Blood in the Water
Page 79
13. “Testimonial to a Revolutionary Activist,” Flyer, Committee to Support Attica Brother Akil Al-Jundi, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
14. Flyer, American Radicalism Collection, Special Collections, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
15. Flyer, Joseph A. Labadie Collection, Special Collections Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
16. Flyer, American Radicalism Collection, Special Collections, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
17. Herbie Scott Dean aka Akil Al-Jundi, “An Autobiographical Synopsis,” September 11, 1973, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
18. Salvador Agron, Attica Correctional Facility, Letter to Andrew Himes, April 24, 1973, Resist Collection, Watkinson Library, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut.
19. Syracuse Attica Coalition, “Attica Is All of Us,” Syracuse, New York, 1973, Rare Books Collection, Department of Special Collections, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
20. Donald Jelinek, Attica Legal Defense and Legal Coordinator, Fundraising Letter, November 22, 1973, American Radicalism Collection, Special Collections, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
21. Louis M. Rabinowitz, Foundation, Fundraising Letter, March 27, 1973, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
22. Carol Bellamy, representing the 23rd District, wrote to Irene Jackson: “I assure you that I agree with the sentiments in your letter and I do support the proposed supplemental budget items.” Carol Bellamy Letter to Irene Jackson, May 13, 1974, New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice Records, 1971–1986, Series 9: Issues File, Box 1: Attica Aftermath, 1971–1974, Folder 1, M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, State University of New York, Albany, New York; Edwyn E. Mason, 48th District representative, Letter to Irene Jackson, May 8, 1974, New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice Records, 1971–1986, Series 9: Issues File, Box 1: Attica Aftermath, 1971–1974, Folder 1, M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, State University of New York, Albany, New York.
23. In: New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice Records, 1971–1986, Series 9: Issues File, Box 1: Attica Aftermath, 1971–1974, Folder 1, M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, State University of New York, Albany, New York.
24. “Ex-Attica Inmate Indicted in Slaying of Guard in Riot,” New York Times, December 17, 1972.
25. Enid Nemy, “Party on LI Assists Attica Defense,” New York Times, August 21, 1972.
26. Michael Deutsch, conversation with author, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 2005.
27. Jelinek, Attica Justice, 211.
28. Ibid., 223.
29. Ibid., 255.
30. Notice of Petition, Attica Brothers v. Additional Special November 1971 Grand Jury, 45 A.D.2d 13 (N.Y. App. Div. 1974), seeking “judgment quashing the Grand Jury Panel under CPLR Article 78,” Erie County courthouse.
31. “Memorandum of Law in support of Attica Brothers notice of motion to dismiss the indictments,” People of the State of New York v. Armstrong et al., New York Supreme Court, Special and Trial Term, Erie County, 76 Misc.2d 582 (N.Y. Misc. 1973), November 16, 1973.
32. Writ of Prohibition, Big Black, also known as Frank Smith v. Carmen F. Ball, Supreme Court of State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, 51 A.D.2d 684 (1976), October 14, 1975.
33. Walter Dunbar and Robert Henderson, Deposition, January 21, 1974, Erie County Courthouse, Erie County, Buffalo, New York, 100–101.
36. A HOUSE DIVIDED
1. William Hellerstein, telephone conversation with author, November 8, 2011.
2. Herman Schwartz, conversation with author, July 28, 2004.
3. Dennis Cunningham, Michael Deutsch, and Elizabeth Fink, “Remembering Attica Forty Years Later,” Prison Legal News (September 2011).
4. Ibid.
5. Donald Jelinek, Attica Justice: The Cruel 30-Year Legacy of the Nation’s Bloodiest Prison Rebellion, Which Transformed the American Prison System (Jelinek Publishers, 2011), 171. For more on the strong merits of defending the cases of this period in history, particularly cases in which black radicals were on trial, see: Sherie M. Randolph, Florynce “Flo” Kennedy: The Life of a Black Feminist Radical (Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 2015).
