The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 2

2-- Section I Wednesday, June 19, 1974 THE HERALD Theory hangs on sequence of deaths Son, 17, suspected in Park Ridge murders From Herald Investigators wild Tuesday four members of a Park Ridge family died of gunshot wounds, strangulation or stabbing. The "prlmo theory" was that the killer was a 17-yoar-old son who was also found dead of unknown causes in their fire- scarred ranch Police Sgt. John Baudck raid efforts by pathologists to determine through chemical tests how- Jeffrey Fuchs died was "obviously the key to the murders" of his mother, father, sister and brother. Crucial to the Investigation Is the report from the coroner's office pertaining to the timing of the boy's death. If the 17- year-old Fuchs boy Is determined to have died before other members of his family, it Is "back to the drawing boards," according to Sgt.

Baudck. If, however, the boy's death came after the deaths of his parents, sister and brother, then police theories about the killings may be well- founded. THE BL'ANKET-WRAPPED bodies of Raymond A. Fuchs, 49, his wife Ruth, 48, son, Scott, 15, and daughter, Lynda, 14, were found in the basement of the suburban homo Monday by firemen answering a fire alarm. Jeffrey's body was found upstairs in the kitchen.

Coroner Andrew J. Toman's office said autopsies showed Fuchs and Lynda died of multiple gunshot wounds, Scott was strangled with a nylon clothesline, and Mrs. Fuchs died of strangulation with the same clothesline and stab wounds In the noolc The Initial autopsy foiled to disclose the cause of death of Jeffrey, who picked up his diploma from high school last Friday but refused to participate in the commencement exercises'. The coroner said there were no external wounds or burns on Jeffrey's body Suburban digest Judge says Hart not proven guilty After two days of Testimony, U.S. District Court Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz told federal prosecutors they have not yet conclusively proved that former Wheeling Trustee William Hart is guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion.

Marovitz mode the unusual comments from the bench to two federal attorneys following testimony by Bernard Wasmer and cross-examination of the trial continues today. Auto chase brings confusion A high-speed auto chase that resulted in a Hoffman Estates policeman firing two warning shots and another shot at a fleeing driver occurred late Monday night. Police later placed 11 charges against an 18-year-old youth, including speeding, eluding police, leaving the scene of an accident and driving withouth a license. During the confused chase, the driver at one point made a 180-degrce turn and then crashed into pursuing police car. 'Qpl-oiiC "bill refused The Senate refused a bill sponsored by Sen.

David J. Reg- ncr, R-Mount Prospect, which would have allowed any of the six counties in the Regional Transit Authority'to "opt out" of the authority by a vote of their county board. Passed, however, was a secondary measure which would remove the RTA's power to acquire park lands and similar property by eminent domain proceedings. RTA to Supreme The Illinois Supreme Court will hear arguments June 26 on tho Regional Transportation Authority's appeal of a Lake County injunction that prohibits tho authority from carrying out Its duties. Attorneys for the RTA Tuesday asked the court to hear the appeal directly, bypassing the appellate court, and asked for a schedule for filing of briefs in the case.

The court granted both requests. Oral arguments will bo In Springfield after briefs are filed Juno 24. James Munson, an attorney for the RTA, had said a direct appeal would be sought. Lake County State's Atty. Jack Hoogasian, who filed tho suit challenging tho constitutionality of tho RTA, agreed Tuesday with tho court schedule.

and more rain? 2977 2977 AltOUND THE NATION: Showers and thunderstorms are expected in the northern Rockies and tho Ohio-Tennessee valley. Clear to partly sunny elsewhere. AROUND THE STATE: North, Central: Partly cloudy and warmer. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. High in 80s.

South: cloudy, chance of showers. High about 90. Tmptnlam iround thu Mlloni Illlh law Illih Low Houston Kniuu City Lin Annclei Mlnnonpolli New York Orlando Phoanlx Molnvt PllUnuruh -Kl Pino Partlnml. Me. 09 Low Atlanta -79 89 lion ton lluftaln Charlfiton.

SC. 87 Chlauto 87 71 to Portland. Ore. Rnlolxh St. Louis Salt Lako City Spokane -79 75 83 DO Woihlniitnn 49 Wlchltu B7 --80 --85 60 08 67 58 61 60 64 and chemical tests to determine the cause of death would require four to five days.

