James Stern of Jackson, Miss., shows documents that allege reputed Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen gave him power of attorney while they were cellmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary and he has taken control of 40 acres of Killen’s land, at a news conference in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, June 14, 2012. Killen’s lawyer says the man has no right to the property. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A black man says Edgar Ray Killen, a reputed Ku Klux Klan leader imprisoned for three civil rights workers’ deaths in Mississippi, gave him a power of attorney and land rights when they shared a prison cell.
Former cellmate James Stern said at a news conference Thursday that he also owns book and movie rights to Killen’s life story. Stern said he transferred 40 acres of Killen’s land last month to a nonprofit under his control.
Killen’s lawyer, Robert Ratliff, says Killen denies signing over anything to Stern.
Ratliff says he’ll defend Killen’s property rights because he’s 87, has a brain injury and people try to exploit him or profit from being associated with him.
Killen is serving 60 years in prison for manslaughter in the 1964 deaths.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
