The Post-Standard from Syracuse, New York • Page 23

THE N. Tuttdty, Februrr 1991 Delair Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Murder Case Pleads Guilty After Charge Is Reduced By DAVE WOLFANGBR Staff CANTON Supreme Court Judge Michael Sweeney of Sara toga sentenced confessed mur Robert H. Delair, to "not less than 30 years and not more nan you natural life" here Mon day. The 2I-y a r-old Star Lake plumber's helper appeared calm and showed no visible signs of emotion as the sentence was pro nminced A motion to reduce the first degree murder charge to one oi second degree was made by de fense attorney and granted by Sweeney The innocent plea to murder in the first degree was then changed to guilty of the second degree count and was entered by the defense in behalf of Delair. The tall, lanky, native of Ben son Mines, allegedly followed Mrs.

Trombley out of a Star Lake tavern along Ki. 3, and IS reported to have accosted her When she rebuffed his advances. he is alleged to have muffled her a dragged her into a section and, in an attempted rape, strangled her. Delair was arrested by state police Star Lake on Aug. 30, for the slaying which oc curred Aug.

21. He was indicted 'by the September, 1960 St. Lawrence County grand jury The court session here Monday, opened with a motion by Dist. Atty, Charles Bowers lor the judge to set a trial date. court-appointed defense attorneys, Boss Brown of Morns- town and Edmund Shea of Ogdensburg, then asked for a reduction of the charge from first degree murde ID murder in the second degree Bowers then recommended to the judge that the count be reduced on the grounds he felt the muider "was liot premeditated" and the court would be "justified" in accepting the lesser charge, view of the HEADED FOR SENTENCE Robert Homer Delair, 21, confessed murderer of Constance Beverly Trombley, 18, Star Lake housewife, was sentenced to 30 years to life Monday by Supreme Court Judge Michael Sweeney at Canton.

Delair is handcuffed to Detective Fred McGraw of the St. Lawrence County sheriff's department as they were enroute to the court room. In back of Delair is Harold Mitchell, -warden at the county jail. money it would cost the county." The attorneys also withdrew one of the motions asking iir)iHnvtpt returned by the grand jury. Judge Sweeney before pronouncing the sentence said "I feel that you should be sent away for a good Jong while." He COTV tinued "In passing sentence it is my duty to protect society.

Ii is my profound obligation to society." Ths judge else said that because of Dejair's age and with the help of the slate and his cooperation, he might be able to take his place in society agajn, after a program of rehabilitation "You now stand convicted of murder in the second degree. This is a smous crime. There is very little that a jiidge has to do that, is Jess distasteful than pronounce sentence," Sweeney said. He asked Delair if he had anything to say to the court. Delair simply and calmly said.

"No." "I now crder ou confined to the state prison at Dannemora for not less than 30 years and not more than your natural life," said the judge. Delair was remanded to the St. Lawrence founty jail by the judge, pending his transfer to Clinton Pnson at Dannemora, Village Told Water Supply Almost Gone BLOOMINGDALE a rl L. Taylor, mayor of Bloomingdale, i an emergency warning late Monday afteernoon that the village water supply was so sen- jousiy depleted that residents must take precaution in the use of water. The emergency the mayor said, would last unti P'burgh Still Plagued By Waterline Freezing further notice.

Taylor said that the residents have been permitUng the water to run all day and night to prevent ireeung during the severe told or tne past Now the village water table, he said, "was down to the botton of the barrel" with the possibi! Uy that unless residents cooperate fully, the village may run ou: of water. The mayor also advised tha the low water level required the ivillage to chlorinate the water and that the residents should nol become alarmed by any unusual taste in their water while the emergency lasts. Water Floods City Streets to Ttic Potl-Standaril A Ont. City streets stoshed with water early Delair was brought into courtiMnnHav when an estimated water poured out from the sheriff's office by De ooo tective Fred McGraw and War den Harold Mitchell, of the Sher iff's department. Damages Water Store, Stock OGDENSBUHG-A food market at the Seaway shopping center here was open for business Monday following a minor flood on the premises over the weekend.

Tlie of Hie Acme market, Joseph Hawes, said tha water leaking from the roof which was caused by melting ice caused severe damage to the stock and in some places two inches of water accumulated. The leak in the roof was discovered about 3 p.m. Sunday by Hawes. Six men worked until almost fl pm. repairing the leak, with stilt others working later' to ready the store for business Monday morning.

When asked what the estimate of damage might be Hawes said '1 haven't the" slightest idea but it is undoubtedly quite a large amount." The water poured through small openings the roof. Church Women Plan Smorgasbord MASvSENA A smorgasbord, in annual event in the activities of the Women's Federation of Emmanuel a i a Church, is scheduled for Feb. 3,1 ir. the church dining room at Massenk. Mrs.

