The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 30

THE MARI orrr nssmin Tu Nnv 27 197q SC Sc Hears Charge That Lawyer Plotted To Kill Client rTA IC -I 11-1 Cou By MAR Olnor SALISBURN bury lawyer on trial Month a former client The victim Reid Hankins Was the first Rowan County Somers 42 ran unsucces! Senate against 1968 and serv NC Senate each carrying of 10 years He's accuse Court By MARILYN Oimprver SALISBURY bury lawyer on trial Monday a former client The victim Reid Hankins was the first Rowan County Somers 42 ran unsuccessfully Senate against 1968 and served NC Senate He each carrying of 10 years He's accused of his business with Somers Hankins says Somers subsequently set up a competing business in Georgia Youth Opportunities Unlimited using much of the information Hankins had provided In the spring of 1977 Hankins sued Somers charging be had abused his role as an attorney and had stolen his client's business techniques At the same time Somers sued Hankins for slander Both cases are still pending A few days after a court ruling in the Hankins lawsuit against Somers favorable to Hankins the prosecution contends Somers asked a man named Robert "Worry" Smith to find someone to kill Hankins The prosecution says Smith was unable to find a killer Independently says the prosecution Somers arranged a contract on Hankins life with Salisbury adult bookstore operator Ronald Mothershead Mothershead then arranged with one of his customers Robert Wilhelm to kill Hankins says the prosecution On June 20 the prosecution contends Mothershead and Wilhelm followed Hankins and his girlfriend to a furniture store and waited When the couple drove away the prosecution says Wilhelm fired a Feb 9 one man to kill Hankins and of conspiring with another 2lA months later to arrange to have Hankins killed The jury of nine men and three women was selected by early afternoon Monday The prosecution in its opening statement contended the murder plot developed like this: Hankins 36 was a friend and client of Somers Hankins established a business American Youth Enterprises to market a highway emergency kit using high school and college students as sales personnel Hankins says he discussed much MATIIER SMII Wrtly Prominent Sails Robert Somers went for plotting to kill of the alleged plot was not killed He witness in the trial in Superior Court is a Republican who for the US Sam Ervin Jr in two terms in the faces two charges a maximum sentence of soliciting last iiiwie Aer 4 1: 40 e' 1 A- rr s147' 4t) 714tiottstmeTwome 1044 4 (7 4if if 0 kiN 1S? Nor "86t tz' A I 1 4 1 'e op 4p4 5: A 4t4 '0 4 4 1 3 41- 1110 r15P4- 4 'e 4 L04 1 A kr 4fall- 3'3144' omolo erT 4 rugr )-14 6- P4V -4 6' 4 1'6'4' '''r'1 06 iy4 f'411ttlt54I i-1 t- 00-- 4 e'-'605 tit I i (11 7 It er ''Ot 7 a3t341 Federal Judge Denies He Was Ever Bribed By Winberry NC President Carter' nominated ry prepared after he was nomiWinberry 38 a Rocky Mount law- nated to become a judge yer to be US Judge in the eastern An investigator for the Judiciary district of North Carolina Winber- Committee was sent to North Carry active for years in state Demo- olina to check further but came up cratic politics and a counsel to with nothing new Gov Jim Hunt was Morgan's campaign manager in 1974 Contrary to published reports The allegation against Winberry that two committee members and Larkins was made in 1977 by would recommend against confirm-a US Postal Service informant ing Winberry Sam Kinzer adminduring an investigation of a mail- istrative assistant to Sen Patrick order cigarette smuggling ring Leahy D-Vt said Monday no such Both the Postal Service and the decision has been reached Leahy FBI investigated the charge and chaired Winberry's confirmation could make no case Nevertheless hearings the allegation was included in the Winberry served as law clerk to FBI background check of Winber- Larkins after graduating from ry prepared after he was nominated to become a judge An investigator for the Judiciary Committee was sent to North Carolina to check further but came up with nothing new By ROBERT HODIERNE passage of a bribe to me is a total Observer Washington Bureau and complete falsehood" Larkins WASHINGTON US District said Court Judge John Larkins Jr in His comment came in a letter his first