Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-09

the calendar where it probably
would remain indefinitely.
Southern Democrats have deliv-
cred most Of the oratorical TRADES
Prosecution Prepares
Attack on Connors
Trailer Sayings AIibi
Testimony of Raymond Connors,
on trial for his life in the Staying
,of Edward Barker and Pany Cas-
barian that he was attending the
Friday night fights at Madison
Square Garden, New York, on Feb
ruary %, the night of the double
murders was under prosecution
scrutiny today.
Connors, q confident witness, will
continue his story in direct exami-
nation In answer to questions by
Defense Attorney James j. Laugh
lin, at 10 am. Monday. On its con-
clusion the REORGANIZATION by
Assistant United States Attorney
Charles B. Murray or his assistant,
William Hitz, will begin.
The evidence indicates that the
murders of Mr.. Barker, used-car
dealer, and Mr.. Casbarian, &C.
Cured shortly after pm. on Feb
ruary %. Both men were found
bound hand and foot and shot
through the head in the automobile
trailer Mr.. Barker used as an office
on his used-car lot at Fourteenth
and N streets NV.
Won $3.50 on Fights.
Connors, who speaks in a we'll
modulated voice, is bound to be asked
a great deal about the fights that
night when the prosecution begins
cross-examination. The tall, broad
shouldered defendant was legiti-
mately engaged in selling used and
new cars in Yonkers before the start
OF the war despite two youthful Of
lenses, car theft and robbery, that
sent him to New York reformatories.
On the night in question, Ray Rob-
inson, colored welterweight from
Harlem, won decision over his
heavier opponent, Jake La Motta,
Bronx middleweight, in their fourth
encounter.
Connors, who took the stand in his
own defense late yesterday, testified
that he won $3.50 on Robinson that
night. He had that money in his
pocket, he testified, when he met Nan
Ward, an attractive Yonkers wait
ress, on the afternoon of February "a
in New York and bought her fur
coat for SAT- from a Fifth avenue
furrier.
AS for the diamond he pawned on
March S for $500-his testimony was
that he got 1t from Joseph Vinci.
Vinci, known also as Little Joe, is
alleged to be Connors' accomplice in
the crime. Vinci was arrested after
the trial started, turned States evil
dence and testified for the prosecu-
ton.
Tells Of Call ON Barker.
Connors testified he had known
Vinci about two years. Both of
them, Connors said, drove to Wash
ington on February 16 or II and
called on Mr.. Barker about pm.
in his trailer Office. The circum-
stances. Connors said, were these:
In December, 1874, Thomas j.
McEneaney, another prosecution
witness who said he knew the late
Dutch Schultz, notorious gangster
of the prohibition era, very wel,'
was arrested by the FBI on a stolen
car charge. It was then, Connors
said, he learned for the first time
that another car, which he had OBJ
tanned from McEneaney and sold to
Mr.. Barker, one Of the murdered
men, was stolen car.
Connors testimony summarized
is that:
He and vinci drove to Wash
ington, leaving about noon on the
dates mentioned and arriving at
$50 or 6:45. They went to Mr..
Barker's trailer Office and Connors
paid Mr. Barker $3.50 plus $50 for
the trouble he had encountered in
purchasing the stolen car. Mr..
Barker added the money to a large
roll he drew from his pocket. Mr..
Barker did not at first recognize
Connors as the man who had sold
him the stolen car IL months be-
fore, but then said: "I've been look
ing for you long time" After the
money was paid they remained talk
ing to Mr.. Barker for an hour.
Vinci and Connors then drove back
to New York.
Says Vinci Borrowed $3.50.
On that trip Vinci borrowed $3.50
from Connors to pay OF bets he
was holding in "a horse action" He
told Connors he would repay him on
Saturday, February "a. Connors
called on Vinci at the Bronx bar
and grill he frequented on that
morning expecting to be paid the
$3.50. Vinci told him that he had
lost all his money in a crap game
the night before, but showed him
Ia diamond ring, which Vinci said
was worth 900. Connors said it
did not look worth 81 900 to him and
offered Vinci $500. Connors finally
bought it for $500, giving Vinci the
money above the $3.50 he owed Con-
nors. Vinci agreed to that with one
PROFESSIONALISM the setting be re-
turned to him.
Connors said the setting was
platinum, not gold"
The Government contends the
ring was one worn constantly by
MIR. Barker-a ring with q green
or white gold setting.
Vinci, recalled as witness. pre-
coded Commons on the stand. Mr..
Laughlin read from his confession
to the police and asked him about
discrepancies.
Mr. T,aupI,lfn x,oc oc,,oc;a1I,, ;,,&.r