Evening star., 1941-10-19
Cdfoe Insists
Police Forced
Him 10 Confess
Murder Defendant
Denies Reading
Papers He Signed
BY ALFRED TOOMBS.

BY ALFRED TOOMBS.
Jarvis Catoe, insisting he was
really "a good fellow" who didn't
want to bother any one. took the
witness stand before District Court
Justice James w. Morris yesterday
to deny everything.
Gesturing occasionally with the
hands which he once told police
had choked the life out of at least
half a dozen women, the 36-year-
old colored man repudiated in
toto" all earlier confessions.
Catoe. under questioning by De-
fense Counsel ]. Robert Esher, con-
tended police beat him with a black
Jack and kicked him when he was
i'll and hungry. He said detectives
showed "about 25 papers" at him,
and "the law told me to sign them
and I, did"
Did you read them?" asked Mr..
Esher.
mo, sir, I was too sick and weak"
Steered Back to Subject.
During his testimony Catoe
started to explain the true story"
about that New York case" (Catoe
was arrested after two New York
detectives had come to Washington
seeking the murderer of a Man.
haitian WaitreSS.)
AT another point he began to tell
how he came into possession of the
umbrella of Jessie Elizabeth Strieff,
who murder he also is charged with
perpetrating. But each time Mr..
Esher interrupted to steer him back
to the subject at hand-his treat
ment by police.
The jury of II men and l woman
which must decide whether Catoe
will go to the electric chair for the
murder of Mrs. Rose Abramowitz
was out of the room while Catoe
protested his innocence. Catoe'S
testimony was given to guide Justice
Morris in deciding whether the de-
fendant's confession in the Abramo-
witz case is admissible as evidence.
If the justice accepts Catoes ver-
sion Of what happened following his
arrest August %, he could exclude
the confession on the grounds that
It was not voluntarily given. But
If the justice gives credence to the
testimony of Government witnesses
ranging from Acting Police Supt.
Edward J. Kelly down to detectives
who questioned the prisoner-he
can admit the confession.
Eager to Confess, Police Say.
The police say that Catoe was
treated with all due regard for his
rights and that he was only too
eager to confess the crimes and get
them off his conscience.
Catoe went on the witness stand
at II am. after his three attorneys
Mr.. Esher, George Boden and
Walter M. Shea-had decided that
his testimony would be necessary to
offset the evidence offered by the
Government.
The crowd in the courtroom
caught its breath as Mr.. Esher said:
"Catoe, take the witness stand"
The defendant spoke in a steady
voice, which was so low that Justice
Morris had to ask him to speak
louder. He bit his lips from time
to time and moved his hands nerv-
ously as he told how swarm" OF
police had arrested him one August
morning as he was on his way to
the drug store to get some medicine.
He was taken to police headquar-
ters and questioned in a room
damned full'' of detectives. he said.
Half the time, I didn't know
what was happening"
Taken to Lineup.
He was moved to a precinct in the
afternoon, he said, and at night was
brought back to headquarters to
stand in a police lineup.
after the lineup, Mr.. Wise de-
tective Sergt. John WISE said,
'Catoe, you think you are a smart
guy, but you won't get out from
under us. We got seven women
going to come in and identify YOU"
after the lineup, what hap
pened?" Mr.. Esher asked.
They sat me down in a chair and
somebody sitting in back kept press
ing something hard in my back. I
told them the true story about that
New York case, about how :" ="
"Just tell us about what the police
did" Mr.. Esher interrupted.
Detective Wise hit me on the
back of the head with a blackjack
and then kicked me on the leg,
without leaving any marks. Then
somebdy tipped my chair and
dumped me on the floor and twisted
my arms. I said Yes. sir, l killed
her. killed her. I'll sign, Ill
sign"
Had you any rest or sleep?"
mo, sir. They told me You won't
get any sleep until you confess"
Starts to Explain.
Later in the night, he said police
took him to the home of one of his
women friends on Swami street
(where police recovered an umbrella