Mt. Vernon Register-News from Mt Vernon, Illinois • Page 1

Saturday high 91 low 75. Sunday high 93 low 68. 7:00 a.m. today 68. Downtown at noon 85.

VERNON REGISTER-NEWS MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS SQUARE DEAL FOR ALL SPECIAL FAVORSf OR NONE FORECAST Partly cloudy tonight, chance of thundershowers. Low in mid 60s. Tuesday partly sunny and cooler, high in mid 808. VOLUME 274 MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS, MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1973 2 PAGES WALKER DENIES FUND PER WEEK -r SINGLE COPY QUINTS BAPTIZED The Anderson quints, born April 26 in Portland, to Mr. and Mrs.

Eric Anderson, Brush Prairie, showed various attitudes following their baptism Sunday at Brush Prairie Lutheran church. From left are: Scott, Owen, Audrey, Roger and Diane, photographed at home after the ceremony. (AP Wirephoto) Cindy Shopinski, Age 10 Ashley Girl Drowns In Farm Pond Cindy Anette Shopinski, 10, of Ashley, drownwi in a farm pond two miles northwest of Richview, Saturday evening. She was the daughter of Louis and Cinthia Shopinski, of Ashley. The child was wading in a pond at the farm of Cecil Newcomb when she stepped into a deep hole and went under water.

Her family and the Newcombs, who were near the pond, tried unsuccessfully to readi her. They called the Washington county sheriff's office, and the deputies then called the Jefferson County Civil Defense rescue team. Divers Ron Robinson and Frank Moore recovered the child's body in about 12 feet of water, after a 50-minute search. The tragedy occurred at a pre-school party that the families were giving for their children, deputies said. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m.

Tuesday at the Hogan Funeral Home at Ashley, with the Rev. James Van Huess officiating. Burial will be in Ashley cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today.

Cindy Shopinski was born Dec. 5, 1962, at Ashley. She is survived by her arents; two brothers, rnest and Gregory, both at home; three sisters, Betty, Sheryl, and Stacey, at home; and three grandparents, Mrs. Mamie Thomas, Mrs. Bertha Vaughn, and Louis ski.

County Highway Crews Start Work On Woodlawn Road The Jefferson County Highway Department began work today on the Woodlawn Road, starting from U.S. Route 460. The road will be asphalted from Route 460 to Woodlawn. The project is the first in the county's five-year permanent road paving program, to be funded with one-half of the county's anticipated revenue sharing funds during the next five years. The county recently purchased an asphalt paving machine, which was used for the first time this morning.

Cyclist Killed When Hits Train LAWRENCEVILLE, 111 (UPI) Harold L. Brink 18, Lawrenceville, was killed Sunday when his motorcycle struck the engine of a 91-car Baltimore and Ohio freight train. Police said Brink apparently was trying to beat the train at the crossing on Illinois 1 Motorcade Cancelled Uncover Plot To Kill Nixon In New Orleans BULLETIN! Nixon Says He Ordered Secret Raids By GAYLORD SHAW Associated Press Writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) President Nixon acknowledged for the first time today that he ordered secret bombing raids in Cambodia one month after he took office in 1969. Lashing out at critics of his Indochina policies, the President said in a statement released as he addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention that the raids were necessary to protect American lives.

He said if he faced the same decision today, he would take the same action. When he took office in January 1969, Nixon said, 40,000 North Vietnamese troops had taken over a 10- mile-wide stretch in Cambodia alongside the South Vietnamese border. "The Communists had made a mockery of the neutrality of those border regions," Nixon said. "The United States was under no moral obligation to respect the sham." Nixon said he ordered U.S. airpower "employed directly and continually" against Communist base areas in Cambodia and said the Cambodian government "did not object to the strikes." "In fact," Nixon added, "while strikes were in (Continued on Page ,2) ByFRANCESLEWINE Associated Press Writer NEW ORLEANS, La.

