Alton Evening Telegraph from Alton, Illinois • Page 1

ALTON EVENING TELEGRAPH Vol. 13 Serving Madison, 9 (Irtwne and Cftlhoun Counties Alton Telfiornnh Prlnllnn 1071 Alton, Illinois, Tue.sdny, 11, Rothenberg client held in Wells case ny JOK Telegraph stnff Writer KDWAHDSVILLE A client of David Rolhonborg, Colllnsvlllo attorney accused in Ilic nun-dor nr Wlllluni Wells, WHS secretly being held today for questioning as a possible suspect In the gangland-style slaying, the Telegraph learned from confidential sources. Bobby Joe Jackson, 30, of 8(117 Fairway Collinsvllle, sought by federal authorities since his indictment Dec. by a U.S. Grand Jury, was arrested in Granite City Monday.

Jackson was charged with theft of four clothes dryers from an interstate railroad shipment in Granite City a year ago. Jackson was being held in jail on a hold order from the U.S. marshal's office and was be questioned by authorities here in the murder case. Madison County Sheriff John Maeras refused comment on the pickup of Jackson because of a court order issued last week by Chief Circuit Judge Michael Kinney banning "court of- ffcers" from talking about the case. But the Telegraph learned from other sources that Jackson was considered as a prime suspect in the Wells case.

He has not been charged. Sources said Jackson was heavily in debt to Rothenberg for legal service he furnished In prior cases Jackson was Involved tn. The Telegraph learned that Rothenberg represented Jackson on two St. Clair County felony cases still pending and represents him In the federal case. The federal case began to develop on Jan.

22, 1971, when the FBI obtained a federal warrant for the arrest of Jackson and John Victor Roedler Jr. of Collinsville, in connection with the railroad theft case. On Feb. 2, agents arrested Jackson in the law office of Rothenberg in Collinsville. Jackson posted $5,001) property bond the same day on the federal charge, in an appearance before U.S.

Commissioner Ronald Mottax in Alton. The case then went to the federal grand jury in Springfield within the next month and the grand jury failed to return an indictment. The case was revived in November and on Dec. 3, 1071, Jackson and Roedler were named in a federal Indictment handed down by a grand jury, charging the pah- wit the original theft. Meanwhile, Jackson was reportedly hiding out In Poplar Bluff, but was, under' the surveillance of agents.

His trail led to Granite City, where lie was picked up Monday by Granite City police on a federal warrant. Later in Ilic day, Jackson was transferred to Madison County jail. Meanwhile, Hothenbcrg called the U.S. commissioner in Alton, Mottaz, and asked about the charges, telling Mottaz that he represented Jackson in this case and the original one. The federal warrant sets the bond on Jackson at $5,000.

Jackson had posted $5,000 bond on the original charge which the grand jury failed to indict him on. Rothenberg, according to sources, also represented Jackson on a burglary case and a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor both St. Clair County cases. The St. Clair County state's attorney's office told the Telegraph the cases were still pending.

Jackson becomes the second client of Rothenberg to figure in the Wells case. A St. Louis dental student who retained Rothenberg for a traffic case has admitted to authorities that he placed what he thought was a prank phone call to Wells four days after the death of state police Cpl. Fred Wheeler. Wheeler and Wells had worked on stolen car rings in the past and Wheeler died of an accidental shooting Nov.

15. Four days after the fatal shooting, Wells got a call from a man who said "we got your buddy from two years ago, you're next." The dental student came forth with the information a short time after Wells' body was found in his car trunk in East St. Louis Dec. 13, the Telegraph was told. The student said he was asked by Rothenberg to make the call "as a practical joke." Rothenberg reportedly told the student that his legal bill would be wiped out if he made the call to Wells.

The denial student told authorities that he retained Rnthenberg because of his association with Rothcnberg's brother, who also is a denial student. The dental student said he balked at the high fee charged by Rothenberg and went along with the "practical joke." SECTIONS .30 PAGES Price lOc Est. Jan. 15, 1838 Hanoi's offensive in Laos succeeding Injured in clash An officer reaches down to lift an injured Negro following his arrest in Baton Kouge, Monday following a shooting incident that left lour dead. (AP Wirepholo) Baton Rouge clash results in 4 dead BATON ROUGE, La.