public comment on contro- mailed last week to committee versy surrounding the nomination Chairman Sen Edward Kennedy of Charles Winberry to become a D-Mass and ranking minority federal judge has denied Winberry member Sen Strom Thurmond Rever bribed him SC Winberry's nomination has been Larkins also said in his letter "I held up for months while the Sen- have never been offered a bribe or ate Judiciary Committee invest' payment of any type nor have I gates allegations that Winberry ever accepted or received a bribe bribed Larkins in 1977 in return or payment of any type nor has for a light sentence for a cigarette anyone ever intimated to me that smuggler Winberry defended such was available" "The allegation that Charlie In March at the recommendaWinberry was a conduit for the tion of Sen Robert Morgan shotgun into their car Neither Hankins nor Arlene Hager 26 was hit by the buckshot but Ms Hager was slightly wounded by flying glass Some time after that attack Smith told a friend about the contract Somers had made with him the prosecution says The friend called Hankins who called police Don Stephens assistant attorney general said Mothershead Smith and Wilhelm are among the almost 30 witnesses he may call in the case Stephens is prosecuting the case because Rowan District Attorney Bob Roberts and Somers are 1 tv III 1 ()IV rip 1 rilitilititz kJ Vernon Fuller of 1938 Harris Rd Charlotte adds a fresh coat of white paint to an attic window frame on his roof Wake Forest Law School in 1967 Winberry testified before the committee that the two remain close socially At his Nov 7 confirmation hearing one committee member suggested Winberry might have collected an exceptionally high fee $6250 for a few hours work in connection with entering a guilty plea because the client David Windham believed Winberry's relationship with Larkins would result in a lighter sentence Winberry said his fee was typical of fees charged by other lawyers for similar work Misenheimer 60 retired textile worker died Sunday Funeral is 3 pm Wednesday at Summersett Memorial Chapel with burial in West Lawn Memorial Park China Grove Survivors are brother Jack Misenheimer of Richmond sisters Mrs Vandel Mask of Miami Mrs Walter McDaniel SHERRILLS FORD Anna Christina Smith infant daughter of Mr and Mrs James Smith died Monday Funeral is 2 pm today at Catawba United Methodist Church Survivors are parents grandparents Mr and Mrs Willis Arndt of Catawba Mr and Mrs James Smith Drum of Conover is in charge SOUTHERN PINES Marion Bush 88 retired engineer died Saturday Funeral is 2 pm Wednesday at Powell Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are wife Inez son Joseph Bush of Live Oak Fla daughters Mrs Edward Williamson of Pinehurst Mrs Marion Hunter of Kansas City Mo broth er LE Bush of Springfield Mo TAYLORSVILLE Floyd Barker 47 died Sunday Funeral is 2 pm Wednesday at New Zion Baptist Church Survivors are wife Margaret sons Rodney Barker of Wilkesboro Avery Barker daughters Mrs Floretha Davis of Gaffney SC Miss Rena Barker Miss Vanessa Barker mother Mrs Lois Barker sisters Mrs Zella Davis of Catawba Mrs Patricia Little Adams Is in charge TROY Clifton Dowd McCaskill 65 died Monday Funeral is II am Wednesday at First Baptist Church Survivors are wife Mary son Terry McCaskill brothers Arnold McCaskill of Aberdeen Clyde McCaskill Pugh-Troy is in charge UNION GROVE Lamuel Shoemaker 68 died Sunday Funeral is 2:30 pm Wednesday at Grassy Knob Baptist Church Survivors are brother Manuel Shoemaker: sisters Miss Cleo Shoemaker of Statesville Mrs Lillie Hedrick of Lexington Mrs Cloyce Hinson of Harmony Mrs ha Shaw of Olin: half sister Mrs Ella Henderson Bunch Johnson of Statesville is in charge winnommtmtel 4 -V 4 friends Somers is represented by Allen Bailey a flamboyant Charlotte lawyer Bailey described Smith as a "drifter a pathetic soul" Bailey said Smith a boyhood friend of Somers is a braggart with a great amount of imagination Bailey said Somers and Smith discussed Somers' trouble with Hankins in the civil case He said Smith later called Somers and "told him he had a man who would waste Hankins" "Are you out of your mind?" Bailey quotes his client as replying "Whatever gave you any such idea?" Bailey described Wilhelm and Mothershead as "partners in crime