The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 2

Evtning Journal, Wilmington, Friday, February 9, 1979 Smyrna Home Fixers Indicted on 18 Theft Charges By MERRITT WALLICK and JERRY HAGER DOVER The owners of The House Doctors, a Smyrna contracting firm, were indicted on 18 additional charges of felony theft by the Kent County grand jury this week. James P. Kaetzel, 27, and his father, George, 64, both of Woodland Beach Road in Smyrna, allegedly bilked 18 Kent County homeowners out of $34,000 by taking money for home repair and construction they never performed. The two were charged with five counts of felony theft by the New Castle County grand jury last month for a similar scheme. They are scheduled to be arraigned in Kent County Superior Court Feb.

16. Authorities estimate the total theft in both counties at $100,000. "Apparently they were very credible," Deputy Attorney General Christopher J. Curtin said. "When they said something, they seemed sincere," he said when asked how they were allegedly able to get people to continue to give them money when none of the work being paid for was being done.

One Kenton woman allegedly paid the company a total of $2,000 on four different occasions last summer for work that was never done on her home. Another man made several payments on a home he contracted the company to build, Curtin said. At least 24 different people each were cheated out of a minimum of $300, Curtin said. The company had been a reputable, local business for several years, he said, "but last year everything fell apart for them." Curtin directed the investigation by the state Division of Consumer Affairs. The case has been turned over to Deputy Attorney General Kenneth R.Abraham.

George Kaetzel and his wife, Charlotte, are also charged with perjury foi allegedly testifying that they had no business relationship to The House Doctors. The Smyrna-based business was never licensed by the state and is not related to other Delaware contracting firms by that name, state police said, referring to a Wilmington-based contracting firm, The House Doctor, Inc. John Lyons, one of the principals in the Wilmington firm, said that his business has been confused more than once with the "Smyrna outfit." According to Sheldon Weinstein, attorney for Lyons, The House Doctor Inc. was incorporated on Dec. 9, 1977, and is registered with the state.

Partly because of that, however, "Weinstein said that his client's business has been sued on three occasions by people meaning to sue the Smyrna firm. "They look up House Doctor in the state register and fill out their papers," Weinstein said, "never checking." In all three cases, the matter was eventually straightened out but not without some expense to Lyons. "Lawyers get paid for the time they consume," Lyons said. "Every time there is another foul-up I know I've got to pay for it." Lyons' lawyer even tried to get the Kaetzels to stop using the House Doctor name, but wasn't successful, Besides the suits, Lyons said, several times his employees couldn't purchase building materials because store clerks confused the two firms, and the Smyrna firm owed money. Lyons is especially peeved at the state, which tried to serve papers to his attorney in a case which actually involved the Smyrna firm.

"You'd think the state would be able to check this thing out before they do something like that," he complained. "You pay out of the right pocket to protect yourself and you pay out of the left pocket, and if you aren't looking they hit you right between the eyes," he said. Gentleman As Calling Bandit Presents Pistol Card on Kirkwood Hwy. 9 v. tattler A I groomed and impeccably dressed.

The man's upper front teeth seem to slant backwards, his hair is ear-length and he has brown eyes, according to Anyone with information about the robber can call state police confidentially at Troop 2, State Road. On the latest bulletin given to reporters, police say it is strongly felt that the suspect will hit again in the same area." vr UPlTekphoU By PHIL MILFORD The Gentleman Bandit dapper, polite and middle-aged struck again twice last night, running his string of armed robberies to six within less than a month. Apparently, he specializes in stores on Kirkwood Highway and is happy in his work. But however friendly and cheerful he may appear, his guests for cash are backed up by a not-so-friendly chrome-plated semi-automatic pistol. State Police won't say the man wants to be caught but concede he doesn't seem to be trying very hard not to be.

"He's not very innovative in his approach," said one investigator, sticking to' one area and hitting stores dangerously close to one another. A sketch of the man made by police has been circulated to stores along the highway, but despite numerous inquiries, police have not been able to identify him. About 6:10 last night the man dressed as usual in a stylich overcoat and "walking hat," entered the Clothing Warehouse near Prices Corner. Behind the counter was a 17-year-old high school boy. Police said the bandit browsed before pulling his pistol.