(AP) Mayor W. W. Dumas blames Black Muslims in part for a street gunfight between law enforcement officers and blacks which left four men dead. Seven young Muslims deny their organization was involved. A spokesman for the NAACP says he isn't sure who was involved in shooting which erupted Monday after police moved in to clear a city street of an impromptu rally at which militants were calling for improved conditions in the cily's black community.

ov John McKeilhen blamed the burst of gunfire on a downtown street two miles from Louisiana's capitol on "outsiders." And Sheriff's Detective Capt. Bryan Clemmons Jr. says "some sort of suicide plot" might have boon involved in the Shootout which took the lives of two deputies and Iwo blacks. went blacks we're and charged with disturbing the peace 'after Ihc 'afternoon Shootout and eight of the 20 were later charged with murder in the deaths of the two deputies. Some 25 persons were treated for injuries, including Baton Rouge Police Chief Eddie Bauer.

Four hundred National Guard troops were called to duly to bolster local and state police in enforcing a dusk to dawn curfew. Bars and grocery stores were ordered closed. "We have every reason to believe this is a national movement by the Muslims," 1) a said. "The information we get is that this isn't just local." McKeilhen said the city aware of what he called the outsiders. "Mayor Dumas called me Monday morning and warned me there could be trouble," McKeithen said, "but he thought they would come to City Hall and talk to him." Tlie seven young men who disclaimed Muslim involvement did so In a handed to newsmen after the shooting.

They said they were members of the Black Muslim movement in Baton Rouge, but they were not identified. They said the blacks who fought with police apparently were renegades who called themselves Muslims. Harvey Britton, field director of the Louisiana NAACP, said', "We don't know that there are Black Muslims involved. Or if it is an out-of- town or fractional group. We don't know if it was the Muslims or the NAACP or anyone else." In speaking of a possible suicide plot, Clemmons said: "From what we get on the streets, they told people to bring your friends to a meeting Monday and they told them to tell a policeman and you'll sec something you've never seen before.

So we don't know." When police arrived at the scone of the rally which had drawn some 100 persons, Bauer said, a group of 18 blacks stood shoulder to shoulder in frail of a wall of cars blocking the street. "They were lined up like a little bunch of (in soldiers, like they wanted us to come up and talk to them," Clemmons said. SAIGON (AP) North Vietnam's dry season offensive has scored major gains In bolh northern and southern Laos, sources in Vientiane reported today. Ten Laotian battalions retreated today from the village of Ban Nhik, in the south after a two-hour battle that broke an enemy siege, but the retreat le.fl the entire Bolovens plateau to the North Vietnamese. In the north, Laotian troops were driven from Phou Cum, 25 miles north of the Plain of Jars, and Sam Thong, southwest of the plain, while the North Vietnamese kept up their pressure on Long Cheng, the former U.S.

Central Intelligence Agency base. The Laotian troops broke out of Ban Nhik, about 17 miles east of Paksc, alter other army units launched a diversionary operation. About 200 Laotian soldiers were killed, wounded or missing, informed sources said. North Vietnamese casualties were not reported. The North Vietnamese outflanked the Laotians Sunday night and- pounded them with artillery and mortar shells, firing more than 1,000 rounds in one period Monday.

The source said the North Vietnamese used "hugging tactics," sticking so close to the village that U.S. and Laotian air strikes could not hit the North Vietnamese without causing casualties to the Laotians. The loss of Phou Cum on the northern front left Bouam Long, 15 miles to the southeast, the only government outpost north of the Plain of Jars. Field reports said government forces abandoned Phou Cum after an artillery and ground attack, and an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 civilians began a 50-mile trek through enemy-controlled mountains to reach the nearest government territory. Sam Thong, once a ma.ior refugee center, was abandoned Monday afternoon a heavy artillery barrage, but Thai troops continued 1 hold Fire Base Thunder two miles lo the east, sources in Vientiane said.

Military sources said Sam Thong was attacked from the west and this indicated the North Vietnamese were trying In encircle Long Cheng, 0 miles (o the southwest. Semiofficial sources in Hie Laotian capital said Long Cheng technically has not fallen to Ihe enemy hut is no longer serving its original functions as a base for CIA operations and for Gen. Vang Pao's of Mm tribesmen. The U.S. Command in Saigon announced I hat North Vietnam has moved surface- to-air missile batteries into southern Laos for Ihe.

first time in nine months and one of them fired unsuccessfully twice at an American fighter- bomber Monday. The American pilol did not return the fire because he could not pinpoint Ihe missile battery in the thick jung'e. The U.S. Command also reported the fourth American air strike Inside North Vietnam this year, an attack Monday night on an antiaircraft radar site in Ihe Ban Kara! pass, 35 mi'es north of the A communique sniil the site apparently was destroyed by two Shrike missiles fired by an Air Force F150 fitih'er escort. There was no damage to tho U.S.

aircraft, tho command said. The South Vietnamese command in Saigon reported an upsurge In fighting In South Vietnam, wilh 26 enemy attacks, the most In Vfa weeks. One Viet Cong attack overrun an outpost in Ihe Mekong Delta, killing seven of the defenders and wounding 10. Six of Ihe enemy wuro reported killed. Alton wants bite of Godfrey in return for help on sewers Ily AKTIIUIt.l.'l'll()MASIIN Telegraph Slaff Annexation is the key to a proposed agreement between Alton and Godfrey for sewage treatment, at the Alton plant, the city's sewer committee told the township's utility board Monday night.

