Evening star., 1941-09-01
Release Sought
OF Man jailed
For Catoe Crime
james M. Smith
May Be Cleared
By Confession

Washington authorities. preparing
today to start prosecution of Jarvis
r. Catoe, were seeking at the same
time to bring about the release of
another man who is serving a life
sentence for one of the seven as
sault-murders which they say Catoe
has confessed.
1t was stated at police head
quarters today that the district at
torneys Office would be notified i'm
mediately of the latest Catoe con-
fession and that efforts would be
made to have the innocent man re-
leased as soon as possible.
The victim of d mistake" cOnvic-
ton is James NJ. Smith, Al. colored,
who has served more than five years
of life sentence for the murder Of
Florence Dancy, 65, who was stran-
gled and criminally assaulted on
April II, 1885 in her home at 2l39 L
street NV.
Confession Held Valid
Police withheld information on
Catoe's connection with this case
until they were absolutely certain
that his confession was valid He
has gone over the case, showing a
knowledge Of details which prove
definitely that he is guilty, police
say.
Smith was arrested on a charge
of bigamy a short time after the
Dancy murder, police records show.
Two women who said that they had
seen the slayer picked Smith out
of a police lineup. Records show
that, at his trial, 25 witnesses ap-
peared TO bolster what police be-
lleved was a strong case
At the time that Smith was in
custody, police records show, Catoe
was also under arrest-on a charge
OF indecent exposure There was
no evidence to link him to the Dancy
murder, police say.
Inquest Awaited
With the evidence of almost all
the seven murders which Catoe Is
accused of nearly complete" police
today were awaiting the coroner's
inquest into the death of Betty
Strict, War Department worker,
which is scheduled tomorrow.
1t was indicated that the inquest
would be a brief affair, after which
the case will be sent Immediately to
the grand jury. An Indictment will
be sought in the murder of Miss
Strieff and possibly in the murder
Of NFre
said.
Only four witnesses, other than
police and officials, have been called
Tor the inquest, which is to open
at the District Morgue at 1870 am.
Among those are Frances Will
llams. colored maid who works at
the home of Prof. De Witt Crois-
SAINT, and who found Miss Strieffs
nude body in garage at the rear
OF l7l7 G street NV; Miss Betty
Stribling, whose umbrella Miss
Strlef was carrying at the time she
was killed. and Esther Hall. colored.
to whom Catoe allegedly gave the
| umbrella after the murder.
Faces More GriIling.
Catoe faced further questioning
today as police sought to clear up
details in the voluminous confessions
he has made. He slept soundly in
cell at the sixth police precinct last
night, officers said
The six Washington murders he
has admitted and the one Staying
in New York City, which led to his
downfall, are the only killings which
he admits, police say. Efforts by
officers from other Eastern cities
to link him to sex murders have
proved futile.
Police from half a dozen cities
have questioned Catoe, but he has
failed to admit crimes in their
jurisdiction. Local police say that
so far his record for telling the
truth has been 100 per cent" and
they doubt if he is involved in any
other crimes.