The Delta Democrat-Times from Greenville, Mississippi • Page 1

LIQUOR CONVICTION TOSSED OUT Landmark Ruling Voids Liquor Laws By ANDREW KEESE JR. JACKSON, (UPI) A county judge, in a precedent setting decision, ruled today that Mississippi's prohibition law had been repealed in effect by the collection of black market taxes and it was not unlawful to possess liquor In the state. The dramatic decision was handed down in a case stemming from a $10.000 liquor raid nt the plush Jackson Country Club earlier this year. County Judge Charles T. Bar' her granted a motion to quash i 'charges 'against Charles Wood, 42, assis- club manager who was arrested during the raid.

The landmark decision' could have a far reaching effect throughout the state. Barber upheld targuments that ihc 1909 prohibition "'law had been rendered void by collecting state taxes on liquor. Barber said, in the ruling, that Wood had been charged "with the commission of a (ollon Surplus To Total Record 16,7 Million Bales WASHINGTON UPI) The Agriculture Department today estimated the 'cotton carryover on Aug. 1 would total a record 16.7 million bales. This mountain of surplus cotton be carried into the I9Sfr 67 marketing year is about 2.4 million bales higher a the.

carryover of last August. It compares with the previous record of 14.5 million bales in 1956. The current" estimate is up 200,000 bales from the January estimate. It stems from the fact that slocks are rising rapidly because' combined mill con- Eumplion and exports are likely to total well below the large 1965 crop. show- that fhe 1965 crop of 'all kinds of cotton totaled 14.9 million running bales, down only 200,000 bales from the 1964 crop.

U. S. exports of cotton for the 1965 66 marketing year now are expected to total about 3.2 million bales, more than 800,000 bales below the 4.1 million in 1964 65. Because fthe decrease in exports, total conusmption for lite year may be down about 500,000 bales from the 13.2 million in 1964-65. (i Department officials are hopeful this doleful situation will be alleviated when the 1966 cotton program begins operating fully.

Planting intentions as of March 1 indicated the 1966 crop would be grown on 10.9 million seres, down 23 per cent from the 14.2 million acres planted in 1965, and the smallest since 1870. crime under a statute which has been repealed." "It is the opinion of. this court that it is not unlawful to pos' sess liquor. in said Barber. County Ally.

Paul Alexander said he plans to appeal the decision. The ruling would apply only to Hinds County immediately but sets a precedent for- county judges throughout the state, court sources -said. Wood's attorneys immediately asked for release of several. cases of assorted liquors and champagnes seized by sheriff's deputies during the raid. Mississippi is the only legally dry state in the nation but there widespread bootlegging and liquor is sold openly in many areas.

A proposal is pending in the legislature calling for a statewide "wet-dry" referendum this month giving voters a choice between local-option legalization of liquor or a rigid enforcement of prohibition. in a lengthy 37-page opinion, declared: "The state of Mississippi, through its agents, by actual knowledge, and as a mutter of common knowledge, knows of the existence, extent r.ni of the. liquor traffic in Mississippi." Wood was a Chief Deputy Tom Shelfon, swooped down on the country club Feb. 4 shortly before' a white tie party in connection with the city's annual Carnival Ball. Dozens' prominent and fur clad woriien Paul the club as the liquor was being carted away.

The raid came only a few days after Johnson had urged the legislature to authorize the liquor referendum. He said the 'present situation had made Mis sissippi the "laughing stock" of the nation. Weather NORTH MlSSISSiPPI: Partly cloudy to cloudy and. not quite so warm with showers and thunderstorms today ending early tonight; becoming partly cloudy and cooler late tonight and Saturday. High this afternoon mostly in the 7k, low tonight mostly in the 40s.

Probability of rain today 70 per cent decreasing to per cent to night. Outlook for Sunday, fair and cool during morning; becoming mild during afternoon. Two Announce Intent To Run For Judge By PATRICIA ROBERTS DD-T Correspondent LAKE VILLAGE, Ark. Two Chicot County men have announced jntenlions of running for Chicot County. Judge.

