City

A simple telephone inquiry about a stolen credit card opened a trail big enough for detectives to track down a suspect in the carjacking-murder 14 months ago of wealthy Baltimore businessman J. Schuyler "Sky" Alland.Mr. Alland apparently was not the victim of a random crime, but targeted specifically by the killer -- who authorities believe to be a former employee of Mr. Alland's market-research company, and to have planned ahead of time to sell the victim's $80,000 car.The suspect, John Graham Bridges, 29, of Norfolk, was arrested last week in Norfolk and charged by the United States Park Police with committing the murder on federal property -- the grounds of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center -- on Feb. 18, 1992.

A 20-year-old cousin of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was one of two men fatally shot in separate incidents Wednesday night in Baltimore, the latest victims of the city's relentless pace of gun violence. Joseph Haskins, 20, was shot inside a house just blocks from his family's home in the Northwest Baltimore neighborhood of Forest Park. Police said the shooting appeared to be the result of home invasion robbery, but detectives still were investigating. They said it was unclear whether Haskins was targeted.

In the black market of Maryland's prisons and jails, where the right price can secure cellphones and drugs, transactions unfold through a complex system of currency. Among the key elements: 14-digit codes, prepaid debit cards and text messages. One brand of cards - Green Dot - is so ubiquitous that it has become part of the lexicon on the inside. The recent federal indictment of two dozen inmates and corrections officers in an alleged Black Guerrilla Family corruption scandal at the Baltimore City Detention Center notes several instances in which suspects refer to "dots" in transactions.

The search for the killers of Baltimore millionaire J. Schuyler "Sky" Alland was at a standstill in the summer of 1992. Whoever executed the businessman for his $80,000 black BMW apparently had gotten away with murder -- not to mention the car.U.S. Park Police Detective Timothy M. Squires was handling the first murder of his career, but he made a bold promise."He promised that he would find these guys," said Dorothy Alland Leighton, Mr. Alland's mother. "He said, 'Even when I retire, I'll continue to work on this case with no pay until I find who killed your son.' "His promise was fulfilled Wednesday when federal prosecutors wrapped up an intricate nationwide investigation into the February 1992 murder with the conviction of the killer, John Graham Bridges, 30, of Norfolk, Va. A co-defendant, Robert Patrick Gray, 25, of Cockeysville pleaded guilty Nov. 5."

Rocking horses have been made for children for hundreds of years. A rocking horse made before 1900 is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars today. Collectors can find less expensive toy horses, however.Children of the 1950s remember the most popular horse from their childhood: the Wonder Horse. The all-wood painted horse was supported on a wooden frame by metal springs. The child rider could bounce up and down.The Wonder Horse was made by Wonder Products, now located in Bossier City, La. The company made its first horses in 1949.

Joey Vento, the legendary and legendarily cantankerous owner of one of Philadelphia's two famous-because-they're-famous legendary cheesesteak stands, died yesterday from a massive heart attack. Check out this great video by Baltimore photographer Marty Katz. There must be places in Baltimore as inexplicable to outsiders as are Philadelphia's Geno's Steaks and Pat's King of Steaks.

To the family and friends of Stephen Pitcairn, we Baltimoreans recognize that this is a very personal loss for you and we send our sympathy. We ask for your understanding as we use Mr. Pitcairn's death as a symbol of what is terribly wrong in the city where we live and work, and as a rallying cry for change. To the witnesses who came forth and identified the murderers, thank you for your courage. It seems to be the only flicker of hope in this tragedy. Charlotte F. Gerczak, Baltimore

The Baltimore Development Corp., the city's economic development agency, is looking for an outside consultant to provide an analysis of the city's "economic development landscape," according to a request for applications issued Tuesday. The consultant is being asked to assess the city's "existing economic conditions, obstacles, opportunities for expansion, and strengths," as well as identify "priorities and options to move the City's economy forward" and figure out a way "to track the success of new initiatives in terms of job growth, investment, and economic impact," according to the request for proposals.

Beginning at 10:30 Saturday night, ice will be distributed to city residents at the following locations: 4501 Reisterstown Road 601 Cherry Hill Road 1700 N. Gay St. 1601 Baker St.

I read and enjoyed the obituary for William Donald Schaefer in the April 19, 2001 edition ("Former governor and mayor changed the face of Baltimore"). It was just like remembering a family member. However, I must take exception to one line: "Mr. Schaefer had no survivors. " While I understand the context of that line in an obituary, my city fits that bill on many, many levels. Christopher Benzing, Baltimore