Aiken Standard from Aiken, South Carolina • Page 1

6-13-75 3 Held On $100,000 Bond Woman Critical; Beaten And Set On Fire By JEANE HALL Staff Reporter Three men are being held under $100,000 bond each in the Aiken County Jail as a result of the beating and burning of a 21-year-old Williston woman on Friday. The incident took place around Windsor. Pam Tanner, a white female of Williston, remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the University Hospital this morning, suffering from the beating wounds and second and third degree burns over 60 percent of her bodv. Being held in the county jail are Leonard Walter Crosby, 23, Rt. 1, Box 132, Williston, William Gary Blackburn.

22, Judy Williston, and Edward Marion Davis, 20.1120 Domia Williston. All three are charged with assault and battery with intent to kill and with conspiracy to commit murder. Miss Tanner is listed as a witness in an upcoming trial involving one of the defendants on a housebreakine and crand larceny charge, which is to take place in Barnwell County. Crosby is a former president of the student body at the Aiken branch of the University of South Carolina (USC-A). He was asked to resign after about two months, according to a spokesman at USC-A.

The incident began when two men were seen leaving in a car from what appeared to be a car accident. A witness saw the car, which fled at a high rate of speed, and gave chase. Another witness called the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department which came to the scene, located off secondary road 212, near Windsor. In a discussion with the victim, officers learned that she had a date on Friday night with Crosby. Sometime later she was taken to the site near Windsor where the incident took place.

Miss Tanner was apparently beaten and later set on fire, according to Lt. Manny Brooks, of the Aiken County Sheriff's Department. "Apparently there was a flammable liquid poured on the victim," Brooks said. "This was supposedly done while she was still in the car and then the fire was set." The incident took place about 8:30 p.m. Friday and the first arrest, that of Davis, took place in Williston about 11 that same night.

Blackburn was arrested at 2 p.m. Saturday in Charleston and Crosby was arrested at 11 a.m. Sunday. Brooks said that from the time the report came in his men. along with others, worked continuously until the final arrest on Sunday.

The Aiken County Sheriff's Department, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the police departments of Williston, Charleston and North Charleston were all involved in the investigation and arrests, according to Brooks. Brooks, while praising the work of the law enforcement officers, said that some of the investigative work was hampered bv sightseers who appeared at the scene. "We had evidence disturbed by some of those who were attracted to the scene," Brooks said. He said there was approximately 75 people on the scene at various times during the height of the investigation. What's Going On Sorensen Wants Name Withdrawn WASHINGTON (AP) Theo-l dore C.

Sorensen stunned the. Senate Intelligence Committee! today by disclosing that he had asked President-elect Jimmy! Carter to withdraw his nomi-i nation to be director of the' CIA. Sorensen did not say what Carter's response had been, but committee chairman Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, indicated that the committee would ac- cede to Sorensen's wish to step aside. The former counsel and close associate to President John F.

Kennedy dropped his bombshell at the close of a lengthy statement in which he asserted he was qualified for the post and denied a series of what he called "scurrilous and unfounded personal attacks which have anonymously circulated against me." Overthrow Attempt Said Defeated NIAMEY, Niger (AP) The capital of neighboring Benin was under curfew today after scattered fighting, but President Mathieu Kerekou of the former French colony said he had defeated an attempt by "imperialist mercenaries" to overthrow him. Kerekou said a planeload of whites and Africans landed ear- ly Sunday morning at a military airport outside Cotonou, the capital of the Louisiana-size country, and attacked at various points around the city. But government troops drove them off and also forced their DC8 to take off, the broadcast statement said. Rocket Secrets Claimed Sold LOS ANGELES (AP) Two young men from Southern California have been arrested and charged with conspiracy for allegedly selling U.S. rocket se-, crets to the Soviet Union, the FBI says.

A bureau spokesman said Sunday there was no estimate yet on what damage the alleged espionage might have caused U.S. defense. Andrew D. Lee, 25, of Palos Verdes Estates, and Christ- opher J. Boyce, 23, of Rancho Palos Verdes, were charged Sunday with "conspiracy to commit espionage against the United States on behalf of the Soviet Union," the FBI announced.

The case began Jan. 6 when Mexican police arrested Lee on an unrelated matter in Mexico City and found three rolls of top secret U.S. defense documents on microfilm, the FBI said. Big Parties Planned For Carter WASHINGTON (AP) A president is being inaugurated this week, and Washington is acting as if Jimmy Carter were the first to take the oath, instead of the 39th. Big parties, little parties.

