Six Harvard and Radcliffe students were convicted of disturbing the peace and fined $200 each in Middlesex Third District Court yesterday.
The six had been arrested two weeks ago while posting notices for an SDS anti-war march.
At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Edward M. Viola said, "I'm going to find them guilty. I don't think you can convince me," and he imposed the maximum fines. He dismissed other charges of idle and disorderly conduct and defacing scenery.
Two University policemen testified that they had seen a number of notices around the University area, but admitted that they had not seen them placed. They stated that they had followed the six throughout the early morning, and that they were present at their arrest at 4 a.m. October 2 in front of Claverly Hall.
The Cambridge police made the formal arrest.
Two residents of Claverly, Arthur S. Anderson '71 and Peter L. Collins '71, told the Court that they had not been roused by what Officer Graham of the Cambridge police termed a "serious disorder."
"At that time of the morning," Graham noted, "even a whisper disturbs the peace."
The fined students are Jon Berman '70, Lowry Hemhill '72. Peter K. Knapp, a third year graduate student, Jon Levinson '73, Van McGee '71, and Ellen Messing '72. All identified themselves as members of Harvard-Radcliffe SDS, and said they will appeal.
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