The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 66

June 27. 1981 17 8ATURDAY OKLAHOMAN T1MKH Author Says He Warned Tulsan Honest Gambling Venture Could Be Deadly By Jack Taylor A widely read author specializing in organized crime said Friday he warned slain industrialist Roger Wheeler he could be killed if he tried to run a legitimate gambling operation. Hank Messick of Fort Lauderdale, said he made the statement to Wheeler in 1978 after Wheeler called him for advice. Wheeler had just purchased World Jai-Lai a pari-mutuel gambling operation with outlets in Florida and, at the time, Connecticut. "He called me up one time about three years ago and was a little worried about it," Messick said in a telephone interview from his home.

Messick said Wheeler told him Connecticut state police had suggested Wheeler read Messick's books about organized crime. Some of those involve criminal penetration of legalized gambling activities. "He wanted to know if an honest cution by a professional killer from a business deal. Wheeler was board chairman of Telex Corp. and had a wide range of other business interests, Including pari-mutuel gambling.

However, authorities have not linked his death to his gambling investment. Messick said Wheeler wanted to talk again and indicated he might want to retain Messick to provide advice on how to keep his gambling op erations honest. But, Messick said, "I was telling him it really couldn't be done." Messick said he told Wheeler he could be killed, and he never heard from Wheeler again. "I was the one that was telling him he might get himself killed if he tried to keep it honest, and some people didn't want him to keep it honest," Messick said. "He was a little skeptical." man could run a gambling operation and keep it honest," Messick said.

"I told him he couldn't either he'd turn crook or something would happen to him." Wheeler was shot to death May 27 as he finished a round of golf at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. Police have theorized Wheeler's death may have stemmed from one of three motives: a botched robbery, an attempted kidnapping or an exe Messick, who has writ ten 17 books, Including "Lansky" about longtime' reputed mob financial wizard Meyer Lansky; "Silent Syndicate," and "John Edgar Hoover" said he believes admittedly without any evidence that Wheeler fell victim organized crime. "I think there's no doubt about it," said Messick, who Is also a journalism professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Police Arrest Two On Drug Charges charge of obtaining controlled dangerous substances by fraud, deceit and misrepresentation. He was expected to be returned to the Major County Jail in Fairvlow.

Beasley reportedly has operated a research laboratory west of Soiling in connection with a study of plants, investigators said. He was arrested after he appeared at bureau headquarters for an unrelated reason. District Attorney Jack Barton the charge against Beasley was "based on some prescriptions that were written by Dr. Leslie, but that has nothing to do with the charges against Dr. Leslie.

The two cases are unrelated." Beasley allegedly acquired the drugs from a pharmacist in Major County by saying he was a licensed drug researcher, officials said. Leslie was charged after state undercover agents acquired drugs from his office while posing as patients, one investigator said. Officials would not say whether Leslie is alleged to have sold the drugs. The amount of drugs in each case was not disclosed, but authorities said they included Dilaudld tablets and other controlled dangerous substances. Autopsy Report Shows Wheeler Carrying $996 Tulsa multimillionaire industrialist Roger M.

Wheeler was carrying $996 in cash and eight credit cards when he was gunned down May 27 in the parking lot of Tulsa's Southern Hills Country Club, an autopsy report made public Friday showed. The report also noted soot deposits and abrasions on Wheeler's left hand, indicating he may have tried to fend off his assailant before being shot between the eyes at "near-contact." Wheeler, board chairman of Telex was shot as he sat in his car about 4:40 p.m. after playing his regular Wednesday round of golf. The barrel of the slayer's pistol apparently was so close to the executive's head that the fatal gunshot blast left no powder burns on Wheeler's face, although it shattered his eyeglasses and embedded glass fragments in his eyes, the report shows. The shot left an entry wound three-eights inches wide, the report shows.