Parties expensive, parties free. Parties hard-to-get-in, parties i i 1 e-to-get-in. And there's a "schedule of events" long enough to be a listing of plane arrivals at Washington National Airport. The festivities begin Tuesday even though Carter doesn't arrive until Wednesday, inauguration eve. Boat Capsizes, Nine Americans Die BARCELONA, Spain (AP) A U.S.

Navy launch carrying 110 American sailors and marines back to their ships from weekend leave capsized in Barcelona harbor early today', killing nine of the Americans, the U.S. Consulate reported. Five others were reported missing and 19 were reported injured. The Spanish news agency Cifra said the launch and the 493- ton Spanish freighter Urlea collided. But the consulate said it could not confirm whether a collision occurred or whether the launch overturned as it was maneuvering in the darkness in an attempt to avoid the freighter.

Singer Returns To Volunteer Job ASPEN, Colo. (AP) After weekending with ex-husband Andy Williams, Claudine Longet plans to return to her volunteer job teaching French to second-graders this week as her lawyers try to keep her from going to prison for killing her lover. The 35-year-old French-born entertainer faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a (5,000 fine after being convicted Friday of criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor. State District Judge George who presided over her trial, can reduce or suspend the prison term and fine or put her on probation. Miss Longet spent the weekend with singer Williams and their three children.

Have You Heard? that Woman Power strikes again? Mim Woodring's name plate at County Council read "Councilwoman" (her choice of wordage) not "Councilperson" as the male members had suggested That still leaves a question? If the men are our "county does that make Mrs. Woodring a "county that Pauline Heslip knows how to handle her husband? The couple received an invitation to the inauguration but the Rev Sam Heslip said he couldn't possibly get away from his duties here in Aiken. His wife replied that she would find someone else to take her. The ploy worked; the Heslips are leaving Tor Washington tomorrow morning. Gary Gilmore Is Executed; Stay Lifted JudgesMakeLateDecision POINT OF THE MOUNTAIN, Utah A Gary Mark Gilmore.

the killer who demanded death and twice attempted suicide in prison, was executed by a Utah firing squad today minutes after a federal appeals court lifted a stay granted during the night. The 36-year-old Gilmore was the first person to be executed in the United States in nearly 10 years. His lengthy fight to be executed drew worldwide attention. Gilmore. sentenced for the shooting death of a Provo.

Utah, motel clerk, was dressed in white and wearing an overcoat as he was taken from Utah State prison in a van to the execution site. A spokesman for the prison dictated'a stiort message to newsmen moments after the appeals court ruled at 7:35 a.m. MST. He said: "The order of the 4th District Court has been carried out." "Gary Mark Gilmore is dead." the spokesman said. CHILLING Water freezes on the Laurens Street fountain in Aiken and the thermometer registers 11 degrees this morning.

Bitter cold weather is expected to remain in the area at least until the weekend. Lows in the Aiken area tonight will again be in the low teens as a new shot of arctic air is expected. Anderson recorded a low of five degrees this morning, a record for that city. (Staff Photo by Murry Sill) Articles To Explore Income Tax Changes Millions of Americans will find it a little more difficult to figure their federal income tax this year. A little extra effort, however, may produce some savings.

Beginning today, a five-part series designed to help taxpayers prepare their 1976 tax return-s will appear in the Aiken Standard. For Part One, see Page 7. 2 Industries Have Fuel: To Operate This Week Schools By LIN SMITHWICK Staff Reporter Two Aiken County textile firms will remain open this week despite having lost their natural gas supply. Graniteville Company and United Merchants and Manufacturing, which have been operating for almost a week without the needed natural gas. announced this morning that they will operate through this week.

Robert P. Timmerman. president of Graniteville Company, said, however, "there's no telling what will happen after that." Timmerman, saying that the weekend's record-breaking low temperatures, have not helped, added. "The lonp range forecast is not encouraging." Conditions at Graniteville Company this morning, according to Timmerman. are He somberly explained, "We'll get by this week somehow." Timmerman said he had consulted with several members of South Carolina's Congressional delegation over the weekend.

Asked if he is planning to appear before the Federal Power Commission, Timmerman said he is not at this time. Friday's FPC ruling which authorized emergency sales to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line supplies the state's Piedmont section. The favorable FPC ruling, does not. however, effect Aiken County. During presentations before the FPC last week, the plight of the Aiken County industries was mentioned.

