The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 112

2 GASTON OBSERVER Saturday September 23 1995 Ingle lawyer blames competency law THINGS TO DO of to be presented Sunday dismiss the request Appeals all the way to the US Supreme Court failed Wright had already collected evidence that Ingle could have used to try to overturn at least two of his four death sentences in the slayings of two elderly couples According to court documents he spoke to a juror who confirmed that during deliberations she and others read Bible passages about death as punishment for wrongdoing Sheila Houser the daughter of victims EZ and Sarah Willis said she was at least relieved to know it take the usual decade or more to resolve the case Houser said she supported a condemned right to appeal but that a condemned killer should have all appeals finished within a year Ingle is the first NC death-row inmate not to protest his execution but not the first nationwide More than 30 convicted killers have volunteered to drop their appeals in other states A 1990 US Supreme Court ruling gave them that right Now that a precedent is set in North Carolina death-penalty opponents said worried that condemned inmates wracked by prison life might opt for early executions contrary to public perception is a horrible experience" said the Rev Jimmy Creech of the NC Council of Churches might push some very fragile inmates over the edge and decide going to do what Phillip By CHIP WILSON Staff Writer GASTONIA Phillip Ingle was allowed to die because of state law that needs changing attorney said minutes after witnessing his execution Friday morning think simply a legal fact that the standard for legal competence terribly high" Julian Wright said "when someone who obviously suffers from a profound disturbing mental illness can still be legally competent" Wright signed onto case in April because he wanted to help spare the Lincoln County man's life But he found himself Thursday in effect arguing for death At a 9:30 am hearing in Ruther ford County an attorney for sister tried to stay the execution by stating Ingle mentally fit enough to stop appeals Ingle had been ruled competent at a Sept 7 hearing where a state psychiatrist testified Ingle was severely depressed but able to make good decisions The judge in hearing asked Wright what Ingle wanted The lawyer replied in a halting hesitant tone that Ingle wanted to die He called his action which he was ethically bound to undertake difficult and personally Joan Byers deputy NC attorney general said at that hearing that denying request would violate his legal rights all the judge needed to GASTONIA The Gaston County Public Library Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Gaston County Public Library will sponsor a public presentation of Juan of Sunday at 3 pm at the library 1555 Garrison Blvd A reception will follow the sculpture presentation For more information call 868-2167 EMILIA PASTINA Last words: My death may bring peace Che Charlotte WHERE SMART SHOPPERS START Today FOOD DRIVE JWgJgl'MB'ggTW MAGIC Phillip Ingle gave his last official statement verbally to Central Prison warden James French at 1:30 am Friday: The statement I would like to make is I do not believe in capital punishment even though 1 have chosen to end my appeals soon The only reason I have done this is so that the families can maybe find some peace to put an end to what has happened the last four weeks I make mistakes we are all sinners of flesh When Jesus died he took the sting away from death so that death does not sting anymore I have repented my sins 1 have been forgiven I do not fear death now I am not shaking am being put to sleep and the angels are going to pick me up and take me to Heaven 1 forgive you and everyone and 1 ask that everyone who I have trespassed against to forgive me" have felt more loved and more cared for than I have all my life I have been getting letters from all over North Carolina and the United States telling me they love me telling me of love for all of us and I want to thank them want to thank my family and I want to thank all my brothers on death row who are some of the most finest people I have met anywhere are all human beings we Events Functions Dyke