Panama City News-Herald from Panama City, Florida • Page 1

Good Morning! Today Is Friday. November 19. 1976 NEWS HERALD "Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does." -Josh Billings A Florida Freedom Newspaper Th. world Mo.t B.o.h., Pongnlo City, florid. 36 Pon.t Prico 15 Cot.

Taunton Says Probe Tool For Whitewash By JIMMY THARPE Staff Writer A Gulf County Judge whose charges three weeks ago led to a grand Jury Investigation of two of the most powerful men In this area said Thursday the grand Jury process Is being used merely as a tool to whitewash his allegations against State Rep. Billy Joe RIsh and George Tapper, a former senator, ''1 am concerned that the graVid hearing beginning In Gulf County Is designed to be, at best, an act In futility and at worse (sic), a deliberate tool to whitewash the serious questions of wrong doing on the part of powerful men," said Judge David L. Taunton, who on Oct. 26 told the Gulf County Commission that Rlsh used his Influence to help Tapper, the current chairman of the Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees, reap a $1 million wind- tall profit In various land dcal- Ingi Because of Taunton's latest allegations, the Florida Suikreme Court has called a hearing for Monday at 10 a.m. in Port St.

to determine the validity of the present grand Jury. The hearing was reciueslcd by Circuit Judge Larry Smith, who Is presiding over the grand jury, and who was among those Taunton levelled charges at Thursday. Supreme Court Justice Ben Overton will appoint an Indepen- Judge Larry Smith Blacks Leery Of Flu Shots WASHINGTON (AP) The government launched a new campaign Thursday to overcome big-clty blacks' distrust of swlnc flu shots. More than 20 million Americans have gotten free flu shots so lar and the nationwide Immunization program Is gaining momentum, federal health officials said, but the low turnout among blacks and other urban residents has been disappointing. "1 am particularly concerned that people living in our cities, especially black people, have not been taking advantage of the flu vaccine," said Dr.

Delano Meriwether, director of the federal program. "If there Is an epidemic, it will spread like wildfire In our crowded city areas," he said. "And disadvantaged people in these areas, who sdll have the least access to good health care, will be those who suffer the most." The U.S. Public Health Service said Wyoming was the first state to Immunize more than 70 per cent of its eligible population over 18 years of age. Hawaii was a dose second with 62.5 per cent Immunized by the end of last week.

But the immunization rate in large cities was running at only about half the state rates. Only 3.5 per cent of New York City's eligible population had gotten flu shots by last weekend, for example, compared with 8.2 per cent for the New York State average. Meriwether told a news conference that blacks and other poor city residents may not be getting shots because they traditionally do not participate In public health programs. Early public Information programs were not directed toward them and perhaps because they are "suspicious about big government, a federal effort. "1 can only emphasize that the vaccine Is safe and it works," he said.

"It will keep you from gel- ting swlnc flu. The shot doesn't hurt, and It can't give you the flu." Meriwether, who is black, said he will meet with the Rev. Jesse Jackson In Chicago on Friday and Saturday to develop a strategy for getting blacks into immunization centers for flu shots. A new national television and radio campaign with the same goal will begin next week. Fourteen per cent of the million Americans over 18 had gotten flu shots by last weekend, a record In recent years.

dent Judge to preside over the hearing. In a one-page statement Thursday morning, Taunton made four separate charges against the present grand Jury In Port St. Joe; presiding Judge, Larry G. Smith, during the process of drawing the list of potential Jury members Is alleged to have remarked to clerk of the court, George Core, 'If Judge Taunton messes with me I'll punch him In the one of those Implicated, assisted in all stages of drawing the Jury." Whitehead was selected as foreman (of the grand Jury). He Is the father of Charles Whitehead, a long-time friend and business associate of Tapper." Whitehead is presently registered to vote In both Gulf and Bay County, Florida." Taunton said that because of these four circumstances he considers It "on Insult to the Intelligence of the good people of our county to proceed with a grand Jury under these conditions." Because of what he sees as the Inconsistencies In the present grand Jury, Taunton requested three all-encompassing changes.