(AP) Plans for a presidential motorcade through New Orleans were cancelled today after the Secret Service said it had uncovered a "possible conspiracy to assassinate the President" during his visit to the city. President Nixon was flying here from Florida to address the 7th annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, his first public appearance in six weeks. Before he left, a White House spokesman said the scheduled motorcade through the city was being abandoned as a result of an investigation by the Secret Service, the FBI and the New Orleans Police Department. New Orleans police were asked by the Secret Service to arrest a former pouce- man who was described as armed and extremely dangerous. Police declined to sayl whether the former policeman, identified as Edward M.

Gaudet, alias was wanted in connectior with the President's visit The call to pick up Gaudet went out shortly after it was reported that New Orleans Police Supt. Clarence Giarrusso's car and a policeman's uniform had been stolen. Gaudet was arrested on Aug. 14, 1970 when Nixon drove through the French quarter in a motorcade. He was charged with attempting to desecrate a flag by burning it and throwing it on the President's car.

Paul Fitch Dies Sunday At Age 66 Paul M. Fitch, 66, of 28 Northbrook a well- known Mt. Vernon civic leader and the business manager of Rend Lake died at 8:42 a.m. Sunday at Good Samaritan Hospital. Mr.

Fitch was active in Mt. Vernon charitable, civic and club affairs for many years, having held high offices in many organizations. He was a past president of the Jefferson Ck)unty Shrine Club, and was a member of the A.F. A.M. Lodge 31, and the Consistory.

Mr. Fitch was a past exalted ruler of the Elks Club and a past president of the Lions Club. He also was a member of the Moose Lodge. He was a director of King City Federal Savings and Loan and was a past durec- tor of First Bank and Trust. In City And County Burglars Run Rampant Here Over Weekend Burglars and thieves had a big weekend in Mt.

Vernon and Jefferson county, but an ambitious effort to break into Carp's Department Store, on 42nd Street at Broadway, was foiled early this morning. At Carp's, well-equipped burglars made an attempt to enter the building through the roof. They cut a hole through the roof, kept cutting right on through the insulation, then started to work their way through the metal ceiling tile. Janitor Barry Reed, alerted by the noise of their efforts, reported the activity to police at 12:49 a.m. Police arrived, but the burglars had fled.

Police said the burglars must have left when they discovered that the janitor was on duty there. Other burglars and thieves were more successful, as the following reports were made to city and county authorities: The House of Prayer, 1104 S. 5th was entered Friday night by burglars who broke a window to get in. However, city police said, nothing was taken. Burglars may have used a key to enter the home of Alta Allen, 615 S.

15th Friday night. The victim's father said a television set was taken. A 10-foot aluminum boat was stolen from a private lake at the home of Hyman Rubin, 504 N. 27th Friday night. It was valued at $150.

A new saddle was taken sometime between Wednesday and Saturday from the home of Kenneth Kash, at Bonnie. Biu-glars entered the home of Bobby Taylor, 1125 S. 9th between Thursday and Saturday, through the front door. TTiey took several food items, and got three dollars in cash. Twenty-one rabbits, each worth three dollars; five chickens; two bags of feed and cage wire were stolen Friday or Saturday from a farm owned by Virgil Bailey northwest of Mt.

Ver- (Continued.on Page 2) PAUL M. FITCH He was a past president of the Mt. Vernon Township High School Board of Education, and served as treasurer of Mt. Vernon City Schools District 80. He also was a past Jefferson county chapter chairman of the American Red Cross.

Mr. Fitch was bwn in Texico on August 3,1907, the son of Archie and Mabel (Hawkins) Fitch. He was married on Sept. 16, 1934, to Ethel Storment, who died in 1969. He was a member of the First United Methodist church.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Myers Chapel, with the Rev. Carl Heam officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery. Friends may call at Myers Chapel after 5 p.m.

Tuesday. Masonic services will be held at the funeral chapel at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Mr. Fitch is survived by two daughters, Mrs.