Stabler 825-7133 MOUNT HOLLY The Mount Holly Community Relief Organization will have a food drive today from 9 am to noon Donations may be left on porches and doorsteps To volunteer call Leroy Ramsey at 827-0450 HOUSE OF CARDS CELEBRATION SHELBY The third annual House of Cards continues today from 10 am to 1 pm on the Courtsquare corner of Washington and Warren streets There will be plenty of local talent food crafts and tabletop decorating but the main attraction is the stationery and cards Folks can order all-occasion notes invitations Christmas cards guest books napkins coasters and other paper products Proceeds will benefit the Cleveland County Arts Council Chatty animated Ingle meets death Ingle heart and lungs am not shaking" Ingle told French at 1:30 am "lam being put to sleep and the angels are going minutes later the came in and pronounced family will hold a Seelis ffoall you prescription needs an Tauschery Pharmacis Sunday Karen Hellard Technician lily Owned A Operated to pick me up and take me to The procedure started at 2:01 am prison spokesman Bill Poston said 2:02 he raised up and said love you recalled witness Joey Popp a reporter for WCNC-TV (Channel 36) in Charlotte that five-minute period there was a twitching of the esophagus and Adam's apple The last movement of that was at 2:07 warden his private memorial ceremony said the Rev Jimmy Creech a Raleigh death penalty opponent who stayed with sister and wife all day Thursday After that service his ashes will be scattered at South Mountain State Park in Burke County only miles from his childhood home of Vale Staff Writer Joe DePriest contributed to this article LIFE WITH AUDITIONS LINCOLNTON The Lincoln Theatre Guild will hold auditions for with Sunday from 2 to 6 pm at the Lincoln Cultural Center Ann Heafner Gaither rehearsal hall second floor Roles are available for seven women four men one teenage girl and four boys ages 6-17 Call-backs will be Sept 25 Performance dates are Nov 30-Dec 3 at the Cultural Center For more information call 735-2281 CORVETTE CLUB SHOW Call 739-3666- Kings Mountain WE DELIVER i BRICK BLOCK MORTAR SAND CBRICK I BLOCK MORTAR SAND GASTONIA Sonny Hancock Chevrolet will host the Corvette Club Show and Contest Sunday Set-up and preview will be Saturday from 9 am to 10 pm Proceeds will benefit Hospital For more information call Robert Biggerstaff at 865-4310 TURTLE TALK It II I' it CROWDERS MOUNTAIN Join the staff of Crowders Mountain State Park at 2 pm Sunday for Eastern Box Turtle Talk Learn about the habits favorite foods and other interesting facts Participants should meet at the park office For more information call 853-5375 From preceding page chosen to end my appeals soon" Ingle said reason I have done this is so that the families can maybe find some peace to put an end to what has Cleveland County Sheriff Dan Crawford who witnessed the execution said he doubted sincerity much of that was sincere and for the family and how much was for Phillip I said Crawford who was the State Bu reau of Investigation agent who solved the murders and convinced Ingle to confess them told me he was glad we caught him" Crawford recalled Friday told me would have killed totally convinced he would In the witness room Crawford sat between two survivors Steve Davis the son and David Houser the son-in-law Ingle never denied his crimes but blamed them on nature and the lack of nurture His mother and maternal grandfather suffered from schizophrenia and psychia trists testified he inherited the illness He first tried to commit suicide by hanging himself at age 8 He repeatedly tried again through adulthood by crashing his car and even sitting in the middle of a rural Lincoln County highway one night after killing the Davises several weeks before the Willises died The road episode landed him in a state mental hospital but he was released after an overnight stay Ingle later called that an unheeded cry for help Even as his execution ap proached Ingle demanded psychiatric treatment In a videotaped message ter Gov Jim Hunt he asked to have his sentence commuted to lifetime commitment to a mental hospital When Hunt refused last week Ingle pressed ahead with his demand to die He said rather die than live in prison