European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 28, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday. May 28. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 3 Iowa Sailor claims Navy Witch Hunt by hit in York times Miami a Sailor under investigation in the explosion aboard the Hatic ship Iowa said Friday in his first Public appearance since being linked to the blast that he had nothing to do with it and that he was the victim of a Navy looking for a possible  the 21-year-old Sailor Kendall Lee Truitt of Tampa. Ha., confirmed widely published news accounts that he was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy that had been taken out by a fellow Sailor who was killed in the blast. Clayton Hartwig. The policy  supposed to pay Truitt double its $50.000 value because Hart wig died in an Accident. Members of Hartwig family have tried to Slop the payment however saying that he an Truitt had a falling out some time ago. Investigators have said that one of Many possibilities they Are considering  thai Hartwig set Oil the blast in which 47 sailors died during a firing exercise april i off puerto Rico  an act of suicide. They have also been looking into the possibility of murder. Investigators have been questioning Ruilt because of what hey describe  a special relationship Between him and Hartwig. Truitt. Speaking at a news conference in Miami said investigators were imply ing a homosexual relationship betwee Nhim and Hartwig. Which he said was not the Case. I am not homosexual and have never been  said Truitt. Who was joined at the news conference by his wife of five months. Carole. 20. Asked Why Hartwig would name him  beneficiary of the life insurance poli cd. He said we were  i think the Navy  at a loss and  looking for a possible  said Ruilt. A Petty officer who has been in the Navy for 3 cars and four months. Truitt lawyer. Ellis Rubin of Miami said rumours about Truitt possible involvement in the explosion were Gener ated by leaks from the intelligence serv ice of the  he warned that he would bring a slander or libel suit against anyone who continues trying to make him out to be a vicious killer or some homosexual  there  no evidence of any wrong doing whatsoever Rubin said. Ruilt was in the no. 2 gun Turret of the Iowa when it exploded. He. Like All 11 of those in the Turret who survived was in the lowest level the blast occurred at the top level. Rolling along?.s div Dulio a municipal worker just doing his Jub in a sunny afternoon pays Little heed to the message in the sign  he mils a new coat of paint Over a Wall bordering a major intersection at  Field on Terceira Island in the portuguese a ores. Cold fusion conference concludes with a whimper no wins no losses Santa be new Mexico up scientists have wrapped up an International meeting on cold fusion w  any smoking guns proving or disproving existence of the potentially revolutionary nuclear reaction. We be reached no consensus meeting co chairman Norman Hackerman said at the end of the three Day conference. Those who Don t believe that there  a phenomenon of consequence i think have not changed their minds. Those who do believe there May be something that we Haven t expected probably have not changed their minds Hackerman said. An estimated 500 scientists attended the meeting organi cd by the los Alamos National Laboratory and department of Energy 10 examine the claims of chemists Stanley Pons and Martin Flisch Mann. The men announced March 23 they produced a nuclear fusion reaction in a Jar of water at room  Al the University of Utah. The announcement startled the scientific world because researchers thought the fusing of atoms which Powers the Sun and stars was Only possible using powerful machines to produce intense heat and pressure. Room temperature nuclear fusion could solve the world Energy needs by providing a source of plentiful relatively Safe and clean Power. Regardless of whether cold fusion turns out to be possible Lackerman said i suspect that few of  Here would look on this phenomenon  any truly viable source of  no irrefutable evidence supporting or debunking the claim was presented Al inc meeting bul several presentations appeared to bolster some of  an Fleischmann work. Support for their  senion had begun to Wane after they were barraged with criticism at earlier contentious meetings. Lackerman called on scientists to work together to Standardi a their exper intents in the Hopes of determining once and for All whether this phenomenon  real or  meeting co chairman Robert Schrieffer. Of the University of California Santa liar Bara. Said he believed some Scie mists were less sceptical after the conference. "1 think there were certainly some minds that were  Schritter adding that smoking guns Are in the Eye of the beholder and no definitive Evi Dence that would satisfy All researchers was presented. Texas am University reported the strongest confirmation. Repeats of the Experiment produced More Energy in the form of heal than they used and emitted tritium a sign the Energy  coming from a nuclear reaction they said. The texan acknowledged however that they failed to find helium in the palladium rods icy used in their experiments which Many researchers expected if the reaction was nuclear. It. Cmdr. Craig quigly. A Navy spokesman in Washington said in response to the Truiel news conference. We have an ongoing investigation and we Are not going to speculate about its  Why investigators had been questioning Truiel quigly said Petty officer Truitt  an Active duty Sailor who has been charged with absolutely nothing. He was one of 58 crewmen in thai Lurrel and one of Only 11 survivors. The information that he can provide to the investigation  important to ." on thursday the Navy announce that it was Iran furring Ruilt off the Iowa to the staff of the commander of destroyer Squadron 8, based in May port a. It said it was acting because of the Cylc naive publicity surrounding the Iowa  Rubin said Friday that Truiel would report  ordered on june i. Heavy rain washes out Ohio Span Cincinnati a a temporary Bridge collapsed Friday plunging  Many  four autos into the swollen great Miami River and the people in Side were feared dead. A child was found dead in a Creek flooded by the same heavy Rains. Widespread flooding in southwestern Ohio sent people scurrying to rooftops and High ground. One couple and their 10-year old son were stranded on the roof of their House from morning until 5 30 . When rescuers reached them by boat the duller county sheriffs department said. In Camden rescuers used lifelines and Boals to Lead 30 occupants of a trailer Park through Chesl High water to safety. A local of 200 people were forced from their Homes in the town of Aboul 1,900 people Souliv vast of Dayton. Divers recovered the body of 20-month old Brandon k. Irwin of Springfield in bonnets Creek Northeast of Dayton about 7 30 ., inc sheriffs department said. Four hours earlier authorities received a report Hal Brandon wandered away from his grandmother fell into the Creek from a Bridge and was swept out of her reach. Sheriffs it. Vaughn Mckin Ney said two helicopters helped rescuers search for the boy. Swift currents and the danger of float ing debris prevented rescuers from going into the River where the Bridge collapse near Miamitown about seven Miles cast of Cincinnati authorities said. The temporary Bridge Buill to carry traffic on u. 52 during construction Ofa permanent Span collapsed when wooden supports thai held the Roadway deck failed said Hamilton county Engineer Donald Schramm. Schramm said the contractor thai Buill the Bridge called the Engineer office Aboul 10 minutes before the collapse and suggested closing the Span because of de Bris in the water. Schramm said an order was issued immediately but the collapse occurred be fore barricades could be Sci up. The River was Al 19 feel 3 feel above flood stage and was expected to Crest at 23feel saturday morning said Gary Miller director of disaster services for the Cincin Nali chapter of the american red Cross. The red Cross heard from several people who said Rel Alivs had not arrived Home on schedule Friday night he said. Ron Wells said he crossed the Bridge just before it collapsed. I turned around and looked. I swathe Back of a car going in. A couple More sections of the Bridge fell after that he said