1 1 I Inmates to be transferred made available to them, and Greene agreed. Pitts and Kelly were expected to hear tapes made of statements from Johnson and Butler and confer with them this morning before they are transported to the state. Apparently the two will be taken to Mt. Meigs where they will be processed and transferred to another prison in the state system. Both Johnson and Butler (See INMATES, Page 2) were apprehended four hours later.
The women, Bobbie Meeks, wife of chief jailer Don Meeks and a jail employe, and Linda Roberts, were found about three hours after they were taken by Perry County Sheriff Carl Foster. Admitted to the Medical Center Hospital Mrs. Meeks was released Monday. A spokesman for the hospital said Mrs. Roberts remained hospitalized this morning.
During the Monday hearing, Deputy Dist. Atty. Ed Greene indicated that additional charges would be filed against Johnson and Butler. Greene told the judge both the district attorneys office and Sheriff W.D. Cotton Nichols want the two inmates transferred out of Dallas County to be brought back at a later date for a preliminary hearing.
Henry Pitts, appointed as Johnsons attorney, and John Kelly, who is representing Butler, did not object. Nichols, commenting later, said he believes it to be in the best interest of the public that the two be taken out of the local jail. The feeling is high at the jail and we think it will be in the public welfare to have them transferred, Nichols said. Childers said since both are serving sentences, he denied bond on the murder charge pointing out it would be academic to However, Pitts asked that By NIKKI DAVIS MAUTE Times-Journal Writer Two Dallas County Jail inmates, facing murder and escape charges, will be transferred out of the county jail today and into the state prison system. The two, Mathew Johnson, 39, and Billy Butler, 25, appeared before District Court Judge Miller Childers in handcuffs Monday afternoon.
They received court-appointed attorneys and a preliminary hearing was set for 2 p.m. July 13. Johnson and Butler are charged in connection with the death Saturday of a third inmate at the county jail, Jeff Walker, and escape. The two men who allegedly killed Walker in their escape and took two women hostage bond be set on the escape charge as a matter of record. Childers set bond at $10,000 each for the two on the escape charge.
Greene said that while two charges have been filed, he expects to present all the facts to the next Dallas County Grand Jury session at which time additional charges are expected. Kelly asked that a grand jury indictment not be returned prior to the preliminary hearing. Greene said he could not guarantee that, but agreed that evidence on the two charges filed would be presented at a preliminary hearing. Both Pitts and Kelly requested that statements obtained from their clients be appeared before District Court Judge Miller Childers. Butler and Johnson, facing murder and escape charges, are to be transferred to the state prison system today.
(Times-Journal photo) AFTER HEARING Dallas County Sheriff W.D. Cotton Nichols, right, and Chief Deputy A.C. Red Jared, left, escort handcuffed inmates Billy Butler, left, and Mathew Johnson, right, down the courthouse corridor Monday afternoon after the two Top the day THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 31, 1977 14 PAGES TODAY VOL. 150, NO. 42 Court salaries end Tuesday focus Staff to keep working A related article is on page 6 year, by allowing it to use general fund monies.
However, the legislature has not heeded Torberts warning, and on Monday the chief justice ordered that all civil jury terms cease June 1 and only essential criminal jury terms be held until the crisis eases. Torbert said that without the additional funds the states district and circuit By BERTRAM de SOUZA Times-Journal Writer Judges, clerks, court reporters and other staff of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which includes Dallas, Perry, Wilcox, Hale and Bibb counties, have pledged to continue working even though the states new unified court system is financially destitute. Judges Edgar Russell Partly cloudy with a chance of thundershowers through Wednesday. High today 95, low tonight 60, high Wednesday 95 High Monday was 95, low last night 71 River is 19.68 and falling. (See weather map on page 3.) For the past several weeks Alabama Chief Justice C.C.
Bo Torbert has warned that the court system, which went into effect last January, was facing a financial crisis. He has appealed to the Alabama Legislature to bail out the system, at least until the end of the current fiscal and J.C. Norton, and the district judges of the circuit, will draw their last paychecks today, while the clerks and court reporters will get their last paychecks on Friday. After that, its anybodys guess when the system will have enough money to pay these people. Local WESTSIDE JUNIOR HIGH Schools yearbooks have arrived and students who purchased the books may pick them up at the office at 9 each morning.
