Rowan County Courthouse

The student protestors behind the theater demonstrations denied that race relations good in Salisbury. Student spokesmen called upon the city to realize that “it has a duty to perform-the protection and the perpetuation of democratic freedom.”[1] The police arrested seventeen Livingstone Students at the Capitol Theatre demonstrations on February 28, 1962, and the students appeared in county court on March 1, 1963, after an overnight stay in the county jail. Lined inside the jury room of the courthouse, the students awaited their verdicts. Judge George Burke presided over the case and sentenced thirteen students to thirty days on road maintenance, with a stipulation that allowed the suspension of the sentence if the students paid a $25 fine. Kenneth Lee, an attorney from Greensboro, represented the students and appealed the sentences. Judge Burke set the bond for each student at $50 for each student. Judge Burke dismissed the charges against William H. Wilson, William H. Seals, Ronald J. Hill, and Matthew Arnold due to defective warrants. The students sentenced were: Louis Doueiger, Max A. Yoder, Charles F. Keyes, Richard G. Stewart, Vaughn Eason, James M. Boger, Charles E. Quick, Edward Saxon, Henry H. Melvin, Gordon R. Coleman, Sherman Lewis, James Johnson, and Georgie Maize. Following the trial, Bishop Raymond L. Jones and his wife Mabel M. Jones paid the bonds for each student.[2]

[1] “Student Spokesman Says Demonstrations to Continue,” Salisbury Post, 27 February 1962, Rowan County Public Library, Edith Clark Reading Room.

[2] “Thirteen Negroes Convicted Here.” Salisbury Post. 1 March 196, Rowan County Public Library, Edith Clark Reading Room

Salisbury All-American City Booklet. 1961. Livingstone College Archive and Collections.

“Trial Set Tomorrow.” Salisbury Post. 28 February 1962. Rowan County Public Library, Edith   Clark Reading Room.