Around the Nation

CALIFORNIA

Simpson ordered to pay Goldmans

SANTA MONICA — Relatives of Ron Goldman won a court order yesterday seizing any money O.J. Simpson earns for lending his name and likeness to a football video game with a fictional team called the Assassins and a knife-wielding mascot.

The legal victory was part of an effort by Mr. Goldman’s estate to satisfy a $33.5 million judgment against Simpson in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against him in the 1994 stabbing deaths of Mr. Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.

The former star running back was acquitted of criminal charges in 1995 at the end of a sensational murder trial but was found legally responsible for their deaths by a civil court jury two years later.

Simpson has maintained his innocence and vowed never to pay the jury award voluntarily.

CONNECTICUT

Home invasion suspects in court

NEW HAVEN — Two suspects in a burglary and arson that left three persons dead and rocked a suburban town last month faced a number of charges yesterday when they appeared in court.

Family members of the victims — the wife and daughters of a prominent doctor, who survived the attack — filled two rows in the packed courtroom.

Joshua Komisarjevsky, 26, and Steven Hayes, 44, did not enter pleas and spoke only to answer yes or no to questions.

The men have been held on $15 million bail since July 23, when they were accused of taking the family hostage, and killing 48-year-old Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11. The state medical examiner said Mrs. Hawke-Petit was strangled. The girls died from smoke inhalation after the family’s suburban Cheshire home was set ablaze.

Dr. William Petit Jr. was severely beaten but managed to escape. He did not attend yesterday’s hearing.

INDIANA

Woman, 2 teens killed in apartment

GARY — A woman and two teenagers were fatally shot, and a suspect was in custody, police said yesterday.

The woman, boy and girl were found shot in an apartment at Lakeshore Dunes complex, near Lake Michigan, police said. Neighbors reported hearing numerous gunshots coming from the apartment hours before police entered.

Police said they would not release the suspect’s name until he is charged.

MICHIGAN

Motorcyclist arrested as a record breaker

REESE — A motorcyclist charged with speeding through town at 137 mph told police that he was just trying to be punctual, authorities said yesterday.

The 37-year-old man said he was “late for work.”

A police officer stopped the biker at 3:35 a.m. about 80 miles northwest of Detroit. Authorities said the man had earned a spot on their bulletin board.

“We have a Wall of Fame here in the report room, and when anybody arrests someone traveling over 100 mph, we mark it down,” Tuscola County Sheriff’s Lt. James Giroux said.

“This 137 mph is the new record,” he added.

The suspect was in the county jail yesterday awaiting arraignment on a charge of fleeing and attempting to elude police.

MINNESOTA

Navy, FBI divers arrive at fallen bridge

MINNEAPOLIS — An elite team of Navy divers joined the search for victims of the interstate bridge collapse yesterday.

The team of 16 divers and a five-member command crew arrived hours before dawn yesterday, and several divers immediately entered the Mississippi River.

Navy Senior Chief David Nagle said the divers wanted to get a feel for the area and were in the water for about two hours. Divers were back in the river by late morning, removing concrete reinforcement bars and other debris.

At least eight persons are missing and presumed dead in last week’s collapse, with perhaps more still in the river. Five persons are confirmed dead.

Meanwhile, a man who helped evacuate a school bus full of children after the collapse has a generous offer to consider.

Jeremy Hernandez, 20, dropped out of Dunwoody College of Technology because he couldn’t afford the $15,000 tuition. Now, he can finish his two-year automotive technician degree free if he wants to come back, the school said yesterday.

NEW JERSEY

Man uses nail gun to kill wife, self

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP — A 77-year-old man killed his wife and then himself with a commercial-grade nail gun, police said yesterday.

Police said they didn’t know why James B. Tompkinson, a retired teacher, would kill his 67-year-old wife, Susan.

A relative who went to their home Monday evening found them and called 911.

When police arrived, Mrs. Tompkinson was dead of head and chest trauma and her husband was severely injured. He died yesterday morning.

Police Lt. Thomas Dellane said there was no history of police visits to the couple’s home.

NEW YORK

Bloomberg let out of jury duty

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg returned to court for a second day of jury duty yesterday but was dismissed after attorneys passed him up while choosing a panel to hear a personal-injury case.

Mr. Bloomberg started his day in a courtroom with about 35 other prospective jurors. He was allowed to leave by early afternoon.

If the billionaire mayor had been chosen, he would have become the second sitting mayor in a row to be part of a jury in a city that no longer allows occupation-related exemptions. His predecessor, Rudolph W. Giuliani, was the foreman on a jury in a landlord-tenant dispute during his second term in 1999.

Mr. Bloomberg stood out from the other people called for duty in State Supreme Court, the trial-level court in New York state: He appeared to be the only prospective juror dressed in a suit, was trailed by security and press aides, and was approached by strangers for handshakes.

OREGON

Amtrak resumes Cascades route

PORTLAND — Amtrak resumed its Cascades route between Eugene and Vancouver, British Columbia. The service was interrupted Friday after an inspection of rail cars built by Spanish manufacturer Talgo Inc. found cracks in the suspension system of a passenger car.

Amtrak brought in substitute equipment and said trains on the route will operate at reduced speeds.

RHODE ISLAND

Ex-congressional candidate sues town

RICHMOND — Former congressional candidate Rod Driver sued this town, saying its police chief violated his free speech rights by removing his campaign signs from private property last year.

According to the federal suit, Police Chief Raymond Driscoll said he took the signs down because they were posted too close to a highway. Mr. Driver ran as an independent and lost.

UTAH

Polygamist Green released from prison

SALT LAKE CITY — A polygamist was released from prison yesterday after serving six years on a child rape conviction for having sex with a 13-year-old girl who is now his only legal wife.

Two of Tom Green’s sons — he has 32 children with five women — picked him up from the Utah State Prison early yesterday, said Jack Ford, Department of Corrections spokesman.

Mr. Green was to check in with his parole officer and then would be freed, Mr. Ford said.

“I look forward to return to life in society and to begin carrying again the many responsibilities I have incurred,” Mr. Green said.

From wire dispatches and staff reports