Evening star., 1941-10-17
Defense Seeks
To Bar Catoe' S
Story 10 Police
L
Accused Slayer
May Tell Court
Officers Beut Him

criminal attack of Mrs. Rose Abram-
owitz on March g. for which he is
on trial for his life
The jury was sent from the court
room while defense and Government
attorneys debated before Justice
James w. Morris the admisSSibility
OF evidence of statements made by
Catoe to police following his arrest
August %. On this point, apparent
ly, hinged the entire prosecution ef-
fort-for the alleged confession rep
resents, so far as is known. the only
convincing evidence against Catoe.
Catoe May Testify Today.
It was indicated Catoe would take
this stand this afternoon. before the
jury returns to the courtroom, TO
allege he was beaten and miStreated
by police.
The fight over the statements be-
gan when Detective Sergt. John
Wise took the witness stand for the
Government.
Sergt. Wise was the third witness
OF the morning, following Miss
Madge Davis and Mark Stephens,
residents Of the building at 1901 Six
teenth street NV, where Mrs
Abramowitz was slain. They had
told OF hearing scream and sounds
OF scuf1e on the morning the red
haired bride was slain.
Detective Quizzed.
United States Attorney Edward
M. Curran asked Sergt. Wise
whether the defendant had made
any statements to him and Defense
Counsel Walter M. Shea objected
When the jury had been sent from
the room, Mr.. Curran continued his
questioning Of Sergt. Wise.
Were any threats made against
the defendant?" he asked.
There were not" the witness re-
piled.
Were any promises made that
leniency would be shown if he came
clean?"
There were not"
WAS there any violence upon the
defendant"
Positively not"
Mr.. Shea then began cross-exami-
nation, developing the fact that
Sergt. Wise and Detective Sergt.
Aubrey Tolson began questioning
Catoe about 1890 m. on the day
he was arrested here on informa-
tion furnished by New York detec-
tiveS, who sought him In the slay-
ing of a waitress in that city. Sergt.
Wise said the preliminary question:
ing was not extensive and that the
homicide squad detectives had
chipped in to buy Catoe something
to eat.
Cat0e's Story Volunteered.
About pm, the prisoner was re-
turned to the 18th precinct, and
Sergt. Wise said he did not see him
again until 7:30 pm About IL pm,
Sergt Wise testified, Catoe began
to talk of the attack slayings which
he allegedly confessed.
There was only one question
asked, and then he gave all the rest
Of it," the detective said
During Justice Morris inquiry into
the circumstances under which the
alleged confessions were obtained.
the hearing branched off for the
first time into some of the other
attack slayings which police say
CatOe admitted. Andrew M. O'Con-
nor, New York City detective, was
on the witness stand for an hour
describing Catoe'S purported admis-
Sions to the murder of Evelyn An
dersen, Bronx waitress.
Mr.. O'Connor recounted Catoe'S
story OF how he had stopped Mrs
Andersen on q New York street to
ask directions. had offered her a
ride and had Strangled and attacked
her when she resisted his advances.
Mr.. O'Connor said that Catoe
stuffed the body in the back of his
car, went home to get something
to eat and then went to sleep. Later,
the New York detective told how
Catoe said he disposed of the body,
leaving 1t on q vacant lot.
DCIhCS SSNus
At no time were any threats en-
ployed to get Catoe to talk, the de-
tective insisted At one time during
Mr.. Shea's cross tion of the
detective, Catoe beckoned to his at
torney and whispered something to
him. Then Mr.. Shea turned to the
witness and asked:
rs it not fact that you, yourself,
struck the defendant?'
Absolutely not" replied the wit
ness.
III swear to it," Catoe said in a
whisper.
1t was indicated that other po-
lice would be called before Justice
Morris today before the jurist made
q decision on the admissibility Of the
confession.
From the lips of the slain girls
husband of q month and from
others who visited the honeymoon
apartment on the cold, snowy Sat-
urday when the body was found,
the Government yesterday elected
the testimony which is the corner
stone OF the case being built against
Catoe.
Mr.. Abramowitz, calm and self
possessed. spent more than 2 hours
on the witness stand yesterday.
He told of his marriage to
the red-haired girl from Kansas
City-"the only girl I ever thought
shout" He told how he had left
her on the morning of March 8 in
the best of spirits.
Planned to Celebrate.
That night they planned to cele-
brate their first month of marriage
and had been expecting another
couple to come by their apartment
to pick them up. Mrs. Abramowitz
was ashamed" of the appearance
of the floors, which needed waxing,
he testified.
Police say that Catoe told them
that he went into the Abramowitz
apartment when the bride came
to the street entrance Of the apart
ment and asked him to wax the
floors. When he got into the place,
according to the alleged statement,
hn 1ly !,