Trash will not empty or stop running

Installed 10.5, now when I click on "Secure Empty Trash" in the Finder, the small, "emptying the Trash" widow opens and the bar starts to move as if it is emptying the trash. However, it lists MORE items than are in Trash and it just runs continually (I have left it running overnight, 9 hours). It will NOT respond to "Stop emptying the Trash" when clicked. Since it is continually running I can not Restart or Shutdown. If I Force Quit, it only shows the Finder not the Trash. I have repaired permissions. I have to hold the Power button down in order to Shut Down. When I restart sometimes the Trash is empty and sometimes it is not...