Evening star., 1961-03-24
BY JERRY O'LEARY, Jr.
Star staff Writer

star starr writer
BALTIMORE, Md, Mar. "a
What actually goes on in a jury
room when IL citizens retire to
deliberate on the fate Of one
human being?
Thousands Of viewers in the
Baltimore area found out on
q televiSion show Wednesday
night from a real live jury, and
the program has opened sew
eral unexpected fields of legal
thought. For instance:
Were the rights of Melvin D.
Rees jr., who was convicted Of
kidnapping and Staying Mrs.
Mildred Jackson and her
daughter Susan Anne, S, in
fringed when nine. of the IL
men who found him guilty ap-
peared on TV to re-enact their
deliberations?
Is there any reason why petit
Jurors-as opposed to grand
jurors - should not be inter-
viewed by press, radio or TV
representatives after they have
served in a particularly sensa-
tional case?
Inquiry Confirmed
Part Of the answer may come
next week when the dust set
ties from the television scoop
of television station WBAL-TV
(Channel ID here in securing
the services of the ReeS jury
for a special show.
Edward ]. Powers, special
agent in charge of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation here,
confirmed today that an in
quiry of the hour long telecast
was under way.
The investigation was or
dered by the Department of
Justice to determine whether
the telecast violated Federal
laws concerning the obstruc-
ton Of justice, q spokesman
said.
Rees' sentencing by Federal
Judge Roszel c. Thomson was
postponed dramatically yester-
day when defense attorney Will
liam J. ODonnell cited the
show in asking for a delay in
imposition of the penalty.
After Mr.. O'Donnell claimed
the jurors had discussed on the
air waves elements Of the case
that were not in evidence,
Judge Thomson, apparently
aroused by the unprecedented
television effort, granted a
reasonable" delay.
The station agreed to run off
q private showing for attor-
neys on both sides in the Rees
trial next Monday. Judge
Thomson said he had no COM
ment when asked if he would
attend the special showing. Re-
porters were told the jurist
had seen most of it himself the
night before. He got a call
from his secretary telling him
nine Of the IL discharged
jurors we're re-enaeting their
deliberations on the air.
Previously taped
Reporters requested, and got,
4 look at the show themselves
ate yesterday at the television
stations studios. First, they
were told, the station tried to
build up an audience by a |
series of teaSer announcements
all day Tuesday. Viewers were
urged to tune in at 10 pm.
for a special program, the like
Of which had never been seen
before.
Then, at 10 o'clock, the pro-
gram taped previously went on
the air. Station manager Brent
Cunts launched the special by |
telling the viewers what they
were about to see couldn't hap
pen in Russia.
Then announcer Rolf Herts-
gard, somewhat in the man
ner Of a younger Ed Murrow,
told the audience it was about
to see and hear what goes on i
in a jury room. Viewers would
see nine Of the IL Rees jurors,
he said. in "the greatest drama
Of American justice-trial by
jury"
Gathered at Table
Inc lights were turned up a
uifle and the screen showed
the nine Maryland men seated
around a long table. equipped
with note pads, carafes of
water and drinking glasses.
Foreman Charles A. Conner
was presiding. Flanking him
were Jurors Samuel j. Aiken,
F. Patrick Duggan, Harry L. |
Carver, Milbourne Hull,
AZ Al 4