The Evening Times from Sayre, Pennsylvania • Page 5

a Athens, South Waverly, and Waverly, N. Y. THE EVENING TIMES, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1974 PAGE FIVE (Continued from Page 1) ter by Lieut. Edward Bloomer of the police and Sheriff Frank Detrick. As the jurors were dismissed, Attorney Shuman said: "You have served yourselves well, your community well, and our system of justice well." District Attorney Epstein gave similar approbation.

During all of this suspenseful waiting for the jury deliberation, and when the jury returned, the jammed court room was i in a deathly silence, and after the findings were announced there was no comment from any of the attorneys present, and the jury was not polled. McKenna sat very quietly in his chair and no expression of any kind was evident. His hands were folded on the table in front of him. His mother Mrs. Vera McKenna, also showed no outward emotion.

although appearing pale as the announcements were made. Mrs. Eugene Coston, mother of the slain girl, stifled muffled sobs on the shoulder of her husband as he held her hands in his. The Gerard McKenna-Sharron Coston story actually began the Sunday evening of Oct. 28, 1973.

At about 7 p.m. that evening the 16-year-old Sayre High School junior told her parents she was go ing out to purchase a pack of cigarettes in downtown Sayre. According to the testimony of John Rogers, a first cousin to Miss Coston, the girl actually met McKenna for the purposes of going to Wilawana to purchase a drug called chocolate mescaline. The trial brought out that shortly before noon on Satuday, Nov. 3, 1973, a hunter by the name of Jack Vanderpool came across the nude mutilated body of Miss Coston, a plastic bag covering her from her head to waist, just off the Mile Lane Road beyond the Blue Swan Airport.

In his testimony, told the Bradford County court that he called the police when he realized what he had discovered. From that Saturday of Nov. 3, 1973 until Wednesday Nov. 21, 1973 a swarm of state police and special investigators established a command post in the Sayre Borough hall. It was on Wednesday, Nov.

21, 1973, that the police issued 1 a warrant "for the arrest of Gerard Paul McKenna, 40, of Sayre, currently residing at 372 McKinley Parkway, Buffalo, charging him with the murder and rape of Sharron Coston, 16, of 209 N. Lehigh Sayre, on or about Oct. 28, 1973." The warrant and detainer were served on McKenna, at the Erie Prison, Buffalo, following County, day intensive investigation. The slow and due process of the law was finally served on Nov. 18, 1974.

when the selection of a jury was started in the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda, with Judge Evan S. Williams, presiding. The jury selection took until Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1974 but not before over 100 prospective jurors had been examined by lawyers representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the defense. Testimony started the morning of Friday, Nov.

29, with Arthur Shuman from Philadelphia, appointed special prosecutor to help District Attorney Maurice Ep stein, telling the jury that he would, over the course of the DID YOU KNOW ROCKMAN'S has Gold and Silver Stretch Belts? MARTHA'S CERAMICS will be CLOSED Dec. 16 to Jan. 6 OFF Christmas Greenware HOURS: WED. 6-9 P.M. THURS.

1 9 P.M. FRI. 6-9 P.M. SAT. 10 A.M.

-5 P.M. Defense To testimony, put all the pieces the puzzle together so that would "show the jury the complete picture of how Gerard McKenna murdered Sharron Coston." Chief defense counsel was Thomas Walrath of Wellsboro, along with William Hebe of Wellboro and Bradford County Public Defender Lonnie Frawley. Mr. Vanderpool was the first witness called by the Commonwealth, followed by Mrs. Eugene Coston, mother of Sharron.

Pathologist Dr. John Kelly the Robert Packer Hospital, who had once remarked that Miss Coston was dead about 48 hours fore she was found, later changed his story to place the time death at about a week. He was later supported with the "week" time element by Dr. Robert Catherman, deputy medical aminer for Philadelphia. Both Dr.

Kelly and Dr. Catherman testified Saturday, Nov. 30, and Monday, Dec. 2. In between these Nov.

