Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1951-09-28
CHICAGO CIVIC LEADERs,
PRESS, NE0Ro q WHITE,
CRlTlclSE GRAND jury
Continued from Page OneJ


three whites charged with crimes
The grand jury, In action nearly
two months. failed 10 indlct any
person actually connected with
the Cicero riots which saw
Thousands Of whites mob n build
ing July II and ~ at $3.50 w. 18th
st., In Cicero. because Negro
family had rented an apartment
there.
Although no Negroes participa-
ted In the violence. the all white
grand jury charged three Of them.
including the Chicago branch
leaders, Negro and white. a. . re-
NAACP attorney and the Negro
owner, and the former white
owner OF the building with con-
Bpiracy 10 damage property. Also
indicted wAs q Eocallsd "COmmu-
mist sympathizer."
In an action on the other side 81
the fence. the jurors did Indict
Cicero Police Chief Erwin Konov-
sIty for failing 10 enforce the law
In the incident.
Indicted were the following per.
sons on the following charges
Chief KonovAky for failure %
discharge his duty. misconduct In
office for failure 10 suppress a
not.
Indict NAACP Attorney
George NJ Leighton Jr, Rttor-
nsy for the Chicago branch MA.
ACP and for the Negro family
HCtimlSed by the riot; George G,
Adams, attorney who now owns
the building. and Charles Ed
wards. real estate agent who man.
aged the building. all Negroes;
Mrs. Camille De Rose. white
former owners who sold the build
ing 10 Adams who originally was
her attorney. and Norman Silver
man. rcputed 10 have distributed
"HubveruiVe" literature at the
scene Of thu riot, all for conHpir.
Acy TO damage property.
Specifically. the indictment
charged that tho five "conspira-
tors" "mAliciouAly and willfully"
brought on depreciation In the
marketing and selling price and
income 10 the respective owners
by renting and causing 10 be rent
III to Harvey and IohnettR Clark
and by inducing and encouraging
them 10 move into. the property
at 8i3O w. 10th 81"
The violence was caused by the
attempts Of Mr., and Mrs, Marvey
Clark Jr.. and their two children
10 move into tho apartment In
question. Originally, they tried 10
move into their newly leased
apartment In June, but were halt
ID Rt the door by Cicero police OF.
ficerm.
After taking their case TO n
federal court, the Clarka were
awarded tho right Of police pro.
lection when tho court ordered
Cicero law enforcement officials
10 protect the CiariA a. they
would any other citizens. Cicero
has no Negro residents.
When tho CiarkA went 10 their
new apartment q second time,
they did manage 10 get their fur
nituro inside. but they. themselves
did not move In at once, A. q
result thousand Of whites gather
ed around thu building and began
q reign Of terror.
Their action forced every ten.
ant 20 movr out. and the hoodiuma
destroyed all property inside each
unit. Gov. Adiai Stevenson Of II.
linOla had 20 call out tho National
Guard after midnight before any
order could be- restored. A total Of
iiS actual rioters were arrested
In action on the scene Of the riot,
The grand jury was given the
case shortly after. and held over
In August and again In septCm.
Der, It's action was announced
"Wednesday morning, and proved .
startling one. especially to the
persons indicted.
Among tho persons who eacap-
cd indictment was Joseph Beau.
hAmRia. head Of the anti Negro,
jewish white Circle League.
BeauhAfnalA was known 20 have
distributed Anu-Negro literature
In the vicinity weeks before the
actual riot a. well a. during the
violence.
the Clark family. itself. barely
escaped indictment
NAACP Acts 90 Help Leighton
Probably the most outspokrn
group against the grand jury &C
ton was the local NAACP. Thur
good Marshall. chief counsel Of
the national NAACP. has come to
Chicago TO map out plans Go pro.
tect Leighton,
Nelson NJ. willis president Of
the Chicago branch. declared
IT IL . real travrsty Of justice
that despite tho fact that more
than 100 persons were arrested At
the site Of the riotinE the grand
jury should indict a lawyer en-.
gagged In enforcing the legal rights
OF Americans In the courts Of the
United States .
Branch members and other
Chicagoans need have no fear
that this attempted intimidation
Of Leighton Will interfere with the