They are both criminals" Bailey said who have bought their freedom by testifying that Somers hired Mothershead to have Hankins killed They have immunity from prosecution Bailey said referring to plea bargains both men negotiated with the prosecution Hankins testified for about two hours Monday afternoon and will return to the stand this morning The trial is expected to last at least until the end of this week Deaths Elsewhere Owen Michael Owens 49 former vice president of Owens Publications Inc and a vintage-car collector Saturday in San Francisco George Frame Brown 83 a radio personality who once was a millionaire Nov 19 in Hollywood Calif grown was "Mayor Matt Thompkins" of "Thompkins Corners" once one of the most popular shows on radio A millionaire he lost much of his money by investing in a Glendale Calif restaurant after moving from New York By 1953 he was mowing lawns for a living Robert Travis 73 who led a 44- day sit-down strike against General Motors Corp in 1936 that led to recognition of the United Auto Workers union Nov 19 of cancer in Los Angeles Mecklenburg Deaths Allen Lee Custer 60 died Sunday Survivors include daughter Mrs Alana Ducker of Gaffney SC Levy Absalom Kerley 83 died Sunday Survivors include brother Miller Kerley of Troutman sisters Mrs Cecil Fortner Mrs Lorna Fortner both of Taylorsville Mrs Adah A Reid 90 died Sat urday Survivors are sons Charles Daniel of Asheville George Daniel of Columbia Other Mecklenburg Deaths Donald Chappell 68 died Saturday Mrs Carrie Stilwell 87 died Sunday Joseph "Joe" Stockton 56 died Sunday ON We're glad you asked! Howard Stamp lay Funeral Director WHY DON'T WE HAVE SUNDAY FUNERALS? Funeral Service is no different than other aspects of our society that continue to change with time In the past Sunday funerals were the common occurrence in fact funerals were often delayed so that the service could be held on Sunday Today few funerals are held on Sunday In 1975 some of the private cemeteries as well as the city cemeteries stopped permitting Sunday burials Certain cemeteries do not permit burials on some Holidays or may have special Holiday requirements Some private and church cemeteries still permit Sunday burials When death occurs near the weekend we suggest that you contact your Funeral Director before making any decisions about the time of the service and he will be prepared to advise you on arrangements to meet your particular circumstances Funeral service has also changed in other respects In the past friends who wanted to contact the family of the deceased to pay their respects often had difficulty determining when the family would be at home or when they might be at the funeral home Today many families arrange a time when they will receive friends at the funeral home Other families prefer to receive friends at their home These arrangements which are announced in the newspaper obituaries help both the family and their friends by knowing when they can get together Your questions are always welcome We wish to share Information through this column which we feel the public has an interest ocennit FUNERAL SERVICE 334-6421 375-6502 Serving From Three locations 727 EAST MOREHEAD MATTHEWS ROAD MitiT Hill MALLARD CREEK ROAD DERITA ver '14 roran or no NIILMN Rtiir RI!) 1177 by Allen Smith as ic soul" boyhood braggart Smith )le with He said iers and an who mind?" replying ny such ielm and in crime Bailey ht their Lt Somers nri to legotiated bout two and will morning st at least MPEMMIIIIIMENI here 49 formms Pub colrancisco 83 a ice was a tollywood or Matt kins Corlost popuaillionaire Icy by resrom New mowing led a 44- rist Generthat led to ited Auto of cancer OIMEEMEMIEMEMEMINI eaths died Sun-daughter Gaffney 83 died brother in sisters rs Lorna ille died Sat Charles rge Daniel )eaths 68 died 87 died I 56 died 0 z1 lAVE kIS? erent than that con- the past common were often could be funerals '5 some of Nell as the permitting leleries do -lolidays or require-cemeteries als When mikend we )ur Funeral decisions ice and he 38 you on particular hanged in st friends family of respects ining when le or when Brat home lge a time nds at the Is prefer to me These nounced in help both oy knowing I welcome on through the public trt) ICE 5-6502 -CHARLOTTE Hilt DERITA 010 117? North