COFO NSWS RELEASE January l6,1961i
1017 Lynch Street 35?-960$
Jackson,Mississippi
HfECCWEST OF 18 ACCOSH) WRW5R15W
JACKSON. Civil Rights workers in Mississippi exor#essed"guarde'* optimism"and some doubts about the indictment and arrest of the 18 men ac cused of murdering James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Mickey Sowerner last June.
^ome COFO and FDP leaders today(3ata) doubted whether the indictments would result in any convictions since the Federal Jurors like,the state jurors are composed almost exclusively of white persons,The
'/bssibility that an all white jury would convict white men for murdering a
Negro or White Civil Rights workers is seen here as"extremely doubtfultf
It was also felt that the indictments would take the
Ifetional spotlight off the other activities of the civil rights movtnrent.
Ironically,the three slain men had worked diligently on these activitiesjnow
their death* may serve in some ways to divert attention from cause they were
Sighting for,Right now,for example,the FD? and COFO are directing i$$ their
energies to challenging the firve segregationist Mississippi Congressmen.
FT chairman,Lawrence Guyot and other FDP members from
Aberdeen,McComb,and Jackson complained about the"viciously diseriminstpry"
bonds set for the 18 alleged conspiratorsi" A Negro,1' one Aberdeen man said,
"would never have been set free on $£,700 bond for killing a white man, Ke
might have been lynched before that ever happened, •"• A Fhiladej phiayP^iCher / Treacher said that" nothing ha3 changed much since the arrests(of Fainey,Price
and the other accused conspirators)", "They(lccal toughs) still beat up folk*,
and when we #all the sheriff's they tell us to go call the FHToAbout a »|Mrth
ago there was a Negro man shot in a cafe.,..,.., there was a fight there.We
called Sheriff Painey about it but they never did investigate the shooting." G>ewev«.l *+»•+© mants -* Iw4we».+/»h
/kJjJf^^
>ui...r.;.. TIZEN3 CCU: *T ! LIST
»*«ref missing civil rigfate worker MloJsry gnhwerner wis oat of 136 oars 11*tod on a Hot curtained recently from th« Canton White Citizens Council, the list was of "fAJtt OBStXVED Dl TXCCTrY or com AND KMC? wanraiae m CAITPOM, mfsmiPfi". AH importer local government officials lo Canton, ani all State representatives that city are known to too Oitisens Oevnoll sweaters. list bod obviously boon circulated to nak* widely .mown tho oara and nanos of civil rlghta workers and looal people active 1A elvil rights of fairs. Canton has recently boon the sjsawsjnaj ecv eerleta vigilante activities. A oar of elvll rights workers drttn frosi Canton to Jackson was stopped on Ana _. Ihe driver, a Paklatanl who la teaching at Tomes loo College neor Jaokaon, was beaten, and tho oocupants felt that they only narrowly escaped with their Uvea.
• Ant* is good reason to expect that llata ouoh as this one amy have boon circulated over a largo area, and that suoh llata night have boon used to Identify and way-lay tho Sohvorner oar. It IS against this kind of aotivity that civil rights workers la tho state have almost no protection, beoauae looal law enforoenent] offioere Jo not offer protection to workers and are often themselves Involved in tho most pruts1 forme of harassment. Pol loo in some areas of the atate are japans said to bo members of tho Cltlaons Oounoll and tho Ku CLux flan. fa gala protection against suoh vigilante activity, it would bo necoGoor for federal courts and federal agencies tot l) Either enjoin local officials to give reel protection to N1 £Eivi l righta workers end locsl wegroes setlvt in civil rights, or [8) Bring In sufficient federal idrsballs and FBI agents is offer federal protection to thoee working in the stste.
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tsf QBSWTO ti ticiarrr or OOK «B * • V*? $-#» Slaughter, 227 Hsrle S >et 1959 Qa^vrolaf fcfe* 1955 rerd lef; g... ;i„ |orrl|M 231 i»t aaatesi * 19^0 Psatisc M*it*y PslsssAl) amemc If >J * 1957 Peatlse 6 am flaadvrtt, jj^ ( I«-J .»-> «set;qaaaea S Cksvrolat T <<•# •;•?. . Osatec i960 l***i* K «4«ic*tt, 4oi Casteae 0tr*eVt. i\ e%: ; 19*1 Qurrrolet B»m Jft^ksst-ra,, Boots 1, Hedlwe* ;„*. 1955 ror4, Crw tt B*i..; £9tbo£gr Bordgsrs,. Beat el v- 4 195% F**las Ivy, Oo*t«U» 559 C0»r«c 81 **«»•*, i^?.t«C •FV av p«*icev» }*3 *<•*«- ju»a#«y ^ • dajsmtc r»r4 «st«r; ft«xt**j.e, 713 rf**t Uie* 3i^*v 1*4 »t lea ' "tee llftaaell, 5&? C*m*t>* «Ct*e*t' Sitvrelet tarson, . ftoate 1, Box £09,: Ossr ? Willises, Dor*l» 1; K«Aio«st • m !*, dm t hi \-» JaskaeaY Ce»t«u* 1955 £ei^k r Willieaa, 35* ». w#*t Stirea^.' Ijfiao* jaM^Oft ' , t uaa osjarroiot *5-u95* .*V Stokee, otto street-, .Ofe#**» 1999 yJT*m fCaleea 61 ©]**#, St*r -j street, '.;is*fe«at - >U3Z "aV'K* Jacmeoa, MM*- Covwc $fer*etf fjpa&e^ Kprrjelet tf»0^~-•O^Ceaaa ' , 2»•"• , Ceate•' ' m :' •",'' ' /."' fv;}.*/.- 1938 Qievrolet j%2104 ease Airith, 718 Ad*lin« »tteet> VakCea' l)M bp^trelot 2ea«e i f5-2138 saklf' Gid-?vr-, K>8 Cowwi strw^ti,- (7C»teK r* 195^ Bn.lck 13^-292
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* > • '•»' It* '•*»'*'• m •<**\m, Heade aalamem, 256 Boyd Street, Canton \ » 1957 B«iekt.areen I*7» Charlie Scott, 3l6 lennady Street, Centos . • I955 Beat* •82 3ere*nen Sample, 4l6 Isabella street, Gaston - .. I05? Oeauiee Sraaot PerfcLnaV,'73*. Vest . Aeedeey *•**•£I Plckua Plekap Pickup etiensi The Berts Corp., Rankin CO*. 1964 Ford, Black Ante Beatai Company of Plate 1964 Oldsmobile, nTuo Into Beatai Company of Dixie, Jackson, Miss. 1964 Olds, Black Jl The Harts Corp,, Rankin Co. Airport 1964 Poato, Oro 6 Cr» (439 The Hertz Corp*, Rankxn Co, Airport 1964 Cher-, Owes* k>74 The Herts Corp:., Rankin CO Jl Airport >« 1964 Bulek, Cream (Bed Connaly) I?55 Hesi Hiaftsoa, Tonaaloo 1953 Ford Congress of fiaeial Equality ''..**, 1963 Pord, Blue Sta tion Wagon J* Dudley Lehew, Box 4^5., Jackson 1963 Chevrolet, Whi't . i - Convertatie Target Photo Tiniah, l?i2 K. Mill Street, Jackson Blue Ramblers J.. Ho MeAlUly, 664 Stat* Street, Jackson 1960 White Plynoutl Pa 0, Russell, 139 T^nAostiee Avenue, Jackson Blue 1962 Fc*d Janes Franklin. Rout.e 5; Jackson 1961 Plynoatt W, £. To3*rT 3130 A4/i»ne Street, Jackson 1959 Poafrl* Clark Escc, fit Wo Fulton, Canton 1963 Chevrolet J«at*s Jchmf^Uj Boat 107. Carton 1954 Bnick ffagenfa Patteraea, I»3l>*ii* Surest, Canton 1955 Chevr-let MM shell C. Janes, 1730 Hocurd Street, Jackson 1963 Pcntxac Eunice King, Bout* 3f BJX S7-A. Vicksburg »- i960 Stttdebskex F \ • -? • Peg* 3 •i0~>69 White Plyaouth P9122 Wh^te Ooevrolet A 5:590 Bine Bnlak y ] 01699 Unite Chevrolet Tesneeeec 1W9664 - Bine Pontiac • • .,*•• .• • -. • • >'i?rlde 2CW1468 - i960 Chevrolet ConvertiWletitts,, White .. ; '."imeeeee 18W737 * ' * i. • • Tennedses 2TA-29. Isllew Chevrolat "i-sylvnnla 5l4o46 Bine and Cream Pea U abase 1-57686. Cream Plyaonta Illinois 4508257 Bleak Ford • ;• >. -r ••• •' Illinois MI-4,806 1964 Chevrolet, Zebra Mot si -tio BH-160 1959 Bulck, Eebra Hotel - '•'-' • '•.—• .'aiforala JMA-410 1959 Oldsocblla, Zebra Motel 1 Motel -, --. •» K-3966;woox1 Whitna«ee oxennoDiiOldenobila •». • 5JD160 Ught Bins OldenobUe : ;, pr/Ii6?73b 7596 4 WilliJsnee e BennettB. Marshall, Rout, eHont 1, Madisoe 3, Htlen a 1964 Ford "' X-8673 Idgbt Bine Ford, Jonas Car Battel, Unrel, Mississippi Tscao CM-269O I557 Oldamoblle ' . 1 . i 7-2248 j Auto Rental of Dixie 1964 OldsaobllC * 19-1699 Chootsjr County, Mississippi • 4 iJJ.160 Hell Brothers, Bnt.rpriae, Miss. 1964 Oldeeobile t ?10635 Hattiesburg Car Beatai, 310 Broadway Drive• 1963 Chevrolet Heated by WSu Stone "T.^1152 Hatha* Pries, 210 Bast 4th Street, Barttieeburr 1&2 Oldamoalle 26D274 . Oa t:. Clsrk, Lsningoto. Mies. 1959 Oldsnotlle . V ?.- * , l ~ v "•aaesees 2R-1820 ForA f- vP* V. -"'.;•:'? •&$& • - • 1964'Uai^lnna 141*992 " • * ' •'' - " • V K$j3 -.vfi^^ "• ' V :/; \ £-8242 Prentoa Pepper, Route 2, Vanghan, atlas. RRe d and feesm 1955 Ford X-57&4 la? JW were\715 test Ma4>aoa-. • taieo^Sfe: %- White 1964 .^JlawMmM 1964 Lonlsisne^aZU Bisplayed Bine Cherrclet- Brlrea by FBI Agents- HlU WU1 Motel 1964 Lonlnaaaa 57A279 Displsyed Broen Plyeonta - BrlTen by FBJ Agents - Bill Will Motel 1964 Louisiana: 55*421 Dispalyed Viae CbweTolet ~ Brlran by m Ageats - Bill Mill Mothl 33-625 «e-w laV Berkettcettf, . Prentiss, Mlao.Miss. , -Jlhlt^maa-.«mt.White and Bed "Badg e - .< • y 1 4 ^364 Honnrd ModreI, HetHeir Albany, Mis.lesnVwMisslssnVtdl - l$OI960o Wm&yard : • . ;' . *v>" •> •• • • ' «5 .1 "y •* • * •*1'- Vs: » *#» *. » *' — Si*' a *-* da . i •'. 4 ^ rr—*- - ~^amr^ ~ ml ' • ' '• *•' ' " ' ' 4 > SeaXeUC^Me^ CeWiey, ** SooiawUM Cat»t*tVaJ eVtaVtlaf >M f eif f *f Ir^WllliVf/lh THE SC iWERNER CASE - CHRONOLOGY OF CONTACTS WITH AGEMTS OF THE FKDhRAL GOV'T. SUNDAY, JUNE 21 10:00 PMx H. F. Relgesen, Jaokson FBI agent, was contacted by law student Sherwin Kaplan. Helgesen was informed that the :arty was missing and was civen the three names. An investigation was asked for. Helgesen said something like Keep me informed of wh t hap.ens." 10:30 9 : A Mr* ScHwelb, a Justice Department lawyer, was c lied from the Meridian COFO office. Schwelb was in Meridian at the time. He was informed of the disappearance of the party* 11:00 PMJ Jackson COFO called ScHwelb at approximately 11, but he h d not left his room. 12:00 PM: Robert Weil from Jackson COFO called ScHwelb and gave him the license number of the miscing car and further information on the addresses of the missing people. Weil requested an investigation. Schwelb stated t' Schwerner - Federal Chronology oont'd, 2 I 9:15 AM: Attorney Doar wrs called again at 9:15 from Atlanta and apprised of new developments. 11:00 AM: Hci.gesen wan cnlled and given new information reported by some white contacts in ' 'Hadel- hia to the effect that the three were still in jail at 9:00 PM and appe red to have beer- bervten, thought not seriously* Helgesen sold he would "take the necer>srjry ection". lie said tv; t the alleged beating threw new light on the FBI's role in the str.te. He said he wouldl cr.ll our s urce. 12:00 Noon: Helgesen was called again. He said that he had only called New Orleans and had *^ot received instructions to investigate. 12:15 PM: Atlanta SNCC called and said they had spoken to Agent Maynor in Nsw Orleans, who had said he had received no orders from Washington. 1:00 PM: Meridian informed the Jac'-son office that Marvin Kioh, publio relations director of CORK,and James Farmer, executive direct r of CORE had contacted FBI Agent Delloch, second in comm: nd of the FBI, as well as Lee White and Burke Marshall, head of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Be artment. Rioh and Farmer said that if the; ot no action from the F:;If they would call the President. Meridian also informed us that Famer in WaBhin;;ton had called New Orleans. Henry Wolff, attorney for the Goodman family c-lled to say that Robert Kennedy had been contacted. 