Evening star., 1946-02-05
LaughIin Denies
Connors Was in
District Feb. 3
Defense Opens Case,
Claiming vinci Knew
Barker Had Money

Attorney James J. Laughlin, who
Is defending Raymond Connors
against charges that he murdered
Edward Barker and Pany Cas-
barian, today denied his client was
In Washington on February %, the
day the two men were slain in a
trailer-offce on Mr.. Barker's Four
teenth street uSed-car lot.
Mr.. Laughlin made his statement
to the jury in opening his defense.
The attorney also charged that
Joseph Uittle Joe) Vinci, who was
indicted with Connors and testified
against him, had knowledge of Mr..
Barker's habit of carrying large
sums Of money on his person.
Mr.. Laughlin told the jury that
Vinci had seen Connors pay Mr..
Barker $3.50 restitution for the
sale Of a stolen automobile a few
days before the murders. i
Didn't Steal Car.
Vinci had driven to Washington
with Connors about February 10,
according to Mr. Laughlin. Con-
nors came to Washington, the law
yer said, because he felt some re-
sponsibility about a stolen car that
had been sold to Mr.. Barker's firm
In March, 1874. Connors did not
steal the car, Mr.. Laughlin said.
The attorney did not further ex-
plain Connor's responsibility"
The defense attorney began his
opening statement by saying that
the indictment was not brought in
good faith-that police officers
knew at all times the whereabouts
of Vinci.
Vinci is not a co-defendant in
the trial He was indicted with
Connors after Connors had been
arrested on charges of robbery and
murder. Vinci was at large but
was arrested on the third day of
the trial. He then confessed, turned
states evidence and became the
principal prosecution witness.
Mr.. Laughlin said, 1--WE will show
you that in 1914 or, early in 1945
the defendant (Connors) did meet
Vinci." The lawyer then told about
Connors' feeling of responsibility
regarding the automobile theft.
Drove to District.
"Vinci drove Connors to the Dis
trict of Columbia on or about Feb
ruary 49," Mr.. Laughlin said. Both
went into Mr.. Barker's place, Con-
nors going there to reimburse Mr..
Barker. Connors paid Mr.. Barker
$3.50 in the presence of vinci.
Vinci then had an opportunity to
observe that Mr.. Barker carried
large sums of money.
''The evidence will show that on
February % Mr.. Connors surren-
dered to agents of the FBI in con-
nection with the car deal. The evi-
dence against him was so slight
that he was released on personal
bond, or very nominal bond" The
attorneys voice carried added en-
phasis as he stated "Connors was
not in the District of Columbia
February %, 1945."
Denies Any Promise"
The court today opened with a
discussion between Justice David A.
Pine, Charles B. Murray, assistant
United States attorney, prosecuting,
and Mr.. Laughlin, in the absence of
the jury on promise" that vinci
would be allowed to plead guilty to
second degree murder. Justice Pine
stated for the record that notwith-
standing Vinci's testimony, that
there had been no promise, Mr..
Murray had come to Justice Pine
and told him that Vinci wanted to
plead guilty to second degree mur-
der and asked permission to accept
the plea.
Justice Pine said he told the prose-
cutor that Vinci's testimony did not
make him guilty of second-degree,
but he supposed there was other evil
dence on which the grand jury had
indicted Vinci and the nature of
which Justice Pine had no way of
determining. Justice Pine said that
Mr.. Murray had then expressed
some misgivings as to his own will
ingness to accept the plea to such
severe charge, but that Vinci
wanted to do it.
The jury was then called in and
Mr.. Murray told them that Vinci
was going to be allowed to plead
| guilty to SecOnd-degree murder.