News-Palladium, The (Newspaper) - August 8, 1974, Benton Harbor, Michigan VANESSA THOMAS WEATHER thrift Frifey 3 I FINAL 4 SECTIONS BENTON HARBOR MICH THURSDAY AUGUST 8 u n K LM M t COVERT BANK HOLDUP Suspects Arrested In Muskegon Two persons were arrested Wednesday in Muskegon in tion with the robbery of the Van Stale branch bank in Covert on July 18 according to the FBI office in Benton Harbor Vanessa Thomas 20 and Fred Harris 22 both of Muskegon were scheduled to be arraigned this morning before U.S trate Stephen Karr in Grand Rapids No money has been recovered to dale and a warrant is still outstanding for a third person from Chicago according to the FBI office The Covert bank was robbed shortly afler 9 July 18 by two persons dressed as women A third person is also believed to be involved in the getaway According to police accounts at the time of the robbery the bandits used a handgun to order two women employes of the Covert bank into a back room The robbers then stuffed the money into a bag and fled The arrests yesterday resulted from an investigation by the FBI the Berrien Metro Crime unit and the Muskegon city police The woman was arrested at her home and Harris was arrested in the Muskegon county jail where he had been incarcerated on a parole violation charge the FBI said Berrien Sheriff's Deputies Abbott Taylor and John Clark signed to the Metro Crime unit were cited by the FBI for their individual efforts which led to the solution of the case The FBI office did not elaborate beyond that on the investigation FRED HARMS SEE NIXON TENURE NEAR Vice President Ford Summoned To Private Meeting WASHINGTON AP Richard M Nixon's presidency appeared near its end today as the chief executive summoned Vice President Gerald R Ford to a private meeting Shortly after Ford's office an- he was postponing a scheduled political trip to the Far West correspondents were called into the White House briefing room by Deputy Press Secretary Gerald R Warren Warren then announced that Nixon had asked the vice president to come over for a private meeting A few minutes later the meeting had begun The two leaders were alone in the did solitude of the Oval Office The announcement of the 11 session in the Oval Office came amid strong indications that Nixon planned to announce his resignation later today Some sources said flatly Nixon Told Only 15 Backed Him AFTER NIXON Sen Barry Goldwater bows his head as he talks with reporters on the White following his meeting with President Nixon Wednesday Goldwater said the Chief Executive has made no decision on whether to resign AP Wirephoto PHOENIX Ariz AP Sen Barry Goldwater said he and two other congressional leaders told President Nixon he could be sure of 15 votes for acquittal if the impeachment trial goes to the Senate Goldwater outlined the meeting in a conference telephone call from ton to 21 broadcast tions The Associated Press and newspapers in Arizona He said he chose the telephone call over a ton news conference because he was disgusted with the media in the nation's capital Nixon called Goldwater House Republican Leader John J Rhodes of Arizona and Senate Republican Leader Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania to the White House to give our best Hoosier Fishermen Get Their Tug Back By RUSH Staff Writer Two Indiana fishermen in Berrien circuit court day were granted return of their fishing tug pending a trial on its seizure by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Judge Chester J Byrns issued a preliminary injunction requiring the DNR to surrender the boat upon posting of a bond by Clayton Furness of Michigan City and his partner Jack Sturken Conditions for return of the boat were agreed to in the chambers by of the DNR the Berrien Wholesale Price Index Up BULLETIN WASHINGTON AP Wholesale prices jumped 3.7 per cent last month the Labor Department reported today This works out to a staggering 44.4 per cent on an annual rate The increase was the largest since the 6.2 per cent jump last August and compared with an average monthly increase of 1.4 per cent over the first six months of this year All figures arc after taking seasonal variations into account Since wholesale price increases arc usually translated into higher prices for consumers the report cast a pall over a hopes for any slackening in the nation's double-digit inflation The biggest wholesale jump was in volatile farm prices A 6.4 per cent jump in July reversed four straight months of decline The Nixon administration had tied falling or at least moderating food prices to its predictions for getting inflation down to a 7 per cent annual rate of increase by year's end Consumer prices arc currently II per cent above a year ago county office and the two fishermen Furness was arrested July 14 on Lake Michigan off New falo for allegedly fishing in Michigan waters without a commercial license The tug We was seized by the DNR and placed in dry dock in South Haven However the Berrien county office decided not to prosecute the charge at this lime according to Eugene Coulson district law supervisor of the DNR The criminal charge would have been in Fifth District court but a choice was made to file a complaint for condemnation of the boat in Berrien circuit court We don't wish to litigate twice at the since could be scheduling conflicts in the two courts Coulson explained But this does not preclude the option of the prosecutor to file a criminal charge at a later date After the boat seizure ness and Sturken filed suit in circuit court seeking return of the boat plus damages and costs from the DNR Other conditions of the court timate of what the picture was in both houses of Goldwater said The reports made by Rhodes and Scott were not favorable to Goldwater said Rhodes said earlier day that impeachment is a foregone conclusion in the House and Scott had said Nixon's situation in Congress was very gloomy Goldwater told Arizona In Senate after Monday night's disclosures it's felt by those of us in that body that he might be able to collect 15 votes against impeachment And I must add that I have not made up my mind yet as to whether to vote