Evening star., 1946-02-08
Witness1esfifies
He Saw Vinci
With Small Gun
Dutch Schultz Friend
Tells Of Seeing
Weapon in 1914

- 80 y
Thomas J. McEneaney, self-styled
frisnd of the late Dutch Schultz,
New York beer baron, testified in
District Court today he had never
seen Raymond Connors, defendant
In the Barker-C -Casbarian murder
trial, with a gun, but that he had
seen Joseph Vinci with a small
automatic pistol at one time.
Vinci, alleged accomplice of Con-
nors, has turned States evidence
In the double shooting last February
70 of Edward Barker, used-car
dealer. and his friend, Pany Cas-
barian. The murders took place in
MIR. Barker's trailer-office at Four
teenth and N streets NV.
According to balliStics experts, a
.25-caliber automatic pistol was
used by the murderer.
Saw Pistol in 1914.
McEneaney testified that in No
vember, 1914, he saw Vinci with a
small automatic pistol in a New
York bar and grill. McEneaney
said Mrs. Rita Hayes, another wit
ness in the case, was with him. Mrs.
Hayes wanted Vinci to get her some
nylons, McEneaney said. They met
Vlnci, had two or three drinks and
1t was on this occasion, McEneaney
said, that he saw the pistol in Vinci's
possession.
Ham and Eggs Debated.
The availability of ham and eggs
on the diner of a train leaving
Washington on the night Mr.. Barker
and Mr.. Casbarian were murdered
was debated earlier today.
Attempting to break down the
testimony of Vinci, Defense Attorney
James j. Laughlin called Harry
Karr, division passenger agent of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Mr.. Karr was asked to testify as
to the menus in the dining cars on
the 8 and pm. trains leaving
Washington on February %. Mr..
Barker and Mr.. Casbarian had been
shot that night about 7 o'clock.
Defense Attorney James j. Laugh
Vlnci had testified that Connors
had eaten ham, eggs, pie and coffee
"as if nothing had happened"
WAS it possible to order ham
and eggs?" Mr.. Laughlin asked con-
corning both trains. The answer
was mo, sir"
On cross-examination, Charles B.
Murray, assistant United States at
torney, brought out that the menu
did include baked ham and raisin
sauce. He also brought out that
eggs were available.
He could order baked ham and
he could order eggs" the witness
said.
And if he did that, he would
have ham and eggs, would be not?"I
Mr.. Murray asked. Mr.. Karr an.
swered yes, and there was laughter
In the courtroom.
1t seemed doubtful whether Con-
nors would take the witness stand
today, as had been expected.
Once Sold Autos.
Connors, who was an automobile |
salesman until the war started, has
already appeared on the stand-but
in the absence of the jury. He is 80
years old and has served terms in
New York reformatories for car
theft and robbery. He talks with a
cultivated Eastern accent; rarely
lapses into grammatical error.
Connors, through counsel, yester-
day asked the court to instruct the
jury, when the time comes, that
the verdicts are to be not guilty
or guilty of murder in the first de-
gree. The latter verdict makes SEN
tence to the electric chair man.
datory.
The request was made while the
trial was in recess for a day because
juror was attending the funeral
of his father. Justice David A.
Pine, to save time, entertained
defense and prosecution requests to
include statements of the law in
his instructions to the jury.
Asked to Define Doubts.
When Mr.. Laughlin made the
request, Mr.. Murray interjected:
Under the evidence that's all the
jury could do"
One of the defense requests was
that the judge define reasonable
doubt" to the jury. Justice Pine
accepted the definition offered by
the defense with the exception of
one word. He pointed out that in
stead of abiding faith" in the guilt
of the defendant, the words usu-
ally used were abiding conviction
of guilt"
Mr.. Laughlin consented to the
change.
However, your honor" he said,
conviction is word I abhor."
Examination of the court stenog-
rapher's transcript of the testimony
of Frank H. Huseman, professional
trap and skeet shooter called by
the defense as a firearms expert
revealed it at variance with the
report of it in The Star Wednesday.
Mr.. Huseman testified that of the
four bullets that killed the two
men, three were fired at to 20
feet distance and one at very
close" range. The Stars report
said one was fired from the dis
tance mentioned and three at very
close range.
Winchester Man Alters
Pleu in Income Tax Case
By the Associated Press.