The money and hand abrasions support one police theory that Wheeler may have been killed in a bungled robbery attempt. Bullets spilled from the chamber of the large-caliber pistol were found in Wheeler's lap and led to the theory that Wheeler somehow managed to knock the cylinder open berore he was shot. However, the more widely-held belief is that Wheeler was killed because of his business investments in pari-mutuel jai-alai, and that the dropped bullets were a "signature" of the killer. Two men described by witnesses as the killer and his companion are still at large. Telex officials have offered a reward through a nationwide media campaign in an attempt to help baffled Tulsa police find Wheeler's killers.

Pathologist M.F. Merchant reported, "The presence of soot and the minute abrasions noted on the dorsal aspect (back) of the left hand and the presence of gunpowder noted within the wound tract suggests that the deceased was shot at a near-contact distance." Besides a chronic kidney inflammation, the body of the 175-pound executive showed no other physical disorders. Merchant reported. The pathologist reported he found no traces of alcohol in Wheeler's body. The cash and credit cards were found in a pocket of Wheeler's blood-soaked, blue pinstriped suit.

Merchant reported. By Jim Etter Staff Writer SEILING The chief of staff of Soiling Municipal Hospital and an Alva chemist have been arrested on drug charges following a lengthy investigation, state authorities said Friday. The two were identified as Dr. Porter Leslie, a Soiling physician, and Marvin Beas-ley. Officials said Beas-ley is a chemist who had applied for a drug research license.

Leslie was arrested Thursday, but his arrest was delayed for a short time when hospital personnel told arresting officers that a female patient was in labor. Authorities said a Dewey County deputy waited at the hospital until the doctor was satisfied that he could leave his patient. Charges against both men stem from a probe by the state Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, bureau officials said. Leslie was booked on four counts of unlawfully dispensing controlled dangerous substances. His initial court appearance at Taloga was continued until July 1, and he was freed on bond, court officials said Friday.

Beasley was arrested Friday in Oklahoma City on a Major County Course May Change On 'Wiley Post' Flight TULSA (AP) Two men seeking to trace the route of Wiley Post's flight around the world a half century ago may change their plans for crossing Europe. Calvin Pitts, the pilot, told a Tulsa radio station on Friday they were considering going north from Liverpool, England, to Copenhagen, Denmark, and then on to Leningrad and Moscow in the Soviet Union. Original plans called for flying from Liverpool to Berlin and from there to Moscow. No reason was given for the possible change. The men were to leave Liverpool once they were cleared for the flight.

They also were awaiting repairs of their high-frequency radio. Pitts' navigator is Jerry Kuzla of Cleveland. Kuzia replaced Joe Cunningham of Tahlequah. Cunningham was forced to leave the flight when he suffered an attack of bursitis. BUH Photo by David Loogitrnth day in an effort to break the monotony of prison life.

Working under the watchful eye of guards in a tower are. from left, clowns Charlie Frye, Serf Rocha and Skeeter Reece. Prknn PlnvPr; The Rin9in9 Bros, and rrison riayers Barrium and Baiiey Circus entertained more than 600 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution at El Reno on Fri- Former Muskogee Census Director's Arraignment Delayed Four Killed In Highway Accidents gee Phoenix published stories of alleged corruption in the local census office. Hudson was an administrative assistant to U.S. Hep.

Mike Synar, of Muskogee before being named district office manager in December 1979. Hudson was employed in the census office until August 1980 and supervised up to 600 employees making tabulations covering 22 counties in eastern Oklahoma. Hudson faces up to 22 years in prison if he is convicted on all counts. Hudson's arraignment was scheduled before U.S. District Judge Frank Sony of MUSKOGEE (AP) The arraignment of former Muskogee District Census Director John Melbert Hudson on federal charges of using census workers for political means has been delayed until Monday.

The federal court hearing for Hudson, who was Indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday, was originally scheduled for Friday. The six-count indictment lodged against him was the first related to the operation of a census office in the 1980 population count. It charged that Hudson, 33, and unnamed co-conspirators violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits the use of federal funds to accomplish political objectives. Hudson now lives in Aberdeen, S.D. While the indictment did not specify many charges, it accused him of ordering an employee to make telephone calls on behalf of the Cartor-Mondalo campaign on government lime from the Muskogee census office.