6. Ernie Goodman et al., “Anatomy of a Defense,” unpublished book, Preliminary Inventory of the National Lawyers Guild Records, 1936–1999, Ernest Goodman Files, Box 67, Series 10, Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
7. Frank “Big Black” Smith and Bernard “Shango” Stroble, “Different views on Defense,” two letters written to the NLG to explain divergent views, February 24, 1975, Sidney Rosen Papers, 1921–1980, Box 1, Folder 8, Walter Reuther Library.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid. One issue of Attica News was published seven months after the retaking and it updated the public on legal actions, medical conditions of prisoners still inside, and so forth. Attica News, Attica Now Collective, April 1972, Lieutenant H. Steinbaugh Papers, in author’s possession.
10. Frank “Big Black” Smith and Bernard “Shango” Stroble, “Different views on Defense,” February 24, 1975.
11. Ibid.
12. Michael Deutsch, conversation with author, June 27, 2005.
13. See letters from Baba to Bro. Williams and from Bro. Baba to Bro. Jomo. Letters intercepted by second officer Scott Pedalty in HBZ, who called CO E. Schmidt and turned them over on May 19, 1972. The letters were in an envelope concealed in a newspaper and had “evidently been brought into the institution by other than prescribed channels.” CO Scott Pedalty, Memorandum to CO E. Schmidt and Sgt. Conners, Memorandum to E. Montanye, superintendent, both in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
14. Barbara Handschu, Letter to Mariano “Dalou” Gonzalez, undated, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
15. Ibid.
16. Mariano “Dalou” Gonzalez, Letter to Barbara Handschu, May 8, 1972, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
17. Bernard “Shango” Stroble, Letter to Ernie Goodman, undated, Ernest Goodman Papers, Accession number 1152, Box 6, Walter Reuther Library.
18. Frank “Big Black” Smith and Bernard “Shango” Stroble, “Different views on Defense,” February 24, 1975.
19. Ibid.
20. Jelinek, Attica Justice, 304.
37. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
1. Donald Jelinek, Attica Justice: The Cruel 30-Year Legacy of the Nation’s Bloodiest Prison Rebellion, Which Transformed the American Prison System (Jelinek Publishers, 2011), 206.
2. Ibid., 254.
3. Ibid., 271.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., 275.
6. Ibid., 286.
7. Ibid., 288.
8. Ibid., 289.
9. Ibid., 218.
10. National Jury Project, The Jury System: New Methods for Reducing Prejudice. A Manual for Lawyers, Legal Workers, and Social Scientists (Cambridge, Mass.: The Project, 1975), 32.
11. Beth Bonora, “We’d Only Just Begun: The Origins of Trial Consulting,” Newsletter (San Francisco: Bonora Roundtree, 2012).
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. National Jury Project, The Jury System, 31.
17. Memorandum, “Why the Community is Involved in the Attica Jury selection,” Ernest Goodman Papers, Accession number 1152, Box 7, Walter Reuther Library.
18. Jelinek, Attica Justice, 307.
19. National Jury Project, The Jury System, 36.
20. Ibid., 37.
21. Ibid., 47.
22. Ibid., 48.
23. John Stainthorp, Attica Brothers Legal Defense, “National Guard and Medical Workers,” January 8, 1975, 1.
24. Ibid.
25. “National Guard and Medical Workers: Report on Interviews,” typed draft, undated, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brook
lyn, New York.
26. Stainthorp, Attica Brothers Legal Defense, “National Guard and Medical Workers,” January 8, 1975, 16.
27. “National Guard and Medical Workers: Report on Interviews,” typed draft, undated.
28. Ibid.
29. Jelinek, Attica Justice, 241.
30. Flo Hoder, Personal Trial Notes, Oakland, California, sent to author by Ms. Hoder.
31. Ibid.
32. Pretrial conference before Carmen Ball on indictments 5 and 15, June 19, 1974, in: The People of the State of New York v. Frank Smith, aka “Big Black.”
33. Ibid.
34. Ibid.
35. The People of the State of New York v. Luis Manuel Rosario, Court of Appeals of the State of New York, 9 N.Y.2d 286 (1961), argued January 19, 1961, decided March 23, 1961; Brady v. Maryland, United States Supreme Court, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), argued March 18–19, 1963, decided May 13, 1963.
