Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-14
Witness Refuse!
ToAnswer at
Lewis Trial
Barber Shop Owner
Silent on Phoning
Numbers Plays

A Washington barber shop pro-
prietor today stood on his consti-
tutional rights and refused to say
whether he telephoned numbers
plays to Maryland location
which the Government contends
was gambling headquarters for
William (Snags) Lewis.
Lewis, alleged head of a $14,-
900. 000-a-year gambling syndicate,
is on trial with 10 other men on
charges of violating District gam
bling laws.
The reluctant witness, Miguel
Gonzalez, was called to testify
after Chief Prosecutor William
Hitz showed the jury a number of
slips of paper bearing lists OF
names and numbers.
On these lists, the name "Gonz. y
appeared regularly in the third
position. Each of the lists had a
day of the week noted at the
bottom.
Another exhibit was long piece
Of adding machine tape on which
was listed among other names and
numbers Mike Gonzales, 880.05."
The jury also was shown slip
bearing the name Gonzalez and
two telephone numbers-ADams
6728 and Dupont 1928.
Mr.. Hitz said all this material
was taken during the March Is
raid on the Bladensburg bungalow
which the Government contends
was Lewis headquarters.
The District telephone numbers
were identified earlier by Ralph
A. Yates of the telephone company
as the numbers for Gonzalez
home and his barber shop. The
Adams number, Mr.. Yates testi-
fed. was unlisted. ,>
Questioned on Counsel.
Introduction of the District
telephone numbers marked a
milestone in the trial. since it
was the first time the Government
has introduced Washington num-
bers in it's attempt to show the
Maryland defendant violated Dis
trict laws.
When Mr.. Gonzalez. who testi-
fed briefly last week, took the
witness stand today, Curtis Mitch
ell, an attorney. told the court
he was there to protect Mr.. Con-
zalez' interests. ......
Mr.. Hitz said he thought Mr.
Gonzalez was represented by
Myron Enrich. one Of the defense
counsel for 10 OF. the IA defend
ants. Judge Matthew F. Mcclure
asked the witness who his lawyer
was.
"Mr. Ehrlich," the witness be-
gan, 'sbut he told me"
The Judge repeated the ques-
ton and. the witness replied. mfr.
Mitchell"
Explains Answer.
Then Mr.. Hitz asked Mr.. Con-
zalez, You're a professional gam
bier, aren't you?"
Mr.. Mitchell leaped to his feet
to object and the witness replied,
No" d
A number of questions later, the
judge, the witness. Mr.. Mitchell
and Mr.. Hitz finally reached an
agreement that when the witness
said mo" he meant he was not
answering the question because it
mig2 tend to incriminate him.
Can you explain why Lewis
had your home and barber shop
telephone numbers in the gam
bling room on the gambling table
by the telephone?" Mr.. Hitz asked
the witness.
st don't know why" Mr.. Con-
zalez replied.
I'm March, 1949, were you call
ing in to the Lewis establish
ment numbers played amounting
to $120 to $3.50 daily?" Mr.. Hitz
continued.
Judge MCGUIRE told the witness
he did not have to answer the
question if he did not want to
because 1t might incriminate him
The witness said. mo"
Stands on His Rights.
It was when Mr.. Hitz asked
Mr.. Gonzalez if he called in
s142.22 worth of numbers plays to
Lewis location on March IA that
Mr.. Mitchell made it clear that
Mr.. Gonzalez was standing on his
constitutional rights and not
answering questions when he
said mo"
Mr.. Hitz wanted to know If he
would continue to refuse to answer
questions along the same line, and
Mr.. Mitchell said the witness
would refuse.
Earlier lawyers revealed after a
bench conference that Judge Nc
CURE has decided to let a deputy
marshall tell the jury what he
said he heard when he answered
telephones in the Bladensburg
bungalow during the March raid.
Defense counsel had strenuously
objected to this testimony and the
Judge ruled at first that such evil
dence was inadmissable. After a
, conference in chambers last week,
however, he said he would take
the Government argument under
advisement.
The deputy marshal. Edward j.
Geraci, was called earlier today for
cross-examination on testimony he
gave last week, in the course Of
which he identified a number of
items taken in the raid.
Under nearly an hour OF cross
examination, MIR. Geraci was asked
by Mr.. Enrich to identify indivi-
dual numbers slips taken in the
raid. He said he could not identify
the individual slips.
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