SHOOTING OF U.S. CONGRESSMEN

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 10

SHOOTING OF U.S. CONGRESSMEN

FOUR PUERTO RICANS FACE JURY

■(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 3. Three Congressmen told a Federal Court jury today how the House of 'Representatives was thrown into pandemonium when four Puerto Ricans mot down five members in a murderous. attack last March. Mr Kenneth Roberts (Democrat, Alabama), Mr Usher Burdick (Republican, New Jersey),' and Mr Paul Shafer (Republican, Michigan) were called as witnesses as the four nationalist fanMics went on trial for assault with intent to kill. Mr Roberts, wearing a brace on his wounded left leg, hobbled to the witness stand on crutches and told how one of the 25 bullets struck him just as a neighbouring Congressman was remarking that “somebody’s shooting firecrackers.” The four other Congressmen who, like Mr Roberts, were cut down by the fusillade will be witnesses later. Extraordinary precautions were taken as the defendants—Lolita Lebron, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodriquez—were brought into Court. All spectators were searched for weapons, and the Judge requested reporters not to print the names of the jurors. 'Hie fiery Miss Lebron, flag-waving leader of the group, once tried to speak to the jury, but was pulled back to her chair by defence attorneys and a Court official.