36. Annette T. Rubenstein, “Attica, 1971–1975,” Pamphlet, Charter Group for a Pledge of Conscience, New York City, December 1975, 37.
37. Ibid.
38. Ibid.
39. Ibid., 38.
40. Dennis Cunningham, ABLD, Letter to Anthony Simonetti, CC: Hon. James O. Moore, March 8, 1974, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
41. United States v. Wade, United States Supreme Court, 388 U.S. 218 (1967), argued February 16, 1967, decided June 12, 1967.
42. Ibid.
38. TESTING THE WATERS
1. See coverage of Bilello in court in Buffalo Evening News, June 13, 1973. Letter. Richard Bilello to Frank (Big Black) Smith. Printed in: Attica News. September 12, 1974. Vol. 2. No. 10.
2. Ibid.
3. Flo Hoder, Personal Trial Notes, sent to author by Ms. Hoder.
4. Indictment #5, Bilello Arraignment, People of the State of New York v. Richard Bilello, Court of Appeals of the State of New York, 31 N.Y.2d 922 (1972), December 29, 1972.
5. Ibid.
6. People of the State of New York v. Richard Bilello, Transcript, January 30, 1973, 25.
7. Richard Bilello, Letter to Maxwell Spoont, Special Attorney General, January 8, 1974, FOIA request #110818 of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, FOIA p. 001040.
8. People of the State of New York v. Richard Bilello, Transcript, January 30, 1973, 7.
9. “Inmate from Attica Slain at Dannemora,” New York Times, October 30, 1974, 21.
10. Ibid.
11. Michael Deutsch, conversation with author, June 27, 2005.
12. Documents in: Erie County courthouse.
13. Annette T. Rubenstein, “Attica, 1971–1975,” Pamphlet, Charter Group for a Pledge of Conscience, New York City, December 1975, 39.
14. Ibid.
15. Elizabeth Fink, conversation with author, June 26, 2007.
16. “Metropolitan Briefs: Attica Defendant Wins Acquittal,” New York Times, October 10, 1974, 51.
17. Ibid.
18. Memo: Department of Correctional Services, Elmira Correctional Facility. From: John Wilmont, Acting Superintendent to Vincent Mancusi. Re: Statement by Dr. Eugene Pittman, M.D. regarding John Schleich and James Schleich, November 8, 1971, investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
19. John Schleich, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, March 21, 1972, 12.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid., 22.
22. Ibid., 24.
23. Indictment no. 35, The People of the State of New York v. Vernon LaFranque, State of New York Supreme Court: County of Erie, November 14, 1974, Erie County courthouse.
24. Ibid.
25. Newsletter, Joseph A. Labadie Collection, Special Collections Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
26. “Attica Trial Ends in Victory: Brother Acquitted: Jurors Denounce Prosecution, Evidence Called Fabrication,” Workers’ Power 112 (January 16–29), 1975.
27. Newsletter, Joseph A. Labadie Collection, Special Collections Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
39. GOING FOR BROKE
1. Donald Jelinek, Attica Justice: The Cruel 30-Year Legacy of the Nation’s Bloodiest Prison Rebellion, Which Transformed the American Prison System (Jelinek Publishers, 2011), 305; John “Dacajewiah” Hill, telephone conversation with author, May 31, 2005.
2. Hill, conversation with author, May 31, 2005.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Jelinek, Attica Justice, 305.
8. Michael Kaufman, “Reporter’s Notebook: Attica Trial Something of an Anti-climax,” New York Times, March 30, 1975.
9. Ibid.
10. Hill, conversation with author, May 31, 2005.
11. Kaufman, “Reporter’s Notebook: Attica Trial Something of an Anti-climax.”
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Mary Breasted, “Attica Hearings Are Under Way,” New York Times, December 2, 1974.
16. People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, Transcript, vol. 10, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), March 7, 1975, 1987–88.
17. Ted L. Wilson, Affirmation (affidavit), “Supplemental Motion for Discovery and for a Protective Order,” People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), and People of the State of New York v. Mariano Gonzalez, 43 A.D.2D 793 (N.Y. App. Div. 1973), February 14, 1973, Erie County courthouse.
