Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 6

Southern Illinoisan, Wednesday, May 11, 1994 Nation Deaths Page 6A Bennie Joshia Reiman MURPHYSBORO Bennie Joshia Reiman, 90, of Route 3 died Monday, May 9, 1994, in St. Joseph Memorial Hospital. Conflicting statements in harassment lawsuit could aid Clinton WASHINGTON (AP) Conflicting statements by relatives and acquaintances of Paula Corbin Jones could lay a cornerstone of doubt if her suit against President Clinton actually goes to trial, says a constitutional law scholar. The sexual harassment case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright, a former student of Clinton at the University of Arkansas law school.

Hoping to forestall a trial, Clinton's attorney is considering whether to lodge a claim of presidential immunity. The motion would test whether such immunity can be conferred for events that occurred before taking office. Jim Fenderson and Diane Rose of San Francisco, a husband and wife who said they have been friends of Jones, have told The Associated Press that Jones repeatedly had asserted to them during the 1992 presidential campaign that she had never met Clinton. Their comments seem to contradict Jones' account of an incident of sexual harassment by Clinton on May 8, 1991, and also conflict with statements by Jones' sister, Charlotte Brown. In turn, Jones' account does not square with Brown's.

Such confusion could undermine Jones' suit, and may be an important part of Clinton's defense fashioned by attorney Robert Bennett. Bennett has said Clinton doesn't recall meeting Jones, a state employee at the time, and denies the incident occurred. "Credibility and corroboration (of witnesses) could be very important," says Erwin Chemerinsky, a law professor at the University of Southern California, who specializes in civil rights and constitutional law. Joe Cammarata, one of Jones' attorneys, said Tuesday, "We're not going to give any further elaboration or characterization of the allegations in the complaint or comments on any statements of witnesses that may be presented to us." Jones filed suit in Little Rock last Friday, seeking $700,000 in damages from Clinton for "willful, outrageous and malicious conduct" at a Little Rock hotel during a state manage ment conference when Clinton was governor. According to Brown, Jones had told her later that day that Clinton made an unwanted sexual advance, but that far from being outraged, Jones was flattered by his attention and said she "smelled money" as a result.

Fenderson, who said he was friendly with Jones and her now-hus-band Steve Jones in Little Rock and later in San Francisco, said he believes he also spoke with Jones May 8 and that "none of this stuff was ever brought up." After Clinton announced his presidential candidacy in early 1992, Fenderson said he and his wife often discussed Clinton with Jones, because she was a state employee. "There were numerous times we talked after this," Fenderson said in a telephone interview, as his wife corroborated the account. "She told me she never met Clinton. This was probably from January or February 1992 through the next year. She said she had seen Clinton but they had never met." "That would be very damaging testimony should it ever get to trial," Chemerinsky said of the Fenderson and Rose assertions.

Bennett -hopes the case will be thrown out before trial. He has said he will consider making a claim of presidential immunity in an effort to win dismissal, and some experts also wonder if Judge Wright will accept jurisdiction of Jones' contention that a sexual harassment episode served to violate her civil rights. The question of presidential immunity is unchartered legal ground. In a 1982 case involving Richard M. Nixon, the Supreme Court ruled the president has absolute immunity for his official actions.

But the court did not delve into liability for actions before they took office. Bennett could contend that Jones' suit could paralyze the presidency, no matter when the alleged harassment occurred. He could argue that if this case went forward, a president could be inundated with lawsuits year-round. Charles M. Smith MARION Charles M.

Smith, 55, died at 9:10 p.m. Monday, May 9, 1994, at home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, wtih the Rev. Cecil Parrish officiating.

Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Mr.

Smith worked in the vending department at Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. He was a Cardinal baseball fan and loved fishing and bowling. He was born March 1, 1939, in Murphysboro to John and Thelma (Coad) Smith. He married Charlene Ainsworth. She survives.

Other survivors include one daughter, Mary Smith of Johnston City; four grandchildren, Tiffany Ha-seker and Eric, David Wesley and Layne Michelle Barnett; one great-granddaughter, Tabatha Barnett; one stepson and his wife, Dean Jr. and Renee Haseker of Marion; one stepdaughter and her husband, Patricia and David Barnett of Marion; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Carolyn and Jim O'Brien of Marion and Phy-liss and Greg Madden of Kissimmee, and one aunt, Elizabeth Smith of Marion. His parents, one sister and two brothers preceded him in death. Cheryl Lynn Fruits ELKVILLE Cheryl Lynn Fruits, 28, died Monday, May 9, 1994, in St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Crawshaw Funeral Home, with Pastor Larry Worthen officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Murphysboro. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the family. Mrs. Fruits was a homemaker. She was a Protestant. She was born Sunday, Oct.

