The announcement of the verdict came as a surprise to newsmen and observers who gathered in the Chicago courtroom yesterday to hear a defense motion declaring the jury deadlocked and asking for a "mistrial" ruling.

Hoffman cleared the courtroom of spectators before the jury announced its verdict. He said he wanted to avoid disruptions like the one which occurred last Saturday while Hoffman handed out contempt of court sentences.

Two jury members considered sympathetic to the defendants were visibly shaking as Hoffman asked them to affirm their agreement with the decision.

Landmark Decision

The guilty verdict against five defendants has almost incidentally become a landmark decision in the controversial trial. The verdict is the first decision under the famous "Rap Brown amendment" attached to the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

Legal experts have questioned the constitutionality of the wording "conspiracy with intent" to cross state lines to incite riot. The split verdict found no conspiracy, while affirming the defendants' intent to incite rioting, and virtually eliminated an appeal on constitutional grounds.

The two acquitted defendants were not charged with crossing state lines because one lives in Chicago and the other had established temporary residency there.

Defense attorney William Kunstler said yesterday he will appeal the decision on other grounds.