The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 2

A2 Wednesday. May 7fi, igg NEWS The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Constitution QUIET TOWN IN SHOCK Do you have a question about rvA the news local, national or Clvfl international? Betty Rarham and rri, -a Itefe gyy oeme rem win uy 10 gei an answer for you. Pall 9)73001 nn a tniirh-tnnp a tragedy ON THE NEWS phone and follow the instructions. VfS ic: VC mm mm mmg 9 Ss-j 'i 4- School killing brings arrest of taunted teen By Joanne Sills and Kurt Heine KNIGHT-R1DDER NEWSPAPERS ed Hill, Pa. Michael I Swann stood 6-foot-S, with I tt an attitude.

That made the 16-year-old one of the biggest kids in Upper Perkiomen High School. And one of the toughest. Jason Smith stands S-foot-4, a slightly built 15-year-old with little to distinguish him from everybody else in the modern school building nestled between Green Lane Reservoir and Main Street. Until Monday. Jason Smith was Michael Swann's victim.

For too long. After months maybe years of mean-spirited teasing, shoving and punching, mild-mannered Jason Michael Smith pulled a 9mm Ruger semiautomatic pistol from his book bag during first-period biology according to students and police. He stood 3V2 feet from his tormentor's face, took aim and said, "You want to make fun of me?" Then, as 22 other students and the teacher froze in horror, he squeezed off two rounds, authorities said. Michael Swann's face exploded in gore. He slumped in his seat, dead.

According to a police affidavit, his killer then "casually" walked put of the second-floor classroom, through the front doors of the brick-and-aluminum building, and sat under a tree on a gentle hillside overlooking the school and the reservoir. He sat in the shade on that sunny morning to wait for police, said Montgomery County District Attorney 1 What happened to Paul Carter, the assistant director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation who applied for medical retirement, claiming a hip problem, after it was found that he had possibly misused taxpayergovernment funds by going on a questionable golfing trip The hip problem didn't stop him from playing golf. Was he granted disability retirement Dale Harris, Buford, Ga. Mr. Carter will retire on disability at the end of the month because of a degenerative hip condition.

He received a letter of reprimand because of the golfing trip. Is it true that when paying a car repair bill, you are required to pay sales tax only for parts and not for labor Ed Dennis, Riverdale If the bill is divided into parts and labor, then you pay sales tax only on the parts. If the bill is not divided as sometimes happens, for example, when rebuilt parts are used you pay tax on the total bill. THE CHANT, WHENCE IT CAME: Dennis Hinton of Kenne-saw called to say the Atlanta Braves-Florida State chant came from a tune he played in his high school band, called "The Persian Market Theme," which he said is the stereotypical music behind many Indian scenes in movies and cartoons. Paula Cooper of Atlanta added that a Hanim's beer commercial used the chant in the 1960s.

Jane Hammond of Nor-cross recognized the chant as the theme of "Pow Wow the Indian Boy," a popular cartoon, also from the 1960s. Associated Press Jason Michael Smith, 1 5, is taken to arraignment Monday in Red Hill, Pa. He was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of a boy who allegedly badgered him for years. What is the origin of the mortarboard, which is really a funny-looking hat? Why are they worn at graduations Lucy Perry, Atlanta The mortarboard goes back to the rise of universities in the Middle Ages. It was worn as a head covering by professional scholars, who called it the pileus quadratus, or four-sided felt hat.

They got the idea from the Greeks, who got it from the Egyptians, who used certain types of headpieces to designate a particular status or jot). Regarding prayers at graduation ceremonies: Why can't authorities just let the students who want to pray go dftead, with those who don't want to not participating Maryann English, Atlanta Even student-initiated voluntary prayers have been roiled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In Lee v. Weis-ipan, the court held that when schools reserve time at graduation ceremonies for prayer even if it is voluntary and even iT it is by a student and not a member of the clergy it puts tjie power, prestige and endorsement of the state behind whatever prayer is offered, feven the option of not having to participate would give an objecting student "a reasonable perception that he or she is Oeing forced by the state to pray a manner his or her conscience will not allow." class, Jason removed the automatic from his book bag, walked to within 3V2 feet of Michael and fired twice, striking Michael at least once in the head," the affidavit read. Some youngsters said they thought the gunfire was just test tubes that somebody had dropped on the floor.

