The Nation

A judge declared a mistrial in the weapons-possession case of syndicated columnist Carl T. Rowan after the jury reported it was deadlocked 9 to 3 for acquittal. Earlier in the day, Judge Arthur L. Burnett of District of Columbia Superior Court had reread his instructions to the jury after the 12-member panel said it was unable to reach a verdict. Rowan has been charged with using an unregistered handgun and ammunition to wound a teen-age intruder in the back yard of his home last June.