Evening star., 1949-11-27
'Snags' Lewis
Jury Dismissed
After Deadlock
Government Plans
New Trial for ID on
Gambling Charges

The gambling trial of William
(Snags) Lewis and his 13 co-de-
PENDANTS ended yesterday with .
hung jury.
The District Court jurors who
had been celebrating the case
since last Wednesday admitted at
4:40 pm, yesterday they were
"hopelessly deadlocked" and Judge
Matthew Mcclure dismissed them.
Before he sent them home, he
warned them not to reveal to any,
one how they were divided. With
the jurors mute, curbstone re-
ports on what went on behind the
closed doors of the jury room
ranged from II to one for con.
viction to 10 to two for acquittal.
With time out for meals. the
nine men and three women had
deliberated for 81 hours and S.
minutes.
New Trial Is Pledged.
Lewis. accused by the Govern
ment of directing $4,000, 900
gambling syndicate from a Mary
land headquarters, was on trial
with his co-defendants on charges
of operating a lottery and con-
spring to operate lottery in vio-
lation of District gambling laws.
The Government, with its key
case at stake, pledged itself to put
the IA on trial again as soon as
the case can be placed on the
calendar.
The faces of the jurors were
drawn with weariness and some
of the men were unshaven when
they filed into the courtroom yes
terday. 1t was at 4:40 pm. We'd
nesday that the judge put the case
in their hands after a three-week
trial.
The jurors had deliberated until
12:45 am. Thursday when the
judge excused them to go home
for Thanksgiving.
Note Sent to Judge.
On Friday. they convened at 10
am. During the day, they came
into court long enough to get the
answers to some Of the questions
puzzling them. Then they stayed
at it until 11:10 pm. when the
Judge ordered them locked up for
the night at the Continental Hotel.
i They began celebrating again
at 10 am. yesterday.
At 4:25 pm, Chief Deputy Mar
shal Charles H. Ward. jr.. ap-
peared in the door OF Judge
McGuire's chambers with . note
from the jury. The judge sent
for opposing counsel.
| At 4:40 pm, Judge MCGUIRE
came on the bench and the jurors
filed into the court room.
Telling the jury he had re-
ceived the note, the judge read it
aloud.
This jury" the note said, "is
hopelessly deadlocked and is un-
able to arrive at verdict.
Judge Mcclure asked the Jury,
"Are you hopelessly jeadlocked as
to all the defendants on both
counts or is there a possibility Of
your arriving at verdict as to the
guilt or innocence of any of the
defendants on either count?"
Deadlocked on Both Counts.
The foreman, Condor M. Flynn,
So. a General Accounting Ofi1ce
transportation expert, asked II he
should rise. The Judge nodded. 5
"Your honor" said Mr.. Flynn,
I'VE are hopelessly deadlocksd on
both counts as to all defendants."'
THAT being the situation" oh.
served the Judge, II am going to
discharge you from further con-
sideration of this case"
Then the judge, in a rare move
to insure the silence of the jurors,
began:
/ II want to make this emphatic.
You are still serving as jurors in
this court. I have to ask you to-
return at 10 am. Monday. but I
am instructing you now to tell no
person-Government or defense
counsel, newspaper reporters and
others-tell no person how you
were divided in your jury room"
Judge MCGUIRE stared at the
tired jurors. .s''s
do I make that emphatically
clear?" he asked. ut is nobody's
business"
Each of the jurors nodded.
Apparently satisfied, Judge Nc
Guire told them, II thank you for