Key suspect in 1964 Mississippi killings planning to appear at a fair

Visitors to next month's Mississippi State Fair may gawk at their reflections in the Fun House, witness the Mississippi State Championship Mule Pull or shake hands with the key suspect in the Klan's 1964 killings of three civil rights workers. Learned lawyer Richard Barrett, who heads the white supremacist organization known as the Nationalist Movement, said Edgar Ray Killen has agreed to make an appearance at his organization's booth in the Agricultural Building. Barrett plans to gather signatures there in support of Killen, who is under investigation but has never faced state murder charges in the June 21, 1964, deaths of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. "He can possibly sign autographs and meet the crowd," said Barrett, whose booth will be between those for the secretary of state's office and the Mississippi Library Commission. Killen could not be reached for comment. Killen was among 18 Mississippi men who went on trial in 1967 on federal conspiracy charges. Testimony described Killen as the Klan leader who coordinated the details of the killings that night -- testimony Killen says is a lie because he's innocent.The all-white jury convicted seven, but deadlocked 11-1 in favor of Killen's guilt. Jurors say the lone holdout said she could "never convict a preacher." [more ]