sister went to court earlier Thursday to convince a judge not to grant that wish She contended he needed the chance for appeal lawyers to prove he get a fair trial in Rutherford County The judge refused saying Ingle had the right to make that choice and was legally competent to do so If Ingle had doubts he show them even as his executioners hooked the intravenous lines that carried two forms of poison first the thiopental sodium that rendered him unconscious then the Pavulon that paralyzed his in Upcoming PROSTATE SCREENING GASTONIA Men over age 50 may participate in a free prostate screening next week and appointments should be made soon The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Gaston Memorial Hospital The Diagnostic Center and the Gaston Urological Associates will sponsor the screening Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at The Diagnostic Center 655 Cox Rd To make an appointment call 834-2226 CLASS OF Thursday Sept 28 pm Need some new ideas for teaching the reluctant learner? Come to The Charlotte Observer and learn how the newspaper can excite and motivate even your most turned-off student You'll receive an hour and a half of great ideas and lots of curriculum materials to take home Space is limited You must call to register Cost: $15 includes instructional materials nutritious snacks and a coupon for 1 00 newspapers for you to use throughout the school year! Use the registration form below North Gaston High Class of 1975 will celebrate its 20-year reunion Oct 21 at Cramer Mountain Country Club For more information call Angie Surbeck at 861-1102 or Robbie Wooten at 922-5973 SEALY POSTUREPEDIC Electric Beds NOW AVAILABLE Movies Zwin ea pc Zwin at pc Scaly Cambridge Scaly Comfort Cushion Jirm Series Plush full '179 dull '199 Queen 399 Queen Set '449 king Set 499 king Set '599 -N ns f'J i 5EALY(POSTUREPEDieS 1 please register me for Sept 28 NIE Workshop NAME 140 152 Zwin ca pc Zwin ca pc Scaly Cushion Scaly Cushion Jirm Jirm JuU '214 dull 9 Queen Queen Set '499 Set king Set '699 king Set '799 Set-Up And Removal! Movie times are through Sunday ANGUS: Litchfield 1 :30 4:1 5 7:20 9:30 pm (PG-1 3) BABE: Belmont Drive-In 8 pm Bessemer City-Kings Mountain Drive-In 10 pm Lincoln Cinemas 1 3 5 7 9 pm Shelby Cinemas 2:10 7:10 pm (G) BUSHWHACKED: Bessemer City-Kings Mountain Drive-In 8:15 pm Water Tower 1:10 3:10 5:10 7:10 9:10 pm (PG-13) CASPER: Water Tower 1 3 5 7 pm (PG) FREE WILLY II: Water Tower 1 3 5 7 9 pm (PG) HACKERS: Eastridge 1 3 5 7 9 pm Lincoln Cinemas 9 pm Shelby Cinemas 2 7:10 pm (PG-13) A KID IN KING COURT: Lincoln Cinemas 1 3 5 7 pm THE LAST OF THE DOGMEN: Litchfield 1:15 4 7 9:35 pm Shelby Cinemas 4 9 pm (PG) LORD OF ILLUSIONS: Water Tower 1 3 5 7 9 pm (R) MORTAL KOMBAT: Eastridge 1 3 5 7 9 pm (PG-1 3) NATIONAL SENIOR TRIP: Eastridge 1 3 5 7 9 pm Lincoln Cinemas 1 3 5 7 9 pm Shelby Cinemas 2 4 7 9 pm (R) NINE MONTHS: Water Tower 1 3 5 7 9 pm (PG-13) OPERATION DUMBO DROP: Belmont Drive-In 9:30 pm (PG) PROPHECY: Shelby Cinemas 4:1 0 9:1 0 pm (R) SEVEN: Lincoln Cinemas 2 4:30 7 9:15 pm Litchfield 1:20 4:20 7:10 10 pm (R) THE SHOW: Shelby Cinemas 1 :30 3:1 5 5 7 9:1 0 pm (R) SHOWGIRLS: Litchfield 1 4:30 7 9:50 pm (NC-1 7) TO WONG FOO: Eastridge 1 3 5 7 9 pm (PG-1 3) UNDER SIEGE II: Belmont Drive-In 1 1 pm (R) Here are theater addresses: Belmont Drive-In 314 McAdenville Rd Belmont Bessemer City-Kings Mountain Drive-In NC 161 Bessemer City Cleveland Mall 2001 Dixon Blvd Shelby 482-8333 Eastridge Four Eastridge Mall New Hope Road Gastonia 867-6186 Lincoln Cinemas 1700 Aspen St Lincolnton 735-2797 Litchfield Cinemas 2132 Golorth Ave Gastonia 867-3310 Shelby Cinemas 414 Lafayette St Shelby 487-881 1 Water Tower Place Water Tower Place Shopping Center Garrison Boulevard Gastonia 864-2768 scHoa 5CH001 ADDRESS Sold in Sets Only hurry! SALE ENDS SOON! Our Grids Lock IntoYour Programs Sunday's "TV magazine makes it easy to find programs to watch by providing easy-to-read grids for mornings afternoons and prime time (The Charlotte (Dbsctrcr SCHCXX PHONE NUMBER GRADf (S) TAUGHT Make check payable to: Observer I for $15 If questions please call 1-800-532-5350 exts 6055 or 60 Mail To: Observer NIE PO Box 321 Charlotte NC 28232 Che Charlotte (Dbscr.