Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archive

Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 1

Publication:
Indiana Gazettei
Location:
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Issue Date:
Page:
1
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Autopsy: Did Jack Davis die of a skull fracture? RANDY WEI I body Tuesday at the Central Medical Center and Hospital in Pittsburgh discovered a skull fracture which was not noticed in the original examination more than three years ago. Indiana County district attorney William Martin said this morning he has no idea where WTAE got that information, adding he and Dr. Cyril Wecht, the Allegheny County pathologist who performed the autopsy, had agreed not to publicly discuss the autopsy results until a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday. Martin said his only additional comment this morning could be "No comment." Davis was 20 years old when he disappeared on the weekend of October 17, 1967.

His body was found five days later at the bottom of a seldom-used campus stairwell, and following an autopsy performed by an Indiana pathologist Indiana County coroner Tom Streams ruled the IUP student died an accidental death. The young man choked to death on his own vomit, and alcohol was a contributing factor, Streams said, following the autopsy and investigation by local police. The original autopsy, according to Streams, showed no remarkable external injuries except a small superficial bruise above one eyebrow. The Davis family never believed the initial autopsy, and retained Dr. Wecht, formerly the Allegheny County coroner, to initiate an independent investigation.

His meeting with Indiana County officials in October led to the exhumation of the body and the second autopsy Tuesday. "It took the clout of Dr. Wecht to really convince people there's something wrong with this case," Jack Davis Sr. of Penn Hills, the victim's father, said this morning. "We don't have any idea how Channel 4 got that news," Davis also said, adding Dr.

Wecht and Martin have made arrangements to meet privately with the family Saturday Gawtt Staff Writer Despite announcements Wednesday that nothing official would be released until Saturday on the findings from the second autopsy on former IUP student Jack Davis Jr a Pittsburgh television station has reported medical examiners discovered a fractured skull on Davis' exhumed body. WTAE-TV 4, attributing an unnamed source, reported Wednesday evening the second autopsy on the morning before the press conference. The family suspects foul play may have been involved in their son's death. Jack Davis Sr. said a two- or three-day beard growth on his son's face when he was found indicates he remained alive for a period after the Friday night he disappeared.

And although there is little doubt, according to witnesses' accounts, that his son was intoxicated that Friday night, the fact virtually no See Page Column 1 ratta (jpzette -CO" GMtennial Year Thursday, November 15, 1990 Vol. 87-No. 73 32 Pages 4 Sections 1990 Indiana Printing and Publishing Company, Indiana, Pa. Thirty-Five Cents County to bid on new state prison; 1, 000 jobs envisioned By HELEN NOON Gazette Staff Assistant The Indiana County commissioners will send a notice to the state expressing their interest in the construction of a medium security prison that would create more than 1,000 jobs in the county. At a meeting Wednesday, Commissioner James McQuown reported that the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce had appointed a task force to work with developers, contractors, and engineers to look into the matter.

"The chamber endorses this effort strongly and urges county government to participate and support this again solicit interest from counties for another prison site, McQuown said. In another matter, the commissioners adopted a proclamation which names the Oswego-Tea as Indiana County's wildflower. Gould Schrock, a member of the Indiana County Botanical Society, was present to show a picture of the flower and explain how it was chosen from among four other selections. According to Schrock, deciding on a county wildflower was a two-year process which began in November 1988. A five-member committee was appointed to discuss the matter and met on a regular basis.

However, the Gunman flees with $5,730 after robbing Blairsville bank By Bill GRAFF Gazette Aiiittant Editor BLAIRSVILLE An employee at Vanguard Federal Savings Bank at the Chestnut Ridge Plaza shopping center east of Blairsville was held up and robbed of $5,730 shortly before noon Wednesday by a lone gunman who fled on foot, according to state police. Police said the gunman entered the office about 11:50 a.m., pointed a small nickel or chrome-plated automatic pistol at the unidentified employee and stated, "This is a holdup. Put all your money in this bag." Copyright0 project," said McQuown who is a member of the task force. Other task force members include Dr. John Welty president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Charles Spadafora, owner of Colonial Motor Mart; George Dragonir, director of purchasing at Rochester It Pittsburgh Coal Co.

and Dave Fullerton, executive director of the chamber. According to McQuown, the task force is in the process of selecting a development team who would submit a proposal to the state on the county's behalf. No site has yet been determined if the $80 to $100 million project were approved, the commissioner said, adding that 200 acres would be Once the employee turned over the money, the gunman fled on foot and was last seen running south through the parking lot. The robber was described as a white male between 22 and 27 years old, about 5'5" to 5'9" inches tall, weighing 150 to 160 pounds with a thin build with dark brown or black hair. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, dark sweat shirt, blue jeans and shoes.

