The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, August 12, 1980-Page 11
Former tax
official arrested
in murder of
political rival
TOCCOA, Ga. (AP) - A former tax
commissioner is charged with hiring a
"trigger man" to kill the woman who
succeeded him in office just days before
the two were to meet in an election.
Despite her death, the suspect finished
second to a late entrant and faces a
runoff.
It's the most sensational murder case
anyone can remember in this northeast
Georgia town in the Blue Ridge
foothills. Authorities, say the motive
was "strictly political."
DONALD ADDISON, 40, was
arrested Sunday and charged with
murder in the July 31 shooting death of
Elizabeth Williams, 51, the incumbent
commissioner, according to Stephens"
County Sheriff Don Shirley.
Addison, who was being held in the
county jail without bond, held the tax
commissioner's post from 1972 until
1976. The job, which involves collection
of county taxes, pays $14,900 a year.
Williams, a former bookkeeper for a
concrete company, defeated Addison
by 150 votes in a 1976 runoff. They had
been scheduled to meet again in the
Democratic primary on Aug. 5.
WILLIAMS' HUSBAND found her
body on July 31 in the carport of their
home when he returned from work
about7a.m.
Coroner Ray Willis said she had been
shot once in the neck and once in the
head with what appeared to be a .38-
caliber pistol.
"The first shot was from fairly close
range," he said. "The second (time),
the gun was placed against her head
and fired. Someone walked up to her
and made sure."
SHIRLEY SAID that in addition to
Addison, a second man, John Michael
Jones, 29, was arrested in Greenville,
S.C. and charged with murder in the
case. Jones waived extradition to
Georgia yesterday, authorities said.
A murder warrant was issued for a
third man, James Everett Castell, 35,
also of Greenville, the sheriff said.
Shirley said Addison "didn't say
anything when I went to pick him up."
"HE. JUST came along," Shirley
said. "I think he's trying to arrange for
a lawyer now."
"We believe he hired the other two to
kill her, that he was not the trigger
man" the sheriff said. "The only
motive we've uncovered at this time,
from the evidence we've found, is stric-
tly political, for the office he was run-
ning for."
Addison finished second in the Aug. 5
primary behind Vicki Whitworth, a tax
office employee. Although Addison and
Williams originally were the only can-
didates in the race, qualifying for the
office was reopened following the in-
cumbent's death.
A runoff is scheduled Aug. 26 between
Addison and Whitworth. Georgia law
would prohibit Addison from running
for office or serving only if convicted of
a felony.
Stephens County is a diversified
community of small industries and
some farming.
"Everybody knows everybody else,"
said Lamar Ramey, news director at
Radio Station WNEG.
"There is a lot of feeling about this,"
he added. "We've had killings before.
Somebody gets angry and kills
somebody. You get to where you expect
it. But this is the most sensational
killing we've ever had."
Bubble bath, anyone? A"
Richard Lavbhan bathes himself in Laguna Madre Bay near Port Isabel,
Tex., Sunday. Lavbhan, like many other Texas residents, has been without
running water since Hurricane Allen came through the Lone Star state. The
houses in the background were heavily damaged by the hurricane.
Carters oniaton assured
(Continued from Page 1 J
support in primary elections and
caucuses.
The president has 323 more delegate
votes than he needs to win the
nomination tomorrow night. With his
delegates under convention command
to stick with him or risk being replaced,
Carter cannot lose.
In an hour's debate, Carter allies said
the president had "rightfully won" his
nomination and should be guaranteed
the votes of delegates captured in his
long campaign against Kennedy. The
challenger's "open convention"
debaters said the rule spelled bondage
and would treat delegates like cattle.
Then came the first - and the
climactic - roll call. The vote was
1,936.4 delegates for the rule, 1,390.6
against it. Since the question was on the
rejection of a provision already ap-
proved by the convention rules commit-
tee, a "yes" vote was a vote against the
rule, a "no" vote was a vote to bind the
delegates as Carter wanted.
Carter has 1,989 delegates committed
to his candidacy for the nomination the
convention will award tomorrow night.
Kennedy has 1,242 delegates.
The big issue of the 38th Democratic
convention was argued and settled in
little more than two hours. Only then
did the Democrats proceed with the
ceremonial opening of their convention
- the invocation came right after the
roll call.
Carter camzpaign assailed
Mondale was keynote speaker at the
caucus.
was slated to speak against passage of "One can assume anything one wants
the rule before his home state's about all this," Ketcham said, "but we
delegation but was "dis-invited." believe the Carter campaign staff has
"HE WENT to the caucus in spite of been putting pressure on the heads of
what the delegation leaders said, and delegations to keep us out of their
due to extensive media coverage of the caucuses. It seems that all we've done
lockout, he was allowed to speak," she to block the rule has come up against
said. attebpts to uerhis ou a i st
Ketcham added negotiations to send attempts to undermine our activities."
a speaker to the NEA caucus Sunday Annette Savels, a spokeswoman for
had reached their preliminary stages, the Carter campaign, denied the
"but it didn't take them long to lock us president's camp was involved in the
out completely." Vice-4resident Walter lockouts
TUESDAY NIGHTS
AT THE
CONSERVATORY RESTAURANT
MEXICAN FOOD
EXTRAORDINAIRE
FEATURING THE
OLD MEXICANSPECLL
-- WITH
* Nachos and Cheese Dip
LE *Burrito, Taco, Enchilata Plate
with Rice & Refried Beans
S* Free CartaBlanca or Margarita
6.50 1
.516 E. LIBERTY'
1 '~ NEXT TO SECOND CHANCE
994-5360
, W YnLA.