by John Hersey
“Narcotics were taken to Bureau by St. Onge in A.M.”
As it happened, two of the three officers who arrested Michael were Jerome Olshove, who was destined to be killed the night before the incident at the Algiers, and Roy St. Onge, who was to hold the shotgun that would cause Olshove’s death.
After this, Michael moved into A-14 with Carl. The reason he moved, he testified, was that the arresting officers had kicked in the door of A-13, and the door had not been fixed when Michael came back from jail. Michael and Carl paid $13.60 a day for A-14, according to Michael’s testimony; actually neither of their names appeared on the motel registry, because the room had been signed for “by a young lady by the name of Sandra,” whose last name Michael testified that he did not know. After that, when Auburey and Sortor spent the night, they usually stayed downstairs with Lee.
IV
CONFESSION
12
COULD YOU GET MY STATEMENT BACK?
Monday, July 31
1. Report for Questioning
Five days had passed since the nightmare at the Algiers. The story had broken—rather discreetly in the Free Press the night before, then with screeching headlines in the News on this Monday morning, July 31. On the basis of the accusations of Witness Greene in the News, a dangerous finger seemed to point at Warrant Officer Thomas, the man who had raised the alarm of snipers in the first place.
On the Monday morning the Homicide Bureau sent orders to the Thirteenth Precinct that all police officers who had been present at the Algiers on the night of the incident, and indeed any who knew anything about what had happened there, should report that day at 1300 Beaubien Street for questioning. By about noon, seven men from the Thirteenth Precinct had assembled at Homicide, accompanied by a superior officer from Thirteen, Lieutenant Gerald Hallmark.
Each man was directed to write down everything he had done and seen that night.
2. It Was All Over With
“I Patrolman Ronald August Badge #116 Assigned to the 13th Precinct was designated to Patrol Task Force #2—East of Woodward, South of Highland Park, North of E Grand Blvd, and West of the Grand trunk Railroad. Our task force was dispatched approx 12:15 AM 7-26-67 by our Sgt in charge Sgt Victor Wells that at Woodward and Euclid ‘the Army is under heavy fire.’
“When Task force #2 arrived at Woodward and Euclid I observed Many State Police, and National Guard South at Virginia Park and Woodward. We then took cover with Task force Number 2 that consisted of One Scout Car and 3 Army Jeeps. The Army Jeeps had 12 to 15 men dispatched with us. The Patrolman in our unit were Patr David Senak, Patr Robert Paille, and myself.
“On arrival we then deployed our selves around the Algiers Motel Manor, and then entered the Premises. Guardsmen and Police had Several men and two white girls against the wall on the first floor.
“There were Two Negroes wounded in the room to left of Lobby, and One Wounded Negro to the right of the lobby. Many Guardsmen and Police left saying it was all over with. I then went outside to call for a Wagon Patrol to convey everyone to station and Hospital. Radio responded that one would be on the way.
“We were waiting for the wagon to appear when More shots could be heard fired outside and Several guardsmen ran in and asked for our assistance. We then all ran out side and took cover where Sniper fire was reported West of us about the middle of the block down Virginia Park. We then received a Radio Message regarding our relief, and to call the station this was about 1:30 AM 7-26-67. As of this time the Wagon Patrol had not appeared at the scene.”
“(Signed:) Ronald W. August”
At the foot of August’s statement appear these lines written in a different hand:
“Q. Did you fire inside the bldg?
“A. No
“Q. Was any prisoners taken out of the house?
“A. No
“Q. Did you see a Guard Commissioned Officer on the premises?
“A. No.”
3. There Was Shooting down the Street
Synopsis of Statement taken from Patrolman Robert Norman Paille Assigned to #13 Precinct:
“Patr. Robert Norman Paille 32/W/M wrote a statement at the Homicide Bureau on July 31, 1967, he stated that on July 26, 1967, he was assigned to Scout Car 13-11 and Task Force #2, he was accompanied by Patr. Ronald August and David Senak. He stated that on Wednesday, July 26, 1967, about 12:15 AM they received a radio run to Woodward & Euclid, that ‘Army was under heavy fire.’ Patr. Paille stated he was in the last Jeep which was one of three (3) jeeps, following a Scout car.
