July 2, 1963 - The Hinds County, Miss., grand jury indicted Byron de la Beckwith (pictured) today for the murder of Medgar Evers, Negro civil rights leader. Mr. Beckwith was informed of the indictment in his jail cell in Jackson. The arraignment was scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow before Circuit Court Judge Leon Hendrick. Mr. Evers, field secretary for the NAACP, was shot in the back the morning of June 12. Evidence against Mr. Beckwith, a 42-year-old fertilizer salesman, was presented to the 18-member grand jury in secret session this morning. One Negro was on the jury. Mr. Beckwith was arrested in his hometown, Greenwood, two weeks ago. He was charged by the Jackson City police with the slaying of Mr. Evers after the FBI traced a rifle fingerprint to Mr. Beckwith.
