Neenah Menasha Northwestern from Oshkosh, Wisconsin • Page 1

WARMER Partly cloudy, not so cold tonight, low near 20. Sunny, warmer Wednesday, in 30s. Details on Page 14. Daily Northwestern Edition of the Oshkosfi T)ai1v Northwestern Associated Press, United Press and New York Times One Hundred Years Oshkosh, Tuesday Evening, January 16, 1968 24 Pages Price 10 Cents Alleged Plainfield Slayer Gem Competent, Able to Be Trie Ed Gein, the a i i farmer who 10 years and 10 days ago was committed to Central State Hospital i Waupun after a gruesome pair of murders, has been declared competent to stand trial. This was announced late Monday by Waushara County District Atty.

Howard Dutcher. Gein will be returned to Waushara County for a hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. next Monday at Wautoma. Dutcher said he had been in- formed that Gein was com-, petent to stand trial in a telephone call from Circuit Judge Robert Gollmar of Baraboo. Judge Gollmar was informed of Gein's competency by Dr.

Edward F. Schubert, superintendent of Central a Hospital. Dutcher said he had talked with Assistant Atty. General William Platz after the call from Judge Gollmar and will be reviewing the files on the Gein case prior to Monday's hearing. Gein, who is now 61, was committed to the hospital on Jan.

6, 1958, by Judge Herbert A. Bunde. Judge Bunde made his ruling after testimony from psychiatrists from the hospital that Gein was not competent to stand trial. The bizarre Gein murder case, which caused a nationwide sensation, began to unfold on Nov. 16, 1958, when Waushara County Sheriff Arthur Schley went to the Gein farmhouse to investigate the disappearance of Mrs.

i Worden, a Plainfield widow who operated a hardware store in Plainfield. Inside the trash-littered Gein The authorities at i house, he the i membered body of Mrs. Worden hanging by the heels from the ceiling. Authorities later found parts of 14 bodies in the house or buried nearby. Under questioning.

Gein later admitted that one of the bodies was that of Mrs. Mary Hogan, a Bancroft tavern operator who i s- appeared Dec. 8, 1954. Gein admitted 'hat he had also killed Mrs. Hogan, but said the other bodies had come from graves he robbed.

doubted Gein's story about the grave robberies, but changed their mind after opening two of the graves and finding the coffins empty. Gein's attorney, i i a Belter of Plainfield, subsequently entered a plea of innocent by reason of insanity. Gein was ordered committed for tests at Central State Hospital on Nov. 22. A month later, the hospital psychiatrsits announced their finding that Gein was not mentally competent to stand trial.

At the time, Plainfield resi- dents described Gein as a "not too bright" but harmless, mild- mannered man. He worked as a handyman and also did occasional baby-sitting. The fixation which led to the murders and grave robberies was described by a psychiatrist at the court hearing as an attempt to "bring his mother back to life by an act of will." Gein reportedly had a strong emotional attachment for his mother, who he had lived with until her death 12 years earlier. Gein, a bachelor, lived alone after his mother's death. Gein has reportedly been a model patient since he was committed.

Officials at the Waupun institution reported last November that his health was good and that he worked daily in the hospital's occupational therapy division. He has been in charge of the hospital's lapidary section, cutting and cleaning stones. "He seems content to live day by day," a hospital official had reported. "We've never had the least bit of trouble with him." The "House of Horrors" where the bodies were found burned to the ground one night about four months later. There was a strong suspicion at the time that the fire was caused by an arsonist, since there had been widespread rumors around Plainfield that the Gein farmhouse would be burned.

Dutcher said the court would probably appoint an attorney to represent Gein. Belter is now an assistant district attorney and thus cannot represent Gein. Waushara County i Virgil Batterman said he is not certain at this time when he will bring Gein back to Wautoma. Gein Could Be Free Man With the announcement that Edward Gein, the a mutilation slayer of two "women and grave robber of Plainfield, is mentally competent to stand trial, comes the realization that under American justice the 61- year-old handyman may once again become a free man. Gein was adjudged insane in Highway Traffic Toll Climbs to 31 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A Jefferson County man died in an auto accident today raising Wisconsin's 1968 traffic fatality toll to 31 compared with 37 on the same date in 1967.

Eugene Weide, 34, of Sullivan died early today when his car struck a tree beside a Jefferson County road near Watertown. 1958 by Circuit Court Judge Herbert Bunde and sent to the Central State Hospital a Waupun for what could be the rest of his life. In announcing the 1958 decision, Judge Bunde said, "It is unlikely he will ever be at liberty again." Bunde said he relied on the opinions of experts who without equivocation declared Gein to be legally insane. Testimony about Gein's insanity came from two psychiatrists during a court hearing. According to Dr.

