The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 17

CityState 17 The Index -Journal Wednesday December 22. 1982 S.C. crime rises less than one percent Officials seek cause of of five IBarnwell young deaths people the heaters and the bottled gas tank that supplied them from outside the one-story cinderblock structure and couldn't pinpoint any serious problem. "There were very minor leaks, which wouldn't account for the amount of gas we thought we smelled," said a Barnwell County sheriff's deputy at the scene. "I couldn't say what it was that killed them." All six had attended a Christmas party with other friends at the clubhouse, a plain structure with one large, concrete-floored room lined with tattered sofas and furnished with battered tables.

The building is at the end of a windine Most of the approximately 100 guests had left by 3 a.m. Tuesday, but the six fell asleep in sofas or on the floor amid the boxes and tubs of empty bottles and other litter from the party. State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Hugh Munn said the brother of one of the victims went looking for his sister after 2 p.m. Tuesday and found the bodies. Munn said Ted Caddell dragged the survivor, 18-year-old Robin Rogers, from the clubhouse to the ground outside.

The others were dead where they lay four on separate sofas and one on the floor in a sleeping bag. "All of them, it looks like, died in their sleep, because every one of them was in Munn said the 1982 calculations have not been completed, so he did not know exactly how much the overall violent crime rate has increased. A report for the entire year will not be released until early in 1983. But figures for the first nine months of the year showed that aggravated assault continued to lead the violent crime category, he said. The SLED figures also showed increases in the numbers of murders, up 4.5 percent rapes, up 5.3 percent and robberies, up 6.4 percent, he said.

However, the percentages were down from those recorded for the first six months of the year, Munn said. Earlier figures indicated an increase of 12.2 percent in the state's murder rate and a 23.1 percent hike in aggravated assaults. The nine-month rate showed a little more than a 4 percent increase. COLUMBIA (AP) The State Law Enforcement Division reports that South Carolina's overall crime rate increased by less than 1 percent in 1981, the smallest rise reported by police and sheriff's departments in three years. A SLED crime report also indicated aggravated assaults increased 21.8 percent in the state as violent and nonviolent crime went up during the first nine months of 1982 compared with last year.

Nonviolent crimes increased only slightly. Breaking and enterings were down 6.1 percent, according to the report. Overall, South Carolina's crime rate for the first nine months of the year increased at a rate lower than figures indicated for the first half of the year, said SLED spokesman Hugh Munn. a normal sleeping position," said the deputy, Who asked not to be identified. The victims, all from Barnwell, were Ginni Sanders, 21; Rocky Allen Williams and William Allen Rimes, both 18.

and Mark Steven, Fralick and Richard Allen Taylor, both 20. Williams was in the Army, Fralick in the Marines and Taylor in the National Guard, Munn said. "There was a party for some of the military people home on leave and some about to go into the military after Christmas," he said. Ms. Rogers was listed in critical condition in the neurological intensive care unit of University Hospital, according to spokesman Bob Wynn.

REP. DERRICK "I don't know what I'll do," said Robin Tallon, congressman-elect from the 6th District. "It's something I really have to think about. I have been so busy with other things that I haven't considered it." "I haven't given it any thought," said John Spratt, congressman-elect from the 5th District. "I haven't made a decision.

Probably I will accept it." BARNWELL (AP) The bodies of five young people who went to sleep Monday night jn a rural clubhouse and never woke up are in Charleston today for autopsies to determine exactly what killed them. A sixth victim remained in critical condition at University Hospital in Augusta, where a spokesman said she was being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The others were believed to have been asphyxiated, possibly by leaking gas from one of the two large propane space heaters inside the Salkehatchie Coon Hunters Association clubhouse. But gas company workmen inspected Campbell GREENVILLE (AP) U.S. Rep.

Carroll Campbell says he won't accept a $9,100 salary increase Congress just voted for itself, but other South Carolina congressman refused to follow suit. Congress Monday night passed the House raise, which increases salaries for the 435 represenatives to $69,800 in 1983. Campbell, who represents the 4th District, said he believes Congress deserves the pay increase, but his district's high unemployment prompted him to refuse it. "I honestly felt that since the district has been so hard hit, I couldn't take the increase until the economy turns around," he said. The Republican congressman pointed out that Union County had one of the highest unemployment rates in South Carolina and that Spartanburg and Greenville counties were at or above the national unemployment level.

