Evening star., 1946-02-18
Prosecutor Tells
Jury Connors
Made Up Story
U. S. Begins Closing
Argument, Stressine
Change in Defense

Assistant United States ATTORNEY
William Hitz in his final argument
In the District Court trial of Ray
mond Connors in the murders of
Edward Barker and Pany Cas-
barian, charged today that Con-
nors testimony was made up after
the Governments case was in.
Mr.. Barker and Mr.. Casbarian
were slain last February % in
trailer which Mr.. Barker used as an
office on used-ear lot at Four
teenth and N streets NV.
Mr.. Hitz cited passages in the long
record of the trial which, he said.
showed there had been a switch in
defense strategy. He emphasized
that Defense Attorney James J.
Laughlin has attempted to break
down testimony that Connors was
the man who sold a stolen car to
Mr.. Barker II months before the
murders. He said this effort was
made in Mr.. Laughlin's cross-exami-
nation of John Barnes, Mr.. Barker's
partner, and Foye Black, Gus
! toner.
Cites Story of Trip Here.
Mr.. Hitz then said that the story
| that Connors made trip to WASH
lngton several days before the muir
ders to make restitution to Mr..
Barker for the stolen car Connors
had unwittingly sold him, first came
in the second opening statement of
the dense after the Government had
closed its case
When Connors took the stand he
said he made this trip to Washing
ton with Joseph Little Joe) Vinci,
Connors' alleged accomplice, who
testified for the prosecution. Mr..
Hltz emphasized today that Mr..
Laughlin in his lengthy cross
animation of Vinci near the end
OF the Government case, did not
ask him any questions about that
trip being made to pay restitution.
Mr. Hltz called the murders "one
of the most brutal and, still more
important, one of the most unnec-
essary murders in the history of
Washington"
He complimented the jury on its
attentiveness, demonstrated by the
jurors remembering the numbers
OF exhibits when opposing counsel
and the judge had forgotten them.
Mr.. Hitz started his talk to the
jury at lO:40 am. He had previ-
ously told the court it would take
him two hours to complete the sum-
nation. Mr.. Hitz is assisting Charles
B. Murray, senior United States at
torney, in the prosecution.
4 AS to the motive of the murders,
which the Government contends was
not only robbery but Connors' de-
J sire to do away with a witness to
whom he had sold a stolen car, Mr..
Hltz emphasized the defendants
fear in the weeks preceding the
crime. Connors had gone on the
LAM Mr.. HitZ said. as soon as he
heard that the FBI was asking ques-
tlons about the stolen automobile.
Connors Disguise Stressed.
"Connors went to live at a neigh
bor's home" Mr.. Hitz said. He
grew mustache. He wore fake eye
glasses. That's how worried and
afraid he was.
After the crime, he came back to
Yonkers tConnors' New York home
and gave himself up in a day OF
two" Mr.. HitZ said.
The assistant prosecutor empha-
: sized line from Connors' own testi.
, mony in cross-examination as te
why he had given himself up on the
stolen car charge. Connors had an
swered, because there is absolutely
no case against me-
Mr.. Hitz said, There was no case
because the witness against him had
: been brutally murdered"