for ment or against it I'd have to wait until there is a trial in the Senate to make up my mind If it comes to a vote I will serve as a juror and I will be guided by what I hear and what I he said Goldwater said resignation was not discussed It never came the senator said He made no indication as to when he might make such a Goldwater added The options are to resign and stand trial He gave no tion at all as to what course he would take Asked what he thought would be Nixon's best course of action Goldwater said I don't think it would be proper for me lo say what I think He didn't ask us our advice on that The senator said there was no discussion of a possible plea bargain to immunize the President from prosecution if he is impeached and convicted That didn't come up today and I haven't heard anything about it We have asked for an opinion on Goldwater said Goldwater the 1964 GOP presidential candidate said he would have handled differently than Nixon did To begin with there would never have been any Ihc senator said His biggest mistake was not immediately saying All right we goofed This and presenting the evidence If he'd done thai a couple years ago it would have been all said When asked whether he would accept the vice presidency if Gerald R Ford becomes president and offers it water replied No man can say Nixon had made the decision to step aside voluntarily rather than allowing the constitutional machinery to grind on to ward impeachment But those aides closest to the President refused to make such a flat assertion as did official spokesmen Law requires that any presidential resignation be sub- mitted to the secretary of state And Secretary Henry A singer was the First Family's living quarters night for a private meeting with Nixon that lasted until nearly midnight But officials denied tion that the embattled Republican president had given Kissinger a letter of tion Kissinger returned to the House before 9 EOT today but aides said he did not meet again with Nixon A spokesman for Ford meanwhile said the Western trip was still on and that the vice president would leave late tonight or early Friday Ford was to attend a Republican telethon scheduled for broadcast to West Coast states from Los Angeles tonight That affair was put off because of the situation in Washington according to a party official And the Ford spokesman said That was the reason for our going today and that's the reason the trip's been postponed There was little change in the mood of anticipation throughout the Capital Rumors continued unabated that Nixon had decided to end his long political career One official close to the Oval Office when asked about the timing of a presidential decision I wouldn't go on vacation today if I were Other sources said Raymond K Price Nixon's lop speechwriter had been signed task of drafting an appropriate speech But they said they didn't know when or if the speech would be delivered On Capitol Hill assistant Senate Republican Leader Robert P Griffin of Michigan who has urged Nixon to resign said he hoped there would be a decision by Friday I hope so and I think Griffin told newsmen Sources said presidential speechwriters were instructed four days ago to prepare material for a possible tion statement Nixon himself has been publicly silent on the rapid erosion of his position since he admitted on Monday that he tried two years ago to thwart an FBI Watergate probe and then withheld that information from See back page sec I 1 ON HIS Vice President Gerald Ford greets photographers as he home early today in Alexandria Va The Vice President is scheduled to days of political appearances in the West later today as reports Washington that President Nixon will decide soon whether to resign AP Wirephoto Resignation Gain Credence As if Ford Cancels Trip 1 BY JANET Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON AP As reports of that President Nixon might resign soon continued to grow Vice President Gerald R Ford postponed today his scheduled political trip through the Far West and Chicago A spokesman in Ford's office said the departure originally scheduled for noon today had been delayed until late tonight or early Friday Ford was to attend a Republican telethon to be broadcast in Los Angeles to West Coast states tonight It was postponed this morning because of the situation in GOP National Chairman George Bush said in Los Angeles That was the reason for our INDEX To Inside Pages Set back page ite 1 cri 5 SECTION ONE Page2 Twin Pages 4 5 I II SECTION TWO SECTION THREE ZJ 24 27 SECTION FOUR Area TV M Weather Classified Pages going today and that's the reason the trip's been the Ford spokesman said Asked what kind of reading the vice president's office might have on the current situation the spokesman replied I hear we're going on the trip but we're just going a little later Before the announcement of the delay Ford press secretary Paul Miltich said plans for the trip were unchanged But other sources indicated at least part of the could be scrubbed at a moment's notice Also on Ford's schedule today was the presentation of medals to relatives of seven military servicemen at ceremonies at Blair House located across the street from the White House House Republican Leader John J Rhodes who was among three congressional leaders to meet with President Nixon Wednesday earlier canceled plans to accompany Ford lo the telethon A spokesman for Rhodes said the Arizona Republican wanted to remain in the nation's capital so he could manage a campaign finance on the House floor legislation that had been scheduled for floor action for several weeks Meanwhile Ford's press secretary denied a Chicago Sun-Times story that president has instructed members of his staff to prepare an inaugural address complete Miltich The Sun-Times quoted See back page sec 1 Winning Numbers LANSING Mich AP The winning numbers in the weekly Lottery are The second chance number is The bonus number is Lake Temperature The temperature of Lake Michigan at shoreline today is 70 degrees Golf At Paw Paw Late Adv Motor Route Operator for Union Pier New Buffalo area hours afternoons year Ph Mr Chapman Adv
