NEWS CONFERENCE 823

mute. There isn't any other comment than that and I guess there
can't be because I don't believe there has been any more of the in-
vestigation revealed than that. But in the interest of making a more
objective appraisal of what took place I feel constrained to release
this much information: The man who was shot had a criminal record
and had in fact served time after a conviction for breaking and enter-
ing and burglary on two occasions. In addition to that, in his posses-
sion was found a stolen check in his billfold. I say this because it
can't be prejudicial as this man is not on trial for anything, and be-
cause I think it's essential to quiet the rumors that have been cir-
culating — some of which were mentioned to me by the students from
Princess Anne, who had a totally erroneous concept of what took
place. The students had heard a story that at the time of his shooting
the man was handcuffed. This is not true. So this much clarification I
hope will restore a little balance to what took place, and I don't want
this to be construed as a defense of the police officer. I don't find as
a matter of fact that he was justified in taking the action that he did.
I think that will have to wait the results of the total investigation.

Questions and Answers

Q. Governor, you seem to be familiar with this. How would the

police interrogate a deaf mute?

A. No further comment than what I have made.

(Poor People's March)

Q. Governor, on another matter of race relations: Have Marylanders
been concerned about the Poor People's March in Washington?

A. Well, I don't know because very frankly I've been involved with
so many local problems — not just racial problems, but general local
problems — that I haven't had much of an opportunity to discuss the
Poor People's March in any depth with many people.

Q. Is it fair to say that people have not made their concern known
to you?

A. I have not received, to my knowledge, a great amount of mail on
this subject. I have not received any mail that's been addressed to me
personally on this subject.

(Local Negro Leadership)

Q. Governor, following last month's meeting with Negro leaders in
Baltimore, you said something to the effect that it might be necessary
to find some new Negro leaders. Are you in the process of trying to do
this?