18. Ibid.
19. Edward Kowalczyk, Affirmation (affidavit), “Supplemental Motion for Discovery and for a Protective Order,” People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975); People of the State of New York v. Mariano Gonzalez, 43 A.D.2d 793 (N.Y. App. Div. 1973), July 11, 1973, Erie County courthouse.
20. Kowalczyk, also known as Angelo Martin, Affidavit, People of the State of New York v. Shango Bahati Kakawana (Indicted as Bernard Stroble), 407 F.Supp. 411 (1976), October 12, 1974, Ernest Goodman Papers.
21. Michael Myerson, “Attica: 2 Years Later in Memoriam and Solidarity,” undated draft, National Alliance Against Racism and Political Oppression, Box 39, Folder 17: Attica Draft for Brochure, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.
22. Ibid.
23. National Alliance Against Racism and Political Oppression, Box 39, Folder 21: Attica Correspondence, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.
24. Flyer, Joseph A. Labadie Collection, Special Collections Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
25. Annette T. Rubenstein, “Attica, 1971–1975,” Pamphlet, Charter Group for a Pledge of Conscience, New York City, December 1975.
26. Ibid.
27. Kaufman, “Reporter’s Notebook: Attica Trial Something of an Anti-climax.”
28. Frederick M. Marshall, Administrative Judge, 8th Judicial District, Letter to Michael A. Amico, Erie County Sheriff, May 17, 1974, Erie County courthouse.
29. Carmen F. Ball, Affidavit, People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), October 22, 1974, Erie County courthouse.
30. Richard Meisler, “An Attica Trial,” personal typewritten account of the Hill and Pernasalice trial, 1–2, given to the author by Mr. Meisler.
31. Jelinek, Attica Justice, 308.
32. “Appeals Court Lets 2 in Attica Trial Get Extra Challenges,” New York Times, January 19, 1975, 49.
33. Herman Schwartz, conversation with author, July 28, 2004.
34. Michael T. Kaufman, “Prosecutor Rests in the Attica Case: Defense Wants State to Pay Its Witnesses’ Expenses—Pathologist Testifies Not on Critical List,” New York Times
, March 18, 1975, 27.
35. William Kunstler, Affirmation (affidavit), “Supplemental Motion for Discovery and for a Protective Order,” People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975); People of the State of New York v. Mariano Gonzalez, 43 A.D. 2d 793 (N.Y. App. Div. 1973), August 29, 1973, Erie County courthouse.
36. People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, Transcript, vol. 16, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), December 10, 1974, 151.
37. Don Jelinek, ABLD, Letter to Judge James O. Moore, affidavit attached, undated, Erie County courthouse.
38. As quoted in: Stuart Cohen, ABLD, Letter to Judge James O. Moore, Subject: “Wiretap order,” March 18, 1974, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.
39. Maxwell B. Spoont, Special Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York, “Affidavit in Opposition to Motion for Discovery Alleged Electronic Surveillance Material,” People of the State of New York v. William Bennett et al., Supreme Court, Additional Special and Trial Term, Erie County, 75 Misc.2d 1040 (N.Y. Misc. 1973), November 13, 1973.
40. Cohen Letter to Judge Moore, Subject: “Wiretap order,” March 18, 1974, Erie County courthouse.
41. People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, Transcript, vol. 17, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), November 18, 1974.
42. Kunstler to judge on issue of resources: People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, Transcript, vol. 16, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), March 17, 1975, 3310.
43. Ibid.
44. Meisler, “An Attica Trial,” 3.
45. Mary Breasted, “Killing at Attica Laid to ‘Others,’ ” New York Times, February 24, 1975.
46. This testimony constituted eighty pages of trial transcript. See: People of the State of New York v. Dacajewiah, Indicted as John Hill, Transcript, vol. 33, 49 A.D.2d 1036 (1975), March 31, 1975, 4656.
47. Mary Breasted, “Attica Murder Trial Judge Bars Testimony on Police Prison Attack,” New York Times, February 26, 1975.