Bail!

CHICAGO, Feb. 28—The seven defendants in the Chicago Conspiracy trial were released from jail after the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Judge Hoffman’s no bond ruling.

Bond for the five defendants convicted of incitement to riot was set at $25,000 each. Dave Dellinger, Rennie Davis, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin had been sentenced by Judge Hoffman to terms of five years in prison and $5,000 fines. They were acquitted on charges of conspiracy to cross state lines to incite riots at the Democratic Convention.

John Froines and Lee Weiner were released on $15,000 bond each after being acquitted of all charges, but were jailed on contempt charges. The judge refused to grant bond stating that the accused were a “danger to the community”. The Circuit Court released the men because it saw no risk of flight to avoid prosecution.

Rubin said at a press conference following their release that they would “continue to live our lives the way we have been living them.” The Court warned that if the defendants made speeches attacking the government their bonds would be revoked and they would be returned to jail.

Related in this issue

Conspiracy: end of the circus, FE #100, March 5–18, 1970