THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 3, 1995 TAG: 9501030103
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LAURA LAFAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
John C. Salvi III, who was fired from his job sweeping floors in a New Hampshire hair salon two days before Christmas, had $1,277.74 in his wallet when he was arrested here Dec. 31.
That money, and the fact that Salvi drove past an estimated 200 abortion clinics between Massachusetts and Norfolk before stopping at Hillcrest - one of only a few clinics nationwide open for business on New Year's Eve - has prompted speculation among pro-choice groups. They wonder if Salvi, 22, was getting help and advice from other anti-abortion activists.
``Where does he get that kind of cash?'' Katherine Spillar, national coordinator of the Feminist Majority's Clinic Defense Project, asked Monday.
``How does he get from Boston to Norfolk? How does a young man who's probably never been to Norfolk know where the clinic is? How does he know that it's open that day? None of it makes any sense unless the information was supplied to him by someone who was helping him.''
David Crane of Norfolk and Donald Spitz of Chesapeake, two high-profile anti-abortion activists, gained national notoriety by signing a 1993 petition advocating violence against doctors who perform abortions. The petition was circulated by Paul Hill, who was recently sentenced to death for the murder of a Florida doctor and his escort. Both Crane and Spitz - regular protesters at Hillcrest - have said they never heard of Salvi before he was arrested Saturday, accused of opening fire on the clinic.
``I believe God led him here,'' said Spitz, who tried to visit Salvi at the jail Monday night, but was turned away after Salvi said he would prefer to see a Catholic priest.
``I think it was divine intervention. Maybe because there is support for him here.''
Gina Shaw of the National Abortion Federation also speculated that local support may have been the draw for Salvi.
``I don't know, but it strikes me as an awful coincidence that Spitz and Crane are there,'' she said.
``It just seems very strange to me. As you go down the Eastern Seaboard, the only other anti-abortion leader who has been vocal about using violence is Michael Bray. He's the only other one along the way.''
Bray, a Bowie, Md., minister, was convicted in 1985 of conspiring in a plot to plant pipe bombs at Hillcrest. He was paroled from federal prison in 1989 and remains outspoken against abortion.
Salvi was interviewed by local police and Massachusetts authorities Saturday and has been alone in his Norfolk City Jail cell ever since.
The 4-by-8-foot cell contains a cot, sink and toilet. Jail spokesman George Schaefer said Monday that Salvi has passed the time discussing football with deputies and reading the ``Inmate Handbook.''
Salvi made two calls to Florida on Sunday, said Schaefer, and has given the jail a list of 11 people - all of them relatives from Massachusetts and Florida - whom he will accept as visitors.
Although he has so far declined to talk to reporters, he asked Schaefer Monday night for a list of those who are requesting interviews. Four Boston television stations, one Boston newspaper and CNN have sent reporters to Norfolk to cover the story.
Salvi's parents, John C. Salvi and Anne Marie Trudel Salvi of Naples, Fla., are ``totally devastated'' by the charges against their only child, said William Schweikhardt, a Naples lawyer serving as the family's spokesman.
``They're totally stunned that he would have been involved in anything like this,'' said Schweikhardt.
``It's just beyond their imagination. They knew he was very opposed to abortion, but they can't believe he would do anything like this. . . .
``They're sobbing. They're just uncontrollably sad. They're trying to get together a statement to the victims to express their sorrow about these terrible events.'' MEMO: Related stories on pages A1, A2 and B1.
KEYWORDS: MURDER SHOOTING ABORTION CLINICS by CNB