Frank Aiherman a Mrs. S. Browning are co- of the event. Past dm- havs been sell-out affairs. attending may purchase tickets for a dinner hour beginning at 3.30 pm.

or 9-M pm, the nijht ot the dinner. of an overhead tank. Cornwall city engineers a meter indicating the amount of water in the tank went out of order and the tank was over filled. They attributed the meter failuie to the cold weather, Til- accident was noted shortly cr 4 a.m. It was at first feared the large tan 1 had burst.

No one was injured in the incident. Scholarship Dance Scheduled NORWOOD The Norwood- Norfolk Parent-Teacher Association will sponsor annual scholarship dance in the Junior- Senior High School cafeteria Feb. 9 at 8 p.m During the past six years, students were given scholarships totaling S1.300 the group's scholarships fund. Round and square dancing is scheduled, i PLATTSBURGH--Moderating temperatures Monday failed to halt the daily number of waterline reported in Plattsburgh houses. Water and Sewage Dept.

Supt. Frank Behan reported about 30 more service lines required thawing out by crews from his department. He warned residents not to Sun Changes Weather Picture Along Seaway MASSENA--Seaway Vailfty residents enjoyed the sunshine and i temperatures which painted Monday's weather picture, and forward to more of the same for Tuesday. Temperatures a i above the 20-degree mark, overnight, officially breaking a cold wave i his hugged the area since mid-Janutry. Sunshine during the day shot mercury to the upper Mt and low Light westerly winds added to the a a conditions.

Weather observers at the Mas- ssna Airport figure very little change will take in the weather through Tuesday, Traffic on most highways in the area was moderate Mon- day. Milder temperatures and generally clear roads are expected to bring an increase the number of. cars roads in the area. lax vigilance over their pipes because of temperatures in the 20s Sunday night which shot above the i mark Monday. Arguing that warmer weather usually drives the frost deeper into the ground, he advised thai householders who have have been running water from Local News MASSENA POTSDAM OGDENSBURG PUTTSBURGH MALONE TRI-LAKES CANTON Winter But Mai MALOME This community's first winter carnival ended but the thousands ot people that witnessed the events of the weekend will lone remember the pageantry and color that made it one of the most successful undertakings in the history of the city.

The carnival started Friday nifht wife Site Coronation Ball, wftfah WM kv KA Carnival one Still lected from 10 finalists in a contest for prince and princess that drew more than 2,000 ballots. The runners-up were installed as the carnival's royal court and the entire royal group made a brief visit following their installation to the teen-age dance at the Knights of Columbus home. Temperatures were wanner Over Glows 4,000 watched a thrilling light run and fireworks demonstration and then enjoyed night skiing over near-perfect runs. Again the spotlight was on Valley Sunday when brilliant sunlight and temperatures in the high 30s brought another crowd of between 3,000 and 4,009 to watch the morning and County Ripped For Purchase Without Bids PLATTSBURGH--The Adiron. dick Life Underwriter! Association has taken the Clinton County Board of Supervisors to task for awarding a medical insurance contract for county em- ployes and their dependents without specifications, bids or advertising.

A letter Submitted to the board Monday contained a copy of a resolution passed by the group a week ago. "We the memben of the Adirondack Life Underwriters Association," stated the resolution, "do respectfully submit that al- thoujth the legal rights of the board of supervisors might be exercised in their choice, we do feel that savings to the taxpayers of Clinton County and the general interest of business in the Adirondack area were not carefully considered evidenced by the action of the Clinton County Board of Supervisors." The letter said it was the association feeling that it would be more prudent to submit a contract for specifications, bid and advertising in the general interest of the insurance business and taxpayers of Clinton County. The group numbers about 50 members, of which more than 30 were pjrcsent at the meeting in Pittsburgh last Monday. Tha packed with firsts that were en- on a specially prepared course joyed under ideal weather con- near Memorial Recreation Park, dttions. With the thermometer up to Highlighting Coronation the 20s by noon Saturday, Main Ball at the Makme armory was Street began to fill up rapidly Deaths Construction Activity Peppy PLATTSBUEGH--Construction activity was livelier than usual ast month, according to records the office of the building inspector.

Although only three permits were issued, estimated costs otaled $117,000. Permis included a five-unit apartment house estimated at 30,000 and A service garage at 95,000. Another permit for al- erations at $2,000 completed the lonstruction activity for the usu- illv slew month of January. No demolitions were listed, leav- ng a net gain for the month of ive residential units. Bobsledders ot 75 Notions Honored at Smorgasbord SARANAC 350 guests attended the dinner hon oring foreign bobsledders Sun day night at the Hotel Saranac, Among the guests were 100 bobsledders from 19 nations, their officials and racing officials.

