Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 1, 1993 TAG: 9301010096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Medium
FATHER, 3 MEN INNOCENT IN PLOT TO KIDNAP SON
A federal jury found millionaire E. Newbold Smith and three other men innocent Thursday of charges they conspired to kidnap Smith's son and "deprogram" him.Prosecutors alleged in U.S. District Court trial that Smith, 66, planned the kidnapping because of his son's involvement with convicted felon and political extremist Lyndon LaRouche Jr.
The younger Smith reportedly lent $200,000 to LaRouche's organization. He recently purchased a $500,000 home in the Philadelphia suburbs, which he also reportedly was planning to give the organization.
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated 12 hours over two days before returning the verdicts.
Smith and his co-defendants were accused of conspiring to abduct Smith's son, Lewis du Pont Smith, and daughter-in-law, Andrea Smith, both of Philadelphia. Lewis Smith is an heir to the du Pont fortune.
In addition to Smith of Radnor, Pa., the defendants were Galen Kelly, 45, of Esopus, N.Y., a self-proclaimed deprogrammer; attorney Robert Point, 38, of South Amboy, N.J., and Donald L. E.N. Smith Moore, 45, of Lovettsville, Va.
Defense attorneys conceded that the elder Smith discussed abduction with his co-defendants. But they said the men weren't guilty of conspiracy because Smith never made up his mind to actually go through with the plan.
The elder Smith and Moore were also charged with soliciting Douglas Poppa, a former Loudoun County sheriff's deputy, to assist in the alleged plot.
Poppa contacted the FBI and worked as an undercover informant for the bureau. Poppa recorded the defendants allegedly plotting the kidnapping.
If convicted, the four men faced maximum sentences of life in prison and fines ranging from $250,000 to $500,000.
Smith, Kelly and Moore showed no emotions as the verdicts were read. Point was embraced by his lawyers.
"I feel very relieved that justice prevailed, I feel it was the right decision by the jury, said the elder Smith's attorney, John Markham. "It's still a terrible tragedy [that the case was brought to trial] no matter how one looks at it."
Outside the court after the trial, Newbold Smith and his wife, Peggy, said they hope to close a long chapter of bad relations with their son.
Peggy Smith said she wants to cancel a court order granted by a Pennsylvania court in 1986 that declared Lewis Smith incompetent to manage his $10 million trust fund.
"We just want Lewis to come home, with no strings attached."