First, Taunton recommended Judge Smith, be replaced as the presiding Judge of the grand jury "based on his demonstration of prejudice in this matter." Smith was contacted by the News-Herald Thursday night, but refused to comment on the situation. Second. Taunton suggested an entirely new grand jury be selected, this time "without the active participation of George Core." Taunton also requested that J. Whitehead be disqualified "as being prejudiced." At the hearing scheduled for Monday, the presiding judge (as of yet unnamed) can grant any one of Taunton's requests, can grant all three or he can discard all three and order that the grand Jury proceed as It now exists. State Attorney Leo C.

Jones, (SeeTAUNTON Pagc2A) Midwest Is Hit By Cold, Winds By The Associated Press A fast-moving cold front caused high gusts of wind from the Northern Plains to the Northern Great Lakes on Thursday, with blowing dust reported across the Eastern Dakotas and Western Minnesota. A high wind warning was Issued for Eastern North Dakota and a gale warning was posted for Lake Superior. The cold front covered much of the Northern Plains and Northern Rockies, but warmer readings were reported ahead of the front. Precipitation remained rather scarce around the country. Haln persisted over Southern Texas, while scattered rain and snow showers hit the northern parts of New York and New England.

Partly cloudy skies spread over the Southern Plains to the Pacific Coast, but clear skies were reported from the mid- Atlantic states into the Southwest. Afternoon temperatures ranged from 32 at Caribou, Maine to 84 at Fort Lauderdale. Fla. Here Is the latest afternoon weather In some key cities across: Eastern U.S. Atlanta 64 fair; Boston SI fair; Buffalo 42 partly cloudy; Caribou 32 snow; Charleston, S.C.

69 clear; Chicago 53 fair. SUSPECT REQUESTS REPORTER Rochester, N.Y., Times Union reporter Mike Shore enters house with arms raised, where a suspect in a jewelry store hold up had barricaded himself Thursday. One gunman and two police officers were shot in an exchange of fire. (AP LASER- PHOTO) Economy Worse Than Estimated Posted ANGELES (AP) Patricia Hearst's father and uncle posted $500,000 ball Thursday for her release from prison while she awaits trial on state charges. But she remains jailed on a federal bank robbery conviction while a Judge decides whether to grant ball pending appeal In that case.

The final decision on whether she would be freed rested with the San Francisco Judge who has jurisdiction over the bank robbery case. A federal court clerk In San Francisco told reporters not to expect any action Thursday night on Miss Hearst's request for ball on the bank robbery conviction. In Los Angeles, meanwhile, Superior Court Judge William RItzl said he would reconsider later lowering Miss Hearst's bail on state charges if she Is released. She faces trial In state court here Jan. 10 on charges of naping, robbery and assault In connection with a shooting at an Inglewood sporting goods store In May 1974.

U.S. District Court Judge WlUlam Orrlck must decide whether the 22-year-old'Miss Hearst can be granted bail In San Francisco pending appeal of her federal bank robbery conviction. She Is under a seven year sentence, and her release Is discretionary on the part of the judge. Her bail was revoked In San Francisco shortly after her capture in September 1975 when it was thought she might be a night risk. Rltzl refused a request from Miss Hearst's attorney Al Johnson to reduce her ball to $250.000.

Chuckle A CHICAGO (AP) Officers are making no bones about turkey dinners at Cook County Jail on Thanksgiving Day. The Jail's cooks have been ordered to remove the bones from 100 turkeys to be served the 5,100 Inmates. "In the past, inmates have been known to use the bones as weapons," an official said Thursday. WASHINGTON (AP) Revised government estimates released Thursday showed that the nation's troubled economy entered the fourth quarter in worse condition than originally thought. But Arthur F.

Burns, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, said conditions don't appear bad enough at this time to warrant a tax cut to stimulate the economy. Two University of Michigan economists, however, said that even with a $13 billion tax cut, the economy would grow next year only a shade faster than necessary to reduce unemployment. Advisers to Presidentelect Jimmy Carter have suggested tax cuts ranging from $8 billion to $15 billion. The Commerce Department said Gross National Product, or the total output of goods and services In the economy, grew at an annual rate of 3.8 per cent during the July-September quarter. That was a downward revision from the preliminary estimate last month of a 4 per cent growth rate, the rate generally considered sufficient to keep up with normal population growth.

