Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-25
Counsel Hope
ToSaveCafoe,'
Doomed by Jury
Found GuiItyin
Abrumowitz Case
In 18 Minutes
By ALFRED TOOMBS.

Counsel for Jarvis Catoe. the &c.
year-old colored man who was con-
demned to death by jury yester-
day after 10 minutes of delibera-
ton. mapped plans today for saw
Ing him from execution.
Their first move will be an ap-
peal to higher courts and If that
fails, it was indicated, an attempt
would be made to have Catoe ad-
judged insane.
Defense Counsel Walter M. Shea,
George Boden and j. Robert Esher
carefully kept out Of Catoe's trial
any plea of insanity. Apparently,
their strategy was to save this plea
for later court action.
Under District law, it would be
possible for them to obtain a lunacy
hearing for Catoe at some later
date. If a jury finds him OF I'M
sound mind, he would be commit
ted to st. Elizabeth's hospital-and
could not be executed.
Other Trials Considered.
United States Attorney Edward
M. Curran and his assistant, John
w. FINELY, who won the convic-
ton, were considering their next
step. They indicated the possibility
that Catoe might be brought to
trial for the murder of Betty Strict,
War Department worker, or Matte
Steward, colored rooming house
owner.
The Government was prepared to
meet any possible insanity plea with
the testimony of four phychiatrists
who examined Catoe at the District
Jail before the trial and found him
of sound mind.
During the trial, Catoe on two
occasions acted in manner which
bolstered a possible insanity plea.
Once, he tried to commit suicide
and the second time he broke from
the witness stand while being cross
examined.
The jury which yesterday con-
demned Catoe amazed observers
with the speed Of its verdict. The
II men and one woman on the
panel retired to the jury room at
2:55 am. and at 3:13 pm. there
came loud rap on the door of
their chambers.
They informed a court attache
that they had reached verdict and
a few minutes later the grim-vis-
aged jurors filed into the court
room.
Abramowitz in Courtroom.
For 10 days, the jurors had been
"locked up"-shut of from the out
side Worthwhile Justice James w.
Morris had gone to great pains to
make sure that Catoe was given
every opportunity to get the fair
trial to which he was entitled under
law.
Arguments by Government and
defense counsel and full testimony
from all witnesses had been heard.
The swift action Of the jury was
In dramatic contrast to the leisureIy
pace of the actual trial.
Justice Morris took his place on
the bench and the defendant was
led in from a cell in the courthouse.
Seated in the second row OF the
courtroom was Barney N. Abramo-
WITT, young Social Security employe.
It was Mr.. Abramowitz's young
bride of a month. Rose, for whose
murder last March 8 the man was
on trial.
When the jury had taken its place
IN the box, Catoe was ordered to
stand and a hush settled over the
District Court room. The clerk OF
the court turned to Melvin H. Man.
dell, 4707 Connecticut avenue, who
had been designated jury foreman.
Convicted on Two Counts.
MIR. Foreman" asked the clerk,
shave you reached a verdict?"
1--WE have" replied Mr.. Mandell.
How say you on the first count
of the Indictment" (T'his charged
Catoe with killing Mrs Abramowitz
in the course of a criminal assaulto
1--WE find him guilty as indicted"
replied the foreman.
How say you on the third count
of the indictments" This count
charged Catoe with criminal as
sault.
I'VE find him guilty as indicted
and recommend the death penalty"
said the foreman.
Justice Morris then inquired if the
verdict represented the sentiments
of the entire jury and, hearing no
objection. turned to address the
jurors. He said that on the second
count of the indictment, which
charged Catoe simply with first
degree murder. he was directing
not guilty verdict. This was a legal
technicality.
During the proceedings, Catoe had
stood immobile. He held on to the
back of chair occupied by one OF
his lawyers and when the jury came
into the room, he looked at the panel
uneasily out of the corner of his eye,
"Some Break" Says Catoe.
But he betrayed no emotion when
ne heard the verdict. After the
Judge had thanked the. jurors for
their service, Catoe sat down. He
told his lawyers that he was hungry
and wanted something to eat.
Then deputy marshals started to
lead him away to the death row at
District Jail. AS he passed Attorney
Boden, Catoe leaned over and
whispered:
"Some break"
The crowd which had packed into
the courtroom during every day OF
the trial began to file out. Mr..
Abramowitz, questioned by news
papermen, said:
Il think that justice has been
done. It's too bad that things like
this can't be prevented"
Mr.. AbramoWitz had been an i'm
portant witness for the Government,
since he had been present when
Catoe dictated his confession of the
murder and had watched the de-
PENDANT re-enact the crime in the
honeymoon apartment at 1907 Six
tenth street NV.