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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2000)
Convicted killer wants new trial ♦ SALEM — Frank Gable might not have been convicted of killing Oregon’s corrections di rector in 1989 if DNA testing had been used, Gable’s attorney ar gued today while seeking a new trial for his client. “This is a very weak case,” said the attorney, Ken Hadley. “It would have taken very little to change the outcome of this trial.” But an Oregon assistant attorney general, Stephanie Andrus, said there are doubts whether such test ing was sophisticated enough at the time or whether there was enough evidence to be tested. Hadley is seeking to show that Gable’s attorneys didn’t give him an adequate defense. If Circuit Judge Frank Raguen agrees, he could grant Gable a new trial. Hadley said there is no scientif ic evidence linking Gable to the crime, such as fingerprints, and that the only person who identi fied Gable as the killer was a man involved in the drug world whose testimony was “very shaky.” Gable contends he is innocent, and members of the Francke fam ily believe him. “Frank Gable, in my humble opinion, didn’t commit the crime, and he shouldn’t be in jail. I think he got a bum deal,” Patrick Francke, Michael Francke’s older brother, told the (Salem) Statesman Journal. Michael Francke, 42, was stabbed in the heart the night of Jan. 17,1989, in the parking lot in front of the Corrections Depart ment’s headquarters. At the time, Francke’s relatives said he was about to root out criminal activities in the Correc tions Department. No motive for his murder was established. Prosecutors theo rized that Gable stabbed the pris ons chief when Francke caught him burglarizing his car. Marion County District Attor ney Dale Penn is adamant that Gable was the killer and that he got a fair trial. Gable contends that lead de fense lawyer Robert Abel was drunk at the trial and failed to present an alibi defense asserting that Gable was not at the correc tions agency’s headquarters when Francke was killed.. Patrick Francke disagreed, say ing that Gable “got pqor represen tation, very poor representation. Frank Gable should get a new tri al with a competent lawyer who would present a proper defense.” “It’s very disturbing, to be quite honest with you,” Patrick Francke said, referring to Gable’s murder conviction and life sen tence without parole. “I don’t think Frank G&ble is the greatest guy in the world. He had a lot of faults, but I don’t think he was a murderer. I don’t think he’s wired up that way.” Gable’s guilt will not be at is sue during the post-conviction proceeding. His bid for a new tri al hinges on whether he received an adequate defense. Gable, now 40, is housed in a cellblock reserved for inmates who fear being preyed upon by other inmates. The Associated Press Student prankster hires famous aeent POWERS — The high school valedictorian who sneaked into the boys’ locker room and show ered with five boys as a senior prank has turned into such a celebrity that she’s hired an agent — who is now threatening a law suit against the school. David Hans Schmidt, who once represented figure skater Tonya Harding, said he signed a contract Monday with 18-year-old Leslie Shorb to act as her agent and pub licist. As punishment for last month’s shower stunt, officials at Powers High School denied Shorb the honor of being valedictorian of her 16-member class and deliver ing a speech at graduation, sus pended her for 10 days, and pro hibited her from going to the prom and the senior trip to Mexico. Schmidt said he wants to per suade school officials to restore Shorb’s valedictorian title and allow her to speak at graduation June 2. “We’re not advocating that high school girls across America jump into the showers with boys — or vice versa — but this was just an envelope-pushing incident and that’s all,” Schmidt said. “It was all in good fun and ranks up there with senior skip day or putting toilet paper over the principal’s tree. It was about as innocent as you can get.” Schmidt said school officials were unwilling to work on the is sue when he talked to them Mon day morning, so he has begun preparations for a lawsuit against the school — alleging the punish ment was too severe. Carla Blanton, the school board chairman, declined comment. “We have no comment on stu dent discipline and student records,” she said. Shorb’s mother, Rhonda Shorb, said the family decided to hire Schmidt because they were over whelmed by the publicity her daughter received. The daughter has appeared on national television and is still getting calls for inter views and personal appearances. “We didn’t know what to do. We just needed someone to help out. It wasn’t going away — and it was taking over our lives, ” she said. Shorb’s 10-day suspension end ed Monday, and she planned to re turn to school Tuesday. Rhonda Shorb said the shower incident was a spontaneous prank — al though it also prompted a debate over how much supervision there was in the school’s locker rooms. Rhonda Shorb said Leslie is worried she could lose scholar ship money she needs to attend Oregon State University. Still, Hollywood is calling. Schmidt said he will be sorting through offers Shorb has received to appear on television shows, in cluding Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” and Montel Williams’ day time show. “We don’t have to coach her much. She’s the valedictorian and catches on quick. She’s honest and forthright and never even had a parking ticket violation before,” he said. “She’s good kid who just did something that kids do.” The Associated Press ALL DAY TUESDAY PIZZfl . VETe^ 2673 Willamette • 484-0996 <**■•»?<< 1* S JMj* » *4*4 *«►* 4 **« “h ENTERTAINMENT WEEKL Y “lHOT TICKETNEWSWEEK FRIDAY, MAY 5th & SATURDAY, MAY 6™ • 8pm CRYSTAL BALLROOM PORTLAND www.margaretcho.net TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING McMENAMIN'S LOCATIONS: THE BARLEY MILL, JOHN BARLEYCORNS. THE CEDAR HILLS PUB & THE MALL 205 LOCATION. ALL DATES, ACTS & TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. A SERVICE CHARGE IS ADDED TO FROM EACH TICKET PRICE. TICKETS WITH NO SERVICE CHARGE AVAILABLE AT THE CRYSTAL BALLROOM BOX OFFICE t. ONLINE AT www.ticketweb.com. DAY OF SHOW TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE CRYSTAL BALLROOM BOX OFFICE ONLY. THIS SHOW IS OPEN TO PATRONS AGES 21 & OVER. CHARGE BY PHONE: (503) 225-0047 x239 . entertainment BILL GRAHAM PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BESTLAFF CONCERTS Join the campus award-winning newspaper The Oregon Daily Emerald is now accepting applications for the following positions on next year’s news staff: APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 12th t IN-DEPTH DESK New Reporter Position t COPY EDITING * Night Editor/Copy Chief Copy Editors Sports Copy Editor } STUDENT ACTIVITIES DESK Editor Reporters | COMMUNITY DESK Editor Reporters t HIGHER EDUCATION DESK Editor Reporters t SPORTS Editor Reporters | EDITORIAL/PERSPECTIVES Editor Columnists } FREELANCE/SUPPLEMENTS Editor Features Reporters t PULSE Editor Reporters t GRAPHICS AND DESIGN Design Director Graphic Artist/Page Designers Editorial Illustrator/Cartoonist t PHOTOGRAPHY Photo Editor Photographers Darkroom Techs | ON-LINE EDITION Editor Webmaster Applications are due 5:00 p.m., Friday. May 12, 2000. Ail positions are paid. Applications can be picked up at the ODE office (Suite 300, EMU) or visit our website at www.dailyemerald.com (click on "Employment”). Relevant work samples should be submitted with each application. Questions? Call 346-5511 Also hiring for summer term The Oregon Daily Emerald is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a culturally diverse workplace. u ii-nwwwfT^1 Pick up an Emerald at 03camPus & community locations.
