DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971 | 1971-03-23 Daily Iowan Article: ""Demonstrators 36, City 1; More Trials Yet To Come""

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971

1971-03-23 Daily Iowan Article: ""Demonstrators 36, City 1; More Trials Yet To Come""

Demonstrators 36, City 1; 
More Trials Yet to Come

By Lowell May
DI News Editor
Charges were set aside against 36 of 41 persons brought before Police Court Judge Joseph Thornton Monday for their alleged disorderly conduct during the first night of May demonstrations here last year.
One womabn, Regina Kaiser, A2, was declared guilty, however, and was fined $100 plus court costs for her action on the evening of May 4 and th early morning of May 5.
Thornton took the cases of two others, Patricia Farrell and Howard Weinberg, under advisement.
John Lenz and Kent Simon, A2, won continuances on their trials.
Thirty-two of the 41 scheduled to appear had charges against them dismissed at the outset of the trials at the request of City Atty. Jay Honohan, who indicated that 32 could not be identified as lawbreakers.
Six trials, in which prosecuting testimony was produced principally by Johnson County Sheriff Maynard Schneider, were characterized by inadequate evidence by the prosecution and by oftentimes contradictory claims by police and defense witnesses.
The most conspicuous of such cases involved Michael Murphy.
Schneider claimed Murphy was arrested with a group of demonstrators allegedly blocking the intersection of College and Dubuque Streets in downtown Iowa City.
Schneider, at the prompting of Honohan and over the objection of defense counsel, also testified that Murphy's hair had been much longer at the time of his arrest.
Murphy—appearing with a fresh haircut and suit and tie, and apparently unruffled by the testimony about his appearance—testified that he had not even been near the College-Dubuque sit-in, and that he had been arrested "two blocks away"—at the corner of Clinton and Washington streets—"and two hours later"—at about 2:30 a.m.
His charges—like those of Jerry Sies, James Mullen, G, and Dennis Hurley—were dismissed.
Head Resident
Mullen, who was at the time of his arrest the head resident of Rienow I residence hall, testified that he was at the demonstration to help any of the Rienow residents there and that he was arrested when he came to the aid of a friend who was being roughed up by police or sheriff's deputies.
When he tried to show his university staff card to the officers, Mullen testified, he was rapped on the hand and placed under arrest.
As in most cases heard, Mullen presented a witness to back up his testimony. 
Hurley testified that he had not been arrested by the officer who testified against him and claimed to be his arresting officer, city patrolman Steven Rittenmeyer.
Another Dispute
Farrell's case, like Murphy's, also suffered from a dispute over her whereabouts at the time of arrest.
In spite of her testimony that she had intended to block the street at the College-Dubuque intersection, Farrell asked for an innocent verdict on the grounds that she had moved when told to by Schneider and was not in the street at the time of her arrest.
Karyl Weaver, A2, and Gary Anderson, A3, both of whom were arrested with Farrell and had charges dismissed earlier in the day, substantiated Farrell's testimony.
Last Friday Farrell was declared guilty by Thornton on a charge of flag desecration.
The decision on Weinberg, the executive director of the Iowa City Crisis Center, was postponed to allow his attorney to provide Thornton with legal authority for his case.
Thornton refused to indicate when he would announce his decisions on Farrell and Weinberg.
Dismissed
The judge dismissed charges against Gary Anderson, Douglas Baker, Claire Brown, Bryan Davis, Gerald Depew, Kathy Donovan, Johathan Dukehart, Michael Evans, Michael Glowacki, Georger Herger, Hellen Herrick, Pamela Hood, Charles Johnson, Terry Joseph, Louis Katz, Michael Knight, Allen Lehman, David Lehman, Perle Little, Stephen McCurdy, Darlene Mallonee, Barbara Martin, Laurie Riskin, Jody Rogers, Michael Shannon, John Shaw, William D. Shepard, David Toussaint, Thomas Tubbesing, Robert Young, Rick Voorhees, and Christine Wemmer.
Those in court Monday were the remainder of a group of 51 arrested last year during the first night of demonstrations against the invasion of Cambodia and the government's killing of students at Kent State University.

