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Guilty Pleas in RobberyBy BILL UPHAM Staff Writer Two men who were scheduled for trial today in connection with the Aug. 4, 1974 attemped robbery of Howard Jolmotis* Motor Lodge, pleaded guilty last week to attempted robbery at a special hearing.The two men, Lester Johson, 19, and John Wesley Brice, 19, both of River Park Apurt-menis, had originally been charged with at tempted armed robbery and . attempted murder.But the .charges were reduced to attempted robbery with Brice also being charged with using a firearm during the commission of a felony, which he also pleaded guilty to.A PRE-SENTENCE investigation last Tuesday was ordered by Acting Circuit JudgeRichard Stanley after the pleas were entered.The two were charged in connection with.an incident Aug. 4, 1974, at Howard Johnson's when several law enforcement officers from both Lee and Collier Counties surrounded the office area of the motet in apparent anticipation of theholdup.Brice and Johnson were both wounded by law enforcementDeath NoticesGertrude E.DoeringGertrude E. Doering died Sunday at Naples Cumimmiiy Hospital. She was a resident uf Bay Village, Ohio. Survivors include her husband, Harry J., son, Roger and 4 grandchildren, all of Cleveland; a broilier, William Blinker of Naples.Internment will he in Alliance, Ohio.died before him. He is survived by one daughter, Christine Snead Holladay of Richmond, Vu.; iwo grandsons, and a brother, George Snead of Lynchburg, Vfl.Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m Wednesday atthe Trinity-By-The-Cove Episcopal Church. Graveside services will be belli Friday at Lynchburg, Va.John ChaseJames C. SneadJames Cleland Snead, 90, of Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, died Sunday.A native of Virginia, he graduated from the Virginia Military Inslilute in the class of I'mStrouseJohn Chase Strouse, til, of 7*1G Spyglass Lane died Friday at his residence.A graduate of the University of Minnesota where he was u member of the Phi Psi fraternity. lie also attended the lfar-commander.Mr. Strouse was in the advertising agency business in New York City. He was vice president of Cunningham and Walsh; l.ennon and Newal, and retired from Benlou and Bowles in I960.A resident of.Naples since I960, lie was a member of the Trinity-By-The-Cuve Episcopal Church and the-Port Royal Club. - ■Survivors include his wife Mrs. Nancy Louise Strnuse of Naples, and a niece, Mrs. Charles (Nancy) Foster of Chatham, N.J.Funeral services were held today at 11 a.m. at the Trini-ly-By-the-Cove Episcopal Church with the Very Rev Richard T. f.amheri officiating.-Cremation will follow.officials and Willie Frank Blackmon, 19, a third suspect in Hie holdup, was killed.A fourth suspect fled the scene and was never captvired.STATE Atty. Robert Hagaman this morning would not confirm reports that the fourth suspect was a confidential informant. lie said he chose not to comment cn these published reports.Brice told the Naples Daily News Sunday that he was approached by the fourth suspect, whose name is being withheld, two weeks before the Aug. 4 incident.Brice said the man said he had staked out the Howard Johnson's motel office and usked Brice Johnson and Blackmon to assist him in rob- f bing the motel.Brice said he refused at first, but then agreed as did Blackmon and Johnson.Bricc said he pleaded guilty to the charges Tuesday at the advice of his attorney.THE FOURTH suspect escaped injury during the holdup despite a heavy barrage uf gunfire from several law enforcement officers who had surrounded the office area uf the motel and were reportedly acting as undercover agcnls.The fourth man has not yet been found, but published Yeports have identified the suspect as a conlidciiliak informant who was willing to testify against Bricc and Johnson.
Newspaper Details
Naples Daily News
Naples, Florida, US
Mon, Mar 24, 1975
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Matthew C.
USA 21 Jul 2018
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