Imprisoned Press
Date: 17 November 1972
ed on jailing of reporter W T Farr (Los Angeles Times) for refusing to disclose source of news story about C Manson murders holds effect of sentence is to twist rules adopted by Amer Bar Assn; assn 3 yrs ago approved new code empowering judges to prohibit attys from releasing information about criminal cases outside courtroom; stresses that rules were intended solely to govern conduct of witnesses, atty and officers of ct and not to limit freedom of newsmen
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Scholar Seeks to Limit Pentagon Papers Queries
Date: 17 November 1972
By ROBERT REINHOLDSpecial to The New York Times
Prof S L Popkin, who faces jail for contempt of ct, stipulates on Nov 16 that he will answer grand jury questions on release of Pentagon papers under assumption that they will deal only with conversations with his fellow scholars; contends that Fed Govt has said it was not asking him to name sensitive confidential sources; Popkin's atty D Klubock says that as for question of Popkin giving testimony on Ellsberg, it will depend on whether Popkin considers him scholar or sensitive source
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POPKIN LOSES PLEA IN CONTEMPT CASE; Appeals Court Rejects Plan for Limiting Testimony
Date: 18 November 1972
US Ct of Appeals on Nov 17 rejects limited agreement offered by Prof S Popkin by which he would answer questions before grand jury investigating disclosure of Pentagon papers that do not compromise his confidential sources; ct says it will not accept stipulations which might incur possibility that it has agreed to conditions or limitations for future; Popkin is required to file stipulation to answer questions by Nov 20 or ct may affirm contempt citation; declines to comment on what he will do
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Protecting News Sources
Date: 17 November 1972
FREDRICK E. SHERMAN
Fredrick SHERMAN
F E Sherman lr on recent US Sup Ct decision that denied reporters right to protect confidential sources notes Wisconsin Univ newspaper editor M Knops was jailed by Wisconsin ct for failure to respond to grand jury questions on bombing of Army Math Research Center on campus
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U.N. Defers Press Issue
Date: 17 November 1972
Special to The New York Times
UN Gen Assembly on Nov 16 defers until '73 consideration of draft convention for protection of journalists working in areas of armed conflict
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MESKILL SCORES TALK OF 'PRESS PRIVILEGE'
Date: 17 November 1972
Special to The New York Times
Conn Gov Meskill asserts on Nov 15 that there is 'serious talk' of law that would give newsmen same right of privileged communications now enjoyed by clergymen, doctors and attys; state Sen L B Rome says bill proposing such a law could reach Conn Gen Assembly floor in '73, although support does not appear to be widespread currently; Meskill says that right of privileged communications is 'being claimed with increasing frequency by as unlikely a group to deserve it as any nightmare could conjure up'
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British Dispute Over Thalidomide Cases Intensifies
Date: 18 November 1972
By ALVIN SHUSTERSpecial to The New York Times
Article on suit against Distillers Co Ltd, GB, by families of children who were born more than 10 yrs ago with severe birth defects because their mothers took thalidomide, drug which was mfd by co for use by pregnant women; co, which has repeatedly denied negligence, has come under increasing attack from thalidomide families, MPs and press; settled with 60 families in '68 for total of about $2.4-million; 390 cases remain unresolved; state of negotiations between co and families is in state of confusion; co's last known offer was to set up trust of $7,700,000, which would mean avg of $19,000 per family; offer hinges on all families signing agreement withdrawing charges of negligence; several families refused, saying they want to pursue legal means; MPs, lead by J Ashley, have called on Govt to establish fund for children; Prime Min Heath says he will consider idea of thalidomide foundation, but will have to wait until legal talks between co and parents are concluded; some families are receiving help from number of stockholders in Distillers; dispute has also raised questions involving freedom of press; 3 High Ct judges on Nov 17 bar The London Sunday Times from publishing article, in preparation for 5 yrs, detailing 'how tragedy occurred'; newspaper has been in forefront of press in recent wks in describing unsettled claims as 'cause for natl shame'; Distillers argues that articles represent contempt of ct because of pending litigation with thalidomide families; ct charges that intention of articles is to arouse public opinion so that children will get higher settlements than they might otherwise; illus of thalidomide child
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Trial Date to Be Set
Date: 17 November 1972
US Dist Judge W M Byrne says on Nov 16 that attys will meet on Nov 21 to fix starting date for trial of D Ellsberg for theft of Pentagon papers
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NEWSMAN JAILED OVER SOURCE DATA; But He Is Freed in Dispute Over Disclosure on Trial
Date: 17 November 1972
By ROBERT A. WRIGHTSpecial to The New York Times
Robert WRIGHTSpecial
Superior Ct Judge C H Older on Nov 16 sends reporter W T Farr (Los Angeles Times), formerly reporter from Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, to jail for indefinite term for refusing to disclose sources for news article on C Manson murder case; about 3 1/2 hrs after Farr enters courthouse he is released on his own recognizance by state appeals ct, which agrees to rule on petition to free him; Farr's atty M Hurwitz contends that ct no longer has jurisdiction because statute of limitations has run out; says that in 1st confrontation in Older's chambers, on eve of article's pub, Older acknowledged that under Calif law Farr was not obliged to reveal his sources
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Issue of Saigon Newspaper Seized Over Nixon Cartoon
Date: 18 November 1972
Saigon Govt seizes Nov 17 issues of daily Trang Den for printing cartoon critical of Nixon on peace issue
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