European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday May 20, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 5virginia governor won t halt execution Virginia gov. L. Douglas Wilder answers questions monday in Richmond on clemency to convicted murderer Roger Keith Coleman. A denying by the los Angeles times Washington convicted murderer Roger Keith Coleman moved a step closer to the electric chair monday when Virginia gov. L. Douglas Wilder rejected his plea for a Pardon. A i have not been convinced he is innocent a Wilder said after what he called an a exhaustive review Quot of the evidence. Wilder a former criminal defense lawyer had been considered Coleman s Best nope for avoiding a scheduled execution tonight. Wilder had earlier commuted death sentences in two other cases and Coleman a lawyers hoped an accumulation of new evidence would cause the governor to doubt the Young Coal miners guilt. Now Coleman a last Hope rests with the . Supreme court which has refused of late to halt pending executions. A a in Man innocent Man waiting to die in two Days a Coleman said monday morning when interviewed on Abc tvs Good morning America program. A a that a very hard to come to terms  the Case has drawn renewed National attention to the death penalty because Coleman a lawyers have turned up evidence that some believe raises questions about his guilt. In 1982. A jury in Grundy va., found Coleman then 23, guilty of raping and murdering his sister in Law Wanda Mccoy. The Virginia supreme court described the evidence against him As Quot entirely circumstantial Quot but convincing. No one saw Coleman or his pickup truck near the Mccoy Home on the evening of the murder and no fingerprints or other evidence put him at the scene of the crime. But blood tests hair samples and Coleman a earlier conviction for an attempted rape persuaded jurors that he was responsible for the murder. Coleman has maintained his innocence and his lawyers have recently presented the courts with affidavits from four people in Grundy who say another Man who lived in the House nearest the Mccoy spoke of committing the murder. In thl stars and stripes10 years ago May 20, 1982 a trembling and Haggard from a week without food interned Solidarity activist Jan Rule ski declared he and 13 other top Union officials in Poland would continue their hunger strike against martial Law. 20years ago May 20, 1972 a five Waves of North vietnamese supported by tanks attacked Korntum City but were driven Back in hand to hand fighting on the perimeter of the City. The assault opened what military sources in Saigon called a the decisive stage Quot of the Battle for the Central highlands.30 years ago May 20, 1962 a the Federal space Agency postponed its planned attempt to launch the nations second manned Orbital spaceflight because of technical difficulties. It was the fourth postponement in a Little More than a week. 40years ago May 20, 1952 saying they could not do business inside China the British asked the chinese government to facilitate disposing of or closing British business interests and providing exit visas for 120 business people. British holdings in China were estimated to be Worth $840 million. Worl d War ii so years ago too a 20 may1� 9 4 �2 the  Navy urgently begins moving reinforcements toward the coming japanese attacks on Midway Island in the Central Pacific and alaskans Aleutian Chain which have been revealed by american code Breakers. The last British troop6 in Burma Retreat into India. Britain a bomber come is Given the go ahead for its plan to Send up to 1,000 bombers Over Germany each  s Mother blames lawyer Detroit up the Mother of a convicted murderer and rapist condemned to die tonight in Virginia a electric chair said monday that her son would not be facing execution if he could have afforded a More skillful lawyer. A if he would have had a better lawyer he would not be on death Row a Mary Hulslander of the Detroit suburb Taylor said after being told her songs plea for clemency was denied by Virginia gov. L. Douglas Wilder. A i believe that is the honest to god truth a Hulslander 51, said of her son Roger Keith Coleman. He faces death by electrocution for the 1981 rape and murder of his sister in Law 19-year-old Wanda Mccoy of Grundy a. A you done to see any Rich people on death Row a Hulslander said. She spoke softly in a Calm and re signed manner in a Telephone interview. A a in a going Down to Sec my son she said. A my husband and 1 arc leaving wednesday morning if nothing happens before  she said her planned trip to Virginia is against the wishes of her son who told her he wants to be remembered As he was in happier times. A the did no to want me to go to the prison. Id like to see him but he does no to want to see anyone right now a said Hulslander who was 171/2 when Coleman was born. Coleman spent his Early years in Detroit. When he was 10, he went to live with his grandparents in the southwestern Virginia Coal mining town of Grundy. A i still have Hope a his Mother said. A a we be still got people working in Grundy. But they done to want to do it give clemency and i done to understand  her songs impending execution she believes is the result of a mistaken Rush to Justice. A i believe my son was framed. All they want to do is file the Case because people were scared. They just wanted to lock someone up. If my son would have had More Money to get a lawyer he  be in the position he a in  Hulslander said she believes there is evidence that her son is innocent of the murder. A i just wish someone would come Forward with the evidence a she said. A a they re willing to let an innocent Man die to protect themselves. Someone Down there in Grundy knows the truth that my son did no to do  Hulslander said she had tried for two years to get the attention of the news Media but had Little Success until last week when time Magazine featured Coleman Scase As its cover Story. Cuomo vetoes death penalty for 10th time Albany . A gov. Mario m. Cuomo on monday issued his 10th veto of legislation that would restore the death penalty in new York. He cited the acquittals of four White men in the los Angeles police beating of Black Motorist Rodney g. King As an example of the Justice systems fallibility. A now More than Ever we should appreciate that even the Best of All Justice systems can on occasion fail. The death penalty offers the possibility of com pounding such weaknesses a Cuomo said. The Bill he vetoed would have legalized death sentences for adults convicted of killing police officers and for certain other cases of first degree murder. Although the state Senate sponsor said he had enough votes to override the veto Assembly sponsor Vincent Grabor said he was two votes shy. A sometimes there Are surprises. I done to detect any at this Point a Graber said. Death penalty proponents have failed to restore the Law in new York for 16 years. Before Cuomo than gov. Hugh l. Carey vetoed death penalty legislation. No criminal has been executed in new York since 1963. A i cannot and will not Sanction or endorse legislation that purports to take a life in the name of the state a Cuomo said. A the death penalty is a politically expedient and simplistic answer to crimes of  source 2194 Days of War w h Smith publishers inc. A amendment on congressional pay raises certified after More than two centuries Washington a . Archivist Don w. Wilson quietly certified the constitutions 27th amendment written by James Madison in 1789 to bar Congress from voting itself instant pay raises. There was no fanfare no Media conference and no posed pictures for the evening news a just a Small gathering in Wilson a office where he signed the document. The certified amendment was to be printed in tuesdays Federal Register. The last three times amendments were added to the Constitution formal Public ceremonies were staged and the presidents in office at the time signed As witnesses. President Nixon witnessed the certification of the 26th amendment extending voting rights to 18-Ycar-Olds, and president Johnson witnessed the certification of the 25th and 24th amendments setting terms of succession for the presidency and abolishing voting a poll  certification of the 27th amendment was witnessed by Martha Girard head of the Federal Register. When asked Why there was no ceremony this time archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper said Wilson Felt it was his responsibility to quickly certify the ratification to comply with a Legal requirement to act  lat preside Anci Are n part of the process. She noted that presidents Arentt required to sign Anci Are not a required in a Brief interview last week Wilson said votes by three fourths of the states a not his signature a added the amendment to the Constitution. For the history books then the Constitution was changed on May 7, 1992, when Michigan became the 38th state to ratify the 27th amendment. Two additional states ratified later. The document Wilson sent the Federal Register repeats the language Madison initially envisioned As a article the second but which did not make it into the original Bill of rights. A no Law varying the compensation for the services of the senators and representatives shall take effect until an election of representatives shall have intervened a it says