Merrill recaptured in Canada J Once he was handcuffed and in By AAaureen Leavitt Merrill, formerly of Tolland, fourth time Merrill had escaped division of the Toronto Metro Manchester Herald had been awaiting sentencing for from jail since 1967. The three Police. custody, police found a quantity sexually assaulting a 15-year-oId earlier escapes were from Con­ Early today, called police after of foodstuffs on the man. and The Associated Press girl and beating another woman. necticut prisons. she said he had woke up to find The man identified himself as Jill Johnson, a constable for the someone leaving her bedroom. Frederick Merrill, one of the He had also been convicted of Rejan Pellettier of Mississauga, several burglaries in the Toro- Peel Regional Police in Ontario, Police responded and searched most wanted men in North Ontario. Later he was identified America, was captured early noto area and was facing three said Merrill was arrested at yards in the neighborhood, as Merrill by Sgt. John Murray Thompson said. today after a break-in at a life sentences. about 3 a.m. today during a house and Constable Robert Byrnes, the suburban Toronto house, (Cana­ Merrill was awaiting trial in the burglary in the city of Brampton, One officer discovered a patio Toronto detectives who have been u dian authorities said. 1987 rape and beating of a South Ontario, about 20 miles west of door leading into another home leading the manhunt for the open, and heard someone inside, The capture ended an intensive Windsor, woman when he es­ Toronto. escaped convict. manhunt that began May 31 when caped from the Somers state A number of early-morning liiompson said. break-ins in the residential area The officer discovered a man in Merriil is scheduled to appear Merrill, 42, broke out of Toronto’s prison on Aug. 23. 1987. the house and called for assist­ in College Park Court in Metro Don jail, apparently by scaling a Merrill eluded capture for 13 where Merrill was captured had ance. A fight began between Park, Toronto, and will be 12-foot barbed-wire fence, run­ months before being arrested in been reported and items such as clothing and foodstuffs were officers and the man and a remanded back into custody in a FREDERICK MERRILL ning across a roof and climbing an apple orchard in New Bruns­ taken, said Superintendent butcher knife fell from the man’s down a drain pipe 50 feet to the wick on Sept. 23, 1988. manhunt is over ground. The May 31 escape was the George Thompson of the 55th clothing. Thompson said. See M ERRILL, page 12 N manrliralrr ilrralb Friday, June 16, 1989 Manchester, Conn. — A City of Village Charm Newsstand Price: 35 Cents Price jumps I put inflation above 1988 By Nancy Benac Kottman, research director at the The Associated Press Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University. “ In the WASHINGTON - Consumer last half of 1989, the (inflation) prices rose a sharp 0.6 percent in range will come down.” May, pushed up by strong in­ Today's report will be closely creases in food and gasoline scrutinized by the Federal Re­ serve Board, which last week costs, the government said today. The rise in the Consumer Price slightly eased its grip on the. Index, the government’s primary money supply in the belief that gauge of inflation at the retail the slowing economy will help to level, followed an even stronger tame inflation. 0.7 percent April increase that Analysts believe the central was the largest jump in more bank will wait for further evi­ than two years, the Labor Depart­ dence that inflation is under ment reported. control before it eases any more. In May, the overall inflation During the first five months of the year, consumer prices rose at rate was heavily influenced by a 1 Reginald PInto/Manchaeter Herald an annual rate of 6.7 percent, a percent increase in energy costs. significantly faster pace than the These costs had shot up 5.1 THREE WISE WOMEN — Manchester High School School's 96th commencement. Diplomas were given to 4.4 percent price increases regis­ percent in April, when there was graduates Penny Parent, left, Amy Kelliher, center, and 454 members of the class of 1989. More pictures on pages tered in 1987 and 1988. an all-time record increase in Kim Fowler talk Thursday before Manchester High 6 and 12. Inflation at the wholesale level gasoline prices of 11.4 percent. has been even stronger, rising at Last month’s increase in gaso­ an annual rate of 9.4 percent so line costs was a still-strong 3.9 percent, which accounted for far this year. “ Reports of inflation’s demise about one-fourth of the overall Pride mixes with sadness increase in the CPI for May. have been grossly