The Kray Twins Cleared The retrial of the Kray twins and Edward Smith, who were alleged to have been concerned in a plot to obtain " pro- tection " money from a Soho club owner, coliapsed at the Central Criminal Court yesterday when, on the invitation of Mr. Justice Lyell, the jury stopped the case and found all the accused Not Guilty on the whole indictment. The Judge refused an application for costs. Ronald and Reginald Kray, aged 31, of Seven Sisters Road. Finsbury Park. N.. and Smith, aged 32, self-rnployed writer, of no fixed address, were found Not Guilty of conspiring together and with Jobn Francis to demand with menaces or by force pro- perty capable of being stolen from Hew Cargill MfcCowan. part owner of the Hide- away Club, in Gerrard Street. Soho. W.. with intent to steal. On the direction of the Judge they were also acquitted of conspiring with John Francis dishonestly and with menaces to ex- tort from Mr. McCo wan such money as he might be persuaded to part with. No evidence was then offered asainst Ronald Kray on a third count charging him with possessing-an offensive weapon. namely a sheath knife. in a public place. The jury returned a formal verdict of Not Guilty on that count. All three accused were discharged. ONE WITNESS Yesterday at the close of the evidence, the Judge said to the jury: "Counsel for the Crown has perfectly correctly told you that it is for the prosecution to prove the grnilt of each of the accused so that vou are sure of it. The case for the prosecution really rests on the evidence of one witness, Mr. McCowan. In those circumstances vou will appreciate it really follows that before you can convict any of the accused you will have to be sure that you can rely on the truth of what he has said in so far as it incriminates the accused. Dismissing the application for costs rnade by all the defence counsel, the Judge said: "I have come to the conclusion that this is not a case for cos:s. particularly having regard to the fact that the jury disagreed on the last occasion." THE KRI TWINS CLEARED