1:^0 PM: Meridian reported that attempts had been made to call local Air Force bases to institute an air search, but were unsuccessful. Atlanta SNCC eallod John Doar; he was spea ing on another line. They left word for him to call back* 2:10 PM: Our soures with the white contacts in Philadelphia reported that as of that hour the FBI had not yet called him, s Helgsssn had promised he would two hours earlier. Meridian reported that Marvin Rich was calling the Defense Department to try to institute an ai.r sc roh. Stormy weather developed later in the afternoon in the ileridian-rhiladel hia area however* 2:^5 PMi Atlanta informed us that calls were made to Burks Mars'-all and John Doar at 2:30 and 2:^5a respectively. Word was left as the two men o uld not be reac ed by phone. 2:55 Mi It was reported that reporters had been jrmitted to go through the Philadelphia jail and were satisfied t>at the three workers were not there. 3:30 PM: Ac of this t re neither the Atl nta nor the Jac'-son offices had received any return ph^ne calls from Doar or Marshall, nor did the FBI office in Jackson have a y word fr m them. ScKwcvaefi Ckajity,' (SeoeWn C* t*«\r a, I Vt a-re m e H"PI ZvKtVMjaT/IH - ———_____—__ J ScskeUttMet* CkftMty, ** tSooclarUH rlalt 1. me cc or el t (nasi) Cole, 5e, legre lemtrlce Colo, Segro, all wife " 2. •aorila Its* , la 3fs, leajra 3* m Jake T. »• t Sefre k. mil these seepie ami seem acitlrt e U oerryam c am work la cemmeeUom witwlthk COTc#Oo worker *?w ,, wke mai seem worklae la toe Pkllaielekla area for 3. aaomt 3 memtme ami WAS kmeam la the eommnmlty. af §«n*01L__ •i in dBamVJmml 22^eate, time, 6* amy 31 a mass erne time was kali at ska metand1st gn\amnV^#e efcurek cm tee smojeet of rreeiem Sekcele, fetor Jl lofls tret lea v eat. Tke Ml. Sloa metkeilst Ckmreh la abomt a mile from ties llakmmj, em a ilrt reed. eretste •welt Cola (lmi Cole), aae «* wee at tme #*a. car #*a. lag tee, as me la erne of tme lalay y lenders of tl Jail: eltr ar i ckmrck. Celc Is s farmer wltk H eer y Beskoka Ckarek kuralag ami Beatlags, Jama 16 Several mem grakkei Cola* to was kit em tke kcai wltk a motel instrmmemt (wklek ke tklsms waa arekakly a platel kmtt). Be Sill to tke grcsmi* Tkey screamed, "Toll aa wkere tke gams arei* amly kalf eoneelome, ke asked, "emet gwmsT* Tke mem kgom te Mat klm, soroamlmg, "Weill kill yeou. Wo woa't stop keatlag yea wmtll yea toU aa wkere tke • are!" A* this pout Colo loot ooaaeloasaeeo* Tke mem teat em klcklag klm ami aaklag omomtiosm. Colo's wife Boatrice ecresmoi, "Ho ooa't maawor year ejections, ke'a icleee." Tke mem aacwerci, "Weill keep oa klttlmg klm wmtll ke wakcc ma* Bra • Celeo naked If ska eoald ke a Hewed to pray. Ska tkem prayed, "0 Lori wko Is ay etremgkk, wkere ihe.ll I tara If fom wlU met kola mo mew?" One of the men raised tke katt of his run to hit ker. amotker laterj acted, "icm't teuok ker... Torn mlgkt as well let tkem live** TJeVemtTIBCI • Calea sat wltk ker hue bead wmtll ka retained ooloaaaeos* Ska tkem dragged aim t> tke car, and iriTe to tkelr kerne *0* yerie awoy. Tke raliera stayei at tke ekarak, arekakly minting that tkey would flmi game tkere. At li30 em, stfsmx lira. Cole aaw a red glee/ la tke aky. Tkem ske caw tke wattes' oars eoemg keek. Tke moat mornlag k>s. Celcc leofcat at tke ckmrck| It waa leveled. Br* Ckarlec Moere warn mllci te tnad te Celeo* Colas and oaffared a dislocation of tke jaw and ma welta wklek ami kooa raised ay tke keatlag* Tkere were •a trek am booee. Tke following was mioakemei 1m from meridiem oa J li. Oreoa'a resort akore fas takem from tie Celcc* Georgia ami Jake Bmsk vara else kaily ben ten. Ome ami a broken arm, oae a krokoa leg* t'a resort ooatlaaoii Jama Slat, St30 pen Celeo waa rlsltei by iokveraor, is somaa. ami Ckemey wko eskei klm moat tke ckmrck. Tkey ctmyoi 15-20 mlaates. Tkey took am afflieelte. • Sckutrner, CkaMty, **> £oocUaM Cke*evJ Vta+e meats *s IvKev«a+/»H THE PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI CASE CHRONOLOGTIF-COtTrACTS WlTH ASEMT5 Off TO FEDERAL GOV'T. SUNDAY, JUNE 21 10:00 PM:* H. P. Helgesen, Jackson FBI agent, was contacted by law stud- . ent Sherwin Kaplan. Helgesen was informed that the party was missing and was given the three names. An investigation was asked for; Helgesen said something like, "Keep me informed of what happens." 10:30 PM: A Mr. Schwelb, a Justice Department lawyer, was called from the Meridian COFO office. Schwelb was in Meridian at the time. He was informed of the disappearance of the party. 11:00 PM: Jackson COFO called Schwelb at approximately 11:00, but he gave no indication cf having taken any action. 12:00 PM: Robert Weil from Jackson COFO called Schwelb and gave him the license number of the missing car and further infor mation on the addresses of the missing people, well reques ed an investigation. Schwelb stated that the FBI was not a police force and that he was not yet sure whether any federal offense had occurred; so he could not act. He was informed of the provision in the US code providing for FBI arrests; he still insisted that he did not have authority. 12:00 PM: Weil also called Helgesen at this time. Helgesen took in the information curtly and did not allow a chance for further conversation. Weil also called the Mississippi Highway Patrol, with similar results. I MONDAY, JUNE 22 1:00 AM: Ron Carver of the Atlanta SNCC office called John Doar of (EDT, 2 hrs. the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., and inform- ahead of ed him of the case. He said he was concerned, and asked Mississ- to be kept Informed. He said he would look into the case. IPPl) He suggested that the Mississippi State Highway Patrol be alerted. . 3-;4:00 AM: John Doar was called again by Atlanta SNCC. He repeated (CST) that he would attempt to see what the Justice Department could do. • 6:00 AM: On being called again, Doar replied that "I have invested the FBI with the power to look into this matter." 7:30 AM: Information concerning the arrest on traffic charges of the three which had been gathered from the Philadelphia jailer's wife was phoned in 'to the Jackson FBI office. The agent said he would give the information to FBI agent Helgesen, whom we had contacted the night before. 8:30 AM: New information from the jailer's wife, Mrs. Herring, to the effect that the three had been released at 6:00 PM, plus the results of phone calls to various neighboring jails were called in to Agent Helgesen. Helgesen said he could do nothing until called by the New Orleans FBI office. 9:00 AM: Robert well in Jackson called the Highway Patrol. Though they had been called at least four times during the night, they did not seem to know about the cose. *7\il times are JEfantrWi r.i.-uyV, i-..i lime (r-'Vi1). e±eept whore otherwise indicated.- 4 V ScWrner, CkeMcy,** (5doAl*UM 0>travel Vtafameati *e IvKwma+;#h PHILADELPHIA CAbb: jfhtlXitittL UirtUNUiiUtrY rage <: • \ 9:15 AM: Attorney Doar was called again at 9:13 from Atlanta and ap prised of new developments. 11:00 AM:Helgesen was called and given new Information reported by some white contacts in Philadelphia to the effect that the three were still in jail at 9:00 PM and appeared to have been beaten, though not seriously. Helgesen said he would "take the nec essary action." He said that the alleged beating threw new, light on the FBI's role in the case. He sa.id he would call our source. 12:00 M: Helgesen was called again. He said that he had only called New Orleans and had not received instructions to investigate. 12:15 PM:Atlanta SNCC called Jackson and said they had spoken to Agent Mayner in New Orleans, who had said he had received no orders from Washington. 1:00 PM: Meridian informed the Jackson office that Marvin Rich, Fublic relations director of CORE, and James Farmer, executive dir ector of CORE had contacted FBI Agent Delloch, second in com mand of the FBI, as well as Lee white, Presidential Assistant, and Burke Marshall, head of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. Rich and Farmer said that if they got no action from the FBI, they would call the President. Meridian also informed us that Farmer in Washington had called the FBI in New Orleans. Henry Wolf, attorney for the Goodman family, called to say that Robert Kennedy had been contacted. 1:40 PM: Meridian reported that attempts had been made to call local air force bases to institute an air search, but were unsuc cessful. Atlanta SNCC called John Doar; he was speaking on another line. They left word for him to call back. 2:10 PM: Our source with the white contacts in Philadelphia reported that as of that hour the FBI had not yet called him, as Helgesen had promised he would two hours earlier. Meridian reported that Marvin Rich was calling the Defense Department to try to institute an air search. Stormy weather developed later in the afternoon in the Meridian-Philadelphia area, however. 2:^15 PM: Atlanta informed us that calls were made to Burke Marshall and John Doar at 2:30 and 2:^45 respectively. Word was left, as the two men could not be reached by phone. 2:55 PM: It was reported that reporters had been permitted to go ' . through the Philadelphia jail and were satisfied that the three were not there. 3:30 FM: As of this time neither the Atlanta nor the Jackson offices had received any return phone calls from Doar or Marshall, nor did the FBI office in Jackson have any word from them. . 5:20 PM: Doar called Atlanta. He informed them that the Mississippi Highway Tatrol had put out an ALL POINTS ALERT bulletin and that both the sheriff of Neshoba County and the FBI were searching. The sheriff claimed that the trio were last • seen beading South on Route 19 toward Meridian. _ , CJuiKcy, "• SeaelwUlM &t*av«.l VUi* meats «* Ztffaiea'f/sh PHILADELPHIA CASE: FEDERAL CHRONOLOGY, Page 3 8:00 PM: Bill Light in Jackson called Agent Helgesen. He was asked five times if the FBI was investigating the case. Five times Helgesen answered," all inquiries are to be directed to the Justice Department in Washington." • 8:45 PM: Meridian reported that they called Doar in Washington. Doar was busy. A collect call was placed to Hohn Doar at his home in Washington, fro Meridian. He would not accept the call. * 9:30 PM: Reporters called from Philadelphia that four FBI agents from the New Orleans office were in Philadelphia. No men from the Justice Department were reported. The FBI agents report edly were talking to people and were planning to launch a road search and investigation in the morning. . 