Nation digest 02/12/02

UK firm claims it owns patent on 'hyperlinks'

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A British company claimed in federal court Monday that it owns the patent on hyperlinks -- the single-click conveniences that take a Web surfer from one Internet page to another -- and should get paid for their daily use by millions of people.

But a federal judge with a laptop on her desk warned that it may be difficult to prove that a patent filed in 1976, when today's Internet was barely imagined, somehow applies to modern computers.

"The language is archaic," said U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. "It's like reading Old English."

But Albert Breneisen, an attorney for British Telecommunications PLC, insisted, "The basic structure of linking is covered by the patent."

Employee charged with stealing from archives

PHILADELPHIA -- A veteran National Archives employee was charged with theft Monday for allegedly stealing dozens of historical documents -- including presidential pardons and slave trade materials -- and selling them on eBay.

At least 100 documents worth at least $100,000 were stolen and many have not been recovered, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Shawn Aubitz, 45, simply put the documents in his briefcase and left the agency's field office in downtown Philadelphia.

Aubitz has an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached for comment.

Shipyard worker guilty of killing two in 1999

SEATTLE -- A former shipyard worker was convicted Monday of shooting two people to death and wounding two others in 1999 when he opened fire at the shipyard.

Kevin Cruz, 32, was convicted of two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He could get the death penalty or life in prison without parole at sentencing later this month.

Defense lawyer Eric Lindell said he was confident the jury would spare Cruz's life once they learn more about him.

Prosecutors said Cruz walked into an office at the Northlake Shipyard on Nov. 3, 1999 and fired 11 rounds. Prosecutors believe he harbored a grudge because he was fired soon after the company's insurance company cut off his benefits for a work-related injury, saying he wasn't really hurt.

Judge tells congressman not to hold up trial

CLEVELAND -- A federal judge on Monday told Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. to not hold up jury selection for his bribery trial and dismissed his complaint that she shouldn't have let the media see juror questionnaires.

The congressman, who is defending himself even though he is not a lawyer, had said personal information such as the salaries of potential jurors should not have been given to the media.

"Oh come on, congressman, let's get on with the jurors and not delay," U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells told him as she rejected his complaint.

Wells ordered him to sit down and told him in a stern voice: "Now it's time to go forward to select a jury in this case. Thank you."

Traficant, 60, is accused of accepting gifts and favors in exchange for using his political influence, forcing his staff to make cash kickbacks or do favors for him, tax falsification and racketeering.

-- From wire reports