Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-22
REFUSES TO CALL
COIN AS WITNESS
Court Offers Arnstein's coun-
sci Alternative, Which
Is Declined.


The psychological and cleventh-hour
arrest OF Isadore. alias Mick" Coin
the 9th defendent charged with
bringing stolen securities into the
District. when he was taken YESTERDAY
afternoon at the Union station by
New York detectives. failed in the
expected culmInation of his appear
ance in court this morning as . wit
ness la the Arnstein trial. now coming
to close before Justice Gould and
a jury in Criminal Court No. l.
Following out the expressed belief
OF the District Attorney that Cohn had
been held by the defense and brought
forward at the desired moment to
clear Arnstein. william J. Fallon. at
torney for Arnstein. told Justice
Gould of the presence and arrest OF
terday had been able to evsde the
government. and requested that Cohn
be called by the court as a witness
for the court, with the prerogadve OF
cross-examination by both sides. The
Mr. Fallon expressed q desire that
the witness be called in this manner.
so that both sides would have an op-
portunity for cross-exarnination. and
in that manner the truth would come
out IL the defendant chose TO speak.
and he maintained his belief that IL
''Cohn would tell the truth IL would
eXonerate some OF the defendants"
The request that the court call Cohr
as witness was denied by Justice
Gould on the supposition thai no case
had ever been known where the court
had called one of the defendants as a
witness. AS an alternative The Judge
offered to let the defense subpoena
him their witness. with the right OF
comforting with him before he took
questioning him If his attorney was
hostile to the defense.
Case Closed By Defense.
Another thing was ruled out by the
court-the chance of the defense i'm
peaching the witness for advefse
testimony. and without this the de
Tense began to lose interest in Coin
and decided not to take advantage of
the offer of the judge. and closed their
case.
After the discussion of instructions
to the jury the government and de-
Tense will commence a three-hour
argument TO the jury this afternoon.
Cohn Not ExsnfneH.
United States Attorney Laske,
said today. that Nick Cohn, following
his arrest by New York detectives
at Union station yesterday afternoon.
was not examined by the government
attorneys who are prosecuting the
Arnstein conspiracy case. When he
learned of the arrest OF Cohn and the
fact that the police had him in Gus
tody at the tenth precinct. Mr.: Las
ruse on the part Of the counsel for
the defense" and gave directions
that no one should be allowed to sec
OF converse with Cohn.
TT was very apparent" said Mr..
I4askey, that the defense had ar
ranged for the arrival here of Cohn
and for the presence of the New
York officers that he might be taken
into custody here They will proba-
bly, seek to use him rs q witness in
the hope of freeing Arnstein by hay-
ing Cohn take the blame for the
bringing of the stolen securities into
Washington"
! Tell Of Phone Message.
When the notice OF the arrest
reached the prosecutors ofiice the
New York officers. August MAYER and
Grover c. Brown. were summoned TO
examined by speciaf Assistant James
B. Archer. Mr.. Archer stated that.
while refusing TO answer questions
relating to the manner of the arrest
on the plea of the existence OF
sentleman's agreement. the De,
a telephone message Sunday might
from a person described as friend
of Arnstein's lawyers" which &C
counted for their presence at Union
station yesterday afternoon. The
message told, IL was stated. OF the
time of the arrival of Cohn and
also how he would be dressed.
Local police officials say they had
no connection with COINS arrest. Al
though the arrest was made at 4
O'Clock in the afternoon. 1t was no.
until o'clock that he was turned
over to Detective Guy e. Burlingame
at police Headquarters. Asked where
they had been in the intervening
time, the New York detectives, II IL
stated. said they had been getting
something to eat.
The local police a few days ago re-
ceived tip" to the effect that Coin
was in hiding here They were un-
able to locate him, however.
This morning the prisoner was
taken to police headquarters. where
he was measured and photographed.
He signed his name Nick Cohn. gave
his age as forty-two years and said
he resided in New York city.
Before being taken to the marshals
office the prisoner appeared in the
lineup at the roll call of Inspector
Grants detectives and was asked 4
few questions. He remained absolute
ly mute with the exception of the re-
mark: Il blew in and was picked Up"