European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday november 1, 1991 the stats and stripes b Page 7 a Detroit firefighter Battles a devils night in Detroit leave 2 dead Detroit up a thousands of roving volunteers and a steady rain apparently held Down the number of devils night arson fires officials said. At least two people died in fires but authorities were unsure if they were related to Detroit a halloween eve tradition of starting fires. A boy died wednesday night in a fire at a House on the Southeast Side and a woman was found dead Early thursday in a burning House on the City s North Side. Police chief Stanley Knox said the fire that killed Robert Abram 1, was the result of children playing with matches but the boys aunt said someone threw a firebomb into the House. Early thursday the body of an unidentified woman was found on the second floor of a former boarding House. An unidentified Man who apparently escaped the flames by jumping was hospitalized with broken Bones and Burns. Neighbors said the House was known for prostitution and crack cocaine sales. Ruling lets phone firms engage in data retailing Washington apr the supreme court cleared the Way wednesday for the nation s seven regional Telephone companies to enter the electronic information services business. The court without comment rejected an emergency request from the american newspaper publishers association that sought to bar the so called baby Bell companies from starting to provide such services. Justice Sandra Day of Connor did not participate in the Case but did not say Why. The court s Brief order made it appear that the court s newest member. Justice Clarence Thomas had participated in denying the request. Quot the request had been made to chief Justice William h. Rehnquist. The prospective information services Range from using Telephone lines to provide news reports sports scores and Stock quotes to the Lon term storage of business and medical records. Some businesses including newspapers offer some computerized data services Over the Bell companies Telephone lines. The Issue May not yet be settled depending upon what Congress does and further action in the courts. Rep. Jim Cooper d-tenn., has introduced the telecommunications act of 1991, which would require the Bell companies to relinquish their monopolies on local phone service before being allowed to offer informational services. A the action by the court today makes it imperative that Congress pass the Cooper Bill to prevent the regional Bell Telephone companies from strangling Competition in the vital Field of information services and threatening the privacy of everyone who owns a Telephone a said Ana president Cathleen Black. But Ron Stowe of Pacific Telesis. A spokesman for the baby Bells said the court s decision was a very much in the Public interest because information services practical Only for Large businesses and specialized consumer markets will become practical for Small businesses and millions of other Consumers. When us. District judge Harold Greene in Washington supervised the breaking up of american Telephone amp Telegraph co. From which the seven regional Bell companies were spun off he barred the companies from participating in the informational services Market. But the . Circuit court of appeals for the District of Columbia told Greene to modify his order to allow Telephone company participation unless he found that a the proposed modification would be certain to Lessen the Competition in the relevant Greene last july ruled that under the Standard imposed by the appeals court he could no longer bar the Bell companies from providing informational services. But he stayed the effect of i Quot ruling until the appeals court reviewed it. The appeals court lifted Greene a stay Oil oct. 7. On oct. 15, the an pay a lawyers asked Rehnquist to reimpose the stay until the appeals courts review is Complete. A Smith s rape trial in Florida opens with search for 6 jurors West Palm Beach Fla. Apr jury selection began thursday for William Kennedy Smiths rape trial and As he arrived at court he said he hoped to find a six people who have an open mind a about the highly publicized Case. A a in a innocent of the charges Quot Smith told hundreds of reporters photographers and onlookers thronged together under Bright Balmy Sunshine outside the Palm Beach county courthouse. Selection began thursday morning for a six Mcm bar jury Florida uses 12-member jury Only in capital crimes. Prospective jurors in the Case faced a Marathon quiz on topics ranging from opinions about the Kennedy family to male female relations. Smith planned to take an Active part in choosing those who will decide his Fate Lead defense attorney Roy Black said late wednesday. A today the court will begin to try to find six people. Who have an open mind who Wilt look at All the evidence in the Case a said Smith the Nephew of sen. Edward Kennedy a mass. He is accused of raping a 30-year-old Jupiter woman at the Kennedy family estate in Palm Beach on easter weekend. A a in a confident that when the process is completed. Ill be found innocent of All the charges. I look Forward to putting this behind me and getting on with my life and my Smith 31, a 1991 medical school graduate was accompanied by his attorneys his Mother Jean Kennedy Smith his aunt Pat Lawford Sisters Amanda and Kim and brother Stephen. Smith said he was grateful for his family s wednesday circuit judge Mary Lupo cleared the Way for jury selection alter refusing to bar to cameras from the selection and ruling the defense could use the alleged victim s underwear As evidence. Lupo agreed wednesday to allow the accuser s clothing As evidence Over the objections of prosecutor Moira Lasch who said the defense wanted a to slurp the woman. Black said Lack of damage to the woman a clothing particularly her Bra a clearly proves or. Smith s the 30-year-old woman told police Smith tackled her and pinned her Down while pulling up her dress March 30 on the Kennedy estate in Palm Beach. Smith s lawyers Are expected to argue that the woman consented to sex. Laser argued that the woman s underpants Bra pantyhose and dress might be improperly interpreted As a Sug festivity Quot or implying that a someone who buys their underwear at victorians secret cannot be a victim of a sexual Florida rape Law was changed to restrict evidence about an alleged victims clothing alter a rape suspect was acquitted in i9s9 and jurors later cited the woman s outfit a a lace miniskirt and no underpants. In a full Day of pretrial hearings Lupo also restricted How far the defense May go in bringing up the woman s past abortions and out of Wedlock child and she rejected defense requests to bar to cameras from jury selection. A Florida builders lied to buyers prosecutors say Miami apr four former general development corp. Executives used a big lies to lure buyers to Florida houses Worth $25,000 to $30,000 less than their average $74,000 sales Price prosecutors say. A defense attorney Richard Sharpstein responded in opening arguments wednesday at the executives trial that a nobody held a gun to anybody s he cited numerous disclosures and disclaimers contained in All sales contracts. The defendants Are charged in a 74-count indictment with cheating 10,000 buyers in the developers nine Florida communities. The company also sold Florida prop erty to . Service members serving in Europe. A the very minute you bought that House from general development you lost Money Quot assistant . Attorney Norman Moscowitz said. He charged the alleged fraud scheme offered one Stop shopping for lots Homes mortgages appraisals and a rental Agency in deals that would have failed if outsiders got involved. The company received 2,000 complaint letters about Home values on the 10,000 Homes sold from 1982 to 1989, the government said. But Sharpstein said general development prices were automatically higher than those of area builders because the company spent $500 million to create cities out of cattle pastures. It also was paying a 65-City sales Force of 2,000, primarily in new York and the Midwest he said. The executives were acting in Good Faith and on the advice of general development chairman David Browne a former new York Law firm the defense said. Moscowitz charged that salesmen falsely promised the houses were Good investments that the company could be trusted because of its size and age that buyers were protected by government regulators and that contracts guaranteed buyers were making informed decisions. When complaints arrived excuses were made about poor real estate markets and problems were muted with Quick fixes lie said. The trial is expected to last three to six months. Brown former general development president Robert ohrling and former vice presidents Tore Debulia and Richard Are charged with fraud and conspiracy. General development was indicted in March 1990 and filed for protect Ion under chapter 11 of the Federal bankruptcy act Days later. The company changed management pleaded guilty to fraud conspiracy and is seeking to reorganize in bankruptcy court. A
