Evening star., 1948-09-20
Two Go on Trial
In Brass Rail
Shooting Case
Prosecution Hopes
To Show Gambling
Feud Caused Clash
By Chris Mothisen

By Chris Mothisen
The Government expects to prove
that competition in the Washington
numbers game business gave rise
to the two cafe shootings which
became the Brass Rail Case" AS
sistant United States Attorney
Charles B. Murray told District
Court jury today.
The case, on trial before Judge
Henry A. Schweinhaut. involves as
sault charges against Charles Henry
Nelson of the 1900 block of H street
NE. and Henry M. Leake of the
100 block of r street NE, both
80 and colored. They are accused
of wounding one another in an
alteration last January 8 at the
Brass Rail, 1889 Seventh street NV.
In his opening statement to the
jury of four women and eight men.
MIR. Murray, promised the evidence
would indicate Leake went to the
cafe looking for Roger w. white
Top) Simkins. colored, whom he
believed to have been cutting in on
his numbers business.
Prosecution Presents Case.
The prosecutor said it would be
testified Leake admitted to police
after the alteration that he was
in the numbers business" and that
he told a friend "he had been carry
i,,n k,,c urhot fhnxy
call a book k'-amounting to ap-
proximately $1,000 or $1,000 day.
The evidence also would reveal.
Mr.. Murray added, that whenever
Leake would attempt to find out
why his gross had dwindled to about
$400 q day, Ibis trail would lead to
Roger Sinkins.
Mr. Sinkins, whose name was on
the list of Government witnesses,
Is the husband Of Mrs. Yvonne M.
Sinkins, principal owner of the cafe
business.
According to Mr. Murray, the
Government proposed to show Leake
went to the Brass Rail with the in
tention of having showdown with
Mr.. Sinkins, became involved in an
argument with Nelson, an employe
of the place, shot him and, IN turn,
was shot by Nelson.
Objection Overruled.
Attorney Curtis P. Mitchell. rep
resenting Leake, objected unsuc-
cessfully to Mr. Murray giving the
Jury background information on the
ownership of the Brass Rail and
persons he said frequented the es-
tablishment.
In selection of the jury, Mr.. Muir
ray asked prospective jurors II they
knew any of list Of washington
sporting characters, including such
colorful appellations as Jack the
Bear" and Greasy Mike"
The list also included the names
of Sam Beard, who once told con-
gressional committee he was a gam
bier by profession; Alfred T. tPud-
dinheap Jones, who testified last
week beforeNhe special grand jury
investigating gambling. Abe Plisco,
known as william Jew Boy) Dietz;
Emmitt and Leo Warning, Joseph
(Blue Suter, "Scar" Polsen,, Crack
err Bowman, Sporty" johnson.
Dizzy" Vance. Slim" Hall and
Ellis (Sheik) Wright.
Jury Panel Questioned.
Mr.. Murray also inquired whether
any of the members Of the panel
were acquainted with an establish
ment in nearby Maryland known as
Dykes Stockade" or a local res
taurant called '@The Casbah."
One of the prospective jurors,
Arthur Adler, co-proprietor of
haberdashery and sporting goods
shop. said Dietz was one Of his
customers.
A woman on the panel said she
went to school with Joseph Suter
and another stated:
People say I should know the
Warning boys, but I don't. I was
born in Georgetown"
Asked what their names signified
to her, she replied;
They're In the numbers racket,
aren't they?"
Judge Schweinhaut interposed
that, of course, the statement indi-
Gated merely what the names con-
noted to the prospective juror.
Assistant United States Attorney
Frank Reifsnyder is assisting Mr..
Murray.
In addition to Mr.. Mitchell,
Leake is represented by Attorney
Ray L. jenkins. Leake is charged
with assault with intent to kill, as
sault with a deadly weapon and
carrying a dangerous weapon. ,,
Nelson, represented by Attorneys
Bernard Margolius and Carleton U.
Edwards, is charged with assault
with intent to kill and assault with
ii