Hearing in buried silver postponed

Thursday, March 18, 1999 | 9:17 a.m.

The hearing for David Mattsen, Richard Tabish and Michael Milot had been scheduled for Friday in Pahrump Justice Court, but Nye County authorities said it has been delayed until Aug. 16.

The three men, who are out on bail, are accused of trying to steal the silver that belonged to Binion's estate. Binion was slain Sept. 17 in his Las Vegas home. Less than 36 hours after his body was found, the three - including Tabish, who built an underground vault in Pahrump for Binion - were arrested while trying to haul away the silver.

A Pahrump judge postponed the hearing because she realized it might take two days and she wanted to get a larger courtroom, a court spokesman said.

In another development, the California attorney for Linda Carroll, a potential witness in the Binion slaying, said reports that she was hiding and feared for her life are not true.

A Clark County warrant has been issued for the arrest of Carroll as a material witness in the case. She has been described in court documents as a "close friend" of Sandra Murphy, who was Binion's girlfriend at the time of his death.

Carroll's Orange County attorney, Chet Bennett, would not address specific questions about her Wednesday, but said he will issue a more detailed statement later.

Las Vegas homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen confirmed Wednesday that detectives have been unable to locate Carroll.

"We have not been able to talk to her yet, and we're only interested in talking to her about information she has about the Binion case," Petersen said. "We believe she has some very pertinent information."

Tabish and Murphy are also thought to be part of a Clark County grand jury investigation that is sifting through information related to Binion's slaying. The grand jury will help the district attorney determine if there is enough evidence to charge anyone in the death.

Two weeks ago, Las Vegas police served a warrant on Murphy's Las Vegas apartment, in part, to uncover evidence that she was romantically involved with Tabish.

A warrant was also served on Tabish's home and business in Missoula, Mont., in February. What was found in those searches has been sealed by a Montana District Court judge.