The Macon News from Macon, Georgia • 5

Saturday Tolegroph ond Niw Jon 31 197ft 3 A Trial Nears End For Two Women MM Bv BIU BOYD Jonesboro Wanda Watson Lives Here Between Courthouse and Local Newspaper Drug Conviction Reversed Tift Coed Keeps Low Profile at Home By SKIPPY LAWSON Tdtri(li Crmpndtiit HAWKINSVILLE Final arguments begin today in the Pulaski trial of two black women charged with the murder of a white insurance salesman last June in Wheeler County Defendant Cheryl Todd Friday said again that fear of being raped and killed motivated the shooting of Ronnie Horne of Rentz by Mrs Todd's companion Dessie Woods The women are charged with murder and armed robbery On the stand for almost two hours Mrs Todd underwent an intensive cross-examination by Oconee Circuit District Attorney Philip West Admitting that Horne never touched either woman Mrs Todd maintained that it was Horne's talk of liquor sex and a together with his having a gun on the seat of his car that led her to hysterical crying and Mrs Woods to shooting him Mrs Todd told the court she and Mrs Woods had been released from a Glenn-ville Jail earlier op the day of the shooting The two were hitchhiking back to Atlanta when they were picked up by Horne The women claim they were beaten tortured and threatened with sexual assault by Glennville authorities after their arrest there three days earlier on drunkenness charges Mrs Todd said their only thought was to get back to Atlanta After Horne picked them up Mrs Todd testified he began what Mrs Todd termed nasty talk" She said that they demanded to be let out of the car but that Horne caihe back again a short time later apologized for his behavior and again offered them a ride Although they feared him Mrs Todd said the women got back into his car you telling this court you were willing to risk your body and your life to get a ride to West asked exactly what I Mrs Todd replied West referred to earlier testimony by state troopers and Glennville authorities that the two women had not been mistreated when arrested and Jailed in Glennville Mrs Todd said West bore down hard on why the women possessed SI 47 they have admitted Mrs Woods took from Horne's body after the shooting and why they failed fo notify authorities that a man had been killed Mrs Todd maintained that she had never claimed the money as her own and that they planned to notify authorities when they got to Atlanta and to turn the money over to them Although Mrs Todd chose to take the stand in her own defense Mrs Woods remained silent and no evidence was introduced in her defense by her attorney Randy Bacote Bacote did make a motion for a directed verdict of not guilty for his client The motion was denied by Pulaski Superior Court Judge James O'Connor Earlier in the day in a surprise move Mrs Todd's attorney withdrew a motion for a directed verdict for Mrs Todd feels that if the court grants the motion it will Imply to the Jury that Dessie is guilty" defense attorney Mary Joyce Johnson said The prosecution and the defense each will have two hours in which to present their final arguments today which means that the case should go to the jury by about 4 pm And there is talk that Mrs Watson now separated from her husband has spent herself into a financial hole fighting for a new trial for her daughter the youngest of four children She continues to work as a telephone operator and the mother and daughter wait hoping no doubt that even the ripples will Just go away went away to Tift College in September 1974 She was convicted just prior to completing her freshman year in June and has been incarcerated since The people who said they knew her agreed Wanda Watson had never been in trouble didn't seem to be the sort- of person who would hang around trouble who made above-average grades Only a couple of students contacted at Jonesboro Senior High School said they remembered the girl who graduated there Just 19 months ago Those who knew her described her as quiet and reserved One girl who said -she was a senior described Miss Watson as person -who spoke when you met her and had a few close friends- but I never really got to know her But I did think she was a nice A faculty member said strange I remember her but not much about her She was a quiet Police Chief I Sholar said he knew her because she to date one of my Sholar who was a character witness for her at the trial In Forsyth said know how some teenagers are talking and carrying on all the time Well she would sit down and watch television or something Wanda was just a real nice quiet A neighbor said she had not seen Wanda Watson since she had been released but added the young woman had been a very traumatic experience and I sure feel like intruding If she wants to talk to me sure she'll let me Most Jonesboro residents had not seen ha since she Bv BILL BOYD St i Nw edHw JONESBORO Wanda Watson never made waves in life until she was arrested for selling narcotics And even then her waves looked more like ripples When she was part of a massive drug bust in Monroe County eight months ago that attracted nationwide attention she even make the hometown newspaper in Jonesboro Some people remembered her when asked by a reporter but few could describe her Strangely only six of 14 people approached at random on main street said they knew her The trial of two motorcycle gang members on aggravated assault charges got the front of the local newspaper at the same time a reversal of her conviction was announced by the state's court of appeals Just six blocks from the Clayton County courthouse where the motorcyclists are being tried