Tipped-Off 'Bomb Scare Fails to Halt SANE Show

A previously tipped-off "bomb scare" came close but did not succeed in cancelling a "Sing Out for SANE" program last night at M.I.T.'s Kresge Auditorium.

After members of the Cambridge Police and Fire Departments combed the auditorium for bombs at about 6 p.m. Kresge manager James Murphy was ready to cancel the show, but SANE officials persuaded him to allow the performance.

The scare was tipped off at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Gabriel Kolbo, tutor in History and a member of the Greater Boston SANE executive committee, told the CRIMSON Saturday night that he had received a phone call from a man who said he was on the Cambridge police force.

According to Kolko, the man said he did not sympathize with SANE, but he could not condone the Police Department's tactics. He warned Kolko that there would be a "bomb scare" Sunday night, in an effort to prevent the SANE program, and said he would be assigned to the detail.

Kolko and other SANE officials, acting on lawyers' advice, told Lt. Bateman of the Police Department on Saturday night that they had heard about a possible Police-sponsored bomb scare on Sunday. Kolko said Bateman was "undisturbed," and told them to come back the next day, since the situation was a matter for Chief Brennan.

Sunday morning, Kolko and other SANE members again went to the Police Department, and, in the absence of Chief Brennan, talked to Lt. Patton, who, Kolko said that last night, was "most uninterested." The SANE officials left a signed, receipted request asking assurance that the meeting would not be disturbed.

Scare Becomes Reality

The predicted scare became a reality at 6 p.m. last night. Kolko was notified that the Police Department had received a bomb call, and that members of the police and fire departments were at Kresge.

Kolko arrived at Kresge slightly after 6 p.m. He said last night, "The first thing the police looked for was our entertainment license." According to Kolko, "the police practically succeeded in closing the place by intimidating the manager. Up till 7:15 p.m. the place was closed."

Murphy and assistant manager Alfred Ennis claimed they had not decided to cancel the show, but as Ennis put it. "We have to think of the safety of everyone--we wanted to make sure." They finally let the show go on, provided house lights were left on at all times and that the building was vacated by 10 p.m.

At about 8:30 p.m., Kolko's wife, selling tickets, received a call from a Cambridge Police sergeant who asked if the SANE program had been allowed to go on after all. Told that it had been, the sergeant "sounded quite displeased, and hung up," Mrs. Kolko said.

Kolko said after the show, which was without incident, that he doubted SANE would over be able to use Kresge again. Murphy said only, "It's up to the Administration."

Police Department spokesmen would not comment last night. One remarked, "See ya around fellow."