Carolina Observer Photo By MARK SUMER United Methodist Church Survivors are husband Leland son Bill Rodgers daughter Mrs Mikey McDonald of McAdenville brother Amza Metz of North Augusta SC Carothers of Gastonia is in charge MAIDEN Chastity Mae Wise infant daughter of Mr and Mrs Michael Wise died Sunday Funeral is 3:30 pm today at Glory land Baptist Church cemetery Survivors are parents grandparents Mr and Mrs Glenn Cash of Denver NC Mr and Mrs Charles Wise War lick is in charge MARION The Rev James a Martin 76 died Monday Funeral is 2 pm Wednesday at Roland Chapel Baptist Church Survivors are wife Mae sons James Martin Jr of Nebo Ralph Martin Roy Martin daughters Mrs Margie Buff of Lenoir Mrs Eugene Toney of Nebo Mrs Vance Thompson Mrs Bill Donaldson Mrs Grady Hogan brothers William Martin of High Point Isaac Martin sisters Mrs Charlie Childers of Nebo Mrs Curtis Parker McCall-Kirksey is in charge MINERAL SPRINGS John Crump 30 Es Ion Thermal Plastics employee died Sunday Funeral is 2 pm Wednesday at Mc Ewen Funeral Home chapel Monroe Survivors are wife Sherry sons Michael Crump Brian Crump daughter Ann Crump father Johnny Crump of Waxhaw sister Mrs Sylvia DeViney of Waxhaw MORGANTON John Cook 95 retired farmer died Sunday Funeral is 3 pm today at Mount Zion Baptist Church Survivors are sons Frank Cook of Ellenboro David Cook of Casar Roy Cook of Shelby daughtltrs Mrs John Hunt of Casar Mrs Albert Crawley of Vanceboro Mrs Carmie Ledford brother Joe Cook of Cam Kirksey is in charge MOUNT HOLLY Fred Sanford McAfee 66 died Monday Funeral plans are incomplete Carothers is in charge MOUNT HOLLY Mrs Eugenia Lockman Rudisill 91 died Sunday Funeral is 2 pm today at War lick Funeral Home chapel Survivors are sons Robert Rudisill of Denver NC Lawrence Rudisill of Lucia Lewis Rudisill of Catawba Heights Hubert Rudisill of Spartanburg Loy Rudisill of Hickory NORWOOD Miss Emily Evelyn Pinion 46 died Monday Funeral is 3 pm today at Memorial Baptist Church Survivors are father Jesse Pinion brother Gary Pinion sister Mrs Way In Burgin Lefler Is in charge SALISBURY yred Lamon Funerals In Spencer Johnson of Statesville sisters Mrs Grace Whisnant of Bradenton Fla Mrs Vivian Rimmer of Statesville Bunch Johnson of Statesville is in charge CHERRYVILLE Bob Black 48 retired truck driver died Monday Funeral plans are incomplete Carpenter's is in charge CONCORD Mrs Helen Blackwell Simmons 51 retired textile worker died Monday Funeral is 2 pm Wednesday at Hartsell Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are sons Ronnie Simmons John Simmons David Simmons mother Mrs Elvie Smith: sisters Mrs Doris Riley of Kannapolls Mrs Margaret Cagle CONOVER Mrs Jennie Huffman Deal died Sunday Memorial service is 7 pm Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Church Survivors are sons Charles Deal of San Diego Sinclair Deal of Survivors are wife Kate daughter Mrs Bill Mullis brothers Lester Sherrin of Kannapolis NC Claude Sherrin of Lancaster Baxter Sherrin Fred Sherrin sister Mrs William Therrell of Matthews Gordon of Monroe NC is in charge ROCK HILL Miss Elfzabeth "Libby" Comer 68 died Sunday Funeral is 11 am today at Bass Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are brothers Stoll Corner Jr Eugene Comer Leon Comer sisters Mrs Hall Elms of Monroe Mrs Lindsay Russell Mrs Sam Russell ROCK HILL Miss Elma Maddox 75 died Sunday Funeral will be in Pelham Ga Survivors are brother Ell Maddox of Kankakee Ill sisters Mrs Claribel Wilson of Newton NC Mrs Hazel Johnson Bass is in charge of local arrangements ROCK HILL Mrs Rosa Cox Russell 93 died Sunday Funeral is 4 pm Thursday at Fisher-Pou Funeral Home Pensacola Fla Survivors are daughter Mrs Les Williams Jr sisters Mrs Nellie Beane of Asheboro NC Mrs Flora Andrews of Pensacola Bass is in charge of local arrangements ROCK HILL Mika Nicole Williams 7 died Monday Funeral Is 2 pm today at Greene Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are father Tindell Williams of Florida mother and stepfather Mr and Mrs Roger Kimble sister Briana Williams grandparents Mr and Mrs Marvin Sexton of York Mr and Mrs Paul Tarks of Florida half brother le le ble Granite Falls daughters Mrs Ernest Lail of Granite Falls Mrs Wade Yount of Lenoir Mrs RE Ho liar Mrs Clyde Fox Mrs James Bogle sisters Mrs