“Upon arriving at the scene Patr. Paille observed that everyone had taken cover, he hid behind a jeep. Patr. Paille saw men rushing the Motel Manor and he followed, entering through a door at N. E. corner of the Motel. Paille stated he saw a body lying on the floor. He then rushed to the second and third floors and assisted in searching for snipers and guns. Paille then returned to the first floor and heard some of the Guardsmen say there was shooting down the street. He investigated and found no one. Paille said he thought he saw some State Police officers at this time.
“Paille then returned to the Motel and was told by his fellow officers that a wagon had been called to pick up the bodies. Paille said that at this time, part of their convoy had left for another trouble area. Paille said that he and his two fellow officers then left the scene.”
4. Can We Go?
After the officers had finished their writing, Lieutenant Hallmark wanted to leave. “I figured,” he testified in the murder hearing, “that the statements were through, and I was ready to go back . . . but I asked several of the other officers—I don’t know which ones—‘Can we go? Did anybody tell us that we had to stay?’ And they said, ‘Yes, they told us we had to stay.’ But they just said, ‘they,’ and I don’t know who ‘they’ was.”
The men sat around talking for nearly an hour. “I think I was sitting alongside of Riley,” Lieutenant Hallmark testified, “but I wouldn’t really be sure, because I was reading the paper.” One wonders what the effect of the presence of that day’s newspaper in the room—with its big headlines, its exposure, its conjuring up of phrases—that nigger didn’t even kick—may have been on what happened in the next few minutes.
5. Two Dead Men
Synopsis of Statement, Paille:
“At 1:30 PM, Det. Sgt. Clifton Casey then asked Paille how many bodies he had seen in the building. Paille answered one dead in a room in the NE corner of the building and one dead in the room on the first floor on the North side of the building. Casey asked, when you left the building where were the other occupants of the building. Paille answered they were lined up against the wall, approximately four (4) men and two (2) females. Casey asked, what were you armed with. Paille answered a 30-30, a 357 mag, and a service revolver. . . .”
6. Conference
In the Homicide bullpen Ronald August approached Hallmark, who, as he read the paper, was surrounded by detectives and by the other officers from the Thirteenth, and asked if he could speak with the lieutenant alone. They went out in the hall. August asked, according to Hallmark’s testimony, “Could you get my statement back? I would like to change it. I would like to make a new statement.”
7. In the Corridor
Synopsis of Statement made by Lieutenant Gerald Hallmark, Assigned to Precinct #13:
“On July 31, 1967, Lt. Hallmark reported to the Homicide Bureau in company with the following officers: Patrs. Paul Rehn, Edward Riley, Gerald Kiss, and William Jones. Patrs Ronald August, David Senak, and Robert Paille also reported to the Homicide Bureau, for the purpose of being questioned regarding their activities on Wednesday, July 26, at the Algiers Manor Motel. Lt. Hallmark reported that at approximately 2:00 PM, Patr. Ronald August asked if he could speak to him in private and they stepped into a corridor just outside the Homicide Bureau office where Patr. August stated he had shot one of the men at the Algiers Motel and asked if he could get his original statement back. A few minutes later Patr. Paille approached Lt. Hallmark and st
ated ‘I shot one of the men.’ Lt. Hallmark asked Patr. Paille if he knew who shot the third man and he replied ‘No.’ Lt. Hallmark then asked Patr. Paille what part Patr. Senak had in the shooting, he answered, ‘We shot almost simultaneously at the man.’ ”
8. Silence
David Senak kept his mouth shut.
9. Suspension
Lieutenant Hallmark consulted, immediately after the conferences in the corridor, with his inspector, and he then suspended August and Paille from the police force—“somewhere,” he testified, “around two fifteen or two thirty; somewhere around there.”