10:00 PM: UPI reported that Edwin Guthman of the justice Department in Washington had announced that the FBI was ordered into the case to determine whether the trio were being held against their will or whether there was a violation of civil rights involved. TEUSDAY, JUNE 23: 8:40 AM: Meridian palled to say that Marvin Rich had informed them that the Air Force might come by. As of this time, nothing had been heard from them. 10:10 AM: Meridian informed us that John Proctor and Harry Saizan, FBI agents, were m the Meridian office. They were invest igating, asking questions, and getting photographs of ochwerner. We were told that Nathan Schwerner (Mickey's lather) has an appointment with Lee White, Presidential Ass't. 1:00PM: Meridian called to tell us that Marvin Rich had made contact with the white House (with Lee White). He was told tfcsl the Naval Air Station near Meridian was available to tite FBI tSX' 5? ?lr search- Rich asked for an FBI head agent out in ivr -(5 Rlch sald he was S°lriS t0 cal1 New Orleans. Meridian Informed us that some Meridian citizens with pri- . yate planes were thinking of conducting their own air search, in case of further defaulting by the Defense Department. One of these people was Negro Charles Young. Newsman Burn Rot man said' helicopters are flying around the Philadelphia area. Marvin Rich said that the President was 00 call back to CORE in New York. 2:10 PM: The Naval Air Station near Meridian was called. They said that as far as thsy krOw, no search was being conducted. 1'nere we** only student flights taking place in the area. 2:50 PM: Mr. Henry Wolf, attorney for the Goodmans, called. He said that the Goodmans and Mr. 8?'v:.erner. accompanied by Repres entative RFlJliaiu F'J*2 Ryan of New York and others'; had spent I over an hour taiv;v; to Attorney General Robert Kennedy ' Kennedy esuured thopfcha* all authorities were wo>5king on I the case and Chat Vary fteijoqptora were searching the area. Ho sold us that they had an appointment to see Lee White soon afterward. ScKwcvaeri Cka>tcy,' £ooA>wt&M G **ava. I ****t* w • *+» Iw4cv*aa+/#h PHILADELPHIA CASE: FEDERAL CHRONOLOGY, Page U. He also Informed us that there was hope that President Johnson would make a statement to the nation. 3:55 PM: Meridian heard that local radio station WMOX broadcasted that the FBI had found the car, charred and burned and cold. There was no trace of the missing persons. 5:15 PM: Attorney wolf informed us that Mr. and Mrs. Goodman, Mr. Schwerner, and two congressmen saw President Johnson for about 21 minutes this afternoon. While they were there, they received the news that the car had been found. Johnson assured them that the Federal Government was doing everything It couii 5:25 PM: Attorney Larry Warren heard a confirming report on local radio that a Navy Helicopter was being used in the search. The sexton of the Methodist Church which had been burned June 16 in Philadelphia informed us that the FBI had been working on the burning case since Friday, June 19. 6:00 PM: WRBC news report on Gov. Johnson's afternoon press confer ence; Johnson had sent two plainclothesmen into the area to assist the FBI in the search. Gov. Johnson had not called President Johnson or the Justice Department, but he was working with the FBI. : 7:30 PM: Martin Popper, who is Att'y. Wolf's partner for the Goodmans, called to describe the trip to Washington. On the trip were Mr. and Mrs. Goodman, Mr. Schwerner, Congressmen Ryan and Reed, and Popper. They first went to see Kennedy. Katzenbach, Marshall and others were with him. This visit was apparently the first think on Mr. Kennedy's agenda after his arrival from Mass achusetts. Mr. Kennedy told the group that the Department of Justice was doing everything possible, and that he was using the maximum resources available to him, Including personal resources. He told them the President also ex pressed concern. The FBI, according to Mr. Kennedy, was . . acting on the assumption that this was a kidnapping; it was on this assumption that they are assuming jurisdiction on the case. The parents' group made it clear that the Federal Government must make every effort to: (1) find the boys, and (2) Pro- . tect the rest of the workers in the state. They made a spec ial point that what was needed was not just investigation, but protection. Kennedy said that the government was making a statement to Mlssissippians, urging them to come forward if they had any • information. He assured them that they would be protected by the Federal Governemnt. Kennedy said he personally would report to the President on new developments. The group then went to the White House. They met the pres idential assisstants Lee white and Myer Feldman. The parents were told there was a possibility that military personell might be used in the search; that Navy helicopters were al ready being used; that the President had told McNamara to advise J. Edgar Hoover that military personnel were available to Hoover. i ' 0>e*evd St*"** meats <* Xw46VMiaT/*H PHILADELPHIA CASE: FEDERAL CHRONOLOGY, Page 5. Then the President himself saw them and said he was using every available force, including the Justice Department and the Defense Department for this case. 8:00 PM: The President called Goodman at his home in New York. He told him that there 'was no evidence that bodies had boon found, but that tracks had been found leading away from the car. He said he had ordered more FBI and Defense Department personnel to "comb the countryside." Goodman's attorney, popper, informed us that he had heard that 60^ of the FBI on*this case are special personnel from the North. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 7:00 AM: Radio report: Allen Dulles, ex-chief of the CIA, is being sent to Mississippi as President Johnson's personal invest igator. 8:30 AM: Dulles arrived 1:00 PM: Meridian informed us that a young boy from Meridian who 13 often around the office, had seen Mickey ar.d Andy before they had left and remembered what they were wearing. Mickey was wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and sneackers. Andy was wearing a red shirt. This Information was phoned to the FBI in Jackson, as the FBI in Meridian could not be reached.' THURSDAY, JUNE 25. 3:00 PM: Allen Dulles and Tom Finney, representatives of the Presid ent, met with leaders of the -roups working in Mississippi. Dulles stated his mission was a fact-finding one. The leaders expressed the sense of frustration and isolation felt by Negroes because of police and civilian brutality of the state and the seeming unwillingness of the Federal Government to do anything about it. Dulles said he had been under the fm- pression that the situation was improving in Mississippi, especially in the area of Education. The leaders told him all visitors were given that sort of brainwashing. They related to Dulles and Finney examples of incidents where police were involved with local citizens in commit ting atrocities. Mr. Dulles was also told of the dangerous situations in various parts of the state, and was told what the leaders were demanding of the Federal Government: A. The president should meet with local leaders, as he has already been re quested several times to do. B. That the Civil Rights Com mission should immediately hold full hearings in the state of Mississippi. C. That the President should see to it that hew Federal Judgeships were filled by men of integrity and fairness, D. Government officials should not publically state that they cannot protect people. E. There should be Marsha lis and FBI Mobilized in all potentially dangerous areas. 1:15 PM: After waiting 45 minutes, Mrs. Mickey Schwerner was finally • able to confer with Dulles, who said he had another meeting to attend. He expressed hi^ sympathy. Mi's Schwerner replied, "I don't want your sympathy. I want much, much more." G>t*ev*J Vtwtomeats *f Xw^wieVmH Robert Zellnert Notee on meeting Cfor. Johnson U)FO of ice, June 25- 1964 Jackson. M1M« About 3 this aiternoon Mrs. fcchwerner, ReY. ?d King and I had a chart and very At rude meeting with GOT. Jo.-.uson. xjbtaxaqpnaqpctJi the cauitl e< rlier xxxxa v.e were by ^en-tor B*rbour («* Berber) told/th t the Gov. wee out for? the afternoon aaC could not be cont cted. "lie is aeeting Gov. %ellace at the air ort*. 'Aheh we Hoaij o-rooched the Gov.'a of lice, a man shot pact ttrs. .bchverner, al mraed the door end held It ae KiQg"V tried to enter. After being allowec in the welting room we were treated rualy. After being turned ^w&y me .alked to the Jianaion, ..rxivlng just a Ck>v. Johnson walked up the step-3 with .vallace. as I ap rocched Johnson someone sale something in the presence ofkl&yor obout the missing men and John&on said %TS Wallace,/Allen Thompson and the newaaea, "Governor ft llace and I are the only ones w:.o know where they are, «.»d we're not telling.- ^ A™ this point I shook hands with Johnson, turned to Mn. ?ch*fcrner a^nd introduce her M the wife of one of the misaing men, and said that she woulc like to :;peak briefly with the Mlesieeippi Governor. Johnson turned and fairly bolted for the door where Wallace stood and disappeared into the mention. The pelice closed .round ue while an officerwith the name plate, "Harper", refused to llow u^ to recueet an appointment with the go.6mor. Harper said that he woul not con vey our recuest to Johnson. At 4*45 we (Jtra. fcehwe nw, King and I) poke with Allen Dulles. £A^ ScUcvaeri Cka>iey, <* •ecaWii a two* J ***•••• • •*• * Brf""** . Y Y ... • - SckwtrKftr, CkaMty, >• fieoimAM &ewave,l VU-ro meats *e Xw4cvaMT/»h Summary of meeting with Allen Dulles and Tom Hnney, representatives of the President of the United States sent into Mississippi after three workers were reported missing. Meeting took place in the office of the United States Attorney General at 3:00P.M. Present: Aaron Henry, Charles Evers, Robert Moses, Rev C.E. Payne. Lawerence Guyot, Art Thomas, George Raymond, James Forma Tom Finney and Allen Dulles. Dulles opened the meeting with a xat statement of why he was in Mississippi. Said that both he and Finney were private citizens, but that Bajubmaax Finney was a personal friend both of President Johnson and of President Truman, Stated they had conferred with governmental officials and just this morning conferred with religious leaders, both white and Negro, Also their purpose was to confer with us. Henry opened up the conversation with a statement that the frustration and isolation of the