Evening star., 1948-09-21
Brass Rail Case
WitnessQuiizzed
On Shooting
Acquaintance Of z
On TrioI Says He
Sow Nelson Fire
O., rL..s "A ~kk.eaa
By Chris Mothisen


Defense attorneys were to con.
tinue today their cross examination
of a witness who contends he saw
one of the two shootings involved
In the Brass Rail case being triec
In District Court.
He is Cornelius Parker. 81, colored
Of $50 Seaton place NV.
Under questioning by Assistant
United States Attorney Charles B
Murray yesterday, Mr.. Parker testi-
field he saw Charles Henry Nelson
stand in a doorway Of the Brass
Rail. a cafe at 1889 Seventh street
NV, early last January 8 anc
fire "a couple of shots" at Henry
M. Leake.
Nelson, OF the 1900 block of +
street NE, is on trial on charges
of assault with intent to kill ano
assault with deadly weapon
Ieake, who lives in the 100 block OF
r street NE, is being tried at the
same time on charges OF assault
with intent to kill and assault with
a deadly weapon. Both are 80 and
colored.
Knew Defendants Casually.
Mr.. Parker said he had known
the two defendants casually for
some time. The morning they were
wounded, he related, he was ap-
preaching the cafe to visit friend
employed there, when he saw Mel
son shoot in the direction of Leake.
He said the latter was on the side
walk. heading toward his Leake'sp
automobile, which was parked at
the curb.
II saw Leake turn as II he was
about to fall" the witness added.
He said he saw nothing further OF
the incident. because he walked
away briskly," but heard "a couple
more shots" as he fastened north
on Seventh street.
Attorney Bernard Margohus. rep
resenting Nelson. was questioning
Mr.. Parker closely on distances in
volved in the witness observations
and the attire of the men he saw
when Judge Henry A. Schwelnhaut
declared a recess until today.
Policemen Testify.
Mr.. Parker said he had been with
out employment for about year.
Earlier. Pvts. Peter M. Zazanis ano
James Beach of No. 13 Precinct
testified they were the first police.
men on the scene. They differed il
details of what was said by Nelson
an employe of the Brass Rail, bu
agreed the wounded man told then
he had been shot by q man who
had tried unsuccessfully to galr
admittance to the cafe, which
was closed for the night. They
also testified Nelson said he ther
had gone behind a counter for his
own gun and had fired at the in
truder.
Pvt. Zazanis said he spoke to Mel
son later at Freedmen's Hospital. AT
that time, he said. Nelson told him
his assailant was the man being
treated for a bullet wound in a
nearby room That man was Leake
according to Pvt. ZazaniS.
Miss Odessa Marie Madre, COL
ored, of the 100 block of First
street, another Government wit
ness, testified she knew Leake by
the nickname Piggy
Denies Talk of Shooting.
Mr.. Murray asked whether they
had talked about shooting or
about a visit by Leake to the Brass
Rail. She said they had not.
did he say anything to YOU in
regard to his business and mention
the name of man named Roger
Simkins?" MI. Murray then in
quired,
I'VE had a conversations" Miss
Madre began.
Attorney Curtis P. Mitchell, rep
resenting Iea,-e. OF .ected to this
: line of ques tion;lt:. After a confer
ence at the beIch. JUDGE SchWein-
iaut sustained him. holding such a
question was not pertinent at the
time.
Mr.. Murray had told the Jury IN
+, his opening statement the Govern
Dlent expected to show Leake shot
Nelson while looking for Mr.. Sim
kins in connection with a numbers
: came dispute and then was shot by
B Nelson Mr.. Simkins' wife is prin-
cipal owner of the cafe business.
Miss Madre. who has police
record, including a gaming charge
fn1uiNtinn hnfoYo ba
h special grand jury investigating
=, gambling here.
The jurors hearing the case are:
Arthur A. Adler, 42, of 1928 Forti-
eth place NV, co-proprietor of a
t. haberdashery and sporting goods
:, shop; Miss Dorothy l.. Barnett, So
OF 1889 Thirteenth street NV, ed
itorial clerk with the Army Depart
ment: Thomas c. Bennett. 81. of
: 712 Eleventh street Sc, Army De-
partment clerk: Miss Carrie F.
Boyd, 80, of 8l5 Eighteenth street
NV, Bureau of Internal Revenue
CLERK; Earl w. Brooks. 80. of 100
81 Bay street Sc, Safeway Stores
= clerk; William B. Carson, As. of 2225
N street NV, listed as unemployed
Harry Goldsmith, 46. of SIPS Third
street NV, Metropolitan Life In
>surance Co. collector; Miss Sara A
Hamilton, 80. of 929 Forty-eighth
:, place NE, Treasury Department
machine operator; Robert C. Han
sen, q, of 1921 Thirty stree,
Sc, postal clerk; George E. He'll
: wig, 46, of 205 Oglethorpe street
). NV, Naval Gun Factory storekeep.
er; Stuart A. Hollar. 35. of 610 Ken.
Nnedy street NV. telephone repair.
man, and Mrs. Elvira c. Hunt. 40. Of
:, 1918 Swami street NV, Bureau Of
J., Internal Revenue clerk.