Mitchell and Stans acquitted by jury

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 13

Mitchell and Stans acquitted by jury

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK. April 29. Cheers and boos mingled on the steps of the Federal Court building in New \ ork yesterday when two of President Nixon’s former Cabinet officers. John Mitchell and Mr Maurice Stans, walked out after their acquittal, by a jury, of Watergate-related charges. Mitchell has yet to be tried, with other former White House aides, on other charges.

Shouts of “Fascist pig!” contrasted with cqually-loud chants of “God bless America!"

“We'll get you for Kent State.” one spectator shouted at Mitchell, referring to the deaths on May I, 1970, ;of four university stu-, dents while Mitchell was Attorney-General. “This is a disgrace.” another spectator said. “It is criminal to make remarks like that against two men who have just been acquitted by a jury.”

About 100 spectators and; reporters had assembled on; the courthouse steps for the) appearance of Mitchell and' Mr Stans, a former Secretary) of Commerce, after their) acquittal.

At one point, an elderly) man threatened one of the) protesters with his walking; stick, and the pair had to be separated by others in the crowd. Mitchell and Mr Stans) ignored the remarks, many of them obscene, made by; protesters against the verdict.

) The two men. once two of ) President Nixon's closest (aides, had been accused of offering to help the financier, Robert Vesco, with an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission in exchange for a secret SUS2OO,OOO contribution to President Nixon’s 1972 re-) election campaign. Both had) pleaded not guilty.

As the jury foreman announced “not guilty” to each of the 15 counts in the Government’s indictment Mr Stans put his hands to his eyes, and seemed to weep. ‘I feel reborn’ “I feel reborn,” the acquitted accountant, who is 66. said later. “I always knew I was innocent, but it’s good to have it reconfirmed.” Mitchell was obviously pleased with the verdict. “I never doubted the outcomeno way. baby.” he said. “We have the jury system, and that always works.” Outside the Federal court-

house, not far from the fin-1 ancial district where Mitchell) made a fortune as a municipal bonds lawyer, Mitchell] said: “This case was heard] by 12 good American people.; part of the cross-section of] all Americans. We can all be) proud of how the jury sys-j tern works.” Mr John Wing, the assist-) ant prosecutor, told reporters; that he felt the Government’s! case would have been; stronger had Vesco been present. (Vesco is now a fugitive from justice, having failed to appear before a grand jury. He is thought to •be in Costa Rica.) ; When asked how he felt) (about the verdict, Mr Wing; (replied: “Rotten.” Asked then ijf he felt that his presentation. and the evidence subemitted bv the prosecution, (were convincing, he replied: I“I guess I wasn’t convincing, land neither was the evidence.” ! Mitchell still faces, with six' (other former White House 'aides or Nixon campaign i workers, charges in Washington arising from the WaterIgate cover-up. i Mitchell is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of making false declarations to a grand jury or court, one count of making a false statement to the F. 8.1., and one count of perjury. He is due to go on) 'trial on September 9. Some Washington observers believe that the I acquittals have given the' White House dramatic encouragement in its Watergate; battle, and may even! influence the President’s) actions in responding to the! judicial investigation of his) possible impeachment.

White House reaction to the verdict, however, was ; restricted yesterday to the comment: “The President is very pleased, both for the two men and their families.” ’ Vesco, reached at his San (Jose, Costa Rica, home by a (Columbia Broadcasting : System correspondent,, (praised the verdict as the

first fair one he had heard in a long time. “But.” he added, “i have no desire to come back, favourable verdict or not.”