All five family members had been dead more than 24 hours when their bodies were found, investigators said. BAUDEK, ASKED IF investigators believed Jeffrey went on a mass killing spree, said, "We're forced to' make this our prime theory at this time. We have no indication that the killer was an outsider." He speculated that, if the youth was the killer, he might have committed suicide by unknown means or might have died accidentally in a fire set to hide the crimes. Baudek said investigators found no signs of forcible entry 'and no signs that intruders had taken anything'from the house. They found $150, which they speculated may have been graduation gifts, in Jeffrey's pockets, and $200 elsewhere in the modest home.

Tax collectors testify in suit Township collectors continued to testify before Cook County Circuit Court Judge Donald O'Brien Tuesday In their effort to have the judge lift an injunction barring them from collecting taxes. Collectors from Schaumburg, Hanover, Lyons, Orland, Bremen and Northflcld townships said their town boards had appropriated money for their expenses and salaries, if they are allowed to resume tax collections. The collectors from Bloom and Thornton townships said no funds had been appropriated for them to resume tax collections, but resolutions setting their salaries had been passed by the town boards. 0 William Hart pressed collectors during cores-examination as to whether they would give up'other full- time jobs they hold to do the work of collecting taxes. Eighteen more collectors had been scheduled to testify this week, but late Tuesday afternoon, O'Brien asked the numerous lawyers In the case to try to reach an agreement and stipulate the collectors' testimony so they will not have to be heard.

The fire, which was confined to the basement, apparently was set by using two large candles with oil-soaked rag fuses, investigators said. Coroner's investigators said an eight- inch kitchen knife found near Mrs. Fuchs' body apparently was used to stab her and a clothesline used to truss the bodies of the mother and her younger son had been used to strangle them. POLICE STILL searched for the gun believed to have been a weapon used to kill the father and daughter. Police have found a .22 rifle in the basement of the house, but Investigators are still uncertain if it is the murder weapon.

No member of the family was issued a gun-owner's card under the state gun laws. The basement of the home is still covered with water from flrefighting efforts and detectives are using screens through which they are sif- ting material from the floor in search of evidence. Baudek said reports that Jeffrey had been in a poor mental condition were "under investigation." He refused to elaborate, but said: "There is nothing in the family background that would indicate something like this would happen." FUCHS WAS employed by the Panl- malic in Elk Grove Village while his wife worked as a clerk at Maine East. The two other children were also students at the school. Neighbors described the family as easygoing and frequently doing things together.

Hundreds of curious residents lined the streets Monday in the otherwise quiet, middle-class residential area. Some onlookers remained congregating in the vicinity several hours after the tragedy was first discovered late Monday morning. Arlington Park Theater star Pamela Britton dies Actress Pamela Britton, who had been co-starring with Don Knotts at the Arlington Park Theater in Arlington Heights, died of cancer Monday at Northwest Community Hospital. Miss Britton, 49, had been appearing at the theater-in-the-found in "The Mind with the Dirty Man." She was admitted to the hospital last Friday. She appeared in a numbjer of films, including her deout in "Anchors Aweigh" with Frank Sinatra, "Letter for Evle" and "Key to the City." On the New York stage she appeared as Meg in "Brigadoon" and toured with the national company of "Guys and Dolls." In Hollywood, she played the title role of "Blondie" on television and later appeared as Mrs.

Brown In "My Favorite Martian." Funeral services will be held at, noon Friday at the Church of the Hills, Los Pamela Britton Angeles, with burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family requests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers. Survivors include her husband, Arthur Steel, a hotel executive; her mother, Ethel Owens, a former radio personality, and a daughter, Kathy. SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW "THE BELLE OF THE BALL" one of the many enchanting masterpieces by Laszlo Ispanky. See this along with our many figures of Timeless Beauty 550 Rersin and 24 OUNTONCT CL3 7900 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS Optn ThurKUy Fndjy to 9 Rolling Meadows Shopping Center The Relaxables Our Leisure Look for Summer! KNIT SHIRTS Short sleeve knits are every choice for Summer! Come in, choose from our vast collection of Solids and Fancy Patterns in cotton and blendt.

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