Atlanta Daily World

University Entry Case Goes To U. S. Judge For Study

ATHENS, Ga. - (UPI) - A U. S. District Court judge took under advisement Saturday a Negro integration suit against the University of Georgia, but called for submission of written briefs before making a decision.

Judge William A. Bootle told lawyers for the plaintiffs and the university. "I am not promising decision by any date," but added that he would make an effort to complete his deliberations before registration closes for the winter quarter on January 9.

Two Negro students, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, brought the action, asking Bootle to find that the university discriminated against them in refusing to admit them to the school.

Miss Hunter has received tentative acceptance to the school, but university officials explained that crowded housing, and rules on registration prevent her entering before March or later.

The prime witness in the four and one-half day hearing before Bootle was Registrar Walter N. Danner.

Bootle himself took over questioning, of Danner when he admitted it might be possible for Miss Hunter to be admitted during the spring quarter.

Danner testified also that Holmes was denied admission to the university because of what appeared to be "untruthful" statements about a traffic violation. Danner contended that Holmes was arrested on a speeding charge in an Atlanta suburb, but Holmes argued that the traffic charge did not constitute an arrest.

Also brought out at the hearing was the charge that white students were given blue-ribbon treatment and guided through the registration process, while the Negroes were left to their own devices and either registered too late or too early, or failed to press their applications at the right time.

The plaintiffs finally rested their case early Saturday and the defense put up their single witness, Dr. Joseph Williams, the dean of students. Dr. Williams testified on the shortage of housing facilities for women students.

Bootle gave the defense lawyers five days in which to file their briefs in the case and the plaintiffs five days to file theirs following the submission of the defense exhibits.