Evening star., 1946-05-30
.Vinci Murder Trial
Expected TO Reach
Jury Tomorrow

The first-degree murder and rob-
berry case in which Joseph Vinci, 80
year-old Bronx IN. Y. machinist, is
accused is expected to be in the
hands of District jury tomorrow.
Assistant United States Attorney
Charles B. Murray told newspaper
men informally that the possible
verdictS are guilty of first degree or
second degree murder, or robbery
and not guilty.
Mr.. Murray is prepared to make
his closing address to the jury to-
morrow, after Defense Counsel Will
liam A. Gallagher of Washington
and Fred Baroni of New York have
had their say before the Jurors.
The trial is in recess over Memorial
Day.
Prosecution Argument.
In presenting prosecution argu-
ments to the jury yesterday, Assist
ant United States Attorney William
Hitz characterized the crime as
among 'the most unnecessary and
brutal killings this city has, ever
seer" -" Vinci is charged with mur-
dering Edward Barker and Pany
Casbarian in a trailer -of1ce at
Fourteenth and N streets NV. on
February %, 1945. about 7 pm. His
co-defendant, Raymond F. Connors,
80, Yonkers. N. Y, against whom
Vinci testified, was acquitted in
February by another District Court
jury.
Mr.. Hitz told the jury that two
hoodlums came down from New
York to accomplish the crime" The
prosecutor said that whether they
came here for extortion, as Vinci
contends, or for robbery, as the in
dictment alleges, is lone of the i'm
portant parts of this case you have
to decide" Vinci's story is that he
and Connors came here to shake
down" a "showof," who flashed
around "easy money" Vinci said he
learned later that Mr.. Barker was
q witness against Connors In a
stolen car case.
Mr.. Hitz told the jury that Vinci
was used by the Government as a
witness in the Connors case because
some statements in Vinci's story
which could be verified were checked
by the authorities and found to be
true. He recalled that no death
weapon has been recovered. The
prosecutor said there are certain
parts of Vinci's statement which can
not be verified and may never be.
1t is up to the jury to decide which
is true and which is not, he said.
Points Admitted.
The prosecutor called attention
to the points that Vinci has ad-
mitted being at the scene of the
crime, although he maintains he
was not present in the trailer when
Connors fired the fatal shots; that
Vinci waited at Union Station for
Connors after the crime for 45 min
utes, although he could have taken
either Of two trains back to New
York in the interval; lack of resist
ance put up by the two victims; that
Vinci took part of the loot from
Connors: that Vinci made efforts
to sell the ring that Coianors had
taken from Mr.. Barker's hand: that
Vinci and Connors kept up a rela-
tionship until Connors' arrest in
August, 1915; that Vinci fed to- En-
glewood, N. j.. and remained in
hiding for some five months; that
Vinci admitted he returned to the
trailer to get a magazine he feared
had his fingerprints on it and that
Vinci could have had a motive in
wanting the witnesses to the robbery
removed"
Mr.. Hitz told the jurors that he is
confident they will be able to reach
a verdict that will do justice to the
Government, the defendant and the
court and your own consciences."