Jane Garrison, Fayetteville, N.C., and Mrs. Patty Twin, Walterboro, S.C.; three grandsons and one granddaughter. The preferred memorial would be to the Coronary Care Unit of Good Samaritan Hospital. Car Hits Trees, Embankment; Four Missourians Hurt B'our Missourians received minor injuries Sunday morning when their car hit an embankment and ran into a grove of trees on Route 460, six miles southeast of Mt. Vernon.

Injured were Vita Elsperman, 56, of Kirkwood, the driver of the car; and Marie Calderon, 38, (3enaro Calderon, 39, and Gloria Calderon, all of Gray Summit. Elsperman told county sheriff's deputies that he lost control of the car when it hit a bump. The car skidded off the highway and crashed. It had major damage. The Calderons were X- rayed at Jefferson Memorial Hospital and released.

Elsperman was treated and released. DENIES CHARGES Gov. Dan Walker answers charges of campaign funding irregularities at a press conference in Chicago Sunday. Walker said the charges were "distortions, deceptions, manipulation of facts and outright lies." (AP Wirephoto) Laotian Army Crushes Coup VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) Laotian government troops in less than 10 hours crushed an attempt by a right-wing exiled general to overthrow Premier Souvan- na Phouma and torpedo the pending agreement with the Communist Pathet Lao to set up a coalition government. The rebel leader, Gen.

Thao Ma, a former commander of the Laotian air force, was reported killed when a T28 bomber he had commandeered crash-landed after being hit by ground fire. It was Thao Ma's second unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Prince Souvanna Phouma, who is classed as a neutralist. Tlie general had been an exile in Thailand since his first attempted coup, in 1966. Highway Workers strike Continues In Metro-East EDWARDSVILLE, 111. (AP) Some 500 highway lalwrers remained off the job in southern IHinoi.s today following their rejection Sunday of a tentative agreement with the Southern Illinois Builders Association.

Tlie workers, represented by the 12-county Southwestern Illinois Laborers District Council, refused to ratify the compromise settlement, reached Friday during talks with federal mediators, at a meeting in EdwardsvUle. The key issue in the dispute is a demand that double-time pay be given for any overtime work in Madison and St. Clair Counties. Suspects GOP Wrongdoing Walker Orders Probe Into Highway Contract During Campaign Say Walker Aide Asked Funds From Liquor Licensees CHICACJO (AP) The Chicago Sun-Times said today that a lop Walker fund-raiser personally solicited contributions from two Cliicago businessmen who hold liquor licenses. The paper said Elliot Epstein has to seeking the donations.

But Epstein said he did not know the Thomas J. Bowler and George interest in several Chicago restaurants which serve liquor. Under state law it is a misdemeanor for a person with an interest in a liquor license to make a political campaign donation. Earlier this year, Walker came under heavy criticism for accepting campaign money from Chicago millionaire Anthony G. Angelos, reportedly linked with two firms holding liquor licenses.

Angelos' contribution, which Walker later called a loan, came to light when Walker attempted to appoint Angelos to a state position. Bowler and Krug could not be reached for comment. The Suji-Times said Walker's campaign fund records show Bowler donated between $5 ,000 and $10,000 and Krug gave between $1,000 and $5 ,000. Epstein, who is now the director of the state Department of Finance, was quoted as saying he told possible contributors that if they held liquor licenses it would be illegal for them to contribute. Oil May Be At Bottom Of Maine And Vermont Lock Horns In "Lobster War" KITTERY POINT, Maine (AP) The Maine-New Hampshire "lobster war" isn't just a battle over those tasty crustaceans that lurk along the ocean bottom.

Some fishermen think it's all politics. Others insist the controversy is over potentially lucrative offshore oil deposits. As things stand now, the U.S. Supreme Court may have the final say in resolving clauns by the two New England states to 2,400 contested acres of ocean between Portsmouth, N.H., Harbor and the Isles of Shoals. If the justices agree to hear the case and appoint a special master to take evidence, it probably will be years before a decision is reached.

