The Herald-Press from Saint Joseph, Michigan • 1

Me hemalbpke Complete Area News Weather: Sunny-Warmer FINAL EDITION. 28 PAGES, TWO SECTIONS ST. JOSEPH, MICH? FRIDAY, APRIL 5," 10c mi IS UUJ JU U1A mm Is UJ i i National I Assassin Target Of Manhunt Romney Nobel Prize Winner Shot In The Neck MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Authorities pressed a manhunt today for the killer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

whose assassination Thursday touched off Negro violence in a number of American cities and brought a national outpouring of grief and Shows Whites, Negroes Must Work larder Twin City area leaders and state officials today expressed shock, and dismay at the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. They also said the tragedy shows both whites and Negroes they must work harder than ever to achieve the nonviolent ideals expressed by Dr. King. Gov.

George Romney called King's death "a great national tragedy at a time when we need aggressive, nonviolent leadership to peacefully achieve equal rights, equal opportunities and equal responsibilities for all. "This is indeed a cause for general mourning and redicat-ed effort by everyone to eliminate racial prejudice in all of its ugly and repressive forms," Romney said. sorrow. King, 39. leading advocate of nonviolence and Nobel Prize winner, died in a Memphis hospital Thursday night less than an hour after he was shot in the neck by a white gunman while standing on the balcony of his motel.

President Johnson led the nation in mourning and tribute. In a nationwide television and radio appearance he called upbn "every citizen to reject the blind violence that has struck down Dr. Martin Luther King." MEMPHIS CURFEW Gov. Buford Ellingtpn alerted the Army and Air National Guard of Tennessee and ordered WITH I before AIDE: Dr. Martin Luther King (right) his death Thursday, talks with an aide, the Rev.

Ralph Abernathy, aboviL a federal court order he holds in hand which banned him from leading a mass march through Memphis. King had planned to challenge the order today. (AP 4,000 troops into Memphis and the same number into Nashville. A curfew, first clamped on Memphis after a king-led march turned into a riot last was reimposed. shot and killed, in Memphis, Tenn.

Holding an umbrella is Atlanta' Mayor Ivan Allen. Woman at left is unidentified. (AP Wirephoto) LEADER'S WIDOW: Mrs. Martin Luther King heads for her home in Atlanta Thursday night shortly "after her civil rights leader husband was Benton Harbor Mayor Wilbert Smith and Benton township Supervisor Ray Wilder in a joint statement said today, "Benton Harbor and Benton township join the entire nation in grief on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.

This man gave his life that peoples of all races might live in peace and have equal opportunities. May his example continue to serve in death as it did in life. GREATEST MEMORIAL "The greatest memorial to Dr. King would be for all people to unite for the same cause of progress through nonviolence." They ordered municipal flaga at half-mast. I i tions reacted by scheduling special services.

King was in the city preparing to lead another march in support of the city's 1,300 striking Will Of God, Says Mrs. King garbage collectors, most of whom are Negroes. His party was about to go out for dinner when King walked onto the motel balcony. Coloma Marine Pays Full Price "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 Gets Phone Call From President State Senator Charles Zollar said, "It is a great tragedy. The sincerity of Martin Luther King in his effort to find a peaceful solution to the tremendous problems we face in the area of civil rights could never be questioned. His passing will leave a void that can only be filled by dedication and Pfc. Pruiett Was Willing To Defend All Citizens waiting to fly to his bedside in Memphis.

The mayor had driven her and her two eldest children, Yo-landa and Martin Luther King III, 10, to the airport when he received word that King had relatives greeted the streams of who passed 15 policeman guarding the house. The slender, attractive wife of the civil rights leader was composed but seemed dazed. She wept occasionally and accepted a few phone calls, one from the civil right leader's only utterance after the shot was, "Oh!" "The bullet exploded in his face," said Ben Branch. "It knocked him off his feet." SUSPECT FLEES Solomon Jones, King's chauffeur, said a "man in white clothes" ran from the scene. Police in Tennessee and Arkansas were- looking -for-a-young.

white. ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) "I do think it's the will of God," said Luther King a few hours after the death of her husband. "We always knew this could happen." Mrs. King was in seclusion of hen home Thursday night, receiving only a few close friends in her bedroom.

