Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-25
By ALFRED TOOMBS.

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 a 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 a loud rap on the door OF
their chambers.
They informed court attache
that they had reached a 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 off 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 lelsureiy
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 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. 47O7 Connecticut avenue, who
had been designated jury foreman.
Convicted on Two Counts.
"Mr. Foreman" asked the clerk,
shave you reached verdict?"
1--WE have" replied Mr.. Mandell.
How say you on the first count
of the Indictment" (This 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 indictment?" 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 a
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
he 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:
II 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.
Captors in Court.
The two New York detectives who
trapped Catoe- we're in court to heal
him found guilty.
Andrew M. O'Connor and Johr
J. v. Carroll, who traced Catoe II
the murder of Bronx waitress
have been in Washington since the
trial opened. Mr.. OConnor was
called as a witness, but Mr.. Carol
has been i'll during most of the trial
They appear to be the most likely
recipients of the rewards offered ir
the murder cases which Catoe ha.
confessed, although no decision has
vet been made.