Trial wraps up in fight for oldest US synagogue, $7.4M bells

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge overseeing a trial over control of the nation's oldest synagogue and ceremonial bells worth $7.4 million said on Friday there is no "smoking gun" in the battle between the congregation that worships at the 250-year-old Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, and the nation's first Jewish congregation, in New York.

The two sides have argued bitterly about the smallest details, each claiming it owns the bells and disagreeing over what rights and responsibilities each has regarding the synagogue itself.

The Newport group says that it is the beneficiary of the trust and that the New York congregation has abandoned its duty as trustee to care for the synagogue.

The New York congregation denies that, and also objects to the sale of the bells because it says selling such objects violates its religious beliefs.

Solomon used references to children or inmates at an asylum to make some of his points, prompting frowns and angry mutterings from the gallery, which was filled mostly with congregants from Newport.