Friends and today to claim her husband's body. Mrs. King had long lived with the threat of danger to her husband. "We have lived with the threat of death always present," she said after her husband received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 COLOMA A young Coloma Marine private last December wrote that he was in Viet nam to defend, until death if necessary, all citizens, families and draft card burners alike. The private died March :1 in a military! died.

Allen took Mrs. King into a waiting room. She emerged weeping. He then drove her back home. TO MEMPHIS She planned to fly to Memphis LB Meets With Negro Leaders del ensive, post.on-iiiu.sbl.

Killed by rocket fragments man." who witnesses said was dressed in white and was driv Since 1954, when King began (See back page, sec. 1, col. 6) was Pfc. Thomas P. Pruiett, 20.

son ot Mrs. Kegina litus, Coloma, and Thomas Pruiett. President Johnson. Mrs. King, who is recuperating from major surgery, re-, elined on her bed watching television reruns of high moments in hdr husband's life.

She was clad ir a rose-colored robe. OLDEST DAUGHTER A halKdzeffwonen friends were in the room" witrNher and the Kings' eldest daughtehYo-landa, 12,. in pajamas and a robe and with her hair in curlers, lay on the floor, watching. Mrs. King wept softly when Yioleiice Breaks Out In Nation If 4 ff i 1 Benton Harbor.

Word of his death was received by Mrs. Titus in a telegram stating that Pfc. Pruiett died "while in a defensive position on Hill 861, not far from Quang Tri. LAST DECEMBER Pfc. Pruiett last December wrote his sentiments to a neighbor here, Mrs.

Joan Rein- From Associated Press President Johnson met with civil rights leaders at the White" House today following the convulsive reaction sweeping the nation after the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis Thursday night. her husband's voice rang out, in rerun of a speech he made Whitfield Student Coordinator BH High School Science Teacher Alouch Whitfield, a Benton Harbor high school science teacher has been named co ing a late model white car. Sheriff William Morris said the fatal shot was apparently fired from a "flop-house" facing the front of the motel. Police said a Remington rifle and a suitcase were found in the doorway of a building adjacent to the rooming house.

"The back window of this flop-house faced the front of the motel in which Dr. King, was staying," Sheriff Morris said. "We feel the assassin crouched in a second-floor window, sighted through some trees and fired the shot that killed Dr. King." "He got a straight shot." Morris said. "King was standing on the second floor, leaning over a railing in front of his room.

He was talking to two men on the ground. When the shot hit him, it knocked him backward. Offi Protest At WMU; Michigan Incidents only Wednesday night in Mem phis, "I am not afraid blessed is the name of the hardt: "I am over here because I have to be, to protect those who The room was silent as King moved across the screen in his historic Selma march, and made his famed, "I have a are in school and those who like to burn draft cards, and all the families. I realize this, and I am proud to fight for my" country, even if it does mean death. At least, I can say I fought for my country.

dream speech in Washing From Associated Press Violence burst out in cities across the country in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as bands of Negroes smashed windows, looted stores, threw firebombs and attacked police with guns, stones and bottles. Several deaths were reported. In Michigan, an estimated 200 to 300 Negro students today ton.

Pfc. THOMAS P. PL'IETT Defended Until Death herculean effort by those that remain who are willing to face the problems and find a solution." FIND SOLUTION "It is my hope that the work we are doing here in the legislature will be recognized as an effort to aid in the solution of these problems." (A fair housing bill sponsored by II a has passed the senate.) There will be a memorial service for Dr. King at 5 D.m. She wept again when he said on television, "My personal life is of no consequence in this fight cers heard the shot." Memphis Police Director (civil rights).

My philosophy is what is important i ALOUCH WHITFIELD Mrs. King, 41. was told of her entered the Western Michigan husband's death by Mayor Ivan University Center and took control, locking all doors and Allen while at the airport ordinator of student affairs, Principal Calvin Cleveland announced today. Cleveland said the new position means working directly with the administration on ail matters pertaining to student issues. Whitfield's appointment is effective immediately and carries a raise in pay.

