Oklahoma City Times (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 79, No. 249, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 5, 1968 Page: 1 of 76
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Two Place Autry Near Death Scene
Trial Ordered in Fiery
t
Slaying of Judith
By Mary Jo Nelson
Charles Thomas Autry
was bound over for district
court trial Thursday in the
fiery death of a 19-year-old
dental technician, after an
Oklahoma City salesman
identified Autry as the
.man he almost ran over
■near the woman’s resi-
dence about the time she
was slain.
Common Pleas Judge
Ben LaFon ordered Autry
to stand trial after three
hours of testimony in the
1963 death of Judith File,
19.
Alfred Smith, testifying
in Autry's preliminary
hearing on the murder
charge, said he almost hit
Autry after he turned left
onto Pennsylvania off NW
16 about 12:20 a.m. on Jan-
uary 5,1963
Miss File was found
stabbed, raped and burned
in her apartment in a
house at the corner of NW
16 and Pennsylvania about
12:30 a.m.
Smith, a surprise wit-
ness, and Harold Lee Len-
inger, Autry's cellmate at
the Oklahoma State Peni-
tentiary, McAlester, were
the state’s key witnesses
as three prosecutors pre-
sented evidence in detail.
Police Told
Smith, now a salesman,
testified he was managing
the Elbow Room Club at
NW 12 and Hudson ihe
night Miss File died.
Smith said the day after
he nearly hit Autry, he
read of Miss File's death
in the newspapers and
called police, telling them
about his experience.
Smith said he picked Au-
try's picture out of a group
of mug shots police
showed him on January 5,
hours after the murder.
sylvania,
doorbell.
and rang the
She said she got no re-
sponse, and left. She never
saw or heard from her
daughter again, she said.
Mrs. File struggled to
keep her composure.
After a second witness
was called, and described
finding the body, the moth-
er broke down and cried in
the rear of the courtroom.
The witness, Capt. Leon-
ard Gilmore, an Oklahoma
City fireman, said a young
man named Jerry, who
had delivered Miss File’s
roommate to their apart-
ment, ran across Pennsyl-
vania shortly after mid-
night and said smoke was
coming from the apart-
ment.
Gilmore said he investi-
gated, saw the fire and
hollered across the street
for his men to turn in a
fire alarm.
On lengthy questioning
by Morland Barton, one of
the state prosecutors, Gil-
more said he swept a fog
nozzle across the bed and
when he did so, a sheet
(See TRIAL—Page 2)
Charles Thomas Autry at hearing. (Times Staff Photos h.v Tony Wood)
Paid Circulation 300,621 Evening-Morning Daily Average November
1 dill till tUldllUlft ‘ ‘ ® J °
Oklahoma City Times
ENTIRE CONTENTS COPYRIGHTED 1968 OKLAHOMA PUBLISHING CO.. 500 N BROADWAY
VOL. LXXIX, NO. 249
60 PAGES-OKLAHOMA CITY. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 5, 1968
Ten Cents (Single Copy Price)
Harold Lee Leninger was brought from hospital
room for hearing Thursday.____ ___________
War Toll High
For November
SAIGON (AP) — The num-,must expect both hard bar-
ber of Americans killed irngaining and hard fighting in
action during the first month|the days ahead.”
of the halt in the bombing of After Johnson announced
North Vietnam increased 27 the bombing halt, the U. S.
j ______ TT C* AnnsEot _____1 ____tUn t it
percent over U. S. combat
dead in October, figures re-
leased by the U. S. Com-
•iuand showed Thursday.
But the monthly tolls were
still only about half what
they were during fighting
earlier this year, particular-
ly during enemy offensives
in February, May and Au-
gust.
U. S. headquarters in its
weekly report said 228
Americans were killed in ac-
tion last week. It was the
highest weekly toll in two
months, and it raised to 681
^the number of U. S. troops
willed in the four weeks after
Command announced that it
was intensifying ground op-
erations in South Vietnam to
keep the Viet Cong and the
North Vietnamese from
gaining an advantage be-
cause of the halt in air at-
tacks on North Vietnam
Asked about the increase
in casualties, a U. S. spokes-
man noted that action accel-
erated last week along the
Cambodian border north of
Saigon, where the Commu-
nist command is reported to
have 15,000 to 20,000 troops.
