CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, November 4, 1983
Page
Blaze at K.C. city hall forces hundreds to evacuate
United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City firefighter surveys the damage to the legislative chamber room on the 26th floor of city hall after a four-alarm blaze swirled through the upper stories of the 30-story building. There were no injuries, but heavy smoke damaged the top floors.
By United Press International
KANSAS CITY. Mo. — Although estimates were not readily available, damage from smoke and fire that forced the evacuation of hundreds of acres from the 30-story City Hall building yesterday was said to be extensive.
Workmen on the roof touched on fire, which sent smoke and sparks swirling through the duct work of the upper stories, creating a nightmare for firefighters attempting to bring the situation under control.
Despite Fire Chief Ed Wilson's statement that the blaze was well under control by 10 a.m. — less than an hour after it was reported — the fire continued to spread and by 11 a.m. was classified as a four-alarm blaze.
Workmen using welding torches apparently set the fire, Wilson said. However, there were conflicting reports and the cause of the fire was unknown. There were no initial damage estimates available and no injuries reported.
THE FIRE SENT smoke into the building's air duct system, which encounters a large amount of flame.
loops of City Hall, which was built in the 1908s.
At 11 a.m., a battalion chief said he believed firefighters had knocked the main body of the fire out, but said there were still trouble spots. And reserve fire companies were being called.
Fire Department spokesman Harold Knabe said there would certainly be serious damage from smoke and said the potential for other damage was quite high. The fire spread to the legislative chambers on the 26th floor, causing significant damage and forcing the City Council to move a meeting across the street.
The evacuation was said to be orderly. People on the top 15 floors were evacuated first, followed by the rest of the building's occupants. Firefighters carried equipment up numerous flights of stairs to the blaze.
AT MIDAFTERNOON YESTERDAY, the first through the 34th floors were reopened to workers and the public. The 20th through 24th floors were closed only, and the 25th through 29th floors were closed to workers and the public.
Hearing put off for 18-year-old in Puckett case
By the Kansan Staff
The hearing for Danny Jo Jennings, charged with aiding and abetting an aggravated burglary in connection with the break-in of Harry Puckett's residence on June 24 it been continued until 11 a.m. in December.
Shelley Bock, Douglas County assistant district attorney, requested the continuance until after the motion for a new trial for James L. Rivers, who was rushed upon ruling. The hearing on that motion will be at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 29
Fourhour was convicted Oct. 25 of the first-degree murder of Puckett. Jennings, 18, testified during the trial, and fourhour enter Puckett's house.
Bell's attorney says insanity will not be used as a defense
In exchange for Jennings' testimony, the district attorney's office agreed to try Jennings, who was 17 of the break in, as a juvenile.
By the Kansan Staff
The attorney for Bryan Keith Bell said yesterday during a hearing in Douglas County District Court that he would not use insanity as a defense.
Bell, charged with the second-degree murder of Frank Seurer Sr., had undergone a psychiatric examination at Larned State Hospital. Associate District Judge Mike Elwell said during a hearing last Friday that the results of that examination indicated that Bell, 23, was competent to stand
trial and that the results did not provide much evidence for a defense of insanity.
At that time, Robert Duncan, Bell's attorney, had said that he would consider another psychiatric evaluation. He would likely ask for a continuance of the trip.
Jury selection for the trial will begin at 9 a.m. Monday.
Seurer's body was found Aug. 2 in the kitchen of the restaurant he owned, Paul Henningsen said.
Bell, a former employee of the restaurant, was arrested Aug. 19. He is being held in custody.
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Relax at the Union with the Chuck Berg Band. With the best in jazz and blues.
After the game.
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Sponsored by SUA Fine Arts, AFM Local 512 and the Music Performance Trust Fund.
A STANLEY KUBRICK FILM
JACK NICHOLSON SHELLEY DUVALL
"THE SHINING" STEPHEN KING
Friday and Saturday November 4 and 5
7:00, 9:30 $1.75
12:00 MID. $2
UNIVERSITY FILM SOCIETY
Downs Auditorium in Dyche Hall
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