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The Edwardsville Intelligencer from Edwardsville, Illinois • Page 1

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106 Years NO 121 Leads Develop in Hunt i For Dr. King's Assassin i i Negro Rights Leader Fatally Wounded in Memphii rmtgcncer FRIDAY, APRIL 5,1968 ILLINOIS 602025 1 0 pL. Memphis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leading advocate of nonviolence In civfl rights campaigns bent over the balcony of his motel rotm Thursday and was fatally wounded by a rifle shot fired from a sniper across the street.

Police issued an alarm for a single white man, who Memphis Police Director Frank Holloman said checked into a flophouse opposite the motei three hours before the slaying Thursday. King died at 7:05 p.m., less than an hour after being rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital. Th- search for the slayer technically was nationwide with the FBI acting on personal o-ders from U. S.

Atty. Gen. Ramsey Clark. But it was centered in the west Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas area around Memphis. A white car was pursued on the outskirts of the city until it was lost Clark, who arrived here from Washington today, said that "substantial leads" had been developed in the hunt for King's killer.

He said that the slaying appeared to be the work of one man. "We've got some substantial leads," Clark said, afrer flying here from Washington "We're very hopeful. We've got some good breaks." Clark told newsmen "there is ni evidence at this time of any conspiracy." Suspect Held The Memphis Press-Scimitar said police arrested a short, balding white man this morning as he left a rooming house near the shooting scene. He was reported turned over to the FBI, but the FBI agent in charge, Walter Happel said he had no information on the arrest. King's widow flew to Memphis in a plane chartered by Sen.

Robert F. Kennedy to claim the body of her slain husband. The body, in a bronze casket, was put on view and hundreds of Negroes passed to pay their last repects Holloman said the investigation the assassin checked into a main street flophouse at midafternoon, shot King from a second floor window of the building three hours later and then disappeared in tiie resulting confusion. The murder weapon apparently was a new Remington-pump rifle with telescopic sights, Holloman said. The assassin also carried a new set of blnoculars'and a new suitcase.

A Remington pump ri He was'one-of :15 weapons stolen a from a Memphis sporting goods store, but Holloman refused, to say immediately that stolen gun was the death weapon. "As far as we know, and from the evidence at this time, there was only one man in the physical area of the slaying," Holloman said. He said one of the 30 to 40 officers on duty in the vicinity of the motel saw the bullet strike King, and all Immediately converged OD the scene. Memorial Services Planned Area Leaders Shocked at Death By Jacqueline Lautaret Of the Intelligencer Local supporters of the Civil Rights movement and leaders in the Negro community have ex prssed their sympathy and shock at the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Two memorial services are planned. The first will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Firsl Presbyterian Church, according to the Rev. Russell WigfieUl, president ol the Edwardsville Ministerial Association. Tomorrow's service will be informal.

There will be no designated speaker. Everyone is in vited to attend and participate as he sees fit, the Rev. Mr. Wigfield said. Some may make short talks or present readings from Dr.

King's works or musical selections, he said. The Rev. Mr. Wigfield added, "I urge prayers of confession and contrition in the churches, and lives enewed action dedicated to full citizenship for all cur people." President Delyte W. Morris of Southern Illinois University announced memorial services will be held Monday at all university campuses.

Services are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. in the Communications Building auditorium on the Edwardsville campus and in the auditoriums at the Alton and East St. Louis centers. Services also are planned on the Carbondale and Vocational Technical Institue campuses. A short memorial service was held in the courthouse at 10:30 a.m.

today, with Chief Circuit Judge James O. Monroe and Sen. Paul Simon, D-Troy, as speakers. "We have called this meeting for a very brief recognition of what has happened last night Judge Monroe said, "an act of violence and responsive acts 01 violence. We ask for some consideration of our over-all responsibility.

"For the court, we who are responsible for law and order express great shame at this incident. In five years we have shot down in violence two of our greatest supporters of nonviolence. "Some have inferred from this that it is already too late for American society. Most of us would say that it is never too late for sauity ind orderliness in America. "What we say or do cannot atone for last night.

