A Beaver County jury adjourned yesterday without reaching a verdict in the trial of a man charged with disrupting a public meeting for taking a gun to an Obama rally in Beaver last year.

John Noble, 51, of Industry, openly carried his Glock pistol to the Aug. 29 outdoor rally in a park across from the Beaver County Courthouse. At the rally, Mr. Noble was carrying a Bible and handing out pro-gun fliers.

The jury went home for the day at 4:15 p.m. after deliberating for nearly five hours.

"This is the first time that I've received a request from a jury to be released because they are frazzled," Beaver County Judge Harry E. Knafelc said.

The judge said he was told the discussions about the case were lively. Members of the jury briefly interrupted their deliberations around 1:45 p.m. to ask Judge Knafelc to explain "intent" and "disturbance."

Mr. Noble declined to comment after the judge released the jury.

"The jury is doing their job," he said.

Friends and family of Mr. Noble waited in the courthouse for the verdict yesterday, many of them wearing empty holsters. They'd checked their guns at the entrance to the courthouse.

During closing arguments, Frank Martocci, the prosecutor, said openly carrying a gun to the political rally was "the equivalent of yelling fire in a crowded movie theater." He said free speech must be weighed against others' rights to peaceably assemble.

Defense attorney Stephen Colafella said it's not Pennsylvania's place to legislate or dictate under what circumstances a person can exercise a lawful right. Rather, he said, a political rally was the right place for Mr. Noble to openly carry a gun as a political demonstration.

"He wasn't there to disturb anyone or break up the rally. He was there to promote an issue that is important to him."