Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-22

president of the Texas Bar AS
ISOLATION. He was graduated
from Baylor University in 1925
and received a master Of laws
degree from George Washing
ton University here in 1926.
The Governments actions
was an application for a court
order directing Gov. Barnett
and Mr.. johnson to show cause
why they should not be cited
for criminal contempt. Civil
contempt charges already are
pending against them awaiting
the Appeals Courts judgment.
Prison, Fine Possible
In its application, the Justice
Department asked for no PEN
alties and no penalties are pro-
vided in the statutes for such
offenses.
Under these circumstances
the court in its . discretion,
could impose a fire or prison
sentence, or both, if the Off
Gals should be found guilty.
In the civil action earlier, the
Justice Department asked for
imposition of a fine of $4,000
a day on Gov. Barnett for a
To-day period in which it was
commended ne was not in full
compliance with the courts
orders regarding the Meredith
case.
Criminal contempt action in
wolves punishment for falling
to obey an order of the court.
Civil contempt seeks to halt
actions which the court has
ruled against.
If a court, as expected, issues
the order requested by the
Justice Department, the Mis-
siSsippi officials will be given
an opportunity to enter pleas
Of guilty or not guilty. In the
expected event of a not guilty
plea, the court would be re-
quired to set a hearing on the
charges.
This, in all likelihood, would
be preceded by a pre-trial con-
ference in which procedural
matters would be argued and
such questions as a jury trial
likely would arise.
After issuing an order last
July Is directing enrolment
Of Mr.. Meredith in the Uni
versity. the Appeals Court on
September "a directed the Uni
versity officials what they must
do to comply with its instruc-
tons. This order directed Rob-
ert B. Ellis, the university regis
trar, to be available in jackson,
the State capital, on September
rs, for the purpose Of register
ing the Negro student.
On September rs Attorney
General Kennedy filed an APP
plication for a restraining or
der barring Gov. Barnett and
other Mississippi officials from
interfering with the registration
OF the student.
Despite notice of this appli-
cation and the courts previous
orders, the Justice Department
said Gov. Barnett "willfully
prevented" Mr.. Meredith from
entering the office Of the uni
versity's board Of trustees in
Jackson and registering. This
was the basis of the first count
brought against the Govern
ment.
The second count named
both Gov. Barnett and 1t. Gov
johnson as a result OF Mr.
Johnson's confronting United
States marshals at the entrance
10 the university In oxford
Miss, on September 20, and
blocking them as they sought
10 escort Mr.. Meredith onto
the campus. In all these acts
the Justice Department said
the Governor and Lieutenant
Governor were "in active con-
cert and participation each
with the other"
Charges Blocking Of Entry
A third count alleged that
the two Mississippi officials
failed TO take measures tc
maintain law and order wher
the Negro student, accompanied
by marshals. was en- route from
Memphis, Tenn, 10 oxford Il
enroll In the university.
on the contrary. the Justice
Department commended, Gov
Barnett and 1t. Gov. johnson
did direct and encourage
certain members OF the Mis-.
sissippi Highway Patrol, sher.
ifs and deputy sheriffs
members Of the police depart.
ments OF various Mississippi
cities. and other officials ano