Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 2, 1995                   TAG: 9509050060
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN THE NATION JEWISH GROUP PANS `CONTRACT'

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The first person convicted under the new federal domestic-violence law - a man who prosecutors say beat his wife bloody, then drove around with her in the trunk of his car - was sentenced to life in prison Friday.

Christopher Bailey, 35, of St. Albans was convicted in May of kidnapping and violating the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. He received the maximum 20-year penalty for violating the domestic-violence law and a life sentence for kidnapping.

The year-old domestic-violence law makes it illegal to cross a state line to abuse a spouse or domestic partner.

Prosecutors said Bailey beat his wife, stuffed her in the trunk of their compact car and drove aimlessly across West Virginia and Kentucky for six days before taking her to a hospital.

``I have rarely seen, if ever, a crime that was more heinous,'' said U.S. District Judge Charles Haden II. Sonya Bailey remains in a coma and has been unable to tell investigators what happened during the odyssey.

- Associated Press

Reynolds to resign from Congress

CHICAGO - Rep. Mel Reynolds, convicted of having sex with an underage campaign volunteer, said Friday night that he will resign his congressional seat effective Oct. 1.

The 43-year-old Democrat, whose private life was thrown open to the world in embarrassing sexual detail, made the announcement before a national TV audience on CNN's ``Larry King Live.''

Reynolds said at the opening of the hour-long interview that he had told his aides to notify House Speaker Newt Gingrich of his intention to resign.

- Associated Press

Report: Sen. Pell won't run again

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Sen. Claiborne Pell, the 78-year-old Democrat who has Parkinson's disease, won't run for re-election next year, a source said Friday.

Pell's office wouldn't confirm the decision and said he will announce his intentions at a news conference Tuesday.

``I think he would like to run again but his wife wants him home. He's done his service to the public,'' said the source, who is close to the senator and involved in state Democratic politics.

Earlier Friday, WJAR-TV in Providence quoted Washington sources as saying Pell will retire.

- Associated Press