Milestones

ACQUITTED. Jack Elder, 41, Roman Catholic activist in the sanctuary-movement network of some 200 U.S. church congregations that harbor illegal immigrants fleeing violence-shattered Central American countries; of charges that last March he transported three undocumented Salvadorans from a San Benito, Texas, refuge to a bus station "in furtherance of their illegal presence" in the U.S.; in Corpus Christi, Texas. A federal judge ruled that Elder's conduct was based on his religious beliefs; the jury concluded that Elder's actions did not further the aliens' illegal journey. A Government spokesman says that the verdict will not interfere with the prosecution of sanctuary-movement participants or with prosecution of Elder on other charges.