The Calhoun Chronicle

U. S. COURT FREES 29 IN RUM PLOT TRIAL
Judge Stops Trial of McConnell and Others:—Not Sufficient Evidence Produced

Philadelphia, Pa.—William C. McConnell, former federal prohibition director for Pennsylvania, and 28 codefendants were ordered freed by Judge J. Whitaker Thompson in the United States District Court.
They were charged with conspiracy in the issuance of alleged fraudulent liquor permits.
The government submitted the bill of indictment when it could not comply with the demand of the court to prove general conspiracy other than on the evidence already given.
The end of the case, which originally involved 47 men, and resulted in a mistrial once, because of alleged jury tampering came with dramatic suddenness after nearly an all-day discussion on what constitutes a general conspiracy.
Early in the day Judge Thompson interrupted the presentation of testimony to inform the government, that unless it produced evidence to show a general conspiracy, he would not let the trial go any further.
He wanted the government to present evidence sufficient for the jury to decide whether each defendant knew that the other defendants were committing the illegal acts alleged by the government.