Story ‘For Own Aims9

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 17

Story ‘For Own Aims 9

(N.Z. Press Atm.— Copyright) * WASHINGTON, December 8. Senator Charles Percy said yesterday that a constituent of his apparently was seeking to further his own aims when ho'accused marines commanded by Mr Lyndon Johnson’s son-in-law of killing innocent South Vietnamese/ civilians, United Press International reported.

Senator Percy forwarded to the Pentagon on Thursday a letter in which Anthony Martin-Trigona, aged 24, a real estate and investment broker from Champaign, Illinois, alleged that members ofthe company commanded

by'Major Charles Robb had murdered South Vietnamese. Yesterday, Senator Percy released a copy of a letter he wrote to Mr MartinTrigona complaining of the methods Mr Martin-Trigona used to publicise his charges, and tongue-lashing him for his charges. , “I am shocked and deeply disturbed at the wf you have treated. the allegations you have made,". .Senator Percy wrote. " . . It seems clear to me that you -are less

interested in seeking justice than in seeking to achieve' some other purpose,” Senator Percy's letter continued: " - Should you succeed in your present campaign fgr state representative in Illinois, I hope you will discharge your public Ss with responsibility and ty unlike the way you have treated this matter as a private citizen. .

? ... I am especially appalled that you would capitalise on a Marine Corps officer with an unblemished prominent name with such apparent disregard and that you would use an office which belongs to the people of Illinois in what appears to be an attempt to further your own alms.” Mr Martin-Trigona spent time with Major Robb’s company while serving as a correspondent for the University of Illinois daily student news-

paper last year. He said in his letter to Senator Percy, which he asked be forwarded to the Pentagon,, that Major Robb’s marines had been ordered: “If it moves, kill it, if it doesn’t, burn it.” As a result, Mr MartinTrigona said, innocent civilians. had been killed. Major Robb denied it “Our policy, our orders and ' deeds preclude such activity,” he told a news conference. "We did not participate in any type of activity that has been asserted. Our actions were quite to the contrary. In fact, we bent over backwards to avoid inflicting casualties to innocent civilians.” In his letter to Mr MartinTrigona, Senator Percy said that his office began receiving news inquiries about his letter even before his Senate office had received it When he forwarded it to the Pentagon as requested. Senator Percy said, “I began my own investigation of the circumstances surrounding the letter, since I have never before received a letter from a constituent who has publicised his correspondence in advance." The investigation, said Senator Percy, disclosed that Mr Martin-Trigona had first released a copy to “major news services" and a columnist, Jack Anderson, r