Campbell said it was "not going to be (financially) easy" for him to turn back Rep. Mar chant polls GOP lawmakers about a pay cut Bonds set at 5 million in coc aine smuggling ase Patrick predicts change in dairy price support plan COLUMBIA (AP) State Rep. Tom Marchant says he is polling the legislative Republican caucus on lawmakers' willingness to take pay cuts. Marchant, Greenville, said Tuesday he had called about half the 25 GOP legislators in the House and Senate and no one gave him a negative response on the proposal. The representative says he thinks lawmakers should be willing to take pay cuts if the state Budget and Control Board decides to force state workers and teachers to take similar reductions.

The possibility of directing state workers to take up to five days of unpaid leave came up last week at a Budget and Control Board meeting. The board is considering the proposal as part of an effort to trim $60 million off the 1982-83 the -Monday night arrest at Sumter County Municipal Airport had a street value ranging from $350 million to $500 million, authorities said. "That's a white Christmas in a whole lot of counties," said Gambrell. Those "arrested by state and federal officers included former Sumter car dealer Robert Edward Lee, 48; Newby Franklin Love, 47, of Columbia; and Susan Robinson Youngblood, 40, of Stone Mountain, Ga. Also arrested were Luis Gonzales, 30, of Medillin, Colombia, Juan Carlos Ruiz, 20, of Miami and Hernan de Jesus Restrepo of Youngstown, Fla.

The latter three are South American and are hot U.S. citizens, according to McMaster. Bond of $5 million was set for Ms. Youngblood, Restrepo, Ruiz and Gonzales. Lee's bond was set at $1 million and Gambrell said he would set no bond for Love.

Gambrell said he privately heard sworn testimony that indicated Love had "threatened the integrity of the court system." He did not elaborate. Lee, who owns property in South Carolina and Florida, pleaded for lower bail, saying he did not have that much money and would never jump bail because his wife and daughter live in Florida. But Gambrell was skeptical. "The last man to tell me that was gone state budget. The state already has had to reduce state spending by $130 million so far this year.

"The members of the Republican caucus that I have talked with have indicated their willingness to take a five-day unpaid furlough if state employees and teachers suffer that fate as a result of budget reductions," Marchant said. He said he planned to finish polling the Republican caucus before Christmas. Marchant said lawmakers could voluntarily take the pay cuts and would not have to pass legislation to do so. "We all know right now that nothing has been finalized concerning budget cuts," Marchant said. "But we share the concern for fiscal responsibility." before the ink was dry on his form.

The incidence of flight in drug cases is very bad," the federal magistrate said. "Nobody goes to Woolworth's and picks up 955 pounds of cocaine." An affidavit signed by Norman Shu-mard of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said authorities received information about an aircraft scheduled to land in the Sumter County airport or at an airstrip on jointly-owned Sumter County property. The affidavit said surveillance teams watched Lee's movements from a Miami airport until he allegedly landed at Sumter County Municipal Airport about 9:45 p.m. Monday. Information had been received from sources that Love and several others were planning a "major cocaine smuggling vepture from Colombia, South America," the affidavit said.

After the twin-engine aircraft landed about 9:45 p.m. Monday, police seized Gonzales hiding in nearby bushes and caught Lee trying to speed off in a pickup truck, the affidavit said. Twenty dufflebags of cocaine were found in the plane, police said. Agents arrested Restrepo and Ruiz in a motorhome as they were leaving the private airstrip. And Love and Ms.

Youngblood were taken into custody near the private airstrip about 2 a.m., the document said. REP. CAMPBELL accept the raise, said administrative assistant W.A. Cook. He added that in the past "he's always accepted them when they've been made." Administrative assistant' Teresa Houston said she's not sure if her boss, 1st District Rep.

Thomas Hartnett, will accept the raise. Two congressmen-elect from the state also are undecided. BRYAN PATRICK "We're asking you to order Secretary Block to think this thing out," said Cliff Koon of the state attorney, general's office. "He's been like a bull in a china shop trying to get this thing through since last September." Koon said the assessment would cost South Carolina dairy farmers $48,000 a week and would have "a devastating effect" on the state's dairy industry. Assistant U.S.