The indictment said an alleged conspiracy aimed to "utilize this census program and positions therein to procure persons to assist in the campaigns of political candidates of the Democratic Party; to reward political loyalty to local Democratic parly leaders. and to promote the political aspirations of the defendant." Also, at least 10 employees recommended by local Democratic officials were hired although they failed to obtain passing grades on employment tests, according to the indictment. It said Hudson used intimidation and threats of force" to dissuade at least two employees from helping in the probe of office operations by the inspector general of the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce investigation began in August 1980 after the Musko Convicted Slayer Alva Man Guardsman Dies in Wreck Near Camp Ruled Incompetent Committed Supply and Service Battalion, which has been training here for two weeks. As members of the Ada unit were being paid Friday morning, they began donating some of their money for a fund for Mathews' family, said Cant.

Gary L. Thompson, Tecum- seh. Thompson said the donations were spontaneous and that more than $200 was collected in lime to send with a battalion officer who flew to Idabel to provide assistance for Mathews' widow. Thompson was Mathews' supervisor in the personnel section of the Guard battalion. He said Mathews, a member of the Ada unit Cowboy Hall Park Bill Legislation expanding State Capitol Park No.

1 and providing for the creation of the Cowboy Hall or Fame Park was signed into law Friday by Gov. George Nigh. Capitol Park No. 1 has included only that part ol the Capitol complex south of NE 23. It will now include all of the complex, including the Governor's Mansion.

The park will continue to be maintained by the state Tourism and Recreation Department. The northern part of the complex will be taken over under contract with the Capitol Improvement Authority, which now maintains it. Streets and parking lots in Capitol Park No. 1 and In the Cowboy Hall of Fame Park, when it's created, will become a part of the state highway system. State Capitol Park No.

1 will include medians and right of way on Lincoln Boulevard from Reno to I-240N. along I-210N to 1-35 and a long NE 23 from Santa FeioKelley. The legislation. Senate Bill 350. authorizes the Tourism and Recreation Commission to lease, purchase or otherwise acquire land for the Hall or Fame Park in an area between Kel-ley and Eastern avenues and hetween NE 63 and Deep Fork Ct The legislation is a art of the eMort yf state and city leaders to protect the Cowboy Hail of Fame and Western Heritage Center from undesirable FOKT CHAFFEE, Ark.

Friends of Oklahoma National Guardsman Mark Mathews created a fund for his family Friday shortly after learning that Mathews had been killed in a one-car accident on an Arkansas highway near here. Spec. 5 Mathews. 2C, of Idabel. was killed when the car he was driving went oul of control and overturned about 3 a.m.

Friday on Arkansas State Highway 2T5 near Fort Chaffee. Arkansas slate police said. He was dead on arrival at a Fort Smith hospital. Mathews was a member of Ada's Headquarters and Headquarters Detatehmenl. 120th since 1975.

recently moved to Idabel and was working as a salesman there. Earlier Friday. Mathews' battalion commander, battalion chaplain and stale headquarters chaplain flew by Guard helicopter to Idabel to notify Mathews' relatives. Mathews was the first Oklahoma guardsman to die while on active duty since the late I9i0.s, when a member fell from a roof and was killed at Fort Chaffee. Thrive who went to Idabel to notify Mathews" wife of his death were 1,1.

Col. Jer-rell Harbert. battalion commander; Maj. Dean Brown, battalion chaplain, and Col Russell y. state chaplain.

Terrorists Hit Again in Spain ALVA A 20-jvar-old man accused of second-degree arson in a SI million fire here in March was committed In Eastern State Hospital in Vinita Friday just hours before his preliminary hearing was to Konnie Lee Pyles was committed for observation and psychiatric-evaluation to determine whether he knew riht from wrong at the lime of the fire, whether he understands the nature of the charge against him and whether he can assist in his own defense. The committal, which isn't to exceed days, was requested by i'yles' attorney. Ed Sutter State ami local investigators surmise the Three Missouri residents were killed in a fiery crash on the Turner Turnpike, and a Fairfax man has died in a head-on collision, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported Friday. Paul and Pamela Murphy, both 48, of Lebanon, were killed early Friday when a pickup truck in which they were riding was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer rig that was attempting to pass them at high rate of speed, the patrol said. The pickup crashed into a bridge at mile marker 69 on the Turner Turnpike in Creek County, the patrol said.

