions of trying to do that. "Although he identifies with his mother in the matter above his real concern is with himsel at the present time. He readily admits having overwhelming periods of hostility with a very minimum of provocation. "Repeated inquiries attempt ing to analyze his exact experi 10 analyze ms exact experi- Ti ences were not too successful 7" USUally tense the A lore.

If you see blistering and peeling, you need SHERWIN-WILLIAMS A-100 Latex HOUSE PAINT with the exception of his vivid reference to thinking abou going up ori the tower with i deer rifle and stars shooting hisVlfe "Observations: The youth ha! lived for the day when he could consider himself as a person capable of excelling his father The degenerated state of affairs with his parents plus his repeat ed recent failures to achiev have become extremely frus tratiag to him." CharJej Whitman was told SHCRWIH-WILUAMS PAIHTS 201 BMtwrifiht ATCHM Dial SW 2-4933 3JOI Di.l SW We carry a complete line of Sftsittnti-mujAus PAIHTS make an appointment for next Jnift VAelr The phone rang. could call. Charles Whitman lerate action," which they don't ake. In the four months after his isit to the psychiatrist, during This is the arsenal Whitman had up there on the Tower, enough to snipe for several days. was 'fighting it out al- my heart." And he wrote bitterly of his a ther.

Outside her door, he pinned any change in shadow of or a ow students. If anything, he appeared hap- pier, "really happier than I'd ver seen," said Don Thornbury who saw him July 17. On July 22, as he had done everal times this year, Charles Whitman visited the university ower with his brother John and a friend. No one noticed any- hing unusual in his actions, in- cluding a receptionist who re- membered him from previous visits, when he would sit on the next to her desk and chat asily. On Thursday, July 28, at harley's suggestion, the Whi- mans and the Fuesses went out Lake Austin for an evening icnic.

His friends found him cheerful. Friday, July 29, Charles Whi- man went to classes and to No one noticed anything unusual. Saturday, nothing unusual. Sunday afternoon, nothing unusual. Sunday evening at 6:45, lharles Whitman began some- hing unusual.

He sat down at the typewriter in his home and began to write a note. He dated it. He timed it. He addressed it to no one. He wrote: "I don't quite un- derstand what is compelling me to type this note.

I've been to a jsychiatrist. I've been having ears and violent impulses. I've lad some tremendous headach- es in the past. I am prepared to die. After my death, I wish an autopsy on me to be performed to see if there's any mental disorder." Here, he wrote bitterly of his vrote ther.

For ack lose mmunition, tools, even a can tf spray deodorant? At 7:15 a.m., Charles Whi- man left home and rented a lolly at the Austin Rental Equipment Service, $2 for 24 hours. At 9:50, he walked into Sears Roebuck, bought a 12 gauge hotgun, charging it to his ac- He drove home and sawed off the stock and barrel if the gun. He loaded his footlocker lis weapons into his car. decided to kill I love her very father. Then: "I've Kathy tonight much." Again reference to his fa- ther.

Then: "I intend to kill my wife after I pick her up from work. I don't want her to have to face the embarrassment thai my actions will surely cause her." Suddenly the door bell was ringing. Lawrence and Elaine Fuess were dropping in for a visit and Charles Joseph Whi tman had to interrupt his note He did not appear flustered showed no anger at this sudden detour in his journey to doom He quietly explained he wa writing to a friend in Washing ton. He was good old Charley again. The Fuesses found him cheer- ful and relaxed, which was unu sual this night because Charlej had a quiz the next morning.

He They talked of various things and then Elaine Fuess noticed ley was talking abw with unusual tender rt shame," he said Kathy has to work all da: home to they heard the the "Bluebird truck Charley gested they have some and the did. Charley had malted milk shake; Mrs. Fuess, a root bee tin Ice -r vw float; her husband, banana didn't re- turn, didn't call. He decided, he noted later, "to fight it out al- one." Dr. Heatly saw no sign of psy- chosis at Uie time, he said later, nor any indication that the young man might be a danger to himself or the community.

He didn't feel Charley would do anything violent. He regarded violence as not particu- larly concerned by the mention of shooting people from the tow- er. He said it was common for his references to transient. He was friend and student, Don MCrar wanted to know if he could study with Charley for tomor row's quiz in electrical engi neenng. Charley said he wasn' studying and wasn't going worry about it Most unusual At 9:30 the Fuesses left.

Char lc dro ye off to pick up his wife at the telephone company Pre sumably they returned 'horn directly. Presumably she wen to bed after a while. About midnight, Charles Jo seph Whitman drove to th apartment on Guadalupe Stree and shot his mother in the bac of the head and stabbed her students he sees to refer to the I the chest. He left a note, time tower as the site of ''some des- at 12:30 a.m. on her dresser.

"To whom it may concern: I the speedway and 21st St. -W kjiv auiu. ave just killed my mother. If trance to the university. He told icre's a heaven, she's going the gate here.

If there's not a heaven, Rodman, uc UDVi OUU1C he is out of her pain and mis- equipment to deliver to the ex- guard, Sgt. Jack O. that he had some to deliver to the ex- ry my motner th aU perimental science building. He would need a permit to park in a loading zone. Rodman scribbled a routine 20-minute permit: "11:30 a.m.- 11:50 a.m." "I don't think I can get it un- loaded in that length of time," Charles said.

