New Jersey Nightly News; 03/26/1980

The hostages are free in mate surrender at the Essex County jail and a guard is charged with providing the gun that started it up. We'll have several reports plus an interview with a key negotiator. Things are a little lighter in sports we decide to do a little curling. Thing a prison guard has been arrested and all hostages have been released from the Essex County Jail. The siege ended peacefully this dawn broke this morning. We have two reports the first from Reggie Wells who was there when it was all over. Right. Right. Let me get. This was the chaotic but happy ending to the 13 hour siege of the Essex County Jail. At 6:15 this morning for the prison guards were released after being held hostage by

inmates who took over the 10th floor of the jail yesterday afternoon. Earlier yesterday a gun was smuggled into the jail. A guard was overpowered and then shot. The cells were then opened and the prisoners went on a rampage that lasted well after nightfall. The injured guard escaped but five other guards were taken hostage during the violence one of them was severely beaten. And it one point inmates threatened to throw one. The hostage is out of one of the windows they had broken. During the siege the inmates had demanded to have a black reporter on the negotiating team w a b c's John Johnson arrived by helicopter and was cheered wildly by the inmates. Then as night fell several fires broke out in the jail and officials began to worry about the safety of the rest of the inmate population. Spacious Essex County executive Peter Shapiro announced at 9:00 PM that there would be no further press briefings until there was substantial movement in the negotiations. Then the injured guard suffering from serious head wounds was released.

The first sign that a settlement might be near finally at 3:30 a.m. Essex County prosecutor Donald Coburn announced that the inmates had agreed to release the hostages and reporters learned for the first time some of the prisoners demands warrants one point was that the inmates would not be prosecuted for the takeover of the jail or the property damage with respect to the jail but that the matters involving the injuries to two of the officers would be fully investigated. That a grievance committee would be immediately established within the representation to air their grievances that the inmates would return to their own cells. And that is going on at the present time. That inmate visitations would continue uninterrupted and that I would take into consideration with respect to them and the fact of their cooperation in bringing this matter to a close. By daybreak the jail was quiet again but the broken windows and strewn

debris was a grim reminder of the events of the previous 13 hours in Newark. I'm Reggie wells. This is Jack Kennedy. Shortly after 5 o'clock this morning police arrested a prison guard. Twenty nine year old John Belcher of East Orange and charged him with smuggling a handgun into the jail. A handgun that could have been used in a prison escape. Don't you is also being charged with conspiring to smuggle narcotics into the jail. He's being held now without bail at the Union County jail presumably for his own protection. At a news conference today Essex County prosecutor Donal Coburn said it was the smell. Will the handgun and not prison conditions that led to yesterday's problems it appears to me and I've indicated this this morning that the precipitating factor here was the receipt in the jail of the gun and the. My impression is that although the demands made by the men were on things that they feel about

that those alone would not have led to this particular action. Two women 18 year old Wendy Miller and 23 year old Sharon Moses were also arrested in connection with a handgun. But Coburn would not or could not elaborate on their role in the incident or their relationship to Belcher but it appears that the narcotics squad turned up the leads that led to their arrest. While the investigation continued the cleanup began here on the 10th floor of the jail debris was scattered everywhere torn mattresses broken glass and no one is sure how long these floors will be closed. The damage here may cost the county up to a quarter of a million dollars to repair guards work 12 hour shift today as things return to normal. Most were puzzled about belters role in the incident. He had worked here for over a year seemed to be a model employee. The jail is a temporary detention center for men and women awaiting trial or sentencing

officials admit the architecture is a big problem. Too many blind alleys. No system for securing all the floors at once during a disturbance. The jail opened nine years ago and there have been numerous escape attempts though few have been successful. Officials call it a model facility. The guards say it's often overcrowded and chronically understaffed. But the official view is that the trouble here was not related to prison conditions. So while there are still more questions than answers at this point the direction of the investigation has changed. Last night it looked like a prison revolt. Today officials strongly suspect it was an aborted escape attempt because they say there would have been no trouble inside the jail had a gun not been smuggled inside. At the Essex County Jail in New York I'm Jack cutie. Much of the action in the all night vigil at the jail warden Albert Collier correspondent Tony Burke talked to the warden late today.