It also was reported the gunman was clean shaven. State police were joined in the investigation by FBI agents. Police were interviewing all shopping plaza employees and those of nearby Route 22 busi ry Waverling, 63, of State College, died a short lime after arrival at Centre County Community Hospital in State College, police said. Hopkins is a 1984 graduate of Purchase Line High School. Funeral arrangements are in the charge of Rairigh Funeral Home, Hillsdale.

The accident tied up traffic on Route 322 for about four hours, police reported, after the car operated by Harry Waverling and the truck operated by Hopkins collided head-on. Dorothy Waverling was a passenger in the car driven by her husband. and Wanda Lee Marsh, 23. Before entering his plea, Marsh was repeatedly asked by counsel and then by Judge Ruddock if he understood that by admitting his guilt, he was giving up his right to a jury trial and faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine on each count. Handler informed Judge Ruddock that he and Cartwright had met several times with the defendant over the past nine months to discuss his role in the pre-dawn blaze and to inform him of his rights and the consequences of admitting his guilt.

"We believe he understands all of this and voluntarily enters his plea," New At Subs 'N Suds "Slaw Sandwiches" On Fresh Italian Bread. Christmas Open House Sunday Nov.ltth, 12-4. Florals by Mary Moskel. 18S.7th. Indiana Elks Fish Dinner Friday, 5-7.

Members Guests. Affordable Interiors Warehouse Carpet Sale Going On Now Clear tonight; partly smmy cm jf vaiuwji ate weather details on page ft. INSIDE Not yet read Next Monday, in a glittering ceremony ki Paris, the United States, the Soviet Union and their military allies plan to sign the most sweeping agreement in history to reduce weapons arsenals. But the treaty to slash arms across the vast expanse of Europe from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains in the Soviet Union is simply not ready. See story on page All the words George Carlin is a man of many words and he used every one he could think of as he entertained a full house for the 7:30 p.m.

show Wednesday in Fisher Auditorium. Rebecca Mures heski reports oo today's Theater page. Maggie slipping? When Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher set off to a European summit in Rome last month, it looked like business as usual another spat with the continentals, more "Maggie Isolated" headlines, and home. See page 16. Stormie The stepfather of heart-liver transplant patient Stormie Jones said the family can cope with her death by knowing that her pain is over and her brief life may help extend life for others.

Story on page 6. Obituaries on Page 26 ELLIOTT, Freda Belle Wolfe, 84, Amity FINK, Fannie E. Hetrick, 95. Ernest KUNKLE, Fannie Mary Ann Dugan, 73, 1309 Philadelphia Indiana RISING, Ida L. Sharp.

90, 1368 Philadelphia Indiana LATE DEATH HOPKINS, Dale Thomas, 25, Burnside 22 Classifieds. 27-32 Dear Abby 3 Entertainment. 14,15 Family. 12,13 Lottery Numbers 4 Regional 9,10 Sports 17-21 Stocks. 4 TV-Comics 23 Viewpoint.

2 Weather. 8 There's one great fault in those how-to books they never tell you the who-to so you can call someone to do it for you. Purchase Line grad killed final decision was made at this year's Indiana County Fair where a booth was set up for county residents to vote. About 960 people voted for their favorite, Schrock said. Schrock said the flower, which was Imported from Europe, grows "widely scattered" throughout the county.

He added that sometime next year, the Botanical Society would like to present the commissioners with a portrait of the flower for display. Meanwhile, the commissioners approved a $474,308 loan to Indiana County Development Corporation as partial payment for construction of See Page Column 6 weather worsens for launch CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The weather outlook worsened again for tonight's launch of Atlantis with five astronauts and a satellite that reportedly will spy on Iraq. The shuttle Is scheduled to blast off between p.m. and p.m.

EST. The exact time of the military mission will be kept secret an til nine inmates before liftoff, as was the ease with the six previous Pentagon flights. Air Force rneteorotegiste tWay predicted a 41 percent chaace good weather at knack One, down from earlier forecasts af percent. The ktggest threat was crosswifids that might exceed tat allowable limit of 14 ana. Aarta- "There aaesal stem be an anbiems wtta Ike csa.ld.aa," NASA spikumaa Karl Krtstaf.

fcrsan saM May. Ta wtatatr latheaiirytrrynaag." required. He also noted that about other counties are competing for this project which would create 660 full-time permanent jobs with another 500 spin-off jobs for Indiana County. "We certainly do need jobs to make up for layoffs in the coal mining Industry," Commissioner Beatrice States said. McQuown said that if approved, certain state requirements must be met which would Include county involvement in the project with a lease arrangement with private developers.

