Atlanta Daily World

COLONEL
DAVIS
IS TO
SIT
ON TRIAL
BOARD

By ERNEST E. JOHNSON

WASHINGTON (ANP) - The three flying officers who had been held under arrest in the Freeman field incident of last April are scheduled to go on trial before a military court-martial at Godman Field, Ky., on Monday, according to an announcement of the War Department made here last Wednesday.

The officers involved in the original mass arrest which later saw the others released are 2nd Lieuts Roger C. Terry, Marsden A. Thompson, both of Los Angeles, and Shirley R Clinton of Camden, N. J.

DAVIS ON BOARD

Col. Benjamin O Davis, Jr, who now commands the group, is one of the 10 officers detailed by Maj. Gen Frank O'Driscoll Hunter, commanding general of the first air force, to hear the charges and to reach a verdict.

The charges which were preferred by Col. Robert R. Selway Jr deposed commanding officer of the 477th Composite group, arose over the use of certain officers club facilities. All three officers are charged with violating the 64th article of war by refusing to obey the order of a superior officer not to enter the "white" officers' club and mess and by pushing aside the officer.

In addition, Lts. Clinton and Thompson are charged with violating the 68th article of war by refusing to obey when they were ordered into arrest at the time of this occurrence.

A common trial was ordered for these two officers on both charges.

WILL BE REVIEWED

A spokesman for the war department pointed out that whereas the courtmartial is obligated to hear all that may be offered in the case, they may consider only the plain fact of the charges without regard
(Continued on Page 4, Col. 1)

NAACP Lawyer To
Aid Three Airmen

WASHINGTON- (ANP)- Theodore M. Berry. president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP was to join counsel for the defense in the trial of the three Negro flying officers which opened at Godman Field Ky., Monday morning, it was learned here.

Shortly after the return of Leslie Perry, legislative representative of the association. from Freeman field Ind.. in April immediately following the incident. it was announced that William H. Hastie, chairman of the legal committee, and Berry would represent the men. The announcement by the war department last Wednesday named two military men as defense counsel also.
Colonel Davis
(Continued from Page 1)
to extenuating circumstances. Following the decision of the court-martial, however, if it is adverse ,it
may go to higher authority within the department for purposes of
review.
First Lieut. William Robert Ming.
JAG, of Chicago, a former assistant
attorney general for the state of
Illinois, will be the law member of
the court. He is a graduate of the
University. of Chicago Law school
and member of the Order of Coif
national honorary legal society. Lt.
Ming was designated base legal
officer for Godman -field on June
22nd.
Other officers, of -the court are
Capts. George L. Knox, James T.
Wiley. John H. Duren. Charles R.
Stanton. William T. Yates, Elmore
Kennedy. Fitzroy Newsum and Ist
Lieut. James Y. Carter.
Capts. James W. Redden and Ist
Lt. Charles R. Hall have been detailed as trial judge advocates and
Capt. Cassius A. Harris III and
2nd Lt. William T. Coleman Jr. as
defense counsel.