✓ News D 1 ^ ^ditedby Victoria Ayotte - --------- —- ■ —- -wbSw^» Bakker convicted of conspiracy, fraud CHARLOTTE, N.C. - TV evangelist Jim Bakker was convicted Thursday of fleecing his followers of $3.7 million so that he could surround himself with everything from Rolls Royces to gold-plated swan-shaped bathroom fixtures. A federal jury deliberated a day end a half before convicting Bakker on all 24 counts of fraud and conspiracy for overselling time shares, or “partnerships,” at his ministry/s resort hotels to loyal followers of his PTL empire. The 49-year-old preacher could receive up to 120 years in prison and $5 million in fines. A sentencing date was not immediately set Prosecutors said Bakker diverted the money to live in high style, buying fancy cars, lavish homes, Rolex watches, diamonds, an air-con 7 believe he began Ih earnest...But eventually the money became too much/or him.’ ~HK MNHIMBHBHHHHHMI Bakkei and his wife, Tammy, showed little emotion as the verdict was read. Mrs. Bakker was not charged in the case. "The prosecution did an excellent job. We kept looking for something from the defense and we never saw it," said jury foreman Ricky Hill. "His testimony did not weigh on me one bit," the foreman said. "I believe he began m earnest. He was called by God. But eventually the money became too much for him." "He was a man of God," Hill added. He got corrupt and I feel sorry for the man. As they awaited the v erdict in the courtroom Thursday morning, several Bakker supporters held Bibles opened to Psalm 17, which reads: "Thou hast tried me, and shall find nothing. Prosecutors contended that Bakker raised $158 million by selling "lifetime partner ships" at his Heritage USA retreat near Fort Mill, S.C., but used the money for projects other than the lodging he promised. Partners typically paid $1,000 for the promise of three nights' lodging annually at the theme park. Bakker resigned from the ministry in 1987 in a sex and money scandal. “You can't lie to people to send you money - it's that simple,'' prosecutor Deborah Smith told the jury. “You can't tell half-truths. If you do it, if you use the postal service and the public air waves you will find yourself in federal court answering charges of mail and wire fraud. That’s wny we're here today, because that's just what Mr. Bakker did." Bakker’s attorneys said he was a victim of circumstances and a minister worr ied about the survival of his church. “I think 93 percent of the evidence in this case by the government is circumstantial,” defense attorney George Davis said. Noriega: Opposition leader ‘screwed’ PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Eight armed men in civilian clothes fired in the air outside the office where oppo sition leader Guillermo Endara was on a hunger strike Thursday, dispers ing scores of supporters gathered outside. Some of the gunmen entered En dara’s office and took his secretary with them, but the secretary was later released. “At 4 p.m. armed civilians came and fired in the air,” Endara told journalists after the eight gunmen left “It was as if they were invisible because the police (directing traffic at a nearby comer) did nothing.’* The former opposition presiden tial candidate said he would continue his 16-day-old hunger strike as part of a campaign to oust Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega. Noriega survived a coup attempt Tuesday, and in a televised speech Thursday he said he had evidence the United States planned to install En dara as president after the coup. ‘‘This hunger-striking buffoon sneaks out to eat (Tuesday) so he can be well fed when he takes over the presidency. But he’s screwed,’ * Nori ega said. Noriega said he was going to pres ent his hand-picked provisional president, Francisco Rodriguez, with a package of ' war laws ' dealing with security because Panama is liv ing “in a moment of emergency.” Noting that U.S. troops stood by and watched as the rebellion failed, Noriega said the United States “left its agents in the lurch. He said (he bungled coup was another Bay of Pigs for the United States, referring to the CIA-supported invasion of Cuba that failed in 1961. “They mistakenly believed that everyone has a price and that every one is a traitor, he said in a speech from the provincial town of Santiago. The civilian opposition and the United States have denied any role in the coup attempt The United State* recognizes Endara as the legitimate president because of his victory in May 7 elec tions that were annulled by Noriega. Endara was drinking only water, taking prescribed medicine and eat ing only the wafer of Mass, but he appeared healthy. E. Germans left behind fight for freedom HOF, West Germany — Freedom trains brought 7,600 East Germans to the West on Thursday after a slow, cold trip that witnesses said was dis rupted when thousands left behind fought police in an attempt to board the locked cars. More than 600 more East Ger mans were heading for sanctuary in West Germany from Poland. The refugees who reached this town Thursday from Prague, Czecho slovakia, had spent up to 14 hours locked in unhealed East German trains. Many had long waits outside the West German Embassy in Prague for a chance to get in and join the exodus. “We spent the night outside the gate,** said Guido Albrecht, 26, of Potsdam. “It was really cold, but we kept hoping we’d get in. We were ready to stay longer if necessary.