Edward F. Schubert, Central State Hospital superintendent, the hospital "recently found significant changes in the mental status of Ed Gein which meet the criteria for his standing trial in Wisconsin." Describing Gein as having "kind of mellowed over the years," he explained that Gein had lost most of the paranoid psychosis he had originally. "Gein is aware of his surroundings," he said, "and of why he was hospitalized and the alleged incidents behind the hospitalization and coherently discusses his case with us which is all that is required to stand trial." Waushara County Dist. Atty. Howard Dutcher said he was told by Circuit Judge Robert Golmar about information from the state hospital of Gein's current mental condition.

Dutcher said a court hearing is scheduled for Monday. Monday's hearing would consider Gein's mental competency compiled from studies conducted at the state hospital throughout the 10 years he has been confined. If he is found mentally competent a trial date would be set and Gein would be offered the benefit of counsel. He would be the same trial procedures he was entitled to 10 years ago had he been capable of facing a judge and jury. If Gein ever does become a free man it appears unlikely his release would be soon coming about.

His only hope for eventual freedom would be a verdict of innocent by reason of insanity at a future court trial. If the court reached such a decision Gein would be sent back to the state hospital and detained for an, undetermined length -of time. A separate hearing would consider Gein's future and determine that if he was released there would be no possibility of his sickness returning. Following Gein's committ- ment to the state hospital ten years ago Plainfield residents felt that the normal path of justice had been detoured sending him to the mental hospital without a trial. The people felt Gein should have been declared guilty of his crimes before he was committed and then sent to the state hospital for treatment.

In commenting on the legal rights of a prisoner, Judge Arnold J. Cane, Circuit Judge of Winnebago County, said that under the American judicial system a man accused of a crime has to have the intelligence and mental ability to cooperate with his counsel in his defense. It is impossible to offer a person a fair trial, unless he is mentally capable of offering assistance to both himself and counsel. If. Gein is found innocent by reason of insnity he would have the right to petition for a hearing one year after the verdict.

If he failed to apply to the proper authorities for such a hearing at the end of a five-year period the state Nursing Approve Theda Clark For Use by WSU-0 Students Ed Gein would automatically schedule one. It is at such a hearing that Gein could eventually win his freedom or confinement continued for an indefinite period. The State of Wisconsin board of nursing has granted qualified approval to Theda Clark Memorial Hospital, Neenah, to function as an" extended unit for Wisconsin State University-Oshkosh, according to Dr. Helen E. Dorsch, dean of the school ot nursing at WSU-0.

Theda Clark is the first medical unit to be approved as a clinical practice facility for the WSU-0 nursing degree program. Students accepted into the program -will engage in practice at the hospital during summer and regular terms under the supervision of the university clinical staff, Dr. Dorsch said. It is expected that the first group of students will be assigned during the upcoming year. The WSU-0 school of nursing was authorized some time ago.

Under the direction of Dr. Dorsch, a staff has been assembled and the program outlined. First courses will be offered during the upcoming semester. The initial group of students selected to enter the program will also be named next semester, Dr. Dorsch said.

Candidates completing the program may earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree. There are now six members of the school of nursing staff with an anticipated membership of 11 by next year. The qualified a a granted to Theda Clark followed an appraisal of facilities and staff by representatives of the state board. May Seek Federal Aid For Expansion of Center MENASHA Federal aid may be sought to expand present facilities or build a new University Wisconsin Fox Valley Center. At a Monday a meeting center trustees agreed to investigate possibilities for federal funds to help cope with growing enrollment and space problems at the Menasha campus.

Russell DeLaHunt, Kaukauna, Outagamie County representative, suggested the best way to find out what kind of aid is available is to apply, but the other Outagamie County representative, Allen Bubolz of Appleton, foresaw some difficulties. "There might be resistance to seeking aid, people thinking that this would be the first step in a series to come," Bubolz said. Both Winnebago County trustees seemed to feel that, if the center were removed from its present site (in Winnebago County), the institution would lose support from their constituents. Pointing out that only a third of Fox Valley Center students came from Winnebago County, they felt their county "shouldn't be spending money outside of town." "If federal aid is available you'd probably have a better chance of getting it if you went it alone," Oliver Thomsen, Winnebago representative, told the Outagamie County trustees. "We should still find out what is available no matter if the center is built here or in Outagamie County," Bubolz trustees chairman and Winnebago County representative Orrin King, Oshkosh, said he thought all members had decided that "there isn't much sense in constructing a multiunit building at the present location" because of the lack of apace for expansion.

Outagamie County has offered two proposed sites for construction of a new center, wait for the scale drawings (furnished by the university) with the matter coming before the board of regents' May meeting. Plans would have to each the aids board before Aug. 31. "Obviously we can't meet the August deadline," Hutson said. "But if we start work at the beginning of the year, we could have everything ready well according to FVC Dean Harry members of the Higher Educa- complicated application includ- beofre the regents meeting in M.

