The Charleston Daily Mail from Charleston, West Virginia • Page 1

THE WEATHER CLEARING and mM.r COTTON DURBIN in 30s. Partly cloudy, chance of 'rain Thursday, high in 50s. Adrian Gwin tells a warm ston about an oldtime reporter and an oldtinu' drunk, Details On Page 7A Without, or With, Offence to Friends or Foes, I Sketch Your World Exactly as It Goes CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEB. 18, 1976 VOLUME 166. NO.

42 HOME EDITION RECLAMATION HOUSING MUtfamalre Back Harless, above, plus to Invest approximately $7 mtlllOD for construe tin of a 225 acre bousing development on a mowtahwop Gilbert. The plan, designed by Architectural Associates Charleston, calls for ZM ladlvldaal homes ranging in price from $25, MO to $49,000 The Rosa EsUtes development will be bout on a reclaimed strip mine. Harless said he hat ap Former St. Albans Boy Killed In Texas Blaze HOUSTON, Tex. An 11 year old former St.

Albans, W.Va.. boy, partially paralyzed by a muscular disease, died here Tuesday when he was unable to escape from a fire that destroyed his famly's James Phillip Miller, son of Mr. and i Mrs. William L. (Billy) Miller, who lived i St.

Albans about 10 years ago, was louna dead shortly after 7 p.m. in his bedroom, a spokesman for the Houston Fire Depat merit said. Injured were the father, who was treated and released at a local hospital, a brother, Billy. 13, and a relative, Dwight Clark, 4. Billy Miller was admitted to a local hospital with minor burns and was in good condition.

The Clark youth was hospitalied with second and third degree burns, and was in stable condition. A sister of the victim escaped the blaze unharmed, The victim's mother and a sister were not at home at the time of the blare. According to the fire department I spokesman, the three bedroom home was destroyed in 10 minutes and the victim kwas trapped in ihejBdroom. The intensity of the fire prevented ny rescue effort, the plied without success for a permit from the Department of Natural Resources to strip mine the proposed site which Is now a forest. He predicts it will cost Hi million to "take off the mountain top." He said, "If the coal weren't there for strip mining, we couldn't afford to build the development.

Mail Photo by Earl Benton. Overnight Millionaire Likes Small Town Life By JOHANNA FISHER Of The Dally Mall Staff James iBucki Harless struggling saw Jg md 1 IMBS mill owner barely 1 able to meet pay when Geor WU gla Pacific Corp. offered to buy his Gilbert Lumber company and timber rights in 1965. Harless prudently accepted and at 45 became an overnight millionaire. Now, launched on a second fortune.

Harless is reaping whopping profits from investments in the coal industry, an interest begun in 1968. tie said, "as a hobby." Despite large South American holdings in the hardwood lumber business, Harless claims that his greatest profits accrue from his 5.000 ton per day mining business in Gilbert which is under snug, long term contracts, a bonus in today tight coal markets but an Albatross during the 1974 boom. A cautious and lucky gambler, he went deeply into debt to buy his coal mining equipment and build his business which includes a $2 million coal washing plant. But he remained steadfast in refusing to play the wildly fluctuating spot markets. during the period of $50 per ton.

we were making way below that," he said. "Of course, it made us feel bad. We were making $20 per ton while some of the independent operators were getting But the boom lasted less time than 1 thought it He does contract approximately 3.000 tons a on land owned by U.S. Steel, his biggest customer, and then sells it back for $33 per ton, minus a $1.65 royalty to the company for mineral rights. He also mines coal at a strip mine site in Mingo County, which is managed by his son in Bruce Burgess.

"You'll get confused if you try to figure out how much I make." Harless warned, adding that he doesn't' know the amount of his wealth, either. "I never really think about it." he said. Harless owns coal leases for a sizeable chunk of Mingo land. However, he says he prefers to mine coal for U.S. Steel for the time being, saving his personal coal holdings for future mining.

