- unitid
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{"value"=>"3425329", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unittitle
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{"value"=>"Gail Madden and George Merritt"}
- bioghist
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{"value"=>"<p>In 1967, a policeman in Plainfield, New Jersey was beaten to death by a mob after shooting a Black teenager. While eleven persons were arrested only two, Madden and Merritt, were convicted. Their cases went through numerous appeals; most of their defense was based on the fact that their convictions stemmed from unreliable witness testimony. In 1980 Merritt's conviction was overturned; Madden was also released from prison sometime in the 1980s.</p>"}
- scopecontent
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{"value"=>"<p>The material collected here mostly concerns Merritt and the movement to free him from prison. This includes correspondence, flyers and mobilization materials, and legal documents.</p>"}