New Hamjjshire took the controversy to the Supreme Court after two of its lob- stermen were arrested by Maine coastal wardens for fishing waters claimed by that state. "Maine has apparently declared war on us," declared New Hampshire Gov. Meldrim Thomson after the second arrest. To many New Englanders, the much-publicized controversy has been a source of some amusement but little concern. It's no joke, however, to the lob- stermen who drop their traps in the heavily fished waters and earn all or part of their livelihood from the sea.

CHICAGO (AP) Gov. Daniel Walker says a former Republican state of- ficifjl awarded a $1.1 million statx; contract to a construction firm once cited for possible syndicate links. Walker made the charge during a news conference Sunday which focused on recent newspaper accounts of possible irregularities in Walker's own fund-raising and contract-awarding practices. Walker, a Democrat, said (hat William F. Cellini, state transportation secretary under former Gov.

Richard B. Ogilvie, awarded the contract on his last day in office. It wont tx) the August H. Skoglund Co. of River Grove by the Chicago Crime Commission in 1968 as a company whose owner "openly and frequently a.ssociatcs with syndicate members." However, the company has not been mentioned in commission reports since 1968.

Walker said he was suspending the Skoglund contract, a federal investigation and ordering a similar investigation by the Illinois Bureau of Investigation. Cellini, although appointed by Ogilvie, was transportation secretary under Walker until Feb. 28 while the governor searched for a successor. A Walker press aide said the contract was officially awarded to the Skoglund firm on Feb. 28.

Celhni said he did not remember the Skoglund contract and that he was not familiar with the firm, which was low bidder for the contract. But he said Walker's office received aU lists of low bidders on state projects. "If they (the governor's were concerned about' this contract, they were in office and some action could have been taken," Cellini said. Plane Crash At Saiem-Centralia Man Killed Sunday SALEM, Ul. (AP) Berle D.

Kesterson, 45, of tralia was killed Sunday when the homemade plane he was piloting crashed in a soybean field northeast of Salem. The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the crash which occurred on Kesterson's final approach to the Salem airport. "OUTRIGHT LIES" SAYS GOVERNOR ByT. LEEHVGHES Associated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP) Gov. Daniel Walker has branded as "distortions, deceptions, manipulation of facts and outright lies" published reports alleging irregularities in fund-raising for his campaign.

At a news conference Sunday, Walker heatedly denied allegations he had accepted contributions from firms with possible underworld ties. "The mob did not give me any cash, it didn't give me any checks it didn't give me any money," Walker said. Walker also said he knew of no illegal practices employed on liis behalf, and said that "to the best of my knowledge no pressure tactics were used on anyone" to contribute to his campaign. Walker was responding to stories in the (Chicago Sun- Times and Daily News that his fund-raising activites had included questionable legal practices, apparent rewards big contributors, pressure on potential donors, and possible links to organized crime. The two newspapers have said they were basing many of their reports on a computerized list of contributors to the Walker campaign fund.

Walker said the list was apparently one stolen earlier from the office of the All Illinois Democratic Committee. He said contributors are listed because of tbeir contributions to oUier campaigns as well as his own. Thus, if the newspapers are using the list "there is a serious problem of accuracy," Walker said. But Walker repeated earlier refusals to release his own list of campaign contributors. He said the donations were made with the understanding the names of the donors would not be revealed, and that he coiild not violate that trust.

Asked why he did not begin his campaign on the premise that contributions would be made public. Walker replied, "That's a good question." Walker was questioned sharply about reports that an investment banking firm, duPont Glore Forgan, received a state job worth between $75 ,000 and $100,000 in legal fees after buying $20,000 worth of tickets to a Walker fund-raising dinner. Walker said he saw no impropriety in awarding a contract to a large contributor, and the firm got the job as an advisor on a state bond issue because of its qualifications. Walker likened the situation to giving a job to someone who has assisted in CONVICTED Accused mass murderer Herbert MuUui, 26, was convicted in Santa Cniz. Sunday, of killing 10 persons, including a woman and her two small sons.

(AP Wirephoto).