Man, 81, Who Killed Robbery Suspect Is Fined $100

An 81-year-old man who killed a suspected robber in a Beverly Hills apartment building on New Year’s Eve was fined $100 Friday for illegal possession of the weapon he used.

Beverly Hills Municipal Court Commissioner John Murphy levied the fine on Thomas Clarence Korshak, who, through his attorney, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Murphy also ordered the weapon--a .38-caliber revolver--destroyed.

Korshak, a retired jewelry merchant who reportedly is in frail health, was also placed on probation for a year and ordered not to obtain a replacement gun.

In a statement to the court, Korshak’s attorney, Donald Wager, said that his client “does not wish his conduct to be taken as an example that anyone should . . . necessarily follow in the future. He does not encourage anybody to violate the law. “

Wager also said that his client, who did not appear in court, wished to thank Beverly Hills police and the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office for the professionalism, the kindness shown to him and the assessment that he had, as he maintained, acted in self-defense.

Korshak, who lives in the mid-Wilshire district, told police that a man--later identified as Alan Jerome Paige, 26 of Southwest Los Angeles--accosted him and his wife as they entered the vestibule of an apartment building at 137 S. Maple Drive and demanded money and jewelry.

Korshak told police that the would-be robber became irritated when Korshak failed to respond quickly and advanced on him with one hand thrust into his jacket pocket, pointing as if he had a gun. Korshak then pulled his own weapon and fired twice. Paige staggered outside and collapsed near his car.

Police found a knife in the car but no weapon on Paige.

As a result of their assessment that Korshak acted in self defense, no homicide charge was filed, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth Wullschleger. In return for the no-contest plea, Wullschleger said, his office agreed to drop a second misdemeanor charge of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place. Maximum penalties for each charge are six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.