Trooper F.E. Cope said the two were ejected from the pickup, which burst into names upon impact. The driver of the tractor trailer rig, Michael Gene Joy, of Springfield. also died in the 12:10 a.m. crash.

Joy's rig tipped over onto its side and slid an undetermined distance, and Joy was pinned inside the wreckage for more than two hours. Cope said. In Osage County, Kevin N. Yandell. 17, of Fairfax, was killed when the car he was driving made a left turn Into the path of an oncoming truck about 3:05 p.m.

Thursday about one mile south of Fairfax on State Highway 18, the patrol said. Trooper I-ue Ellison said Yandell as pinned Inside the -rentage for 25 otea By Jim Utter Stafr Writer TAHLEQUAH A woman convicted in April in the shooting death of another woman at a Little League baseball game here has been found incompetent to be sentenced, authorities said Friday. Cherokee County Assistant District Attorney Donn Baker called the decision by Eastern State Hospital officials "highly unusual" and vowed Mrs. Sharon Clark "won't get out or it this way." Mrs. Clark, 29, was convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying last July of Saudi Marie Quinton, 31.

The woman was shot during a brawl in the bleacher area of a ball park here before a scheduled baseball game between youngsters. Baker criticized the mental hospital's decision, received by court officials here June 12. "This one doctor (at Eastern State Hospital) has sort of circumvented the jury system. Twelve jurors said she was sane. Now, one doctor says she's not competent." "What it amounts to," Baker said, "is she cm stay there for five years, and then come hack and be sentenced at that time.

But she's not gnin to get out of it this way shell just postpone it." Prosecutors have maintained Clark, then teacher at Oaks, had intended to shorn her woman. Mrs. Sandy Murphy, because Mis Cl.uk was upset over criticism from other women aimed at her 12-year-old son. flabby Clark, who plajed third base on one of the teams. Arter a jury found Mrs Clark guilty, the court allowed her to be committed to the mental hospital for evaluation before sentencing Her conviction arries a punishment uf from Id years to life.

The victim had no po-litical affiliations and was unemployed, according to neighbors. He was the fourth man to be killed in 48 hours by suspected terrorists in IX hours in northern Spain. SAN SEBASTIAN'. Spain (AP) Gunmen ambushed and killed Antonio i 1 1 Chacon. 23.

early Friday anl police said they suspected the assailants were mpmbers of ETA, the Basque ist organization. Student Admits Charging Overseas Calls to Dorm ire Kus Advertising Co a firm owned by Mr and Mrs Sam Rigys The couple reportedly had befriended Pyles since he was a small hoy Flames from the legedly made 20 phone alls including five to Iran, two to France and one to Spain 1-iween mid-April and early May and barged the rails to i i.r.a No; Iir rr. nory In a signed statement, the lent said he psaf ed ine aii! to govt-rnmeniai officials STILLWATER An Iranian student at Oklahoma Slate University who blames the Ay-Sicilian Khomeini for his financial problems pleaded no contest Fnday to allegations that he i hat red 12,100 in distance le.ephune eai.s to an (ist 'dor rr.itorj said h- could nor pay for rails because money for Iranian sluder.ts in this eoun-tiy is r. held up in Iran be- jsi- does not want inni ir.stntr.isf ountry A'Jst'j was plated is-d profjatK.n fur Polish Racers Win Asylum fit ft housed Hai.fi House, an sns rt is tft. Si nl DlsUi rr.HHf a rr.nr.tr.

payment are f. year Attorney ftard -ar o.d was to p.s ird aiJ the student a I er this month r.a' been rr anted point, asylum, the Si-T's i formation S-i vice repotted Friday to the L'mted rr.y wife for a to ferms her HANNOVER. West Germany (AP) Two Poiish bicycle racers who disappeared for five days after the Ba den Bicycle Rally earli.