"I got the leases when nobody else wanted them." he said. "I knew this country. I knew who owned the minerals. So I started dabbling in the coal business." Other entrepreneurial "dabblings" by Harless include substantial holdings in South American lumber imports with sawmills in earthquake stricken Guatemala and Honduras. Brazil and Ecuador, which are managed by his son, Larry Joe, a WVU business school graduate.

Harless said he has not had time to assess damages sustained to his Guatemalan mill during the earthquake. He said he was grateful, however, that his son. who left Guatemala two days before the quake, was not in the country at the time of the disaster. Harless said he signed a 10 year non competitive clause in domestic lumber sales when he sold out to Georgia Pacific. Because of the clause.

Harless became interested in South American lumber and now has 2.000 employes there. ADDITIONAL STORY, PHOTOS ON PAGE 10D He is modest and somewhat nonchalant about his multi million dollar business interests. "Oh yes," he noted as an after thought. "I forgot to mention my casket factory down in Texas. It needed capital and management so we bought it." Harless' businesses, Gilbert Imported Hardwoods.

Juma cris Mining. Gilbert Development and Kynn Land companies, are housed in a plain, frame structure on the coal dust choked outskirts of the smalt Mingo County community, population 900. where he has lived all of his life He and his wife, whom he married when he was 19 and who "isn't impressed" with his wealth, live in a ranch style home, overshadowed by his daughter Judy Burgess' neighboring two story mansion situated on a private peninsula of the Guyandotte River near Gilbert. Matewan resident and banker Frank AUara entered into partnership of the then fledgling South American lumber business in the late 1960s for a small investment of several thousand dollars. He was unprepared for the "Midas touch" of Buck Harless.

"AUara sa id going into the hardwood lumber business with me plumb ruined his bank statement," Harless said laugh (Ttn to Pf. CM. 1) spokesman said. The fire started shortly before 7 p.m. when the father poured gasoline down a drain in the kitchen, the spokesman said.

A pilot light on a gas stove apparently ignited fumes frm the gasoline and caused an explosion, he added. Apparently, the spokesman said, the father was trying to dispose of gasoline from his automobile after he discovered water in it. Also surviving: sisters, Debbie and Theresa at home; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred P.

Lovejoy of Byesville, Ohio, formerly of St. Albans, and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Smith of St. Albans.

Forest Park Mortuary in South Houston, is in charge of arrangements. Marine Pilot Dies In Mock Fight Crash YUMA, Ariz. (AP) A Marine pilot was killed Tuesday after his F4 Phantom jet collided with a Navy A4 Skyhawk during dogfighdng exercises, a Marine Corps spokef man said. Anqjher Marine flyer parachuted to safety, as did the Navy pilot. U.S.

Increases Trident Plans WASHINGTON (AP) The Pentagon says it is increasing the number of super sized Trident missile firing submarines it plans to build to 11, from the 10 originally scheduled. Disclosure came Tuesday in a report which said the projected total cost of the Trident program rose by $2,038,000,000 in the three months ended Dec. 31. This was about 40 per cent of a total $5,030,500,000 rise in the estimated cost of 41 major weapons programs in that period. The report said a principal reason for the growth in the Trident cost is planned procurement of one additional submarine.

The Trident subs wilt carry 24 nuclear tipped missiles over ranges up to 6.500 miles. When President Ford's budget went to Congress last month. Pentagon officials told newsmen no formal decision had been made to go beyond 10 Tridents but that "all the signs point to the probability." Juan Carlos To Visit MADRID, Spain (AP) King Juan Car visit the United States June 3, the news agency Europa Press said Tuesday. Sprouse Backers Charge Senate's Disclosure Bill Sabotaged By Jay Cohorts By ROBERT KELLY Of The Dally Mail Staff Factionalism has erupted in the State Senate, with supporters of James Sprouse charging that a campaign financial disclosure bill was sabotaged by senators on the team of John D. Rockefeller IV.

