City open housing law may be tested
By VIKI HYSTEN
Kansan Staff Writer
The Lawrence open housing ordinance, passed in 1967, may be tested in Lawrence Police Court Feb.26.
Within the past four months, two separate complaints have been filed with the Lawrence Municipal Court charging racial discrimination in providing housing, a violation of the law.
The complaints, the first two to be filed under this ordinance were filed by black KU graduate students.
The first case involved Maurice Woodard, Houston, Tex., graduate student, who claimed Mrs. Mae Burgert, 1807 Ohio St., with refusing to rent accommodations to him because he was a Neuro.
Mrs. Burgert was acquitted.
Second case filed
In the more recent case, Jo Elaine Heaven, Coffeyville graduate student, filed a complaint with the city attorney Jan. 29 charging Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bell, McLouth, with racial discrimination against her.
The Bells own a house at 1145 Kentucky St., where Miss Heaven was allegedly discriminated against while attempting to secure occupancy
The Bells were arrested Feb. 5 and released that same day on a $100 bond. Hearings are scheduled for Feb. 28 in Police Court.
In August 1968, Woodard had attempted to rent a duplex at 1801 Ohio St., owned by Mrs. Burgert and her husband.
The case was tried Nov. 20 and 27, 1968 with Judge Maxwell announcing his ruling Dec. 23.
In a written statement Judge Maxwell said Mrs. Burgert was not guilty because the evidence failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Woodard was denied the duplex on racial grounds.
Closed trial
In a statement to the Kansan, Woodard said: "Both attorneys were asked to present further evidence to the judge. The attorney for the defendant presented many pages of evidence; my attorney, however, did not do the same. He gave his facts orally. I regret this very much because I would like to have read the facts so that I could determine if the facts omitted during the hearing were at all presented."
The trial was closed to all witnesses.
Gerald Cooley, prosecuting
city attorney who presented Woodard's case, said this was a normal court procedure. Cooley also said he felt Woodard did not have enough evidence to necessitate a written report. $ ^{a} $
Mrs. Burgert said she submitted her preference to rent under long-term agreements as evidence on her behalf. She said she did not discriminate against Woodard on racial grounds, but that she wanted to rent to persons who would stay a year or longer.
Woodard said he had agreed to rent for at least one year. The tenants now occupying the duplex said they moved in during September, 1968, agreeing to stay at least one year.
Olin Petefish, Mrs. Burgert's attorney, said realtors made this agreement without consulting his client.
Changes proposed in city ordinance
The Lawrence Human Relations Commission has proposed four changes to Lawrence's 1967 open housing ordinance.
As it stands now, the ordinance declares all discriminatory practices in transacting private and commercial housing against public policy.
It provides that any person convicted of discriminating against another person because of his race, color, religion or national origin, will be fined a $100 maximum and/or confined to jail for not more than 30 days
Thursday, February 13, 1969
Proposed changes include that the maximum fine be raised to $500; trailer and trailer courts be expressly listed under housing; builders be definitely stated as involved in housing cases, and builder's permits be restricted if evidence against them is found.
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
79th Year, No. 74
Milton Allen, city attorney, is tentatively scheduled to give a report on the proposals before the city commission next Tuesday.
The Rev. Norman Steffens, Human Relations Commission director, said despite its penal provisions, a person who files a complaint under this ordinance and wins his case is not guaranteed occupancy.
Sirhan might plead guilty
LOS ANGELES (UPI) — Defense attorneys met yesterday with Sirhan B. Sirhan in his jail cell amid reports he would switch his plea to guilty in the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, possibly when court reconvenes today.
Defense attorneys, including defense chief Grant B. Cooper, would neither confirm nor deny a report by the Los Angeles Times that the plea would be changed with the understanding the maximum penalty imposed on the 24-year-old Jordanian immigrant would be a life term.
Chief says guns needed
However, Sirhan's attorneys held a conference yesterday with their client and members of his family at his cell at the Hall of Justice, presumably to discuss further the possibility of changing his plea.
The trial was recessed for the Lincoln's birthday holiday Tuesday afternoon after three men and three women were selected as the six alternate jurors to hear the case. When court resumes today, the prosecution is scheduled to present its opening statement—a demand that Sirhan die in the gas chamber for the slaying of Kennedy.
Campus Police Chief E. P. Moomzu said yesterday he opposes passage of the All-Student Council (ASC) resolution which would require campus police to keep firearms in their patrol cars during the day.
Moomau said extra handling of
Should the resolution pass the ASC, it would be forwarded to administration officials for a
the guns presents a safety hazard. He could not speculate, he said about possible effects of the passage of the resolution.
(Continued to page 12)
One of Sirhan's brothers, Adel, told newsmen as he arrived for the meeting that he did not know whether his brother would change his plea. He said Sirhan was under "a lot of pressure . . . he might do anything."
The Times indicated the only obstacle to the plea switch was Sirhan's fears that a guilty plea would rob him of the opportunity to publicly air his reasons for the assassination.
If Sirhan does not change his plea, the defense is expected to argue that his mental state diminished his responsibility for his actions when Kennedy was shot to death June 5 in the pantry of the Ambassador Hotel minutes after claiming victory in the California Democratic presidential primary.
The defense willingness for a plea change was reported to be based on the belief that it could not hope for a jury verdict of less than first degree murder—the penalty for which is either life imprisonment or death.
The Statue of Liberty points abroad
Photo by Carol Sue Stevenson
Bob Mingori, a former Peace Corps volunteer to Brazil, talks to KU students about the Peace Corps. He has been among the Peace Corps representatives manning a Peace Corps recruitment table in the Kansas Union this week.
UDK News Roundup By United Press International
WASHINGTON - A staff report to the National Violence Commission said yesterday the rioting in Miami during the Republican National Convention had nothing to do with politics, but resulted from "deprivations, discriminations and frustrations of the black community."
Evidence 'hastily done'
Rocky favors surtax
NEW ORLEANS - An assistant district attorney admitted yesterday that part of the evidence in the assassination conspiracy case against Clay L. Shaw was "hastily done, inaccurate and incomplete."
Lady Bird wants stations
WASHINGTON Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York urged President Nixon yesterday to retain the 10 per cent income surtax indefinitely as a direct source of federal aid for state and local education.
GOP riots not political
WASHINGTON - Lady Bird Johnson has asked the Federal Communications Commission to restore her control of the family radio and television interests.
And West German authorities yesterday spurned Communist warnings of a new Berlin crisis by formally ordering the election of the country's president held in West Berlin a week after Nixon arrives.
Nixon protest possible
BERLIN - West Berlin authorities have threatened police action against leftist students planning to protest the visit here by President Nixon on Feb. 27.
The former First Lady asked that control of stations KBTC-TV, AM and FM, in Austin, Tex., be put in her name. The stations were put in control of the two trustees in 1963 after Johnson became President.