CIVIL DISTURBANCES IN WASHINGTON HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NINETIETH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGES AND LOSSES RESULTING FROM THE RIOTING, LOOTING AND OTHER CIVIL DISTURBANCES IN WASHINGTON IN APRIL 1968, AND THE ACTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE POLICE, AND OTHER DULY CONSTITUTED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WITH RESPECT THERETO 94-293 MAY 15 AND 16, 1968 Printed for the use of the Committee on the District of Columbia U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1968 COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THOMAS G. ABERNETHY, Mississippi BASIL L. WHITENER, North Carolina CHARLES C. DIGGS, JR., Michigan DONALD M. FRASER, Minnesota BROCK ADAMS, Washington ANDREW JACOBS, JR., Indiana E. S. JOHNNY WALKER, New Mexico ANCHER NELSEN, Minnesota CHARLES MCC. MATHIAS, JR., Maryland JAMES T. CLARK, Clerk CLAYTON S. GASQUE, Staff Director (II) CONTENTS STATEMENTS "Build Black," reprint of circular___. Capitol Hill Southeast Citizens Association, resolution and recommenda- tions regarding crime reporting and disposition of criminal cases----- Murphy, Patrick V., Director, Office of Public Safety, letter dated D.C. Government Exhibits: Building fires reported by Fire Department (March 30-April 14, 1968) - 4, 5, 23, 38, 40 Hotel business losses due to disorders_ Legal authority for activating the National Guard.. Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia: Letter from Mrs. Edward B. Morris, secretary, dated February 20, Resolution dated April 25, 1968, in support of legislation to make ineligible for government employment persons convicted of rioting, Resolution dated May 9, 1968, urging use of Armed Forces to patrol Resolution dated May 9, 1968, urging abolishment of position of Riots of April 1968, Bill of particulars relative to.. Hackl, A. J., telegram dated April 24, 1968, to Chairman McMillan.. Moore, Robert S., letter dated April 9, 1968, to Chairman McMillan... 57 13, 30, 45 Raisbeck, Virginia P., letter dated May 2, 1968, deploring lawlessness... Smith, Leonard, copy of letter dated April 17, 1968, to Hon. Walter E. U.S. Attorney David G. Bress, letter dated May 29, 1968, to Chairman Washington Evening Star: Advertisement dated May 7, 1968, entitled "Ben Brown Is Dead". Article dated April 26, 1968, entitled "Threats of Pay-or-Burn Pose Article dated April 29, 1968, entitled "D.C. Leases 150 Units for Article dated May 2, 1968, entitled "Pressure Group Formed- Article dated May 4, 1968, entitled "Pride Worker Charged in Liquor Article dated May 10, 1968, entitled "35 Percent of Counties' Fire Article dated May 20, 1968, entitled "An Answer to Threats". Article dated May 20, 1968, by David Lawrence, entitled "Washing- Article dated May 26, 1968, entitled "A Businessman Voices his Article dated May 29, 1968, entitled, "Riot Cases Overtax Court, Article dated May 30, 1968, entitled "Judges Lay D.C. Court Crisis Article dated June 4, 1968, entitled "Judge in Riot Cases Criticizes Article dated June 19, 1968, entitled "Guard Chief Urges Tougher Article entitled "Swift Action Stressed-D.C. Police Set Up Secret Article entitled "Positioning Troops for Massive Rally Studied by Letters to the Editor, May 11, 17 and 21, 1968. 69-72, 76-77 Article dated March 17, 1968, entitled "No Serious Disorder Expected by Murphy". 61 Article dated May 21, 1968, entitled "8 Percent of $145,667 Riot 77 Article dated June 1, 1968, entitled "Sharp Drop in Tourism Noted 79 Article dated June 12, 1968, entitled "Get Maximum of Year: 'Remorseless' Trio Sentenced in Riot" 81 Article dated June 16, 1968, entitled "Bankers Ask Aid for D.C. 85 Article entitled, "Clark Warns on Use of Deadly Force". 68 66 Waters, William H., Jr., letter dated February 19, 1968, to Chairman Mc- 52 WMAL, Evening Star Broadcasting Co., editorial dated May 12, 1968, entitled "Troops in Washington". 65 APPENDIX Staff Memorandum, May 15, 1968-The April 1968 Civil Disturbances in Washington_. 87-94 Arrests by Metropolitan Police Department, March 30-April 14, 93 Estimates of real property and other losses_ 87-88 Estimates of costs and revenue losses to the District of Columbia 88-92 Estimates of costs of Federalizing the National Guard and bringing 92 Estimates of hotel and business losses. 94 Fires and false alarms, March 30-April 14, 1968 93 Troops called out in Civil Disturbances: Authority for Use of Troops in the Suppression of Riots.. 92 Executive communications dealing with same.. 95-103 CIVIL DISTURBANCES IN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1968 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, D.C. The Full Committee met, pursuant to recess, at 10:40 a.m., in Room 1310, Longworth House Office Building, Honorable John L. McMillan, Chairman, presiding. Present: Representatives McMillan (presiding), Abernethy, Dowdy, Whitener, Sisk, Diggs, Fuqua, Fraser, Adams, Jacobs, Walker, Kyros, Nelsen, O'Konski, Harsha, Mathias, Horton, Broyhill, Winn, Gude, Zwach, and Steiger. Also present: James T. Clark, Clerk; Sara Watson, Assistant Counsel; Donald Tubridy, Minority Clerk; and Leonard D. Hilder, Investigator. The CHAIRMAN. The Full Committee will come to order. Mr. Murphy, will you come to the table, and Chief Layton, Chief Galotta, and the Under Secretary of the Army, and any other people that are around here. Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Chairman, this is Mr. Bress, United States Attorney, who was good enough to come in accordance with your invitation. The CHAIRMAN. We will be happy to have him sit at the table with you. Mr. Murphy, I want to thank you and the other gentlemen for taking time to appear before our Committee this morning. We hope that we will be able to bring to light some of the rumors that have been flying around ever since you arrived; as to what the police were doing on the first day and night of the April civil disturbances; and a number of other accusations that have been made, and the reason for not stopping some of the looting that appeared here in the Nation's Capital on these days. You might make a little statement first as to the type of orders that were given by you or whoever gave out the orders. I would also like to have the orders given the troops by the Under Secretary, please. I would like to know if you were given authority to use force in handling these people, and whether they were permitted to walk in and take anything they wanted, as those are the rumors that have been flying around. (1) |