For the first time in the negotiations between the two political subdivisions. annexation was openly and officially mentioned, ami the city's sewer committee, in a position to make the demands, made it very clear that the city wants part of Godfrey in exchange for sewer service. But it was only little more than demands that were exchanged before both cides left the meeting no closer to an agreement. Godfrey Township Supervisor Dale Kennedy said annexation should not be a part of the contract for sewer service, and if it is "we would reach an Impasse at that point." Kennedy said Godfrey was only interested in a conn-act with Alton for the city to intercept and treat the I (i ship's sewage, and nothing more. "These meetings are a waste of time if annexation is to be an issue," he said.

Godfrey in an effort resolve its sewage crisis, has sought an agreement with the city for treatment of the township's sewage cast of Rte. 67. As part of the deal, the city wants to acquire a parcel in Godfrey winch geographically juts down into the city and includes the blighted Lincoln Gardens area and valuable commercial property along (lie Beltline. Significantly, the city administration and sewer committee feel they are in a good bargaining position to Knight pays back $8,872 on expense account claim Ity IHA TI51NOWITZ Telegraph's Capital Bureau SPRINGFIELD Joseph E. Knight of Dow, former director of the state Department of Financial Institutions, Monday paid back to the state $8,872.80 he had illegally claimed on state expense accounts.

Knight, who is also under I i in charges stemming from a federal race I rack investigation, tinned over a certified check to Raymond L. Terrell, special assistant attorney general in Judge Harvey Beam's Sangamon County Circuit Court. In previous actions the court had ruled that John S. Ilcnson of Villa Grove, assistant director of financial institutions, was 'required In turn over and (hat Fred A. Cain of Jacksonville, or i of abandoned properly for the deparlnu'iil, was required to turn over Inside Editorial More tux waste.

Schools A-S Junior high promotions out- Television (tilled? Comics Weather MO Partly sunny Wednesday; low 30s, high 5fls. Tom-horn unhappy. TuunirklRo solid pick, AnnwemenlH A-2 A-ll C-l A-ll A-B A-7 A-ll A-13 Irish women light for communication. Olilliiiulcs Stocks The actions followed Belter Association (BGA) disclosures that Knight a his assistants claimed their home was (heir office on stale expense vouchers, Ihen charged Ilic slate for mileage from (heir homes to Springfield. Since Ihey spent alums! all Iheir lime in Springl'leW, Ilic IHiA said, slate expense inles i rod Ihcm lo call Springfield Iheir home base.

Knight has been sued for but Iho slnle for $8,872.811. The suit slated that Kniv.hl. Improperly ll.sled Dow, rallirr Hum Springfield, as his a a I s. Thus, chiii-giid, he collected Improper ravel expenses while working In Ihe nnlii office of the nl' Institutions In Ihe capital. Tllo payment will clear up omt of Iho ticmidfils involving Knight, bill at least one.

other Is still left. Knight, along with former Olio Kerner, fnnmir a in board Chairman William S. Miller and Miller's secretary have been iniiiclcd on charges of bribery, income lax evasion, conspiracy in trying to obtain worth of nice (rack slock for $7,158. A special judge Is i brought in from district lo hear Ihe case I trial ciiuld I'cuin sometime in I'Vbruary. Tin 1 Telegraph Monday revealed Hint Kninht hail been suspended from the hoard of of Ihe Viral Bank of Alton as a rosiill of his iiiiliclnieiil.

Knlghl is orio of the biggest Individual slockliolilc-rs in the Alton bank, it was Iraninl l(Khiy. Ills R25 shares of slock, assessed for lax purposes al have full fair value of nearly Telegraph Ivarneil. Knight is one of Mil lu- divlduiil sliiireholdurs in Ihe bank, but will have, no official viilco on tho board of directors duspito Ills holdings. Priest in Congress Tho Kov. Uoborl Driiuin, a Jesuit priest inn) Mass- uchiiNOtlti Congressman, dials with constituent, Mrs.

