Couple died of head wounds
While working as a policeman and during retirement, Howard E. Springer earned extra money by trading in gold, silver and other valuables, a sideline that meant inviting strangers to his Washington County home or meeting them in out-of-the-way places.
Though Mr. Springer was trained to defend himself and seemed aware of the danger -- he once asked another former police officer to accompany him to a meeting at a run-down motel -- friends fear he may have let his guard down at the wrong time.
Mr. Springer, 63, and his wife, Nancy K. Springer, 65, a retired Ringgold School District teacher, were found dead Wednesday evening in their Carroll Township home by their daughter, Jill Danish of Peters.
The Washington County Coroner's office ruled that both victims died of gunshot wounds to the head.
Their daughter had grown concerned because she couldn't reach them by phone that day. That was odd because the couple each had cell phones and there were three phone lines into their home -- one a general line, one for Mr. Springer's business and one specifically for the couple's children.
The couple lived next door to the parents of newly elected Washington County District Attorney Steven M. Toprani. Mr. Toprani, who grew up there, would not comment extensively on the status of the investigation, but said state police "will take the investigation wherever it leads us."
State police had not found any evidence that the Springers' killer or killers forced their way into the home, Mr. Toprani said. They were probing Mr. Springer's business transactions, customers and contacts for potential clues. Investigators also are considering Mr. Springer's involvement in a gambling case in the 1990s but haven't determined if it is related to the slayings, he said.
"We're not taking anything off the table," he said. "It's early in the investigation and police will examine everything."
Crime scene tape surrounded the Springers' home on Highland Drive, just off Route 88. Well-maintained homes line both sides of a street sometimes used as a shortcut to nearby Monongahela Valley Hospital but which otherwise has little traffic.
The Springers' red brick, split-level house, trimmed with beige siding, overlooks a neatly landscaped lawn. Two concrete lion statues stand as imaginary guards on either side of the curving front walk. Signs posted nearby for a burglar alarm system and Invisible Fence for their black Labrador retriever indicated the couple had taken precautions against intruders.
State and Carroll police continued to collect evidence inside the house yesterday, but declined to comment. Authorities would not disclose when they believe the fatal attacks occurred but friends said they saw the couple Tuesday. Autopsies were scheduled to be performed last night.
Police declined to say whether anything had been taken from the home, where Mr. Springer used a downstairs office to conduct his business, weighing and testing the gold, silver and other precious metals and coins brought to him by customers.
Former District Judge Ronald Amati said Mr. Springer routinely advertised his business in the classified sections of local newspapers and in fliers and had been getting many phone calls because of volatility in the stock market.
"He told me he was doing very well," Mr. Amati said.
The Topranis, who were accidentally visited more than once by people wanting to sell items, were among neighbors and friends concerned about the characters who beat a path to Mr. Springer's door. Some of those friends said they had worried about the trustworthiness of some of the customers with whom he conducted his cash-based business.
"He was dealing with a lot of scum," said Joseph Greco, a retired Donora policeman and the best man at Mr. Springer's wedding in the early 1970s. "In that line of work, that's the kind of people you're going to run into."
Friends said Mr. Springer also kept an extensive collection of sports memorabilia for his own enjoyment. It included items from Mon Valley greats Joe Montana, Stan Musial, Michael Moorer, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.
"I know he had a lot of autographs of famous people in sports and also in entertainment," said Raymond Amatangelo, a lawyer who represented Mr. Springer in an illegal gambling case.
The state attorney general's office said Mr. Springer accepted $7,500 in illegal payouts from video poker machines at a township deli, tried to thwart an investigation into illegal gambling at the business and inappropriately touched three women who worked there.
Surveillance showed that he played the machines in uniform and once was observed placing his police radio atop the machine he was playing.
Mr. Springer, police chief since about 1984, retired days before the charges were filed in May 1999. He pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension, indecent assault and three ethics violations, was fined $3,000 and placed on three years' probation.
Friends said the plea didn't affect Mr. Springer's standing in the community, in part because he had played the role of small-town chief well.
"He was very courteous with the public," Donora Mayor John "Chummy" Lignelli said. Mr. Amati said Mr. Springer personally mediated conflicts whenever possible and "didn't sit along the road and write tickets all the time."
Mr. Toprani said he and other residents still referred to Mr. Springer as "chief." He last saw Mr. Springer last Friday, when he stopped to say hello while the older man was walking his dog. The two families were so close that he and the Springers' son, Chad, now of Philadelphia, were groomsmen in each other's weddings, Mr. Toprani said.