*’ Compassionate gestures by Czechoslovak civilians made things easier. Many brought chocolate for the children or gave hot tea to people sitting in the cold. As the East Ger mans boarded buses for the railroad station, crowds gathered to applaud and wave. Eighteen East Germans voluntar ily left the U.S. Embassy Wednesday evening after a 31 -hour occupation. The mass departure came on the eve of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorachev’s arrival in East Germany for weekend celebrations marking the communist country’s 40th anni versary. Gorbachev is expected to ask the aging leaders, who have resisted his reforms, what they plan to do about a flight to the West that is draining much of the strict East German re gime’s work force. Extra police woe posted in East Berlin, especially outside Western diplomatic missions, to prevent pro democracy protests during the Gor bachev visit In Prague, about 200 East Ger mans who stayed behind left the West German Embassy late Thursday, heading home with promises from their government of legal emigration within months. Czechoslovak police sealed off the embassy to stop any more East Germans from reaching it. East Ger many restricted travel to Czechoslo vakia earlier this week. East Germans began making their way west uirougn Hungary wnen mat communist country removed ob stacles from its border with Austria in May. Since Hungary made the traffic legal Sept 10, more than40,000 East Germans have used that route to West Germany, which grants them auto matic citizenship and helps them start new lives. Nearly 7,000 more East Germans arrived in West Germany last week end from Warsaw and Prague, where they had taken refuge in West Ger man embassies. Before the latest trains passed through East Germany late Wednes day and early Thursday, thousands of people chanting “We want out!" lined the tracks and flocked to sta tions in hopes of jumping aboard. Police in Dresden, East Germany, reportedly used clubs and water can nons to drive crowds back from the main railroad station “It was a horrible scene," said a woman from Dresden who asked not to be identified because she feared reprisals. “People were trying des perately to get to the platforms and the tracks, but the police forced them back." Senate approves statutory ban on flag burning WASHINGTON - The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a statutory ban on defacing the American flag after defeating a pro* posed revision that sponsors said could prove fatal in a future court test. President George Bush said he respected the action but would con tinue to push for a constitutional amendment. ' The 91-9 final vole came after maneuvering by Senate Republicans, who say along with Bush that amend ing the Constitution nutier than pass ing a simple statute is the only effec tive way to counter last June’s Su preme Court decision throwing out a Texas flag-burning law. The bill, which previously passed the House but now returns there for -.■ ■ .— "« consideration of Senate changes, calls for up to a $! ,000 fine and a year in jail for burning or otherw ise defac athe flag. Both houses are to con r a proposed amendment to the Constitution later this month. The Democrats say they have carefully worded their bill to protect it against an expected new court chal lenge on frec-speech grounds. At the White House, Bush called on Confess to approve the constitu tional flag-desecration amendment he supports, despite »he' lopsided Senate vote “I respect the intention of those who voted for fa statutory ban). But I continue to belie ve such an approach is inadequate in light of the Supreme Court deciswn,” Bush said. 'T be lieve that a constitutional amend ment, properly drawn, is necessary, hi order to provide proper protec tion.*1 *» lap?*> tf, 'Mm - ..Daily - Nebraskan toner OkOijf cmnfClii rfowJ>“onui ^ovmi uv i ThaOaHy NabraatertfJSPS144 000)* puoaanad by th* UML PuMUMOha t_ braaka Union S4,1400 ft St . Lincoln. NE, Monday through Frid^vAattiglinacadamic yaar; araably during aummar aaaatona. _ ’ haaaooaaa to tha PuMcattona Board. For Mormalon. oonttrfPam 47*2800. -AVI • r'Hi fit ifll iitflg!#! fVlt if a ' 1 ^ I . Tall women difficult to fit NEW YORK - Brooke Shields, Cher and Sigourney Weaver are among the nearly S million Ameri can women 5 feet 8 inches or over who are considered tall. While they and other high-paid fashion models and movie stars can afford the luxury of custom clothing, the majority of tall women face count less frustrations finding fashion able, affordable quality clothing that fits. Trends such as minislortt and cropped jackets add to their ward robe woes. Recently in Charlotte, N.C.; St Ixuis; Denver and San Jose, Calit., women of average means but above-average stature gath ered to focus on die pros and cons of their extra inches. They woe brought together by JCPcnney which twice yearly publishes the Especially for Tails’’ ratai^g which offers fashions propor tioned far tall wornai - S ftret 8 inches to 5 feet 11 inches - aid ultra-tails, those up to 6 feet 2 inches. _ “Their height gives them a MIMC of power and authority,” O Connell said. “Many aid they’ve gotten ahead in their ca reers because they act more asser tive than their shorter counleroarts and find they leave a lasting im pression. “The downside for them is the great difficulty in building a ward robe because most specialty and department stores offer little or no rtrcl specifically tailored for woman 5 feet 8 Inches and above.” O’Connell says most tali women find that ckxbini designed for average sizes just