Negroes resulted from the police brutality of the state and the seeming unwillingness of the Federal government to do anything about it. Also referred to the meeting with the Attorney gneral where the idea with* for the meeting with Dulles originated. Said the attorney general charged his legal staff with researching ways based on the legal codes for the government to become more involved. Henry strongly stated that one cannot expect local people to remain frustrated and isolated. Henry pointed out that COFO had communicated with all the local officials and even the President of the United States about the impending summer. Stated categorically that the time may come when we will not be able to state that one should turn the other cheek. Dulles asked if we felt the situaion was improving. Stated that he had been told that in the areaof education there had been significant improvement in the last ten years. Bvers retorted that they were getting the same type of brain= washing that visitors always get. Gave incidents of where police were involved with the local people commiting atrocities. Also during the meeting Evers raised the question of why is It that the Federal government could send troops into 1km Indo-China and Viet Nam. A.B. Britton wanted to knowagain what was the purpose of the meeting. After Dulles restated that it was a fact finding mlasion, Britton stated that then it Is apparent that the President does not know about the violence occuring in the state and the conditions under which the people are living. Moses continued relating incident of the Greenwood. Finney had aaid they were there seeking not only some facts but also some anatomy of the situation. Moses concluded the Greenwood discussion with the position that someone had put their finers on something in Greenwood 0>twevJ Vtatomeats <* X^awa*+/tli Br. B±lttan also stated there was information from whites in Natches that there was interstate activit|; involved in Klan actlvit"ln the Natche area. Forman stated several things that the Federal government or more specifically that the President should doi A. He should honor the request of the local leaders to m^et with him. B. the President should order a full U. S. Civil Rights Commission hearing in the state of Mississippi. These hearings have been called off in the past because of the Justice Department not wanting them. C. *he President should appoint a good person to the Fith Circuit of Appeals and watch carefully over Federal appointments and not appoint judges with segregated views. D. The Federal government officials should not publicly state that they cannot protect people 1. xhis is contrary to facts and has the effect of giveing license in the state to uncontrollable elements. E. There should be Federal marshalls and FBI mobilized in all key areas where violence is possible. ScktottaeVj CJuiHty, N» £eoeWH &e*e,vej Vtaiiomeats *f XvrWai4+/»H BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON SCHWERNER, CHENEY, AND GOODMAN JAMES CHANEY: Field Worker for Congress of Racial Equality Age: 21 Birthdafle: May 30, 19^2 Address: 6l4 39th Ave., Meridian, Miss. Race: Negro Mother: Mrs. Fannie Chaney, 6l4 39th Ave. Meridian, Miss. Father: Mr. Ben Chaney, 457 N. Theelbard St, Greenville, Miss. School: Harris High, Meridian Activities: Fooflball, Trade Club, HI-a1 Y. jobs: Plaster Tender, Apprentice Plasterer MICHAEL H. (MICKEY) SCHWERNER; Field worker for Congress of Racial Equality Age: 24 Bltthdate: November 6, 1939 Address: 364 Henry St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Race: white Mother: Mrs. Anne Schwerner, 34 1 Fifth St., Pelham, N.Y. Father: Mr. Nathan Schwerner, 34 Fifth St., Pelham, N.Y. Education: Cornell, Class of 1961 Collftnbia, graduate work, 1962 jobs: Social worker, settlement house, Brooklyn, 1961-1963 January 1964 to present, CORE project in Meridian. Wife: Rita (Levant) Schwerner, 21, born March 12, 1942 Attended University of Michigan and Queens College Graduated from Queans January 1964, B.A. Teacher of English, N.Y. City Public Schools, Sept. to Dec. 1963 ANDREW GOODMAN: Summer volunteer for the Mississippi Summber Project, Working on a CORE project &n Meridian. Age 20 Address: 161 W. 86th St. New York City, N.Y. Phone: EN2-7265 Race: white Father: Rsfc Robert W. Goodman, Office phone: Ju6-1760 Education: Student at Queens College. ^W*HI Srtatomeats *• XW4W*IA+/#H 5A. RUMORS CONCERNING PHILADELPHIA - TOUGALOO VIA ED KING - JUNE 30 Negro woman who works on campus: Waj told be sister-in-law from Vicksburg, who was told by her husband in Vicksburg, who was told by a white man who is a member of an (unidentified)labor union from Vicksburg that: white man was at a labor union meeting last Thursday or Friday right and some of union members are Klan members and one of these was talking about Philadelphia and said the three men were dead and their bodies had been chained together and dumped into the new Ross Barnett Reservoir on Pearl River probably on the closed section of the Natchez Trace Highway south of the Hiway 16 (/?) cut off to Canton in Malson County. THIS IS STRICTLY AT THE HEARSAY, RUMOR LEVEL , but ...? &t*ovd Sftatomeats *• Xw$*v*ia+/#H pbhJrff^*' O" A^O k- Cu t&lestA. <7~^ Scknuttner, Ckajity, *» (SeoeWn (* e*ava,I Vtatom e ats «• Xtftaviejff/»h pfaJUJjfy^ Q {jL&Jfa&k. 6 tJfc^L^ /^tf-L Kjr /OvO - G>e**vJ SfU*+*meats *f Iw4 <*•»*+/#H JQ {\M^VWJw^ ThTlwlf^^ otr^^^^ woPfterir (JCJaa-wife of a missing civil rights worker Michael H. Schwerner, declared lirf*8xr6Wrv$k£a» that unless she had word from John Doar of the Justice Department about specific government action to find her husband she would leave Oxford tomorrow and start a search for him at Philadelphia, Miss., where he was last seen. ULU*- Schwerner, 21, a CORE field worker with the Mississippi Summer Project, also Indicated that she was calling several congreaamen and other proninent people aili"'S|W§lTJg that they accompany her. Among them are Rep's. Charles porter of Oregon, and William Ryan of New York: Miohael Harrington, Harold Stassen, Frank Kowalski, and Mark deWulf Howe, of the Harvard University Law faculty. (jls»- Schwerner is in Oxford assisting In the orientation of Freedom School and Community Center volunteers who will work in •lississippi this summer. Her husband ipA servea"""with £he staff which held orientation sessions for voter registration workers whc^Srlfer1** fne-s'Sate' VlffriowKi Sckutvaer, Ckoiey' SeoeWn G e*av«. I Vt eto m c at s XvKavwaT/iN June 25 6:00p.m. PRESS CONFERENCE UPI AND AP WITH RITA SCHWERNER AND BOB ZELLNER ZELLNER AND R. SCHWERNER tried to see Gov. Paul Johnson. They came to the capitol at Jackson and overheard the following: Johnson was speaking to someone (some press) "Gov. Wallace and I are the only ones who know where they are and we won't tell anyone now." (in reference to the three missing C.R. workers). Johnson was with Wallace and Mayor Thompson. Zellener introduced Rita Schwerner as Mickey Schwerner^s wife and asked to speak to him. Johnson showed agony and immediately walked through the dooti and slamed the door on Zellner and Scwherner's faces. The door was surroniOd by police and told Schwerner and Zellner that the Gov. was in conference and could not be disturbed. A Miss. State Highway Patrolman told Mrs. Scawerener that he could deliver a message to the Gov. if he wished but that it was his perogative. A receptionist at the Capitol taid that the Gov. could not be reached. Zellner and Mrs. Schwerner saw Allen Dulles shortly. They re ported the unsuccessful attempt to meet with Gov. Johnson and what he had told the newspaperman. Dulles replied that he was sure they were mistaken and that they had misunderstood. They could not convince him that they were certain. An aide to Dulles admitted that tt could have happened and if it had it was a bad joke. Zellner tried to get across to Dulles that the local and state officials were impolite and unconcerned about the missing men and everyone else here on the project. Further that no one would treat a wife of a missing man the way Gov. Johnson had. Dulles merely reiterated that thyj had surely misunderstood. Dulles said he was doing what he could and that "I express my deepest concern but * must rush to another meeting." Hestuck out his hand for Mrs. Schwerner to shake and she refused. Dulles was shocked, he said, "I am very sorry Mrs. Schwerner." She replied, "I do not want your sorrow but my husband." He seemed amaaed that anyone could be more concerned about one's husband than about the great Allen Dulles. He left and that enOOd the unsuccessfull attempts to reach both Go*. Johnson and Dulles. —i n 11 m I.«I Sckwcraei} CkaMcy, «•• GsoiwUM Cfct*twaJ *••**meats "f X*Kovaie+/»H iw^ 9 9 June l&k NESHOBA C COUNT T SEARCH Firttef documentation of the inadequacy of the federal search for the alseiaelng persona la provided by the orcer la which things eere done* — I| Ml 21 June 196h In the evening tie trio waa reported missing. 25 June l$6b Thursday some 200 sailors sup, oaedly involved In the search. This occurred the fourth day after the missing. 27 Jane 1$6U, Saturday, the dragging operation on the peal pearl river commenced. This mac six days after the trio was reported missing 28 June 196U, Sunday* the searching ceased because It was a day of rest. 29 June 196h, Honda/, eight days after the reporting of the missing the decision is made to aet-«p road blocks to question persons using the highway off of which the burning station wagon waa found. Conclusion. The steps taken eere Inportant. Tine la and was an Clement which could have helped the search. Thy weren't all of these things dons simultaneously? tv- • •• SckaJtrner, CkaJity, ' £*O«WULH G ewav*, I Sfte'te m c at s XW^QVNMT/IH 5^/UAA^V«A NESHOBA COUNTY AREA» ^8 Square miles Population: 20, 927 Population of Philadelphia, the County Seat: 5,017 Population of Rural Areas: 15, 910 Population per Square Mile in Rural Areas: 28* Length of the Pearl River within Neshoba County: c. U-0 miles Approximately one milea of swamp on either side of the river: 80 sq. miles of swamp Nearo population: 5, 901 Net Change In Negro Population, 1950-1960: Loss of 11.5 % Percent of total population which is Negro: 28.2 % >.# we*-we.ee rvrrtwt EXXSffllalJXffl&ajaiaa*: CORE Field Secatary in the area eeports that only 10 Negroes are registered in Neshoba county. Sheriff: Rainejj Lawrence A. Deputy Sheriff: Price, Cecil County Attorney: Walter Rayford Jones Coroner: Fulton Jackson J.P. 1st District - Leonard Warren, Philadelphia State Senator Joe Mulholland, Route 3, Collinsville Chamber of Commerce. State Representative I.W. Majure, Route 3, Union f SckaJtvner, CkaJity, *» GeoeWii Qe*ev«.l Vtatom eats <* XvKtvaiaT/lH ^JU*^ (b JACKSON, MISS.