Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 32

I Fort Worth Star-Telegram TarrantTexas Page 17 Section 1 Wednesday PM September 27 1989 I Grapevine police disarm a bomb in a car parked at a grocery store Page 21 Tarrant Briefly Museum mysteries re examined after theft arrest through so far in the wax museum fire case "This is a man we've been looking for more than a year" Burton said Police attached a low priority to Poyner's whereabouts until two weeks ago when Dear took up the investigation Burton said Dear was hired in the spring by the family of wax museum co-owner Wright to investigate her still-unsolved strychnine poisoning death Poyner's arrest was announced yesterday in a news conference arranged (More on ARREST on Page 19) ing this case the burglary the deaths of Patsy Wright and Lori Williams and the fire at the wax museum" Dear said yesterday that Poynor may be linked to other occurrences at the wax museum "I think anyone who ducks under police lines at 7 o'clock on a Saturday night takes financial ledgers from a credenza and then runs when he sees police is a suspect is someone you might be suspicious of" Dear said Yesterday Burton categorized Poyner's arrest as the biggest break 1 Bond was set at 100000 bond by Municipal Judge Frank Hag le "I plan to come to some type of conclusion today concerning this case" Grand Prairie police Sgt Steve Burton said "Unless it can be proven to me and I can see the facts I'm not going to be convinced" Private investigator Bill Dear said last night that Poynor is a suspect in a series of mysterious incidents involving the museum Besides the Sept 9 1988 fire that destroyed the museum other related cases include the strychnine urz TARRANT AT WORK FORT WORTH Young slaying suspect could get 30-year term A Tarrant County grand jury yesterday authorized prosecutors to seek a prison terRup to 30 years fora 12-yearold boy charged with the Aug 28 slaying of a Fort Worth schoolteacher Prosecutor Bob Gill said the grand jury certified the state's petition asking that a jury be allowed to consider sentencing Michael Allen Johnson up to 30 years on delinquent conduct charges stemming from the slaying of Jana Simpson outside a portable classroom at Glen Park Elementary School Johnson is scheduled for an Oct 17 jury trial before 323rd state District Judge Scott Moore at the juvenile court on Kimbo Road Under a 1987 law juveniles charged with certain violent crimes can be assessed specific terms for confinement The juveniles first go to a youth facility and then are transferred to prison when they become adults But the law requires a grand jury to first approve that special sentencing option Gill said TexasBriefly Boy 10 wounded at house Suspect out on bond after 3 men are hurt 4 1 es 14r -i- ''''J' h4 'r- -'1 ittir: -17' ji -tx 6 -3e i ilo if A 74171 i- ir-irr '14 e' 'i 'i -2r 'I 4----1 i 41''V 3 A': '7 --1 1 1 ptimm14100 :14 ix i 74 44-74k itz i 046 0 -c "91k0 -------i -sr i I- Ibi A 4 ke3: otit--- A04e IN 'Aba 's :7 I 614iaiiir 1t 110-moo 4v BY JANICE JOHNSTON Fort Worth Star-Telegram GRAND PRAIRIE Police hope to decide today whether a 23-year-old Lewisville man arrested yesterday in connection with a 1988 theft at Wax Museum of the Southwest was involved in other mysterious events at the museum Stanley Lester Poynor also known as Steven Lester Poyner remained in the Grand Prairie Jail today in connection with the theft of financial ledgers from the site of a 1988 fire at the museum Insurance rate cap is raised Despite the state board's action lower charges are still expected next year for homeowners in Dallas and Tarrant counties BY JOHN COUNCIL Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN Tarrant County homeowners can expect a slight decrease in their property insurance rates next year despite a decision by the State Board of Insurance to increase maximum property insurance rates across the state by 08 percent Lower property losses in North Central Texas resulted in a slight reduction in property insurance rates for Dallas and Tarrant county homeowners For example the maximum property insurance rate on a $100000 brick home in Tarrant County is $500 annually Under the new rates approved by the state board the annual rate on such a house will decrease by Si Areas such as Lubbock where property losses were higher saw increases of as much as 74 percent in maximum property insurance rates The new rates will take effect March But although insurance rates are likely to go up in the rest of the state next year market observers might also notice a greater difference in homeowner policy rates among insurance companies because of another insurance (More on RATES on Page 19) No TV bets at the races Mattox says BY KAREN POITER Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN Hopes of simulcasting off-premises horse races to bettors at Texas tracks dimmed yesterday as Attorney General Jim Mattox declared that the I 986 racing act does not permit the practice Mattox's opinion disappointed Texas Racing Commission members who had contended that the racing law silently authorized the potentially profitable offshoot of race-track betting Simulcasting would allow track visitors to bet on races televised from other tracks in Texas or in other