30, Mrs. Ruth G. Laufe, chief of histo chemistry at the Allegheny County Coroner's Office, testified that Miss Coston had tercourse prior to her death. It was on Monday, Dec. 2, that Rogers told the jury that he had walked into the McKenna bedroom the evening.

of Oct. 28, 1973, and saw his with her hands bound ad and staring at the ceiling, but making no sounds. She was naked and so was McKenna, according to Rogers. He told the court that the accused, McKenna, was having intercourse with the Coston girl. Rogers admitted lying to police on three occasions during the investigation because "McKenna threatened to kill me and my sister if I talked." The police, during their investigation did search the McKenna home on N.

Wilbur Ave. and shortly after that issued their warant. The next several days of the trial were spent with various police testifying how they obtained blood and hair samples from both McKenna and Miss Coston. On Wednesday, Dec. 4, Mrs.

Christine Townsey, a chemist employed by the Pennsylvania State Police at Greensburg, testified that a blood sample about the size of a dime found on a mattress cover at the McKenna residence was "consistent" with the blood of the deceased girl. In between all this the state brought in Western Union operators from both Sayre and Waverly, and from Wilkes-Barre and Chattanooga, revealing that McKenna had received money orders from his mother, Vera McKenna thus establishing the whereabouts of McKenna prior to his arrest in Lackawanna. Thursday, Nov. 5, the state brought in Kim Hocksoll, a 17- year old girl from Lackawana, who told the court that McKenna was the man who woke her at about 4 a.m. at her mother's home and attempted to rape her.

She said that the entry of her 14 year old brother in the bedroom, chased McKenna out of the house but that he left his coat and shoes on a couch downstairs. McKenna was. arrested and he was in the Erie County Holding Point when the warrant was served in the Coston case. On Dec. 6, Mrs.

Sherry Blatchley, a former resident of New Orleans, told a hushed court of how McKenna finally managed to rape her after several attempts at unnatural sex acts. Both girls testified that McKenna had a belt around their neck. The prosecution rested its case at 10:15 a.m. last Friday and the defense later that afternoon. The summations and the charge to the jury came Monday.

Non- Jury Murder Trial To Start BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) The trial of George Allen Keith, charged with slaying 12-year-old Tracey Stetler of Phillipsburg, was scheduled to begin today in Centre County Court. Keith, 27, who has pleaded innocent in the case, was granted a non-jury trial in October, when defense attorney Robert Martin said a judge would be more able to understand the complex defense 'he plans. The Stetler youngster was found dead of stab wounds of the throat last March. Keith, who escaped for a day from the jail a week ago, was arrested in Mexico several weeks after Stetler was killed.

THANK YOU I wish to thank all my friends for flowers, gifts and cards, the ambulance corps, the doctors, nurses and nurses aides in orthopedics and physio therapy who made my stay in the Robert Packer Hospital so much easier. I also wish to thank the American Legion 492. MRS. FLOY S. REYNOLDS OBITUARIES Helen Sudnick, Well-Known Valleyite, Dies Mrs.

Helen A. Sudnick of 301 S. Elmer Sayre, died Monday, Dec. 9, 1974 at the Robert Packer Hospital following an illness of about four weeks. Born in Shenandoah, Pa.

the Sarah Mack Gregas, she attenddaughter of the late Peter a and ed schools there and was a gradlege where she received her deuate of Immaculata, a Colgree in Music. Mrs. Sudnick had taught music in public schools for several years until her marriage to the late Atty. John Sudnick in 1938 when she came to Sayre and had since resided here. She had been church organist at the Church of the Epiphany since 1946 and was its choir director until three years ago.

Mrs. Sudnick also served as secretary to her late husband until his death on Nov. 4, 1970 She was a member of the Church of the Epiphany in Sayre and its Altar and Rosary Society. She was always active in both church and hospital affairs. Her only survivor is a brother, the Rev.

Clarence Gregas of Holy Family Villa in Bethlehem, Pa. Friends may call at the Alteri Funeral Home, 314 Desmond Sayre, Wednesday from 2 to and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral will be held at the funeral home Thursday at 9 a.m. followed by a con-celebrated Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of the Epiphany at 9:30. Father Gregas will be the principal celebrant.

