The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 23

-rv wnumi i wwv wrm i THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER TUESDAY APRIL 14 1998 3C Judge says Faircloth tried intimidation By CAROL LEONNIG Observer Washington Bureau A federal judge is claiming US Sen Lauch Faircloth tried to intimidate him during a 1995 court case involving President Clinton and Whitewater Now asking the Justice Department to investigate US District Judge Henry Woods of Arkansas said a senior Faircloth aide requested the financial disclosure forms in the summer of 1995 The request was made Woods said just two weeks before the judge was to make a pivotal ruling on whether independent counsel Kenneth Starr had jurisdiction to prosecute a key Whitewater figure considered this request to be a crude attempt to intimidate Woods said in a statement to The Observer want this matter thoroughly Faircloth who was an outspoken critic of the Clintons when he served on the Senate panel investigating White-water was unavailable Monday But a member of the staff said it was to call a simple request for documents intimidation was just generic research to see was Judge Woods too partisan which I think he proved himself to Faircloth aide Jim Hyland said Woods is just a cranky old Democrat still upset that he get Whitewater thrown Whitewater is shorthand for some land deals and a savings and loan scandal that raised questions about whether Clinton and his wife misused their positions when the president was governor of Arkansas Woods said he is going public now and requesting the investigation of the Republican senator because he only recently learned of a memo from a researcher for the conservative American Spectator magazine to office It was written days before 1995 ruling In a copy provided by the judge researcher Parker Dozhier complained to office that Woods would work to protect the Clintons and should not have been assigned to the case Woods ruled in 1995 that Starr did not have jurisdiction in the case but Fa(reoMl was then overturned by the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals ROBERTISUMMERS YAElKWONlDO Book signing to benefit black group Charlotte Chamber 330 Tryon St The signing begins at 5:30 pm The book costs $25 For more information call 375-7300 Reach Bob Meadows at (704) 358-5068 Now Forming Adult Children's Classes 531-9077 wwwROBERTSUMMERScom Black Men of Charlotte a mentoring organization The organization will use the money for scholarships and other programs Each stop along tour raises money for local organizations that help blacks He said doing it because poor blacks are in a crisis a successful author and speaker this is the least I can Fraser said time for every black male of sufficient means to step up to the plate and lend a hand where they Fraser who has also written By BOB MEADOWS Staff Writer George 51 -city tour is not only promoting his new book but also raising money for charity The tour touting for Success: The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks in comes to Charlotte Wednesday evening Money raised at the book signing will benefit the 100 Runs in Our offers advice in his new book It includes saving and investing career advice low-cost business start-ups finding capital and effective networking book deals directly with things we should be looking at as African Americans in this country as far as being economically said Kevin Patterson president of the Charlotte chapter that holding the signing on tax day adds a little hook for Fraser will sign his book at the Friday's Observer vexst Charlotte man killed by train (Warned at Ballantyne Piper Glen Carmel Commons The Peninsula Raintree River Hills? fuc1? 7 1 1 1 X' A- Jv -v Over 100 styles to choose trom We Buy Sell and Trade Announcing the Grand Opening of: THE BLIND CENTER THE HANDLE KORNER III Specializing in Retired and Hard to Find Beanie Babies in MINUTE BEANIE SHOWCASE TOTAL DECORATING CENTER 601 Wilkinson Blvd Belmont NC 825-2112 CUSTOM CURTAINS BEDDING BUNDS UPHOLSTERY 372-4005 Midtown Square Mall 401 Independence Blvd 0pen: Mon-Sat 10-9 Sun WE PROMISE TO SAVE YOU THOUSANDS! i JEFF SINERStaff Charlotte firefighters Butch Gibson (left) and Willie Cobb help carry the body of Frank Stewart off railroad tracks near the 200 block of West Summit Avenue early Monday Stewart 39 of Charlotte was killed when a train struck him The train engineer saw Stewart walking on the tracks and blew his horn but Stewart made no move to get out of the way said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Capt Ted McIntosh Police are investigating the death as an accident On Our Best Central Air Conditioner 2 killed 2 wounded at home when 5 suspects open fire I I I I I I i I I I I I home will be the coolest ever been plus you get at least a $569 savings by taking advantage I of my pre-season offer on reliable central air Dewey Jenkins Owner I SPECIAL FINANCING I For a limited time you can