‘That would account for
part of it,” he said, pointing
out that more than 700 of the
Sent «,ns„n hated ,he
bombing of North Vietnam.
The total in October was 536.
The increase underlined
President Johnson’s state-
ment last week that “We
killed last week died in fight
ing along a 100-mile stretch
of the border area.
This appears to be the
(See VIETNAM-Page 2)
Pay Delayed
File
f
Foul
Need help? Write to Oklahoma City Times, P. O.
Box 25125, Oklahoma City 73125 or telephone CE 2-3311
between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
and ask for “Action Line.”
I have been enrolled at Central State College at Ed-
mond since last September. I filled out the necessary par
pen to receive monthly payments through the GI BUI,
fdaimt to date 1 have not received a single check. Some vet-
erans here have received their third checks. Can you
help me? E. L. I.
‘I’m Real Sure
Smith testified that at
Autry's place of business
he again made positive
identification of Autry as
the man he nearly ran
over in 1963.
On cross examination by
the defense lawyer, Smith
insisted, "I’m just real
sure.”
Talk Recalled
"This is the gentleman I
saw,” he said pointing to
Autry in the courtroom.
Leninger. 49, brought
from Mercy Hospital for
the hearing, testified Autry
got high on choc beer and
told him about the murder
one night in September,
1967.
Both were inmates at
the Oklahoma State Peni-
tentiary when the alleged
statement was made, Len-
inger said.
Fight Claimed
Leninger, occasionally
gasping lightly for breath,
could not be shaken from a
single point of his story on
cross-examination.
He said Autry told him
he had been out with Miss
File the night of January
4, 1963. that they “got into
a fight” after he took her
to her apartment and that
he struck and killed her,
and set fire to the apart-
ment.
“He (Autry) said he
tried to burn her up with
some alcohol stuff. He said
after he set it on fire,
some dern fool pretty near
ran over him as he run
across the street,” Lenin-
ger testified.
Speaking in a voice that
at times was hardly audi-
ble. Leninger, a heart pa-
tient, said he kept silent
about the information until
he came up for parole con-
sideration in this summer.
He said he then told
Buck Williams, assistant
pardon and parole direc-
tor, that he had some in-
formation about the Judith
File case. He said Wil-
liams told Oklahoma City
police detectives, who
went to the McAlester
prison to talk to him.
On cross-examination by
Autry’s attorney, Bill Lew-
is, Leninger denied he told
the File story because he
thought it would help him
be considered for execu-
tive clemency.
The first witness of the
day was Mrs. Katherine
File, 5417 NW 54. mother
of the victim. Mrs. File
said on the night of Janu-
ary 4 she went to the door
of her daughter’s apart-
ment. at NW 16 and Penn-
Parents Charged in Death
An Oklahoma City couple, Jim Ray and
Virginia Keeton, were accused Thursday of de-
liberately failing to feed their 2-year-old
daughter who died last month of starvation.
Mrs. Keeton, 26, who recently gave birth
to another child, was apparently in an Oklaho-
ma City hospital. Whereabouts of the husband
are unknown, officers said.
Murder charges were filed in Oklahoma
County common pleas court against the couple
in the death of their daughter, Carol Ann.
After the girl's death, state welfare offi-
cials said the father had deserted the family
several months earlier.
The murder charge against the couple al-
leges they failed to “feed and nurture” the
child for a sufficient time to result in death
from starvation and malnutrition.
The tot died November 2 and a subsequent
autopsy disclosed she died as a result of "star-
vation and neglect.” The report also said evi-
dence of old skull fractures were found on the
child.
Since the death, the Keetons’ other three
children, including the newborn infant, have
been placed under court custody.
Mrs. Keeton lived with her children at 1842
NW 8 at the time of the death.
Tom Stanfill. child protective services
counsellor for Oklahoma County children's
court, said Mrs. Keeton had another daughter
who died in Texas in 1960.
