Evening star., 1946-02-01
Vinci Ends Testimony
As Connors Defense
Fails 10 Shake Story

Joseph Vinci, alleged accomplice
of Raymond Connors, 32-year-old
Yonkers IN. " automobile sales
man, charged with the murders of
Edward Barker and Pany Casbarian.
finished testifying as a prosecution
witness in District Court today after
having been on the stand since
Wednesday afternoon.
At the end of a day and a half
OF crosS-examination, Defense At
torney James j. Laughlin had sue
ceeded in bringing out only one
variation in Vincis direct testimony
as to how the double Staying had
occurred.
Vinci Admits Using Cab.
On cross-examination Vinci said
he took taxicab to Union Station
after tying up Barker and Casbarian
at Connor's direction. He said he
rushed out of the trailer when he
realized Connors was going to shoot
both men.
In direct examination Vinci had
said that he walked to the station,
where he met Connors and returned
to New York with him.
The Government had expected to
close its case against Connors today :.
but was unable to do so when court
adjourned until 10 am. Monday.
Mr.. Barker, used-car dealer
and his friend, Mr.. Casbarian, were
shot to death last February % in
Mr.. Barker's automobile trailer of
flee on a used-car parking lot at
Fourteenth and N streets NV.
They were bound and gagged before
being killed.
Errs on Taxicab Meter.
The only other break brought out
by Mr.. Laughlin was Vinci's recol-
lection that the taxicab had a meter.
"All taxicabs have meters" he said.
New York taxicabs have meters;
Washington taXicabs do not.
Pressed as to whether he expected
clemency for his testimony, Vinci
said:
"All want is a fair break"
Mr.. Laughlin asked him his idea
of that.
Vinci waved at the jury and said
Justice"
Knew Police Had Picture.
Much of Vinci's cross -examina-
tlon today was taken up with the
period between September % and
January 16 (two days after the trial
started) when he was a fugitive
from an indictment charging him
and Connors with the murders.
He said he knew his picture was
on the wall of the police station in
Englewood, N. j., where he was
living.
Asked how he knew it, he said:
Il was in the restaurant one day
and a 12-year-old boy came in and
said, Hey, Nick, have you a twin
brother? saw a picture of a guy
that looks just like you except he
didn't have mustache.'"
Picked Up by Police.
Vlncl was wearing a mustache
when arrested.
Vinci testified that a policeman
with whom he had been friendly in
Englewood stopped him one day
(January 16) and said, THE SER
geant wants to see you"
Once in the police station, he
said, the sergeant said to him, Take
your hat off"
Il knew then" said Vinci 1.-The
Jig was up"
Describes "Shakedown."
Vinci insisted under cross-exam-
ination that he came to Washing
ton with Connors to pull a shake
down" and not robbery.
Vinci said he understood that
the "shakedown" was to be carried
out in this manner:
Vinci was to enter the trailer Of
flee and offer Mr.. Barker some
black-market gasoline coupons. Con-
nors, who had a law officers badge
with him, was to come in and catch
them in the act Connors was to
make an arrest and suggest that the
matter could be settled.
Vinci testified yesterday that they
had successfully pulled such a shake
Hnur1 sfy1r, IL, thu pro,xy |