Evening star., 1941-10-22
Catoe Admitted Board Approves
Being al Staying Pay Raises in
Spot, Court Told Alabama Mines
Psyehiotrists Said
To Have Heard Him
Soy He Was There
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)

Jarvis Catoe admitted early this
month during an examination by
psychiatrists that he had been in
the apartment of Mrs. Rose Alb
ramowitz on the day she was killed,
District Court Justice James w
Morris was told late today.
With the jury out of the room,
Assistant United States Attorney
John w. Fihelly told the justice
presiding at Catoe's trial that the
Government would show that the
defendant had made these admis-
sions. Defense counsel objected to
the introduction of the testimony
and the trial was adjourned over
night in order that legal argu-
ments on the point might be pre-
pared.
The statement by Government
counsel grew out of questions which
United States Attorney Edward M.
Curran asked Catoe IN the course
of cross-examination late in the aft
ernoon. Catoe had been called to
the stand this morning when his
defense opened, and this afternoon
Mr. Curran launched his cross
examination.
Denies Being in Apartment.
After grilling the defendant for
an hour on the circumstances under
which he charged the confession was
tortured out of him, Nj Curran
suddenly asked Catoe:
Had you ever been in the apart
ment at 1901 Sixteenth street NV.
prior to the time police took you
there on August 28?"
NO. sir"
Did you ever tell any one not
connected with the Police Depart
ment that you had been in the
apartment at 1901 Sixteenth street
N.W.?"
No, sir
Did you ever know a Mr. Tier
ney
At this point defense counsel were
on their feet. objectine and JUS
tice Morris ordered the jury led out
of the room. Then Mr. Fihelly in
formed the court of the new ver-
sion Of Catoe's story.
Says He Signed Blank Confession.
Mr.. Fihelly said that when Catoe
was examined early this month by
four psychiatrists designated jointly
by prosecution and defense that he
had admitted being in the Abramo-
witz apartment on March 8, the
day the young bride was Strangled
and criminally attacked He told
the alienists that he had been sent
there by a Mr.. Tierney" on an
errand At the time, the psychia-
trists were told. Mrs. Abramowitz
was alive, and Catoe said he left
the apartment without harming her.
Defense counsel charged that this
statement to the doctors was "privi-
legged inaSmuch as it was made by
a patient to his doctors. Govern
ment counsel argued otherwise and
Justice Morris asked that legal cita-
tions on the point be brought to
him when court opens at 10 m. to-
morrow.
If the admissions to the psychia-
trists are allowed as evidence, the
testimony will prove a blow to Ca
toes defense. On the witness stand
during the day he had charged that
the police filled in his confession
on blank sheets of paper which
he had signed. and that he had
not seen the alleged statements be-
fore today In answer to a direct
question by one of his lawyers, he
had denied this afternoon that he
had killed Mrs. Abramowitz
Defense Attorney J. Robert Esher,
concluding direct examination of
Catoe, earlier had asked
Were you ever in that apartment
on Sixteenth street before police
took you there on August 28?'
No, sir: l never had my foot in
there before
"Catoe, did you kill Mrs. Rose
Abramowitz?
NO, sir"