Burial will be in Annunciation Cemetery, Shenandoah, Pa. Members of the choir at the Epiphany Church will recite, the rosary at the funeral Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. Sandy Bower Of Waverly Dies at 70 Sandy Bower (Bavero), 70, of 532 Fulton Waverly, died early this morning at the Tioga General Hospital following an illness of two days. Born in Avolino, Province of Naples, Italy, the son of the late Raphael and Catherine Mercadatti Bavero, he had resided in the Valley for the past 35 years and had been employed by the General Electric Co. in Elmira for 14 years retiring due to ill health.

Mr. Bower was a member of James Catholic Church, Waverly." Surviving are his wife, the former Carmella Coviello; a daughter, Mrs. Ronald (Catherine) Young of Waverly; a son, Frank Bower of Rochester; four grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Joseph (Jeanette) De Baise of WilkesBarre and Mrs. Rose Alessi of Mountain Top, two brothers, Anthony Bower and James Bower, both of Wilkes-Barre and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call at the Alteri Funeral Home, 314 Desmond Sayre, Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral will be held Friday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home and at 9:30 at St. James Catholic Church, Waverly, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. A Biblical Wake Service will be held at the funeral home Thursday at 8 p.m.

Dale Coyle Funeral Held The funeral for Dale Coyle of Wellsburg RD 2 was held Monday at 9 a.m. at the Lowery Funeral Home in Athens and at St. Joseph's Catholic Church where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Rev. Augustine Conniff, church pastor. Assisting in the sanctuary were Kenneth Oakes, Joseph Nagle, Albert Micklitsch and Arthur Austin.

Ushers were Paul Coveney and Fred Schmidt. David Chacona was organist. Pallbearers were Jerry Peterson, Charles Peterson, Jeff Schultz, Steven Coyle, Keith Grant and Russell Dilts. Burial was in Tioga Point Cemetery, Athens. Father Conniff led in a Biblical Wake Service at the funeral home Sunday at 8 p.m.

Read and Use THE WANT ADS Legislature Backs Ideal Hospital Plan Mrs. Brundage, Former Sayre Resident, Dies Mrs. Prudence Brundage, 94, formerly of Stevenson Sayre, died this morning. Dec. 10, 1974 at 8:10 in Elmira.

She had been residing with a sister at 1406 Maple in Elmira until six months ago where she to reside at the Bethany Retirement me Home Born in in Elmira. Ulster March 5, 1880, the daughter of the late Perry and Mary Abbey Kitchen, she had resided in Sayre most of her life and was a member of the Sayre Baptist Church. Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Carl (Juanita) Tanner of Elmira, with whom she had resided and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Her husband, George A.

Brundage, died in 1958. There will be no calling hours at the Kolb-Allgeier Funeral Home in Sayre. The private funeral and committal will be held at the funeral home Thursday at 11 a.m. Rev. Richard Patterson, pastor of the Sayre Baptist Church, will officiate.

Burial will be in Tioga Point Cemetery, Athens. The family requests that contributions be made to the Sayre Baptist Church. Genevieve Jones Of Sayre Dies At Age 65 Mrs. Genevieve Jones, 65, of 614 Lincoln Sayre, died last evening, Dec. 9, 1974 at the Arnot-Ogden Hospital in Elmira folowing an extended illness.

Born in Sheshequin, Nov. 14, 1909, she was the daughter of Jennie Ammerman Sweet Arnold and the late John Sweet. Surviving besides her mother are her husband, Ellis Jones, at home; a son, Ralph D. Jones of Watertown, N. a daughter, Mrs.

John (Betty) Carey of Sayre; two sisters, Mrs. Charles Geroulds of Waverly and Mrs. James David of South Waverly; four brothers, Carl Sweet of Detroit, Glenn Sweet of Tennessee, Hugh 1 Sweet of Waverly and Festus Sweet of Athens RD seven grandchildren; one aunt, uncles and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call at the Jenkins Funeral Home, 111 S. Main Athens, Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m.

The funeral will be held Thursday at 11. a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Burdette Mason, pastor of the Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Elmira, officiating. Burial will be in Tioga Point Cemetery, Athens.

Leo A. Swan Services Held Funeral and committal for Leo A. Swan of 413 Desmond Sayre, were held Saturday at 7 p. m. at the Alteri Funeral Home in Sayre.