Jason was arraigned before District Justice Catherine Hummel on charges including murder, reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime. The two boys shared "bad blood," Mr. Marino said, and he called the case "a very, very tragic, intentional situation'." Residents were disturbed by the sight of reporters and TV crews crowding around their po-; lice station Monday. But even more disturbing was what had happened to bring them there. "Where can you go to be safe?" asked Sue Wothers, 41, a mother of two.

"It's scary. This is a little quiet town, and nothing like this ever happens." lying that Jason had taken at the hands of Michael, then sadly shook their heads. "It was kind of a shock," said Tyler. Schaffer, 16- "They've been in conflict since the seventh grade. I guess he just finally got under his nails." Tyler added, "It makes people think.

We've had our share of brawls in the school, but never a shooting." Jason, a quiet student who hadn't even told his mother about his troubles with Michael, told police he had decided on murder Thursday, according to the court affidavit. Before leaving for school Monday morning, he picked a 9mm pistol of his mother's boyfriend from a locked gun cabinet in their home. He made sure the gun was loaded, then test-fired it in his bedroom. He hid it in his book bag, according to the affidavit. The shooting came without warning 20 minutes after school began.

It was 8:47 a.m. in the lOth-grade biology class. "Once inside the biology Michael Marino. When police Officer Andrew Curtis arrived, Jason put down his gun and was quietly led away to be charged with murder. Later, in the company of his mother, he confessed that he had killed Michael because he was being picked on, according to an affidavit filed by Police Chief Thomas Liott.

Jason was jailed without bail. He faces trial as an adult. In Philadelphia, where more than three dozen teenagers fell prey to murder last year, the taste of violence in general might not linger except among family and friends. But in this corner of upper Montgomery a 50-mile drive from Philadelphia, yesterday's scene was something most kids see only on TV crime shows. The hurt cut deep.

Teary-eyed girls at the McDonald's restaurant in Pennsburg, a couple of miles from the school, brushed away a reporter's questions. Shaken youths at the Dairy Queen tersely described the bul TODAY'S FIEIVS Baseball coach Tim Shafer is leaving Lovett to seek a job teaching math full time. C8 WORLD A slain cardinal is mourned In Mexico. AIO Iranian jets attack rebel bases in Iraq. AIO MOM'S VENDING MACHINES, INC.

DIVISION Of MlrfSUNIRS Guatemala's president be Rehnquist upset at release of Marshall files comes its dictator. A 1 0 Justice Marshall had voiced the same view. But in November 1991, just 14 months before his death, the 83-year-old justice signed an agreement giving the library custody of his papers. The agreement stipulated that after his death, the papers "shall be made available to the public at the discretion of the While these mostly formal notes show the justices to be scholarly and intensely serious about their work, they have long insisted that their internal debates be kept secret. Justice Rehnquist has long argued that the justices can resolve legal disputes more effectively if they can negotiate their differences in private.

NATION Southeastern states are among the most polluted. A3 A Marine colonel who has a gay son says his view of homosexuals has changed, but he still backs the military ban. A4 House Democrats tell ident Clinton to use all his influence to save a deficit-reduction bill. A8 LOS ANGELES TIMES Washington In an unusual, sharply worded letter to the librarian of Congress, Chief Justice William Rehnquist said Tuesday that he was "surprised and disappointed" that library officials gave the public access to the papers of the late Justice Thurgood Marshall less than two years after he left the court. No member of the Marshall family or official of the court was consulted before the papers were released, Justice Rehnquist said.

"Given the Court's long tradition of confidentiality in deliberations, we believe this failure to consult reflects bad judgment on the part of the Library," the chief justice wrote on behalf of the court. Justice Marshall's files, which fill several hundred boxes at the library, include drafts of court opinions and memos that circulated among the justices. THE ATLANTA CONSTITITION Established June d. hSM Delivery Parents can help kids avoid sugar. E3 Pick your favorite comic strips.