3, 1965, in Murphysboro to Oliver and Betty (Riggs) Morefield. She married Calvin Fruits. He survives. Other survivors include three sons, Jeffrey, Jeremy and Richard Fruits, all of Elkville; one daughter, Mylena Fruits of Elkville; five sisters and eight brothers, including, Pat Johnson and Sarah Morefield, both of Murphysboro, Linda Emery, Lora Stegens and' Bob, Tony and Mike Morefield, all of Peoria, and George Morefield of Georgia; and other loved ones. Pearl Hale Lena Prewitt MOUNT VERNON Lena Little Prewitt, 92, died at 7:25 p.m.

Monday, April 9, 1994, in Good Samaritan Regional Health Center. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Hughey Funeral Home, with Bruce Hough officiating. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be until 1 p.m.

at the funeral home. Bert Lindsay TILDEN Bert J. Lindsay, 91, died Tuesday, May 10, 1994, in Sparta Community Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Wilson Funeral Home in Tilden. Gary Allen MCLEANSBORO Gary Wayne Allen, 39, died at 9:50 a.m.

Monday, May 9, 1994, at home. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Gholson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Sefried officaiting. Burial will be in Hopewell Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Joseph Pestka RADOM Joseph Pestka, 73, died at 5:57 a.m. Monday, May 9, 1994, at home. Services will be at 10 a.m.

Saturday in St. Michael Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jerome Hibner officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m.

Friday and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Compagna-Schultze Funeral Home in Ashley. The rosary will be said at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St.

Michael School or to the donor's choice. Thomas Gladson PINCKNEYVILLE Thomas Ray Gladson, 85, died Monday, May 9, 1994, in Pinckneyville Community Hospital. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Mueller Hill Cemetery, with the Rev. Jim Nail officiating.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 8 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at Pyatt Funeral Home in Pinckneyville. Memorials may be made to St. Bruno School or St.

Bruno Catholic Church. L.D. Redmond OKAWVILLE L.D. Redmond, 76, of 406 E. Fifth St.

died at 11:43 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 1994, in Washington County Hospital. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Campagna Funeral Home in Okavvville, with the Rev. Jack Spratte officiating.

Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Lou Ann Farrow MURPHYSBORO Lou Ann Farrow, 82, or 2012 N.

Division St. died at 12:51 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 1994, in St. Joseph Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Crawshaw Funeral Home.

The Rev. Gene Sandefur MURPHYSBORO The Rev. Gene Sandefur of Madisonville, formerly of Murphysboro, died Sunday, April 10, 1994, at home. The Rev. Sandefur had been a minister at the First Christian Church and later the Berean Christian Church in Murphysboro, and was a minister in Kentucky when he died.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Helen; one daughter, Glenna Sue; two sons and their wives, Steve and Tim; one grandson; and one granddaughter. He will be missed by his friends and family. Services were in Madisonville. Sophia Elizabeth Laird ROYALTON Sophia Elizabeth Laird, 78, of North Main Street, Royalton, 111., died at 11:50 a.m. Monday, May 9, 1994, at her home.

Mrs. Laird was born March 30, 1916, in Royalton, 111., to Vince and Elenora (Menchowski) Smorczeski. She married Elmer Franklin Laird March 7, 1935, in Pinckneyville, 111. He preceded her in death April 2, 1993. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Lyndell and Frances Laird of Royalton; a daughter and son-in-law, Esther and Sammy Hicks of Christopher; three grandchildren, Lynn and her husband, Dean Over-turf of Christopher, Kim and her husband, Frank Cizick of Tamaroa and Quinn Laird of Royalton; three great-grandchildren, Dusty Overturf, Sami Jo and Cody Cizick; one brother and sister-in-law, Vince and Betty Smorczeski of Herrin; and three sisters and brothers-in-law, Anne and Russell Burgess of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Helen and John Shooter of Nichols, S.C., and Elenora and Ralph Skaggs of Caseyville.

