Evening star., 1949-12-13
Aca|otti Guilty
On 0neCharge,
Cleared on0ther
News Dealer Faces
Up to Three-Yeur
Term Over Threat

AIIlllO ACdlOLIl, IIle CdQllldC-
driving news vendor who became
known as the mayor of Thomas
Circle" was convicted by a Dis
trict Court jury of six men and
six women today of attempting to
obstruct justice by threatening a
grand jury witness.
The jury deliberated only SO
minutes before finding Acalotti
pguilty Of one of two counts in an
indictment. He was charged with
threatening Miss Bernice Frank
lin, IS. the red-haired waitress
with whom he lived before she
supplied information which FORM
ed the basis of the series of gam
bling raids launched by the Dis
trict attorneys office last March.
A maximum prison sentence OF
three years and a fine of 5000
faces Acalotti as a result of the
verdict. Judge Alexander Holtzoff
ordered Acalotti. who has been at
liberty under bond. committed to
the District Jail. He said he would
impose sentence Friday without
waiting for a report from the
probation officer.
New Trial to Be Sought.
There has been no denial"
Judge Holtzof said, that he en-
gagged in gambling and bootleg
ging. He is one of the men re-
sponsible for turning a fine resi-
dental neighborhod into one of
the criminal centers of this town."
Defense Attorney Charles E.
Ford announced he would file a
motion for a new trial without
delay and told Judge Holtzoff
that in Is years of almost daily
presentation of criminal cases in
District Court, he had never par
tlclpated in a case in which the
Government was allowed more
latitude.
The count on which Acalotti
was convicted charged that he
telephoned Miss Franklin last
March and told her he would
smash her face in if she con-
tinued talking about him"
Mattresses Back Testimony.
Two mattresses, Ruth Ensor ana
Nola Andrews. testified that they
heard Acalotti make the threat.
In acquitting Acalotti of the
second count the jury indicated
it did not believe Miss Franklin's
uncorroborated story that on
March Is Acolotti told her, IF
you don't keep your mouth shut
it will be shut permanently"
Acalotti was one Of 36 men ar
rested in the series of raids that
followed Miss Franklin's dis
closures to the district attor-
ney. Three gambling indictments
against him are awaiting trial.
Judge Calls Verdict Fair.
Judge Holtzof said he Thought
the jury's verdict was fair and
just and showed very keen dis
cernment."
Mr.. Ford asked that when the
probation officer investigates AGO.
lotti, he be instructed not to ques-
tion the newsdealer about gam
bling activities because any state
ments he might make could preju-
dice his later trials.
Judge Holtzof snapped that If
any restrictions were to be placed
on the probation officer. he did
not want his report. Il am ready
to impose sentence right now" 2"
he said.
Mr.. Ford asked that Acalotti be
allowed to remain on bond pend
ing sentence. He pointed out that
Acalotti never made any attempt
to carry out his threat agains Miss
Franklin, but on the contrary had
been out with her, on a friendly
basis since she preferred charges
against him. Judge Holtzof re-
fused the request.
Hitz Opposes Concessions.
Chief Prosecutor William Hitz
said the Government opposed any
concessions to Acalotti because he
had fair trial and the defense
had been allowed wide latitude.
The jury's verdict was an
nounced by Foreman Marion R,
Dyer of 1921 Pennsylvania ave-
nue. Sc, an ordnance engineer
employed at the Navy Yard.
The case went to the jury at
11::50 am. and so minutes later
Mr.. Dyer raped on the door OF
the jury room and announced
that a verdict had been reached.
"'The offense with which he is
charged" Judge Holtzof instructed
the jury, lis a grave one because
any interference with the admin
istration of Justice affects the
fundamentals of our Government
and the public welfare"
Judge Holtzof further remind
ed the jurors that the policemen
whom Miss Franklin accused of
accepting graft from Acalotti were
not on trial. He said he per-
mitted the three. policemen who
testified yesterday to take the
stand "in fairness to them because
they had been accused" The tes-
timony, however, Judge Holtzoff
said, had no bearing on the
charges against Acalotti.
Bulletin
Parliament OF Israel
r l/ - II~