thing that went on in the bar. He was also charged with disorderly conduct and was among those discharged. A lawsuit on his behalf is being filed against the Sheriff. The Apartment Raid
On Sunday, May 2, 1964, E. Chicago Av. District vice detectives raided a 'sex party" at 20 E. Goethe St. in the Gold Coast area. The party allegedly was in two adjoining apartments. 58 persons were arrested in the raid, including 8 women. 4 of the men were charged with operating a disorderly house and the others with being inmates. Narcotics were allegedly found in the apartment along with liquor bottles, empty and full. 2 minors were at the apartment. When the trial was held May 19th, Judge Nathan Cohen freed 52 of the defendants for lack of evidence, and the 2 16 year old minors testified for the state.
Freedom of the Press
The way in which the four Chicago newspapers conducted themselves and abused the citizens involved in the two incidents is appalling. It may have seemed like a Roman holiday to the press. Three of the papers gave headlines. to the bar raid. Two carried pictures of the defendants on their front pages and a 3rd carried pictures on an inside page. All papers played up the news that the defendants were arrested in a "vice den," a sex deviates' "hangout," and that narcotics were found and that some of the defendants had lipstick and wore wigs. No evidence of this type was indicated at the trial. Actually, the charge, which none of the newspapers reported until much later (and on inside pages) was merely that of being in a place where disorderly
conduct was taking place. Not one person was charged with lewd conduct or with being in drag, or with committing a homosexual act, or with taking narcotics. The owner-operator had a doctor's prescription for the Dexedrine in his possession.
Who Then Speaks The Truth?
There were a few brave souls who did not let the newspapers and the police get away with such behavior. Chicago atty., Paul R. Goldman who appeared with ONE's Dorr Legg on the TV show "Off the Cuff," and who acted for the defendants, wrote a letter which most of the newspapers later printed which said in part, "I cannot help but call to the public's attention what I consider to be a most deplorable type of publicity these unfortunate people experienced. As a result, they were tried by the press and the general public of our city with never an opportunity to answer the accusations.
"There were many many important people with responsible jobs involved in this affair. With just one exception, each and everyone of the teachers lost their jobs; and then we have a finding of 'not guilty' with no attendant publicity.
"We question the outrageous behavior of certain public officials who, for the sake of publicity, efected the arrest of this group."
In a letter to ONE Mr. Goldman also said, "I have practiced law in Chicago for over 35 years. I will say that in all my experience I have never seen as meager a presentation as in the instant matter. I will further say that it was the opinion of the 10 lawyers present that the so-called raid was motivated by something completely beyond what was revealed by the evidence."'
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