The Raleigh Register from Beckley, West Virginia • Page 29

Register Second News Front Page 9 Tuesday Afternoon November 8, 1977 Beckley. Va. (25801) What Is Causing Rapes? Area Residents Say Not The Gorge Bridge Or Publicity By Charles Spencer Register Reporter Beckley Police Chief Thomas Durrett and Raleigh County Sheriff Okey Mills have said the increase in the number of rapes is due in part to the accessibility to the area created by the New River Gorge Bridge and the amount of publicity the media has given the rapes. Most area residents interviewed said they disagreed and said they to know more about this type of crime in the area. Harold Pack, Campus Drive the bridge has any effect, don't think it's a great effect.

I don't think it would be proper to blame it on the bridge. As for the media my answer is a flat no. I think the public needs to be informed. If coverage is increased, it should be in relation to the problem." Harold Pack Mary Crook, Eisenhower Drive "No, I don't agree with the bridge part, but it might have a little bit to do with it. I don't want to put down the police because they're probably doing all they can, but we need more police protection.

The news media bit might be true because some people might not think about it till they read about it. I think we need more coverage. You need to know how safe it is." Edward Schofield Edward Schofield, Spangler Street "I think the bridge is a good move for West Virginia, but a great landmark like that draws all kinds of people. Really, I wouldn't say the bridge has anything to do with the increased number of rapes. Wasn't some of that going on before the bridge? I wouldn't say that news coverage has increased rapes either.

If a man has that in his mind, news coverage or not, he's going to do it. I don't think it would make a man want to go out and commit a crime. I think it it's a good idea that the paper keep on top of the story. Maybe it'll make some people more careful." Jane Holliday, Bosiic Avenue don't really think the bridge has anything to do with it. Things like this happen because of the way people are brouqht up.

Multiply the lack of caring and the lack of discipline by the number of kids and you have it. Frankly, I think they're starting to report them more. There were problems going on before and no one said anything about it. I definitely think the public should be aware of what's going on." Shirley Dykes, Beckley "I guess the bridge would bring in more people. But there are already too many people anyway.

I believe there are a lot of sick people in Beckley. There are too many people and I think the police department is doing a pitiful job. I'd like to see more coverage and a lot more done about it. It might get some people on the ball." Shirlev Dvkes Marv Crook Jane Hollidav Cheryl Tabor. Dry Hill Road don't think it's because of the bridge.

A bridge has nothing to do with what's going through peoples' minds. I think news coverage has a lot to do with it. I believe there should be less coverage, kind of slack off." Cheryl Tabor Ruth Skaggs, Oak Hill "I think the bridge brings more people into the area, but as far as rapes, I think they were here to begin with. They're just coming to light. It was here before.

I don't think the publicity from the media would affect rapes. It's been here. It's just out the open. I think people should be aware of what's going on." Bidders Pack Courthouse The first floor hall of the Raleigh County Courthouse was packed throughout the day Monday with potential bidders in the Sheriff's Department's annual delinquent tax land auction. The object of the auction is to insure that the tax payments are kept up to date on all parcels of land in the county.

In each case. the minimum bid on the property is set-at the amount of delinquent taxes owed by the present owner, who has one year to redeem his property from the successful bidder. Most of the bidders brought along newspapers containing lists of the parcels up for auction. Register Photo by Betty Benjamin Confessed Slayer's Case Gets Review t'niifd I'rt-ss International Charleston Two identical life terms given to the confessed slayer in the West Virginia University coed murder case will be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. In a ruling Monday, the bench agreed, without dissent, to review the sentencing of Eugene Paul Clawson.

convicted last year in the decapitation deaths of the two college girls. Karen Ferrell. Quimvood. ('Greenbrier County). W.Va..

and Mared Malarik. Kinnelon. N.J.. disappeared from the WVU campus in January. 1970.

while thumbing a ride back from a movie theater in Morgantown, W. Va. An intense search that included National Guard troops finally located their headless bodies in a crude grave five miles south of the town. The heads were never found. Clawson.

now in jail at Camden. N.J.. on a variety of sex offenses, was indicted April 8. 1976. in Monongalia County, after allegedly dreaming about heads and giving New Jersey and West Virginia police a detailed confession.

