Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-03
Defense Witness Tells of
Mark on Baber's Lip
After Arrest.
PROSECUTION RESTS
IN TRIAL OF BARRETT
Closing Government Testimony
Says Officer Refused to
Discuss Arrest.

"A policeman who was with Head
quarters Detective Robert Barrett at
the time he is alleged to have as
saulted murder suspect testified TODAY
at the detectives trial on brutality
charges that he noticed Slight abra-
sion" on the suspects lip a few minutes
after he had been placed under arrest
The witness, Eighth Precinct Detec-
tive M. J. Mahaney, said he could not
Tell whether the injury had been re-
Gently inflicted at the time he saw it,
Barrett. with Mahaney and two other
oincers, was waiting in the apartment
OF George M. Baber, on the night of
April 6, to arrested him as a suspect in
the -Shoppe murder case. De-
tective Barrett is now on trial before
Justice James M Proctor on the charge
that he assaulted Baber with his fists at
the time Of his arrest.
Answer Liquor Testimony.
Six policemen and three newspaper
reporters said they saw Barrett on the
night OF the alleged assault and de-
clared they saw no indication that he
had been drinking at that time. Sew
eral witnesses for the Government testi-
fed yesterday that Barrett was under
the influence of liquor when he arrested
Baber.
Officer Mahaney said he and his COM
panions, after gaining entrance through
a window, waited for Baber In his apart
ment at the Marine, Thirteenth and Bel
mont streets. Baber, 21-year-old fill
ing station employe, entered the apart
ment shortly after 10 o'clock, accord
ing to the witness.
We had turned out the lights" Ma
haney said, land although I heard
scuff1e when Baber entered, I could not
identify any one involved in 1t. A few
minutes after the scuff1e I noticed a
slight abrasion on Baber's upper lip, but
ne was not struck by Barrett so far as
I know"
He also denied that one of the other
officers asked Barrett to stop beating
Baber
On cross-examination 1t was brought
out that Mahaney, when questioned by
an agent OF the Department of Justice.
refused to answer any questions con-
corning the occurrences In the apart
ment. At that time he claimed that he
stood on his right not to answer self
discriminating questions.
Reporters Testify.
Edmund Monk, newspaper reporter.
said he interviewed Baber in his cell
at the eighth precinct and noticed no
marks on his face at that time. An
other reporter, Robert E. whitney, said
ne saw Baber on the following day and
that his face was unmarked at that
time.
The Governments case against Bar
rett was closed at 1926 o'clock today.
Assistant United States Attorney
Julien Richards. handling the prose-
ton, called as his principal witness this
morning E. Milton Laid, special agent
OF the Bureau of Investigation, Depart
ment of Justice. Laid said he oues-
toned Barrett in the bureaus Offices
in the Hurley Wright Building on Sep
TENDER IL or 10. He said the detective
admitted he was in Baber's apartment
with three other policemen on the night
OF the alleged assault. When question
ed as to what occurred in the apart
ment, Barrett according to Laid, re-
fused to answer, claiming his consti-
tutional rights not to answer questions
having tendency to incriminate him
self.
Had to Shout to Youth.
Mrs. Mary Baber, 2106 N street, testi-
fed that her brother-in-law was Sc
verely bruised and cut after he had
been released by the police. She said
Baber's upper lip and nose were cut,
that he had two black eyes and a
swollen ear. She said he was treated
on April 9, the day of his release, by
trained nurse.
Another witness, William r. Graves,
Standard OIL Co. employe, also said
he had noticed numerous cuts and
bruises on Baber's face, following his
release from the eighth precinct sta
ton house. Baber's hearing, he said,
was SO seriously impaired that it was
necessary to shout questions If the
youth was to understand them.
Defense Attorneys E. Russell Kelly
and Harry Whelan cross-examined
these witnesses at length in an effort
to establish definitely where Baber's
face was cut.
The first witness called by the de-
tense was Policeman Harold Ford, now
Of the second precinct. Baber had
testified that on the night of his arrest
he told Ford he had been beaten by
Barrett. Ford denied any such con-
yersation was held.
Baber took the stand yesterday aft
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