But the rate Is believed Insufficient to reduce unemployment. The figures were revised primarily because some, figures In the preliminary report had to be estimated for the final month of the quarter. The foreign trade surplus on goods and services, for example, was revised downward by $2.5 billion to an annual rate of $3.4 billion. A Commerce Department economist, Maynard S. Comlez, said the revision was not large statistically and didn't significantly change what economists knew about the third quarter.

But the revision meant that the economy was weaker than originally thought during the final month. The Inflation rate estimated In the GNP was revised downward from an annual rate of 4.4 per cent to 4.2 per cent. Individual disposable Income, adjusted for both taxes and Inflation, had originally been reported as Increasing by $1 from the $4,143 per capita posted In the second quarter. The revision changed that to a $1 drop. The figures are based on 1972 dollars.

Final sales, which arc considered the measure of ulttmatc demand In the economy, grew at an annual rate of 4.1 per cent for the third quarter, compared to 4.2 per cent In the second quarter and 4.4 per cent that had been estimated tor the third quarter. The revisions followed two monthly drops In Industrial production, a flat performance In 'Vetatl sates over four months and a rise In the unemployment rate from 7.8 per cent to 7.9 per cent. (See ECONOMY, Page 2A) Gilmore Goes Back To Cell SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Condemned killer Gary Gilmore, pale but defiant, returned to state prison and was cheered by fellow Inmates Thursday after two days at a hospital following his suicide attempt. His girlfriend. Nicole Barrett, regained consciousness for the first time since they took sleeping pills Tuesday in an apparent suicide pact.

Her condition was upgraded from critical to serious. She walked with assistance and was visited by relatives. Mrs. Barrett, 20, was described as disoriented and confused. Dr.

Richard A. Call, medical director at the Utah Valley Hospital In Prove, said there was no evidence of brain damage "but In her state you can't do a thorough, complete exam." Gilmore had been sentenced to die before a firing squad at 8 a.m. last Monday lor the murder of a motel clerk In a robbery attempt four months ago, but Gov. Calvin Rampton delayed the execution pending a review of the sentence by the state Parole Board. Gilmore has repeatedly asked the courts to allow him to face the firing squad as soon as possible because he does not want to spend the rest of his life In prison.

Fellow Inmates In maximum security cheered, whistled and shouted from windows and the prison yard as the four-vehicle convoy bearing Gilmore arrived. Awaiting Gilmore was what Warden Sam Smith described as "as close to solitary confinement as this prison has had in years." Smith said Thursday that a five-member firing squad had been selected In case It is needed, but that names were secret. Doctors said the dose of 10 to 20 sleeping pUls Gilmore took would not have been fatal even If he had received no treatment. MISS WORLD 1976 Miss Jamaica, Cindy Breakspeare, 22, wears a smile and her crown after she won the Miss World 1976 contest Thursday at the Royal Albert Hall in London. (AP LASERPHOTO) Jamaican Lass Miss World '76 Gary Gilmore Robbery Suspect Commits Suicide ROCHESTER, N.Y.

(AP) A man shot himself to death Thursday after being holed up In a house with a reporter for several hours following a Jewelry store robbery and gun duel with police in which one bandit was killed and two officers wounded. The reporter, Michael Shore of the Rochester Times-Union, walked out of the house unharmed before the man turned the weapon on himself. The gunman had also held a woman, Julia J. DeMattesIs, hostage for two hours before she emerged unharmed from her home. Several hours later the 31 year-old Shore, tears In his eyes, came out of the house and told police, "He's going to shoot himself! Get in there and stop him!" A shot rang out, and police rushed Into the home and found the man on the floor with a bullet wound of the head.

He was identfled as John Matarazzo, 35, of New York City, The Identity of the other bandit was not Immediately known, police said. Matarazzo. according to Shore, said he and his partner flew to Rochester this morning and cruised around in a taxicab looking for a place to rob. They decided on the Bronke-Smith Jewelers In the northeast part of the city. "I'm convinced now the guy wanted to kill himself as soon as he got Inside the house," Shore said later.

