Mr. ADLERMAN. Thank you. (A brief recess was taken.) Senator CURTIS. The committee will come to order and I will insert in the record the statement signed by the chairman and the ranking minority member bearing this date, and also the statement of the chairman appointing the junior Senator from Nebraska as acting chairman for the purpose of the hearing. (The documents follow :) Hon. CARL T. CURTIS, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, DEAR SENATOR CURTIS: I hereby appoint you as Acting Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to conduct hearings in open session on October 8, 1968, during my absence from the hearings. Sincerely yours, JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Chairman. OCTOBER 8, 1968. Pursuant to Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure which was amended by the Committee on Government Operations for its Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on June 3, 1965, and re-affirmed on January 22, 1968, permission is hereby granted for the Acting Chairman (Senator Curtis) to conduct hearings in open session without a quorum of two members for the purpose of taking testimony in the matter of O.E.O. funds used to finance gang structures in Wilmington, Delaware, under the so-called WYEAC Program, on October 8, 1968, during the absence of the Chairman, Senator McClellan. JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Mr. ADLERMAN. Mr. Wassmer? Chairman. KARL E. MUNDT, Ranking Minority Member. Captain Buckmaster, we will take you ahead of Mr. Wassmer. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Captain BUCK MASTER. I do. Senator CURTIS. You may proceed. TESTIMONY OF CAPT. THOMAS F. BUCKMASTER Mr. ADLERMAN. What is your position? Captain BUCKMASTER. I am captain of the Delaware State Police, director of the criminal investigation division. Mr. ADLERMAN. You are director of the criminal investigation division? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. Mr. ADLERMAN. Of the Delaware State Police? Captain BUCKMASTER. That is correct. Mr. ADLERMAN. Do you have a statement that you would like to read into the record? Captain BUCKMASTER. I do, sir. Senator CURTIS. This letter came from the files? Captain BUCKMASTER. That is correct; addressed to Captain Bullen. Senator CURTIS. It may be printed in the record. (Letter referred to follows:) City of Chicago/Department of Police 1121 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605 WAbash 2-4747. Information provided by Lt. Joseph A. Delloso, City Solicitor's Office to Lt. John Van Sant, Delaware State Police Intelligence Squad on Wednesday 12/13/67, 10:00 a.m. Dear Sir, This Division is presently conducting an investigation of a meeting which was held in this City on November 10, 11 & 12, 1967. This was a closed meeting and was conducted at the "First Presbyterian Church", 6400 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago, Illinois. The Rev. John Richard Fry is the Pastor of this Church. Mr. Fry is a Religious advisor to a teen-age gang known as the Blackstone Rangers. He is a Male White and was born December 12, 1933. This meeting was held under the auspices of the "National Council of Churches", headed by a Dr. Merrill Jackson, who was the supposed organizer of the meeting. Dr. Jackson is reported to be connected with the "Social Change Project", 210 McKerhey Bldg., 2631 Woodward Street, Detroit, Michigan. The theme of the meeting was "Church Policy from Caste to Black Nation". This meeting was attended by approximately 75 persons from various parts of the country. It is respectfully requested that any information which you may have relative to the below listed persons, who attended this meeting, be forwarded to this Division. Mr. George Brown, Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council. Please be assured of our cooperation on all matters of mutual interest. Signed: William J. Duffy Typed: Captain William J. Duffy, Director, Intelligence Division." Mr. ADLERMAN. Captain, do you consider the situation in Wilming ton to be a potentially explosive situation? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir; I do. Mr. ADLERMAN. For what reason? Captain BUCKMASTER. There seems to be between the various gangs a power struggle. WYEAC at the present time, or did have, the purse string, and there would seem to be a power struggle for the purse string. Mr. ADLERMAN. Is it true that contributing to this situation is the fact that there seems to be quite a lot of weapons at present among these gangs? Captain BUCKMASTER. This is our information, sir. Mr. ADLERMAN. You heard the testimony a little while ago of the amount of ammunition and guns and so forth discovered by the State police? Naturally, the State policemen in the city would certainly move in to apprehend the perpetrator of a crime if they spotted one in the process of being committed, but their main purpose, together with the Guard, is to prevent riots of the type that occurred in July of 1967 and April of 1968. Together, they cost more than $1 million in property damage to the people of the city of Wilmington, and they struck fear into thousands of citizens of all races and creeds and backgrounds. It was after the second such riot that Governor Terry determined that it must not be permitted to happen again, and as a consequence made the difficult decision to have the patrols in the city, despite considerable opposition, from April to September, at which time nearly every official came to agree with his action in the matter. While the Guard units are small in number, they could be supplemented quickly by both State police and other Guard units on duty in the Wilmington Armory, should the need arise. Despite this stepped up security within the city, the statistics show a general rise in the crime rate, especially since the funding of WYEAC. Felonious crimes, such as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, also aggravated assault, simple assault, and the carrying of deadly weapons, have climbed in their totality from 1,734 during the first 8 months of 1967 to 2,019 during the same period in 1968. These statistics tend to confirm the conviction of top governmental leaders and law enforcement officials in Delaware that crime is a direct result of idleness. There are many jobs available in Delaware, and in Wilmington, since ours is one of the most prosperous States in the Nation, with a very high per capita income and a very low rate of unemployment. What unemployment there is could quickly be eliminated if those out of work would accept the jobs that are available, many of them excellent in terms of pay, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement. There