Evening star., 1948-06-22
Gambling Probe Hears
Proprietor Of Cafe in
Which Men Were Shot

1uc WOilldll pIOpTlcCOT Ol Illc
Brass Rail. a cafe in the 1700s block
OF Seventh street NV. where a
shooting occurred last January, testi-
fed today before the special grand
jury Investigating gambling opera
tfonS Here. Her husband also was
heard. --r
Their appearances followed the
refusal to answer questions made
yesterday by a man under indict-
ment as one of the principals in the
shooting.
Today's witnesses were Mrs.
Yvonne M. Simkins, ~. colored, of
the $500 block of Twelfth street NE,
and Roger w. Simkins, 4s, colored,
Mrs. Simkins, who testified for
more than an hour, said she was
asked about the shooting. She said
she "just told the truth"-that she
was not present at the time and had
no personal knowledge of it.
Husband Also Testifies.
The young Howard University
graduate told reporters she owned
the cafe business in her own name.
She was followed as a witness by
Mr.. Simkins. whose nickname Is
Whitley"
The unresponsive witness yester-
day was Henry M. Leake, 80. COL
ored, of the 100 block of r street
NE. He was wounded in the shoot
ing.
Charles Henry Nelson, 80, colored,
Of the 1900 block of H street NE,
also was wounded
Both were indicted on charges
of assault with intent to kill, assault
with a deadly weapon and carrying
dangerous WEAPON. Their trials
were set for yesterday in District
Court but were continued to July
at the request Of the Government.
Leake was served with subpoena
while in the District Court Building
yesterday. He refused to answer
questions before the grand jury on
advice of his attorney. Curtis p
Mitchell.
He was excused and 1t was not
indicated whether he would be
recalled.
Mr.. Mitchell said he considered q
subpoena served on a person while
at place under compulsion" of
judicial process to be invalid. He
added, however, a valid subpoena
could be served on Leake elsewhere.
The attorney explained he had
advised his client not to answer
questions and to stand on his Con-
stitutional right to refuse to give
testimony which might incriminate
him.
He said Leake told him the first
question asked him concerned his
whereabouts on the night of the
shooting. This, Mr. Mitchell pointed
out, would be an important issue in
the trial of Leake.
Shooting Linked to Gaming.
The special grand jury is be-
lieved to be seeking to determine
the truth or falsity of reports a
numbers game dispute was factor
in the shooting.
Two OF yesterdays witnesses 1den-
tilted themselves as Mrs. Willie
Granger, 81, Of the HOO block Of
Twenty-first street NE, a cashier
at the Brass Rail, and Louis Queen,
n. Of the 900 block of Acker street
NE, a bartender there. Both are
colored.
One of the others heard was a
doctor believed to have treated the
wounded men.
Inspector Floyd A. Truscott, as
sistant superintendent Of police, also
testified. Questioned after about As
minutes in the grand Jury room,
he said he could not comment on the
nature of his testimony.
A woman charged with operating
a lottery and possession of number
slips was held for action of the
grand jury today by United States
Commissioner Needham c. Turnage.
He fixed bond at $500. The de-
fendant was booked as Elizabeth
Simmons, colored, of the TOO block
of Fifteenth street NE. She was
arreSfAd IIlne