states Simulcast betting on national races such as the Kentucky Derby could take place even when there were no races at a Texas track that day racing officials say The first Texas track with pari-mutuel betting is scheduled to open Oct 6 in (More on RACING on back page) poisoning of museum co-owner Patsy Wright in October 1987 and the death of secretary Lori Williams in September 1984 Earlier this week Tarrant County Medical Examiner Nizam Peerwani changed the ruling on Wright's death to homicide The cause of death had been classified as undetermined Peerwani said "The only thing he did that 1 can tell you is he admitted to the burglary" Dear said today "He's being interviewed concerning anything concern Reaching out shock and regret through the Capitol today "I deeply regret Senator Caperton's decision not to run for re-election Texas needs public servants of his great intelligence high integrity and enlightened vision" said Lt Gov Bill Hobby Hobby said Caperton had made himself an expert in complex areas such as the state budget school finance and utility regulation In his 10 years in the Senate he had led committees dealing with criminal justice issues the judici 1 i j- :4: I 1 41 'i --e -i l'' One in a series of photo essays on Tarrant working people series assays king people BY MIOIAEL MUMPS AND BETSY CM TONG Fort Worth Star-Telegram FORT WORTH Four people including a 10-year-old boy were injured last night in a shooting incident that resulted from what police described as a domestic disturbance on the far North Side A 42-year-old man arrested at the scene last night has been released from the Tarrant County Jail on a $5000 bond Police are investigating him in connection with attempted capital murder The shooting occurred about 8 pm in the city's Summerfield subdivision just east of Interstate 35W and north of Loop 820 Sam Staton 10 who was shot in the chest had been admitted to Harris Methodist Fort Worth last night in serious condition and was later transferred to Cook-Fort Worth Children's Medical Center At his mother's re- quest hospital officials would not release information about his condition this morning Sam Raccuglia 59 Shawn Scott 23 and Frank Stanlee 25 were treated for a various of gunshot wounds and were released from Harris Methodist Fort Worth a hospital employee said this morning Joan Mertz emergency room charge nurse said last night that the wounds ranged from the shots to the chest to wounds to the arm Police said the shooting started after the four victims attempted to enter the suspect's home in the 3800 block of Buckhom Place "He (the suspect) felt that he was defending his property" said homicide Lt TC Swan The suspect told police he did not recognize the four when they entered his house But information from the ArArAP'AFAIrilrAlraAP Fort Wonh StarTelegram TONY RECORD ary and civil law and most recently the state budget "I respect his decision but the Legislature will be poorer" Hobby said Named one of the I 0 best legislators by Texas Monthly magazine this year Caperton is a longtime champion of open government and education issues An attorney his practice in family law cases led to his leadership in a number of controversial issues such as spousal maintenance Caperton said he would neither run for re-election nor be a candidate "for 11 -pr--- I tor' 4 0--- 4 :31) ts 4 IA 1 1 I 4 1 '4 i--44 i 1 Profile: Monte Elliott Family: Wife Vernal daughters Makala and Monica Occupation: Installation and repair manager for Southwestern Bell Tune at job: Six months Previous jobs: Manager of analysis PBX installer What he likes best about his job: "Meeting the public and feeling like I can impact the lives of those in the minority communities as well as the rest of Fort Worth" What he likes least about his job: "Not having complete control over some of the projects I would like to become involved in" daughters Makala ion and repair western Bell ths er of analysis PBX bout his job: and feeling like I of those in the ies as well as the OF bout his job: "Not ntrol over some of (I like to become AUSTIN i Appeals court upholds GTE refund injunction GTE Southwest does not have to refund an estimated $140 million to telephone customers unless a state judge upholds the rebate ordered by the Public Utility Commission an appeals court ruled today The PUC had ordered the telephone company to immediately begin making payments to customers However the 3rd Court of Appeals upheld a temporary injunction issued by State District udge Joseph Hart that halts the refund until GIE's court challenge of it is resolved The appeals court said Hart was correct in concluding "that the telephone company would suffer irreparable harm" if forced to make refunds immediately the court wrote AUSTIN 186-mph train proposed for Texas A group proposing to build a $22 billion high-speed train linking Fort Worth-Dallas and Houston unveiled its proposal today saying the 186-mph train could make Texas a national leader in technology "The entire nation will benefit from the state of Texas' leadership in implementing a very high-speed rail system" said William Agee chairman of Morrison Knudsen Corp "This efficient form of public transportation is profitable in France and it can be profitable in Texas Our