REGISTRATION FOR THE summer quarter at George C. Wallace State Community College will be held June 8 and 9 in the General Classroom Building. Persons interested should contact the Office of Student Services. Programs which have vacancies include cosmetology, radio and television repair, electricity, auto mechanics, QUEEN OF PEACE Spring Festival will be held from 9 a -9 p.m. Saturday at the schools grounds at 2511 Summerfield Road.
Drawings for prizes will be at 8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER school at The University of Alabama will be held June 11. Class schedules are available at the universitys regional office, 429 Lauderdale or phone 875-4186. courts would be unable to pay their employes after today and as a result would be forced to close their doors. But Russell said this morning that the chief justices order to close down civil jury trials will have no effect on the Fourth Judicial Circuit because no civil jury trials are scheduled until July 18.
This situation will affect the two terms of criminal court we have coming up on June 7 and 13. We wont know for several days just what the effect will be, Russell said. The judge indicated he will be meeting with Norton and the two district attorneys in the circuit to discuss this matter, but for the moment he plans on going ahead with the schedule terms of court. The jury court system is just the tip of the iceberg, Russell said, explaining that so long as the judges and clerks stay on, the courts will function as far as the overall workload is concerned. Similar action is being taken in the other circuits in the state.
As far as the Fourth Judicial Circuit is concerned they have all agreed to stay on and serve, Russell added. The unified court system went into effect in January and at the time it was believed it would be self-supporting, existing entirely on court-generated revenues which were projected at $9.9 million But problems arose when the system fell short of that projection by $3.7 million. Court officials are reluctant to get into a shouting (See COURT, Page 2) Ratlrad Toucher (Opinions in Top The Doy ore those of the writer and not necessarily those of Times-Journal. Citizen par ticipotion is invited. May 1977 was dedicated as Older Americans Month.
Our state Alabama Retired Teachers Association Pride in America committee joined the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) and other states in suggesting special observances, programs, news items, etc. to give emphasis tb achievements, commitment and meaningful lives in the many areas of human endeavors. As a highlight of Senior Citizens month, the Alabama Commission on Aging sponsored a governors convention on aging May 19-20. Oxford was the host city for the convention with activities scheduled in the Oxford Civic Center. I was there, and it was good to be there.
Other Selmians present were Gussie Davis and Nellie Yelder. Qqv. George Wallac-o was the keynote speaker of the convention. Prior to the governors address the Rhythm Band from Huntsville entertained those attending. The band, under the direction of Shirley Avery, wore uniforms of red, white and blue.
There were also review exhibits from service organizations and Senior Citizen groups. The annual public hearing of the Alabama State Plan on Aging for the upcoming fiscal year was conducted during the convention. Hie two-day session include meetings of the commission on aging policy board and advisory council. Picnic style lunches were served Thursday and Friday. Thursday evening, senior citizens participants had the opportunity of participating in a talent show.
Workshop sessions in the areas of crime prevention, utilities and weatherization, home repairs, legal services and recreation were held Friday morning. Convention plans were coordinated by the Alabama Commission on Aging through the area agencies on aging and the state aging network. The governors convention on aging was designed for the enjoyment of elderly persons who participate in aging programs across the state. The purpose of the convention was to provide those attending, information, fellowship, fun and the opportunity to share experiences and ideas from their aging programs. State MOBILE COUNTYS TAX ASSESSOR says the Morrisons cafeteria chain, a Mobile-based firm for half a century, is in line for property tax exemptions for the next 20 years by using a law which he says was intended only to attract new industry Tax Assessor Ken Malone said Morrisons is legally but immorally taking advantage of the law, known as the Wallace-Cater Act.
A HEAD-ON COLLISION near Central on Memorial Day killed two persons from Elmore County, raising the Alabama holiday weekend accidental death toll to at least 13, according to police reports. State troopers said Stephen M. Thornton, 19, and Bobbie Brown Gay, 38, both of Equality, were killed in a head-on collision with a pickup truck near Central. STATE SCHOOL SUPT. Wayne Teague says hell ask the State Board of Education to allow staff members at Alabamas junior colleges and trade schools to accumulate more sick leave.
