European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 13, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday August 13,1989 the stars and stripes pages Kings of Fife Road gather for convention Britt. Iowa a Midwest John Ohio Ned. Steam train Maury Graham and others arc spreading their Bedroll this weekend in Brill Home of the nation Al . About 40 hobos from across the country hitchhiked and hopped freights to be on hand for ceremonies including funerals for two Brothers buried in the town cemetery. It s a Homecoming of sorts. We re a vanishing Breed. There s no Young Guys out Here anymore said 36-year old John Becker of Sterling iii., known As Midwest John. Becker s travelling partner Ned Mcnamer of Lon Don Ohio said life on the Road is getting More danger Ous. Both men Wear Long Sheath knives hidden under Neath sleeveless Jean jackets covered with souvenir buttons. We came Here from the North town rail Yards in Minneapolis. That s a real Jungle said Mcnamer who sports the name Ohio Ned. In some parts of the coun try you could get killed for anything rings shoes you name  it s a Little lonely sure. But it All depends on what your tastes arc. If you like a 9-to-5 Job fancy Slacks that s Nice  Becker said. But for some of us there s always that urge to Sec what s up Over the  the hobos mostly men wore red bandannas and Caps and Many carried sturdy walking staffs. They Gath ered Friday at the Evergreen cemetery for services for the Pennsylvania kid and Hascy the to. The two arc the fourth and fifth hobos to be burned at the Britt cemetery a Tombstone also Sils in the cemetery for All unknown hobos who have died. We remember All of our deceased hobos those who in Hobo terminology have caught the westbound said a Hobo named Frisco Jack. Members of the Britt american legion fired a Rifle Salute and blew taps for the kid whose real name was Paul Wilson. A world War ii Veteran from Franklin pa., Wilson died in june at age 80. Whiskey was sprinkled on his Tombstone. I know some people May look Down on it but it was what he requested Graham told the other hobos and a crowd of about 50 who attended the hour Long service. People think hobos Don t make friends. But that is the main Point of our lives. Friends Are he wealth of  said Graham a Short Man with a Long White Beard and Mustache who was crowned King of the hobos in1973. Pennsylvania kid was the Only Man i knew who shaved w Ith broken Glass. He d get a piece from a broken bottle wrap in up in toilet paper and put it in his  said Graham a Toledo. Ohio native. Hascy the to whose real name was Al Zalc. Was Hobo from los Angeles who got his nickname because he suffered from chronic Hay lever. He was remember Edas a kind and gentle Man. We re going to miss those  said the Al  kid. The National Hobo convention first came to Britt in 1900 when Thos. A. Way . Potter and . Brad Ford decided to do something to show the world that Brill was a Lively Little town capable of doing anything larger cities could do. The convention became a fixture in 1933. The Brill chamber of Commerce which runs a Small Hobo museum in the lobby of the defunct old chief theater plans to expand the museum to Honor hobos said Marian Malek chamber Secretary. Plans also Call to move the five Graves of the hobos to a reserved Sec Ion of the celery. Hobos arc a decent lot. We Are not bums said Jot Baker 59, a Hobo from North Carolina. I be known no other life since i was 13." hobos have hearts too and they cry and laugh like everybody  Graham said. Police claim Man drove into River to kill family Wyandotte Mich. A a Man confessed a intentionally crashing his family s car through a Barrier and into the Detroit River in a plot to kill his wife and children a police officer testified Friday. All four children drowned. Lawrence Delisle 28, stood silently during arraign ment before 27th District judge Lawrence Emmert. Del Isle and his wife survived the aug. 3 Accident after boaters tossed them a life preserver. Delisle told police thursday that he intentionally pressed Down on the Gas with the intention of driving into the Detroit River. With the intent of getting rid of his wife and children sgt. Daniel Gal ski testified. Emmert ordered Delisle held without Bond . 17 preliminary examination. Family members said Delisle of Lincoln Park was taken Inlo custody thursday after he and his wife Suzanne submitted to polygraph less. The premeditation goes Back some time and the Opportunity presented itself police chief Edward Rothsr Mal said at a news conference. Police were not seeking charges against mrs. ,32. The facts of the investigation reveal she had nothing to do Wilh this rothermal said. Their children Brian 8 Melissa 4 Kadie. 2. And Emily 8 months were killed. Delisle initially said a leg cramp caused him to floor the accelerator. Mrs. Delisle said she tried to Stop the car by turning off the ignition and shifting gears before the car struck the Barrier. Rick Stone Burner a witness to inc Accident who threw life preservers to the couple from a boat said the father appeared exhausted and mrs. Delisle was hysterical cry ing. I am not leaving without my children save my Chil Dren they Are under water in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Aug. 13, 1949 Safe officials announced that the Berlin Airlift in operation since june 26, 1948, was now operating five Days a week instead of seven because of the improving conditions in Berlin. 30 years ago today. Aug. 13, 1959 president Eisen Hower announced that soviet Premier Nikita s. Khrushchev would be invited to visit some military installations Dur ing his scheduled mid september visit to the United states. 20 years ago today aug. 13, 1969 the Pentagon announced an investigation into the Possi ble mishandling of millions of dollars by officer and noncommissioned officer clubs in Europe the United states an Vietnam. 10 years ago today. Aug. 13, 1979 police arrested 198robed Klu flux Klansman on charges of parading without a City permit when they reached Montgomery ala., on the last leg of a White Power March. The wreckage of a c-130 aircraft that crashed last week in morning fog while crashed in fog attempting a heavy equipment drop rests on the ground at fort Brans . One crewman was killed and six were injured in the Accident. Jury rules death for Man linked to 45 murders by the los Angeles times Santa Ana Calif. Randy Steve Kraft a 44-year-old computer Genius portrayed by prosecutors As perhaps the most prolific serial killer in the country was condemned to death by a jury Fri Day for the gruesome murders of 16 Young men in Orange county Calif. Kraft sat Wilh his hands folded tap Ping his thumbs together As he heard the death verdict. He whispered to one of his attorneys to have the 10 women and two men on the jury polled individually about their verdict. The jurors who had listened to the sometimes grisly testimony since last september in Orange county Superior court said afterwards the Choice Between death and life in prison without parole their Only options was Clear. On May 12, the jury convicted Kraft of All 16 murders presented to them. But during the penalty phase prosecutors introduced eight More murders purportedly committed in Oregon and Michigan. Authorities have linked Kraft to 45murders altogether. But they say the numbers could be much greater base Don a coded list with 61 entries that Kraft carried in his briefcase. Superior court judge Donald a. Mccartin set a Tenta Tive sentencing Date of oct. 27