In court. Clawson recanted that confession on the witness stand. His lawyer. L. Edward Friend, contended that Clawson and jail buddies plotted the confession, using tidbits from detective magazines, as a ploy to get Clawson freed from the New Jersey jail.

During the trial. Friend tried to show it was physically impossible for Clawson to have been in Morgantown when the coeds were slain, according to the times he punched in and out of work at Philadelphia on his time card. Friend asked the court to overturn the conviction, largely because of massive pre-trial publicity. Police testified that Clawson droveIhe kidnapped girls to a secluded site and sexually abused them in turn, while the other was handcuffed to the car's steering.wheel. It was at the home of the defendant's brother that police found a machete which they believed was used to decapitate the girls.

Clawson led police to a cave-pocketed hill near his hometown of Point Marion. (Fayette County). instructing them to look there for the skulls. Neither was found, but police did find some human hair at the scene. ing eg is ten.

State Briefs 253-2441 A few years back, the legislature of West Virginia passed a bill appropriating S40.000 and declared the multiflora rose a natural hazard. Where can I get some help on this multiflora rose? --H. Mabscott Write to the State Department of Agriculture, Capitol Building, Charleston, W. Va. 25305.

What is the address of the company that makes Ebco four quart pressure cookers? Crab Orchard Ebco Manufacturing, 265 N. Hamilton Columbus, Ohio '43213. I have four silver dollars and would like to know their value 1886,1879,1888 and one 1900. -P. PA: These are common dates, and are worth about $4 each in average condition, according to Emerson Smith, a local coin collector.

New Law Gets Review United Press International Charleston A new law that stripped thousands of public employes of their Civil Service coverage will be given a test by the West Virginia Supreme Court to see whether it conforms to the constitution- John D. Baker, a Dunbar resident and former administrative assistant in the now defunct Office of Federal State Relations, had sought the review by the court. Baker, along with workers in several other offices, and nearly 7.000 employes in the Department of Highways, were placed under the protective Civil Service umbrella Dec. 23. in one of former Gov.

Arch Moore's final acts. Legislators repealed the earlier executive order of Moore May 6. primarily to satisfy Gov. Jay Rockefeller. Nelson Talks Spark Complaint Hantington State Sen, Robert Nelson's on-campus talks with 20 members of the Marshall University custodial staff has sparked a complaint from the school's president, Dr.

Robert Hayes. The Huntington Herald Dispatch reports today it obtained a copy of a letter Hayes sent to the West Virginia Board of Regents, accusing the senator of "unethical and blatant interference" at Marshall. Hayes charged that Nelson, Cabell. conducted the meeting without permission when the custodians were supposed to be at work. The Marshall president urged the regents to review the incident and "obtain a legal opinion as to the extent of Mr.

Nelson's authority to disrupt the normal operation" at Marshall. Licensing Rules Approved Charleston Rules to license physicians assistants were approved by a close vote Monday, but the legislative rule making review committee delayed until December a ruling on certifying strip mining foremen. Del. James Teets, Preston, ignited action Sunday on the doctors' aides issue when he questioned the Medical Licensing Board's failure to certify paramedical officials. In response.

Dr. Frank Holroyd, chairman, said the board had planned to review its rules with the new legislation in mind but hadn't refiled them with the rule-making committee. Holroyd conceded Monday, under questioning, that he hadn't filed revised regulations. Regulations on file contain some technical flaws, according to some members of the committee. People Clement L.

Schulte is the of Snow Thorton Florist Shop. The shop was started in 1920, but Schulte only has been there since 1937. Originally from Great Bend, he moved here to Beckley some 40 years ago. "I've seen Beckley change from a sleepy little town to a wide awake growing city," he said. Schulte is married, his wife's name is Mary Ann.

When asked if he has any i Schulte smiled very wide. He paints and collects art and has been all over the world and seen many great works of art. His two favorite attists are Raphael, and the Spanish painter Mum- millo..