Rev: Richard H. Schuster, pastor of the Sayre United Methodist Church, officiated. was Monday in Tioga Point Cemetery, Athens. Waverly Youth Held on Charge knife. Theft of Radio Material Probed Owego State Police are investigating the theft of radio equipment taken from the truck of a resident of Owego RD 1 during the night.

Thomas A. Whitmoyer of Gaskill Hill Road, told police that he surprised three persons and they fled from his truck where they had taken equipment valued at about $970, including a CB radio, FM scanner, amplifier and other items. A Waverly young man will appear before Waverly Village Justice H. Bradley Smith Saturday morning after he was charged by Owego State Police about 8:30 Monday night. David H.

Connor, 19, of 458 Pennsylvania Waverly, was charged with criminal possession of a dangerous instrument when his car was stopped during a routine patrol check. Connor is alleged to have had a switchblade The Tioga County Legislature on Monday passed a resolution urging continuation of Ideal Hospital in Endicott until a replacement hospital is built and pledged the cooperation of the Legislature in planning the replacement hospital. The resolution, sponsored by Allan D. Bishop, does not commit the Legislature to financial support of the proposed $20 million project. Joseph Missavage, Broome County Planning Director, attended the Tioga meeting asking for the wording of the resolution, which was unanimously approved.

Missavage said that the resolution opens the door to future discussion of possible Tioga County co-sponsorship of a new hospital in western Broome County and said that Tioga's vote could help convince the Broome County Legislature to approve the project's second phase which will be discussed at the Dec. 17 meeting of the Broome Legislature. Dr. John Scott, Tioga County Medical Examiner, presented a report and emphasized the importance of the continuation of Ideal Hospital until a replacement can be built, stressing the need for hospital beds in western Broome County to serve eastern Tioga County. He also criticized the NY-Penn subcommittee report which urged the closing of Ideal.

Rotary To Host Handicap Club The Waverly Rotary Club will host the Valley Handicap Club Thursday noon at El-Ba Kitchen for the annual Christmas Party. On Thursday, Dec. 19, all members will observe "Collection Day" with items for the American Legion Christmas baskets and the Salvation Army "Adopt A Family" programs. TGH Surgeon Attends PG Concept Course Dr. P.

V. Abraham, a surgeon at Tioga General Hospital, recently attended a three-day post-graduate course in the concepts in diagnosis and treatment of cancer. at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston. The educational sessions includ. ed indepth studies dealing with the various types of cancer, modern diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and the psychological aspects of the cancer patient.

Further included were panel discussions and clinical conferences concerning the subject of cancer. Dr. Abraham joined the TGH active medical staff in September 1973. He is a diplomat in the American Board of Surgery and has certification and fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In addition, Dr.

Abraham is licensed in the states of New York and Vermont. Datebook PAST MATRONS and Patrons of the Amaranth will meet at the home of Mary Zimmer Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Bring covered dish to pass and $2 exchange gift. SAYRE HIGH SCHOOL PTA will meet tonight at 8 o'clock in the high school cafeteria. BRADFORD COUNTY Democrat Women's Club will meet Wednesday, at 8 p.m.

in the No. 2 Court Room of the Court House in Towanda. All interested persons are invited to attend. WINDHAM TOWNSHIP Volunteer Fire Co. will hold the Windham Township community Christmas party Sunday, Dec.

15 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Windham Township Community Hall. TOPS CLUB PA. 460 of Sayre meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Patterson Building.

JUBILEE COUNCIL No. 143 of A meets Thursday at 8 p.m. in the IOOF Hall at Greene's Landing. Picnic supper at 6:30 p.m. Bring $1.50 gift to exchange.

VALLEY CHARITY Group meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Elks Home, Sayre, for the purpose of reporting names for Christmas baskets. ULSTER MUNICIPAL Authority meets tonight at 8 o'clock at the Ulster-Sheshequin Fire Hall. Egg Quotations PHILADELPHIA (AP -USDA -Demand fair. Prices to retailers: Sales to volume buyers, consumer grades white eggs in cartons, delivered: store door.

