Student Council Officer Cleared In Protest Case

Au Ann Arbor District Court jury took slightly more than three hou.s last night to return a not guilty verdict in the trial of the vice president of the University's Student Government Council. Mark Van Der Hout, 21, ot 1332 Forest Ct, was one of 108 persons arrested last Sept. 2 at the climax of a sit-in demonstration in the University's Literature, Science and the Arts classroom building on S. State. Van Der Hout, charged with creatina a contention, called 11 witnesses to the stand as ne ■ conducted his own defense. One I of the witnesses was Mayor I Robert Harris. As sis tan tl Prosecutor Jerome Farmer III presented the state's case by taking testimony from five witnesses, including U-M j dent Robben Fleming. Van Der Hout's two-day trial saw the sixth floor co.urtroom in City Hall jammed with student supporters for the ant who cheered when the not guitly verdict was returned. Judge Elden had told the jury shortly before the verdict that if they were unable to reach a verdict last night, he would have them taken to a motel and they would resume deliberations this morning. Van Der Hout had attempted to cali Gov. William G. Milliken i as a defense witness but thé governor ignored a subpoena served on him. Judge blden declined to cite the governor for contempt of court after Van Der Hout requested such action. The judge said no witi ness fee had been attached to the subpoena. Of the 108 persons arrested last fall there remain about 15 I - gitinp trial. - -