DI
March 23, 1971

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Demonstrators 36, City 1; More Trials Yet to Come By Lowell May DI News Editor Charges were set aside against 36 of 41 persons brought before Police Court Judge Joseph Thornton Monday for their alleged disorderly conduct during the first night of May demonstrations here last year. One womabn, Regina Kaiser, A2, was declared guilty, however, and was fined $100 plus court costs for her action on the evening of May 4 and th early morning of May 5. Thornton took the cases of two others, Patricia Farrell and Howard Weinberg, under advisement. John Lenz and Kent Simon, A2, won continuances on their trials. Thirty-two of the 41 scheduled to appear had charges against them dismissed at the outset of the trials at the request of City Atty. Jay Honohan, who indicated that 32 could not be identified as lawbreakers. Six trials, in which prosecuting testimony was produced principally by Johnson County Sheriff Maynard Schneider, were characterized by inadequate evidence by the prosecution and by oftentimes contradictory claims by police and defense witnesses. The most conspicuous of such cases involved Michael Murphy. Schneider claimed Murphy was arrested with a group of demonstrators allegedly blocking the intersection of College and Dubuque Streets in downtown Iowa City. Schneider, at the prompting of Honohan and over the objection of defense counsel, also testified that Murphy's hair had been much longer at the time of his arrest. Murphy—appearing with a fresh haircut and suit and tie, and apparently unruffled by the testimony about his appearance—testified that he had not even been near the College-Dubuque sit-in, and that he had been arrested "two blocks away"—at the corner of Clinton and Washington streets—"and two hours later"—at about 2:30 a.m. His charges—like those of Jerry Sies, James Mullen, G, and Dennis Hurley—were dismissed. Head Resident Mullen, who was at the time of his arrest the head resident of Rienow I residence hall, testified that he was at the demonstration to help any of the Rienow residents there and that he was arrested when he came to the aid of a friend who was being roughed up by police or sheriff's deputies. When he tried to show his university staff card to the officers, Mullen testified, he was rapped on the hand and placed under arrest. As in most cases heard, Mullen presented a witness to back up his testimony. Hurley testified that he had not been arrested by the officer who testified against him and claimed to be his arresting officer, city patrolman Steven Rittenmeyer. Another Dispute Farrell's case, like Murphy's, also suffered from a dispute over her whereabouts at the time of arrest. In spite of her testimony that she had intended to block the street at the College-Dubuque intersection, Farrell asked for an innocent verdict on the grounds that she had moved when told to by Schneider and was not in the street at the time of her arrest. Karyl Weaver, A2, and Gary Anderson, A3, both of whom were arrested with Farrell and had charges dismissed earlier in the day, substantiated Farrell's testimony. Last Friday Farrell was declared guilty by Thornton on a charge of flag desecration. The decision on Weinberg, the executive director of the Iowa City Crisis Center, was postponed to allow his attorney to provide Thornton with legal authority for his case. Thornton refused to indicate when he would announce his decisions on Farrell and Weinberg. Dismissed The judge dismissed charges against Gary Anderson, Douglas Baker, Claire Brown, Bryan Davis, Gerald Depew, Kathy Donovan, Johathan Dukehart, Michael Evans, Michael Glowacki, Georger Herger, Hellen Herrick, Pamela Hood, Charles Johnson, Terry Joseph, Louis Katz, Michael Knight, Allen Lehman, David Lehman, Perle Little, Stephen McCurdy, Darlene Mallonee, Barbara Martin, Laurie Riskin, Jody Rogers, Michael Shannon, John Shaw, William D. Shepard, David Toussaint, Thomas Tubbesing, Robert Young, Rick Voorhees, and Christine Wemmer. Those in court Monday were the remainder of a group of 51 arrested last year during the first night of demonstrations against the invasion of Cambodia and the government's killing of students at Kent State University. DI March 23, 1971