But we can here solve problems of poverty amid plenty and problems of bigotry and prejudice. "If nothing else, we should show that we are aware and concerned If we do no more than think, it may help. "There are no magic formulas, but let's hope at least that Negores act not in anger or bitterness, even though such action might be justified. Let's hope white people will not act in arrogance. "We must let our conscience be our guide." Senator Simon told of meeting Dr.

King on a flight to Montgomery, for the second an- NWSPAPEIlf niversary observance of the Selma Montgomery march in 1965. He stated that Dr. King was a man one would instinctively like. He was soft-spoken, kind but firm, and extremely intelligent. As the plane landed, Sen.

Simon said he was much embar rassed to note separate rest rooms marked "black" a "white." He was ashamed ol his people who in fact supported a prejudice that this great leader was no: good enough to use their rest room. "While he was living, Dr. King would not have won a popularity poll among whites. Many believed he was a communist. But he carefully screened his staff to avoid this infiltration," Simon said.

"I noticed announcors last night referred to Dr. King and 'his His people are the people of all mankind "A most fitting memorial to Dr. King is not a ceremony in this courtroom. We honor Martin Luther King best by, first, avoiding violence. The tendency to violence is great because of indifference to problems that cause violence.

"Secondly, we must work towards the day when there are liberty and justice for all. Let every parent realize that to pass on to his child bigotry and prejudice is no less serious than giving him polio." Quoting from Dr. King, Simon said that King had almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's stumbling block was not the white activist or the Ku Klux Klan but the white moderate who is indifferent to his plight. "Dr. King knew he was not always right.

But he was unwilling to make the ultimate mistake of doing nothing. "The answer perhaps Is that no one man can take the place of Dr. King but all of us can and must." Winston Brown, president ol the Edwardsville Chapter of N.A.A.C.P., said, "Like probably most people, I feel that one of the world's great men has been assassinated, and it's not only a tragic loss to the Negro people but to America as a whole. "King was the type of person who would have definitely been an important link between the races in bringing about favorable race relations. So it Is a great loss to both sides, and this occurrence merely adds fuel to the fire of the militants.

"We hope, however, that responsible citizens will be shaken from their apathy enough to see that this form of radical action is removed from our society and that violence is squelched. "Again this type of person represents perhaps a very few, but this same form of racism, if allowed to go unchecked, could be very detrimental to the nation as a whole." The Rev. Walter Mehl, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and a participant in Dr. King's civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, in 1965, said, "I was stunned and saddened by the tragic news. Of course, I feel sympathetic to his family.

"I feel that the whole country --not just the Negro people or the Civil Rights movement--has suffered a terrible loss. "Dr. King gave the kind of leadership that we need so very much even though many people didn't appreciate this," the Rev. Mr. Mehl said.

"My hope is that the people who worked with him in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will be able to earn- on his non-violent approach. "I know that the executive director of the SCL conference, the Rev. Whitney 7oung, is a very capable and dedicated man and that he is a very talented speaker. Of course, it is impossible to replace Dr. King, but we hope we have others who will step forward and carry on the work.

"We also hope that this trag- (Continued on Page 3) Mourning Day Set Sunday BULLETIN Washington (AP) President Johnson told the nation Friday he plans to address -a-joint session of Congress, hopefully by Monday night, to deal with the problems stemming from the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. In a statement broadcast by radio and television he said he wants to give Congress new recommendations and suggestions for easing the plight of the Negro. The fatal shot was fired from the a bathv room in the flop-house, Hollo-' said. King's room was 205 feet trees a across a street but view of the window.

Holloman said the assassin was a white male, between 26 and 32 years of age, standing six feet tall and'weighing 185-' 175 pounds. Police radios said he had dark to sandy hair medium build, a ruddy complexion and was wearing a black suit and white shirt. King was in the city preparing to lead another march in support of the city's 1300 striking garbage collectors, most of whom are Negroes. His, party was about to go out for dinner when King walked onto the motel balcony. "And then we heard what sounded like a shot," said the Rev.

