Bennington Banner from Bennington, Vermont • 5

dnielt to amigo th his life during riot Bennington Banner, Friday, December 24, 1971-5 Rocky frees Attica inmate who CLAY F. RICHARDS ALBANY, N.Y. (UPI)-Eighteen years ago Walter "Tiny" Swift stood before Judge Louis J. Capozzoli and pleaded to be sent to his death in the electric chair. Capozzoli refused the request and sentenced the convicted murderer to life in prison.

On Thursday, Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller granted Swift his freedom, an action of executive clemency based on the fact that Swift risked his life during the Attica rebellion to bring medical help to wounded hostages. Swift, sentenced to life for the baseball bat slaying of a robbery victim, was one of seven murderers granted a pardon in the governor's annual Christmas amnesty announcement. During the September 9-13 rebellion at the prison which claimed 43 lives, Swift became "known as "the hero of Attica." "During the disturbance Mr.

Swift volunteered to leave the secure area to enter the yard controlled by the inmates to treat medically both inmates and Rockefeller said. "For four days and nights he risked his own safety to render continuous and quality medical service to the hostages and the inmates." Rockefeller said recommendations for Swift's release came from the State Parole Board, Attica Supt. Vincent R. Mancusi, the supervising civilian doctor at Attica and the president of the Attica guards' union. A spokesman for the correction department said Swift was called into Mancusi's office at Attica Thursday and informed of the pardon and given "personal congratulations" by the AUTOMATED! B.B.P.

Bigger Buying Power Super Duper Market DEPOT STREET, BENNINGTON, VT. HAPPINESS PEACE TIMES A GOOD Treasury of Wishes moll bony May gout holiday be of glimmer odw.H teal. and brimming with precious memories. to everyone. DIV.

J.F. COLLINS the TReASURE CHeST (2 ROBERTS DRIVE NORTH ADAMS, MASS. (413) 663-5204 superintendent. Swift will probably be released sometime in January after the parole board meets to act formally on Rockefeller's order. Little is known of the life of the 250-pound Swift prior to New Year's Eve, 1953.

On that night, the court record said he and an accomplice approached Nicholas Virzi, and his girlfreend as they sat on a Central Park bench in New York City. They demanded money, Swift allegedly swung the bat, killing Virzi. The pair fled with the girl's purse. It contained $1. Swift was born in Johnstown, and worked for the New Haven and Hartford Railroad at the time of the crime.

tion After sentencing Swift was sent the to Sing Sing, but in 1956 he was moved to Attica, which has been will his home ever since. to He became head nurse in the hospital after extensive medical training under civilian out. doctors. Thus when the bloody riot broke out he was the only "insider" who could treat the the wounded. Frank Strollo, a guard held hostage who survived the than uprising, told of Swift's actions this way: "They wanted medical supplies, so they had me blindfolded and took me through an area near the administration building.

They had me call out a window for medical supplies. "Tiny came in with the supplies." Swift spent four almost sleepless nights aiding the injured and making frequent trips between the armed camps to get drugs. He ran the inmates' primitive hospital. Tiny stitched up the mounth of one hostage who had been injured, in the initial revolt. "He was sitting there with his might have been a darning head down, the picture of needle he used for all I know, but exhaustion, Cochrane said.

the doctor who saw me after I got "But there was no holding him; out said Tiny did an excellent he went right back to job," the hostage said later. Several hostages said Swift put Midway in the revolt, Emmet his life on the line to convince the J. Cochrane, the prison clerk, rebel inmates to release four saw Tiny as he came out for some badly injured hostages so they supplies. could get hospital care. Rogers rules out ransom to free prisoners of war WASHINGTON (UPI) -Secretary of State William P.

Rogers has said the administrais "most anxious" to secure release of American prisoners of war in Indochina and do what it "reasonably" can this end. Other officials said Thursday, however, that paying ransom is Rogers, who appeared at an impromptu news conference in wake of news that a New York-based peace group had received 1,001 letters from more 300 prisoners in Vietnam, criticized the North Vietnamese for delaying the delivery of mail. "We're most anxious to do anything we can reasonably to get the return of the prisoners of war," Rogers said. "It is difficult for us to understand why the North Vietnamese have treated them in such an inhumane manner." Rogers said he did not "want to get into" the attempt by entertainer Bob Hope to ransom 343 U.S. prisoners in North Vietnam for about $10 million.

Other State Department officials, however, said the United States was in principle against paying ransom for American prisoners. They said that if ransom were paid in Vietnam this could cause great difficulty if U.S. diplomats were captured in the future in such places as Latin America and high ransom was demanded for their release. But the officials said they were watching the Hope mission with interest and would avoid any negative public comment. The White House said Hope, who is a close personal friend of President Nixon, did not inform Nixon in advance about what it termed a "strictly private visit." Morton to discuss offshore oil drilling with governors In Vietnam this Christmas GIs' thoughts turn to home WASHINGTON (UPI)- Inter- The Interior Department, ior Secretary Rogers C.B.