Oliver Isaac Mrs John Isaac both of Claremont Drum is in charge DALLAS Mrs Nancy CH Strader 41 nurse died Sunday Funeral is 2 pm today at Community Baptist Church Survivors are husband Fred sons Charlie Cook Douglas Cook Steven Cook all of-Hickory David Teague daughters Mrs Connie Roseman of Hickory Mrs Libby Ledford of Vale parents Mr and Mrs Homer Hilton of Hickory brother Tommy Hilton of Hickory sisters Mrs Betty Graham of Stockton Calif Mrs Virginia Pyatte Mrs Gail Marlowe both of Hickory Mrs Carolyn Icard Mrs Barbara Starnes both of Taylorsville stepsons Danny Strader Larry Strader Sisk of Bessemer City is in charge GASTONIA Mrs Mattie Watson Moore 80 textile worker died Monday Funeral is 11 am Wednesday at Loray Baptist Church Survivors are daughter Mrs Edna Slaughtert-sisters Mrs Dora Moss of Columbia Mrs Ella Griggs stepson Wesley Moore of Cherry Grove Beach SC stepdaughters Mrs Ola McFarland Mrs Geneva Huffstetler both of Cherry Grove Mrs Lillian Bland Mrs Ruth Allen both of Roanoke Va Mrs Nettie Allen of Clemmons McLean Son is in charge LENOIR Mrs Bessie Mae Crump 85 died Sunday Funeral is 3 pm today at Millers Funeral Home chapel Survivors are daughter Mrs Thelma Johnson sister Mrs Rose Baldwin LINCOLNTON Mrs Hattie Willis 76 died Monday Funeral is 3 pm Wednesday at Ivy Memorial United Methodist Church Survivors are stepsons Vance Drum Gaither Drum both of Maiden Robert Drum of Newton Thomas Drum Drum's Is In charge LINCOLNTON Mrs Bonnie Thornburg 71 died Monday Funeral is 3 pm Wednesday at First United Methodist Church Cherry yule Survivors are sons CV Thornburg Jr Hal Thornburg Gary Thornburg all of Cherryville Max Thornburg of Shelby Pete Thornburg daughters Mrs Bill Cody of Cherryville Mrs William Garner Mrs Hugh Heavner sister Mrs Nettie Beasley of Sy Iva Carpenter's is in charge LOWELL Mts Grace Metz Rodgers 77 died Sunday Funeral Is noon Wednesday at MeAdenville Deaths And I BELMONT Mrs Annie Ford Leeper 78 died Monday Funeral is 2 pm Wednesday at Bumgardner Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are husband Clarence daughter Mrs Ellen Martens of Detroit mother Mrs Rosa Ford BELMONT William Fredrick Sullivan 78 died Sunday Funeral is 11 am Wednesday at Ward's Funeral Home Chapel Atlanta Survivors are brother Walter Sullivan of Nashville Tenn sister Mrs Clayton Bundscho of Augusta Ga Carothers of Gastonia is in charge of local arrangements CATAWBA Mrs Sarah Lowrance 73 died Sunday Funeral Is 11 am today at Concord United Methodist Church Survivors are sons James Lowrance Glenn Lowrance both of Statesville daughters Mrs Louise Benfield of Statesville Mrs Doris Fades Mrs Judy Gabriel brother South Carolina GAFFNEY Theodore Sam Lowery 53 Air Force retiree died Friday Funeral is 1:30 pm today at Young's Grove Baptist Church Blacksburg Survivors are wife Lottie sons Terence Lowery of Buffalo Bernard Lowery daughter Miss Sheree Lowery of Syracuse NY brothers Lee Lowery EA Low ery both of Charlotte sisters Mrs Rebecca Davis of Salisbury Mrs Geneva Jefferies of Wood leaf NC stepbrothers Freddy Camp of Valdosta Ga Luther Camp Roland Camp both of Blacksburg stepsisters Mrs Addie Whiteside of Charlotte Mrs Christine Frederick Mrs Angie Pope of Hickory NC Foster is in charge MULLINS Mrs Thelma Fowler Brown 59 died Sunday Funeral is 3 pm today at Cox-Collins Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are husband Mack sons Albert Brown Frank Brown both of Florence Donald Brown of Darlington Ronald Brown of Dwarf Ky Joe Brown of Myrtle Beach Carroll Brown Douglas Brown Luther Brown daughter Miss Mary Brown: sisters Mrs Ivan Lewis of Hanahan Mrs Harold Prevatte MURRELLS INLET Mrs Virginia Christine Dockery Tyner 62 died Sunday Funeral is 2 pm today at Goldfinch Funeral Home Chapel Survivors are husband CW: son Larry Tyner of Birmingham PAGELAND Lex Melvin Sherrin 68 retired farmer died Monday l'uneral is 2 pm Wednesday at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church 4111kArl11400 sik001414014olv-ALint oliArik glikait 406 Alkali 0011" AnkoekamtotuoiLint owl a7 fi It 1011 I I 1 I mot A I NO lit 1 1 11140 tol I 00110J1 04111606 Po olIA1 Arbooloots I I I ovik 11BAsk40ILLAkinkowdri Al 400 4F11500NOPPolk0144011141000011140160100160004040olkolikANIOkilkl 01110-m00411aAomo sa 0A-414001.