10. Pause
There is no record of further questioning of August, Paille, or Senak until four o’clock—nearly two hours after the two confessions.
11. Lawyer
Synopsis of Statement, Paille:
“On the same date at 4 PM Det. Sgt. Casey attempted to question Paille further. Paille requested that he be allowed to consult an attorney before answering any questions.”
From what happened later, it must be assumed that Paille called Attorney Norman Lippitt, counsel for the Detroit Police Officers’ Association.
12. My Rights under the Law
At 4:05 p.m., Lieutenant Elmer Reed, in the presence of Detective Sergeant Robert Everett, read to Ronald August a form published by the Detroit Police Department, “DPD 342-B, Constitutional Rights Certificate of Notification”:
“I understand that I have a right to remain silent, and I do not have to answer any questions put to me or make any statement. Any statement I make or anything I say can be used against me in a Court of Law. I have the right to have an attorney (lawyer) present before answering any questions or making any statement. If I cannot afford an attorney (lawyer), one will be appointed for me by the Court prior to any questioning. And I can decide at any time to exercise my rights and not make any statement. I understand these are my rights under the law, and I have not been threatened or promised anything, and I now agree to answer any questions put to me or make any statement.”
The detectives took the new statement August had said he wanted to make.
13. The Tragic Part
Statement of Ronald August . . . in the presence of Elmer Reed and Robert Everett, Inspector’s Office, Special Investigation Bureau:
“. . . On the morning of the 26th around 12:25 a.m. we received a run that the Army was under heavy fire at Euclid and Woodward. Upon arriving at Woodward and Euclid we saw Army personnel at Virginia Park and Woodward at the Algiers Motel. We left our vehicle on Woodward Avenue and took cover just west of Woodward Avenue behind a brick wall, a gateway to Virginia Park. I then approached the Algiers Motel manor, which I believe is 51 Virginia Park, and went inside.
“I then went inside the main entrance and then observed a colored wounded man on the right side of the lobby. He was laying on his stomach in a pool of blood, and to the left of the lobby just past the stairway going upstairs I observed this man sitting or laying in a pool of blood.
“I then went upstairs and looked in all the rooms and found no one and I found no weapons. I returned downstairs and I circled the manor outside and found no weapons. I returned to Woodward Avenue and brought the scout car back to 51 Virginia Park. I then called Radio and informed Radio that we had wounded men and prisoners. I then returned inside the Algiers Manor and watched the people standing against the wall. I then took the two white girls into a room which was the first doorway to the left of the hall as you entered and I questioned them about the shooting from upstairs. They said they heard shots but did not know who was shooting at us. I also asked the girls where they were from and they stated Columbus, Ohio. I asked the girls who they were with and they told me the colored man just discharged from the Army. They told me his name but I do not recall it. It may have been Miller or it may have been Green.
“I left the girls in the room and called the man they said they were with. He said the girls had been with him since last Friday. One girl, with red hair, had a cut on the left side of her head in the hairline, and I told her as soon as help came she could go to the hospital. I also told her she would be all right. She then stated, ‘Why did they hit me?’ I told her everyone is excited and I did not know who hit her.
“I then told the two girls and the man Green or Miller to go back in the lobby with the rest of the people against the wall and when the wagon came we would convey them to the station and the hospital.
“Now comes the tragic part. One fellow on the wall stated he wanted to see an officer in the other room. I don’t know if it was Green or Miller, I don’t know his name.
“We went into the room left of the lobby and he stated he did not know who shot at us and he pleaded to let him and his friends go. I told him everyone was going in when the transportation arrived. He says, ‘You are not going to shoot me, are you?’ and I says, ‘No, I never shot a man in all my life and I have no reason to shoot you.’
“He then grabbed my shotgun and pushed me on the bed and I screamed, ‘Get back.’ We both stood up from the bed and then he let go of the gun and I pulled the trigger. The safety was on and the gun did not fire. I released the safety and he reached for the shotgun again and I pushed him away and fired one shot that struck him, I believe, in the right side. That’s all, except that the wagon never came. I didn’t want to shoot him. I wanted to put him back out there with the rest of them but he just wanted that gun and he wouldn’t let go.”
