The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 1

'Cancer Clinic' Raided By VICKI HERMANSEN Star Staff Reporter An investigation into the illegal practice of medicine began when a Yorktown man took his wife to; a Muncie doctor in August. It culminated Monday in the arrests Harry W. Graham, 66; his wife, Ellen, 56, and Donna Jean Justinen, 46, a registered nurse in Anderson who also teaches nursing at Anderson College. The Grahams, both of R.R. 4, Alexandria, operate the Hoosier Health House, where health food items are sold.

Police say the clinic was next door to the store. During a news conference Monday afternoon, state police First Sgt. Richard D. McCord said all three were being charged with reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter and violations of the Professions and Occupations Law, a statute covering the illegal practice of medicine in Indiana. In a prepared statement, McCord said the arrests were the result of an investigation by the state police drug diversion unit and the Delaware County prosecutor's office.

The arrests were made just before the news conference. All three suspects were taken to Delaware County Jail where they were held under $50,000 bond apiece. The woman, 47-year-old Sybil A. Bennett, was receiving treatment at the Graham's clinic, which was next to the couple's Hoosier Health House and I-69. en, For about two months, the woman received injections of Laetrile, as well as colonic enemas and enemas of coffee, castor oil, carrot juice and aloe vera, state police said.

Police said some of the clinic's patients received four to six coffee enemas a day, and some received up to 11 each day. County health officer Rick Lopez was called into the investigation to test water used in the enemas, and results of those tests will be available today. Police claim the water used by the Grahams was not pure and came directly from a well on their property. Police said the use of unpurified water possibly cause damage to a person's colon, cause internal infections and damage to the bowels." Mrs. Bennett died Sept.

11 in Ball Hospital. McCord said Dr. Robert Suer of Muncie called him after he examined the woman Aug. 24. Suer, according to an affidavit of probable cause, ordered the woman to be taken to Ball Hospital, where she later died.

McCord said the Graham's house was searched Sept. 30, and "records obtained revealed that several people have received this type of treatment." McCord said anyone who was treated at the clinic should contact a physician immediately. "This is not an accepted medical treatment," McCord said of the treatment given by the Grahams. "People may at this time be in a lot worse He said at least three other persons who were treated by the Grahams and Justinen are suffering internal problems, and said all of those treated should contact an internal medicine specialist. "They could be walking around with parasites in their bodies," he said.

Suer, who was at the news conference, said the woman had breast cancer but was diagnosed by Graham as having heart disease. He emphasized that breast cancer is curable in most cases depending on the time of detection, and said the use of enemas prove disastrous" in certain patients. "I think that he believed in this type of treatment," McCord said, referring Graham. "I also believe he was supplementing his income very nicely." The news release said one family paid the Grahams more than 000. Treatment for another person cost $7,400, it said.

The charges, filed in Delaware Superior Court 1, accuse the trio of involuntary manslaughter for Mrs. Bennett's death, citing the "unlawful practice of medicine that inherently poses a risk of serious bodily injury." The reckless homicide charges say the trio administered "purported medical treatment that was in fact not administered under the supervision of or by a licensed physician and which was administered with a plain conscious and unjustifiable disregard of the harm that might 1 result from such treat(See CANCER CLINIC on Page 8) THE MUNCIE STAR "Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is -II Cor. 3:17 VOL. 107-NO. 202 MUNCIE, INDIANA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1983 Townsend Makes It Official By SETH SLABAUGH Star Staff Reporter INDIANAPOLIS State Sen.

Wayne Townsend of Hartford City began a statewide trip Monday to announce officially that he will again seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Townsend started the journey in the rotunda of the Indiana Statehouse. where he said. "There are many issues we could talk about." But the two that best exemplify the differences between a Townsend governorship and the past 14 years of "Republican rule" are utility regulation and public education, he said. Electric utility rates alone have increased 342 percent in northern Indiana since 1969 when the Repub- lican Party gained control of the governor's office, he said.

The 56-year-old farmer said that because of skyrocketing utility costs. "people must devote more and more of their take-home pay to keeping their lights on and their homes heated." He also said that Republican officeholders who have controlled the governorship and a at least one house in the state Legisalture for the past 14 years like to talk about bringing new industries to Indiana. "But the simple fact is. our high utility rates have devastated our industries and businesses. They have discouraged those who might have otherwise come to He promised to fire all members The Great Pumpkin Patch Four- -year-old Amy Pierce has her pick of pumpkins at one of the many places in the Muncie area that sell the large, round, yellow-orange gourdlike fruit that grows on a vine.

