dynamite charge

dynamite charge

An encouragement to a divided jury to come to a verdict. It is also known as the "Allen charge" because such a tactic was employed for the deadlocked jury in the 1896 case Allen v. United States. Come on, let's give the jury a dynamite charge, in the hopes of getting all the jurors to reach a consensus.
See also: charge, dynamite
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • the jury is/are out
  • bring a verdict in
  • jury
  • jury is still out
  • jury is still out, the
  • the jury is (still) out
  • the jury is out
  • come to a conclusion
  • come to a/the conclusion
  • find (one) not guilty
References in periodicals archive
A "dynamite charge" is an order to a deadlocked jury to come up with some sort of verdict, and historically, the appellate courts do not look warmly upon this tactic.
Industry Lawsuits: No Time For Surrender
However, the most informative geophysical survey is the seismic method which measures the vibration energy (shock waves) that is reflected from rock layers when a dynamite charge is exploded in shallow holes near the Earth's surface.
Shell Exploration Pakistan
Rather than allow a mistrial, presiding judge Jack Weinstein gave the jury a "dynamite charge," in effect convincing them that they had to come to a verdict of some kind.
Bronx Decision: Triumph And Tragedy
Worst of all were the rocks that flew over the new motorway embankment, from dynamite charges exploding, breaking windows in Mount and Roman Avenues.
A historic battle , a murderous feud and country mansions for the elite; VINCENT DORRINGTON, CHAIRMAN OF MOUNT COMMUNITY GROUP, LOOKS AT THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF MOUNT AHEAD OF AN EXHIBITION AT THE END OF JULY
Almost as much fun as the Fourth was accompanying Uncle Owie when he set dynamite charges in a tunnel at Uncle Freddy's mining claim in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Bang
Calder Hall is ringed by Dynamite charges; End of era..
NUKE FALL-OUT ZONE
Eustaquio Picachuci, a 47-year-old Bolivian, blew himself up March 30 in front of the Bolivian congress by exploding dynamite charges, which also killed two policeman and wounded 10 other.
Eustaquio Picachuri