Before direct action effecting Aiken County can be taken, local representatives will probably have to appear before the FPC in separate hearings. Guy N. Thompson plant manager for United Merchants, said there is no change in the situation at his plant. "We will run this week but only at 50 per cent efficiency Thompson said two tire departments, the screen print and kiss print sections, are shut down. This involves about 125 people.

Thompson said a portion of the bleach department has also closed down operation. "We will get by this week but the weather certainly hasn't helped." Thompson stated. If the severe winter weather continues, officials at Graniteville and United Merchants, face the prospect of grim decisions which will effect 7.600 employes. Council May Implement Part Of Baird Report By LIN SMITHWICK Staff Reporter The Aiken County Council frill consider a resolution at tomorrow's regular meeting involving implementation of the George C. Baird accounting procedures.

This was one of the recommendations suggested by the grand jury. During a work session prior to their taking office, the council agreed to line up county budgeting procedures with the Baird report. Discussion of the matter came up during the council's Jan. 4 pre-meeting. It was suggested then that the council not adopt the Baird suggestions word for word.

In order to leave themselves some latitude in initiating the program, the resolution authorizes the council to implement the accounting proce- "when feasible and in compliance with the state law. Tomorrow's resolution also calls for seven recommendations of the finance and personnel committee to be adopted. These seven items are: All monies paid by Aiken County be paid through the finance department, on the basis of individual verified and approved invoices thereby eliminating all lump sum payments to agencies. Department and agency heads compile their budgets according to forms attached and at the times specified by the finance officer. Department and agency heads attend training sessions held by the finance officer to assist in understanding how bud(See COUNCIL, Page 2) Utility Bills Mounting Heat was turned off in Aiken County schools over the weekend in an effort to conserve energy and reduce the district's mounting utilities bill.

Dist Supt. Ted B. Willis said that since schools were closed today because of scheduled in- service day workshops for teachers, the district was able to turn the heat off in all buildings not being used for workshops. Willis said the workshops were to be held in central areas, such as cafeterias, to conserve more energy. Unusually cold weather has forced the district to contend with a large increase in its heating costs.

The district's total heating bill for the period from July 1, 1976 to Jan. 14. 1977 was $279,373.72, an increase of more than $100.000 from the months of July 1975 through Jan. 1976. "Most of it is due to the severity of the weather." Willis said.

Extremely cold weather in South Carolina has caused fuel shortages in some areas, but Willis said Aiken's schools should have no shortages. "We have been told we have uninterrupted service this year." he said. Robert L. Moody, one of Gilmore's two attorneys, said Gil- more was seated in a chair when he met death, denied his request to stand and face his executioners. The execution took place at 8:06 a.m.

MST. Vern DAmico, Gilmore's uncle, said: "I would liJce to say at this time, Gary, my nephew, died like he wanted to die. in dignity. He got his wish to die. He died in dignity.

That's all I have to say." Gilmore's other lawyer, Ronald Stanger, said through tears that he spent the night with Gilmore. "He was even trying to teach us some western songs," Stanger said of Gilmore. "He made the statement that he had received a gift. That gift was he knew when he was going die and he was indeed fortunate. In the wee hours of the morning, he expressed thanks and some sorrow.

He was a good man. He expressed love for children." Lawrence Schiller said the first indication that Gilmore was to be executed after the various legal maneuverings was when 4th District Court Judge J. Robert Bullock changed his order from sunrise to anytime during the day. When Schiller got to the execution site, Gilmore was already strapped into the chair with nylon straps. Nearby were about 20 other people.

Giimore talked briefly with Warden Samuel Smith but Schiller could not hear what was said. A prison employe passed out cotton to witnesses to block their ears from the report of the rifles. Gilmore did not move in the chair. He stayed rigid. He spoke to his uncle privately and to Moody, then Schiller and Stanger, who hugged him around the neck.

The warden then read a legal order. Gilmore looked directly at the warden without quivering. "Gary looked up for an extended period of time and said, 'Let's do Schiller said. "There were some emotional exchanges. A priest, a doctor and several other prison em- ployes placed a hood over Gilmore's head.

He was wearing tennis shoes. "He did not move when the hood was placed over him," Schiller said. "We could not hear anything that was being said..