Andrew Young. "I thought it was a firecracker." The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was standing beside King, said the civil rights leader's only ut- TO Cents Dr. Martin Luthtr King 'Have to Retaliate' Carmichael Urges Revenge in Streets China Claims Halt a Trick Army Taking Steps in Case Of Disorders Washington (AP) The Pentagon said today "the Army is taking certain precautionary actions" to be ready for any serious disorders which may develop In the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King So far, it said, "there have been no requests for any troop assistance from any governor." Tokyo (AP) North Vietnam's official newspaper charged today the United States "has not in the least given up its aggressive design" in Vietnam.

At the same time, Communist China's official newspaper described the partial cessation of bombing of North Vietnam as a "new trick or peace hoax." The North Vietnamese said the partial halt was not enough to testify that the United States wants peaceful settlement of the war. Peking said President Johnson's bombing order was intended to "force the Vie'na- mese people, to bend their knees and surrender to the aggressors by means of a new trick." It was the first Chinese comment on President Johnson's Sunday night bomb pause announcement. Peking still withheld comment on North Vietnam's announcement Wednesday agreeing to meet with the United States to prepare for peace talks. Peking urged the Vietnamese, people to continue to fight until' they drive U. S.

troops out of Vietnam. Washington (AP) President Johnson today called on all Americans to observe Sunday, April 7 as a national day of mourning for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The President, In honor of the assassinated Negro civil rights leader, also ordered that flags be flown at half-staff throughout the United States on all federal buildings and on grounds and vessels of the government at home and abroad until the interment of King. "In our churches, in our homes, and in our private hearts," Johnson said, "let us resolve before God to stand against divisiveness in our country and all of its consequences." Johnson, who called on all Americans to reject violence following the murder of King in Memphis, Thursday night, postponed until at least ater today plans to fly to-Honolulu for Vietnam policy talks.

The President this morning neid a hastily summoned meeting at the White House of civil rights leaders, government officials and members of Congress. He voiced his sorrow at the death of the Negro apostle of non-violence and called on the nation--all men and all races-to "stand to deny violence its victory" in the wake of the slaying. Johnson said that when he heard "the terrible news'of Dr. King's death my heart went out to his people -especially to Americans who, I wonder they are to be denUd a fullness of life because of the color of their skin." He said he had called to the White House the leaders of the Negro community'for consultation, and went on to say: "No words of words of mine--can fill the void of the eloquent 'voice that has been stilled." He avowed his belief that King's dream would 'live 'on, and closed his message with these words: "The work, have begun Is not done. i together, a nation united, a nation caring, a-nation concerned--togetherTM we "sh'alT overcome." "The bullet exploded in his face," said Ben Branch.

"It knocked him off his feet." King was rushed from the motel to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was wheeled into the emergency room at 6:16 p.m. The official announcement of his death came 'at 7:30 p.m. from Paul Hess, assistant hos- administrator. King, hinuelf, had talked on the eve oHiis death about the possibfflty of violent harm, but said he did not fear the possi- Dr.

Reginald Hawkins, Negro candidate for governor of North Carolina, said King had him that "nonviolence is on trial in Memphis." Trouble Broke March It was in Memphis March 28 that King's stance of nonviolence suffered perhaps its most severe setback. A march led by King in support of the garbage strikers turned into a small riot It was the only time that King had lost control of one of his nonviolent demonstrations. Both police and Negro leaders say the violence was sparked by a group of about 200 Negro youths on the fringe of the march and that th. main body of 6,000 marchers proceeded peacefully. One Negro youth was killed in the outburst of vandalism and looting.

King said later he would not have come here to lead the march if he had known the violence was possible. Another march had been planned for next Monday with as many as 10,000 participants, their ranks swei'ed by sympathizers from labor and civil rights organizations in New York City and other places across the country. City officials had gained an Injunction against march, saying they feared it would bring more violence. U. S.