The boy handed him about $150. The boy described the thief as "nice," and said he was told he would not be hurt. The next victim was "scared stiff" according to one report: That was at the Country Maid convenience store, also near Prices Corner, where the bandit appeared at 7:15 p.m., police said. Inside was a 15-year-old girl who A Proliferation of Brotherly Wit Sara Matar, of Monterey, sits on top of the latest birthday gift from his brother John, of Chicago 10 ton of rocks delivered to the front door of his auto dealersliip. They have whacky birthday gifts for years, elephant, a camel, belly dancrs high plastic bag labeled 'California Chester County Man Held in 77 Shooting A Chester man, wanted for the past 15 months in connection with a shooting near Newark, surrendered yesterday, according to Delaware State Police.

William L. Wilson 21, of Hilltop Road, West Grove, was indicted last June in New Castle County on two charges of assault and two charges of possession of a deadly weapon, police said. He allegedly fired a shotgun at Michael Hrycak, 18, of near Newark and Patrick Malone, 20, of Ironwood Drive, Lamatan, on Nov. 24, 1977. Police said Wilson pulled up next to a car, occupied by Hrycak and Malone, at a traffic light on Delaware 72, fired a shotgun and fled.

Both were treated for pellet wounds, police said. The car Wilson allegedly used had been stolen near Media, Pa. Police said a sketch and the help of area police agencies led to identification of Wilson, his indictment and subsequent surrender. He prowls the Kirkwood Highway also attends high school and works part-time. After browsing and "picking up a pie," the man walked to the counter, whipped out the pistol, and asked for the money, the girl reported.

He got about $40 from the frightened girl, and left, police said. The same man robbed the Oven Door Bakery near Prices Corner Jan. 11; and Tri-State Meats near Newark; Haverbeck's Hardware at Limestone Road; and Ulmer's Hardware in Elsmere, all between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Jan.

16, police said. The suspect is described as between 40 and 50; about six feet tall, 175, pounds, with blackish-grey, hair, a medium complexion, well- Council Seat Race A Hot One in Newark From the Newark Bureau Newark voters in District 1 will choose one of four candidates tomorrow to fill the unexpired term of former city councilman James P. Neal, who resigned after his election to the state House of Representatives. John A. Caruccio, Benjamin P.

Kuntz, John Suchanec, and John Tosh have been involved in one of the district's most competitive council races in recent times. Neal ran unopposed for his last two council terms. Caruccio, 41, of 106 Timberline Drive, is a laboratory manager for the plastic division plant of Diamond Shamrock Chemical and is a member of the Woodmere-Timber Creek Civic Association, American Chemical Society, Society of Plastic Engineers, American Management Association and Knights of Columbus. Kuntz, 40, of 20 Timber Creek Lane, is a DuPont Co. engineer, and has been an officer and member of the board of directors of the tan I.I' Woodmere-Timber Creek Civic Association.

He is chairman of the Christiana Creek Ecological Effort Committee a member of the Institute of Electrical-Electronic Engineers board of directors, and a member of the YMCA Indian Guides. Suchanec, 35, of 110 Tanglewood Lane, Nottingham Manor, is a marketing representative for IBM and chairman of the Newark housing authority, chairman of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce city legislative committee, a member of the Newark Rotary Club, and an officer in the Newark Touchdown Club and Oaklands Pool Association. Tosh, 38, of 61 S. Fawn Drive, is a Du Pont Co. project engineer, and has chaired the city's community development citizen's advisory committee, is chairman of the United Campus Ministry board of trustees, and is a Kirk-wood Soccer Club coach.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Downes Elementary School along Casho Mill Road. lecting members of the provisional government which Khomeini hopes popular acclaim will force Bakhtiar to accept as the replacement for his cabinet. He gave no indication of when he would announce his lineup.

