Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-30
Court Asked
To End Curbs
In Greenwood
Suit Also Seeks
Release of Eight
Sent to Prison

80 (AP).-The Justice Depart
ment today asked for a Federal
court injunction to halt inter-
ference with Negroes attempt
ing to register to vote in this
Mississippi delta town.
The department, in a suit
filed in United States District
Court in oxford, Miss, also
asked that Negroes jailed after
demonstrations in Greenwood
Thursday be freed on their own
recognizance.
Eight Of them sentenced to
four months in jail and a 5000
fine on disorderly conduct
charges yesterday after a vote
march vowed to stay behind
bars until the Federal Govern
ment acts.
The suit seeks an order
against Greenwood and Le-
flore County officials, forbid
ding them to interfere with
the rights Of Negroes to regis
ter to vote.
It asks that arrest, proSecu-
ton and intimidation Of Negro
vote workers be stopped. The
suit would prohibit use Of force,
police dogs and other means
! to block the would-be voters.
Hearing Monday
A hearing for a temporary
Injunction was set for noon
Monday at Aberdeen, Miss,
before Federal District Judge
Hugh Clayton.
Named as defendants in the
suit we're Greenwood Mayor
: Charles Sampson, Fire-Police
Commissioner Buff A. Ham,
4 mond, Police Chief Curtis Larry,
e City Prosecutor Gary Evans,
Deputy Sheriff Wilbur Smith,
d County Attorney John j. Fra
r zier and the City of Greenwood
: and Leflore County.
A Justice Department attor-
+ ney said papers would be served
] on the defendants today.
Mayor Charles Sampson said
I'VE were expecting it."
! Mr.. Sampson said THAT
has been their policy in other
! places in supporting these agi-
tators who are in town"
"At the same time, Mr..
Sampson said, Il don't see
where they have any grounds
for an injunction"
81 am not surprised that this
is their policy, in supporting
the agitators, which bears out
, in my release to the press yes
, terday."
AgitatOrs Blamed
MIR. Sampson had charged
that the Justice Department
was helping professional agi-
tators" foment trouble In Le-
flore County in an attempt to
win Negro votes.
Officers Of the Circuit Court
in Greenwood. where registra-
tons are held, were closed to-
day. They are normally open
q. until noon on Saturday.
A freshly printed card stapled
! to the courthouse's front door
said. "All county offices closed
on Saturday by order Of the
; board of supervisors"
! Some Negroes, who showed
J up this morning. turned around
. and left.
} President Invited
Negro leaders Of the vote
! drive earlier said they had
asked President Kennedy to go
to the Mississippi delta city and
J walk with Negroes going TO the
county courthouse in their bid
to become registered voters.
Its the greatest thing the
President of the United States
can do to let the world know
we believe in democracy" Wiley
Branton. a Negro attorney
from Atlanta. told a voter reg
istration rally last night.
The Greenwood Common
wealth. In a Page editorial.
. said "the racial agitators In
our midst have worked con-
stantly for over 10 months 10
draw Federal Intervention In
Leflore County"
The daily newspaper COM
J mented on the nightly voter
registration rallies by saying,
when you can draw only 400
. people out OF q Negro popula-
| ton Of 10000, you aren't stir
! ring many folks up"