—Rewards totaling #2o,000 have been offered for information leading to the capture of the party or parties responsible for the disappearance of three civil rights workers from Philadelphia, Miss., last Sunday. The first reward, guaranteed by comedian Dick Gregory, was announced at a mass meeting at First Union Baptist Church in Meridian last Wednesday, following a brief press conference by Mrs. Rita ^chwerner, wife of one of the missing men. Gregory told the audience that he had arranged a loan of }?3,0Q0 from Hugh Hef fner, publisher of Playboy Magazine in Chicago, and would place the money in a bank there to be administered by a neutral party "whose name would command respect in both the North and the South." The loan, he said, wauld be repaid through the sale of his record "My vjj?r limited sale last year / Brother's Keeper," which was released/bsleasedTbyy the Dick GregorGregoryFy Foundatioo n with the orofits going to guarantee the distribution of surplus food in Leflore County to both Negroes and whites. Since no commercial release had been made of the record, Gregory said, he would arrange for its re-release through the national offices of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, in Atlanta) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality, in New York City). 5he record will not be sold through commercial outlets. A #1,000 reward was offered last Vfednesday by the Rev. Walter ^oyall Jones, chairman of thepommission on Religion .and Race of the Unitarian Universalists Association of North America, and was announced in Jackson, Mississippi, by the Rev. Donald A. Thompson, pastor of the First Unitarian Church. The money was available through the "Freedom Fund" of the Commission on Religion and Race. Gregory arrived in Meridian last week from New York after flying in from Moscow en route to open at the Hungry "I" in San Francisco. He said that his first word of developments in Mississip i came when he landed in New York and was beseiged bv reporters seeking his reaction to the disappearance of Michael Schwerneryim* CORE task force werkeW^BKPew Goodman, a summer volunteer/; Core pro.^ect^) A •• SckaJtvaer, Ckojicy, ** 6«©»WM G>t*ev«J VUt*»meats *• Iw4ovaia+/#h *& NCIDENT SHEET IN CHARGE afternoon '.'IKE CALL RECEIVED early aStanrnmmn DATE 7/^/6k R'CVD WHO CALLED Lou ire Hermey FROM Mf-rldlan COFO PHONE HEADLINE: BEN CHENEY, 11, HURT JN ACC-pENT; YCLUNTRRR .TATT.RP PEOPLE INVOLVED: ( NAI-E, HOME ADDRESS, AGE, RACE, COFO OFFICE, COFO ASSIGNMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION). 1. Sunnier volunteer Walter Hacldian, 26, white, of Funks Rd. Lansdale Pa, student at Eastern Mennonite College, driver of car 2. Summer volunteer Ronald De Sousa, 26, white, of 92 Gradate College, Princeton, N.J., student at Pr: ceton, passenrer 3. Ben Chaney Jr., 11, vounger brother of Ja-es Chane- (one of the missing three), Ne^ro, Meridian, passenper 4. Larry Martin, Negro, Meridian, young, passenger 5* CHECK HERE WHEN ATLANTA HAS BEEN CALLEDS UPI AP G'WOOD :HECK LIST Lncident: dato, time, Volkswagen owned and driven by Hackman in collision place. with station wagon. VW not coing fast so damage slipht. Couso of incidont; VW hit wap-on broadside in center. Volunteers not hurt. Police; city, countys Martin had arr bandared, Chaney broke his arm. He's in or state Anderson infirmary, not being treated because needs names, badge parents' permission. Mot'-ier en route to CORE meet in #°s, car #»s. Kansas City, group poing to Laurel looking for his father, Jail; city or county location Hackman charged with running a red light. Jailed. charges Bond #39. Hunter sending lawyer, office can raise bond bond. Several witnesses said Hacimr n had preen light* phono Hearings £• trials; date, time, place, location namos of judge prosecutor COntacts made: by local office local police? sheriff? Hiway Patrol? FBI,JUST.Dopt. G'wood, Atl. affidavits: (SeeimAH Q> t**ve, I Vt ate m a at $ Iw4bV*e+/»H Student Nonuiolent Coordinating Committee 6 Raymond Street, N.W. Atlanta 14, Georgia 6M0331 NOT FOR RELEASE Reported by M Mng to John Doar 6:01 pm 7/1/6I4. Reported two rumors: 1. From Ed King. Negro woman at Tougaloo was told by her sister-in-law from Vicksburg who was told by her husband who was told by a white man in Vicksburg who belongs to a labor union there, that at the last meeting if the union, (last Thura or Fri), some of the union members who are also Klan members, were talking about Phila. Some of thett saia the three had been killed and their bodies had been chained together. The bodies were then dropped in the new Ros3 Barnett reservoir on the Pearl River, probably on the closed section of the Natchez Trace south of the highway 16 cutoff to Canton in Madison Co. 2. From a white contact in Phila. A Negro woman, the contact in Phila. that the Meridian people were using as their contact to get the Mt Zion church turned into a community center, had a bottle thrown through her wLndow on the night the three dispappeared, 6/21, at 6:00 pm, with a note reading, "you are next, nigger." Re Vicksburg body: Doar said they needed more information. The Vicksburg nolice say the man was having trouble with the husband of a woman he was last seen riding around with. The report is that he had been missing a week; that his body was badly decomposed; but he was last seen riding around with this married woman. Doar said they're open to more info though. tt \Jne Mian, \Jn0 Uott ScJuotvaer, CkaMcy, *» (Sooiwun & travel State meats ** Iw4*vaia+/»M 6 • • * • •. ®eeiwl4H & e*ev«. I State m a ats Iw4wf*e"h'#H — -I.J--T i^rhn,0 />f/i *'HI' e*r /««»eJ *ere \J"' "" V \D.K,lli '"" "f ' ~\ \mm km ( V t j • IV . . Hill..! l,illul"'i'% JlljuJtfdile J IV. SHADED SECTION (LAUDERDALE & NESHOBA COUNTIES) IS ENLARGED IN TOP LEFT Sckutvner, CKajity,' £ooelwU.M G> ewevs. I &t*t* m a at s XwfwajaT/fM \'EWS RELEASE ' • s STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE 6 RAYMOND STREET, :.'. W, - ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30314 WASHINGTON, D. C. - The Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) has asked the federal government to "protect the Lives and welfare" of voter rogistratlon workers and local citizens in Mississ ippi after the discovery Tuesday afternoon (August 4) of three hodies (tentatively) identified as three civil rights workers missing since .Tunc 21, The three - Mickey Schwerner, 24, a CORF, worker, and Andrew Good man, TO, a summer volunteer, botli white from New York city, and James Cheney, 21, Negro, from Meridian, Mississippi - were last seen alive by Philadel phia Sheriff Lawrence Rainey who jailed them on a speeding charge .Tune 21. Rainey said later lie held the youths for four hours, collected a fine, and turned then loose. Their charred and burned station wagon was discovered 16 miles north of Philadelphia June 22. Ray Moore, Special agent in charge of the PBI office in Jackson said the three bodies were being moved from & grave in a dam on a farm six miles southwest of Philadelphia between routes 21 and 48 to tho Univ ersity Hospital In Jackson whore "competent physicians" would determine tho c nus c of il en r h . FBI Agent Neil Welsh in Meridian said a party of FBI agents discov ered the bodies while searching a thick wooded area. Special Agent Moore said the site was "a dam our hoys had seen the first time over on the search and I guess when they went back through they saw no water in the thing and said 'Well, let's take a look.'" The text of Lewis' statement follows: Now we know without a dotlbt that Mickey Schwerner, James Cheney and Andjfc^&oodman, three brave and courageous freedom fighters have been murdered by sick men who are victims of a vicious and evil system* No American of good conscience can rest until the murderer or murderers are apprehended and brought to justice for this barbarous act. The federal government can 'no longer afford to remain aloof while unprotected students and local citizens try to insure constitutional rights that never should have bean' denied. America is burning its own cross on the graves of its children be cause it has not taken the responsibility for enforcing the democratic way of life. Apathy and noncomnittment by American citizens has produced and per petuated the lawless climate which persists in Mississippi. Mississippi is not a foreign country. Therefore we deman that there be massive federal intervention in the state of Mississippi to protect the lives and welfare of voter registra tion workers and the citizens of Mississippi. '..••• • ' . -30- Scka>cv>aer>l Ckoicy,' SoeslwULH & eweva, I Vt a+e m c at s IwWteViS'iH / DOMtSTIC SERVICE \ S INTERNATIONAL SERVICE V Check the class of se rvice desire d; Check the class of service desired. otherwise this mnngc will be otherwise the message will be lent as a fast telegram WESTERN UNION sent at the full rate TELEGRAM 1206 (4-55) FULL RATE DAY LETTER TELEGRAM LETTER TELEGRAM k^ NIGHT LETTER r W. P. MARSHALL, .HIIOINT *v SHORE SHIP r NO. WDS.-CL. OF SVC. PD OR COLL. CASH NO. CHARGE TO THE ACCOUNT OF TIME FILED Send the following message, subject to the terms on back hereof, u/hich are hereby agreed to Acting Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach United States_Department of Justice Washington, D.C. Urge you to take immediate action to guarantee that federal judge non-resident of Mississippi take charge of all future proceedings in conspiracy case involving murder of my husband, Chaney, Goodman. Also urge immediate action to replace all white federal jury system. Urge you then submit United States case to new impartial grand jury. Unless immediate action is taken by you, United States justice will be paralyzed and lives of Negro citizens and white supporters in Neshoba County will remain in immediate danger, Mrs, Rita Schwerner. a e*cv«. I tfa*i m a ats "* X^wajcf/»H FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 11. 1964 STATEMENT OF MRS. RITA SCHWERNER I am today calling upon the Attorney-General of the United States to take emergency steps to guarantee effective prosecution of those men charged with the federal crimes of conspiracy to murder my husband and his two companions. The outrageous dismissal of these charges is more than a tragic illustration of the monstrous perversion of justice through out the State of Mississippi. Unless immediate action is taken by the Attorney-General, the United States will appear helpless in the eyes of the world and the lives of Negro citizens in Neshoba County, and those of their white supporters,will be in immediate danger. 