Archibald Cox Says Justice Dept. Is Keeping Watch on Perdew Case; Fund Launches Campaign Tonight

Solicitor General Archibald Cox yesterday assured University officials that the Justice Department is keeping close watch on the case of John W. Perdew '64 and other civil rights workers now serving their third month in a Georgia prison for integration activities.

Cox said that the Justice Department is examining the constitutional and jurisdictional questions involved with a view toward possibly entering the case.

In Cambridge to attend the Board of Overseers meeting, Cox spoke briefly at an informal meeting of officers interested in the cases of Perdew and Fred C. Wallace 3L, now under indictment for felonious assault in Prince Edward County, Va.

No Lack of Interest

Charles O. Taylor, Master of Kirkland House, said last night that after hearing Cox he was "satisfied that there is no lack of interest in the Justice Department in these cases."

In another development, the John W. Perdew Fund will launch a door-to-door campaign tonight to raise money for Perdew's legal defense. Dean Monro last night called the fund drive "extremely important," since he and other observers are convinced Georgia officials are determined to convict Perdew and the other students.

Example for Outsiders

Monro said that while the students do not realistically face a death sentence for incitement to insurrection, officials will try to make an example of them as a warning to "outsiders" who participate in integration campaigns in the South.

Money collected by the Perdew Fund will be used to engage the best counsel available for Perdew, Monro said. He added that he was not criticizing the NAACP Legal Defense Fund which has been handling the case. But he noted that that organization has many cases to deal with, and might not be able to give each individual case the attention it requires for successful defense.

The goal of the fund drive, which will continue for at least a week, is $5,000, Howard L. Schecter, chairman of the campaign, said last night. Schecter said explanatory literature will be distributed tonight and tomorrow in the dining halls, and solicitations will be made in person by House captains and their assistants.

Students will also be asked to sign a petition to Gov. Carl Sanders of Georgia calling his attention to the case. In addition, students will be urged to write to their Congressmen to publicize the case, Schecter said.