H. W. Alexander of Lake Village and Johnie Brown of Eudora filed for the office this week. The incumbent judge, H. L.

Locke, who had filled the office for some twenty years was killed Monday night when his automobile struck a bridge. Deadline for filing for the office is April 27. The Democratic Primary is being held in August, and will be followed by the general election in November. Both men are running on the Democratic ticket. Alexander is a member of the Lake Village City president of the Kiwanis Club, a member of D.

H. Reynolds Ma-' sonic Lodge 556, a member of Flute Players Needed Badly Do you play the flufe and would you like to come to the rescue of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra? The symphony has a concert on May 2 and they are without a flutist. If you would be willing to play the flute with the orchestra, please contact Kenneth Hoxton at his horm. or at Nclms and Blum immediately. the.

First Baptist Church, and on Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He stressed that he had intentions of filing for the office before the incumbent judge a "It not and overnight he said. Alexander said that, if elected, lie plans to make the office a full lime job. "I plan to issue a financial statement twice a year to let the people know bow. their money is being spent." he said in explaining his intentions if elected.

"Deputies would be appointed in each town in the county in order to have better control over the area," he continued, "and I plan to cooperate with the i governments as much as possible." He said that he would carry out the policies of the late judge as much as possible. Alexander is married and has one son, Hal, who is now a high- schrol band director in Colorado. He Is 58 years of age. Brown is a World War II veteran. He is 42 years of age and 'the father of children.

He has been a planter since 1946. His farm is located south of Eudora. He stated that he intends to see as many voters as possible and thai he will carry out the duties of flw office to the best of his ability and with fairness to all. THURSDAY TEMPERATURES U.S. Observer Brodie Crump loday high temperature for the 24-hour period up to a.

m. today was degrees, low temperature was degrees. RED STREAK FINAL 77tK.Year JJnitecJ Press International Greenville, Mississippi Friday, April 8, 1966 Price 5c No. 189 Anti American Demonstration sSaigon; Eight Are Wounded Street Battle Rages Near Buddhist Pagoda SAIGON (UPI) A hand grenade possibly hurled by a Viet Cong terrorist exploded tonight near the Tan Son Nhut Air Base outside Saigon wounding eight Americans and three Vietnamese. An American was reported shot and wounded in wild anti-American demonstrations sweeping Saigon.

Named To Hall Of Fame Poll Tax Voided In Mississippi By Federal Panel JACKSON, Miss. (UPI) A three judge federal court panel today voided Mississippi's poll fax as a requirement for voting in state and local elections. The decision had been expected for several weeks in view of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed the poll tax in Virginia. Appeals Court Judge Walter P.

Gewin and District Judges Claude Clayton and Harold Cox ruled that "requiring a citizen registered to vole to pay a poll tax.as a condition precedent to his right to vote, is void as being in conflict with the Constitution of the United States as held by the Supreme Court" in the Virginia case. They enjoined slate officials from "re-quiring' or enforcing the payment of any poll tax by any registered voter as a condition precedent to his enjoyment of the right to vote in any municipal, county or state or national election hereafter held within the 'stale of Mississippi." Berry Says Tent City Had No Influence On Funds JACKSON (UPI) An Office of Economic Opportunity official in Jackson denied Negroes living in a "tent city" in Washington this week had led to a speed-up of fund allocations to civil rights groups. But Theodore M. di- rector of the OEOs communily the funds were the Neighbor- action programs, said the OEO hood Developers the Delta had left the door open for the Opportunities and the Mississippi a collected a $2 tax for many years with the money going into the "common, school fund" for 'education- al purposes. Civil rights forces had attacked the law as discriminatory against Negroes wh'n could not afford the fee.