Mor- which announced the meeting ton will meet Jan. 11 with gov- Thursday, is making tests to deernors of 15 east coast states to termine potential oil deposits undiscuss possible offshore oil der the outer Continental Shelf in drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. the Atlantic, but Morton has emphasized that drilling will not get their Christmas meals a Christmas doesn't mean couple of days late. anything to me without snow." Spec. 4 William Harper, 20, of Morse, a gunner, wish Cookeville, stood on top of tank said he had only one Santa Claus and to APC and decorated a wilting Christmas he expect Christmas tree the chaplain sent didn't grant it like to get out of to troop.

His unbuttoned fatigue here, right, now, right this shirt flapped in the breeze outside minute." his trousers. "I'm sick and tired of this. "I guess we just got to be place," he said, his shirt open and here," he said. "But it won't be a copper cross dangling from a nothing like home. That's where black bootlace around his neck.

I'd like to be now. Back home. "What I'd like is some snow. There it is." be permitted until the environmental effects are studied. "It seems to be that the public has unfortunately been given the wrong impression of our intention and has been led to believe erroneously that petroleum production is being planned along our eastern shoreline," Morton said in letters to the governors.

Future oil production off the Atlantic coast has been complicated by a suit pending before the Supreme Court by 13 states claiming that colonial charters gave them mineral rights farther out to sea than the normal three miles permitted other states. The federal government is contesting the claim. Father pleads with children to jump. from burning building LOS ANGELES (UPI) "Jump," he pleaded. "Jump." His own trousers aflame from the fire that erupted in his housing project apartment, Joseph Sheperd stood 15 feet below the apartment window Thursday, begging six of his children 1 to save themselves, to leap into his arms.

Neighbors in the rundown area of central Los Angeles tried to battle their way into the apartment, using garden hoses and water-soaked blankets over their heads. The smoke and flames turned them back. "Save my kids," screamed Mrs. Sheperd. "Oh, save my kids." Only 9-year-old Anthony jumped from the window, and was caught by an unidentified man.

When firemen arrived, they found five small bodies huddled in death by the charred window sill, where they were immobilized by fear and killed by fire. They ranged in age from 2 to 10. A seventh child, Joseph 12, was not in the apartment. The fire flashed through the Sheperd apartment in Aliso Village, one of the oldest housing developments in the city, with such sudden force that neighbors thought it was an explosion. Sheperd, 32, an unemployed dockworkers, was cleaning the stairwell of the newly apartment with paint thinner and gasoline when the pilot light of a gas heater ignited the fumes from the solvents.

Flames mushroomed up the stairs and crackled across the walls of the A Christmas. A glorious time of the year to say "I do." rings out a Christmas Wedding. ArtCarved A And ArtCarved rings highlight this joyous double occasion with style. Quality. And everlasting beauty.

From the magic moment of your wedding day and forever more, these exquisite antiqued, golden bands say at a glance you belong to each other. We cordially invite you to do your Christmas shopping early so you have plenty of time to select the perfect ArtCarved ring for you. Art Carved A LYRIC SET 8 COLONNADE SET HOLYOKE SET RT. 411 Main Street Shultz 442-4926 Bennington, JEWELERS Vermont Registered Jeweler American Gem Society ZEN Around Vermont Scribner quits housing post MONTPELIER (UPI) H. Warren Scribner, state commissioner of housing and community affairs, has resigned effective Jan.

7. Scribner, who announced his resignation, had been appointed to the job last March by Elbert Moulton, former secretary of development and community affairs. However, last fall Scribner had been given notice by the new secretary of development and community affairs, Roland Loveless, to find other employment. The former Montpelier city manager said he would enter private business in the housing field in Vermont. He said it has become obvious that housing in this state is "a very low priority." Education renewal sites eyed MONTPELIER By June of 1972 federal dollars may be coming back to Vermont to fund education renewal sites.

An education renewal site is a way of bringing together all aspects of education in an area to best serve local needs, says the Department of Education. Just how and where education renewal will be applied in Vermont must be spelled out in federal guidelines 1 for site selection. To help develop guidelines, Commissioner Joseph H. Oakey's five-member committee on educational renewal sites will hold an open meeting on Jan. 4 at the Old Champlain School, Pine Street, Burlington.

Criteria must be submitted to the U.S. Office of Education. The U.S. office will take Vermont's recommendations together with other states' and draw up a set of federal guidelines which reflect states thinking together with the USOE's ideas. These guidelines will be returned to the states by Jan.

20, and will be the criteria for future site selection. Early Navy lass dies BURLINGTON (UPI) Mrs. Guy Kate Briggs, 82, one of the first enlisted women in the U.S. Navy, died Thursday at a local home. Mrs.

Briggs, born in Cohasset, Mass. served several years in the U.S. Naval Reserve after her graduation from Boston University Law School in 1909. She served until 1919. She was past commander of the Jacob Jones American Legion Post No.