Mrs. Laird was also preceded in death by a brother, Ziggie Smorczeski, a half brother, Stanley Bolenski, and her parents. She was a Catholic, a homemaker and formerly employed at Tuck Tape in Carbondale. Funeral services will be held at 1 1 a.m. Thursday, May 12, 1994, at Vantrease Funeral Home in Royalton, with the Rev.

Jim and Mrs. Betty Ebbs officiating. Burial will be at Miners Cemetery in Royalton. Visiting hours will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Peggy Irene Robinson ROYALTON Peggy Irene Robinson, 65, died at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 1994, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Mrs. Robinson was born Feb. 10, 1929, in Hallidayboro, 111., to Herman and Golda Lucille (Bourland) Stearns.

She married James "Luke" Robinson Sept. 5, 1945, in Benton, 111. He survives, in Royalton. Other survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Don Walker of Zeigler and Cheryl and Rick Sanders of Pinckneyville; one son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Vickie Robinson of Royalton; and one brother, George Rodney Stearns of Royalton. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Erma Jackson, two brothers, Butch and Loris Stearns, and a son, Raymond H.

"Buster" Robinson, who died March 6, 1994. Mrs. Robinson was a Baptist and a homemaker. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Vantrease Funeral Home in Royalton, with the Rev.

Jim Ebbs officiating. Burial will be at the Hallidayboro Cemetery. Visiting hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Mackenzie Geyer SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Mackenzie Colleen Geyer, 8-day-old daughter of Jeff and Pam Geyer of Greenville, N.C., died Tuesday, May 10, 1994.

S.G. Wilkerson and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Man kills three, shoots son, then kills himself Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Crawshaw Funeral Home, with the Rev. Phillip Nordstrom officiating.

Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Reiman Memorials may be made to the Murphysboro Christian Academy. Mr.

Reiman was a retired diesel mechanic for United Electric Coal Co. He was a member of the First Pentecostal Church and United Mine Workers Local 5134, was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge AF AM 498 and was past watchman of Shepherd of White Shrine 85. He was born Saturday, Oct. 31, 1903, in Illinois to Harmon F. and Ida (Thompson) Reiman.

He married Dorothea A. Young. She survives. Other survivors include one son, Dean Reiman of Murphysboro; one daughter, Beaulah Hausafus of Evan-sville, two brothers, Herman Reiman of Murphysboro and Adrian Reiman of Idaho; one sister, Jessie Graeff of Murphysboro; nephews and nieces; two granddaughters; and three great-grandsons. Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

Lena Mae Cavaness Graves ANNA Lena Mae Cavaness Graves, 86, of Anna died at 1:56 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 1994, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born in Union County, 111., Sept. 7, 1907, to Thomas A. and Desserretta (Angell) Cavaness, the youngest of 10 children.

She married Joe Metzger Graves of Mounds, 111., on May 2, 1928. He preceded her in death on Feb. 12, 1985. She attended Shiloh Baptist Church, near Cobden, and Sifford School while at home. She worked at Box Mill in Cobden, Anna Shoe Factory, was a secretary at the family owned oil company, and retired from the Anna Mental Health Center as a support service worker in 1972.

Lena will be remembered for her unending devotion to family and friends. She is survived by a daughter, Joan Graves Edwards of Anna; three grandsons, Louis Joe Wohlwend and his wife, Holly, Quinn Edwards and Jason Edwards and his wife, Can-dace, all of Anna; four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Mae and Joseph Hunter Wohlwend, Brynn Elizabeth and Jacqueline Desserretta Edwards; a brother-in-law, Jim Ed Graves and family of Greenville, and three sisters-in-law, C. LaClede Graves of Cobden, Wanda R. Graves of Mounds and Mary Loyce G. Kelley of Centralia.

