Evening star., 1944-04-05
Courtroom App|auds
As Verdict CIearinq
Chaplin Is Announced
BY the Associated Press,

Chaplin Is Announced
BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, April 5.-Film
Comedian Charlie Chaplin re-
laxed today from a court ordeal
which brought his acquittal on
charges of Mann Act violation,
while Joan Berry, "a, his accuser,
shrugged off the verdict with the
comment:
Il hope he's happy. After all,
was just a witness. If the jury be-
lieved Mr.. Chaplin, that is their
business"
Chaplin's fourth wife, Oona
ONeill, exclaimed exultantly:
I'm so glad I can hardly speak
I knew he was innocent"
The 1S-year-old Oona is expecting
a child.
Chaplin Near IS.
Chaplin, who will be SIS in a week
or SO, was judged innocent late yes
terday by a Federal Court jury. The
trial, in which the Government
charged he transported Miss Berry,
his former drama pupil, to New York
and back for immoral purposes, be-
gan March 81.
Chaplin kept a firm rein on his
emotions during the tedious trial,
but came close to breaking at the
conclusion. When it was announced
that the jury was coming in with a
verdict, he placed his head in his
hands.
He didn't look up when the jury
foreman, Roscoe Reeder, an ad-
vertising man, handed the verdict
to Court Clerk Francis Cross.
1--WE find the defendant not guilty
on count one," Mr.. Cross read. Chap
lin looked up and wave of applause
swept the crowded courtroom. Fed
eral Judge j. F. T. O'Connor raped
for order and admonished the audi
ence sharply.
Chaplin Leaps Up.
WI, find the defendant not guilty
and Chaplin leaped to his feet and
clasped the hand of his attorney,
Jerry Giesler.
The jury retired at 11:02 am. and
came in at sos pm.
Later Chaplin, after submitting
to resounding series of back slaps,
said:
II believe in American justice. I've
had very fair trial"
United States Attorney Charles H.
Carr, who prosecuted the case, said
he was eminently satisfied with the
way the trial was handled. Mr..
Carr had booked airplane passage
for $50 am. today for Memphis,
Tenn, where his mother, Mrs. May
belle Landers Carr, was reported
near death from cerebral hem
orrhage.
Defense Attorney Giesler declared
the verdict was a triumph of JUS
tice." THE decision" he added,
was one thoughtfully arrived at by
a group of intelligent jurors"
Other legal matters concerning
Miss Berry still confront Chaplin.
Next Tuesday he is scheduled to ap-
pear again in Federal Court, with
six co-defendants, for ruling on
their demurrers to indictments
charging conspiracy to deprive her
of her civil rights. If the demurrers
are denied they will plead to the
charges andra. trial date will be set.
Chaplin also faces Miss Berry's
civil suit alleging he is the father
of her 6-month-old daughter, Carol
Ann.
Chaplin was accused of causing
Joank transportationato New York
in October, l942, for 3mnsoraH pur-
poses and back to HOLLYWOOD with
the same intent. The actor admit
ted supplying the tickets for the
trip East but denied that any i'm
moral acts were contemplated or
consummated. He denied fatty that
he provided the funds for the re-
turn journey, which constituted the
second count of the indictment
In all vital points Miss Berry's
testimony and that of Chaplin was
In diametric opposition.
Jury Voted Four Times.
Mr.. Reeder, the jury foreman,
said that on the first ballot five
jurors voted guilty, six innocent
and one not voting On the second
ballot, he said, three voted guilty,
eight innocent, with one withhold
Ing his ballot. The third ballot
cut the guilty vote to 2, with 10
voting innocent, and on the fourth
ballot the vote was taken which
freed the world-famous comedian
from the Mann Act charges.
On the second count, Mr. Reeder
said, the first ballot brought l vote
for guilty, II for innocent and on
the second ballot the jury agreed
on the actors acquittal.
One of the jurors, Mrs. Edythe E.
Lewis, said two women jurors had
held out for a guilty verdict in the
voting, but she declined to name
them.
TT was most friendly jury" Mrs
Lewis added, however. "It has been
a lovely association throughout"
Mr.. Reeder said the jury couldn't
decide whether Miss Berry's pres
ence in New York at the same time
as Chaplin's was coincidental.