Attica Defense Undermined By FBI Informant

The first conviction of Attica Brothers has finally happened. Attica Brothers (Dacajeweiah) John Hill and Charley Joe Pernasilice, both Native Americans, were found guilty by a state Supreme Court jury April 5th in connection with the death of prison guard William Quinn during the I971 Attica Prison rebellion.

"Dacajeweiah and Charley are the ones the state really wanted," said an Attica defense worker. "It's very convenient for them, it was the beginning of the uprising, a guard was killed and it was Rockefeller's justification for the massacre."

The assault on the prison killed 43 people and wounded 80. No state officials, prison guards, state police, sheriff deputies or National Guardsmen were indicted.

Sentencing for Dacajeweiah and Charley Joe has been postponed, however, in the wake of a confession by a 26-year-old woman who has been working on the Attica defense team. Mary Jo Cook admitted that she was paid $300 to $400 a month by the FBI to supply the Bureau with information on the Attica defense moves and on activities of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War and other activists in the Buffalo area.

Defense attorneys William Kunstler and Ramsey Clark have moved to appeal, and motions are pending.

The prosecution got its first two big convictions, but they're still not sitting pretty. An assistant special prosecutor in the trial has resigned his post in protest over an alleged "cover-up" in the investigation.

Former prosecutor Malcom Bell resigned, charging that his efforts to investigate crimes on the part of guards and other police were being blocked by state officials and chief Attica prosecutor Anthony Simonetti.

Bell's letter of resignation, which details cover-up activities, has been obtained by the New York Times. In that letter, sent to the New York State Attorney General last December, Bell charges that a full and fair investigation into the Attica rebellion would result in the indictment of law enforcement officers on murder, manslaughter. and assault charges.

To bolster Bell's charges of a cover-up, a National Guard medic who entered the prison yard just minutes after the bloody siege by troopers says he was not called as a witness in the case until two-and-a-half years later.

The medic, Dr. John Cudmore, said he was not questioned by investigators for more than 30 months despite the fact that he made public statements about the police brutality he witnessed. The Doctor says that by the time he was called, in 1974, too much time had passed to allow him to accurately identify police involved in the beatings.

Given the conviction of the first two Attica Brothers the atmosphere for upcoming trials looks grim. The defense team's financial situation is even worse.

One Attica Brother and his attorney who have been particularly close to the SUN is Jomo Qmowale. Jomo's case is scheduled to begin soon, and money is needed. You can help the defense by buying a beautiful booklet about Jomo called "Awakening of a Dragon" for $1 or a blue T-shirt with a bright gold dragon silk-screened on it, and the words, "Free the Dragons. Free All Political Prisoners" for $3. Write: Box 620, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, New York 14205. Help, in whatever way you can!