Attorney John Grim-ball asked Perry to order farmers' at least to put the assessments in escrow accounts to avoid collection problems later if Block Perry said he might do that on Jan. 3, if the two sides can agree where the money should be held. Sfi" tr-t 1 -J njww, i dirt road just off State Highway 70 about 2 miles east of Barnwell. says he'll the increase. In addition to his $60,622 annual salary he earns as a congressman, Campbell said he had some additional income from some investments he sold when elected.

He decided to turn over his salary increase to help reduce the national debt after considering if he should give the $9,100 to charity. "The question became what should I do with it. I thought about different charities, but which one," he said. He settled on the national debt because "the debt is a burden on all the taxpayers. Third District Rep.

Butler Derrick said he planned to accept the raise. He said congressional salaries have increased about 5 percent a year over the past six years compared with a "60-odd percent" increase in the cost of living over the same time. "I supported the pay raise," Derrick said. "If we are to keep attracting cap able people to the Congress, we'll have to pay them accordingly." Meanwhile. 2nd District Rep.

Floyd Spence has not decided whether he will for Jan. 3 to decide whether he should expand his order to a preliminary injunction in Patrick's suit against an assessment regulation which requires farmers to contribute 50 cents for every hundred pounds of milk they produce. Until now, price support money paid out by the Commodity Credit Corp. came from federal funds. Congress decided earlier this year that dairymen should contribute to the program and authorized Block to make rules to that effect.

Patrick has argued that it's unfair to make all dairymen pay for large, surpluses in a few Midwestern states. He said the assessment would force some producers out of business and raise the consumer price of milk, all to support deliberate overproduction. Patrick said the support price should be reduced. "That's the purpose of the suit to give Congress a chance to act," Patrick said, adding that U.S. Sen Strom Thurmond, has promised to lead the fight.

State attorneys based their case for a temporary order on arguments that Block put the- assessment regulation into effect without conducting the required public hearings. The Navy has scheduled hearings in North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington state and California to receive public comment on the draft impact statement. After reviewing the comments, a final impact statement will be released next summer and a notice of decision filed. In Columbia, the public hearings are scheduled for Feb. 17.

Whatever method is adopted, it will be used for the permanent disposal of 100 vessels over the next 20 to 30 years at a rate of two or three a year. The Navy said in the impact statement that ocean disposal of decommissioned, defueled subs would cost $5.2 million each. The cost for land disposal of each vessel would be $7.2 million to $13.3 million. There are no decommissioned nuclear submarines in Charleston now, according to Lt. Cmdr.

Steve Clawson, spokesman for Charleston Naval Base. A Navy spokesman in Washington said five decommissioned nuclear submarines are in storage, including the Nautilus, which is scheduled to become a national monument. COLUMBIA (AP) -State Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Patrick predicts that Congress will change its mind about forcing dairy farmers to pay for their own price support program now that a federal court judge has temporarily halted the plan. U.S. District Judge Matthew J.

Perry granted a temporary restraining order Tuesday in a suit Patrick filed along with consumer and farmer representatives. The order stops U.S. Agriculture Secretary John R. Block from collecting a new price support assessment from dairy farmers until a court hearing next month. "All we need is some time for Congress to go into regular session, and I feel like they're going to rescind the assessment and give Block the authority he's asked for to lower the support price instead," Patrick said.

The temporary restraining order holds up a nationwide program which is supposed to collect up to $600 million a year for the government to use to buy surplus milk products and keep prices at their current support price of $13.10 per 100 pounds. Perry tentatively scheduled a hearing COLUMBIA (AP) Citing the high incidence of bail jumping in drug cases, a federal magistrate set $5 million bonds for four of six suspects in the richest drug bust ever in South Carolina. "This is a jumbo bail case," said U.S. Magistrate Charles Gambrell during a hearing in Columbia Tuesday. "I have not seen a case of this magnitude.

These people have access to substantial sums of money." Federal authorities ranked the 955 found cocaine bust among the five argest busts in the nation. U.S. Magistrate Charles Gambrell set bond at $1 million for a fifth suspect and refused to set bond for the Sixth person arrested in the case. A preliminary hearing for the suspects was scheduled for Jan. 3 at 10:30 a.m.