Hutson. Suggested sites tion Aids Board, a state agency ng building plans, the site and Ma l969 include Plamann Park and the which dispenses federal aid scale drawings Hutson sa id The Higher Education Aids County Farm. i a money. Typical "for 6 County has offered no location. In order to obtain aid an applying for the grant would 5 Dean Hutson then told trustee institution must first submit a include a six- to eight-month Continued on Page 14, Col.

7 CaJIs for Quick Action On Redevelopment Plans Redevelopment Fund Drive Closes Soon MENASHA A renewed qall for quick. action by the city came from redevelopment expert Jerry Pollak when he met with the city council and members of the Menasha Redevelopment Authority a night. Both Pollak and economist Ronald Bussey urged the city to designate a redevelopment core so that potential developers can be given a clear idea of what area they can work in if they decided to build in the city. He indicated that quick action must be taken if the city is to regain a foothold on the area's economy. Bussey, in presenting an enthusiastic but conservative view 'of the city's potential, warned that commercial growth will MRA President Ralph McCtone Urban Planner Jerry.

Pollack Economist Ronald Bussey Northwestern photos occur even if the city does not act, but he said it will probably occur in Neenah, in Appleton or in the township. Bussey and Pollak scheduled to meet with city officials this morning at a private breakfast to the plans and again at a redevelopment authority meeting at noon. Both agreed that the first task for the city is to officially establish a downtown redevelopment core area with specific boundaries, within which parcels of land will be made available and which will be slated for a complete redevelopment Pollak said his plans should be examined carefully by city officials and that opinions of various boards in the city should be obtained, but he said the delay in designating the core should not be longer than three or four weeks. He said a developer, when he investigates the city, will want to know if the land he needs can be made available and how much it will cost. Pollak pointed out that until a core area is established, there is no real assurance that the land can be assembled.

In the past he has urged that the redevelopment authority begin to make agreements with downtown land owners concerning Continued on Page 14, Col. 7 NEENAH-MENASHA Expressing disappointment over the contributions of the mercantile division toward redevelopment planning, Robert Williams, fund drive chairman, told the Neenah-Menasha Chamber of Commerce board of directors Monday that the drive will close Friday, Jan. 26. Williams reported that the funds being raised were primarily for the benefit of the merchants and yet they have contributed only six per cent of the total. Their six per cent amounted to $2,010 of the $33,465 which has now been collected, according to Williams.

A total of 83.7 per cent of the $40,000 goal has been reached with the industrial division accounting for 62.5 per cent; professional division, 31.5 per cent; and merchants six per cent of the $33,465 currently collected. Redevelopment means the following things to the merchants: a plan to increase the attractive- ness of the commercial areas, attraction of Twin City shoppers to downtown; encouragement for new developers; tapping the commercial potentials that exist in the Twin Cities; improving traffic and parking facilities; expanding the tax base; and enabling the merchants to remain competitive with neighboring communities, Williams stated. The drive has been in progress over four months with two previous termination a having been set. Each time the drive was held open because of contributors requesting more time. Williams said that more time was requested in order for some contributors to secure budget approval or clearance from corporation headquarters outside the two cities.

During the next 10 days, Williams reported, personal calls will be made to 100 local merchants from the chamber office in an attempt to solicit a $15 contribution from each. "At the present time," Williams said, "we are estimating that the drive will be only $4,500 short if we get a good response from the merchants on this final attempt. "Of course, any industry or professional may still contribute before Jan. 26, but there will be no more formal solicitations because we feel they have done their share," i i a indicated. A final report of monies received will be released Jan.

30, together with a list of all con- Continued on Page 14, Col. 8 More Neenah- Menasha News On 2-3-4-7074-77-20 Editorials Page 6 Society Page 8- Comics Page 11- TV-Movies Page 11 Weather Page 14 Sports Page 17 Theaters Page 19 Obituaries Page 20 Markets Page 20 Want Ads Page 21 Submit Ideas For Downtown Menasha MENASHA The shape of the city: a pedestrian mall winding among commercial and retail businesses where Main Street once lay, traffic flowing around the downtown on a landscaped Water Street and an entirely new street to the north, park-like apartment complexes along the waterfront, wide boulevards leading into the city and a vast industrial park on the north. These were among the ideas presented to the city Monday night by urban planner Jerry Pollak. Pollak's ideas for downtown are necessarily vague, since he cannot make definite plans until he knows exactly what type of business complexes will be located there. They do show, however, greatly improved parking facilities, offering about 900 more stalls than currently exist.

Traffic no longer flows on Main Street, but is routed around the downtown area. A landscaped and beautified Water Street carries traffic going north while a new street, paralleling Water but north of the present Main Street, carries the traffic going in the opposite direction. In between is the downtown retail area with the parking and shopping facilities, as well as office space. According to Pollak, there would be two large retail operations acting as anchors at either end of the main shopping area, between which other shops and stores would be located. At the north end, where the library is now being built, there would be a civic center that would be served by a larff parking lot that would servt Continued on Page 4, I I A A I A A A A A.