E5 Alabama's June Jam Festival makes a great getaway. E8 Fox TV will devote a two-hour Sunday night block to shows led by African-American performers. EIO "Menace II Society" is shattering! effective. Ell A writers' rock band heads for Atlanta. Ell OLYMPICS An attorney puts his Olympic dream on hold.

B7 Action is slow on proposed trails to link Olympic venues at Georgia Tech and Stone Mountain. B7 As firms pledge to cooperate in developing high-definition TV, experts worry. I Consumer confidence is at its lowest since President Clinton's election. Dl NASCAR racers fight the Clinton tax bill. Dl Convention and tourism officials say a Clinton proposal would cost 4,500 Georgians their jobs.

Dl Handheld computers aren't a practical substitute for ink and paper. D3 The SEC investigates Prudential Securities Inc. D5 New China policy starts looking like the old kind. D8 Medical confirms that a management group has discussed a bid to acquire the company. D9 oraT President Clinton messed up.

Period. AI2 COLBISTS Cynthia Tucker The Westminster apartments, an unheralded success story. AI3 Lewis Grizzard: Haircut. Bl Steve Hummer What if other businesses had a rotation problem? CI Ernest Holsendolph: Black unionists and social action. Dl Celestine Sibley: An honorable "hanging." El Colin Campbell: Flipping over a coin.

EI2 The Georgia Dome authority gives VIPs free use of stadium suites for the second straight year. Bl "I try not to think about it," says a student who killed an intruder. Bl Many shopkeepers on the squares of rural Georgia towns still lock their doors and leave at lunchtime once a week. Bl Georgia laws don't keep drunk drivers off the roads, anti-DUl crusaders say. I ir The policeman accused of 'I being the trieeerman in a club If you don't receive your Constitution by 6:30 a.m..

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LocalSlate News 526-5342 Naiionallnl. News 526-5355 Business News 526-5320 LivingEntertainment 526-5441 Sporls 526-5331 Advertising Saturday Leisure 526-5973 Photography 526-5410 Managing Editor 526-5007 Editorial page 526-5432 Switchboard '526-5151 Hearing impaired Corrections An article in Tuesday's Journal-Constitution incorrectly reported the disposition of a case involving former state Rep. Gerald Johnson. Mr. Johnson pleaded no contest to five misdemeanor counts of sexual battery involving young girls.

An article In Tuesday's Journal-Constitution incorrectly reported that Fredric Tokars had taken a vacation in Europe since his wife's slaying. His attorney, Jerry Froelich, said Wednesday that Mr. Tokars did not take such a trip. A chronology that accompanied the story incorrectly reported that the family of Sara Tokars offered a $10,000 reward for information on the killing. Actually, 1 friends of Mrs.

Tokars offered the reward. It Is the policy of this newspaper to correct errors that appear In its news columns. 577-5772 Our TTY number for circulation. 526-5 179 billing, delivery and classified is 526-5193 526-5170. Classifieds Retail Advertising National Advertising SFQHTS Golfer Vicki Goetze tries to lead a relatively normal life despite being billed as the savior for a struggling LPGA Tour.

I The Braves blank the Reds 5-0. CI The IAAF signs a deal with Mercedes-Benz to give new cars to track and field World Championship winners. CI The Knicks beat the Bulls 96-91 for a 2-0 series lead. CI WGST gambles on baseball and wins big. C2 The NFL's two newest franchises will cost a record $140 million each in entty fees.

C3 -guilty, prosecutors say. B4 Brown College will cut about 20 positions to fight Its deficit. B8 UVSl" Tabitha Soren of MTV News feels "very scrutinized." El Atlanta photographer Harry Callahan wins the Ed-I ward MacDowell Medal. El The "Daytime Emmy Awards" show takes another I formative step this year. E2 Celebrate grandparents with four outstanding books.

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