WELL QUALIFIED Whitfield us well qualified for the post because he is very active in student affairs and is sponsor of both the senior and junior classes, Cleveland said. He will continue as a classroom teacher. allowing no white students, faculty or staff members to "If it is death, at least I fought for my country to save parents, are two sifters, Mrs. those who can't fight. God has; Floyd (Terry) Lentz, Coloma; been with me so far, because I land Tina Titus at home; three pray every night ot Him to keep brothers.

John and Walter Pru-me safe and alive." iett. and Robert Titus, all of Pfc. Pruiett was born Nov.jColoma; his maternal grand-16, 1947, in Coloma, and at-! parents. Mrs. Ruth Gagliano, tended Coloma high school.

I Coloma, and Phillip Gagliano, where he excelled as an athlete. Benton Harbor; and his pa-He enlisted in the U.S. Marine ternal grandmother, Mrs. Effie Corps April 7. 1967.

and Pruiett, Flint, sent to Vietnam last Sept. Services, to be" announced lie earned a high school di-i later, are being planned by ploma while in service. funeral Col-Surviving, besides hisoma. Frank Holloman said the suspect checked into a second floor room between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Thursday. "The shot was fired from a common bathroom which was at the end of a hall on the east side of the building," he said. PALM PRINT FOUND Police did not disclose the name the man signed when he checked in. They said they enter the building. There were also disturbances Sunday at the Union Memorial AME church in Benton Harbor, a local affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference headed by Dr.

King. The public is invited. The Rev. C. Wesley Gordon, INDEX TO Inside Pages follows suggestions that a Negro administrator be named at the high school.

Whitfield is a 1961 graduate of Benton Harbor high school, attended Lake Michigan college and received a BS degree from Michigan State. He presently is working on a masters degree from Western Michigan. in Battle Creek and Detroit. FEW DEATHS A white man was stabbed to death in the midst of violence in Washington, and a Negro died of stab wounds in New SECTION ONE Editorials Page 2 A ointment of Whitfield (See back page, sec. 1, col.

1) York, although it was not Twin Cities News Page 3 known if the latter death was related to the A white youth died in a fire at Zollar Housing Bill Passes Senate Tallahassee, which police said was started by a firebomb. pastor of the church, said, "Many of us have felt a tragic loss in the death of Dr. King. The loss of his nonviolent leadership will be keenly felt by this nation. His death is redemptive and leadership irreplaceable." A requiem Eucharist service will be held at 6:30 a.m.

Monday at St. Augustine's Episcopal church, 1753 Union street. Fab-plain, in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Berrien County Council of Churches has designated St.

1 Women's Section Pages 4, 5, 6, 7- Ann Landers Page 6 Obituaries 12 SECTION TWO Area Highlights Page 13 SpoUs Pages 14, 15, 16 Farm News Page 20 Comics, TV, Radio 21 Markets Page 22 Scores were injured, including about 50 in Washington, and several score in New York. Two Negro students of Mis sissippi Valley State College at Michigan citizens." Backers of the bill have said it is essential in the struggle to avoid a repeat of riots similar to last summer's Detroit upheaval which left 43 persons dead. LANSING (AP) -Their battle half won, backers of the controversial open housing bill prepared for the second found today as the Senate-approved measure moved to the House-where it was killed once be "I've always said we'd pas it if the Senate did," said House Speaker Robert Waldron, -Grosse Pointe, "and I stilt think so." An open housing bill, similar (See back page, sec. 1, col. 7) Romney, who has described the bill as the most important single piece of legislation now before the Legislature, promised to work with Republican and Democratic House leaders to secure bipartisan support.

fore. The bill won 22-14. Senate approval Thursday in what Gov. George Romney called "an important step in the direction of equal rights, equal opportunity and equal responsibility for all Itta Bena. were wounded by pellets from shotguns fired Weather Forecast Page 22 Classified Ads Pages 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 (See back page, sec.

1, coL 8) tote dick page, sec. lmZ.