University Daily Kansan
Thursday, December 7.1978
9
Billy Spears
Spears, fiddle to return to stage
By MELISSA THOMPSON
Staff Writer
Billy Spears' house still looks like the house of a musician, even if he hasn't played his fiddle in more than four months.
In one room, there are microphone stands, a set of drums, guitar cases and lots of electrical wires.
In the living room, next to the fireplace, there's a worm fiddle. The father got it in a trade for a pair of packing mules in howling Glowing.
After about four months of standing in the corner, that fiddler will again see the lights of a concert stage. It probably won't play, but
June 19, Spears will make his first concert appearance since June 25 and is in a diving accident on Aug. 4 that initially left him pumped.
WHAT COULD be a maudiln story about a tragically injured entertainer's comeback isn't. Instead, Spears has the air of someone slightly embarrassed by all the attention he has gotten, someone who has patiently worked to regain the use of his body.
Recently, he lounged as much as his metal neck brace would allow and talked about the thoughts and feelings he'd had during
"I'm pretty patient," Spears said, "but there for a while it was pretty scary. 'It's like you’re in prison in your own body.'"
Now, he's on his feet and the therapy is mostly up to him.
For two months, Spears said, he was in traction. Then, he was allowed to walk using a walker.
"I just get up and keep movin' all day long. That's the only thing there is to do."
OCCASIONALLY I would get up and stretch, swinging his arms in circles, bumping his boots loudly on the feet as he walked around.
Even learning to walk normally was unusual.
"I put these boots on and it was a whole different trip trying to walk," Spears said. He chuckled dryly.
Spears' wife, Doris, said she regarded the injury and the lengthy convalescence as a forced vacation from the road.
"Maybe he just needed a good rest," she said. "Maybe this is his way—it's awful to put it that way—and maybe it's his way of dealing with it."
She said the recovery wasn't complete and wasn't easy.
Obtained his daily dose of vitamin C.
IN ABOUT a week, Spears said, his doctors are to examine him again and possibly replace his stiff arm brace with a soft collar.
He said he still felt apprehensive about moving his neck, even though he was sure that the fracture was healed.
"I don't know just how far I can bend the damn thing right now," he said.
He admitted that sometimes he was frustrated with his slow recovery.
"I've been real healthy all my life and when something like this happens to you, you're remembering what it's like to be real normal," Spears said. "The progress, . . . well, you have a hard time even seeing it."
Music has been part of his psychological recovery. Spears said he had been listening to a lot and has been running his tunes through his
He strode over the fireplace and picked up his fiddle. Holding it to the window's light, he demonstrated the movement that he had regained in his fingers. His fingers, pale and somewhat swollen, flick lightly over the fiddle strumes.
HE KEEPES his fiddle around as a visual reminder of what he's working toward, he said.
"I keep it out just in case everything comes back at once."
His wife said Spears' doctors had been careful not to make any guarantees about how much of his dexterity will return.
"Chances are he will be back to where he was before he was hurt," she said.
Spears interrupted her and said that he was a little more certain.
"I'll play my fiddle again." he drew.
Being signed as the opening act for the Charlie Daniels Band concert tonight has been good mental therapy for Spears, he said.
"IVE BAD quite a few phone calls asking me if the paper was right."
Spears said he would probably sing only a few songs in the first moments of his band's set. However, he will not be doing any fid-
It's been hard for Spears to remember his limitations during the past few days of rehearsals, his wife said. He and his band were rehearing one evening, and Spears, standing there in his rumped pajamas, forgot himself.
"The guys were practicing," she said, and Spears had his fiddle in his hand, and he was walking in, and I guess it hит all of a man.
"You know, What am I doing with this fiddle? I can't play" "she said. He started scratching his head. It was kind of funny to see him."
SPEARS SAID he didn't think his fans would expect him to be playing the fiddle. They'll be just wanting to see what kind of shape
And even though he'll only be singing a few songs, he said he had no qualms.
"Nervous? Naw." he drawled. "I think it'll turn out real well. I'll get to see a lot of people. Probably be good for me."
Westergren motion to be heard
A motion for a new trial in the Eugene E. germen murder case will be heard today.
DONNELLY ALSO said he thought there was sufficient evidence to link the attempt.
evidence in support of Westergren's character, and therefore, the prosecution should not have been allowed to present evidence against his client's character.
Jerry Donnelley, Westerguerin's court-appointed defense attorney, filed the motion Nov. 15 after Westerguerin, 51, was convicted of murdering an elderly woman woman.
assistant district attorney, maintained that Westergreen's confession gave too many details of the murder and attempt; rape for him not to have been involved.
Donnelly was unavailable for comment, but he said last month that he was not optimistic regarding Westergren's chances of receiving a new trial.
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Franklin County Judge Floyd H. Coffman heard the trial at Donnelly's request be heard in the district judges had had previous dealing with the man found Westergren guilty Nov. 6 of attempted rape and murder in connection with the刃景Vanera Smith, 84, 823 Kentucky St.
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Donnelly also argued that evidence of Westergreen's criminal record should not have been presented. Donnelly said that during the trial he had never tried to present
Coffman will also hear Donnelly's motion for a new trial.
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DONNELLY SAID last month that he had not thought Westergren received a letter.
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Donnelly also argued that Coffman should have prevented the prosecution from using as state's evidence a confession that intergeren gave police when arrested Dec. 21.
In his written motion, Domnelly argued that the prosecution's evidence in the trial could raise suspicion of Westergren's guilt without sufficient to convict his client.
Donnelly maintained that Westergen, who has a 20-year history of treatment for mental illness, was in poor mental and physical condition when he gave the consolethe Therefore. Donnelly said, the confession should have been rued unreliable.
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