Stanfill said the death of the first daughter
was caused by pneumonia, but said an autopsy
in Texas also turned up malnutrition and old
fractures. _
Harriman Urges Shift of Attitude
Nixon May Send Peace Delegate Showing
* I rAD
. . ... -r on J J 6Un»,«wi«8iBtMi{Afl umillH hflsip/lllvl I ^ WM
F riction
NEW YORK (AP) — W. meeting with Nixon for morelJanuary 20 and reported that)ministration would basically
,« ,, : — :j ,un. nn v,i,^ unrrimun1 \7nnno mierht remain in Par-ichanee the negotiating ap-
Averell Harriman said
Thursday, after conferring
with President-elect Richard
|M. Nixon, that he is confi-
dent Nixon will send a per-
sonal observer to the Paris
talks and will replace the
11wo principal American ne-
gotiators soon after taking
office.
Nixon, who had tentatively
decided against sending an
observer to the peace talks
before inauguration day,
was said to be shifting his
attitude at the urging of Har-
riman. who said that he and
deputy negotiator Cyrus R.
Vance felt such a move
would be “a very excellent
way to insure continuity.”
Talking to newsmen after-
n lMXUII IUI Iin-Ht* Udliucii v auw -------------- .
than an hour, Harriman Vance might remain in Par-|Change the negotiating ap-
made it clear he and Vance is - but “only for a few proach of the United States,
will turn over their tasks toidays.” And he said he didn t think
Nixon's team on or about The veteran diplomat said 'he Communist side wou
January 20. he thought Nixon would send Pay a Sjeat f*ea 0 ? ™ 1?n
Although there had been an obse™*r “I^do ington*- thaWhey" see little an insider at the special
much speculation that between Demo- headonarters
president-elect would retain no^knowwh^te will be crats and Republicans but re.
either Harriman or Vance in
the interest of continuity,
Chicago Daily Newa
Service
WASHINGTON — "This
place is bedlam,” confided
when he will come.
me line!tat Harriman said he got no
Harriman said he planned to impression in his talk with
crats and Republicans but re-
gard both groups as “impe-
rialist capitalists.”
return to Washington come'Nixon that the incoming ad-
Ballet Chosen
WASHINGTON (AP) -
The American Ballet Thea-
tre will become the resident
ballet company of the John
F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts in Washing-
ton.
Youth Revolt
Wliat’s Wrong With Kids?
What's wrong with the
younger generation?
Young people have
drawn much criticism
and comment in recent
months because of their
activities.
What has brought
about this activity?
Is it bad, or can it
have some good effects?
Times reporter Kay
Dyer has talked with
eight men, prominent in
various fields in Oklaho-
ma, for the answers to
these questions. Her sto-
ry appears on Page 8.
The Paris envoy said he
did tell Nixon that the rather
compact American negotiat-
ing team, including its sup-
porting staff, might have to
be increased soon by a few-
men in order to promote
close liaison with the Saigon
delegation that will join the
talks.
Republican headquarters
set up to prepare for the
inauguration of Richard
M. Nixon as president.
The problem, this source
said, arises from friction
between the two sets of
chiefs who are trying to di-
rect the organiation.
One group is from the
Republican National Corn-
Governors Support
Bliss, Page 28.
• mittee and is loyal to Ray
Asked if he thought North Bliss, the committee chair-
Vietnam had taken military
advantage of the total bomb-
ing halt in the North ordered
last month by President
'.Johnson, Harriman said all
'evidence indicates the North
actually has significantly re-
duced the number of its
forces in the South in recent
weeks.
John D. Brewer. Veterans Administration contact
epresentative, says your original application was In-
■ ompletc and the subsequent information you furnished
was mis-filed at the VA office. Action is now being taken
to issue the certificate and you should receive it soon.
Brewer says when you receive the certificate, you
hould drop by his office in the New Federal Building
ind he will assist you in requesting a hardship payment,
le says that when all the other papers are received at
the Muskogee VA office, prompt action witl bo taken to
pay you a regular allowance.