finance your new system and make no payments for six months And best I of all you have to put any money down All you do is call and ask for Melissa She will schedule your free I in-home cost savings survey Your only risk is waiting too late CALL NOW! Comfortmaker' IVIORRIS-JENKINS CO Sales Service Installation Since1958 357-0484 the scene to determine how many weapons were used in the attack There was no evidence any of the victims had a chance to defend themselves against the shots Connor said Police are investigating whether the crime may have been drug-related Connor said Three of the four victims Collins Johnson and Marche have been arrested on drug charges since 1995 court records show Marche and Collins were convicted and case is pending The killings were the 16th and 17th homicides in Charlotte-Mecklenburg in 1998 They were the first double homicide since July 1993 when Grover Smith and his sister Diane were shot to death during a home invasion robbery attempt on Katonah Avenue police said Police ask anyone with information about the case to call Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600 Reach Leigh Dyer at (704) 358-5058 or ldyercHarlottecoB By LEIGH DYER Staff Writer A burst of gunfire inside an east Charlotte apartment just before midnight Sunday left two men dead and two wounded and police were searching for suspects Monday Witnesses said five men kicked open a back door at 3101 Girard Court No 2 and opened fire on four men who had been relaxing inside The suspects were last seen fleeing in a hatchback car heading north on Sharon Amity Road Christopher Todd Cloninger 28 was pronounced dead at the scene and Sharif Marche 21 died at Carolinas Medical Center Ahmad Johnson 21 was stable in critical condition and Latawn Collins 18 was stable in fair condition at Carolinas Medical Center late Monday Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say whether the victims knew their attackers or what the motive for the home invasion was we talk to the two surviv Revolving Credit Agreement No Interest accrued end no payment required for monthsMHMMgB mum monthly payment of 2 of outstanding AJIR Other financing plans mw ing victims too much we say for a fact right said homicide Investigator Chuck Connor Friends have provided some possible suspect names Connor said Police collected physical evidence including shell casings at SC says release Riverview Inn Honors Senior Citizens With A Great Senior Menu Every Tuesday Night! Our Small Order Of: Fillet of Flounder Catfish Calabash Shrimp Deviled Crab Chicken Tenders Your Choice working for his brother a political consultant He was released 46 days later on March 23 Prison administrator Debbie Home said Roberts had earned the maximum credits allowed 30 credit for good behavior and 14 days for his laundry work Part of what upset rights advocates is that he spent only 46 nights jn jail the equivalent of 23 full days and was credited with 30 good behavior After Roberts was sentenced in February a national rights group the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network complained to the US Department of Justice that sentence was too lenient The Justice Department has asked the FBI to investigate the case The US office in Columbia will not comment on whether it plans to file federal civil rights charges against Roberts Reach Jonathan Dube at (803) 327-8506 or joidibeckarlottecoR Ex-prosecutor served 46 days of 90-day term By JONATHAN DUBE Staff Writer LANCASTER SC The SC attorney office has investigated former Lancaster prosecutor Kim early release from prison and determined he was released when he was supposed to be When Roberts was released last month having served 46 nights of his 90-night sentence for sex and bribery charges rights advocates complained The attorney office asked the SC Law Enforcement Division to investigate to make sure Roberts was treated no differently from those convicted of similar crimes did look into the situation up there and found that apparently Kim Roberts has served out his time and had the same opportunities as other prisoners have had to reduce their time by good behavior and by said Tom Landess a spokesman for the attorney general did those things and all Roberts walked into a courtroom Feb 2 facing up to 40 years in prison for a bribery charge and three sexual misconduct charges after he was convicted of offering to drop drunken-driving charges against two women in exchange for sex But two of the sex charges against him were dropped in a plea bargain and Roberts was sentenced to 90 nights in prison Beginning Feb 6 Roberts entered the Lancaster County Detention Center at 7 pm every night and donned his blue-and-white prison uniform For four hours he would work in the laundry room washing and folding prison clothes and linens Then sleep in his 8-by-10 cell for eight hours before being released He spent his days 0 OFF! 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