The facility would then be leased back to the Commonwealth, be said. In the spring of 1991, the state will nesses in an attempt to determine whether the robber had been observed watching the plaza bank, or whether anyone had observed a person fitting the robber's description in the bank vicinity during the past several days or before or after the holdup. The bank was closed for several hours until the facility was processed by members of the state police crime unit and until the finances could be resolved. State Police Lieutenant Jacob Zelli from Greensburg headed the police investigation along with Sergeant Sidney Simon of the Indiana station. Damage to both vehicles was severe.

Also injured as a result of the accident was Henry Julian of State College, a tow-truck operator whose vehicle collided with the wreckage a short time later. He was treated at Centre County Community Hospital and later released, police said. BLAIRSVILLE No injuries were reported in a two-vehicle accident that took place at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday on Route 119 near Route 586 in Burrell Township, according See Page Column! Handler said. "By pleading guilty, you are admitting you committed the crimes you are charged with and that you did what the Commonwealth says you did," Judge Ruddock told Marsh.

"Do you understand?" "Yes," replied Marsh who ap peared in a red T-sntrt and jeans. All other charges, including four counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count of arson and related offenses, causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy and criminal mischief, were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea. Also present during the court proceeding was District Attorney Pre-Holiday Sale Starts Today, Bob'ss Stereo, See Page 14. Widdowson's Right Open House, Sunday, Noon-4 P.M. Christmas Open House Sunday Nov 11.

12-4, Fran's Jewelry 4 Gifts, 20 S.7th St. Indiana. Downtown Tree Lighting Friday, Nov. 16, 7P.M. Santa's Arrival.

A Burnside man was one of three people killed in a head-on crash in Centre County on Wednesday morning. The summary: STATE COLLEGE Three people were killed in a head-on crash between a car and a pickup truck on Route 322 south of State College at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday. Dale T. Hopkins, 24, of Burnside, and Dorothy Waverling, 56, of State College were pronounced dead at the scene by the Centre County coroner's office, according to state police in Philipsburg.

A third victim, Har BIG, BIG SPARKLER An unidentified model1 stands behind 102-carat diamond, the largest gem of its kind ever put on sale, during an auction held by Sotheby's in Geneva Wednesday. The gam was bought by a Lebanese trader for $12.8 million. The unnamed diamond was recently cut from a 222-carat rough stone. (AP Laserphoto) Marsh pleads guilty in fire deaths William Martin who was seated with Trooper William Jakela, a state police fire marshal stationed in Indiana. Martin gave a brief summary of the Commonwealth's case against Marsh by stating that Trooper Jake-la received a call from the county's emergency center at 5:49 a.m.

on Feb. 22. When he arrived at the scene, the trooper saw a dwelling extensively damaged by fire, Martin said. Also at the Are scene was Trooper George Bates, a fire marshal from the Greensburg barracks. Martin said both troopers entered the home to investigate and found the Are was started Hi the living room area.

The cause was determined to be arson. Martin said. See Page Column 4 Rose Inn Comedy Saturday, 1117, 10 P.M. Ice Skates- Best Quality- Mens, Ladies, Children! IAS True Value, (36 Phila.St. 465-4921 BBQ Chicken and Ribs Tonight Kangaroo's.

By HELEN NOON Gazette Staff Assistant A 20-year-old Arcadia man, charged with setting a fire which killed his parents and brother and sister, pleaded guilty today in Indiana County Court of Common Pleas to four counts of three-degree murder. Accompanied by his attorneys, Michael Handler and Bruce D. Cart-wright II, James Edward Marsh appeared in front of Judge W. Parker Ruddock and admitted to setting the Feb. 22 blaze that claimed the lives of Earl Charles "Sonny" Marsh 53; Charmaine Kelly Marsh, 49; Ralph Dale Marsh, 25; Taco Bar And Classic Trax 9p.m.

at The Holiday Inn. Creekside Country Peddler Open Saturday 1(M; Sunday 1-4. The Wildcats 1160 WCCS! District 6 Playoffs; Homer-Center vs Laurel Valley, 6:30 P.M. Tomorrow on 1160 WCCS. Cycads Tonight Is "Wing.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

About Indiana Gazette Archive

Pages Available:
321,059
Years Available:
1890-2008