The Kingston Daily Freeman from Kingston, New York • Page 1

First Execution in Decade Gary Gilmore Is Dead Many Suffer Frostbite Amid Flames Icy Weather Foe SALT LAKE CITY(UPI) Gary Gilmore was shot to death shortly after sunrise today in the first execution in the United States in a decade. A prison official announced. order of the Fourth Judicial District has been carried Gilmore was shot about 8:06 a.m., MST approximately 16 minutes after The state rushed to carry out the 36- year-old condemned death wish after the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver lifted a last minute stay of execution just minutes before dawn. Gilmore's quest for death had apparently been thwarted seven hours earlier when U.S.

District Judge Willis Hitter stayed his execution in a desperation suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. But a three-judge appellate court panel convened at 6:30 a.m. in Denver, 400 miles away across the Rockies, and lifted the stay eight minutes before the time set for the execution. U.S. Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Thurgood Marshall turned down a final appeal minutes later.

The four witnesses to the execution vited by Gilmore were told at seven minutes to eight that the condemned man was being moved to the execution site He said they previously had been told that Fourth District Judge Robert Bullock had changed his execution order from to any time during the day." They were driven to a building behind the main prison compound and entered to find Gilmore and the firing squad already inside. was loosely shackled," Schiller said. was the third witness to shake his hand. The warden read a legal order, and Gary looked at the warden not quavering. looked up for an extended period of time and then said, dc We then stepped back behind a line 25 feet from him." Schiller said prison officials then placed a black hood over the head.

did not quaver when the hood was placed over his head. A black target with a white circle was then pinned to white tee shirt. warden gave the signal, and (See GILMORE, page 5) 12 Firemen Hurt in By LYNN MULVANEY Freeman Staff KINGSTON At least 12 firemen were injured, one with second degree burns of the face and ears, and others suffered frostbite and bruises from slipping on ice-coated pavements as they fought the all-night blaze that consumed the Beef Houae on Broadway at St. James Street early today. Ambulances transported one fireman to Benedictine Hospital and seven others, including Brian Pratt who suffered the head burns, to Kingston Hospital.

Others were transported by firemen. The three-story restaurant was reduced to little more than one- story by the flames, but the paid and volunteer firemen were able to save the adjoining Gov. Clinton Market and the former Richard I Beauty School above the grocery store. Fire Chief William Schreiber, still on the scene at 8 this morning said he still know the origin of the 11:30 p.m. fire, reported by a number of residents in the area who saw smoke coming from the top floor after the restaurant was closed.

Firemen reportedly had tion problems but managed to save the market, whose sprinkler system was activated in upstairs storerooms. All fire companies in the city responded to the alarm, fighting the fire in minus-zero temperatures that dipped as low as nine below. Mayor Francis R. Koenig was on the scene, commending the firemen for their Kingston City Police re-routed traffic in the uptown area throughout the morning, and Kingston City Schools Consolidated opened its doors one hour late in order to allow for traffic delays. photo by Bob Frigid conditions created additional hazard.

Whi le Miller credits the sprinkler system for helping save he couldn't say enough about the efforts which kept the entire building from going up in flames. The Beef House, which is owned by Sal Provenzano, has been a popular uptown Kingston restaurant in recent years, fea turing a 1776 decor and cabaret entertainment. UP! photo Gary Gilmore spoke briefly to newsmen after the execution. Larry Schiller, Gilmore's agent, said he and the other three witnesses in- Beef House Blaze MA RKETBASKET ----------------------------------Food Prices Hit Five-Month High KINGSTON Food prices in the city took an unprecedented 3 per cent jump last week, bringing the cost of feeding a family of four to its highest level in five months. Prices recorded by the Ulster County Consumer Information Service indicated that the 41-item market basket index was priced at $66.76 for the week ending Jan.

15. The same foods cost only $64.83 the previous week. Large increases in the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats and fish all contributed to the record high. Increased costs for lettuce and onions led the vegetable category. The biggest gains in dairy products came in the cost of margarine, ice cream and American cheese.

The rise in meat prices came as a result of an 18 per cent increase in bottom round roast and a 6.7 per cent climb in the cost of thin cut center pork chops, Coffe prices also continued to rise, as expected. The market basket index is based on the U.S. Dept, of Moderate Cost Family Food Plan and includes a representative sampling of foods geared to provide a nutritious diet. Price information is compiled by surveys in at least three Kingston area chain supermarkets. KINGSTON Fighting fire is bad enough, but fighting it in nine-degree below weather adds a host of other problems.

City firemen outside the bumed-out Beef House had to take axes to the ice in the streets this morning to free part of one fire truck which had become imbedded. A young police officer's moustache turned into a dozen miniature icicles as he directed traffic at the corner of Clinton and nlbany avenues Meanwhile local hospitals were treating a dozen firemen who fell and bruised their ribs and hips on ice. or who suffered frostbite, smoke inhalation and burns. firemen certainly deserve the raise they just got," Tom Miller, manager of the Gov. Clinton Market, said this morning as he surveyed the water and smoke damage the market sustained.