I found one Kolya exhausted but relieved when I met with him in his office today after nearly 30 straight hours on the job. I asked the warden what basic problem had caused this incident to get so out of hand yesterday. Though they were they wanted me in Britain and it was well. They wanted. I don't think they would do it. You're. Actually. Going out with one of the other version when the homeless guy on Rob and that's an area suggests that not all of the inmates will on the floor were involved.

Is that correct. Correct. Ever took over the serpent at the height of the north and that. When I went to work I could readily about 90 percent who wanted to run. In your experience is that the normal pattern the kind of thing happen most of the inmates and not really involved with and not really involved. It's a yes from your perspective in dealing with all of the implications of a day later. Your feeling about how this kind of an incident might affect the public's perception of the security in the jail now because of the. Corrections have been the bad guys. Who were there with the

dollars the brooding criminal and the other guy. A mission of. Drive by the. Government. It's a difficult time for you in the sense that the budget process for the county of ethics you think this kind of incident coming at the time will affect. The ability to get enough money to operate. Which is a. Terrible thing to the public. Many times you do go broke your. I'm going to

take the position that this kind of thing would not have happened because you probably think you don't have enough money to run. Would you have any of this kind of incident the say there I thought we needed no money a lot of manpower. Well I would never survive to have 500 officers and for going into the jail. You've got the situation I think a lot of the people don't like it but I was with that phrase one of the critical question of many people in the public would demand argue that on the present whenever and they do something like this you chose not to do that and I do not agree with that that this is we're not going to like that if more people are involved. It's my power to control drugs.

Nothing I'm going to go for and let them without the reserves and added my father we never even thought of. Don't we. Were you under any pressure from anywhere to do that. No because I live with my bruises and there will be no run of the situations which I seemed to think yesterday during the event was some confusion about what particular law enforcement agency really was in charge here is that a problem you're going to have to address now as I am yours when the situation happened. Count yourself accountable and others and living with that one time out of control and through illness or as rigid as that who would be would run

into problems of time going to the drawer with all out war with your own either come to that where we did manage to get through it. At one point yesterday there were five separate independent law enforcement agencies on the scene. Even the New York City Police were called in to provide a bag in the event any hostages had been thrown from the building. One Kolya and other county officials certainly appreciate that assistance but acknowledged that among the first of their many responsibilities now will be the development of a plan to effectively coordinate such manpower in the event that this kind of tragedy ever occurs again Carol. Thank you guys. And we'll be right back with the story of one mobsters funeral and another sentence for murder. Angelo Bruno the godfather of South Jersey in Philadelphia was buried today

last Friday night to a shotgun blast and Bruno's life on the street in front of a house in south Philadelphia. And one morning more than a thousand people crowded around a small church just a few blocks away Steve Taylor was there. A rant of curious faces gave way reluctantly when the heavy bronze coffin arrived at the Church of the epiphany of our Lord inside about 250 relatives friends and associates waited for the remains of Angelo Bruno. The funeral was private. The thousand or so people outside. Many from the neighborhood had nearly an hour to think about the Mafia and about the ways men can die. Last year there were two mob style killings which may be related to the Bruno shooting combine Galante was murdered in the garden of a Brooklyn restaurant. And Anthony little pussy Russo died near his Monmouth County office. Some informers say the shootings had to do with a mob dispute over control of Atlantic City. The same sources say Bruno was shot by two hit men from an organization in Hoboken hired by The New York mob. But there have been no arrests and police say they haven't got any suspects.

