THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996                TAG: 9603070418
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JOE JACKSON, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines

WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO TESTIFY IS FREED FROM JAIL

One of two women jailed last week after refusing to testify before a federal grand jury looking into violence at local abortion clinics was released Wednesday by a federal judge.

Carol McAdoo of Virginia Beach had been in Western Tidewater Regional Jail since Feb. 28 after refusing to tell the grand jury whether three local activists were involved in fires set last year in clinics in Newport News and Norfolk, abortion opponents said.

Rae Powell, a witness who also refused to testify, was not released. Powell could remain incarcerated until the grand jury ends in late April.

U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar released McAdoo after a closed hearing in Norfolk federal court. Doumar placed a gag order on all participants, citing the secrecy of grand jury proceedings, officials said.

Robert V. Semon, McAdoo's attorney, would not comment whether McAdoo agreed to testify before the grand jury, citing Doumar's order.

However, he said she was still under subpoena and would apparently be called to appear again.

The grand jury will reconvene on March 25, abortion opponents said.

Witnesses were asked about fires last year at the Tidewater Women's Health Clinic, a Norfolk clinic that opened in April 1995, and at Peninsula Medical Center for Women in Newport News. Officials at both clinics would not comment.

Witnesses' subpoenas ordered them to bring any copies they had of an underground manual, known as the Army of God Manual, which authorities have called a handbook filled with accounts of how to disrupt activities at abortion clinics. They were also ordered to bring correspondence from people convicted of abortion clinic violence and to bring correspondence from Jennifer Patterson Sperle, an anti-abortion activist who moved last year from Norfolk to Wichita, Kan.

Last week, McAdoo and Powell were granted immunity but were jailed after refusing to answer specific questions about Sperle and two other local anti-abortion activists: Ed Hyatt, a Virginia Beach man who is a friend of Sperle's, and Ryan Clark Martin. Two other witnesses answered questions and left.

Abortion opponents have said they think the probe is an outgrowth of a 16-month grand jury investigation in Alexandria into abortion clinic violence. That inquiry ended in January with no evidence of a national conspiracy to target clinics and no indictments.

Justice Department officials have declined to comment. by CNB