A tra large 72-73 1-2; A large 71- 72 1-2; A medium 63-65 1-2. The prices listed do not include all sales some -ay be higher or lower than listed. WOOD CARVER Sculptor Anthony Lockwood uses chain saw to carve statue from dead tree at Lincoln, R.I. Candor School nal Winans, music. will present Traditional some Christmas origi- To Present Yule Concert The Christmas concert Candor Central School Music partment will be presented day evening, Dec.

17 at 8 The concert will feature the ior Band and Chorus. The chorus, directed by Judy Dimmick, will feature sic from the 16th century, music, a spiritual and some ular music. "Star Shinin' Over is a spiritual featuring a soloist. Other members heard in the ensembles numbers will also include Need A Little Christmas" "Mame;" "The Coventry "Carol of the Small Child" many more. "The Girls" Ensemble clude an a capella number titled "Sing We Now a Christmas," "Silent Christmas Song" and the tional "Holly and the Ivy." The Senior Band, under rection of Guy Kinney, clude a variety of music the classics to popular.

The ond movement from the hony No. 5 of Franz Schubert be heard in its entirety. ed will be the woodwind and flutes in this selection. concert march "Riders for Flag" by Sousa will feature brass section. Also included will be the ular movie music from the track of "Mary Poppins." cial trio consisting of Richards, Oliver Ezro, and music will also be heard.

The concert is free and the public is invited to attend. Commonwealth Workers Reject Company Pact Voting held Friday evening, Dec. 6 resulted in a 219-202 rejection of a contract offer made by Commonwealth Telephone Co. to the Communication Workers of America, AFL CIO. Commonwealth maintains headquarters in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

Mary C. O'Hara, Pennsylvania Director, CWA District Two (2) and William J. Umphred, president of Commonwealth, announced that since that time both parties have been contacted Federal Mediator, Charles McHugh, and have scheduled: a mediation session for Monday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m., at the Hotel Sterling in Wilkes-Barre. McHugh represents the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The CWA had been workon a day-to-day contract extension, pending a decision by union leadership since their contract expired Saturday, Nov. 30 at midnight. That day-to-day. extension is still in effect. The Commonwealth Company includes the Towanda area and other parts of Bradford and Sullivan Counties.

THANK YOU The family of the late Leo A. Swan wishes to thank friends and neighbors for their many acts of kindness shown us during our recent bereavement. Mr. Mrs. M.

H. McMahon and family The most magnificent picture ever! DAVID O. SELZNICK'S PRODUCTION OF MARGARET MITCHELLS "GONE WITH THE WIND STARRING Winner CLARK GABLE of Ten Academy VIVIEN LEIGH Awards, LESLIE HOWARD OLIVIA de HAVILLAND RE RELEASED BY DISTRIBUTED BY METRO MAYER United Artists One Show Daily TIOGA THEATER at 7 P.M. MAIN STREET, OWEGO KIMBALL ORGANS at the MUSIC BOX ELMIRA 888-7735 of the DeTues- o'clock. Sen- Miss mufolk pop- Bethlehem" soprano will be and the "We from Carol," and will inen- Song of "The tradi- the diwill infrom secSymp- will Featuring section The the the popsound A speDereck Ray SAYRE TONIGHT ONLY Continuous from 7 P.M.

"LUNCH" RATED STARTS WEDNESDAY SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY 7:45 MGM STANLEY AUBRICA PRODUCTION. 2001 a space odyssey SUPER PANAVISION METROCOLOR MOM Released thru United Artists Kentucky Fried Chicken. LUNCHEON SPECIALS IN OUR SPACIOUS DINING ROOM MON. FRI. 11 A.M.

-2 P.M. 12-oz. HAMBURG STEAK $185 SALAD FRENCH FRIES HAM STEAK $195 SALAD FRENCH FRIES MACARONI CHEESE SALAD $125 Choice of Dressing) "SOUP CHICKEN" $135 HOT CUP of VEGETABLE SOUP. 2 Pcs. CHICKEN COLE SLAW COLONEL STEAK SANDWICH (on Toast) $179 COLE SLAW FRENCH FRIES The Colonel now offers a full menu for your dining pleasure as well as carry out service for dining.

Kentucky Fried Chicken. "The Full Service Family Restaurant" NORTH KEYSTONE SAYRE.