and about the same distance from the offices of Jonesboro's daily newspaper Wanda Watson lives with her mother and awaits word about her future But the former Tift College coed isn't talking about her eight months in confinement have advised my client (Miss Watson) not to say anything to the press until the case against her has been resolved" said her young Jonesboro attorney George Brown a Mercer graduate and former Maconlte And Wanda Watson is doing Just that keeping quiet The state ebuid try her again or Just back off and let the case go for time served No knowledgeable sources could be found who are speculating about which might happen Wanda Kaye Watson was born to Roy Clyde Watson and Mattie Youngblood Watson 20 years ago and went through school as a quiet girl Today Only 9 am-i pm RCA COLOR IV IV STEREOS Judge Griffin Bell Sets Retirement llLlllINlI iHh HAUll 1 1 A mihii'I gum Sorry Our Prices Are So Low Wo Can't Advertise Them Coma Save Today! INSTANT CREDIT FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY according to GUINNESS Thomas Hall III Is Realtor Emeritus tirement should be sofne system of arbitration a way to give people an inexpensive quick been doing this a long time and I've gotten said the Americus native "I feel like I've served any useful purpose I might have on the court" ATLANTA Fifth US Circuit Court Judge Griffin Bell who served through the most explosive years of school desegregation said Friday Americans need an alternative to going to court too great a trend to take things to court" said Bell who announced his re 668 POPLAR ST PHONE 745-7467 Continually balancing on ona foot for 8 houra 6 minutaa ia the racord act by Alan Maki at Bavarty Hills Junior High Schodl Upper Darby Pannaylvania on March 3 1975 In contacting for thia racord the raised foot may not be rested on the standing foot nor may any aticka be used for support or balance MB ts hr a 'wmu tip id Khi IrmfMihM 14 Thomas Hall III owner of Thomas Hall III Realtor Inc and Thomas Elfe of Willingham Loan and Realty Co have been named Realtor Emeritus by the Macon Board of Realtors The men join 52 other Realtor Emerituses in the country and are the only Macon men ever honored with the designation At the Macon Board's annual banquet Friday night John Seals was also named Realtor of the Year General sales manager of Fickling and Walker Inc for 25 years he retired recently and now lives in Montezuma He was selected for the award for his service and leadership during his said Macon Board of Realtors President Jim Willingham Seals served as president of the Macon Board several times and is past president of the Georgia Association of Realtors Awards were also presented for more than a million dollars in sales during the year to Roger Mur-phey Jr and James O'Neal Jr of Hudson and Marshall Inc Lib Carroll Vine-Ingle Realty Co and Here A Formula To Clear Chimneys John Seals James Shaheen of International Realty Sales and Exchanges Inc Also to Robert Lewis Bob Lewis and Associates David Everett Sandra Berkner Betsy Hib-ble and Helen Walker of Fickling and Walker Realtor Spirit awards were presented to Larry Kemper of Hudson and Marshall and Furman Clark of Fickling and Walker By NORMAN STARK Fireplace smoke should go up the chimney not into the house But unfortunately this is not always the case A frequent cause is a build-up of carbon deposits (soot) on the surfaces of the flue Here's a simple low-cost way to re-dun this build-up Mix one cup of SODIUM CHLORIDE (ordinary table salt) with one cup of POWDERED ZINC OXIDE available from most drug stores Sprinkle one cup of this mixture on a hot fire After about five minutes distribute the balance on the logs Do not store in metal container as salt Is corrosive Your cost for making fireplace soot remover is about twelve cents per ounce To determine your savings divide the cost of your store-bought brand by the number of ounces it contains Then compare the per ounce you'll be surprised at how much you can save for so little effort Note: Material costs are based on the prices at retail outlets of national drug grocery and hardware chains These costs will vary depending on the geographic area If you wish to make up a larger and save even buy your materials at a chemical supply company (see the Yellow Pages) (Like any product you make at home you should store this one safely label listing ingredients and noting any and keep it out of reach of children) (There has never been a how-to book so practical and helpful as THE FORMULA BOOK Hundreds of easy recipes put savings and fun into the making of your own personal and home care items Over 200 pages of recipes diagrams and instruction on ingredients and equipment in a large paperback format for only S595 Send to THE FORMULA BOOK c-o this newspaper PO Box 4167 Macon or Box 2218 Shawnee Mission Kansas 66201) COPYRIGHT 1976 UNIVERSAL PRESS free ice cream cones balloons RUBY BAND cBmp 1030 ribbon cutting high wheel bike 3JI bicentennial displays IRAND PRIZE: 50 Solid Sterling State flags 10:00 FLAG RAISING BY MACON GIRL SCOUT BICENTENNIAL FLAG CORPS Stratford Academy Band Earle Barnette Director MBU OIFIFHCE 3855 Bloomfield Road First quality materials Accurate workmanship Latest Fashions DISPENSERS TO EYE PHYSICIANS EYEGLASSES CONTACT LENSES MAICO HEARING AIDS May EW OFFICE HOURS BEGINNNG FEB 2ml Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5-30 PM Saturday 8:30 AM 12:30 PM Tlie Citizens and Southern National Bank Macon Georgia Cdrleus llcians in the every MACON Monday NEWS Tuesday ne 439 COTTON AVE SOUTHERN TRUST BLDG 668 FIRST STREET 742-8743.