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Defense fund organized for arrested militantsExpressing an interest specifically in the current case involving the arrest of four young militant black men, a group of black and white citizens have set up a defense fund to aid the quartet and others working toward social changes.The question of “entrapment” arose among black leaders subsequent to the appre hension of Eldridge (OmarSha-bazz) Morrison Jr., 23; MelvinA. Johnson, 25, 1228 W. 29th; Leon Andrew Gomillia, 18, 649 Bright, and Odell Jones, 24, 1409 W. 29th.They are accused of plotting to assassanate Police Chief Winston L. Churchill and Narcotics Bureau head Lt. Richard A. Jones and attempting to break into the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, 2830 E. Riverside.The charges were based on testimony related in court by a black rookie policeman, Allen Ray Watkins. Black leaders pointed out that Watkins indicated he assisted the militants in making plans to steal arms and ammunition and supplying a get-a-way car and burglary tools.A prominent Indianapolis attorney who is active in community activities defined entrapment as “an act of officersor agents of the government in inducing a person to commit a crime not comtemplatedby him, for the purpose of instituting a criminal prosecution against him.”The defense fund for the trio is open to contributions from the general public. Don Bundles, chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, noted: “We are going to aid people harassed or intimidated by the system. We are interested in justice prevailing in the current case and other.”Watkins alleged that while he was working as an undercover agent with the four militants, knowm, supposedly as the Black Panthers, they made plans to assassinate the police chief and narcotics bureau head and steal arms and ammunition from the Marine Corps Center.The assassination plans were reportedly made during the last month according to Watkins who said he had been in group sessions with the accused men for about three months.U.S. Commissioner Robert W. Geddes ordered Morrision, Johnson and Gomillia held after hearing about the June 23 raid on the training center on bonds of $70,000 each. Jones' case was to be heard July 5.
Newspaper Details
Indianapolis Recorder
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Sat, Jul 06, 1968
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Monroe C.
IN, USA 01 Jan 2024
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