The Chicago Trial: Acomic Morality Play
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The Chicago Trial: Acomic Morality Play 2/7 CHICAGO—In Federal District Court for clear that if anyone could find out through the Northern District of Illinois it was busi- By lanford J. Ungar intensive cross-examination who had ness as usual—Judge Julius J. Hoffman, U. smashed the two-party system, it is Richard S. Attorney Richard Schultz, Yippie Abbie tively claiming status as "family," "defense Schultz; but it is hard to picture Abbie Hoff Hoffman and their supporting cast were pro- staff" and "press" in the bargaining for a man, this chaotic character who looks half ceeding as they had for several months and better spot. Defendant Lee Weiner spends a like Ratso Rizzo from "Midnight Cowboy" are sure to do for several more. day in court autographing new year's greet- and half like a Walt Disney puppy, smashing "Toasting the prosecutor is not allowed in ings that bear a picture of 'him and his wife anything. this court. You know that," said the small in the nude. The defense gets everyone, with a-4■9 man in the black robe and the very big the sole exceptions of the judge who scowls "If I had to single out two feelings on . black leather chair. and the jury which is dismissed, to laugh hysterically at a Yippie film about the con- the part of students, it is whether they- "No, I don't," replied the disheveled young have confidence that the society . man 15 feet away on the somewhat less com- vention demonstrations. fortable witness stand, who had raised his Even without Bobby Seale, the Black capable of urgent change and is wilting to- accept individuality or whether we paper cup to an antagonist. "I was toasting Panther who was sentenced on a contempt have, charge after shackles and gags failed to a society . which is increasingly being the new year. I was toasting victory." His manipulated and is increasingly condoning.* voice dropped off a bit. keep him from disrupting the trial, the courtroom frequently erupts into near-pan- repression. If they (conclude). this is aP A low ripple of laughter ran through 'manipulated society . relying on the audience and a few jurors shifted uneas- demonium as lawyers, defendants and court represe; officials shout at each other. They can be sion in order to maintain stability, than I:. arguing about anything from fine points of think we are in for real trouble." —YaIe President Kinnaan srewater.• The writer is a member of the editorial law to which bathroom the defendants may Meet the Press, Jan. 4. MO page staff of The Washington Post. use; and the only reaction available to a spectator at times is to chuckle in disbelief. If the Chicago trial is living theater, It is AFTER A WHILE, though—especially or. ily in their seats; several people recorded probably a comic morality play, an allegory a second or third visit to the trial—one can. the dispute in their notebooks. The same kind on the System and its opponents where all not help but stop laughing. The hammering. of exchange had occurred a few moments the characters overact and overreact. It is and the repetitiveness weigh heavily, and earlier when the witness asked the prosecu- easy to tell the good guys from the bad, the trial turns from funny to oppressively- tor if he had been serious about inviting him whatever one's perspective. The System dull to—all in an instant—shocking. to do a headstand. wears neat white shirts and ties, usually has It becomes increasingly difficult to Imag Outside, it was a snow-flurried gray Chi- close-cropped hair and, when prosecutor Me these seven men sitting around s cago winter's day. At the entrance to the Schultz is at centerstage, it talks with a vel- table, some of whom say they never mei federal building.— a Mies van der Rohe mon- vet-smooth voice. Most of the Rebels are in until after the Democratic Convention hae. ument—even at lunchtime there was still a anti-establishment outfits of blue jeans or begun and to this day appear to have little long line of young would-be spectators wait- corduroys and sport shirt, have long, some- in common, conspiring; or that, as charged. ing their turn, apparently undeterred by the times medusa-like hair and wail their lines they began to do so on April 12, 1968, only 's.' arrest at 5 a.m. a day earlier of some North- instead of speaking them. Each side has its day after President Johnson signed the 1961, Side-kids-from-good-families for violating own distinct vocabulary, and words like Civil Rights Act, which includes the antiriot. curfew. When Abbie and Jerry Rubin