After the funeral Bruno's widow and children were the first to come out. Among the many mourners who followed were Rosario and Giuseppe Gambino cousins of the late New York crime boss Carter Gambino. Just last week the Gambino brothers were charged with drug trafficking in New Jersey. There were 30 limousines in the funeral procession and they were joined by dozens of other cars for the half hour drive to the cemetery where Angelo Bruno was buried in a family plot. In Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia. I'm Steve Taylor. And shortly after Bruno's funeral ended another alleged mobster was standing before a New Jersey judge period Court Judge William R. Kaysing sentenced Patrick to Zuko to eight to 12 years in state prison on a murder charge. It was part of a bargain struck with state criminal investigators. He could have gotten 15 years and found walk ins reports the door still wide open for presume to continue his cooperation. As Patrick Brazil was brought to Passaic County courthouse this morning under his constant heavy guard

it looked like a quick sentencing procedure. It was my first surprise was two newspaper cameras allowed in the courtroom and they captured the defendant as he listened to Chief state prosecutor Mickey Brown recite all that the president has done in the state's two year investigation into La Cosa Nostra wearing secret transmitting devices leading fellow mobsters into conversations about past and future crimes and his testimony get two previous trials. Judge William R. Casey several times emphasized that Brazil has not fulfilled his bargain with the state until he testifies in the great mob trial going on in Freehold. But the judge recognized the work already completed and the danger president has accepted. That's eight to 12 years instead of the pre-determined a maximum of 15 years on a charge of second degree murder. There was little doubt as to Bhutto's reaction to the sentence. After work visit his attorney admitted to surprise and hinted at an important possible change of heart by his client expected the 14 and the 15

8 to 12 as is significant what the most significant thing that happened today though was the fact that the prosecutor. Made a representation that in the event visit O does testify in Freehold they will come back into court and move the court perhaps for a reduction a sentence that may prompt the Zuda at this point to re-evaluate and perhaps testify that there could very well not be an appeal today's sentence. Instead the focus being special security arrangements for visit Oh while he's in prison. Patrick visitors future is in many ways uncertain. Even his lawyer during the plea for a reduced sentence based on the monumental scope of visitor's cooperation with the state. Admittedly his client has broken the code of silence demanded by the Cosa Nostra and by doing that Adolph Geo said he has made himself a marked man at Passaic County Courthouse in Paterson.

I'm Phelps talking. Bergen County authorities are seeking extradition of a Bronx man to New Jersey in connection with the murder of a Fort Lee woman Sunday. Thirty year old Peter Coy he again with arrested Monday in connection with the murder of Mrs. Lawrence Keith of Fort Lee during a robbery at the teats home. Authorities said go he going was acquainted with Mrs. Keith and they say they have leads on two other suspects believed to have been involved in the robbery. Opening arguments began today in the conspiracy trial of State Senator David Friedland and his father former Assemblyman Jacob Freedman Manahan was at the federal courthouse in Newark. The case against the freed lands involves a three and a half million dollar pension fund for members of Teamsters trucking local seven a run in New Brunswick. Three hundred and sixty thousand dollars in cash kickback alleged to have been paid to the freelancers auto involved and allege $1000000 with bank account in the name of Senator Fred land and his father Jake up where law partners in Jersey City and a man described as an internationally known swindler and Barry Marlin who has agreed to cooperate as a government witness in exchange for leniency.

The whole courtroom waited anxiously for prosecution witness Barry Marlin to take the stand at the afternoon. The man defense attorney Ray Brown had described earlier in the day as a confessed liar a perjurer and a thief who would con money out of hundreds of innocent people from all over the country including widows and paraplegic and his own mother in law for fraudulent investment deals and his remarks to the jury Brown wanted them to be careful that they too could be conned by this man. Later when prosecuting attorney Michael Himmel began questioning his witness Barry Marlin he asked him how he obtained money for his investment deal. Marlon answered by getting groups of people together to buy property that they could not afford to buy themselves. How much money did he collect over the years. Marlon answered about forty nine million dollars and how many of your investment people ever we think would benefit from their investment. The answer from Marlon. Some. The prosecution is expected to continue questioning Marlen tomorrow about his swindling operation to try and persuade the jury to believe that the two freed lands were also