1. I am asking Mr. Katzenbach to take immediate action to make certain that a federal judge who does not live in the State of Mississippi take charge of this case from now on. 2. I am asking Mr. Katzenbach to take immediate steps to throw out the all-white jury system in the federal courts in Mississippi and immediately set up a non-discriminatory jury system in which a substantial number of Negro citizens will be included. 3. I am asking Mr. Katzenbach, after these urgent steps have been taken, to ask an impartial federal judge to convene an impartial federal grand jury to hear the case of the United States against these conspirators. Unless the federal government moves immediately to insure such relief, the world will see the entire structure of American justice paralyzed by the murderous conspirators of Mississippi. Accordingly, I am today sending a telegram to Mr. Katzenbach stating these demands. Gt^avJ Vtate meats ** Iw4ovajaT/»N NEWS RELEASE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE 6 RAYMOND STREET N.W. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30314 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone (404) 688-0331 December 10, 1964 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI-- The District Attorney who will decide whether to press state murder charges against 21 men accused by the FBI in the murder of three civil rights workers is a member of the White Citizens Council, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) said this week. William H. Johnson, Jr., District Attorney for Mississippi's fifth Judicial District, is also a member of the State Soverignity Comm ission, the state's watch-dog committee on segregation SNCC Chairman John Lewis said. Lewis said "the Citizen Councils and associated racist groups so •• dominate Mississippi's local and state law enforcement agencies and judicial system as to form a conspiracy against giving equal pro tection before the law to anyone who acts against the state's strict segregation policies, "and to protect anyone who acts to reinforce that system." "In short," the SNCC Chairman said, "any white men who commits a crime against a Negro will go free, and any Negro who commits any action against the established social order will be at the mercy of the type of thinking that race-hate groups thrive on." "For instance, when a Negro is arrested in Canton," Lewis said, "he falls under the jurisdiction of Police Chief Dan Thompson or sher iff Jack Cauthen, both members of the Steering Committee of the Canton Citizens Council. They are tried in Municipal Court by the Mayor, Stanley Matthews. They are prosecuted by the city attorneys, R.L. Goza, W.S. Cain, or J.R. Fancher, members of the Council's Steering <**• Committee. If they are convicted and they appeal their cases, they must appear before Judge Russel Moore III, who prosecuted Freedom Riders in 1961 and is on the Board of Directors of Patriotic American Youth, e right-wing segregationist white student organization." "If their cases go to the State Supreme Court, they are heard by Judge Tom Brady, who has been on the State Executive Committee of the Association c White Citizens Councils since 1955," Lewis said. "In Greenwood, seat of Leflore County, Mayor Charles Sampson, City Judge O.L. Kimborough, City Attorney Hardy Lott and Police Commissioner B.A. Hammond are all members of or on the Board of the Greenwood White Citizens Council," Lewis said. -30- Sckwevaefj Cka*iey, *• GeeeWii &t*eva,l Vtetc meats "f Xw4wea+/»H Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party December 11, 1964 1353 U Street, NW FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, DC MFDP CHAIRMAN PROTESTS RELEASE OF SUSPECTS Washington, D. C*-- "Freeing the alleged conspirators in the triple civil rights slaying in Mississippi yesterday is just another example of the total corruption of the Mississippi political structure," commented Lawrence Guyot, Chairman of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. In a statement issued today, Mr. Guyot suggested that the U.S. Justice Department could hardly be too surprised that the federal judicial system in Mississippi is used to protect racists, "This has been going on for a hundred years," sayd Guyot, "every whito man in Mississippi knows that it's always open season and no bag limit on black people in Mississippi. The fact that two of the three victims in this case were whites is merely an indication of the determination of the Mississippi political structure to maintain white supremacy. They'll even condone the slaughter of whites, if that's what it takes." Mr. Guyot pointed out that the MFDP challenge of the election of the five Mississippi Congressmen addresses itself specifically to this problem. "If America is going finally to do something about the bar barism that is Mississippi, now is the time, and the U.S. House of Representatives is the place. The 430 non-Mississippians of the House have now the opportunity to say to Mississippi that the people of the United States will no longer tolerate the conditions which exist there. "We are not asking Congress to punish Mississippi. We are merely asking in our challenges that the House recognize the simple fact that the rigidly segregated and undemocratic political system in that state which disenfranchises 428,600 Negroes has by that fsct disqualified itself from participation in the U.S. Congress." The election challenge Guyot referred to was served on the five Mississippi Congressmen on December 5*h, in accordance with the provisions of Title 2, U.S. Code, Section 201. The Congressmen have 30 days in which to answer the challenget The procedure provided in the statute for gathering evidence to present to Congress will take until about July 1st. At that time all the evidence in the case will be presented to the House of Representatives, where the subcommittee on Elections of the House Administration Committee, will decide whether or not to hold public hearings before submitting its recommendations to the whole House for final resolution. For further information call 332-7732 ssssmsati Sckuttaetr, Ckoicy, t$a«eVu,H <* t*av«. I Watc m c ats XK4waj*+/»H THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PHILADELPHIA 17 The Frankfurter Decision in the Williams Case of 1953 is apparently the basis for civil rights law. In this case, Justice Frankfurter ruled for the Supreme Court that in order to try someone under Section 24l of the U. S. Code (the violation of which is a felony) there had to be a charge that both a fed erally protected right such as due process- - and a federally created right like those put into the constitution, freedom of speech, the right to vote, etc., had been violated. On December 4, 1964, the Justice Department filed "information affidavits" before the U. S. Commissioner, Esther Carter. It is her job to hear these information affidavits and to set bond. She dismissed the evidence included in these affidavits. In these charges brought under both Section 24l and Section 242, the Justice Department included the fact that both a federally protected right (that Cheney, Goodman, and Schwerner's due process) and a federally created right (Cheneyj Goodman, and Schwerner's right to /ote and right to encourage others to vote and the right of free speech) had been violated. U. S. Comm issioner Carter dismissed the affidavits. Then the Justice Department attempted to.indict the Philadelphia 17 under Sections 24l and 242 before a grand jury called by Judge Harold Cox. The Philadelphia 17 were indicted. However, in the grand jury indictments, the Justice Department did not include the fact that a federally created right the right to vote and encourage others to vote—had been violated. They left out the fact that these men were deprived of their lives because •they were invol/ed in voter registration work. .Defense attorneys made a motion during the trial that both charges (under Sections 24l and 242) be dismissed on grounds that no federally created 'right had been violated—indeed, the cliarge was never brougiit during the irial by the Justice Department. Judge Cox dismissed the charges under Section 24l, the felony charges, but did not dismiss the charges under Section 242 which is a misdemeanor. The Justice Department then appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn Judge Cox's decision to throw out the felony charges of Section 24l. The Supreme Court cannot possibly hear the case until this coming fall and probably will wait until next year. They can either decide to uphold Judge Cox.and throw out the felonv charges or overturn Justice Frank furter's decision of 1953 and overrule Cox. A lawyer for Mrs. Michael Schwerner mentioned this inconsistency to a reporter who questioned Attorney General Katzenbach about the case. Xntzenbach, usually cooperative with reporters, would not talk about the case and did not cooperate. He recommended that the reporter talk to John Doar. Mr. Doar was also rather uncooperative, but he finally admitted: "You're right. We did not include the federally created right for this reason: we didn't feel we could prove thet Cheney, Goodman, and Schwerner were involved in voter registration activities." Scktutvaer, Ckoicy, *» (Sao*1 HUM G>e*evJ Srtat*meats *j XvKcvaiaT/*h CHRONOLOGY OF CONTACTS WITH AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI CASE Sunday, June 21 10:00 PM (CST)--H. F. Helgesen, Jackson FBI agent, was contacted by law student Sherwin Kaplan. Helgesen was informed that the party was missing and was given the three names. An investigation was asked for; Helgesen said something like, "Keep me informed of what hap pens ." 10:30 PM--A Mr. Schwelb, a Justice Department lawyer, was called from the Meridian COFO office. Schwelb was in Meridian at the time. He was informed of the disappearance of the party. 11:00 PM--Jackson COFO called Schwelb at approximately 11:00, but he gave no indication of having taken any action. 12:00 PM—Robert Weil from Jackson COFO called Schwelb and gave him the license number of the missing car and further information on the addresses of the missing people. Weil requested an investigation. Schwelb stated that the FBI was not a police force and that he was not yet sure whether any federal offense had occurred, so he could not act. He was informed of the provision in the US Code providing for FBI arrests; he still insisted that he did not have •authority. 