Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-23
Seaman Story
Read 10 Jurors
AtS|ayiing Trial.
Struck Mrs. Kotonu.
Who RepuIsed Him,
Statement Says
By Jerry oLeoy, Jr.
Ssar Stoff Correspondent

S'of SToV @efrespondenf .-
LEONARDTOWN, Md, Sept. AZ.
"A statement by Seaman 10
Joseph Daniel Brouillette In which
ne admitted striking Mrs. Julia
katona after ripping her clothing
In an attempt to force his advances
on her. was read to a St. Marys
County Circuit Court jury today BY
States Attorney c. Henry Camalier.
The sailor Is on trial for murder Of
the Navy officers wife.
State Trooper George Sanger
testified the 22-year -old defendant
signed the statement in the presence
OF five persons at the Leonardtown
jail voluntarily and without prom
ises.' The statement, in question
and answer form, said that Brouil-
lette and Mrs. Katona, IS, had
gone to a cabin near the Katona
nome at Tall Timbers, Md, after a
poker party broke up at about IL
pm. on July %.
Brouiuette, according to the state
ment, said he and the woman went
to the cabin in search OF q deck Of
cards, at Mrs. Katpna's suggestion.
Husband Watches Tensely.
I'VE kissed several times" Brouil-
lette's statement declared, but Mrs,
katona resisted his further ad-
vances. Then, as Mr.. Camalier read
the interrogation painstakingly and
slowly to the jury, Brouillette's
statement told how he ripped of
her clothing and struck her several
times.
Il don't know why I struck her,
I didn't know I'd killed her" the
statement concluded.
1t. Frank Katona, husband of
the dead woman, sat tenSely and bit
his lip when Mr.. Camalier produced
the torn and blood-stained cloth
ing found in the cabin beside his
wife's body late on July %.
State Trooper Sanger and Corpl.
Lester Gray of the State police tes-
titled that Brouillette, who comes
from Manchester, N. H., led them
to wooded spot where he said he
had buried the clothing he wore to
the poker game. The troopers said
they found not only blood-stained
portions Of Navy uniforms, but also
Mrs. Katona's billfold and eyeglasses
at the spot indicated by the de-
PENDANT.
Police Cross examined.
State Senator Paul j. Daley, at
torney for Brouillette, rose after
reading of the statement and
brought out through cross-exAm-
nation Of the police that Brouil!ette
had voluntarily shown them the
cache Of his blood-stained clothes
and identified as his own, without
urging, a ring found near Mrs.
Katona's body. - - -
h Shortly after the jury was sworn
Tin, q little after 10 am. Mr.. CANA
|ldier told the court he expects to
|tprove that the defendant attacked
Mrs. katona In the cabin with in
tent to rape her after she had re-
sisted improper advances"
While the pale young seaman
listened, Senator Bailey declared
Brouillette voluntarily gave the
State practically all of its evidence.
4 Brouillette will take the stand and
tell the entire story as he knows 1t,
the defense attorney told the jury.
Clenches Wife's Hand.
During the half hour occupied In
selecting the jury, Brouillette tightly
clenched the left hand of his young
wife. His mother and father sat
near him. Brouillette said nothing
to either his attorneys or his family.
The first witness, Julian Lane.
acting county coroner at the time of
the murder, testified that Mrs. Ka-
tomas death was caused by strangu-
lation. He said he examined her
body on July "a, and found 1t COW
cred with a tremendous number Of
bruises.
Mr.. Bailey brought out in cross
examination that the marks on Mrs.
Katona's throat covered only one
side OF the neck, and DR.. Lane
agreed that considerable force would
have had to be exerted in order to
cause death.
! James M. Colasanto, Alexandria
attorney who took part in a poker
game before the murder, told the
court Of two brushes" he had with
Mrs. Katona before he, his wife and
!, the others left Brouillette and the
victim at II pm.
Once, he testified, he noted a
kitchen stove gas jet was turned on.
Mr.. Colasanto said he turned 1t OF
and then pointed out to Mrs. Ka-
tona that gas had been escaping.
} The witness said she persistently
denied the. Jet had been opened.
i Did Not Appreciate Joke.
Mr.. Colasanto said that at 1880
pm, when 1t. Katona called his
wife on the telephone, he had JOSH
ingly remarked, What's the matter,
is your husband checking up on
your"
The witness said Mrs. Katona OBJ
viously did not appreciate the Joke.
He quoted her as replying, mol My
husband and I are very much in love,
and there is no checking done"
Mr.. Colasanto said Mrs. Katona
had impressed him as rather dis
agreeable" and said In answer to q
question by Senator Bailey that Mrs.
Katona had not shown any partic-
ular interest in any one at the poker
party. 49,.
1t. Katona returned from a "a
hour tour Of duty at the station late
on July % to find the nude body Of
his 35-year- wife on the floor Of
an 8-by-20 foot rustic cabin about
80 yards from the Katona cabin.
The cabin showed signs of q terrific
struggle.
t The officer said he had gone In
/, search of his wife after returning
S nome and hearing from his 8-year-
t old twins, Barry Frank and Bonnie
|, Joy that "Mommy" had not been
home.
i First American Migrants
! Arrive in Austruliu
The first group of American mi
: grants invited by Australia to set