A new act recently passed by the legislature provides 150 daysof sick leave for public school employes, but does not specify that junior col lee and trade school staff members should be included rodeo clown. The rodeo is co-sponsored by the rescue squad. Events will include bronc busting, calf roping and bull riding. Tickets to the rodeo are on sale at Carter Drug, Pancake House and Farmers Truck and Tractor Co. More than $250 in prizes will be given away to ticket holders.
(Times-Journal photo by Phil Scarsbrook.) READY AND WAITING These horse lovers are all set for Thursdays kickoff day of the Selma Lions Club Rodeo. The three-day event will be held at 8 each evening through Saturday at Bloch Park. Among participants will be, back row, left, Tammy Harris, Terri Morgan, Jackie Meigs and Brenda Cook; front row, left, Bobby Reinhart, a member of the Selma-Dallas County Rescue Squad and Shawn Dove, BEASLEY: he stand by his promise to Wallace? The only administration measure to pass the Senate thus far calls for an outside audit of Alabama Power to determine if the utility is operating efficiently or wasting money. Rounding out the heart of the package is a bill that would require a refund to the consumer if a utility rate increase granted by the PSC were later found by the courts to be excessive. from including future construction costs in their rate base.
Another would prohibit any further increase in the fuel adjustment charge without a fullscale PSC hearing. ALABAMA SHRIMPERS WILL be able to resume shrimping at noon Monday in waters south of the Intracoastal Waterway, the state marine resources office said today. Shrimping was prohibited in all Alabama waters May 1 to give this years crop of shrimp time to MONTGOMERY Ala grow The closing, similar to one last year, was con- (AP) Lt Gov Jere Beasley sidered routine. gets a chance today to make good his promise to assign Gov. George C.
Wallaces utility regulating bills to a PRESIDENT CARTERS SON Chip and Chips wife, commUtee51110" 560316 Caron wUl be guest of Prime Minister and Mrs James made ise Callaghan at Britain version of the bicentennial la8t reSpnse to AT LEAST 421 PERSONS died on the nation's high- Wallaces charges that the ways during the three-day Memorial Day weekend. The lieutenant governor is not on Associated Press count began at 6 p.m Friday and ended anyones side but Alabama at midnight in each of the times zones Monday. The Power Co. in the current National Safety Council had estimated that 400 to 500 special session of the persons could die over the 78 hour holiday period legislature. The governor lashed out at Beasley last Thursday after the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee killed three key measures in his program aimed at holding down utility rates.
It was the second time this year that the commerce committee had gutted the administration's utility package, the first time occurring during the recent regular legislative session Today Wallace, therefore, urged Beasley to assign identical House-passed bills to the pro-administration State i 4 Government Committee. 7-8-9-10 Beasley agreed, insisting he 5 would not be Wallace's 2 scapegoat" 9 He predicted the bills will 12-13 fly out of the committee. Will QUEEN ELIZABETH II attended a gala at London's Royal Opera House Monday night marking the start of a two-week period that will climax the jubilee observance of her 25th year on the throne. Rudolf Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn were among the dancing and opera stars who performed for the guests, which included Prince Philip and Queen Mother Elizabeth Editorial Sports lifestyle TV Movies Gassified thus setting the stage for a test of Wallaces power to gain their passage in the Senate. The verbal exchange underscored the simmering fued between the governor and lieutenant governor, a fued Beasley kept going Monday by needling Wallace about Public Service Commissioner Chris Whatley voting recently for a $91 million rate increase for Alabama Power.
Whatley has been appointed twice to the PSC by Wallace, who was challenged Monday by Beasley to get Whatley to join forces with Commissioner Jim Zeigler to repeal Alabama Powers fuel adjustment charge. Beasley said repealing the fuel adjustment charge, through which the utility passes on fuel costs to its customers, would give consumers some real relief instead of what he called Wallace's falsely misleading promises. Beasley has indicated an interest in succeeding Wallace next year. Wallace, in turn has set his sights on the Senate seat now held by U.S Sen John Sparkman One of the key measures in Wallaces utility package would prohibit all utilities were sponsored by the Veterans a Foreign Wars Pont Ml. During the ceremony a wreath was placed an the monument at the stadium honoring veteran from Selma and Dallas County.
(Times-Journal photo by Phil Scarsbrook). MEMORIAL SERVICES-Cecil Field, band director at Southside High School, play tap daring Memorial Day services held Monday at Memorial Stadium as Selmians joined with the nation in honoring its war dead. The services.
