dictionary

Robertson faces charges stemming from a 1969 shooting death of an African American woman

YORK, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- A Pennsylvania mayor and eight other defendants pleaded innocent Monday to the fatal shooting of an African American woman in a 1969 race riot.

Mayor Charlie Robertson and William Ritter were the only defendants to appear in Common Pleas Court on Monday, said Terry Baker, a court administrator.

The brief hearing involved a formal reading of the murder and conspiracy charges and the defendants were advised of their pre-trial rights, Baker said.

The other defendants waived their right to appear at the arraignment. All nine pleaded innocent.

VIDEO York, Pennsylvania, newspaper editor J.P. Kurish talks with CNN's Daryn Kagan about the Robertson arraignment Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     LEGAL RESOURCES Latest Legal News Law Library FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topic Bankruptcy Discrimination Divorce Estate Planning Landlord-Tenant Personal Injury Taxes   RESOURCES Criminal complaint: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Robertson  FindLaw document Message Board: The state of race relations

Robertson and seven of his co-defendants are free on bail. The other man is serving a prison term for an unrelated conviction.

The charges stem from the July 21, 1969, death of Lillie Belle Allen, a 27-year-old preacher's daughter from South Carolina who was visiting relatives when she was gunned down by a white mob on the fourth night of racial disturbances.

Robertson was a police officer in York in 1969. He is accused of handing out ammunition to a group of whites and encouraging them to kill blacks.

Robertson has admitted shouting "white power" at a rally the night before the killing, but denied all other allegations.

Ten days of rioting began after a white gang member shot and wounded a young black man in the city 85 miles west of Philadelphia. The riots also claimed the life of a white police officer, Henry Schaad.

The next hearing for the defendants was scheduled for September 24, Baker said, when the judge will handle any pre-trial motions made by the prosecution and defense.