"May I have a little longer?" Rodman doubled the time. Charles thanked him, drove He turned left, left again, nother note to someone named toy: "I don't have to work to- lay and I was up late last night. would like to get some rest, lease do not disturb me. Mrs. Whitman." Back home again, the phone ang at 1 a.m., not unusual the ight before a quiz.

Another stu- ent wanted to know if Charley vanted to work over the prob- ems for tomorrow's test. can't work the problems nd I won't take the quiz," said Charley Whitman. Now, presumably, he walked nto the bedroom, stabbed his wife three times in the chest ind returned to the note he had tarted hours before when the 'uesses interrupted. ''At 3 a.m. both dead." And he more still about his fa- the next Whitman four hours left no trail.

'id he sleep? Could he sleep? 'id he sit home ruminating? vas he planning the biggest art of his day? Or did he begin gather all those weapons and with all gasoline, his fpotlocker supplies--food, and Mrs. Edna Townsley was sit- Sharles slammed her in the head. He dragged her behind a couch. Was he alone? From the observation deck outside, Don Walden and Cheryl Bolts came through the door and into the receiptson room. Charles was bending over the couch.

"Hello," they said. "Hi. How are you?" Charles Whitman said. They left. Now was he alone? Footsteps.

Voices He shoved the desk in front of the stair- case, reached for his shotgun. A face appeared over the desk. Charles fires. A pellet ripped the head of 19-year-old Mike Gabour and he tumbled back down the steps. Behind him, his mother and aunt screamed.

Two more blasts. Both women fell. A fourth shot Mike's brother fell. "Stay still," Mike's father yelled. "I'm going for help." He ran.

to the elevator and, miraculously the doors opened. There was Mrs. Palmer, come to relieve lunch. "Lady," dare get off that elevator." Mrs. Palmer went down immediate- ly.

Mike's father raced around the floor looking for help. Three flights up, Charles Whi- tman pulled back the couch and fired a shot into the still body of Mrs. Townsley. Now he was alone. He dragged the footlocker and on.

and dead ahead the tower soared 307 feet above him. Near the tower's west door he pulled into one of the reserved parking spaces and cut the engine. A clear violation; his permit was for a loading zone. He walked inside, turned down a gray-tiled corridor to the elevator foyer where Mrs. Vera M.

Palmer sat at her small desk. He had some stuff out in the car he had to deliver, he explained pleasantly. Would Mrs. Palmer mind giving him a hand getting it onto the eleva- tor? Not at all. He returned to the car and loaded the dolly.

He stood footlocker upright on the cart'j lip, put some parcels on top, tied a long, blanket-wrapped bundle to the front. He backed into the elevator, Mrs. Palmer holding open the door. When the doors closed, a bit of the blanket became caught in them. Mrs.

Palmer poked it inside with her fingers "Thank you, ma'am," Charles said. He pushed button No. 27. The elevator doors opened onto a pleasant room. He wheeled his cargo through, it to a staircase, backed up the 11- steps, then down a corridor to another staircase Up 22 more steps, bump, bump, bump.

At the top a sign greeted him: "Welcome to the ULIII 11 CJLUJJ.H? LUC Charles Whitman pulled up to observation deck. At this the dolly out to walk ing the bell tower, shoved them up against the door as a birri. Mrs. Townsley for he said, "don't you cade. He positioned bis weapons along all four sides of the deck --three rifles, one shotgun, two Into the pocket of his coveralls, he slipped a third pis.

tol. Ready to die, he was ready to kill to the last. Looking over the chest-high parapet, he could see the red- tiled roofs, the green lawns, tha hedges, the fountains, the stat- ues, the oak trees, and he could see the people. He raised his rifle and fixed the cross hairs on a target be- low, a human target, just any human target. He fired.

He fired and he fired, Charles Joseph Whitman did, for nearly 90 minutes. Was he firing only bullets? Was he also firing the hate, the pain, the frustration, the fears piled so high in the chaotic arsenal of his brain? He fired and he fired. He lurched from one gun to another and fired and fired and fired. And for all those heaving mo- ments, this handsome young man stood high in the sky and fired down on a world he never made. And before they rushed him and shot him down, had taken the lives of 15 people and wounded 31.

At 1:20, he lay dead on tower. The pathologist found he had 2 brain tumor which did not ex-, plain his madneia. The gist said the tumor wai benign. THE FINEST SERVICE IT IS POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE 2025 NORTH MAIN STREET PHONE SW 2-7211 On the than so years We're one of the nearly 2,000 dots on this map. Each dot represents a local publicly owned electric system such as ours.

Some dots represent municipal utility systems servinf only a few hundred consumers; others are for systems in cities with populations in the hundreds of thousands. Whatever their size, local public power systems have had two basic goals since their inception in the early 1880'j; To offer consumers more electricity at lower cost To retain for the community the benefits of local ownership and control. There have been municipally owned electric systems since the beginning of modern electric a part of the American scene more than 80 years! ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT (Division Water, ft Electric City of Danville, Virginia Community-Owned for Community Benefit.