Evening star., 1941-10-21

Continued From First Page

return from work in a Government
department.
Police Deny Abusing Prisoner.
Under cross-eXamination by De-
fense Counsel Walter NJ Shea.
Sergt Wise denied that he had
hit Catoe behind an ear with a
blackjack, or had otherwise threat
ened or abused the prisoner.
1t. Tolson corroborated this tes-
timony. In the cross examination
Mr.. Shea tried to bring out that
Catoe had been subjected to a con-
tinuous barrage of questions over
long period of time without being
allowed sufficient rest or food.
The police witnesses denied this
was the case They admitted Catoe
was questioned for several hours on
the morning of his arrest. but said
wiches and a glass of milk. They
said that afternoon he was sent to
No. II precinct, where prisoners are
regularly fed from to pm. Catoe
was returned to headquarters at
730 pm. and remained under oues-
tioning until the early hours of the
morning. He was given sandwiches
and milk at m. the officers said.
Abramowitz Questioning Brief.
Since the trial opened last week.
the only evidence heard by the jury
was the coroner's report and the
story related bv Mr. Abramowitz of
how he found his wife's body on re-
turning from work. The jury was
withdrawn from court for several
days while the Government put on
witnesses in an effort to prove that
Catoe'S confession was not obtained
under duress. Both defense and
prosecution lay great stress on the
confession.
The homicide squad officers testi-
fed that they questioned Catoe only
"l5 or 20 minutes" with regard TO
the Abramowitz case. This left the
implication with the jury that by
far the greatest part Of the Ques-
tioning related to other alleged
crimes of the prisoner.
Catoe was under close guard to-
day after his attempt yesterday to
commit suicide. Two deputy mar
shals had orders not to allow him
TO be alone for moment
Guarded in Jail
He had a special guard watching
over him at the District Jail last
night.
Full details of the suicide attempt
were being withheld by court at
tacheS. but it was acknowledged
that the incident occurred during a
court recess around noon.
When Justice Morris returned
from lunch and convened court at
2 pm. he had a note from the
United States marshal's Office stat
ing that Catoe had attempted sui
cide with spigot.'
1t was learned that Catoe had
been left alone for short time in
one of the cell blocks in the Police
Court Building A deputy marshal
returned TO find him stripped of all
his clothing.
He had taken his black leather
belt out of his trousers and, it was
understood. was attempting to use
it for a moose. apparently fastening
one end to the spigot of a wash
basin.
Jagged Pipe Seized.
In addition. he had Withdrawn
from the wash basin a long piece
of pipe, attached to the stopper
The pipe had a jagged edge. The
deputy marshal quickly overpowered
the man and Catoe then complained
of being ILL
He was given some medicine and .
few minutes later became sick at .
his stomach.
Wild rumors began to circulate 7
in the court building and Justice
Morris ordered a half hours recess
while the incident was investigated.
Catoe, who had been dressed and
brought back into court, was led to
a cell again and showed plainly that /.
he was In distress.
Justice Morris called Government |
and defense counsel to his chambers !
and asked them not to discuss the
incident until it had been investi- .
gated. 1t was not until late in the
that any direct confirma-
ito could be obtained.
Deputy Coroners Christopher |
Murphy and Richard Rosenberg
were summoned TO the courthouse /
hurriedly and examined Catoe. /
When they informed the judge |
that he was no longer sick, the trial |
was resumed.
Jury Not in Courtroom.
Later. Catoe told Walter M. Shea /
of his defense staff that he couldn't .
remember what had happened. He
said he had a spell" and every /
thing went black The marshal told