Voting booths open for Utah County Tempers flare in :.Medicare debate Page A3 Don't make excuses; Johnson, Mariners overwhelm Angels start entertaining Page B3 Page C5 Page C3 leasts": Cnuai Utahi Hvnpspw for 122 fern, Pswc, Uteh Tuesday, Octofew 3, 1 98S P3 n n 9- - JSf mannl mras bobs ft M:M LOS ANGELES (AP) O.J. Simpson was acquitted today of and her murdering his climax to friend, a suspense-fille- d the courtroom saga that obsessed the nation. With two words, "not guilty." the jury freed the fallen sports legend to try to rebuild a life thrown into disgrace. Sobs could be heard in the courtroom as the verdicts, acquitting Simpson of both first- - and ex-wi- fe 3 murder, were read. e second-degre- Simpson hugged his attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. Nicole Simpson's Brown Simpson. 35. and her friend Ronald Goldman. 25, were ex-wi- slain June 12. 1994. The curious throngs and an army of media began arriving at the courthouse early today, while (See SIMPSON. PageA2) holds public attention hostage Trial By FRED BAYLES AP National Writer (I After gripLOS ANGELES ping the nation with a mix of soap opera and social issue, the trial of O.J. Simpson reached its end with the same mix of suspense, drama and touch of the absurd with which it began 15 months ago. Up to the very end. the case exerted a mesmerizing influence over the American experience. In Atlanta. Sen. Sam Nunn APPhoia O.J. Simpson looks up during a motion hearing Thursday. After less than four hours of deliberations, his jury announced they had reached a verdict. postponed today's announcement about his political future to avoid a conflict with the verdict. In Los Angeles, a reunion of the original Mouseketeers was canceled. So was the debut of the Los Angeles Zoo's tapir and the announcement of who would be Grand Marshal of the Rose Bowl parade. Jack Levin, a Northeastern University sociologist and author of books on media and racial issues, said the case held public attention hostage "because it had every- thing." "There was celebrity, blood and gore, a marriage gone bad. an interracial relationship gone (See TRIAL. Page A2) any residents predicted O.J. would go to prison Find it By DONALD W. MEYERS The Daily Herald In the hours before Judge Lance Ito unsealed the jury's verdict, many Utah County residents predicted that O.J. Simpson would be going to prison. Those forecasting a guilty verdict based their opinion on the amount of time the jury spent in deliberations and the evidence piled up against the former football great. The jury deliberated for less than four hours Monday before reaching a verdict. Ito delayed the opening of the sealed envelope until 11 a.m. MDT to allow the prosecution and defense teams to be present. The delay caused speculation among analysts and people on the street. "I think he's guilty." said Pam Young, an Orem resident. "All the evidence and the jury coming out so quickly tells me they think he's guilty." Paul Kendall of Mapleton said he w as sure the jury w ould convict decision quickly. Kendall said the evidence against Simpson, including the DNA, was overwhelming. because it reached a Inside (1 r i f ' V MA "I think he'll be acquitted. I don't think they have enough circumstantial evidence." Joe Haws, Tom Perry, a Payson resident, said the turning point was during the closing arguments. "I thought the prosecution's rebuttal went well because the Provo thought the prosecution "He's going to be well because the guilty." "I rebuttal went very defense was objecting so much." acquitted, but I believe he's Dl Arts Business Classified Ads Comics Crossword Lcgals Lifestyle Movies Obituaries Opinions Sports State Television World "Who else would have done it? The evidence points to him." B7 D2 B6 D9 D2 C3 DI B2 B4 C5 B3 Dl A5 Weather Tonight mostly cloudy. Showers likely along with a few thunderstorms. Winds shifting to north mph by late evening. Lows in the Wednesday much colder with scattered morning showers. Decreasing clouds in the afternoon. 0 North winds mph. Highs lower 50s. See Page 10-2- 0 mid-40- s. 10-2- Doug Fowkes, Provo DeAnn Packer, Provo A4. Air Quality Today's air quality was good for all areas along the Wasatch FronL See Page Tom Perry, Payson A2. (Set PRKDICT, Page A2) rLUi & iiirvri i. iiiit V in 6iwmrnM r m trl rtX!T.i6i.f iiiimriiini.wwrm KmrnKiT hum . ,t