Evening star., 1948-09-28
u. ). Nears End
Of fTestim!onyin
Brass Rail Case
Simkins Says He Knows
No Reason for Leoke
To Look for Him
By Chris Mothisen

by Ihns MofhISen
The man the Government con-
tends Henry M. piggy Leake
thought was stealing his numbers
business told q District Court jury
today that he knew no reason why
Leake would have been looking for
him" at the time of two shootings
at the cafe last January.
The witness, Roger Williams Sim
kins, colored, 1928 Twelfth street
NE, had testified yesterday under
questioning by Assistant United
States Attorney Charles B. Murray,
with the jury excluded, that he had
known the defendant for a number
of years but that their relations
were nothing but friendly"
Leake, who lives in the 100 block
of r street NE, is or trial with
Charles Henry Nelson, 1900 block of
H street NE, on assault charges
arising from the shootings January
8 at the Brass Rail, 1899 Seventh
street NV. The defendants, who
are 80 and colored, are accused of
wounding each other.
The Government was expected to
rest its case this afternoon. Judge
Henry A. Schweinhaut ordered a
recess to permit a check on the con-
dition of Miss Odessa Marie Madre,
colored, a former numbers game fig-
ure, who wants to be recalled to the
stand for further testimony as q
Government witness.
Refuses to Reveal Occupation.
Judge Schweinhaut explained he
had been informed Miss Madre was
i'll. He said a deposition would be
taken from her if 1t were estab-
lished she could not appear.
Mr.. Simkins, whose wife, Mrs.
Yvonne Mitchell Simkins, is prin-
cipal owner of the cafe business
testified two detectives accompanied
him on one of his visits to Nelson
In Freedmen's Hospital. He said
the visit occurred one Sunday after
noon, after he had been to church.
He identified the policemen as
Detective Miller A. Dixon and De-
tective Sergeant Reuben Nichols
both OF whom are colored and who
are assigned to the robbery squad
They have been Government wit
nesses in the case.
While on the stand yesterday, Mr..
Sinkins refused to reveal his occu-
patton. On advice of his lawyer,
James K. Hughes, he told Judge
Schweinhaut he was standing on his
constitutional right not to answer
a question which might tend to
incriminate him.
Didn't Manage Cafe.
Mr.. Hughes told his client not to
answer a later question as to
whether his occupation had changed
in the last 20 years. Judge Schwein-
haut directed MIR. Simkins to an
swpr this osses however, and he said
it iladsaaot. a@'-'
Ulltaer MISUNDERSTANDING by Mr.
Murray, the dignified looking, white
haired witness, admitted he fire.
quented the Brass Rail, but in
sisted he had no part in its man
agement. Because Of his wife IS
ownership, he explained. he went
there to see If everything was all
right" but usually there was moth
ing to do but sit around and have
a drink"
On giving his full name at the
start of his testimony, Mr.. Simkins
said he was named for "the first
Baptist minister in America"
Nickname Of Pop"
He admitted being known by the
nickname Pop" but denied he was
called White Top" an appellation
which had cropped up during the
trial.
Mr. Simkins said he was ac-
quainted with Isadore (Shep) Sha-
piro, previous witness, and had
seen him at the Brass Rail.
The examination yesterday was
to permit Judge Schweinhaut to
rule on what questioning would be
permitted today before the jury.
There were frequent objections
from defense counsel. Ray L.
jenkins, one of Leake's lawyers,
characterized Mr.. Murray's ques-
tions as "a fishing expedition" Bef-
nard Margolius, representing Nell
son, said they might be proper
before the special (gambling) grand
jury, but not in the trial OF this
case"
Mr.. Murray told reporters he would
rest this case after finishing the
questioning of Mr.. Simkins and Miss
Madre.
Mrs. Simkins Testifies.
Several Government witnesses have
testified they heard Nelson say,
while in Freedmen's Hospital, that
he had been shot by man who
came to the Brass Rail. where he
was night manager, and asked for
either "Simkins" or "Shep" In his
opening statement to the jury, Mr.
Murray said Mr. Simkins and Mr.
Shapiro we're associated and had in
Cured the ire of Leake, who he said,
had found his numbers take" fall
ing.
Mrs. Simkins, who also testified
yesterday, was asked by Mr.. Murray
before the jury was permitted to
hear her. whether she did not know
it to be a fact" that her husband
was engaged in the gambling busi-
ness"
mo. and I also resent your saying
that" she replied, sharply.
Judge Schweinhaut ruled the
question could not be asked before
the jury.
Fringe Parking
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