Funeral service for Lena Mae Cavaness will be held today at 1 p.m. at the Crain Funeral Home in Anna, with Father Tom Miller officiating. At. Mrs. Graves' request, visitation also will be held the same day, today, beginning at 10 a.m.

and until funeral hour. Interment will be in the Anna City Cemetery. Crain Funeral Home of Anna is in charge of arrangements. Louisa Wingerter CASEYVILLE Louisa A. Wingerter, 77, formerly of Chester, died at 6:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 10, 1994, in Caseyville. Arrangements are incomplete at Schroeder-McClure Funeral Home in Chester. Hospital Notes Anna Union County Hospital Admitted May 9 Richey, Kathleen, Anna Kelly, Martha, Vienna Carbondale Memorial Hospital Admitted May 10 Bridges, Mary, Hurst Brayfield, Jimmie, Carbondale Mahoney, Garrison, Murphysboro Discharged Emmons, Bonnie and daughter, Anna Smith, Jeffrey, Carbondale Chester Memorial Hospital Admitted May 9 Dunker, Kim, Perryville, Mo. Discharged Choate, John, Chester Dunker, Kim, Perryville, Mo. Du Quoin Marshall Browning Hospital Admitted May 9 Bunton, Ruth, Du Quoin Bryant, Minnie, Du Quoin Shepard, Sheila, Du Quoin Carter, Samuel, Tamaroa Discharged Stacey, Katelin, Du Quoin Harrisburg i- i 1 I ifta f.

w. Medical Center Discharged Hale, Betty, Kent, William, Barnes, Timothy, Herrin Hospital Admitted May Lethiot, Brenda, McCree, Donald, Mitchell, David, Newman, Violet, Towal, Elsie, Discharged Alexander, Camarato, Jackson, James, James, Allen, Newman, Violet, Reichman, Alvin, Sharp, Gladys, White, Lenore, Marion Memorial Hospital Admitted May Buttrum, William, Discharged Hall, Bonnie, Bowlby, Stephanie, Holman, Ana, Murphysboro St. Joseph Memorial Hospital Admitted May Knight, Alma, Presley, Chasity, KARNAK Pearl L. Hale, 70, of East Peoria, formerly of Karnak, died at 10:16 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 1994, at home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Vienna Fraternal Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Whitnel Funeral Home in Vienna is in charge of arrangements. Carrie Bundy WEST FRANKFORT Carrie Melvin Bundy, 102, died at 7:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 10, 1994, in Frankfort Heights Manor Nursing Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Antioch Methodist Church, east of West Frankfort, with the Rev. Bob McKelvey officiating. Burial will be in East Fork Cemetery.

Visitation will be after 6 p.m. Thursday at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home, and 9 to 1 1 a.m. Friday at the church. 11 Mammary Pulaski Stanley People StockU kL In Loving Memory of Judy Speers Robinson We the family of Judy Speers Robinson, wish to thank each of our friends, neighbors, family, Marion Pepsi bottling company, Pyatt Funeral Home, and the Reverend James Mathenia for the donation of food, flowers, cards, and their prayers during our time of sorrow. May God bless you all.

Husband Don Robinson Daughters Lynn Ann Necia Husband Bill Beard Parents Dick Betty Speers Sister Sharon Askew Grandsons Chad fir Adam Beard Wh Lounger Bradley Design Wesley-Mall Ho NEW YORK (AP) A man obsessed with his former girlfriend went on a shooting rampage when her brothers laughed at him because she had a new boyfriend. He killed the two brothers and a motorist and wounded his son before committing suicide. The 2-year-old boy was shot in the cheek and was hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition. Jose Luis Berroa started the deadly spree Monday night while he and his son were at the Newark, N.J., home of his ex-girlfriend's brother, Israel DeJesus. Berroa shot and killed the 31 -year-old DeJesus and his 29-year-old brother, Jose.

Berroa reportedly told the woman with whom he lived: "I killed them because they laughed at me," said the woman's daughter, Arelis Picon. Berroa, 33, then took his son Carlos and ran for several blocks before killing Arline Joe, 59, in a carjacking, Newark Detective Daniel Collins said. On Tuesday, Berroa spoke with New York police and admitted the three shootings. He told police he would surrender in the city because he feared he would face the electric chair in New Jersey. New York has no death penalty.

Courts Jackson County A former Carbondale man was convicted Monday of sexually assaulting a woman in her home last year. Frederick M. Rokita, 30, was convicted of five counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, and one count each of home invasion, residential burglary and misdemeanor theft stemming from a Nov. 13 attack on a 26-year-old Carbondale woman. Rokita was found guilty by Judge David W.

Watt Jr. after a one-day bench trial in Murphysboro. He will be sentenced at 9 a.m. on July 1. In March, he was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to felony theft and criminal trespass in an unrelated case in Union County.