12:00 PM--Weii also Called Helgesen at this time. Helgesen took in the information curtly and did not aliow a chance for further conver sation. Weil also called the Mississippi Highway Patrol, with similar results. Monday, June 22 l:oo AM (EDT, 2 hours ahead of Miss, time)—Ron Carver of the Atlanta SNCC office called John Doar of the Justice Department inWashington DC, and informed him of the case. He said he was concerned, and asked to be kept informed. He said that he would look into the case He suggested that the Mississippi State Highway Patrol be alerted. 3-*+:00 AM (CST)— John Doar was called again by Atlanta SNCC. He re peated that he would attempt to see what the Justice Department could do. 6:00 AM—On being called again, Doar replied that "I have invested the FBI with the power to look into this matter." 7:30 AM—Information concerning the arrest on traffic charges of the three which had been gathered from the Philadephis Jailer's wife was phoned into the Jackson FBI office. The agent said he would give the information to FBI agent Helgesen, whom we had contacted the night before. 8:30 AM—New information from the jailer's wife, Mrs. Herring, to the effect that the three had been released at 6:00 PM plus the results of phone calls to various neighboring jails were called in to Agent Helgesen. Helgesen said he could do nothing until called by the New Orleans FBI office. 9:00 AM—Robert Weil in Jackson called the Highway Patrol. Though they had been called at least four times during the night, they did not seem to know about the case. 9:15 AM—Attorney Doar was called again at 9:15 from Atlanta and apprised, of new developments. 11:00 AM—Helgesen was called and given new information reported by some white contacts in Philadelphia to the effect that the three were still in jail at 9:00 PM and appeared to have been beated, though not seriously. Helgesen said he would "take the necessary action." Sck Montr, Cttaity,' tSaoiaUM G e*evt I V* ate m a ats Iv(W*la+/»H (11:00 AM cont'd)—He said that the alleged beating threw new light on the the FBI's role in the case. He said he would call our source. 12:00 PM—Helgesen was called again. He said that he had only called New Orleans r.nd had not received instructions to investigate. 12:15 PM—Atlanta SNCC ca?led Jackson and said they had spoken to Agent Mayner in Ne,. Orleans, who had said he had received to orders from Washington. 1:00 PM—Meridian Informed the Jackeon office that Marvin Rich, public relations director of CORE, and James Farmer, Executive Director of CORE, had contacted FBI Agent Delloch, second-in-command of the FBI, as veil 86 La 3 White, Presidential Assistant, and Burke Marshall, 1: :ad of the Civia Fights Division of the Justice Department. Rich end Farmer said that if they got no action from the FBI, they would call th*, Presdiettt. Meridian also informed ua that Farmer in Washington had called the FBI in New Orleans. Henry Wolf; attorney for the Goodman family, called to 6ay that Robert Kennedy had been contacted. 1:40 Pil--Meridjan reported that attenots had been made to call local Air Force bpses to institute an air search, but were unsuccessful. Atlanta SNCC calleu John Doar: he wan speaking on another line. Tliey left word for hi:.; to call back. 2:10 RC—Our source with the white contacts in Philadelphia reported that as of that hour the FBI had not yet called him, as Helgesen had promised he would two hours earlier. Meridian reported that Marvin Rich vac cr.llin0 the Defense Department to try to institute an air search. Stormy weather developed later in tne afternoon in the Meridian-Philadelphia area, however. 2:45 FM--Atlanta informed us that calls were made to Burke Marshall and John Doar at 2:30 and 2:45.. respectively. Word was left, as the two men could not be reached by phone. 2:55 PM—It was reported that reporters had been permitted to go through the Philadelphia Jail and -..'ere satisfied that the three were not there. 3:30 PM As of this time neither the Atlanta nor the Jackson offices had received any return phone calls from Doar or Marshall, nor did the FBI office in Jackson have any word from them. 5:20 PM—Doer called Atlanta. He informed them that the Mississippi Highway Patrol had put out an All Points Alert bulletin and that both the sheriff of Neshoba Country and theFBI were searching. The Sheriff claimed th.^% the trio were last seen heading South on Route 19 toward Meridian. 8:00 FM—Bill Light in .Jackson called Agent Helgesen. He was asked five times if the FBI was investigating th@ case. Five times Helgesen answered, "All inquiries are to be directed to the Justice Depart ment in Washington." 8:4> PM—Meridian reported that they called Doar in Washington. Doar was busy. A collect call '?as placed to John Doar at his home in Washington, from Meridian. He would not accept the call. 9:30 PM--Reporters called from Philadelphia that four FBI agents from the New Orleans office were in Philadelphia. No men from the Justice Department were reported. The FBI agents reportedly were talking to people and were planning to launch a road search and investigation in the morning. 10:00 PM--UPI reported that Edwin Guthman of the Justice Department in Washington had announced that the FBI was ordered into the case to determine whether the trio here being held against their will or voctaar jthaae twaeMB •violation oaf civil rights involved. -3- Tuesday, June 23 8:40 AM--Meridian called to say that Marvin Rich had informed then that the Air Force eight come by. As of this time, ncthin" had been heard from them. . . 10:10 AM--Meridian informed us that John Praetor and Harrv Siizp.n, FBI agents, were in the Me idian office. They were invest!"fltine, asking questions, and getting hoto?ra hs of Schwerner We were told that Nathan Schwerner (Mickey s father) has an a nointwent with Lee White, Presidential fissistant. 1:00 PM--Meridian called to tell us that Marvin Rick had made contact with the Thite House (with Lee White), He was told that the Naval Air Station near Meridian was available to the FBI for an air search. Rich asked for an FBI head agent out in the field. Rich said he was going to call New Orleans. Meridian informed us that some Meridian citizens with ,rivate planes were thinking of conducting their own air search, in case of further defaulting by the Defense Department. One of these people was Negro Charles Young. Newsman Burn Rotman said helicopters are flying around the Philadelphia area. Marvin Rich said that the President was to call back to CORE in New York. 2:10 PM—The Naval Air Station near Meridian was called. They said that as far as they knew, no search was being conducted. There were only student flights taking place in the area. 2:50 PM--Mr Henry Wolf, attorney for the Goodmans, called. He said that the Goodmans and Mr. Schwerner, accompanied by Representative William Fitts Ryan of New York and others, had spent over an hour talking to Attorney General Robert Kennedy. Kennedy assured them that all authorities were working on the case and that Navy helicopters were searching the area. He told us that they had an appointment to see Lee White soon afterward. He also informed us that there was hope that President Johnson would make a state ment to the nation. 3:5S PM--Meridian heard that local radio station WM0X broadcasted that the FBI had found the car, charred and burned and cold There was no trace of the missing persons 5:15 PM--Attorney Wolf informed us that Mr. and Mrs. Goodman, Mr. Schwerner; and two Congressmen saw President Johnson for about °0 minutes this afternoon. While they were there, they received the news that the car had been found. Johnson assured them that the Federal Governeent was doing everything it could. 5:25 PM—Attorney Larry Warren heard a confirming report on local radio that a Navy Helicopter was being used in the search. The section of the Methodist Church which had been burned June l6 in Phila delphia informed us that the FBI had been working on the burning case since Friday, June 19. 6:00 PM—WRBC news report on Governor Johnson's afternoon press confer ence; Johnson had sent two plain-clothesmen into the area to assist the FBI in the search. Gov. Johnson had not called President Johnson or the Justice Department, but he was working with the FBI. 7:30 PM--Martin Popper, who is Attorney Wolf's partner for the Goodmans, called to describe the trip to Washington. On the trip were Mr. and Mrs. Goodman, Mr. Schwerner, Congressmen Ryan, Reed and Pepper. They first went to see Kennedy. Katzenbach, Marshall and others were with him. This visit was apparently the first thing on Mr. Kennedy's agenda after his arrival from Massachusetts. Mr. Kennedy told the group that the D partment of Justice was doing everything possible, and that he was using the maximum resources available to him, includirr- personal resources He tcld then the President also expressed concern. The FBI, according t. Mr Kennedy, "as (Saeimati <* t*tva. I *t«t* *< a ats Iw4wce+/tw • was acting on the assumption that tlis was a kidnapping; it was on this assumption that they were assuming jurisdiction on the • case. - '-• The parents grou; made it clear that the Federal Government must make every effort to: (l) find the boys, and (2) ;^r tect the rest of the workers in the state. They made a special tnint that what was needed was not just investigation, but r^- tection. Wl-*: L'Stf Kennedy said that the government was making statement t Miss- issippians, urging them to come forward if they had aiy information. He assured them that they would be rotected by the Federal Government. Kennedy said he personally would report to the President on new developments. 'A The group then went to the White House. They met the Pres idential assistants Lee White and Myer Feldman. The parents were told there was a possibility that military personnel might be used in the search; that Navy helicopters were already being used; that the President had told McNamara to advise J. Edgar Hooyer that military personnel were available to Hoover. M v. .'" : •' This incident summary is taken directly from The Summer That Didn't End, by Len Holt. It is an excellent book. i" 1. :•;•>:'''; .•'jfi'iO.' «:. •. .-•.- : :.,. •. •! !• • f fjfc R ••('•• •y: •• ••••• 1' ,__- . ••;> : ': •• ; i ! :•'•'• ' .• Xi r.l i'j ••• ..1-1 j:- -f • •••••';;• • , • • . •-• '.-.( I Scktutvaer, Ckoicy, £ao4MUM G e*eve, I VU"he m c ats XvKevaia'f/iM IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI EASTERN DIVISION UNITED STSTES OF AMERICA vs. CECIL RAYPPRICE EDGAR RAY KILLEN BERNARD L AKIN BILLY WAYNE POSEY JIMMY ARLEDGE LAURENCE ANDRE!