Friends described Mr. Springer as a person of many interests. He once operated a successful CB shop in Donora. He liked to leave food for deer, raccoons and birds in his yard.
A camera buff, he would snap pictures at community events and send them to friends. He and his wife liked to travel to such places as Las Vegas, Reno and the West Coast.
Mr. Greco said his friend only once expressed concerns about the types of people he met in his business dealings. Last summer, he asked Mr. Greco to accompany him to a meeting with customers at a motel off Interstate 70. Mr. Springer indicated he didn't know the people and was worried they might be "shady." Mr. Greco said he wasn't able to go and never heard anything more about it.
"Everybody has his faults but he was a very good guy. His wife was gold. Why in the hell would they ..." His voice cracked.
A short drive from the Springers' home, at the Country Club Deli on Route 88 across from the hospital, owner Doug Tabish also thought of his friend who daily visited to drink coffee, gab and maybe play some gin rummy. "He never missed a day," Mr. Tabish said.
That is, until Wednesday, when Ms. Danish called the deli at 3 p.m. looking for her father because she hadn't been able to reach her parents. Mr. Tabish said he and other regulars at the deli assumed Mr. Springer might have gone to The Meadows for the day. Ms. Danish called again at 5:30 p.m. She still couldn't reach her parents.
About an hour later, she discovered their bodies.
Dealer
Qi Hainan
(Text Continue)
After my wife and serious discussion, we decided to go to casinos as DEALER.
Until now, I can not find an appropriate translation of Chinese characters to the word. Because there are many different casino games, such as 21:00 (BLACK JACK), Baccarat (BACCARAT), Roulette (ROULETTE), 7 (PAI GOW POKER), the Paijiu (PAI GOW TILES), the three licence , as well as dice (CRAPS). In addition, there are punters their mutual gambling Xunhe, 5 licence, and so on.
DEALER for all these games for the Global DRAM Pricing attendants title. Now I can not think of an exact phrase Chinese to replace it, play poker with the attendants can be called licensing , the other is, how call?
Fortunately, reform and opening up, English popular quickly, find the exact word translation, write about the English.
Las Vegas casinos have dozens of large and small, were concentrated in the Old City and New City. We speak of casinos Street (STRIP), which is in the new city, the whole street a dozen miles long, north-south street on both sides of the world famous beyond the major hotels and casinos. Its peculiar notable for the fact that these big hotels around the world will be moved to the famous scenic spots here, they are copied as is the Egyptian pyramids, have narrowed the Shuicheng Venice, but also in accordance with the true size of a high degree of half Baliaibier Tower and so on.
Here from around the world to tens of thousands of tourists, the United States and countries around the world, politicians, celebrities, stars also frequented here. These hotels, casinos were several large controlled by the consortium, for instance, MGM (MGM) Group, Harrah s (HARRAH S) Group, Casino pride Wenying (STEVE WYNN) Group, and so on.
Some small and medium-sized casinos are relatively concentrated in the old city, where local residents are the main clients. They are the local control of several consortia, such as the coast (COAST) Group, Untitled (STATION) Group, BOYD groups, and so on. Some small and medium-sized private casino, in Las Vegas distribution around the city.
Also note that virtually all of the more formal restaurants and casinos, are merged into one, but is divided into two departments, the hotel sector (HOTEL) and the casino sector (CASINO) only.
So many of the casinos, of course, requires a large amount of DEALER, young and beautiful, full of vigor and energy of men and women DEALER always favored by the casino. Those instruments dignified, skilled and experienced middle-aged DEALER, it is indispensable backbone casino.
DEALER few basic wages, is that the United States federal minimum wage at the time was 5.15 US dollars per hour, it is 5.75 US dollars, and even a petrol filling station workers do not like.
DEALER the main source of income is the tip , that is to say the tourists games, in accordance with the mood is good or bad, Shouqi is good or bad, and they serve to give the impression tips, all under their own tip all.
DEALER casino on the tip, the basic of the communist in the form of distribution. That the entire casino 24 hours a day (three), no matter what the game, what the table, including the VIP Room (VIP) from the tip of all, by DEALER themselves, according to the number and attendance unified distribution, casino management is the basic not intervene. Therefore, the number of tip income, choosing a casino DEALER the main criteria.
Some small casino (usually in Las Vegas and around the Old City) are patronized by the local poor, Shaodegelian tip, the average daily about it more than 10 yuan dollars. And medium-sized casinos (see the Old City and the Metro Field Street), generally by the Tourism tourists and local people more affluent shoppers and tip it some more, a daily average of 50 yuan to 80 yuan dollars.