Union County Charles F. Yates II, 25, of Cob-den has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one Births GROH, Jeff and Elizabeth of Oklahoma City, a daughter, Wednesday, May 4, 1994, Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City. Grandparents are Marilyn Groh and Allen Groh, both of Murphysboro, and Earl and Sandra Renshaw of Vandalia. ALKHAMAYSEH, Faisal, and ASAD, Wedad of Carbondale, a son, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. BUTLER, Terry and Tammy of Murphysboro, a son, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Berroa returned to his New York City apartment Tuesday morning, but Picon's mother, Emma Maria, wouldn't let him in because he had a gun, said Detective Marcelo Perez. Picon, who lives in an apartment in the same building, said she and her mother pleaded with Berroa to leave the boy, but he said: "I'm going to kill the boy. Nobody is going to take him away from me." A short time later, Berroa telephoned Maria. When he threatened to commit suicide, Perez, who had arrived at the apartment, got on the phone. Before Berroa would surrender, Perez said, he asked for assurances that there would be no police in the area and that there is no death penalty in New York.

Perez said he told Berroa no one would hurt him if he gave up the child and himself. He said Berroa agreed to talk to him when he got to the apartment. At about 11 a.m., with Perez in the apartment and other officers hiding in the building and on nearby streets, Berroa knocked on Maria's door. Perez said Maria asked Berroa if he was armed and if he "was going to speak to the young officer." Suddenly, Perez said, three shots rang out. count of residential burglary.

Yates admitted entering a rural Cobden residence on March 16 and stealing a videocassette recorder, which he later returned to the Anna Wal-Mart for cash, State's Attorney Wes Wil-kins said. Judge D.D. Bigler sentenced Yates after the guilty plea on April 29 in Jonesboro. A 22-year-old Union County man was sentenced Monday to six months in jail and three months' home confinement after pleading guilty to delivering marijuana to undercover police agents in November 1992. Roy Scott Johnson of Anna also received two years' probation, was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, and must pay $820 in fines and restitution.

Johnson, who was indicted by a grand jury in September, pleaded guilty just before his trial in Jonesboro was to begin, State's Attorney Wes Wil-kins said. HENSHAW. William and Debra of Harrisbura a son, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, Memorial Hospi- tal of Carbondale. STREIT, Robert, and NEELY, Kathryn of Car- bondale, a son, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, Memo- nai nospitai or uaroonoaie. TREXLER, John and Melissa of Pomona, a daughter, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

TYNER, John and Shelly of Cambria, a son, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. May 9 Raleigh Shawneetown Harrisburg 9 Christopher Johnston City Herrin Herrin Zeigler Georgia. Herrin Angelo, Herrin Herrin Du Quoin Herrin Energy Herrin Herrin 9 Marion Goreville Marion Marion 9 Du Quoin Du Quoin Wilson, Amy, Rockwood Carter, Lila, Murphysboro Reiman, Bennie, Murphysboro Farrow, Lou, Murphysboro Schemonia, Seth, Murphysboro Discharged Garver, Raymond, Ava Hicks, Betty, Vergennes Clampet, Dwight, Murphysboro Tomlinson, Lori, Murphysboro Pinckneyville Community Hospital Discharged May 9 Dennis, Geneva, Pinckneyville Sparta Community Hospital Admitted May 10 Pflasterer, Phillip, Marissa Oliver, Louise, Sparta West Frankfort Union Hospital Admitted May 9 Branson, Jeanette, West Frankfort Gore, Anna, West Frankfort Woods, Josephine, West Frankfort Discharged Partee, Robert, Sesser Austin, Rebeecca, West Frankfort Lewis, Faye, West Frankfort Murphy, Frank, West Frankfort Pritchard, Vivian, West Frankfort Seagle, Enda, West Frankfort and Hadfield to Oakwood streets. A boil water order will be in effect when the water is turned back on; water used for laundry might be Fine Furnishings Below Retail! "We're off the beaten path, but definitely worth the drive-in Go 4 miles north of Rt. 13 on Rt.

127. Turn west at sign go 34 mile. Turn left (South) at sign. We're down 1 block on the left. Mary Alice Shobe Home Decorator Off Rt.

127 Murphysboro 687-4161 store 549-6146 evenings 1 1-5 By Appointment Free Delivery ir Tfltl PP 1 1 Water will be shut ofT in parts of Marion about four hours Thursday beginning at 9 a.m. so a hydrant can be replaced on Cedar Lane. Areas affected are Boyton to Parish streets.