Milestones

By Harriet Barovick, Michelle Derrow, Tam Gray, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

CONVICTED. TIMOTHY BOOMER, 25, of violating Michigan's 1897 anti-swearing law. In a case that drew much attention, a jury in rural Arenac County found Boomer guilty of repeatedly using "the F word" within earshot of children after his canoe overturned in a river. He faces 90 days in jail. The ACLU, which calls the law unconstitutional, has vowed an appeal.

RELEASED. AUTUMN JACKSON, 24, alleged extortioner of Bill Cosby, who Jackson said was her father (a claim Cosby denied); from federal prison; in Dublin, Calif. An appeals court overturned her 1997 conviction, saying the judge had not explained the extortion law adequately to the jury.

DIED. DEFOREST KELLEY, 79, actor best known for his role as the humane Dr. Leonard ("Bones") McCoy on Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise; in Woodland Hills, Calif. On the cult hit TV series and in six film versions, Dr. McCoy battled Leonard Nimoy's hyperlogical Mr. Spock, whose emotional pulselessness McCoy disdained. Though he could be melodramatic at the prospect of treating aliens--"I'm just a country doctor!"--he never let Captain Kirk down.

DIED. EDDIE STANKY, 83, pugnacious, pennant-winning second baseman; in Fairhope, Ala. Nicknamed "the Brat," Stanky battled his way through 11 seasons for National League teams, including the champion Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves and New York Giants. "He can't run, he can't hit and he can't throw," said Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey. "But if there's a way to beat the other team, he'll find it."

DIED. KENNETH S. DAVIS, 86, historian and tireless biographer of Franklin D. Roosevelt; in Manhattan, Kans. The author of books on Adlai Stevenson and Dwight Eisenhower as well, he had just completed the fifth volume of his prizewinning life of F.D.R.

DIED. JAMES ("ROSY") MCHARGUE, 97, leather-lunged jazz reedman who played with Benny Goodman and Kay Kyser; in Santa Monica, Calif. The clarinetist, saxophonist and vocalist--whose career in clubs lasted 70 years--got his nickname from singing the Hawaiian novelty song When Rosy Riccoola Do da Hoola Ma Boola.