The bobsledders arrived at Lake Placid last week to take part in the world bobsled cham. pionships at Mt Hoevenberg during the next two weekends. All foreign bobsledders and officials present were fuestj of the Saranac Like Bobsled Club, which staged the affair. Hotel manager Harold Morrison and his kitchen staff provided the feature of the event, a smorgasbord with the different oods of the nations reprt- enied by the bobsledders. The spacious lobby Af the hotel WM med with covered with largest variety of foods ever 'presented one dinner affair in the history of the hotel, according to Morrison.

Carved, colored ttatues also decorated the lobby. The dinner was held in the ballroom adjoining the lobby. It was the first affair given under the management of the hotel by Paul Smith's College, which last week took over operation. The kitchen tatt arrived at i am Sunday to prepare the dinner. College hotel students aided In the group.

serving of the Master of ceremonies for the event was Ksywsrd H. Plumadore, Fnmklin County assembly, man, who Introduced the tiinn ttam, who in turn introduced tfct men thtir teams. MYRON WALRATH OGDENSBURG Services fo Myron J. Walrath, 77, of 126 Franklin St. who died Saturday afternoon will be at 2 p.m.

Tues day at the Tax. Funeral Home in Heuvelton. The body will be placed in the Hill crest Cemetery vault pending spring burial MRS. HUGH VAN CAMP POTSDAM --Services for Mrs Beulah Dexter Van Camp, S3, 2 Pleasant who died Monday in Potsdam Hospital, will be a 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Gainer Funeral Home with burial in Bayside Cemetery.

She vas the wife of Hugh W. Van Camp member of the former Potsdam Bank and Trust Co. staff for 36 years. CLARENCE H. DURHAM HEUVELTON.

Services foi Clarence Durham, 08, of Heu velton-T'oeyster Road who diet Sunday night at the A. Barton Hepburn Hospital Ogdensburg will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Wesleyan Methodist Church here. The body will be placet in the Hillcrest cemetery vault pending spring burial. ROBERT 1.

HUTCHISON for Robert John Hutchison, 86. of 418 Patterson who died Sunday at the A. Barton Hepburn Hospital here will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ramsdell Ewart Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Ogdensburg tery, MRS.

IDSON FULLER NORTH BANGOft Services for Mrs. Edson Fuller, 71 1 vf North Banfor who died Sunday will be Tuesday at the Spaulding Funeral Home cnapet In Malone at p.m. Committal will be in the Sand Hill cemetery vault in Alburih, MRS, PEARL HeMARTIN HEUVELTON Services tor Mrs. Pearl MeMirtin, II, who died Sunday morninf at Massena Memorial Hospital will be at I MB. Wednesday at the home of ler ton, Ralph MeMirtin on Kelly Jtd.

The body will plteed in (tie Hillemt cemetery vault pending sprint Jaycees Judge Canton ATI Ice CANTON--The Canton Junior Chamber of om chosen three of its members to (board Dec. 29 in awarding a act as judges of the Canton ATI contract Tne carnival ice statues. pervisors first had rejected a series of bids on the contract, and hid promised to rcadvertise. The contract is under a plan whereby the county pays 50 per cent of all premiums for a hos- pitdization and surgical contract for county employes and their dependents. (heir taps to prevent freezing followed action of the continue the practice He a i his department als was kept busy over Sunday thaw ing out frozen wat crimes.

Crew men repaired a leak in four-inch main on Pine St Sun day. A leak in the main on N. Mali St. in the Village of Peru caused cancellation of some classes i the village. Water Departmen authorities shut off the wate Monday to repair the break the line which serves the Paro chial School and the first an second grades of Peru Centra School.

Tor this reason, those classes were cancelled Mon da while repairs were completed. Shortly after a i were completed on. Main St, a crews were to anothe a at Bear Swamp Rd, a Hayworth estates. Water wa turned off at the developmen sending repairs, with, restoration service expected by evening the Coronation Ball for teen-a that attracted 150 youngsters. The show ended with the spec- tabular storming of the ice pal- the winners.

Some SCO persons act in the heart of the village watched more than 70 area boys Sunday night. The weekend was the crowning of Al Cahill, Platts- Shirley a of Huntingdon, as his queen. Miss Grant State Grange during 1960-61. Joining them in royal rule for all Tatro Jr. of Malone, and Betsy Susan Earl of Duane as prince and princess.

