volume Ixv, number 76
Wednesday, february 21, 1973
Daily (m Trojan
university of southern California los angeles, California
Suspect in kidnap-murder of USC coed to stand trial
A BEN HUR RERUN—A chariot race	runs through Friday. The winning team
held Tuesday was one of many activities	was awarded a keg of beer. Daily Trojan
scheduled for Engineers' Week, which	photo by Barry Brown.
Ben Hur rerun is one highlight of Engineers’ Week festivities
By Mike Runzler
staff writer
Archimedes Plaza in the engineering complex took on the appearance of Barnum and Bailey’s Big Top Tuesday as Engineering week began across the country.
But the activities were not confined to those isolated buildings. Shortly before noon, a chariot race took place in front of Tommy Trojan, who was dressed in engineer’s garb for the occasion: white sox, engineering cap, and slide rule.
The four competing chariots lined up on Childs Way and Hoover Street and, at the sound of the gun, were all pulled by the human horses toward the finish line at Tommy Trojan.
But the engineers didn’t seem to putthe same amountoftime into constructing their chariots as they do their studies, for after only a few feet, one nearly disintegrated.
To hear Chris Lange, driver of the chariot representing the American Institute of Industrial Engineers tell it, disaster was imminent.
First, he said the seat cracked when he sat down, and it was then he knew that the chariot might not finish the race.
Then, after the race began, the left
wheel began to wobble before it finally fell off. The yoke being used to tow the contraption then fell off and for that chariot, the race was over.
The chariot representing Lambda Chi Alpha crossed the finish line first, followed by the vehicle representing Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and that by another vehicle representing the independent students.
The Lambda Chi chariot was fashioned after the chariots in Ben Hur, while the independents contraption consisted of a borrowed tricycle.
The prize for the winning chariot was a keg of xMichelob beer.
Back in the Engineering Quad, a festive atmosphere prevailed. Multicolored ballons rose from Vivian Hall, and lamp posts were decorated with crepe paper and orange ballons.
The quad will serve as the center of attraction for the rest of the week, with booths from Pacific Telephone, the Los Angeles Police Department, and General Motors to be set up in and around Olin Hall.
William Bealer, Jr., will give an audio-visual presentation of a behind-the scenes view of Disney-
(Continued on page 7)
By Mary Ann Galante
campus city editor
Johnny Lee Harbert will be tried for the kidnap-murder of Susan Schuler, a USC coed, according to a decision announced yesterday at a preliminary hearing.
In announcing his decision, James F. Nelson, municipal court judge, stipulated Harbert is to be held without bail. Harbert’s arraignment, at which he will enter a plea, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6.
Yesterday’s hearing was held to determine whether there is enough evidence to try Harbert for the slaying.
The strongest testimony introduced by the prosecution was the account of a confession Harbert allegedly gave to law enforcement authorities. It was. during this testimony by Sgt. Paul Dorris, deputy sheriff of Los Angeles County, that a number of new facts were revealed, allegedly surrounding the circumstances of Miss Schuler’s death.
Miss Schuler was found shot to death on Dec. 6 on a deserted road 45 miles east of El Centro. Harbert, 23 of Dallas, Texas, was connected to the crime by his use of Miss Schuler’s gasoline credit card through four states.
When arrested in Dallas by FBI agents on Jan 18, Harbert was found in possession of Miss Schuler’s car. He has been charged with kidnapping for the purpose of robbery and murder in the first degree.
During his testimony yesterday, Dorris, an investigating officer, told of Harbert’s confession to him on Jan. 17 in Dallas. Dorris said Harbert confessed to Miss Schuler’s murder after being advised of his constitutional rights to remain silent.
Dorris’ testimony indicated that Harbert’s motive for killing Miss Schuler probably was to steal her car. “Harbert said he had come to Los Angeles before Thanksgiving, but wanted to steal a car to return to Texas,” said Dorris.
Dorris said Harbert told of being in the Apartment Towers parking lot
on Dec. 3 with the intention of stealing a car. “He saw Miss Schuler drive up and approached her, brandishing a .22 caliber pistol,” said Dorris. “He ordered her to move over and demanded that she direct him to Interstate 10 out of Los Angeles.”
Dorris said Harbert bought gasoline with $3 or $4 he took from the victim. “He then said he drove to a roadside rest area and at gunpoint raped her in the back seat of her car.”
Dorris testified that Harbert gathered up Miss Schuler’s personal belongings—including books, magazines, and empty wallet—and threw them in a nearby trashcan. Harbert allegedly also disposed of her green plaid maxi skirt and her shoes, giving her only a sweater and a beach towel to waar.
“Miss Schuler made an attempt to escape the vehicle when Harbert stopped for gas in Indio,” said Dorris. “Harbert threatened to shoot her if she did.”
Dorris said Harbert then drove to El Centro toward Yuma, where he again raped Miss Schuler at a roadside rest area. “Harbert indicated that he didn’t have to use the gun to threaten her this time—he said he was sure she was scared to death,” said Dorris.
Dorris added Harbert drove Miss Schuler to a deserted road shoulder when she indicated she wanted to urinate. “Harbert said she took a couple of steps into the desert, squatting down to relieve herself. As she got up, he shot her.” said Dorris.
Dorris said Harbert marked an X on a map, indicating where he allegedly shot Miss Schuler. “He signed Johnny Boy Harbert’ underneath the X," said Dorris.
Kelly, prosecuting attorney, said Harbert’s confession to Dorris was the third or fourth he had given within a three day span. “Each time Harbert confessed, it became more inflammatory,” said Kelly. "When he first told the story, he said he forced his way into her car and the gun went off accidentally.
(Continued on page 5)
Mayoral candidate calls for attack on urban blight
By A1 Freisleben
associate city editor
Tom Reddin, retired Los Angeles police chief now running for mayor, called for a coordinated attack on urban blight throughout the city in a campus appearance yesterday sponsored by the Urban Semester.
Reddin, who was with the department for 26 years before becoming chief in 1967, left the force two years later to become a television newscaster and now heads an educational materials company.
In a brief prepared speech. Reddin explained that to tackle problems such as the decay of residential neighborhoods, the city would have to stop relying on the interdepartmental approach it now uses and form single agencies encompassing all facets of the situation.
As an illustration of what he called a “bureaucracy we can no longer tolerate,” Reddin said a person must now go to no less than six city offices to obtain a permit to build an addition to his house.
Formulating a comprehensive approach to problems would not only save money but get the job done, said Reddin.
In response to questions, Reddin took the following positions on:
•	Revenue sharing: The city should spend the money returned by the federal government on programs which upgrade the quality of life in the city ratherthan patchingup budget deficits as is now being done.
•	Increasing penalties for crimes: While some crimes such as the unlawful possession and use of weapons and selling narcotics to school children “should be made more unattractive than they are now,” a balanced solution should be sought incorporating the causes and the immediate and long range measures used to combat social problems.
•	Police Chief Ed Davis: Although he “engages in rhetorical overkill,” Reddin said he knows and can work with the chief better than any other candidate.
•	Minority hiring for civil service jobs: The city should make a “concerted effort to bring minorities into government.”
•	Violence on city school campuses: Search lockers “where needed, as needed” to get weapons off school grounds.
•	His qualifications for office: Reddin said he has more executive experience than all of the other candidates combined, with the exception of the incumbant, Sam Yorty.
Rock opera will not be shown Thursday
House on Crossroad Alley, the rock opera, has been cancelled.
The female lead is unable to appear and there is no understudy.
The rock opera was scheduled to be presented Thursday night at Bovard Auditorium.
It has not been announced whether the performance will be rescheduled.