is also much opportunity in Delaware for those without special skills to acquire them through many private and State-sponsored programs of training. Senator CURTIS. Is it your contention that WYEAC has successfully funneled people into useful employment? Captain BUCKMASTER. Not to my knowledge, sir. I don't know of any programs, of my own knowledge, that they have set forth. Senator CURTIS. Proceed. Captain BUCKMASTER. Burglary and larceny are not included in the crimes I have statistically mentioned above, but these, too, are on the increase. These are crimes seldom committed by men who work for a living, and who budget their expenditures accordingly. But those who don't work, and who receive an income, even so are fertile ground for such crimes, since they have time on their hands, and soon learn to live beyond what is given them. We therefore believe that WYEAC has contributed very little, if anything, toward positive, productive results in the community of Wilmington. On the contrary, there is evidence that its members have been responsible for several incidents of lawlessness and unruliness, and, in some instances, outright violence. Senator CURTIS. In reference to the statistics that you cite at the bottom of page 2, do you have a breakdown on those? About how many of those have been unlawful deaths, either murder or manslaughter? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. If you will bear with me for a minute, Mr. Chairman? For the first 7 months, January through July, of 1968, and I will compare 1968 statistics with 1967, on murder, there were 10 in 1968, as compared to five in 1967. Mr. ADLERMAN. This is for a 7-month period, from January to July! Manslaughter, five in 1968, as compared to two in 1967. Robbery, 219 in 1968, as compared to 109 in 1967. Aggravated assault, 47 in 1968, as compared to 21 in 1967. Simple assault, 1,303, as compared to 1,272 in 1967. Weapon violations, 138 in 1968, as compared to 100 in 1967. Senator CURTIS. Now, when did WYEAC start to put out money! Captain BUCKMASTER. I believe it was in October 1966. Mr. ADLERMAN. Captain, are you familiar with the fact that there were certain meetings in Philadelphia? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. Mr. ADLERMAN. Will you describe these meetings? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. Our State police intelligence has brought to light the fact that the third annual black power conference was held in Philadelphia from August 29, 1968, until September 1, 1968. Mr. ADLERMAN. This is in Philadelphia? Mr. ADLERMAN. Do you have any evidence that the WYEAC people attended this conference? Captain BUCK MASTER. Yes, sir. At 18th and Diamond Streets, where this conference was held, four vehicles bearing Delaware registration were parked at that location. the first being PC-15526, which is a 1968 Chevrolet station wagon and according to the Delaware Motor Vehicle Department, it is registered to D. L. Peterson and S. Thompson, 1301 North Harrison Street, Wilmington, Del. The second vehicle is PC-31969. It is likewise a 1968 Chevrolet station wagon, registered to D. L. Peterson and Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council, 1410 King Street, Wilmington, Del. The third one is PC-31971, a 1968 Chevrolet station wagon, registered to D. L. Peterson and Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council, 1410 King Street, Wilmington, Del. The fourth vehicle is PC-44542, a 1968 Chevrolet station wagon, reg istered to D. L. Peterson and Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council, 1410 King Street, Wilmington, Del. Mr. ADLERMAN. Are they known as WYEAC vans? Captain BUCKMASTER. That is correct. Mr. ADLERMAN. They were placed at the point where the conference was held, the black power conference was held? Captain BUCKMASTER. They were there on August 30, 1968, at 10:45 a.m. Mr. ADLERMAN. Was this a secret meeting? Captain BUCKMASTER. This was closed to the press, a closed meeting. Mr. ADLERMAN. This is a militant black power meeting? Captain BUCKMASTER. That is the police intelligence we have gathered. Senator CURTIS. What building did they meet in? Captain BUCKMASTER. They met in the Church of the Advocate, Church and Diamond Streets. Senator CURTIS. Church of the Advocate? The registration for that conference was $10. Mr. ADLERMAN. Captain, are you also familiar with the meetings that were held in Chicago at which some WYEAC members attended? Captain BUCKMASTER. I am, sir. Mr. ADLERMAN. Will you tell us the circumstances of these meetings? Captain BUCKMASTER. Back on December 5, 1967, we were advised by correspondence, by the director of the intelligence division of the department of police in the city of Chicago, a Capt. William J. Duffy, that there had been a meeting conducted at the First Presbyterian Church, 6400 South Kimbark Avenue, Chicago, Ill. At that time, the persons who attended this meeting were Mr. George Brown, Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council; Mr. Edward Butler, Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council; and Mr. Charles Miller, Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council. Mr. ADLERMAN. Where was this meeting held? Captain BUCKMASTER. It was a closed meeting that was conducted at the First Presbyterian Church, 6400 South Kimbark Avenue, in Chicago, Ill. Mr. ADLERMAN. Is that one of the headquarters of the Blackstone Rangers? Captain BUCKMASTER. This was the information we received from the intelligence division of Chicago. Mr. ADLERMAN. The pastor of this church was Reverend Fry? Senator CURTIS. Did this Captain Duffy report that this meeting was held under the auspices of the National Council of Churches? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. It was headed by Dr. Merrill Jackson, who was the supposed organizer of the meeting. Senator CURTIS. Your information on this meeting is based upon a written report from Captain Duffy? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. Mr. ADLERMAN. I would like to have that in the record. Senator CURTIS. First, will you identify the letter as the one that came into your possession? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. Senator CURTIS. To whom is it addressed? Captain BUCKMASTER. It is addressed to Captain George A. Bullen, Jr., director of our intelligence law enforcement, Delaware State police. Senator CURTIS. He still is the director? Captain BUCKMASTER. Yes, sir. Senator CURTIS. What is your relationship with that? Captain BUCKMASTER. I am the director of the criminal investigation division. There are two divisions established within the department of the Delaware State police. |