BaJloti Cast Donald and Betsy, who were ing; prevailing the previous two weeks. Ted Smale of the Ottawa Rough Riders professional football team presented trophies to and girls compete in sled races and at 2 p.m. when the carnival bursjh television personality, as parade began its tour from the king of the carnival, and Miss fairgrounds up the length of the street thousands of people sat in their cars or stood four deep is serving also Miss New York along the mile-long route. More than 90 units made up the parade with the float entered by the carnival activities were Donald Chasm Palls Altar and Rosary Society of St. Helen's Church judged the top entry.

Skiers Use Torches The scene shifted to Moon Valley Ski Center in the evening crowned at the ball, were se- where a crowd estimated at Delaware River Loses Business to Seaway PHILADELPHIA, Pa. St. Lawrence Seaway is taking some steel and gram business away from here, the Delaware River Port Authority says. John H. Frazier, assistant di- Say Downtown Sale Imminent PLATTSBURGH --Sale of a mdli mjjnciB block in dowii- town Pittsburgh Monday was reported imminent, as one of the city's small businesses moved to expand.

Chet Hazen, proprietor of Hazen's music store at 33 Clinton St. anticipated that the purchase of the Davern Block at 49 Clinton St. will be con- sumatftd by Thursday. He announced plans for mov- ng into the shop now occupied Gervais Interior Decorating studio by April 1. Redecoration of the interior it con- before the move, The purchase also involves the upper floor of the structurjE.

Deluding a law office of Atty. J. Oavem, owner of the building, Hazen said the move was necessary to continued expansion of sales in pianos, organs and other musical instruments. Members of the Junior Chamber have held these judging jobs for a number of years in this annual event. On Friday, Feb.

10, they will survey the statues created by clubs and fraternal organizations on campus and make their selection. The ice statue trophy, an annual gift of the Commerical in Canton, will be awarded during the Ball on Saturday, Feb. Judges this year will be Bruce Petne, Larry Todd, and Donald Rood, Petrie, a graduate oi General Science at Cornell University, is a teacher of Gene- tral School. Todd is associated with Todd Motors and is vice president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Rood, also of Canton, is a member of the A.

W. Collins Co. rector 01 tne authority's port development, said Saturday that the amount of steel passing through the port has dropped from 2.8 million tons in 1959-the year the Seaway opened-- to 700,000 tons last year. Grain exports fell from 26.9 million bushels in 1958 to 22.7 million in 1359 and 204 million last he added. He said the grain losses would have been greater if Eastern Railroads had not reduced the shipping rates to help meet the competition But Frazier asserted thai Climaxing the carnival was storming of the ice palace Sunday night when members of the village fire department and the Malone call firemen converged on the fort from three sides.

With a crowd estimated at nearly 1,500 watching, a spectacular fireworks display was set off within the fort and by the attacking when they reached the ice building. Youth Held In Burglaries OGDENSBURG Two city youths will face St. Lawrence County Children's Court in regard to several burglaries in the city, police Lt. David Bell said Monday. The two, both 13, are accused of stealing a 12 horsepower outboard motor from a shed located near St.

Lawrence River, owned by Lawrence Clouthier. of 504 Kiah St. Clouthier reported the motor missing on Jan. 31. It was afternoon.

The boys also are accused of stealing a transistor radio the J. J. Wewberry store on Ford Street and an Eddy's Market Street. air rifle from on lower Ford Lamb Captures Skimeister at Placid Carnival losses were PLACID ing like the local prophets ofj Lake gloom or the Seaway optimists predicted." the winner jof the sklmeister trophy, Class at the Lake Placid High School winter carnival over the weekend. Wash garnered 299.8 points out of a possible 300 to take top honors in his division.

In Class Jerry Palmer of Boonville was slcirneister i 287 1 points. Lake Placid's team won the overall carnival prire with 2712 i Northwood School was second and Saranac Lake third. i a Forbes of Whjtesboro was the girls' skimeister. In Class Jimmy Speck of Lake Placid was third and Ger- Rexford to Act As Road Boss CANTON--Philip Rerford. 35 of N.

11 was namec Saturday by the Town Board as acting superintendent of highways for the town, Rexford was appointed to the i carries a 'ear salary, en a motion by John liver til. He fills the unex- ired term of the late Ward Aldous, who died Jan. 18 It is eported that Rexford will seek he pusttion in the fall election the term expires on Dec. 31. P'burgh Airmen Hurt in Fight MONTREAL --Two men from the U.