"It's apparent that the Rockefeller people don't want the amount of money they've spent before the public That appears to be their complete strategy." said Sen. Alan Susman, Raleigh. Susman was one of 18 senators who attempted to make the campaign disclosure bill effective immediately. A two thirds vote (23 senators) is required to make a bill effective from passage. Substantially different from the House version, the bill passed 30 to 2 in the Senate now goes to a conference committee.

The unavailing try by Sprouse forces means that it goes to conference carrying an effective date of 90 days from passage too late to affect the May II primary election. The controversy centered on a clause in the bill that requires disclosure of all spending and contributions by candidates, no matter when they filed. If campaigns began before formal filing, expenses would have to be reported. Susman said Rockefeller has spent substantially more than Sprouse in their Democratic gubernatorial race and that his supporters in the Senate are reluctant to force disclosure of the amount. Susman is chairman of the Sprouse policy committee and.

although most Democrat senators have not publicly endorsed a gubernatorial candidate, he said the vote on the effective date is a reliable indication of whom is for whom. Democrats voting to make it effective from passage included Richard Benson. James Davis, Si Galperin. Pat Hamilton. Odell Huffman, Warren McGraw.

James Moreland, Robert Nelson, Robert Rogers. Roland Savilla. Susman and Todd Willis. They were joined by six Republicans Democrats on the other side included Russell Beall, John Pat Fanning. Carl Gainer.

Robert Hatfield. Richard Hellems. Walter Neeley, William Oates, Mario Pal umbo, William Sharpe. Robert Steptoe. Lafe Ward, Ralph Williams and William Brotherton.

One Man Killed, Another Wounded In Clay Shooting A 37 year old Clay County man was shot and killed and another man was wounded by a man in a tavern early this morning during an argument, state police said. State police identified the victim as Watson Koch. 37, of Mayset. Clay County. Romeo Vance.

40, of Bomont, allegedly shot him with a .22 caliber derringer at about 12:45 a.m. in the Silver Dollar Tavern, at Maysel. police said. Koch was dead at the scene. Vance allegedly also shot Bernard Ramsey.

31, of Bickmore, through the left rib cage, according to Cpl. J.N. White of the Clay detachment of state police. Ramsey refused treatment, police said. "The bullet passed all the way through," Cpl.

White said. Police said Vance surrendered at 1:10 a.m. and was lodged in the' Clay County jail on charges of murder and felonious assault. James K. Morris.

30, of Bickmore, also was arrested at the scene for obstructing an officer, Cpl. White said. Morris was free on $20,000 bond on two counts of felonious assault and two counts of attempted murder in an unrelated incident. Koch's body is at the F.H. Wilson Funeral Home.

Clay, pending completion of funeral arrangements. Hie President is taking the cloak off the cloak and dagger boys. Nelson is working for Sprouse. while Ward, the majority leader, has said he will support Rockefeller. "With few exceptions, the vote on the date of the bill is the way they will line up behind either candidate." Susman said.

However, Ward who tried to set a July 1 effective date, said his interest was in sufficient "lead time" for candidates to prepare financial statements. Sen. President Brotherton said he has talked with Sprouse. Rockefeller, and Mayor Hutchinson, and has chosen a favorite. going to hurt one side more than the other." Urotherton said he will not name his choice candidate until after the session concludes and added that he hoped Susman 'a charge dries not mean that the Senate will become embroiled in factionalism.

"It's unfortunate that a big deal is being made out of the situation." Brotherton said. During yesterday's deba te. senators who voted for prolonging the effective date noted that it doesn't matter anyway, because the House is almost certain to (Turn to Pg. 6A, Col. 2) LATE BULLETINS LONDON Britain and six other European countries, following the lead of France, recognized the Soviet backed Popular Movement today as the legal government of Angola.