"But I thought if we kept talking, we might be able to work something else out." Matarazzo refused all offers of help, said Shore. "As soon as you get up I'm going to kill myself," the gunman told Shore. Matarazzo yelled to police to "let Mike come out and I'll follow." THERE'S MORE Abby 6B At Wit's End 6C Classified 3-80 Comics 7B Community Calendar ec Crossword 3D Deaths 3A Editorial 6A Horoscope 6C Local ID Society 3-6B Sports 1-20 Stocks 8C TVUg 8A Word Sleuth 6C Weekender 3-6C LONDON Miss Jamaica, 22-year-old Cindy Breakspeare. was chosen Miss World 1976 Thursday In a contest marred by the withdrawal of nine participants protesting South Africa's race policies. Miss Australia, Karen Jo PInl, 19.

was first runner-up. Third pluee went to Miss Guam. 17- year-old Diana Duenas. The new Mtss World, a brown-haired West Indian beauty with hazel eyes. Is a physical At A Glance Rolls Royce hOOOfh Sale LONDON.

(AP) -Rolls Royce Motors announced Thursday It has sold 1.000 cars In the United States so far this year for an all-time record. David Plaslow, Group managing director of RoUs-Royce Motors "An all-time new sales record was achieved when Rolls- Royce Motors, of Paramus, N.J., sold Its 1,000 car retail In the United States on October 30th. This is substantially higher than for the total sales for the whole of last year, which were 865 retail sales In the United States, which at that time was an all-time record. It is confidently expected that by the end of the year, Rolls-Royce Motors, will have sold approximately 1,200 motor cars." Won't Modify Stand GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) The British chairman of the stalled Rhodesia settlement talks Thursday proposed that the conference end no later than Dec. 20.

But he refused to modify Britain's stand on a deadline for obtaining majority rule for the rebel colony. Conference sources said Richard fixed the negotiating deadline in a statement he handed to militant black nationalist leaders Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe In a 45- mlnute meeting. Soviets Refuse Him Enfry MOSCOW (AP) Soviet authorllles have refused permission for Marshall Brement, political counsellor at the American Embassy for two years, to return to his post following vacation, the embassy said Thursday. Brement went on vacation in late August and Soviet authorities later withdrew his re-entry visa without giving any reason, the embassy said. Informants said the action was apparently In retaliation for a similar move against a Soviet diplomat in New York.

Charles To Visit Brazil LONDON (AP) -Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, has accepted an Invitation to visit Brazil, it was announced Thursday night. In a speech to the Anglo-Brazilian Society, Ronaldo Costa, mlnlstev-counselov of the Brazilian embassy, disclosed the prince's acceptance of the offer extended by President Ernesto Gelsel. Spanish Elections Slated MADRID. Spain (AP) Spain's ultraconservative parliament voted Thursday night to hold parliamentary elections next year, thus ending Its own existence and opening the way toward democracy after 40 years of right-wing dictatorship. education teacher.

She is 5-reet-6 and her measurements were given as 35-24-36. She Is a friend of Jamaican reggae singing star Bob Marley and said she hopes to open a health food restaurant someday. She was crowned by Miss World 1975. Wllnella Merced of Puerto Rico. The hazel-eyed Miss Breakspeare won a prize of 5.000 pounds ($8,500) and the chance to earn an additional 20.000 pounds ($34,000) during her year-long reign.

Miss United Kingdom, Carol Grant, 19. of Glasgow, Scotland, placed fourth, and Miss Finland. Merja Tamml, 21, was fifth. Miss United Slates, 2i-yearold model Kimberlee Foley of Southfleld. was not among the last 15 In the semifinals.

Miss Holland. Stephanie Flatow. and Miss Turkey, Jale Bayhan, were among the seven finalists but got no final placing. Other girls reaching the semifinals were Miss Argentina. Miss Ireland.

Miss Israel. Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Singapore. Miss Spain. Miss Trinidad- Tobago and Miss Venezuela. Jobless Rate Held TALLAHASSEE.

Fla. (AP) Unemployment held steady at an above-average 9.4 per cent in Florida last month, but more people were working, the state said Thursday. Figures released by the state Department of Commerce showed seasonally adjusted unemployment unchanged in October from the September rale. Asst. Commerce Secretary C.

Betty Wlmblsh said the figures showed that solid economic recovery from the recession had not begun, but that there was scattered improvement in some Industries In Florida. "Total employment in Florida Increased jobs, ment dropped by 9,300 and employment in the crucial construction Industry showed a slight rise for the fifth month," she said In a news release. The figures showed the civilian labor force increased because of population growth and other factors from 3,309,800 in September to 3,325,300 in October. That was still below the October 1975 figure of 3,433,200. (See JOBLESS Page 2A).