Evening star., 1947-10-05
0.'ereII Jury Reports
Sanding Of Il TO |,
Is Excused for Niqht
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

SANTA ANA. Calf, Oct. A.
The jury trying Louise Overell
and George (BudI Gollum for
the murder of her parents ad-
vised Judge Kenneth Morrison
tonight that it stood numerical
ly II to l, without disclosing
whether the vote was for convic-
tion or acquittal. "
Jay Porter. Orange, Calf, jury
foreman. informed the court he be-
heved the jury could reach verdict.
The jury was summoned to the
courtroom at $50 pm. (PST) Cs:3O
pm. EST by Judge Morrison after
1t had been celebrating for 26 hours.
Mr.. Porter" Judge Morrison said
i should like to ask you few ques-
tlons and would like you to answer
without divulging secrets that belong
to the jury alone. Please tell me
what the vote of the jury is numer-
lcally in the case of Mr.. Column"
Foreman Warned.
We'll, your honor" Mr.. Porter re-
piled. I'VE have been considering
the cases
At this point the court admonished
Mr.. Porter against any discussion
Of whether the jury was considering
the case of Gollum and Louise joint
ly.
Mr.. Porter explained, however, that
the vote was II to l, also in the case
of Miss Overell.
DO you believe you will be able to
reach a verdict?" asked the jurist
We hope So" answered the fore
man.
Judge Morrison then excused the
jury until $50 am. (PST) 12:30
pm. EST this morning when it will
resume deliberations.
The jury then retired to the hotel
where it was locked up for the
night.
G0llum GrinS.
Gollum grinned when the jury
made its announcement and told
newsmen
1T looks like an acquittal y"
Louise, 18-year-old heiress, was
emotionally upset and turned away
when neWsmen attempted TO inter-
view her.
Defense Counsel Otto Jacobs ex-
pressed highest optimism and said
he was confident both defendants
would be acquitted.
The jury poll marked climax in
the trial of the college sweethearts
in the yacht explosion deaths of
her parents, f1nancier and Mrs. WAL
ter E. Overell. The 19-week muir
der trial was the longest on record
in American court annals.
Courtroom Packed.
When the jury came in, the little
courtroom was still packed with
spectators who had been waiting
all day for verdict.
Four times earlier the jury had
asked for exhibits in the case The
six men and six women began delib-
erations yesterday at AIS pm
PST) 7:16 tEST.
Chief Prosecutor Eugene Williams
said of the vote: The majority must
be for conviction. I can see no other
interpretation
During the trail, the defense capi-
talized on the fact that prosecu-
tion witness, DR.. John ]. Montanus,
who conducted the original autopsy
on the bodies of the victims, ad-
mitted he gave false testimony be-
fore the grand jury.
Defense Confident.
But, as the hours passed today,
and there was no sign that the
jurors had reached a verdict, de-
fense lawyers stated privately that
they felt the State had lost it's hope
for conviction
The worst we may expect is a
hung jury" William Beirne, Col
lums counsel, told newsmen.
Special Prosecutor Eugene Will
liams declined comment except to
say I'VE must have slipped some
where if the jury doesn't convict on
the first ballot"
Gollum Plays Chess.
The 21-year-old Gollum played
chess in his Jail quarters for several
hours while his sweetheart, whose
ardor seems to have chilled since
: the jury was allowed to read the
passionate love letters they ex-
changed in jail, spent her time
pressing clothes
One juror has to summon a doc
tor for a cold serum injection to-
day, another fell and injured her
left leg last night while enroute to
the hotel, were the jury is quartered.
and the relatives of another woman
member said she would enter a hos
pital for a complete physical check
up as soon as the deliberation end.
South Africa recently selected,
hired and transported 100 Brit
ish school teachers.