Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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■ PRESSURE Continued from page 1 to leave and make a 911 call from the complex’s leasing office. Authorities are not sure whether Nichols let the woman go or if she escaped on her own, Moloney said. The 911 call was the tip authorities needed. “The bottom line is that law enforcement had no idea where he was this victim, the community owes a tremendous debt to her because she kept her calm and provided us with the information that ultimately led to the arrest,” Walters said. The woman was not injured, and helped the SWAT team members find Nichols, Moloney said. “She was very strong through the whole thing,” he said. While she was held hostage, she talked to Nichols about her young daughter, her late husband and God, authorities told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta police Chief Richard Pennington said he thought the woman appealed to Nichols on a spiritual level. Nichols could appear in federal court as early as Monday to face a charge of possession of a firearm by a person tinder indictment, the charge authorities are using to keep Nichols in custody while they sort out charging in the slayings, said U.S. Attorney David Nahmias. The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office hopes to formally charge Nichols with the new crimes within 30 days, spokesman Erik Friedly said Sunday. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard still would like to resolve Nichols’ interrupted rape retrial, Friedly said. Nichols faced a life sentence if convicted. In that case, Nichols was accused of bursting into his ex girlfriend’s home with a loaded machine gun, binding her with duct tape and sexually assaulting her over three days. Nichols claimed the sex was consensual. 1 Pope returns to Vatica after latest hospital sti By WILLIAM J. KOLE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II was released from the hospital and returned to his apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Sunday after reassuring the world’s Roman Catholic faithful with his own raspy voice that he is on the mend. A gray Mercedes minivan carried the frail, 84-year-old pontiffback to the Vatican, 2 1/2 weeks after he was rushed by ambulance to Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic hospital and had surgery to insert a breathing tube in his windpipe. Cries of “Viva il Papa!” (“Long live the pope!”) went up outside the hospital as John Paul crossed himself and the van pulled away. He waved and blessed the thousands of cheering Romans and tourists who lined the route, and his motorcade crossed tfie spectacularly floodlit square just as night fell, passed beneath the Arch of the Bells and disappeared inside the Vatican. John Paul left Gemelli just a few hours after his first live public address since the Feb. 24 operation, managing a few scripted words in a hoarse voice from a window to a crowd of cheering Catholics who had gathered beneath his lOth-floor hospital suite. “Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your visit. To everyone, have a good Sunday and a good week,” he said, reading from a sheet of paper and singling out faithful from his hometown of Wadowice, Poland, for a special greeting. Minutes later, the Vatican announced the pope’s discharge from the hospital. But its brief statement made clear that the pope was not cured — merely well enough to continue his convalescence back at the Holy See. It said John Paul was leaving Gemelli “in agreement with the attending physicians.” ANDREW MEDICHINI/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Pope John Paul II leaves Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic hospital Sunday. The pope, whose recovery and speaking difficulties have been hampered by Parkinson’s disease, has been getting breathing and speech therapy since his tracheotomy. His spokesman said last week that nothing was being done for John Paul at the hospital that could not be handled in his apartment. The Vatican did not say whether the tube in his throat was removed or replaced with a smaller version designed to help him speak. A new health update was to be issued Monday. The pope spent 10 days at Gemelli for an earlier bout of breathing trouble and was released Feb. 10, only to be rushed back two weeks later. His return to the Vatican triggered questions among those wondering if he would fully recover or wind up back in the hospital. “We are praying, all the people,” said Sister Felicia, a nun at the Vatican. “The world is praying.” Although John Paul was released in plenty of time for Holy Week, which begins on March 20 with Palm Sunday and culminates a week later with Easter, the Vatican says his only commitment so far is giving his traditional blessings on Easter Sunday. Pilgrims standing Gemelli and St. Petei wept, cheered and snapp with their cell-phone c the pope made his way b Vatican. “It was a joy to see 1 Caterina Strampelli, ai A numerous patients who " out in their bathrobes t off. “He’s a symbol of v serenity. He gave me stre At the hospital earlier John Paul greeted fl pilgrims from Wadowice arrived earlier to sing, leave a gift basket filled v ginger cakes and oth delicacies. “It is enough for us Holy Father is comin: back to health, and we hope that our prayers presence here were the this,” said Eva Filipiak, t mayor. “We hope that helped him to carry his ct In a message read archbishop at St. Peter’s, expressed his gratil journalists who “not sacrifice” covered hospitalization, “thanks the faithful in every p; world can feel closer tc accompany me with affe prayer.” John Paul also said he see many young people t; in a Palm Sunday celebra Peter’s Square, which “leads us toward” the Catholic Church’s Wor Day in Cologne, Gen , August. The event is Jo only scheduled trip this y< “The pope is putting e back together,” said Tpscano, 28, of Sicily. ^ “The Lord helps him,” Q “And perhaps it also heij know that there are ; people who wish him re who love him.” Associated Press write Lewis and Daniela contributed to this story. MAY 2005 GRADUATES CAP, GOWN, TASSEL, & A GRAD FAIR DATES: _ WED, MARCH 16,12-6 THURS, MARCH 17,12-6 ■r RUSSELL HOUSE BOOKSTORE GET FIT. GET PAID. For Part-time Package Handlers at FedEx Ground, it’s like a paid workout. The work's demanding, but the rewards are big.Come join our team, get a weekly paycheck, tuition assistance and break a sweat with the nation's package delivery leader. Part-time Package Handlers Two Part-time shifts available, (evening and early morning) Up to $8.50/hr. to start, scheduled raises. Qualifications: I ... Fedex.com/us/careers Women and minorities are encouraged to join the team.