consortium represents an international union of industry leaders working on an undertaking of great significance to the future of the transportation industry in the United States" Agee said The group's plan calls for a train that would carry passengers from Dallas to Houston in I hour 48 minutes Eventually the system would link San Antonio and Austin: AUSTIN Mattox sets date to enter gubernatorial race With his political fortunes at the lowest sin he started angling for the governorship at least two years ago Attorney General Jim Mattox has set his announcement date for Oct 10 The Democrat's first stop will be in his hometown of Dallas He also plans appearances in Houston San Antonio and Austin I I '41 FAIIVAIFAP'AFAIINIPrillrAPrArdrAP'APAlrAP'AirilrArArArArAlrAlrAPrAPrAFAVAIFAVAP'AFAIPWWWAVAPANIPNIFAIPriP'ANINIPAPrAP'10ArallrAirAP'AP'AlrAPWAIrAir Longtime Bryan lawmaker plans to step down (More on SHOOTING on Page 19) any other elected office" next year The decision caught local and state Democratic leaders by surprise Some said Caperton had only reached his decision early today While the district has always been represented by a Democrat they conceded that the leading candidates now appear to be three Republicans who had been considering seeking the seat They are state Rep Richard Smith of Bryan Lou Zaeske leader of the "English Only" movement and car dealer Fred Brown BY KAREN HASTINGS Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN Sen Kent Caperton DBryan a senior member of the Texas Senate and powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee announced today he will not seek re-election to his 5th District seat in 1990 Saying it was simply time for him to "move on down the road" Caperton gave no other reason for his surprise decision But his announcement at a news conference in his district sent waves of Jeff fr--- -1 Guinn Out and About five counts of taking improper loans and payments from law firms and companies doing business with the city His case has yet to come to trial Ivory admitted incredibly poor judgment including not reporting "moonlighting" income to Harman his boss as required of all city employees He denied intentionally breaking the law or giving any unfair business advantages to the companies concerned For incredibly poor judgment David Ivory has already paid an incredibly high price over the last 12 months He was stripped of duties as acting city manager in Harman's absence An intensely private man Ivory had to endure all sorts of public disclosures not the least of which was that he accepted the questionable income to help pay medical expenses for his twin brother who was being treated for drug addiction Ivory's kids read all about Daddy's problems Transfer of power: By an 8-1 vote of the Fort Worth City Council David Ivory is our new city manager Eighteen months ago nobody would have been surprised Today a lot of taxpayers are undoubtedly outraged It was on April 15 1988 income tax day that the Fort Worth Police Department acknowledged its major case squad was investigating allegations that Ivory as senior assistant city manager accepted improper gifts from a local contractor The crash of a falling halo sounds awfully loud Before that day Ivory was the City Hall golden boy deserving of his reputation as the staffer who took on the tough jobs and got them done right It was widely accepted he'd be the next city manager when Doug Harman moved on Then the roof caved in Last September a Tarrant County grand jury indicted Ivory on in the paper saw him surrendering to county officials and posting bail on the TV evening news Soon afterward Ivory's wife Madorie was stricken with a severe illness doctors blamed at least in part on stress It's miraculous at least from Ivory's standpoint that eight members of the City Council saw fit yesterday to name him city manager Not acting city manager mind you He got the full-time job Council members expect a firestorm of media and public criticism for their action and they're going to get it From conversations with them I believe most council members decided to give Ivory the job based on the bottom-line tenet of our legal system: You're innocent until judged guilty in court An indictment doesn't automatically presume guilt During the past year Ivory has continued to be an effective member of the city staff assigned to coordinate Alliance Airport construction with developer Ross Perot Jr Council members continued to rely on Ivory for accurate objective information regarding city budget and bond issues Their faith in him didn't appear to waiver If the indictments aren't factored in Ivory clearly deserves his promotion to city manager That's how the majority of the council felt and voted Feeling outraged is the easy response You're going to hear lots of nasty remarks over the next few weeks about crooks at City Hall But no jury has found David Ivory guilty of anything yet If that happens I expect the council will terminate him as city manager if he doesn't resign first And what if a jury of his peers eventually finds Ivory innocent? Then it's just possible the eight members of the council who voted for him yesterday will be given credit for picking the right person for the job Council stands behind Ivory I 'J 1.