Amy was with her father, Gregg Pierce. (Star Photo by Jeff Mastin) Government's Borrowing Hitch in Local Recovery (This is the third in a series of articles by The Star staff on economic recovery and the Muncie area.) By BRIAN FRANCISCO Star Staff Reporter ou better. pessimists wouldn't when expect bad bankers times to are be turning Why scare people away from the loan window with horror stories about jackrabbit interest rates? Lower lending payments should increase borrowing, which should mean more commercial and consumer spending, which should translate into more jobs and a balmier business climate. That is one of those ripple effects. Economic recovery, like econonic recession, operates on the ripple theory in both principle and practice.

Economic ripples are caused by changes in things like inflation, interest on lending, productivity and the trading of goods. After more than three years of recession, the national wave of economic recovery is now lapping up to Muncie. Local banker James Schrecongost watches the movement with what he and others call "cautious HOOSIER HEALTH HOUSE Sorry, we're I NO SMOKING (Star Photo) HOOSIER HEALTH HOUSE "Not Accepted Medical Treatment" The Muncie Star 25 CENTS (AP) SEN. WAYNE TOWNSEND Issues to Talk About" Three City Schools in Line for Closing By JULI NORTH METZGER Star Staff Reporter Declining enrollment is forcing city schools to close, Muncie Community Schools Supt. Donald Slauter said Monday.

"Two elementary schtols will have to close and one middle school almost immediately," Slauter told about 20 people attending the Sigma Iota Epsilon autumn banquet Monday 1 night. Enrollment in Muncie schools has decreased by nearly 6,000 students in the last 10 years, and officials predict it will continue to drop. "We don't need more than three middle Slauter said, "and in my opinion, we don't need more than 12 elementary schools." The system now operates with 14 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. Slauter was asked to address Ball State University's science and managment fraternity op "managing a school system with a declining enrollment." He noted that the task will not be an easy one, but the local school board will have to make a decision within the next few months. He said he will make his recommendation "very soon." Together Again By BRIAN FRANCISCO Star Staff Reporter For two men who couldn't agree when or where they would debate, mayoral candidates Alan Wilson and Jim Carey sure are appearing together a lot even if they are, for the most part, arguing separately.

Repubican incumbent Wilson, 40, and Democratic opponent Carey, 56, were in the same room Monday for the third time in two weeks when they spoke to the Community Concerns Council of Delaware County at the Muncie Area Career Center. Related Story on Page 2 "I think maybe other groups in the city ought to make an effort like this, get both candidates Wilson told representatives of social service agencies. The candidates have, in fact, at least two more chances to compare notes together before they debate in earnest Oct. 26 at Central High School. That debate will be spon- of the Public Service Commission if he is elected.

Republican Gov. Robert Orr arrived at his office in the statehouse shortly after the conclusion of Townsend's news conference. The governor stopped to greet Townsend a and shake his hand. "Thanks for coming, govenor," quipped Townsend. luck," Orr responded.

"To a point." Townsend narrowly lost the Democratic nomination in 1980 to Batesville businessman John Hillenbrand. whom Orr defeated in the general election. Townsend was scheduled to announce his candidacy to media in South Bend, East Chicago and Fort Wayne later Monday, then conclude The outlook is buffered by East Central Indiana's dependence on automobile manufacturing, which, with steel production, has stayed back in the pack of rebounding industries despite recent surges in car sales. "We are not participating in an accelerated level of recovery, but we are improving," Schrecongost observed. "We're seeing more people go back to work," he said.

"We're seeing companies that provide employment starting to build stronger performance in terms of profitability. We're starting to get some requests now for capital expenditures for plant equipment." Schrecongost sees economic trends from his office at American National Bank and Trust Co. in downtown Muncie. He is executive vice president in charge of loans at the bank. He is also a lifelong city resident.

"'We are not a Houston or a Dallas. But we are improving in terms of employment and profitability and attitude," Schrecongost said. "People are starting to buy cars, make improvements in their homes and finance the education of their children. We think those are optimistic signs. his announcement trip Tuesday with stops in Evansville, Clarksville, Bloomington and Terre Haute.