Society Mum on Money, Members
What’s Inside
Amusements
Bridge
Business News
Classified Section
Comics
National Affairs
Oil Reports
Our World Today
Sports
TV Tidbits
Vital Statistics
Women’s News
29
15
30
31-39
24
22
3
28
25-21
31
21
14-17
City Studies Humane Fee Hike
man. The other group is
from the Nixon organia-
tion and reflects his deter-
mination to replace Bliss.
The friction has made it
hard to reach decisions
and has brought a slowing
down of preparations for
the functions to be held in
connection with the inau-
guration, only six weeks
away.
The cold war apparently
is an effort by the Nixon
w
Thera Is a street light out at the corner of SE 66 and
(See ACTION LINE-Pnge 2)
Want Ada CEM7B
Otar aBi OBMD1
By Jim Standard
A fee increase for the
Humane Society of Oklaho-
ma City is being consid-
ered by city hall, although
the private organization
refuses to part with its fi-
nancial statements or its
membership.
Joe Whorton, an assist-
ant to City Manager Rob-
ert Oldland, confirmed a
study is being made to de-
termine if the fees paid to
the society — $40,000-45,000
per year — are sufficient.
“I’m of the personal
opinion they should be in-
creased,” Whorton said.
“They’ve been the same
since the 1940's.“
The ci’y official raid he
reached Ills conclusion aft-
er conducing anfnfotmnl
inquiry into operations of
the society.
“I came away convinced
they are doing a good
job." Whorton said. "Their
main problem is a public
relations problem. Steps
are being taken to correct
this.”
The license review board
is examining the whole
Oklahoma City's con-
tract with the society gives
the city the right to check
the financial records of ihe
society, but Whorton says
no attempt has been made
to check the records.
First of Two Articles
rate structure, the city of-
ficial said.
Whorton said he was
shown one month's bal-
ance sheet by the society’s
president, Mrs. C. E.
Bretz. and is convinced the
society loses money on the
fee now paid by the city —
75 cents per day for each
dog impounded.
Mrs. Bretz also insists
the society is losing mon-
ey. but declines to nroduoe
financial statements to
back up the claim.
“Our financial statement
is our own private busi-
ness," she said.
Mrs. Bretz says the city
would not be allowed to
see the records even if it
asked.
“The city doesn't own
us; we own ourselves.”
Mrs. Bretz said. "And it's
our own private business. ’
' The society's president
also declined to identify
for publication the names
of society members or offl-
ed that her own name not
be published.
Whorton said Mrs. Bretz
told him the names of
three officers of the socie-
ty. He said she named
Mrs. Frances Dickerson,
widow of longtime city hall
figure Leonard Dickerson,
as vice president.
“She also told me who
was secretary, but I can’t
locate my notes." Whorton
said.
forces to persuade Bliss to
step down as chairman.
The Nixon camp gives
Bliss credit for being “a
good nuts and bolts man.”
But it has indicated that
the new president wants a
Republican national chair-
man who is young and glib
— someone who can play
an active public speaking
role and give the party a
youthful image.
cers.
"It would ciuse them
pmbr>rrpssment, nil of the
crank calls and every-
thing.” Mrs. Bretz said.
"I’m just not going to do
It."
Mrs. Bretz also request-
Clyde Barber, manager
of the Humane Society’s
shelter at 2811 SE 29. also
declined to name directors
of the society. He referred
questions to Mrs. Bretz.
Although she won’t pro-
duce financial statements.
Mrs. Bretz said the 75
cents per day paid by the
city government for each
amt
Local: Clear to partly
cloudv through Friday.
Warmer Friday. Thursday
night lows near 30. Friday
highs in the lower 60’s.
(Details. Page 21.)
HOURLY TCMPt*ATU«I __
~ i t* a.r$. M
4 0# a.m.
3
(8m CITY—Pag* 2)
a.r
7:01 am.
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Gaylord, E. K. Oklahoma City Times (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 79, No. 249, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 5, 1968, newspaper, December 5, 1968; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc993246/m1/1/: accessed August 15, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.