All six were charged with smuggling cocaine, conspiracy to smuggle cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. McMaster said the federal grand jury will meet in January to consider indictments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lionel Lofton said the maximum penalty for each of the four charges is 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The 955.1 pounds of cocaine seized in that she is the daughter of a divorced mother of three.

Sandy's mother Judy is also unemployed. The article mentioned that a local church had given Sandy a color television set. When Social Security officials saw the article, Jensen said, agents telephoned Mrs. Barrs to notify her she would have to report the television. But Jensen said officials never told the Barrs they might have to relinquish the television.

Jensen said he feels Mrs. Barrs was concerned and may have jumped to conclusions after the call requesting information. "In the normal of business, we'll get in touch with her, or she will get in touch with us," he said, adding that his goal is to have the least impact on the family. "Our concern is that the child does have a good Christmas and she doesn't get impacted by all this commotion about the TV set," said. "I think it's unfortunate all this happened at Christmas time." Navy ponders disposal of nuclear submarines Officials say girl can keep gift television set Hospital officials say girl compentent for trial in fatherrs ax slaying COLUMBIA (AP) The Social Security Administration says it is not going to count as income a television set given to 12-year-old Sandy Barrs, a blind and terminally ill government benefits recipient.

Sandy and her angry mother toted the TV up to Social Security offices Monday and handed it to Ray Jensen, district manager of the agency. The Barrs said Social Security officials told them they would either have to give up the donated TV or suffer a reduction in benefits. But Tuesday, Jensen said his agency would give the television back to Sandy, who had a malignant brain tumor removed recently. The frail, thin girl receives $184.54 a month in Supplemental Security Income benefits, which are administered through Social Security. She has just been released from the hospital, where she spent 111 days and built up medical bills totally more than $100,000.

A local newspaper wrote an article about Sandy's plight, pointing out CHARLESTON (AP) The Navy will make a final decision next year on how to dispose of decommissioned nuclear submarines, says Edward R. Johnson, a spokesman for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington. Navy officials are expected to base their decision in part on an environmental impact statement which concludes that burying the submarines at sea is cheaper than disposing of the subs on land. The statement also concludes that dumping the subs in the ocean would have a negligible environmental impact: Johnson said if the government elects to dispose of the submarines in the ocean, federal permits and additional study would be required. If the sea disposal plan is approved, the first burial could begin in late 1984 or early 1985, Schmermund said.

Of the three areas being studied as potential ocean disposal sites, two are about 200 miles off the North Carolina coast. The third site is about 184 miles southwest of Cape Mendocino, near San Francisco. GREENVILLE (AP) State mental health officials have found competent to stand trial a 17-year-old girl charged with axing her father to death. Donna Kuter has just completed psychiatric testing at the state mental hospital in Columbia, where doctors reported she "is not mentally ill." In a report issued to Solicitor William Traxler, doctors said Miss Kuter is capable of understanding the charges against her and she knew right from wrong at the time of the crime. Miss Kuter is charged with murder in the knifing and axing death of her father George Kuter, 60.

Kuter's bloody body was found in the bedroom of his apartment Nov. 30. A 16 year-old boy was arrested along with her and turned over to Family Court on a murder charge. His identity has not been released since he is a juvenile. He currently is undergoing mental evaluation.

Solicitor William Traxler has filed a petition with Family Court that the youth be tried as an acjult. The court will hold a hearing on the petition when the youth's evaluation is completed. Miss Kuter initially was held without bond, and on Dec. 1 she was sent to the state hospital to determine if she was competent to stand trial. Monday, Circuit Court Judge Frank -Eppes said he would take under advisement a request from Miss Kuter's attorney, Lawrence Cooke, that bond be set for Miss Kuter.

As of today, no bond had been set. Tallon marries campaign volunteer FLORENCE (AP) Congressman-elect Robin Tallon, 36. has announced his marriage to Amelia Louise Johns, 21, a volunteer in his congressional campaign. The small wedding of friends and family was held Sunday at a friend's house in the bride's hometown of Winn-sboro, said South Carolina's newly elected 6th District Democrat. 1.