2 composed of the first enlisted women in the U.S. Navy, and was a Defense Department attorney until her retirement in the U.S. Navy, and was a Defense Department attorney until her retirement in 1955. She will be buried Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery. Grant given for crippled WASHINGTON, D.C.

(UPI) The Department of Health, Education and Welfare awarded a grant Thursday of $20,846 to the Vermont Association for the Crippled of Rutland for continued research. Drug programs get grants WATERBURY (UPI) The Vermont Drug Rehabilitation Commission awarded Thursday incentive grants totaling $4,500 to five community-based drug programs. Montpelier mayor to quit MONTPELIER (UPI) Mayor Willard R. Strong said Thursday he will step down next March from the post he held for six years because "I want to retire." art Over in New York XOM ONG, Vietnam (UPI) Christmas, 1971, Vietnam. It's a time for dreaming.

Thoughts of home. Logs crackling in the fireplace. The big tree, the gaily wrapped gifts. The tinsel and glittering stars and colored lights. Then, back to reality.

A tank caked with mud. A can of Cration boned turkey. The sun and the jungle. The danger once in a while and the boredom the rest of the time. "It's not Christmas at all when you're over here," Spec.

4 Larry Morse, 19, of Salina, said. "It's just another day. Like any other. That's why it's so bad. You just sit around and do like 7 exam vadi Morse sat on top of a Sheridan tank, his boots splattered with yellow mud and his brown hair blowing in the morning wind.

He and the other GI's in troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment were setting up camp (in chest-high elephant grass 25 miles northeast of Saigon. It's not fun on Christmas for the 159,000 American soldiers in It's especially tough for an estimated 15,000 "grunts" still out in the field in combat. U.S. commanders arranged hot turkey dinners Saturday for GI's in Vietnam, but some troops out in the "boondocks" expected to Best Wishes this Christmas AD Smiling faces. Family pleasures.

Happy voices raised in joyous carols of the Christmas season. May we add an extra note of best wishes and thanks. BENNINGTON Co-oP SAVINGS LOAN ASSOCIATION 345 Main St. Dial 2-5811 Bennington, Vt. apartment on the second floor, where five of his children were watching television.

He dashed outside, his trousers afire, neighbors said, and pleaded with the children to make the 15-foot jump. Mrs. Sherperd fled through the back door of the apartment but the children were trapped. Hoffa thanks Loeb for help in his case PRIDE'S CROSSING, Mass. (UPI) William Loeb, publisher of the Manchester, N.H., Union Leader, says he received a telephone call from James Hoffa shortly after the former teamster boss was freed from federal prison.

Loeb, who has championed Hoffa's cause in getting him freed from prison, said he was contacted Thursday at his home by Hoffa at 4:33 p.m. Loeb said Hoffa thanked him and the newspaper's investigative reporter Arthur C. Egan for their efforts to present his case. Warm Wishes at Christmas Our heartfelt happiness all through the season. from all of us at Peggy Maclay's Beauty Shop Detention director named TROY At Thursday night's special session of the Rensselaer County legislature, approval was given for the establishment of a Department of Detention Services, complete with a facility and director.

Peter F. Magazu of Hoosick Falls was appointed by the legislators as director of the department for a five-year term at a $16,000 annual salary. No one opposed the move at a public hearing which preceded the regular business. Murder sentence commuted ALBANY Betty Joy Ebert, 27, convicted 10 years ago in Rensselaer County Court of the murder of a Latham man, James M. Kilduff, 36, had her sentence commuted Thursday by Gov.

Rockefeller. Kilduff was shot on a lonely spot in East Greenbush in March 1961 when Miss Ebert allegedly tried to rob him. She pleaded to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. Down in Berkshire Teachers' salaries up WILLIAMSTOWN The recently approved teachers' salary contract at Mt. Greylock High School gives teachers a 4 per cent increase across the board.

Instead of considering each category on the pay scale separately, as done previously, this year a flat percentage increase was applied to the entire pay scale. Last year's starting salary of $7,000 went up to $7,280. A unit of 10 credits above a B.A. earns a $200 increase, the same as last year. A beginning teacher with 30 credits above a B.A., or the equivalent master's degree will now earn $8,112, while the highest possible salary on the pay scale will now be $14,860.

High school plans approved NORTH ADAMS The North Adams School Building Committee unanimously approved the plans of architect Warren Ashley of Hartford, for a new high school and instructed him Thursday to prepare plans for renovation of Drury High School into a junior high. Ashley's plans call for a three-level structure with a total of 140,000 square feet of space, at an estimated cost of $4.9 million. The state is expected to pay 65 per cent. Misleading ad actions due PITTSFIELD The assistant attorney general for consumer affairs in this district says he has pending actions against two major food markets, a discount store and a number of smaller merchants in the Pittsfield area. Some of the cases he plans to bring involve allegations of misleading advertising.

Hospital chief elected PITTSFIELD Dr. Christopher Mamonas, Pittsfield urologist, has been elected chief of staff of the Berkshire Medical Center. Dr. Mamonas first came to Pittsfield 32 years ago as an intern at the former House of Mercy..