“At this time,” the synopsis says, “Attorney Norman Lippitt entered the room and requested that the interrogation cease.”
14. I Believe State Police . . .
Synopsis of Statement taken from Patrolman David Senak Assigned to #13 Precinct:
“On July 31, 1967, at 4:10 PM, Det. Lt. Alfred Pare advised Patr. Senak of his constitutional rights and Senak made the following statement. ‘On Wednesday, July 26, 1967, I reported for duty at 12 Noon and was assigned to Task Force #2 comprised of Patr. Paille, Patr. August and myself, together with about 12 to 15 National Guardsmen. We had one Scout Car (Myself and Patr. August along with two guardsmen) and three jeeps. Two jeeps contained all guardsmen and the last jeep contained guardsmen and Patr. Paille. At 12:15 AM we received a radio run to assist guardsmen at Euclid and Woodward: “Guardsmen under fire.” We were at Woodland and Cameron and proceeded to the scene.’ Quest: What did you see when you arrived at the scene of the run? Ans: ‘I saw local, State Police and other guardsmen advancing on the Manor from Virginia Park.’ Quest: Were these officers and guardsmen shooting at the manor? Ans: ‘Yes.’ Quest: Do you know if there were any shots coming from the Manor. Ans: ‘Not for sure.’ Quest: Where did you park your vehicles? Ans: ‘On Woodward Avenue in front of the island at Virginia Park.’ Quest: Could you see other police vehicles or U.S. Army jeeps? Ans: ‘I saw some State Police cars on Euclid at Woodward, and jeeps all around the area.’ Quest: After you got out of your vehicles what did you do? Ans: ‘We separated and went toward the back of the Manor House. I took cover by the edge of the main part of the motel. I believe State Police broke open the rear door of the Manor House and then I watched the roof of the Manor House as I approached the back door and went in.’ Quest: Where did you go when you went into the Manor House? Ans: ‘I went to the second floor with another police officer (white and in uniform) and a guardsman.’ Quest: What kind of weapon did you have? Ans: ‘An 8-mm. Mauser (my own).’ Quest: Did you try to gain entrance to all the rooms? Ans: ‘Yes, all but one.’ Quest: How did you get into that room? Stop, 4:53 PM, Attorney Norman Lippitt entered and questioning ceased.”
V
THE ALGIERS MOTEL INCIDENT
13
THE SNIPERS
1. Hot Dogs
After the crap game broke up in Lee’s room, Carl and Lee wandered out to the pool in the main part of the motel, and Auburey and Sortor lay around A-5 watching television.
Papa’s Delicate Condition, starring Jackie Gleason and Glynis Johns, with a song in it, “Call Me Irresponsible,�
� which had won an Academy Award, had begun at nine, and the serial “I Spy” had come on later on another channel, and then all channels showed news of the turmoil outside in the city’s streets; after that, Lives of the Bengal Lancers and the “Tonight Show” came on—all frequently interrupted by commercials and news bulletins.
This room of Lee’s was at the back of the annex; a pair of French doors opened from it onto a wooden back porch with steps down to the motel parking lot. Two double beds stood on wall-to-wall carpeting. The television set was in a corner of the room, against the outer wall and to the left of the French doors, and a refrigerator-stove stood across from it, near a connecting door to room A-2, through which one had to go to get to the front hallway of the annex and to the stairs to the upper floors. The rooms were smartly furnished and clean; they must have given the young men, whose homes were crowded and cluttered, a sense of luxury—of living almost within the commercials they kept seeing on the tube.
Carl and Lee brought the two hungry white girls, Juli and Karen, into the room. Sortor turned the television set off, and one by one the boys turned on transistor radios. “They had about three radio sets going at the same time,” Juli testified. She said she had known Carl casually before this but got to know Lee for the first time that night, and she and Karen now also met “two fellows that I didn’t know”—Auburey and Sortor.