involved with Marlin and his alleged deal. I can't man a hand. The U.S. attorney general's office is seeking Senator Harrison Williams telephone records in connection with its Abscam investigation. A spokesman for New Jersey's U.S. senator said negotiations are underway with federal authorities. He said Williams is willing to provide the documents but he's concerned about the attorney general's legal authority to demand a senator's records. New Jersey officials are going to have to approve the state's tax on commuters from New York a match of their burden on the state's transportation system. That ruling today from the state Supreme Court which tossed the case back brought by three New York residents back to the Superior Court. The justices ruled state officials must demonstrate to the lower court that New York residents are charged fairly. And interest. Interest rates on auto loans by private finance companies and car dealers will most likely go up. Governor Burnside a bill today raising the interest ceilings on those loans bill sponsor of Mercer County Assemblyman Francis the Madam and

says he hopes the new law will make car loans more available because auto finance ears have had problems recently since other interest rates of the ward. The new law allows finance companies to charge up to fourteen point five five percent on three year loans and retail car dealers can now charge up to 16 percent for new cars and to almost 20 percent for used cars under two years old. Now here's the weather forecast for the state will have clearing skies and cold temperatures tonight. Lows will be in the mid 20s inland and low 30s near the coast. It should be mostly sunny and mild tomorrow. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 50s. And the outlook for Friday increasing cloudiness but mild. Then Time now for sports news here's Bill Perry.

Thank you Karen there are problems concerning the construction of the Meadowlands sports arena the latest projection is that the total cost is going to run over 76 million dollars that's 39 percent over the initial estimate of 55 mill construction is at least three months behind schedule there is practically no chance that the Nets will get to play in the new arena at all during the one thousand nine hundred eighty one basketball season platform tennis the national championships are underway today. The opening rounds of competition among the women at the Short Hills Country Club it's all doubles and platform tennis one serve right there serves no good. OK you move over and serve for the next point. Balls in play and you play it on your court two players at the net. Here's the drive to the point with the overhead you see it off the back screen that's good ball still in play. Another overhead return nicely. Another slam and this one is going to be out. There are now eight teams remaining of the original 28. One of my nose will be quite some one at the club New Jersey's MUP in Salonika and Mac Paul stack both from some that are still alive they're the eighth seeded team and all eight of the top seeds

survive. Looks like a good game I think I'd like to play it some time. The men's competition begins at the College Baseball today couple of Trenton State 3 around a pole for Stephens tech nothing when you say crowing to me I think of sheets blankets pillows and even my teddy bear. But Trista Gaspar tells us about the sport of curling. Well I'd say it's sort of like a nice strategy comes down to chess. It is this word of this disease that's what it is. What they're describing is curling. It's played on ice and the object of the game is to get this £42 that granite called The way that you get in there that make this more unusual. After the stone is thrown or delivered it's swept or rather the ice in front of the stone is swept derisively. This melts the ice ever so slightly and in this fashion the stone is held as one player told me this is the only sport in the world where you can

score a goal and change the speed and direction of an object without ever touching it. As a matter of fact it's illegal for a player for his broom to touch the stone. It started in Scotland in 15:00 came to this country in 1830 and now there are several hundred growing clubs in the United States. But the only one in New Jersey in the playing field currently And here it's a family of that young and the athletic and the not so athletic. Together it's a sport I can be really being an athlete you would rather be out of place someplace. They tell me that the most important part of any hurling match in the end when they rank at the playing field a curling club. The city will host the first United States women's world bodybuilding championships and couples competition April 8th Trish has already told me she will

not answer Karen some 30 female body and six couples from across the country are expected to compete with interest. Voters turned down three out of every 10 school budgets yesterday. Those rejected budgets now go to municipal governing bodies which can either trim the budget or leave them just as they are. Voters also elected school board members in 571 school districts and in Milltown the school board race we profiled yesterday in our closer look segment. The winners were Harold Herbert the son of the local Democratic chairman then brought up the son of the late Mayor and Francis Barron a political newcomer. Once again our top stories tonight the hostages were freed at the Essex County jail and a guard has been charged with smuggling a gun to inmates. South Jersey mob boss Angelo Bruno was buried today. He was shot to death Friday night outside his Philadelphia home. And that's the new for Bill Perry and I'm Karen. Good night for the New Jersey knightly new.

Jersey is a joint presentation of New Jersey Public Television.