As Bazargan spoke, about 20,000 Bakhtiar supporters filled a soccer stadium nearby to demonstrate support for the royalist constitution which Khomeini vows to replace. Armed riot troops with automatic rifles stood guard outside and shooed away a small group carrying pictures of the Shiite Moslem patriarch, and 10 soldiers with Iranian flags were among the demonstrators inside the stadium. In contrast to the small pro-Bakhtiar crowd, Khomeini brought out a million supporters yesterday to march through Tehran in support of Bazargan, and many thousands more in other cities around the country. But Bakhtiar told a news conference he would not surrender the government to a "mob." Although most of the demonstrations yesterday were non-violent. Radio Tehran reported that troops opened fire on demonstrators setting fire to banks, shops and other buildings in Gurgan, on the Caspian Sea.

The government station said clashes and shooting continued until 9 p.m., and by then there were 12 dead 'and 45 wounded in hospitals. exchanged including a real and a two-story Bazargan Aims Appeal At Iran's Armed Forces Vari Routes Bridge Gripes To Washington By HUGH CUTLER Wilmington residents, irate about transportation problems posed by the closing of city bridges across the BRandywine River should complain to the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, City Council President Frank D. Vari urged last night. Vari said during a council session that citizens should start a letter-writing campaign to federal officials, particularly Federal Transportatoin Secretary Brock Adams.

Vari said he will send Adams a written invitation to come to Wilmington and see the commuters' plight. The Augustine Bridge was closed in May after federal inspectors declared it unsafe. Delaware officials learned late in December that federal money would not be available for the Augustine Bridge replacement because the project's estimated $6 million cost is less than the $10 million minimum Congress set last summer for federal aid. "Bazargan, Bazargan, you are our prime minister," and "Bakhtiar, Bakhtiar, you take orders from the U.S.A!" were among the more popular chants during the Tehran march, Western reporters counted some 200 uniformed men of the air force among the marchers, and Khomeini's aides claimed there were 2,000 to 3,000 from the army and air force. It was the largest number of uniformed military men seen among pro-Khomeini marchers so far.

But even the largest estimate was less than 1 percent of the 430,000 men in the armed forces. The loyalty of the army is considered the key to control of the nation, and both sides are vying for its support. So far the commanders remain solidly loyal to Bakhtiar, who was named prime minister by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi before he left the country three weeks ago. Bazargan told the government television service that the U.S. government had "indirectly" expressed a desire to establish friendly relations with him and the government he said he would name soon.

Washington's support for Bakhtiar has been less than rousing recently, and on yesterday, when asked at news conference about U.S. supportvthe prime minister replied in English: "I don't know. You can ask President Carter, not me." By THOMAS KENT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Ayatol-lah Ruhollah Khomeini's choice to take over the government of Iran declared today he will introduce God into all phases of Iranian life, revamp the economy and hold free elections before resigning to make way for an Islamic regime. Speaking to 100,000 of the religious leader's supporters at a mosque overlooking Tehran University, Mehdi Bazargan also made an implied new appeal to the armed forces to abandon Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar and support him. "The army is the heart of the people and should not be used as a tool of imperialism for the benefit of other countries," he said.

"Most of the soldiers want the same things we do." Bazargan said he was still se- Poll Finds Jerseyites Yearn for Relocation TRENTON, N.J. (AP) More than half New Jersey's registered voters wish they lived somewhere else, according to a recent Despite efforts to improve the state's image, 52 percent of those polled said they'd rather live elsewhere, 42 percent said they like living in the Garden State and 6 percent said they weren't sure. The poll was conducted Jan. 26-28 for Gannett News Service by the National Center for Telephone Research of New York has been extended through Wednesday February 14 Pomeroy's February Festival of Values is now in progress, and, because of the snow, we're extending the sale through February 14. That means you have more time to save on many items in every department.

Don't miss it, it's truely a festival of values. Use Your Pomeroy's Charge or American Express daily Sunday 1 2-6 in the Concord Mall, Rte 202 Phone 478-6800 POMEROY'S I UNI I OF UKO STORES.