Jury Exonerates Orangeburg Cops

COLUMBIA, S.C.-An all-white jury cleared nine white Highway Patrolmen Friday of liability in the shootings of three black students during the 1968 Orangeburg massacre.

The troopers were acquitted last year of violating the civil rights of the students, who were killed when police fired into a crowd of 200 students at South Carolina State College, killing three and wounding 30.

Parents of the slain students had brought civil suit against the troopers, asking a total of $300,000 damages for the death of their sons. Defense lawyers at both trials had contended that the crowd of students had hurled rocks and bottles at the police.

Sniper Fire?

The defendants also claimed that they had been the targets for some sniper fire, although some observers later denied the reports.

The shooting came in the wake of four days of racial conflict in Orangeburg, which erupted after students from the all black college attempted to integrate a downtown bowling alley.

The civil action had been brought by the parents of Delano Middleton, Henry Smith, and Samuel Hammond, each asking for $100,000.