by FERN SHEN and MELODY SIMMONS

Jurors in the theft trial of Mayor Sheila Dixon jurors knocked off early again yesterday (4 pm), after sending out a note saying they “can not come to unanimous decision on all counts” and setting off waves of speculation and fruitless defense motions for a mistrial with their reference in a second note to “new things brought to light.”

Meanwhile reporters continued to use the #dixontrial hashtag to amuse themselves and the cognoscenti. One diversion, for instance, was the unintentionally funny video of witness Patrick Turner’s wife, Jeanine Turner, a self-described “artographer,” discussing her work.

The video (promoted yesterday by The Daily Record’s Robbie Whelan) was made to promote the July opening of Turner’s Sub-Basement Studio show featuring altered photos of old metal architectural remnants and machinery she encountered in Silo Point, one of the many former industrial buildings her developer-husband has been converting into high-end luxury developments.

The Brew caught the show, which featured some actually pretty good artwork, red and white sangria,  and a crowd that included art-lovers, area builders, business-owners and another person on the Dixon trial witness list, Downtown Partnership president Kirby Fowler.

While no one knows exactly what is being hashed out inside the cloistered jury room behind the wall of Courtroom number 234, the series of handwritten notes ripped from jurors’ notebooks and sent to Judge Dennis M. Sweeney offer hints.

Coming yesterday, the sixth day of deliberations, those signals revealed that the jurors were locked in heated debate and conflict. At 3:45 p.m., a note from the forewoman emerged that read: “Judge Sweeney: We can not come to a unanimous (sic) decision on all counts.”

As Sweeney and attorneys for both sides crafted a note to send back, asking whether the note meant “any count or counts,” yet another note emerged about 3:40 p.m. that showed the impasse had been abated.

The note read: “Judge Sweeney: We feel that we need to return tomorrow to continue deliberations due to new things  brought to light.”

Defense Attorney Arnold Weiner moved tor a mistrial (denied by Sweeney) and Prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh advised the judge to allow the jury to continue. Sweeney granted that request.

The jurors returned today after having deliberated for 38 hours – more time than total testimony in the trial.

Sweeney also showed a bit of impatience – asking attorneys if he should advise the jurors “to come tomorrow and be prepared to stay as long as needed to see this to a conclusion.”  That idea was quashed as attorneys said they did not want to stress the jurors.

Some courtroom observers speculated a split verdict may be forthcoming today – or a hung jury.

How would this play out? Lawyers say Sweeney may accept a partial verdict, if the jurors can only reach a unanimous decision on some charges. He could declare a mistrial on the rest, allowing the remaining charges to be brought in a new trial.

Sweeney could also ask the jury to resume deliberation on the remaining charges.

In the meantime, Mayor Dixon continues to split her time between running the city and the courtroom. “She’s a real trouper,” Weiner said, outside the Mitchell Courthouse East after the day’s proceedings.