The three-judge panel held that the. issues were tially identical" with those' decided by the Supreme Court on March 24. Cox indicated recently in a ruling on another case that the Mississippi a was i a i when he described it as "dead as aldodo bird." Negroes seeking anti poverty funds in Mississippi. Berry said the Negroes who had been living in tents across tlie street from the i House had no effect on the OEO's funding policies. He said it was merely a "coincidence "that he had made a trip to Mississippi personally deliver questionnaires to the agencies seeking a total of $1.9 million dollars in federal funds.

THE Negroes in the tent city represented one of the a i seeking the federal funds. They had announced only a few hours earlier Thursday they were coming back (o Mississippi after a five-day vigil a a i plight of the Mississippi Negro. The group had sought to pressure the OEO into quick approval of funds for housing construction in the Delta. a i questionnaires called for information on 10 different points needed to be answered before the projects could be approved. He said the answers thi! agency is seeking must come from Mississippi, and not from the hastily erected camp the' Negroes had in Washington.

nnimY TOI.D A news con fcrcnco tho agencies seeking Poor People's Corporation. Among questions to be answered on the forms were what additional financing the groups have, specifications and plans for construction of the houses, the exact building sites, Icrms of occupants, construction i a construction inspection, how occupants will be selected and provisions to prevent resale at a profit. Just prior to the news conference, the Delta Opportunities Corp. announced the purchase of 400 acres of land south of Greenville. A spokesman said the land is to be used for construction of houses for Negroes and for fanning operations to help them make a liv- ing.

The land was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. J. B. white Washington County landowners.

It was bought by a Negro staff worker of the Delta' Ministry, Mrs. Thelma Barnes, and (lie price was $140,000 with $40,000 in cash for an initial payment, court records snowed. DELTA Opportunities Corp. would hold the land in trust. The spokesman said Negroes now livim a.

in tents and at Ml. Bculah at Edwards wculil move ta thr; site to await approval of the funds, for tons- es. Gl's Ignore Riols; Continue To Kill Commies SAIGON (UPI) troops ignored a rising tide of anti- Americanism on the South Vietnamese home front and killed 44 Communists in two actions in the, field, military spokesmen said today. The U.S. Army's 1st Air Cavalry Division and the 101st Airborne Division "found, fixed and destroyed" the enemy in "Operation Lincoln" and "Operation Fillmore" Thursday, it was reported.

U.S. Navy and Air Force pilots, unaffected by the violent anli government demonstrations on the ground, roared into Ihc air and poundecl Communist North Vietnamese highways, bridges, radar sites and military installations from (he skies. THE AIRMEN reported light to moderate flak in a total of 41 combat missions over tho North. No losses were reported. Giant B52 bombers took off from Guam Is hit suspect Viet Cong supply depots, a weapons factory and troop conrcntra- lions in South Viet Nam, concentrating on an area 65 miles southwest of the northern coastal cort of Da Nang.

Da Nang was one of the spawning grounds for the recent wave of anti-government riots. TIIE SPOKESMAN said intelligence reports indicated the Communists moved strong reinforcements into the area following a recent sweep by U.S. Marines. Or.c American plane was lost when a prop-driven Air Forcj Skyraider developed mechanical trouble and fell inlo Da Hang Harbor, after the pilot out. Ths spokesmen said the flyer suffered minor injuries but was rescued by a helicopter.

The rioters hurled stones and flaming molotov cocktails fashioned from beer cans and other containers at Vietnamese paratroopers in -a great street battle that raged through the night near the main Buddhist pagoda in Saigon. The troops fought back with tear gas volleys while thousands watched from the rooftops. The Americans and Vietnamese were at a soft drink stand near the heavily guarded airport when the grenade exploded. The injured" were taken to the American 3rd Field Hospital for treatment. Moments later a homemade bomb exploded at (he airport but caused no injuries.

