Evening star., 1948-09-25
Prosecution Slated
To Rest on Monday
In Brass Rail Case
By Chris Mothisen

NUtCl SAObu1AS
complete its presentation Monday
in the Brass Rail case," being tried
in District Court, according to As
sistant United States Attorney
Charles B. Murray, in charge of the
prosecution.
The case involves assault charges
against Charles Henry Nelson and
Henry M. piggy Leake, both 80
and colored. They are accused OF
shooting each other at the Brass
Rail, a cafe at 1899 Seventh street
NV, last January 8. They live
respectively, in the 1900 block of II
street NE. and the 100 block Of
r street NE.
Witnesses Monday. Mr.. Murray
said, will include Isadore (Shep)
Shapiro, who was on the stand
when Judge Henry A. Schweinhaut
recessed the trial yesterday after
noon: Mrs. M. Yvonne Simkins
principal owner of the cafe busi-
ness: her husband, Roger w
white Top Simkins, and Miss
Odessa Marie Madre, former num-
bers bookie, who already has given
some testimony. Miss Madre and
the Simkins are colored.
Quizzed on Cafe Entrances.
Mr.. Shapiro, Of 2041 Huidekoper
place NV, was asked his name and
address when he took the stand
yesterday. After giving them, Mr..
Murray asked him to tell, If he
could, how many entrances there
are to the Brass Rail- The witness
asked Judge Schweinhaut if he
could consult his lawyer. The Judge
replied he could not with respect
to that question.
Mr.. Shapiro then said:
Two, to my knowledge"
Mr.. Murray asked where they
were. Mr.. Shapiro said on S street
and at the corner of Seventh and
S streets.
Judge Schweinhaut decided to
begin the weekend recess at this
point. Mr.. Shapiro's connection
with the Brass Rail, II any, was not
established.
Tell of Nelson's Statement.
Earlier, however. two police wit
nesses testified Nelson stated, while
under treatment in Fyeedman's
Hospital, that he was shot by q
man who had come to the Brass Raj
demanding to see "Shep" or Sim
kins". They were Detective Sergt
Reuben Nichols and Detective Will
lard H. Dixon both colored, of the
Robbery Squad.
During questioning by Mr. Muir
ray. Sergt. Nichols said he talked to
Nelson at Freedmen's Hospital. He
said Nelson remarked:
What you said come true"
Attorneys for Nelson and Leake
objected to this line of questioning.
and Judge Schweinhaut sustained
the objection. What prediction, II
any, Sergt. Nichols had made was
not explained.
In his opening statement to the
jury Monday, Mr.. Murray said the
Government expected to prove
Leake had gone to the cafe for a
showdown with Mr.. Simkins and
had become involved in an alter
cation with Nelson in which both
were wounded.
Testimony on Gun.
Capt. Robert v. Murray, assistant
chief of detectives, testified yester.
day Leake had no police permit tt
carry a gun. He also said the CUR
the Government contends was uset
by Nelson to shoot Leake was reg
istered to a John Henry jackson
special officer.
Mr.. Murray told reporters he hat
not decided yet whether to initiate
a perjury case against Melvin John
son, colored, of the 1900 block of ]
street NE.
johnson testified yesterday
statement he had written and signe,
in the United States Attorneys Of
flee was false. The witness. VIII,
said he had been a gambler, con
tended he had been promised tn
special grand jury investigating
gambling would go easy" on him
if he told what he knew about tn,
Brass Rail shootings.
He admitted, however, he late
had told that grand jury the state
ment was partially false but that h,
had written it and sworn to hi!
signature without receiving an.
/