and "myth" have long since lost their meaning provision under which they are being tried some of their less picturesque "co-conspira- entirely ions overuse. The courtroom serves But in the event that they did and that the tors" emerged to walk to lunch, the kids well as a theater-in-the-round, with solid law is ultimately declared constitutional pressed around them and cheered gently in ceiling of fluorescent bulbs providing almost this trial is nonetheless a sham where the stage-door fashion. Some would eventually sunlight and even the ventilation ducts con- judge has taken on much of the prosecutora. get in. strut past a row of U S. marshals, cealed by a rich brown wood of extraordi- work. take the elevator to the 23rd floor, hand in nary uniformity. Americans are not accustomed to the no their specially Issued tickets at the door and, The obvious contempt of the principals for Lion of political trials; our civics books at after the minor inconvenience of holding each other is at the heart of the plot. Richard ways taught that such a thing does not hap hands over head while being searched, slip Schultz generally keeps his hack turned pen in the United States, It is endemic It onto one of the benches for the afternoon while addressing Leonard Weinglass, who countries behind the Iron Curtain or those' show. also represents the defendants. Buried deep which have not yet developed enough politi cally to have a framework for the protection 0.4.3 in his chair so that at times he is only barely ' visible over the bench, Judge Hoffman wrin- of personal liberties, or in plain-old dictator Abbie (in response to a question): "Are kles his face in distaste each time he speaks ships. But it requires only a little sensitivlia you (taking if I had those thoughts or to a defendant or defense lawyer. and a trace of outrage or discontent to set if I wrote that I had those thoughts? A sort of Greek chorus is provided by the the trial of the Chicago light (now Seven)Lg"' There's a difference." constant frequent repetition, after defense the way it has proceeded—as a political one Schultz: "It's a convenient difference, isn't lawyers' questions, of "I object, your honor" a search for scapegoats in an ugly episode o: it, Mr. Hoffman?" from' the prosecution, "Sustained," from the recent history. One need not even beliOi the defendants' theory of a reverse conspire; Abbie: "I don't know what you mean. I've judge, "but, but . • ." from the defense, never been on trial for my thoughts and finally "I have ruled. I sustain the cy—by the President, Chicago's Mayer, before." objection, strike the answer from the record Daley and the police—or see the Eight -at heroes to arrive at this observation, All dui I 0.44 and direct the jury to disregard it" from the judge. The refrain becomes so hypnotic that is necessary is a well-oiled System where ev THERE WERE quite a few laughs during a spectator could swear at times he is hear- eryone does his job: a Congress that passel this reporter's three visits (in November, ing "sustained" before "abject," an antiriot law, a Justice Department anX December and January) to the Chicago trial There are great theatrical moments, high- bus to enforce it with impunity and enthuSf' where eight men, all but one about 30 years points of dramatic confrontation which tell asm, a prosecutor trying to win a case ant old, are charged with a conspiracy to cross something about each character: for exam- perhaps attain political reward for it,' e state lines with the intent to Incite or partic- ple, Schultz has Abble Hoffman on the wit- tough judge substantially more concerne d ipate in a riot at the 1968 Democratic Na- ness stand and is driving in to score a point. about order than dissent. And a collection ol tional Convention: Judge Hoffman and de- dissenters, some notorious, who bitterly dis He is asking about convention-week demon- trust the System for what they see as its fense lawyer William Kunstier debate strations and finally, his voice reaching a flaws. whether the word "hell" is profanity and crescendo, he demands. "Did you smash the can be permitted in testimony. Abbie Hoff- two-party system?" Abbie sighs and glides cea man's wife Anita argues with the courtroom into a long answer about how "the system is "I don't think there is this great gen- marshals about where she can sit, alterna- destroying itself." Looking at the two, it is eration gap . (people) think the younger generation is going to pot because the'y migrac wear wag hair or a moustache. Gook at the pictures of Christ . he wore long hair and a mustache.