Dist. Court Judge Bailey Brown took under advisement Thursday King's request that the injunction be dissolved. Washington (AP) Black power advocate Stokcly Carmichael urged Negroes today to arm themselves with guns and take to the streets in retaliation for the assassination Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Carmichael told a news conference he wants black America to "kill off the real enemy." "We have to retaliate for the dsath of our leaders," be said.

"The execution of those debts will not be in the courtrooms. They will be in the streets of the United States of America." white America killed' Dr. King she opened the eyes of every black man in this country." Carmichael said. Carmichael blamed President Lyndon B. Johnson and Sen.

Robert F. Kennedy, D-N. along with the rest of the nation's white population for the death of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. "Bobby Kennedy pulled that trigger as much as anyone else," Carmichael said, charging the senator had failed to push for prosecution of slayers of Negro civil rights workers when he was attorney general. The militant Black Power leader declared that violence that erupted in city after city across the nation after King was shot in Memphis is "just light stuff" when compared with "what will happen." "We have to retaliate," he added.

Carmichael also declared that If Gov. Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland proceeds "with this nonsensical charge against" fellow Black Power advocate H. Rap Brown, who is accused of in- citing a riot last summer in Cambridge, "He ain't seen nothing we'll take our troops back into Maryland we'll turn that state upside down and inside out." Only once did Carmicbael raise his voice. When a newsman asked him if he feared his life, Carmichael exploded: "To hell with my life, you should fear for yours, I know I'm going to die." Abernathy New SCLC Leader Memphis, Tenn.

(AP) The Rev. Ralph Abernathy was named today the new head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He quickly called for silent marchers on Sunday around the country in honor of the slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. Abernathy, 41, a cofounder with King of SCLC 11 years ago, said the assassination in Memphis Thursday means he and his staff must work even harder to make nonviolence work.

Abernathy, who a King's bloodied head on a towel in his lap while waiting for an ambulance Thursday, was elevated to leadership automatically from vice president at large, a spokesman said. Abernathy, who first worked with King in Montgomery on the 1957 bus boycott, a King's duties, but not bis title of chairman. Senior Officer Says Khe Sanh Siege Is Lifted Saigon (AP) The siege of Khe Sanh has been-lifted, a-senior U. S. officer said today, although late thL afternoon'the spearheads of tht big relief force was still nearly a mile from the 6.000 Marine defenders of the combat base in the northwest corner of Vietnam.

"We've moved out and taken territory. The basic concept of the enemy besieging Khe Sanb is over," the senior officer said. "There's no particular value in a hookup. They're within a kilometer and a half of each other. It would be no effort to march together and to shake hands.

The important thing now is that we're moving and we have other objectives." With the M.OOO-man relief force of Marines and air cavalrymen bearing down on Khe Sanh from three sides, a 500- man battalion of Marines on Thursday ventured father outside the two square miles of fortress than any leathernecks had since Jt was taken under siege 76 days ago. The Marine battalion occupied a hill two miles southwest of Khe Sanh for the and then was attacked before dawn by about 400 North Vietnamese. The Leathernecks drove off the attack, reported the enemy left 96 bodies in the barbed wire around the night camp, and said Marine casualties were extremely light. It was the heaviest fighting of the five-day-old operation to open Highway 9, the only overland supply route to Khe Sanh, and relieve the base. Most of the enemy dead were killed by dive bombers and arfllery.

One general in the U. command, while not saying specifically what shifts would be made at Khe Sanh, agreed it would a good assumption that either of two things could bap- pen in the near future: --As the enemy reduces his forces around the base, a withdrawal which U. S. officers believe has started, the Marines likely will do the same, from the 6,000 men now there, per- down to --Or South Vietnamese or U. S.