exaggerated,” said economist David Berson of Food and beverage prices, the Federal Home Loan Mort­ meanwhile, increased 0.6 percent gage Corp. “ The core rate doesn’t last month after rising 0.5 percent as 454 pius 1 ieave MHS appear to have subsided and, with in April. The May increase included a sharp 3.2 percent jump the economy running close to full By Nancy Concelman All-night party ... page 12 said. “ You have been bright, in prices for fruits and vegeta­ supportive of one another and employment, will edge up as the Manchester Herald year the goes on.” bles. Beef prices rose 0.5 percent List of graduates ... page 6 spirited ...” Despite the persistently strong and poultry prices 3.2 percent. James P. Kennedy, Manches­ Manchester High School’ s 96th price increases, some other ana­ Excluding the volatile food and commencement Thursday was “ a very interesting ter school superintendent, con­ lysts believe inflation now may energy categories, other consu­ marked an end and a beginning experience.” gratulated graduates and begin to level off and that it could mer prices rose 0.5 percent in for 454 people — plus one. He said he tried not to be a parents. start to drop again late this year. May, up from a 0.2 percent “ A little bit of heart-felt thanks Feelings of pride were mixed liaison between his father and the increase in April. Many analysts to Mr. Ludes for 11 years of great “ It’s not a good report, but we with sadness when seniors ga­ students. can look forward to a plateauing leadership at the high school.” thered one last time as the class of “ I was trying to be myself, Jim See INFLATION, page 12 Kennedy added. of this increase," said Stacy 1989 and Principal Jacob Ludes Ludes,” he said. The graduates and nearly 2,000 III gave his 11th and final address ‘T m very proud of James and parents, friends and fam ily to Manchester High School I ’m proud of so many people in members burst into deafening Bolton board orders graduates. the class of 1989.” Jacob Ludes said after the ceremony. “ It’s applause and gave Ludes a Ludes will leave Manchester to standing ovation. become superintendent of schools been been an exceptional class.” Ludes cited the accomplish­ “ Way to go, Ludey!” a gradu­ in Montville Aug. 1. report from principal ments of some individual class ate yelled. Thursday evening’s ceremony The walls of the gymnasium members from elementary was bittersweet for Ludes. who reverberated with yells and ap­ By Rick Santos before the school board to discuss school through high school during saw his son James graduate. plause throughout the hourlong Manchester Herald the accreditation association’s his brief introductory speech. evaluation of his school. JACOB LUDES III James said after the ceremony “ Clearly we have been im­ He told the board that he . last MHS ceremony that having his father as principal pressed by the class of 1989,” he See GRADUATES, page 12 BOLTON — High school Princi­ pal Joseph Flemming has until realized problems exist in the September to submit a plan to the school, but he said he wanted to Board of Education to correct emphasize to the board and the deficiencies found by the New audience of about 50 people that, “ Make no mistake about it, the Jack Hunter, contractor, dies at 66 England Association of Schools curriculum at Bolton High School 1 and Colleges. The board, meeting at Bolton is strong.” Jack R. Hunter, former presi­ throughout all his years of service into a broad-based Center School, requested the The principal concluded his community service,” Gall- evaluation of the school by dent of Jack R. Hunter Inc., a service until his retirement. report in a 5-0 vote Thursday Hunter’s contribution to Man­ acher said. refuting an accusation in the general contracting firm, and night. former chairman of the board chester Memorial Hospital was William R. Johnson, who The plan must be submitted to report that he is more concerned of trustees of Manchester Mem­ lauded today by hospital succeeded Hunter as chairman the association by Oct. 1. with "student control” rather orial Hospital, died today at leaders. of the hospital board of trus­ A report issued last month by a than “ student learning.” Hartford Hospital after a pro­ “ Jack Hunter’s passing was a tees, agreed that Hunter was visiting committee of the associa­ He said he has worked hard for longed illness. He was 66 years loss for the hospital and the instrumental in the expansion tion said the school could lose its 14 years creating an atmosphere old. community. We have lost not of the hospital, both in the accreditation if improvements in which teachers are able to phy.sical plant and in services.