Frederick Heck at llurviinl Monday. Kecenll.v Cardinal Ki'ol of said leather Driii- uu is violating church law by serving in Congress mid should resign. Tho priest 1ms been quoted us saying Im luul iiumilNslon from the, Into Cimlhml Itlchurd Cashing bofvro going into politics and that ho had boon praised by Jesuit sunorlor. (Al' Wlrophoto) ge.t the Godfrey parcel and that Godfrey virtually has its back to the wall because of Ihe sewage woes. Three of Ihe Godfrey sewage lagoons are critically overloaded and the state Environmental Protection Agency warned that no mure sewer tap-ons are to be made to the lagoons.

Moreover, the Illinois Pollution Control Board is now proposing that, sewage treatment capacity should be provided before, not after, development takes place, a measure that would Hock development in Godfrey until sewage requirements are met. To meet Ihe requirements for federal funding, which represents nearly half of the total costs. Godfrey must provide sewers to Lincoln Gardens in the Oakwood area, Kennedy explained. Alton Mayor Paul Lens said the city could better and more economically serve that area "because it projects deeply into the heart of Alton." "But our problem in this area is quite similar to Godfrey's. If we extend sewer service through that area, we have to somehow (financially) justify it lo Ihe citizens of Alton." Lcnz was referring to the inability of residents in the low-income area lo pay for sewer service and a compensation for such a loss in revenue by the inclusion of the Beltline property in the package.

The property in question includes Striker Chevrolet, Tri-City Grocery and the Belscot Shopping ('enter, three properties which would return thousands jf dollars in sales, real estate and personal properly tax revenues to the cily annually. Ihe same token, however, Godfrey would lose Ihc income-producing properly, especially at a time when the township needs all of the tax revenue it can gel, and would give up Its only claim to public housing the Oakwood units. "We are not going to take any steps to push any tax base into the city," Kennedy declared. "If the people In this area want to annex, it's their mailer, but we don't have Ihc authority to do it." Kennedy told the Telegraph that he felt most of the people living in the area the city wants to acquire don't want to annex to the city. The Telegraph has Itvrned, however, that at least one of the businesses in question wants to annex to the city and through piecemeal annexation of other property surrounding the area the city is seeking to acquire, the parcel could then become a part of the city without annexation proceedings.

Raymond Young, a member of the city council's sewer committee, said annexation should not be a part of the contract, but acknowledged it should be discussed. The seventh ward aldermen, who represents part of the Milton area, related the Godfrey sewer uroblems to similar difficulties in Millon thai were resolved, he said, through annexation. Astronauts to make tour WASHINGTON (AP) The State Department says President Nixon has asked Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott, Alfred M. Worden and James B.

Irwin to make a good-will tour of Poland and Yugoslavia. Two of Alton's seven war hero brothers die By AN1)K YAKSTIS Telegraph Slaff Writer Two heroic members of Alton's famous seven fighting brothers of World War 11 died only minutes apart Saturday after army careers, Including a bravery decoration for one from Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Col. Millanl Glen Gray, 58, who gained national attention for his daring exploits in World War II, died in Hawaii while his brother, Noil 55, another decorated soldier, died in Godfrey, perhaps as little as 10 minutes earlier.

They were members nl llu- seven fighting Gray brothers who went oft In World II and attained ilisliiminslioil service careers. Col. Millard Gray, became a national hero in 1943 was decorated by Gen. Douglas MacArllnir for his bravery in leading an ntuick against the Japanese near Buna, New Guinea, His dead brother, Noll, was decorated wllh the Silver Star as a paratrooper during World War II. Col.

Gray will be burled in Hawaii while funeral sorvlecs for Neil were held today In Alton. One of tho other fighting Grays, Donald, In 19,14. Four surviving brothers urn and Dane of Alli.n, Merle of Kenuosaw, Ga. and Gordon of Gardner, Kau. John Is a colonel wllh reserve, status.

Boy grabs $4.3 million NEW YOltlv (AP) FBI agents, police and truant officers today hunted a sticky- fingered, sneaker-shod boy thief who snatched an envelope containing million in negotiable sccurlllcs from a Wall Street messenger. The hoy, described as about made the grab at a crowded street corner in tho financial district Monday morning and escaped In a waiting car driven by a man. Krnest Slaltl, messenger for tho United Stales Trust Co. of Mew York, hiid picked up the blue manlln envelope at tho Federal lle.servi) Bunk on Ublrly Street mid wins walking tliu llirw) blocks to his otflco. A spokesman for the Iruat company suld tho lose wai lully covered by Inuurnnco..