A basic first-class casino gambling in the streets of Metro (STRIP), are patronized by tourists from all over the world luxury dignitaries and celebrities, many commercial exhibitions and high-level meetings are held here, the daily average tip in the 100 yuan to 200 100 yuan.
Top casino (also 2, 3) is, of course, the streets in the new casino, guests are patronize the world s Big Spender, entrepreneurs, sports Movie Star, the head of state, celebrities, their generous hand, where the tip every day at least 200 to 300 US dollars , While more than 500 to 1,000 US dollars.
DEALER three hours, morning (DAYSHIFT), the night shift (SWINGSHIFT), the night shift (GRAVEYARD), a frequency, work eight hours, one hour break every 20 minutes. They rest, can be read in the staff lounge, chat, eat. Eat, drink From the entire 24-hour casinos provided free of charge.
With a medium-sized casino, every day there are dozens of meals, beverages, coffee, there are a variety of milk, as long as you are not afraid of fat, you can open a drink.
DEALER Although there is no trade union organizations, but the casino will give them medical insurance (family), the appropriate arrangements for the retirement plan. Holidays are double the wages, there is still a certain time each year leave.
Well, since their salaries and benefits so good, especially large casino, it is not everyone want to go when DEALER? However, to the ideal of a major casino DEALER it is not an easy task, and it is a very tortuous road, very difficult.
The first is to pay to the specialized training centres DEALER study, cost and time is based on the type of study to decide the game. For example, learning a 21:00 of the game, at a cost of 200 to 300 US dollars (at that time the price), the need 2-3 weeks. More a game we should pay more money, it will some concessions, the chairman some time.
General students to learn at least two more games, so from work to find relatively easy, because DEALER casinos hope will be more than two games. The game will be more employment opportunities will be greater.
Secondly, when students learn about the same time, students in this school will be the scene of mock examinations. Test your skills and the quality of service to guests, but also the scene of a number of simulated conditions. For example, encountered a drunken, encountered lose money to make trouble, and has encountered the old 1000 , and has encountered its own errors, and so on different situations to see how you deal with the strain. All qualified, you can find the work.
There are two ways to find a job, help you find First, schools are normally recommended to the smallest casinos, and the second is to find their own. Find the scope of their choice more, but taking the chance is relatively small. Unless you have acquaintances, or young and beautiful women. No matter which of the way through the casino must DEALER strict examinations at the scene, but also to medical institutions to check whether there is a drug reaction can be hired.
After clearance is a work in the casino before going to federal law enforcement agencies apply for a permit gambling industry. Through guidance, fingerprinting, the computer test, no criminal record, to get the permit.
With this special documents, can go to any casino work.
Most of the DEALER must start from the smallest casinos, and accumulated experience, every three months or six months to find better opportunities Skip to the casino. Casino like a pyramid, the more the more difficult it is to climb up, which climbed As for the level, which can be brought into a huge casino, it depends on their own skill and luck.
I will be behind the story, and I use my wife s personal experience tell you DEALER hard course.
And we decided to go in for DEALER career at the same time, I would like to have done something, feel Houbo the wrong choice, it almost ruined my life after, and almost ruined my whole family.
Chapter II almost caused a big mistake
Section I casino fun
Good in our family settled in the first few days, the school is still a holiday, while sons in their own room to play, one to the living room watching television, while outside the community to find children playing, immersed in the child s innocent child Fun, completely unaware that the risk faced by the family situation.
Of course, we can not let them know. My wife and I discussed the topic of the day is to find what kind of work, day after day looking for work busy, we try to resume sent to the major casinos and big companies Ministry of Personnel, and devout, waiting for a reply , is also unfunded Wangchuanqiushui, watching maintain a living every day to reduce the money can only support three or four months, their hearts was very anxious.
Perhaps living in Las Vegas owes something, I was thinking every day around the casinos in turn, was from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to play the scene in front of us emerge from time to time. At that time, and often accompany domestic friends, or friends of the company and to Las Vegas to play, and occasionally with his wife and children to play.
Remember that mother from domestic to the United States to see me, it Daichiqu played. For me, instead of the play, as it is gambling more precise more.
At that time, my situation very well, very high income, Every time I go to Las Vegas, are the best live MGM Hotel (MGM HOTEL), use the VIP (VIP card), regular and friends in the lounge ( VIP ROOM), playing baccarat games (BACCARAT GAME), enjoy gambling in the best quality services.
