The jury acquitted Nofziger of another illegal lobbying charge involving Wedtech, clearing Bragg of a charge he aided and abetted that contact.

On that charge, the defense denied that Nofziger signed a May 28, 1982, letter to Meese's deputy, James E. Jenkins, about Wedtech and suggested the signature had been forged by former Wedtech lobbyist Stephen Denlinger.

Jurors said there wasn't enough circumstantial evidence that Nofziger actually signed the letter. No witness could identify the "Lyn" inscribed on the letter as Nofziger's handwriting.

"We felt that there was a possibility that Mr. Nofziger signed it," said juror Leslie Charles. But "there was a possibility that someone else signed it for him."

"What really made us decide were the letters" that Nofziger sent to Meese on about Wedtech and to Jenkins on Aug. 20, 1982, about civilian manning of Navy ships, Charles said.

Except for the May 28, 1982, letter to Jenkins, the defense conceded that Nofziger made all the contacts charged in the indictment but contended he did not violate the ethics law because the issues he raised were not of "direct and substantial interest" to the White House.