U.S. military polke said an American was shot and wounded during the rioting which was taking a more open anti- American turn by the minute. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment. Extent of injuries and his identity were not' immediately Students dhist monks were storming through the streets of Saigon in the fifth and possibly fhe worst night of rioting called originally to try to overthrow the government of Premier Nguyen Cao Ky. The Buddhists.

were inflamed because government hurled hand grenades Thursday night into their main Vien Hoa Dao pagoda in Saigon. The pagoda is sacred to all Vietnamese Buddhists' and the aci of desecration inflamed anti-government leaders anew. The -tense around the-'pagoda United States military and civilian offices in the area, ordered Americans the streets anrl sent out warnings that the demonstrators pouring out of the temple were after the Americans. Paratroopers fought the de- monstrators with tear gas tonight and.drove some of them back into their headquarters pagoda. But several hundred surged out again in small groups that swept through the streets, attacking Vietnamesa police as well as Americans.

About 100 surrounded two black limousines with two A i a ach and smashed them with rocks from point-blank range before, the cars sped away to safety. U.S. military that they were a special target of the increasingly anti-American Buddhists, stayed on the fringes mob to try to extricate trapped Americans. They had orders to run over the demonstrators if necessary to escape falling into their hands. THE BATTLE erupted shortly" after senior army officers the 1st Corps at Da Nrag announced.

P'r'e nvi.gr -Nguyen Cao Ky's; air" force, sent two "fighter planes menacingly over their headquarters in a force. The development futoUter heightened the confrontation in the northern city between rebel army troops and loyalist forces still facing each other over barbed wire barricades. The students and monks in Saigon were angred by the "desecration" of their pagoda; from government tear gas and reports, reliably reported to without foundation, that of the demonstrators had been killed by the government paratroopers. The rioting became so feverish- that anybody caught alone was in danger of becoming a victim. One Vietnamese even was jerked from his bicycle and pummeled and newsmen became targets for the first time.

Thames Explains Medicare Provisions By JAMES TYSON DD-T Sports Editor "Regardless of tlie merits or demerits of Medicare, we'll have it with us come July Norman Thames, Greenville District Manager of the Social Security Administration, told Greenville Rotarians at their noon meeting Thursday. Thames was introduced by program chairman a Hatter. The speaker said that no domestic matter has ever been as thoroughly debated and investigated as the Medicare proposals. The matter came before Congress 15 times before being enacted, even though every President since Truman lias favored it except President Eisenhower. REQUIREMENTS for enrollment are simple, Thames said.

A person must only prove that he is 65 or older and a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He said that 11.2 per cent of the population of the six-county area served by Greenville a eligible for Medicare and of this group 92 per cent have enrolled in the program. The speaker discussed the two distinct features of the Medicare program, hospital costs and physicians and other health costs. The portion pertaining to protection from hospital costs Is available to anyone over 65 at no cost. The March 31 deadline does not apply to enrollment for hospital cost coverage.

Thames said that a person may wait until he is in the hospital to apply for that portion of the coverage. He added that a person may even wait until he has been discharged the hospital as the enrollment is retroactive for 12 months. The supplementary insurance, which provides coverage on physician's fees and other medical costs, is available on a voluntary basis, the speaker said. The cost for this insurance to individual is $3 ami is matclicd by the government. Thames noted that there are proposals to extend the March 31 deadline for this coverage to May 31.

In return for the $3, Thames said, the "customer" receives 80 per cent payment for his annual medical costs, subject to $50 deductible. HE SAID that hospitals participating in tho program will have to be accredited. He noted that, although it is not statutory, hospitals participating in the program will have to comply with Title 6 of the Civil Rights Bill cl 1964 as the Secretary of the Health, Education and Welfare Department is prohibited by six presidential orders to dispense federal funds to institutions practicing discrimination. He said that this requirement would probably demand a hospital boards submit a signed statement that the institution docs not or will not in the future practice any sort of discrimination. Thames added as an afterthought that Medicare 1-as no provision for purely cujtodjaj cafe in nursing hornet,.