Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-24

Washington. were found guilty
yesterday after a 12-day trial
before an all-white, all-South-
ern jury. When sentenced
probably about three weeks
from now-they face Jail terms
up to six months or fines up
to $1,000, or both.
In addition to Kasper, the
convicted defendants we're:
Lawrence Brantley, so,
grocer and car dealer; William
Brakebill, Al, service station
owner; Alonzo Bullock. so, odd
Job carpenter and free-lance
preacher; Clyde Cook, 35,
Atomic Energy Commission
fireman; Mrs. Mary Nell Cur
rier. 40. housewife. and Willard
H. Till, 81. Oak Ridge tech
nician.
Acquitted by the jury were
Clifford Carter, 33, laborer;
Edward Henson Nelson, %,
grocery clerk; Nelson's brother,
Virgil Cleo Nelson. %, car
penter, and Raymond Wood
IS, house painter.
All Three Counts
The jury of 10 men and two
women deliberated just two
hours and 20 minutes before
reaching their verdict. They
found the seven guilty on all
three counts of the criminal con-
tempt accusation, as Federal
District Judge Robert L. Taylor
told them they must do to
convict. These counts were:
/. That they had knowledge
of an injunction against inter-
ference with school indignation
and understood the meaning of
that Injunction.
. 2. That they conSpired and
acted in concert to thwart the
Injunction.
3. That. the conspiracy hav-
ing been established, one or
more of them committed overt
acts to obstruct indignation.
The overt acts specifically
charged were that all 10 Clin-
ton defendants took part in
demonstrations outside Clinton
High School between November
81 and December 4, 1856,
calculated to intimidate Negro
students. and that on December
4, eight of the 10 defendants
attacked and beat a Baptist
minister who had walked to
school with Negro students.
Kasper specifically was not
accused of participation in the
overt acts-he was not in Clin-
ton at the time-but was
charged with conspiracy and
completely.
Turner Sees Right Vehdict"
The Rev. Paul w. Turner. the
Baptist minister who was beat
en- and who became symbol OF
the law and order" element of
Clinton. commented yesterday
that the right verdict had
been brought out by the jury.
Il hope now that all the hard
feeling will be forgotten so we
all can go about our business
as neighbors."
Attorney Sidney Davis of
Clinton. who walked with Mr..
Turner that December day,
said he was really pleased but
not surprised" by the verdict.
The men on that jury we're
East Tennessee farmers. They
are inclined to oppose violence :"
United States Attorney John
c. Crawford. who directed the
prosecution. said. my staff
and have endeavored TO try
this case like any other Gov
eminent case. The jury has
spoken by their verdict. l have
no further comment.
Mr.. Crawford's first assist
ant. James M. Meek of Knox
vile said. I'm proud of an
East Tennessee jury"
Counsel 10 Appeal
On the other side. there was
shock. Defense Attorney Ross
Barnett Of jackson. Miss. said.
we're greatly surprised. OF
course. We will take an appeal
to the Sixth Circuit Court OF
Appeals in Cincinnati.
j. Benjamin Simmons Of
Washington. lawyer for Kasper
only. scarcely concealed a
measure OF bitterness in his
comment. Mr.. Simmons. who
has represented Kasper in
other brushes with the law
including a one-year conviction
for criminal contempt now
awaiting certiorari in the
Supreme Court-said:
Il think VIC received very