European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes wednesday March 4, 1992 ghost of Wyatt Earp looms Over gun dispute wants the right to tote a gun when he is not taking part in mock gunfights. By Arthur h. Rotstein Tombstone Ariz. A the town where Wyatt Earp Laid Low a few Black hats at the . Corral May be headed for a showdown Over guns. At Issue is a 1977 ordinance against carrying weapons in the open. Town leaders fear some Urban Cowboy watching one of the make believe gunfights staged on tombstones picturesque streets might slap leather and plug an actor or tourist. A a we re going to have every wild eyed Flake in the country doing the Hollywood gun act Down the Street a said Ben Traywick who Heads a mock gun fighting group called the wild Bunch. But across town Jack Fiske and his Bunch Are standing their ground in their Battle against the Law a a we re celebrating the Bill of rights and when rights Are taken away arbitrarily. Then we Are having a civil rights problem Here a said Fiske a Bookstore clerk who wants to ride his horse through town a single action ,45 revolver strapped to his hip unmolested by the Law. A similar Law led in part to the 1881 gunfight that etched Tombstone once a Silver mining Center into the annals of the old West. It was at the . Corral where Earp and his Brothers along with Doc Holliday shot it out with the Clanton gang killing Billy Clanton and Tom and Frank Mclaury. The Day before Earp had dragged one of the gang before a judge for breaking a Law against carrying a gun in Public. Clanton is among the outlaws buried at nearby Boot Hill cemetery. The mystique of that gunfight and the old West today draws visitors to Tombstone. Tourism is the economic Lifeblood of the Southeastern Arizona town of 1,200 that Bills itself a the town too Tough to  the ordinance exempts police and actors staging re enactments and mock hangings along streets still lined with wooden boardwalks and Brick buildings. City marshal Edward e. Schnautz said the ordinance is meant to Corral people like the Man a few years ago who fired two shots along the main tourist strip hitting a Mailbox. As the Sun was setting the Man a just got a feel of the old West and pulled out a gun a Schnautz recalled. Another time a woman brandished a knife at a Street show and nearly stabbed an actor. A so we know that this does happen. People get carried away a Schnautz said. Mayor Alex Gradillas said the City Council wont reconsider the ordinance at its March 17 meeting despite a request by Fiske who belongs to a re enactment group the vigilantes but the state attorney general has said the ordinance appears to conflict with the Arizona Constitution by foreclosing the right to Bear arms. Under state Law it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon. Fiske said he does no to want to go to court but that the City has ignored compromises including posting gun bans at certain times. The mayor warned that if the gun ban Falls the City will halt re enactment permits rather than risk injuries and lawsuits. A if everyone can Wear guns up or Down the streets you re asking for trouble a Gradillas said. Hollis Cook manager of the Tombstone courthouse state historic Park said a no question a the quirkiness of the town does attract a goofball element. People out there who never stopped playing cowboys and  cheer teen with reattached arms Bowdon . Apr John Wayne Thompson whose arms were ripped off in a farm Accident and reattached by doctors returned to a heroes Welcome at his High school monday where fellow students chanted a Duke Duke a a i d just like to say thanks for letting me come Back. Its Good to be Here a said the 18-year-old Thompson who shares his nickname with the late actor. Following the rally at the Bowdon High school gymnasium Thompson left for his history class then physical therapy at St. Aloisius medical Center in Harvey 25 Miles away. A everything went Fine a said principal nor Bert Schlegel who teaches the class. A of course he did no to do a lot of  Thompson was working alone on his family farm Jan. 11 when he lost both arms in an Accident with a piece see readers action line on Page 16 of machinery. He staggered 400 feet to his House where he used his Mouth to turn a Doorknob then held a Pencil with his Teeth to punch out a phone Call for help. Doctors at North memorial medical Center near Minneapolis reattached both arms. Thompson has regained partial use of the reattached limbs but still requires extensive physical therapy. A a in a mainly worried about school a he said. A i want to make sure ill be Able to keep  he plans to attend one or two classes a Day then go to physical therapy sessions. But he said he still plans to graduate with is nine member senior class May 17. A we be already rented the civic Center in Hurdsfield for his reception so Well see you there a Thompsons Mother Karen told reporters. Thompson did not move his arms during the rally attended by about 70 students and teachers. A i do this every Day and it gets kind of old a he said during a demonstration after his return Home from the Hospital feb. 25. He said then that he had regained feeling Down to his elbows. Doctors said it was unclear if he would regain use of his hands. John Wayne Thompson smiles at a rally welcoming him Back to school. At left is senior classmate Kris  group sues to join Parade new York a a group of Irish american homosexuals is asking a Federal judge to ban the City s St. Patrick a Day Parade unless they Are allowed to March. The Irish lesbian and Gay organization argued monday that the ancient order of hibernian the parades organizers discriminates against homosexuals in violation of Federal Law. The hibernian have barred the Gay group from marching. Patrick c. Gatins an attorney for the hibernian had no comment on the lawsuit. A hearing was set for March 12 a five Days before the 231st annual March up fifth Avenue. Texas executes Man despite plea Huntsville Texas a a former maintenance Man convicted of strangling a 74-year-old woman was executed by injection Early tuesday despite his lawyers claims of new evidence that another Man now dead committed the crime. Edward Ellis 38, went to his death after the . Supreme court refused a last minute stay. Quot i just want everyone to know i think the prosecutor and Bill Scott Are some sorry sons of bitches a he said in a final statement. Scott was a former inmate who testified against Ellis. Ellis was condemned for the 1983 slaying of Bertie Elizabeth Eakens who was found dead in her Bathtub at the apartment Complex where Ellis had been fired As maintenance Man. She had been handcuffed and was strangled with a Pillowcase. Jewelry checks and her Cadillac were stolen. In their appeals monday Ellis lawyers contended a Man who died a year ago killed Eakens. A we did not know about this evidence and we Didellis not make this up a said Mandy Welch of the Texas resource Center which provides Legal help to death Row inmates. A if we had known about it we would not have waited until an execution Date to bring it  Eric Hagstette the District attorney who tried Ellis said a we would not have tried the Case if we thought somebody else was the guilty  the killing was one of three in 1983 that became known As the a Houston Bathtub  Ellis was not implicated in the other two killings. Prosecutors said that Ellis fingerprints were on the victims apartment door and that he was seen driving a car that looked like Eakens Cadillac and Selling jewelry similar to the items taken from her Home. Ellis became the 46th person executed in Texas since resumption of the death penalty in 1976