European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 11, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 5exxon pleads innocent in Oil spill Case Anchorage Alaska apr Exxon corp and a subsidiary pleaded innocent monday afternoon to five count indictments charging them with various Federal crimes in the aftermath of the nations worst Oil spill a year ago. Attorneys for Exxon and Exxon shipping co. Entered the pleas in two separate arraignments before . District judge John d. Roberts. Each company has been charged with two felonies and three misdemeanours. A we View this As a tragic Accident but an Accident a said Jim Neal chief attorney for Exxon shipping. A we certainly did no to intend to spill  the two feb. 27 indictments Stem from the March 24, 1989, spill of nearly 11 million Gallons of North slope crude Oil from the Tanker Exxon Valdez which ran aground and ripped its Bottom open on a charted reef outside shipping lanes in Prince William sound. The Oil coated hundreds of Miles of coastline and killed countless fish Birds and other Marine life. Federal prosecutors have said Exxon and Exxon shipping face up to $700 million in fines and other penalties if convicted. Exxon reportedly had been negotiating a plea bargain with the Federal government but Neal said monday such talks no longer Are under Way. The charges include violating the Federal clean water act by discharging Oil without a permit killing migratory Birds and wilfully employing Crew members who were not physically or mentally competent to operate the huge Oil Tanker. Neal said Exxon Hopes the charges do not obscure the fact the corporation has spent about $2 billion trying to clean up the spilled Oil. A we stepped up and took responsibility for it a he said. But Exxon is not contending it is being unjustly prosecuted he said. A a we re not going to say we re being unfairly treated a said Neal. A a we re big boys. We re going to defend  the Nashville tenn., attorney was a special assistant to former attorney general Robert Kennedy and served As chief counsel for the watergate special prosecutor. The governments attorney Charles a. Demonaco would not discuss the Case monday. Roberts said a jury trial will be automatic and that the Case probably will be Complex and extended. The trial has been assigned to another Federal judge in Anchorage. Roberts also said the governments intention to seek fines equal to double the Gross losses from the spill would generate litigation. Neal said Exxon would contest such fines. More than 160 civil lawsuits Are Pend ing against Exxon filed by the state of Alaska environmentalists and private individuals for unspecified damages. The company has said it intends to return to the beaches of Prince William sound next month to continue mopping up. The extent of this Summers operation and its Cost arc not yet known. The criminal Case is the second relating to the Exxon Valdez spill to be tried by an Anchorage court this year. On March 22, a Superior court jury convicted former Exxon Valdez skipper Joseph Hazelwood of negligent discharge of Oil. But he was acquitted of three other charges including a felony charge he was reckless and drunk when the Tanker went aground. Neal said monday that Hazelwoods acquittal on most counts would probably help Exxon Scase but added a that was his Case this is , family fans say Farewell to Vaughan by the new York times Newark . A family members musicians friends and More than 1,000 admirers gathered monday at mount Zion Baptist Church to say Farewell to Sarah Vaughan the Hometown girl who became one of the country a most beloved singers. Vaughan who died of lung cancer at the age of 66 on april 3 at her California Home had asked that her funeral be held at the Church where she Sang in the choir when she was 11. The singers Mother Ada and daughter Deborah Paris Vaughan were among the mourners. Hundreds of people assembled outside the Church to listen to the service Over loudspeakers. Inside the Church Over a luxuriant display of Flowers the Rev. Allen Potts read the 23rd psalm. Kwan Nelson a student at arts High school the school Vaughan attended Sang a precious lord take my hand a which had the audience interjecting a yes lord a after every few phrases. Mayor Sharpe James recalled How when questioned by interviewers Vaughan always a looked them right in the Eye and said a i come from  a and Lillette Jenkins the musical director of the Church played an instrumental Medley of songs most closely associated with Vaughan beginning with a body and soul a with which she won the 1942 Talent contest at the Apollo theater that got her career under Way. A a Newark girl comes Home having gone full Circle a said the Rev. Or. Granville e. Seward the pastor of mount Zion. A and what a Circle that has  Vaughan who continued to contribute to the Church after moving to los Angeles was hailed by mourners As one of the great singing talents of the Century a Singer who displayed effortless vocal virtuosity Wyeth her performing a Lush pop Standard or the intricacies of be Bop. The congregation was dotted with musicians in Singer Billy Eckstine enters Newark ., Church to attend the funeral services for Sarah Vaughan. Eluding pianists Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris and Singer a1 Hibbler. Singer Billy Eckstine who hired Vaughan to sing with his big band in 1944, was there As was one of Vaughan a cohorts in the be Bop movement Vibra Ponist Milt Jackson. Sylvia Syms along with Singer and pianist Patti Bown and radio personality Hal Jackson were also there. I Redd a saxophonist and Singer who flew in from los Angeles was there with Melba Joyce who is singing in the Broadway musical a Black and  a i had Sarah a position in Earl fatha Hines band in the 1960s,�?� Redd said. A we used to see each other All the time and we used to Swap makeup. One time i Sang with the band and Sarah was there. You done to know fear until that happens to you her death devastated me. There will never be another  Joyce said a when i was coming up 1 sounded exactly like her. It Wasny to until one show where 1 had to sing with her that i had to Deal with reality a to find out exactly who i was. But she was always  among the crowd outdoors were Mildred Higgins and Imogen Jordan who live up the Street from the Church. Robert Jackson and Alex Miller came from Brooklyn. A i remember her singing at the town Hill club in Brooklyn a Miller said. A later i had a bar and Sarah and her husband would come in either before or after shows and have a drink. She was an incredible  Michelle Coleman 15, was one of those standing outside with two teen age friends from the neighbourhood Carmella Williams and Cheron Francis. A she did no to go to our High school but we know she a important a Williams said. A i listen to her fairly regularly because my Mother has All her records. She was a great  burial was to be in Glendale cemetery in Bloomfield . Fire kills 3 children injures Mother in Denver suburb Sands of time Westminster Colo. Apr a fire swept through an apartment in this Denver suburb sunday morning killing three children and injuring their Mother. Two firefighters also were injured. The Mother Debra Potter 28, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries. The fire broke out around 7 15 a.m., and was confined to the two Story apartment officials said. Firefighters tried to enter the apartment to Rescue the children but were driven Back by the intense heat officials said. One firefighter was injured by falling debris and another suffered unspecified minor injuries. The dead children were identified As even Potter 7, Kristina Potter 5, and Daniel Potter 4. Witnesses said Potter escaped from the burning apartment then tried to go Back into the apartment for her children. Mike Bannister who lives in the apartment Complex said he restrained Potter As she tried to re enter the building. A she was outside running around just running around hysterically screaming a Bannister said. A she was getting ready to run Back in but i grabbed her because i realized it was just too  the cause of the Blaze was under investigation said City fire marshal Doug Hall. A for now this is nothing but an accidental fire a Hall said. A we have no information to make any determination.in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. April 11, 1950 a air Force planes joined by Navy ships from Sweden and Denmark searched the Baltic sea but found no sign of a four engine . Navy patrol bomber missing with 10 men aboard.30 years ago today. April 11, 1960 a defense Secretary Thomas s. Gates or. Hinted that president Eisenhower might further revamp the nations defense program to bolster . Military might.20 years ago today. April 11, 1970 a a Resolution charging that president Nixon a claim of geographic prejudice in the rejection of g. Harrold Carswell for the supreme court is a an assault on the integrity of the Senate a was introduced by sen. Albert Gore d-tenn.10 years ago today april ii 1980 a president Carter said he Hopes the sanctions against Iran would be a persuasive a but warned that the United states was prepared to use All of its legitimate Power to free the american hostages