No appearance was planned in any of the counties that Townsend represents in the state senate Adams, Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Huntington, Jay and Wells. "I hate it, but we just couldn't work any of them Townsend told The Star. "I'd be happy to stop by next week." State Rep. Hurley Goodall, D- Muncie, was among the 25 or so supporters who attended the meeting in Indianapolis. Goodall said he is supporting Townsend because of his experience in state government, his "strong background in working for utility (See TOWNSEND on Page 8) sored by the League of Women Voters.

Wilson and Carey will meet tonight with the McKinley Neighborhood Association, Carey told The Star. On Thursday, they'll speak to a meeting of the Delaware County Management Club. Their joint appearance Monday was shortlived. Wilson departed the luncheon after he spoke and before Carey's address. "The mayor said he wanted more of these debate opportunities.

He had many opportunities," Carey said, mentioning five organizations he said Wilson turned down. Audience members wanted to know about law enforcement, the status of Prairie Creek Lake funding and the future of restrictions on property tax collections. Someone asked Wilson why he wanted to be mayor for a second four-year term. "There's a lot of satisfaction in the job," Wilson replied. like you said, 'it's the most gosh-awful job there is.

You take heat, even if you're 100 percent right." Carey wasn't, asked the question. He did say why he thinks he is the better candidate. "I'm going to blow my own horn, Carey said. "Nobody knows Muncie better than Jim Carey. Nobody cares more about Muncie than Jim Carey." The men traded personal jabs.

although Wilson wasn't around to receive Carey's. Wilson noted that Carey has said he would seek state and federal grants for municipal projects. Wilson said his administration has obtained $50 million in such assistance. "All he is saying is. 'me, too.

That's not nearly enough of a reason to vote for somebody." Wilson said about Carey Carey accused Wilson of neglecting the south side of Muncie in regard to street repairs and economic development programs. doesn't get out of his ivory tower," Carey said about Wilson. "This administration has done some good things." Carey acknowledged. "Any administration has done good Index Slauter said it's important to review "what's happened since 1945" to justify the closings. the baby boom following World War II, we built thousands of school buildings in this country." Slauter said.

"and we trained hundreds of thousands of teachers. From a personal point of view, I think we did a very good job." The point is, Slauter said, there are too many buildings and not enough students. School systems. however, are somehow coping, he said. "In Muncie, Kokomo, Richmond and most cities this size in Indiana, they have been able to deal effectively and efficiently with declining enrollment." Slauter said that often fewer buildings mean fewer teachers, but that doesn't have to be the case.

He said another Indiana school corporation similar to Muncie's hired eight teachers after closing some of its school buildings. Slauter said by re-allocating funds. the cor(See SCHOOLS on Page 2) Mild Partly sunny today with highs in the mid 60s. Details on Page 3. At least 17 people were injured and others were feared dead Monday after a grocery store in.

West Virginia was leveled by a fiery natural gas explosion. Page 8. Middle East envoy Robert (Bud) McFarlane was picked Monday bv President Reagan to succeed William Clark as his national security affairs adviser. Story on Page 16. Barnet ..............9 Focus 6 Classified Landers 6 Comics ...15 Markets 12 :.6 Sports.

Deaths ..11 Television Editorials 4 Theaters Muncie I ECONOMIC RECOVERY? '83 "By and large, many of our customers weathered this recessionary storm and the high interest rates better than many other parts of the Why was that? "I think it's because of a prudent, conservative, business-like attitude here," Schrecongost said. That attitude was topped off by what another banker called consumer confidence. Merchants National Bank President Stefan Anderson said this confidence helped spark auto sales here and drive down car-financing to rates at least one percentage point less than in Richmond, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Anderson noted that the amount of consumer installment credit at Muncie's biggest bank shot up 30 percent in the past year. thanks mainly to car purchases.

Cars. No matter how diversified the locals say Muncie's economy is becoming, this remains to a large degree an auto workers town. Another ripple reduced interest rates helped increase car sales, stepping up car production and restoring many men and women to their jobs making parts for cars. "We think recovery will continue at a pace that will permit interest rates to fall somewhat." Anderson said. Schrecongost wasn't so sure.

"Until the federal government can control its (See ECONOMY on Page 8).