Nation: Americus the Violent

Violence has become almost habit in the black belt when civil rights workers collide with unyielding segregationists. In Americus, Ga. (pop. 14,482), the confrontation started in 1963, and mediation efforts so far have failed. So when sudden death came one midnight last week, the only surprises were the victim's color and his disinterest in the contest.

Andrew A. Whatley Jr., 21 and white, who had enlisted in the Marine Corps only two days before, was on his way home from his job as a drive-in movie projectionist. He stopped near a crowd, including some...