Biography
Ralph Cobb, called Buddha by the Black Panther Party, was held through repeated jail transfers while his family tried to bring him clean clothes. The Black Panther of June 7, 1969, printed page 7, reports that at his May 16 Newark Municipal Court appearance he still wore the clothes in which he had been arrested, because he had been moved to another jail each time his family brought replacements. Judge James Del Mauro set $5,000 bail. The alleged incident was May 9; the report describes a kidnapping accusation involving a demand for a rabbi’s telephone number and address, and challenges the identifying witness’s account. The Jersey City chapter attributed the prosecution to suppression of Panther organizing and the local election campaign. These remain attributed contemporary defense claims. Repeated jail transfers and attempted family visits establish sustained custody, but the exact arrest day, formal charge wording, conviction, eventual discharge and complete time held are unreported. Source: https://washingtonareaspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1969-06-07-black-panther-vol-3-no-7.pdf#page=6