S. Air Force base at Platteburgh, N. were taien to a hospital Sunday with injuries suffered in a fight They refused to tell police what had happened, saying. "We'll settle thas our' own way." Police Sgt, Jean-Paul Bclangec said the two were Lionel Cormier. 31, and Vivian Smith, 22.

Neither was badly hurt. Dance, Auction For Alumni Fund POTSDAM A Mtrdi Cm ance will be held from 8 p.m. 1 a.m. Saturday, at the Roman Gardens. feature of the will be Chinese Auc- on.

A pre-Lenten celebration open the public, the dance is a jenefit for the North Country napter of the State University olleie ot Education Alumni No costumes will be 'orn at the dance. The public dance committee Mrs. Weymouth Beekstend of a I a Clyde Tiompton of Brasher Falls, ar- Mrs. Jones and Frank Corbett, both of otsdam, tickets and publicity, nd Mrs, John Taviernier of orwood, entertainment Firemen Stop Minor Fires MASSENA Volunteer firemen made two calls Monday morning minor biases were reported in the village, Firemen short circuited washing machine motor at 25 Parkway in the firstfire. Shortly before noon a state police cruiser stopped for a traffic light on Main St.

and burst into flames. The blaze a apparently caused by a short circuit in wiring under the hood of the ear. Volunteers quickly extinguished the flames. Union Supports Electrical Study SARANAC LAKE--Persons interested in studying electricity have a new opportunity. Local 373, International Broth- erhoohd of Electrical Workers.

Saranac Lake, has initiated a series of apprentice training classes at the Saranac Lake High School. ITM" afountain of Saranac Lake Classes are held each Tuesday and Friday fi'om 7 to 9 pm, un- der the direction of francis Wood. The union supplies text books, folders and other mater- ialj for the course. Eighteen persons are taking the course and are studying was eighth. In the competition, le Class A by in the finals, beating Canton phases electric.tv mg construction, mathematics TM while Alexandria Bay won in Class with a victory over Norwood-Norfolk.

Roberta Trussell and Lyndon fDelcore were and electronics. Set Phys Ed Adult Course MASSENA--New adult physical education classes fur wcrr.cn begin Wednesday at 7 pm. in the gymnasium of Massena Central High School. Miss Dorothy Tyo, of the physical education staff at the school, will be the instructor. Classes will meet once a week for the next 12 weeks.

Sessions sports parade by the kindergarten class. The crowning was done by Judv Delp, the balon twirling champion who is queen ot the North American weekend. will run from 7 A to 8 and 0 to Youth Arrested After Crash MASSENA --A Canton youth arrested on a charge of riming while intoxicated following a one-car crash on Rt. SB early Monday near Massena. State police said Ralph Howard.

39. was driving the car The physical fitness program planned in the adult classes will provide women with information and techniques on losing weight, improving muscle tone, recreational skills and activities The program is designed to help individuals attain certain objectives conducive to efficient use of the body and maintenance of physical fitness. said he was headed north on the highway when he apparently lost control. The car rolled over three times before coming to a halt in the southbound traffic lane, Howard and a passenger in the car. Jonathan Harrington of Watertown, escaped injury, Howard p'eaded innocent to the driving while in- interested the course may enroll at the main gymnasium of the high school.

toxicaled charge and was freed taking Area Weather MMtly cloudy Tuesday with little change In temperature. Higb aroond 30 Sunmount Pair to Attend Chemotherapy Conference TUPPER LAKE--Latest devel-i New drugs, advances in chest opments in treatment of tuber culosts, lunf a and other chest i a in the United States and Great Britain will be at the 20th Veterans Administration-Armed Forces conference on chemotherapy of TB at the Hotel Claridfe in Memphis, this week. Marguerite Kingabury, MD, Isiant chief, pulmonary service, and James Bannon, MD, chief, snUo-respiratory section, both of the sunmeunt VA Tupper will attends surgery and results of the research for more effective use of TB drug combinations will be i by VA Armed Forces doctors and by Dr. Denis A. Mltchison.

guest speaker from the Medical Research Council of Great Britain, Some 400 doctors from throughout the nation, including representatives of 00 VA ftnd Armed Forces hospitals, a i of medical and phtrmaceu- ticil firms, will attend. Damaged Store To Be Repaired PLATTSBURGH Ttehabilia- ion of one of the downtown 'latlsburgh business blocks has tarted. Building Inspector ert Ladue Monday reported application received from Oliver 'ilion, owner of the building at 7 Bridge lor restoration ftf he three-story structure, burned jut by fire last Structural repairs only fS- iroated at $12.500. The building was the site of Terry's Toyland. Repairs will be made by Ralph ilion.

Anderson's FINE FURS Ktttylinf Stertft Ftlili JO 1-MW CO.