Firemen saved the market, and Miller and Ed and John DeGasperis, the owners of the store are grateful. After the Ulster County Health Department surveys the scene to determine what groceries and meat have to be condemned, the store will be cleaned up and opened for business Tuesday. Miller predicted. Central Hudson Gas and Electricty cut the power to the store during the night, but it was on again this morning as the cleanup began. Firemen battled Beef House blaze throughout the night.

photo by Bob World ii? Brief Boys Burn to Death in Tree House TIVOLI The burned bodies of three Tivoli boys were discovered Sunday morning at the foot of a tree near their home, after the two-story tree house in which they were sleeping caught fire and collapsed to the ground. The grim discovery was made at daylight, although a neighbor reported seeing the treehouse fall in flames about 4 a.m., unaware that the boys were in it. The dead were identified as Edward Neese, 14, and his brother, Lance Neese, 9, and Richard Hogan, 11. Rhinebeck State Police report that the boys left the Neese home, carrying sleeping bags, about midnight Saturday to spend the night in the tree house at the rear of the Neese property. The boys, who were known to sleep out often, took kerosene lights with them, police said, suggesting that one of the lamps may have been knocked over during the night causing the fire.

Residents of the little village near the Hudson River, were stunned by the news. They all knew the two brothers, the sons of Mr and Mrs. Edward Neese of Spring Street, and the Hogan boy, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hogan of 50 Montgomery' St.

Neighbors said the boys camped out all last summer in the tree house which was carpeted Though some neighbors lived within less than a hundred yards of the Neese home, they heard and saw nothing throughout the long cold night. An aunt of one of the Neese youngsters hurried over to the neat yellow and white Spring Street house where family and friends gathered to bring what comfort they could to the bereaved parents Sunday afternoon. Is there anything 1 can do," a neighbor called. thank you," the aunt v.c have a pretty big family Down the street, in front of Tivoli Confectionary, a group of solemn youngsters congregated Yes, they knew the uead boys, one of them was in their boy scout troop. And there was no merriment in the local hotel bar, where people sat staring into their glasses.

made us all a little sick. We'd rather not talk about it," a man murmured. Town Supervisor-Minister Calls A Scare Tactic Bourke Unfazed by Lawsuit Rumor Sorenson Folds His Nomination WASHINGTON (UPI) Theodore C. Sorenson said today he is asking President-elect Jimmy Carter to withdraw his nomination as CIA director because of substantial objections to his nomination both in the Senate and from outside organizations. "It is with deep regret that asking Governor Carter to withdraw my designation as director of Central Sorensen said.

"My regret stems not from my failure to get this post but from my concern for the future of our Sorensen threw his unexpected bombshell into confirmation hearings before the Senate Intelligence Committee after first reading a 10- page statement vigorously defending his record. Carter Is Firm On Amnesty Stand WASHINGTON (UPI) Amnesty for Vietnam war resisters was being debated on all sides over the weekend, but President-elect Jimmy Carter says nothing has changed his intention to pardon draft evaders during his first waek in office. And time is running out on President Ford's announced decision to take a new look at his own clemency program. Ford had said he would announce his decision before leaving office, but only 3'a days remain. fcftAFFiirr i Itti Inc Strict Orders Go To Drug Agents WASHINGTON (UPI) The government is issuing strict new orders for federal agents in a move to protect the rights of suspects while choking drug traffic into the United States.

The agents stili may provide traffickers with illegal narcotics, use electronic gadgetry and plant paid informants in drug rings if such techniques will help send suspects to jail, But now, before using their investigative tricks, they will have to get an okay from their superiors and often the courts to carry out their plans. Boycott Halted By Court Order LONDON (UPI) The National Association for Freedom obtained a court order banning a weeklong communications boycott of South Africa protesting that country's racist policies. The postal union Sunday agreed to obey the court order. But, although the injunction against the boycott, which was to have started Sunday night, is valid until another hearing Tuesday, it does not affect similar boycott plans by the British union and transport workers. Spotlite Rotron Union Vote Page 3 Drama Next for Coach House Page 6 Bear Mt.

Ski Jumping Page 9 Index Bridge 15 13-14 15 15 Dear 7 Editorials, 4 Jeanne Dixon 15 Life 6-8 5 Sports 9-12 Stock 2 Teen Forum 15 2 By CHAZY DOWALIBY Freeman Staff HARDENBURGH The state is just "up to usual old trying to scare off prospective ministers in the Universal Life Church from filing tax exempt status, says Hardenburgh Supervisor Lester Bourke about reports that a lawsuit might be filed against his town administration. they really want is for us to dry up and blow away," says Bourke, who along with 82 per cent of the 300 or so residents, is a ULC minister himself. A controversy over just who is and who isn't eligible for non-profit relgious exemptions on property has been simmering on the back-burner for about eight months now, ever since Liberty Cardinal William McLean began ordaining ministers in the mail order, California-based church. Hardenburgh has much of its property owned bv more familiar relgious groups, like Tibetan monks, and townspeople have decided that they have to support the religious acreage with their tax dollars any longer. Despite some wing-flapping and general groans of concern, the state Board of Equalization and Assessment has been more or less "conspicuous by their absence" in Hardenburgh and elsewhere says Bourke.

far as I know there has been no action taken, and I personally think there will be any action have a leg to stand on." assessment of the tax situation got something of a nod from an attorney for state this morning. Stephen Harris of the law bureau of Equalization would comment only that "we're certainly interested in the matter and an attorney here is working up a memorandum on the it will be sent to assessors in an advisory capacity Harris added that as long as an assessor is following state guidelines on granting exemptions (which they are doing in Hardenburgh) his agency can do nothing about it. (See BOl'RKL, page 5).