tl19720225-000 "towerlight Volume XXV No. 4 Towson State College February 25, 1972 Towson, Maryland 21204 ""Something rotten in Baltimore:"" Kunstler demands investigation of state's attorney in Turco case by Mike Dilworth Calling the Baltimore City State's Attorney, Milton B. Allen, ""a disgrace to the legal profession,"" William Kunstler demanded an investigation into the proceedings of the Arthur Turco trial. (see Towerlight February 11, 18) Kunstler voiced his demands before a near-capacity crowd in Stephens Hail Auditorium, Monday night February 21. The topic of the rescheduled talk by Kunstler and Turco, defense attorney for Black Panthers, was ""Justice in Amerika."" ""Most disgraceful"" Kunstler cited the Turco case and other trials across the country in the past two years, where Black Panthers have been unsuccessfully prosecuted. Mentioned were cases in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Connecticut, Oakland, Detroit, and Baltimore. The Baltimore case was singled out by Kunstler as the most ""unfathomable and most disgraceful."" Turco was. charged with ""conspiracy to murder"" a panther. However, the only evidence that the prosecutor could substantiate was the fact that Turco said to'. � another panther, ""Go do what you gotta do."" The state's top witness, Kunstler said, turned out to be an informer from the Intelligence Division of the Baltimore City Police Department. No evidence Theories, not facts, Kunstler added, formed the foundation of the state's case against Turco. Kunstler said, ""Milton Allen, a disgrace to the legal profession, and that is libelous if not true, indicated in an interview with the Baltimore Afro-American that all these people (defendants) had been held without any legal evidence. . ."" During his twenty-eight years as a lawyer. Kunstler remarked, he had never seen crimes committed by the state's attorney, as they were in this case. Demanding the prosecution of Allen for perjury, Kunstler also implicated the Baltimore City Police Department, Judges Murphy and Grady, who presided over the case and Survey conducted by Registrar: Evaluations label by Ward Smith The Mini-mester program, previously praised by Dean Kenneth Shaw, has been re-labeled a succcess by a Faculty-Student survey. A recently completed Frances Miner, Assistant Registrar help formulate the evaluation poll on the success of the recent mini-mester. anyone who was aware of the injustice, but kept silent. Official crime The crimes were committed, Kunstler claimed, by high public officials, in the name of the people of Baltimore. Described as ""attempted murder,"" the crimes, Kunstler said, were an attempt by Baltimore City Police Department to exterminate the Baltimore Black Panther Party. The prosecutor, after finding they had no evidence, settled for a guilty plea to the charge of assault. Turco considered himself innocent of all charges against him. Assault is a misdemeanor and would not result in a prison term or Turco's disbarment from the New York Bar Association. Kunstler recommended that Turco plead guilty to the assault charge because, as he put it, ""In the face of the death penalty, he's crazy not to plead guilty to assault."" Kunstler also pointed out that Turco had clients to defend, a life to lead and he was sure that a third trial would result in a hung jury. Dwelling on the idea of William Kunstler spoke ""Justice in Amerika."" justice, Kunstler said, one is asked to respect the law, but law in this manner ""should not be respected, it should be destroyed. . ."" 1 how hy ,S type lieuse to a Stephens Hall audience Monday on Law and order Public officials, Kunstler said, who cheat, lie and murder in the name of law and order are criminals. But the real criminals, he said, are ""the people who let mini success evaluation poll conducted by Francis Miner, Assistant to the Registrar, showed that the mini was met with overwhelming approval. The evaluation, presented in questionnaire form asked: ""The mini was, in comparison to other courses you have taken, a) about the same (9 percent), b) unsatisfactory (1 percent), c) a different academic experience (44 percent), and d) a much better experience (45 percent). Of those responding, 84 percent liked very much the idea of concentrating on only one academic experience. Others responded that they disliked the idea (1 percent), didn't see the point (2 percent) and had no feelings (12 percent). In terms of an overall evaluation, 89 percent gave the program a ""good- continue it"" rating. Of these, 59 percent considered the experience more valuable ""than any other courses taken."" � Eight-five percent of those questioned said that they would definitely participate in another mini-session. Those who would not, were in a 4 percent minority, while those undecided were 9 percent. Offering suggestions for improvement, 33 percent asked for more practicum courses; 33 percent for more regular, on campus, courses, 15 percent for more independent study, and 12 percent for more travel. The overall preference (59 percent) appeared to be for morning sessions, indicated that perhaps time could be allowed for part time work. When asked if the four week term allowed sufficient time to accomplish th,, objectives of the � percent Oe' \VP T to reg Ilan. � favor,' survey, that ah, students qt. terms of th and not the ovt them do it."" This he compared to a painful memory of Nazi Germany and the attempted extermination of the Jewish race. Swastika over America ""The black shadow of the swastika hangs over America,"" Kunstler said. ""I'm determined not to let this case lie,"" he assured, serving notice on the State's Attorney's office and the B.C.P.D. They will be telling their story in New York, where they have no protection, no informers and no friends. Kunstler urged the silent audience to write their governor, state's attorney, editor and any high public official, asking them to investigate the Turco case. Kunstler's talk was sponsored by the Towson students for a Democratic Society and the Committee to Defend Political Prisoners. The Student Government Association allocated funds through the speakers fund. Kunstler receive no compensation - ' I"" "