West Germany, however, held back and will decide the recognition question "at an appropriate time," a Bonn government spokesman said. MOSCOW Izvestia, the Soviet government newspaper, acknowledged today that there is "electromagnetic radiation" in the U. S. Embassy in Moscow but said it is no more than a normal level of emissions for any large city. The newspaper dismissed Western news reports that the radiation was dangerous as "trumped up from beginning to end." WASHINGTON lifi Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield.

today snapped up President Ford's invitation to Congress to tighten its scrutiny over the intelligence community. He told reporters "1 was pleased with the President's support for a joint committee" to oversee intelligence operations and said such a committee, composed of members of both the House and Senate, "can't help but improve" congressional scrutiny of the nation's intelligence agencies. BRUSSELS, Belgium iffi Rabbi Meir Kahane, leader of the militant Jewish Defense League, was thrown to the floor by Belgian police today and dragged away from a conference on tbe plight of Jews in the Soviet Union, He and a small group of followers were trying to get into the Palais des Congres where the World Conference on Soviet Jewry is meeting, ALGIERS, Algeria i.Vt A domestic gas explosion leveled two houses in the western town of Tiaret, killed 35 persons and injured 36. the government newspaper EI Moujahid said today. CAIRO Two trains collided head on near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing 13 persons and seriously injuring 55 Tuesday, the Ministry of Interior Ford's Rules Will Bar Eavesdropping By CIA WASHINGTON (AP) President Fntf today issued orders barring the CIA and other intelligence agencies from using electronic or physical surveillance to collect information on the domestic activities of most American citizens and organizations.

In a follow up to his Tuesday night press conference at which he announced plans for reorganizing the intelligence community. Ford also said he would support legislation requiring judicial warrants for national security wiretaps and mail opening. In a message to Congress. Ford indicated he would seek to expand the power of the government to open mail, which is now permitted only in criminal investigations. "We need authority to open mail in order lo obtain vitally needed foreign intelligence information." Ford said.

Ford also proposed a stiff new secrecy law which would provide criminal penalties for any government employe or contractor who leaks intelliigence secrets. The law also would give the government new legal powers to prevent the publication of such secrets. A 36 page executive order that takes effect March also would bar infiltration of domestic organizations, drug tests on unsuspecting humans and illegally obtaining federal tax returns. The restrictions do not apply to the FBI which will be governed by a separate set of guidelines to be issued within 90 days. The CIA xvould be completely barred from electronic eavesdropping inside the United States, and the National Security Agency would be prohibited from intercepting any "communication which is made from, or is intended by the sender in he received in.

the United States." rw "Unconsented physical apparently including break ins. would he outlawed within the United States or against U.S. citizens abroad except "under procedures approved by the attorney general." An accompanying document said that the restrictions placed on intelligence ac (Turn to Pg. 6A, Col. 1) Top Of The Evening! EAGLE IN A TRAP Two Gilmer County men didn't jet fox, but they got an eagle when they set a trap ISB SPELLS TROUBLE For opponents of Morris Harvey in the Women's State Basketball Tournament, Horn Creek Unhurt it will be ceremoni 'r to ao win mtercep ously released tomorrow.

Rex Woodford tions, steals and blocks, a grading system has the story on Page IC. YOUR HOUSE WORTH Did you know (hot the average cost of a house in the Kanawha Valky has risen to A composite picture of costs, availability and the entire market has been done by Ann Haas. It's on our Consumer Page, IB, HAAS IS BACK Business Editor Richard Haas, busy in recent weeks supervising our upcoming Progress Edition, resumes his column today and suggests tnot politicians should invest in West Virginia instead of setting up Mind trusts it ovoid investments. Page 16. used by MH coachs.

Page ID. THE BiONIC WOMAN You've heard of her, the apposite of the Six Million Dollar Man? Well, Erma Bom beck says her first grade teacher was the original. Page 3C Astrnlngiral 14D Bridge 8B Business. 2B Classifieds iol) Comics ftD Crossword KF) Dear Abhy 3C Fdilormls 8A lint Line K' ...81) Lifestyles 2C Obituaries 10R Sports 11) Theaters 315 TV 91) U. 7 A Your C.nod Health.