At that time, MGM has just completed soon, very majestic style, a very sumptuous decoration is the best Casino Hotel. A total of more than 5,000 hotel rooms, as one of the world s largest hotel. It has an area of 112 acres, City of Entertainment , erected in front of the hotel the nation s largest lion statue, all of more than 20 restaurants, three large performance hall, a swimming pool, electric toys, child care centres and the variety of gym and other facilities. Occupies 3,000 square feet there is a wild zoo, a day attracted 12,000 visitors.
Casino occupy the first tier of 80 percent of the area, scattered in several colourful hall. From the layout of each room to display, from the lighting to the style, though different look, and echoed each other, complement each other, heighten a dazzling, plus a wide range of atmosphere. Some modern fashion hall, and some hall warm and romantic, there is the hall of the audio-visual Murano US Huan Huan Ying gives stimulus, excitement, as if exposure to the moon, will be secular troubles in their minds, people enjoyed in a variety of gambling house,
The only casino hall all the similarities, no windows, no bell and no table. In order to let you forget time, I do not know Baitianheiye heart flutter on the tables. Taiwan has nearly 100 casinos in the tables, according to different games in different regions. 1000-Taiwan s slot machines scattered in a local casino.
Every weekend, all of the halls are coming and going, bustling, before each game are Wai remove conflicts everywhere can hear the cheers and winning accrue sigh sound, slot machines issued Pilipala beep full of every corner.
Lounge is located in the center of the casino, from 7,8-roots Rome white marble columns, naturally formed an independent Office. Link is a pillar of the black-metre-high white marble profiling Rangjin fence, the thick red velvet quality Zhang Man, the top Chuigua hall from the ground, and this elegant, static and outside of the hall separated.
Since the world into the VIP room, there are several suites, namely toilets, lounges and 24-hour offer several delicacies buffet room.
Around the hall, a few metres of yellow leather sofa, sofa placed on the coffee table between senior cigarettes and drinks (wine is not).
The central hall, and laid several large tables of different games, tapetum light blue table cloth made of, different colours printed Yellow White rules of the game and betting chips, table side licensing Rapporteur position, the side is the relative position of the guests.
Among them, the baccarat tables is the most eye-catching.
Baccarat is divided into baccarat and the mini baccarat. They are the same rules, the same as the number of licences. Baccarat small, are generally outside the ordinary hall, a DEALER controlled by the game, not allowed to contact guests licensing. Therefore, the licence can be used repeatedly, until eight hours reshuffle only when replacement card.
Big baccarat, usually in the VIP room, the table too much, it is controlled by three games to DEALER. Visitors can see directly transforming points, each card will be used after it replaced, it was done to avoid marking the old 1000.
At that time, I often hold high posts under here, I should go to Las Vegas every month to play on the 3,4 days.
To, I notice Xiao Yang, who is my agent MGM casino. From the computer every time he will be the last time I play in the information transfer out, according to records to the corresponding grades of rooms. At the same time, Better let the guests are happy, casinos have to VIPs were placed in a room with a bouquet of flowers and a basket full of fruits, and left a letter greetings cards, and hope to use this to be able to bring you a very good mood, really first-class level of service!
VIP room tables general of the ceiling is 15,000 dollars, the minimum is 100 dollars (300 dollars holidays are over). In other words, the guests each at least a bargaining chip in the next Note shall not be less than 100 dollars. Guests here as long as four hours a day more than gambling, then the guests eating, accommodation and performances are all free, and so on the expenditure.
Gambling that the longer the specifications of the higher honor. If a customer only a few gambling Note, each note is very large, for example, tens of thousands, more than 100,000 (a specific request, the tables can be in excess of the ceiling), so that only a few minutes for the win.
Well, casinos will not give you any special privileges, such as casinos do not like punters.
Although I am not a spender and even the general gamblers are not really. However, every time I bet very long time, usually 36 hours over the table, the longest record is three days and three nights. Each note in between 100 to 500 dollars, the casino is the most like that of the guests. The longer the time, the greater the probability lose. At that time, win or lose the child million yuan, for me, it is not concerned.
I remember once, my mother and I (to the United States to visit relatives) to Las Vegas to play, eat dinner, I asked my mother: win or lose?
I said: Qian said 1000 is win?!
I was surprised to see her mother said: 1000! Well, the other gambling, and have won so many!
I am slightly disappointed to say: What is this! How can play in such a short time ah? This has just begun!
Mom just looked at me in silence, not say a word.
Now think, a very sad heart, great regret. She quietly read my elderly eyes, and always in my mind.
(Current unfinished, the next phase of continued)