Army troops may replace some of thr Marine units. There are now 400 South Vietnamese rangers and another 400 civilian irregulars helping defend the fortress. In round numbers, the officer said, the North Vietnamese have reduced their forces around Khe Sanh by 5C per cent, from 14,000 two months ago to about 7,000. Other estimates of the force besieging Kbe Sanh have run as high as 40,000 in the past two months. In the curtailed air campaign against North Vietnam, D.

S. pilots flew 109 missions Thursday and once again the northernmost was a mile below the 20th parallel set by President Johnson as the boundary for the air attacks. The target was a railroad siding 12 miles northeast of Thanh Hoa which American pilots bit the two previous days. Reaction to Assassination Violence Breaks Out Frost Likely Clearing and cool tonight. Low tonight 25 to 32 with'scattered frost mostly outlying areas.

Saturday fair arid' warm- with the-high around Southern Illinois-Tempera- hires will average near the seasonal normals Saturday through Wednesday. Another surge, ol -cool air is expected or Monday warmer femper- jatures will return by middle (Of'next week, toormal'fiighs 'in jin the 60s. Normal lows are in -the upper 30s norttto the' mid' south. Precipitation amounts swill be heavy, around one'Inch', 1 joeeurring as showers and thun- mostly about By the Associated Press Violence burst out in cities across the country in the wake of the assassination'of Dr, Martin Luther King bands of Negroes smashed windows, looted stores, threw firebombs and attacked police with guns, stones A white man was slabbed) to death in the midst of violence in Washington, and' a Negro died of stab wounds in New York, although it was not known if the latter death 'was related' to the violence. A white youth died in fire at Tallahassee, which police said was started by a firebomb.

Scores were! injured, including about 50 in Washington, and several score in New York. Two Negro students of Missis-- slppl Valley State College at Itta Bena, were wounded by pellets from shotguns fired by highway patrolmen trying to halt. 300 student marchers. Police phots'had been fired from the guns and bows and' against police'' on the campus of Florida A. M.

but" policemen were hurt. 'Tallahassee Mayor Eugene dows of their car. In Detroit, two policemen were shot and wounded as they patrolled a Negro section, but that city escaped the street violence that erupted elsewhere. Memphis, where Dr. King was slain, was relatively calm, today after a night of looting, arson 'and shootings.

A strict curfew was imposed by Mayor Henry Loeb immediately after King was'shot at a downtown motel. Appeals for reason from public officials and civil also helped bring the situation back under 'control. Police checked out sporadic reports of minor disorders today as civil rights leaders went ahead with plans for a Monday march in support of striking garbage'workers: This-was the march King came to Memphis to lead. Bands of Negro youths roamed the city Thursday night, engaging in fights with police while a number of fires broke, out over the New York Mayor John V. Lindsay rushed to the Harlem where he has walked the streets in efforts to prevent violence, but was bustled into uiojrvi uugcuc louce, DUl was DUStlCd Into 8 Berkowitz and another city car by aides and returned to ciar were'treated for minor 'cuts his home after encountering un- after'rocksi'shattered the-win-1 Police officials ordered 7.000 men to remain on duty during the night on the New York streets.

The disturbances broke out first in Harlem, then spread to Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant section and nearby Crown Point and Fulton Street "areas, and to East New York Widespread looting was reported in a Negro section of the nation's where stores were broken into along a six- section of Street in the Northwest section. A crowd of Negroes threw stones at six police cruisers near a Negro housing project in Boston's Roxbury section. Cars carrying newsmen were stoned later by angry bands of youths in Roxbury. In Little an aide to Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller said the governor bad alerted the 175-man National Guard unit at West Memphis.

Thirty Arkansas state troopers were dispatched to Memphis at the' request of Tennessee authorities and were to be Chicago police officials canceled- all days off for Chicago police until further notice "as a precautionary measure only Some marches in Negro neighborhoods were broken up by po- lice'without incident.

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About The Edwardsville Intelligencer Archive

Pages Available:
172,747
Years Available:
1869-1977