-7 RAINEY HORACE DOYLE BARNETTE ALTON "AYNE ROBERTS TRAVIS MARYN BARNETTE JERRY McGREW SHARPE OLEN LOWELL BURRAGE JIMMY SNOWDEN JAMES T HARRIS JIMMY LEE TOWNSEND FRANK J HERNDON HERMAN TUCKER JAMES E JORDAN RICHARD ANDREW WILLIS CRIMINAL NO. 52l6 lC U. S.C. 242, 371 THE GRAND JURY CHARGES AND PRESENTS: FIRST COUNT 1. At all times herein mentioned Lawrence Andrew Rainey was sheriff of Neshoba County, Mississippi; Cecil Ray Price was deputy sheriff of Neshoba County, Mississippi; Richard Andrew Willis was a patrolman of the Police Department of Philadelphia, Mississippi; and each was acting by virtue of his official position and under color of the laws of the State of Miss issippi. 2. Commencing on or about January 1, 1964, and continuing to on or about December 4, 1964, Cecil Ray Price, Bernard L Akin, Jimmy Arledge, Horace Doyle Barnette, Travis Maryn Earnette, Olen Lovell Burrage, Ja;es T Harris Frank J Herndon, James E Jordan, Edgar R-y Killen, Billy Wayne Posey, Lawrence Andrew Rainey, ^lt on i'ayne Roberts, Jerry McGrew Share, Jim"/- Snowden Jimmy Lee Townsend, Herman Tucker, and Richard Andrew Willis within the Southern DiBtirct of Mississippi, cons ired together, with each :ther. and with other persons to the Grand Jury unknown, to commit kn offense against the United States in violation of Section 242 of Title V f the United States Code, that is to say that they conspired to wilfully subject Michael Henry Schwerner, James Earl Chaney andAndrew Goodman, each an inhabitant rf the State of Mississippi, to the deprivation of their rights privilege and immunity secured and protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the CottSltutloa ofthe United States not to be summarily punished Without due process of lav; by persons acting under color of the laws of the state of Mississippi. 3- It was e part of the plan and purpose of the conspiracy that Cecil Ray Price, while having Michael Henry Schwerner, James Earl Chaney and Andrew Goodman in custody in the Neshoba County Jail located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, would release them from custody at such time that he, Cecil Price, et al, could and would intercept Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman upon their leaving the area of the Neshoba County Jail, and threatn, assault, shoot and kill them. Overt Acts Pursuant to the conspiracy and in furtherance of the objects thereof, the following defendencs committed the following overt acts within the Southern District of Mississippi: 1. On June 21, 1964, Price detained Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman in the Neshoba County Jail located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, after sundown on that day until approximately 10:30 PM. 2. On June 21, 1964 Billy "ayne Posey drove and automobile south on Highway 19 from Philadelphia, Mississippi. 3- On June 21, 1964, Cecil Ray Price drove an automobile south on ': Highway 19 from Philadelphia, Mississippi. 4. On June 21, 1964, Price removed Schwerner. Chaney and Goodman frn an automobile stopped on Highway 49° between Highway ^9 and Obion, Kiss issippi, and placed them in an official aut. mobile of the Neshoba County Sheriff's office. "3. On June 21, 1964, Price transported Schwerner, Chaney and Good.an from a place on State Highway 492 between Highway 19 and Unl-a, WssiSSinui, to a place on an unpaved road intersecting Highway 19 s.uth of Philadel hie, Mississippi. 6, On June 21, 1964, Billy W-yne P; sey drove an aut 'obile bearing the bodies of Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman fro:' a lace on th umaved r ad intersecting Highway 19 south of Philadelphia, Misiissipoi, to the vicinity of the construction site of an earthen dan, located near Highway °1, ap proximately 5 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Mississippi. In violation of Section 371 of Title 18 of the Uiited States Code. Sckwcirneri Ckoicy, £ooeUrt&M G t*eva, I Vt ate m e at s Ix4t>vwa+/»H sPl ! ' $' SECOND COUNT On or about June 21, 1964, in Neshoba County, Mississippi, and within the Southern District of Mississippi, Rainey, sheriff of Neshoba County, Miss- ••-. issippi, Price, deputy sheriff of Neshoba County, Miss., Willis, a patrolman of the Police Dept of Philadelphia, Akin, et al, while acting under color of the laws of the State of Mississippi,, did wilfully assault, shoot and kill Schwerner, and inhabitant of the State of Mississippi, then and there in the custody of Price, for the purpose and with the intent of punishing Schwerner summarily and without due process of lav/ and for the purpose and with the intent of punishing Schwerner for conduct not so punishable under the laws of Mississippi, and did thereby wilfully deprive Schwerner of rights, privi - leges and immunities secured and protected by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, namely, the right not bo be deprived of his life and liberty without due process of law, the right and privilege to be secure in his person while in the custody of the State of Mississippi and its agents and officers, the right and privilege to be immune from summary unishment without due process of lav.', and th right to be tried by due ricess ft 'aw for an alleged offense and, if found guilty, to be nuniehed in ace rdance with the-laws of the State of Mississippi. In violation of Section °42 of Title 1 of the United States Dode. THIRD COUNT On or about June 21, 1964, in Neshoba County, Mice., and within the Southern District of Miss., Rainey, SEneriff of Neshoba County, Price, de uty sheriff of Neshoba County, Willis, a patrolman of the Police Department : f Phil adelphia, Akin, et al., while acting under color of the laws of the State cf Mississippi, did wilfully assault, shoot and kill James E rl Cheney summarily and without due process of law and for the purpose and with the intent of punishing Chaney for conduct not so punishable under the laws of Mississippi, and did thereby wilfully deprive Chaney of rights, privileges and immunities secured and protected by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, namely, the right not be be deprived of his life and liberty without due process of law, the right and privilege to be immune from summary punishment without due process of lav/, and the right to be tried by due process of law for an alleged offense and, if found guilty, to be punished in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi. In violation of Section 242 of Title lC of the United States Code. FOURTH COUNT On or about June 21, 1964, in Neshoba County, Mississippi, and within the South ern District of Mississippi, Rainey, sheriff of Neshoba County, Price, deputy sheriff of Neshoba County, Willis, a patrolman of the Police Dept. of Philadelphia, Miss., Akin, et al., while acting under color of the laws of the State of Mississippi did wilfully asaault, shoot and kill Andrew Goodman, an inhabitant of the State of Mississippi, then and there in the custody of Cecil Ray Price, for the purpose and with the intent of pun ishing Andrew Goodman for conduct not so punishable under tee laws of Mississippi, and did thereby willfully deprive Goodman 6T rights, r>rivilepes, arid immunities secured and protected by the Constitution and the laws cf the United States, namely, the right not to be deprived of his life and lib erty without due process of law, the right and privilege tc be secure in his person while in the custody of the State of Mississippi and its agents and officers, the right and privilege to be immune from summary unishment with out due process of law, and the right to be tried by due ^r^cess f lav/ f r an alleged offense and if found guilty, to be punished in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi. In violation of Section 242 of Title L< of the United Staes Code Signed by the United States Attorney, Speiial Attorney, De^t f Justice, and Foreman of the Grand Jury. Certified by C.S. Patterson, Deputy Clerk Dated: January 23, 1965 Sckuctaer, Ckouy/ & eweva, I St ate m e at s Iw4waja+/»H IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI EASTERN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs. CECIL RAY PRICE EDGAR RAY KILLEN BERNARD L AKIN BILLY WAYNE POSEY JIMMY ARLEDGE LAT HENCE ANDREW RAINEY HORACE DOYLE BARNETTE ALTON WAYNE ROBERTS TRAVIS MARYN BARNETTE JERRY McGREW SHARPE ODEN LOVELL BURRAGE JIMMY SNOWDEN JAMES T HARRIS JIMMY LEE TOWNSEND FRANK J HERNDOTT HERMAN TUCKER FAMES E JORDAN RICH1RD ANDREW WILLIS THE GRAND JURY CHARGES AND PRESENTS: 1. At all times herein mentioned Lawrence Andrew Rainey was sheriff of Neshoba County, Mississippi; Cecil Ray Price was deputy sheriff of Neshoba County, Mississippi; Richard Andrew TTillis was a patrolman of the Police Department of Philadelphia, Mississippi; and each was acting by virtue >f his official position and under color of the laws of the State of Mississippi. 2. Commencing on or about January 1, 1964, and continuing to on or"about December 4, 1964, Cecil Ray Price, Bernard L Akin, Jimmy Arledge, H race Doyle Barnette, Travis Maryn Barnette, 01en Lowell Burrage, Janes T Harris, Frank J Herndon, James E Jordan, Edgar Ray Killen Billy V vne Posey, Lawrence Andrew Reainey, Alton Wayne Roberts, Jerry McGrew Shar>e, Jimmy Snowden, Jirrcry Lee Tov/nsend, Herman Tucker and Richard Andrew Willis, within the Southern District of Mississippi, cospired together, with each other and with -ther >ers:ns t: the Grand Jury unknown, to injure, oppress, threaten and intimidate Michael Henry Schwerner, James Earl Chaney, and Andrew Goodman, each a citizen of the United States, in the free exercise and enjoyment of the right and privilege secured to them by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States not to be deprived of life and liberty without due provess of lav/ by persons acting under color of the laws of Mississippi. 3- It was a part of the plan and purpose of th conspiracy that Cecil Ray Price, while having Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman in his custody in the the Neshoba County Jail located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, would release them from custody at such time that he, Price, Arledge, Barnette, Barnette, Roberts, Snov/den, Jordan, Posey, Sharps and Townsend could and would intercept Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman upon their leaving the area of the Neshoba County Jail, and threaten, assault, shoot and kill them. In violation of Section 24l of Title 1C of the United States Code. Signed Robert E Hanberg, United Ststes Attorney, Robt Omen, Special Attorney, Dept of Justice. » WW" II UHI P 1^ I 5- ** 4 * H ©>