Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-27
Final Arguments
Made al Trial Of
Ain DiceCase.
Scheve's Statement
Thot He Hit Man in
SeIf-Defense Attacked

SeIf-Defense Attacked
Final arguments were in progress
today at the trial of four alleged
operators Of big dice game said
to have resulted in the clubbing
with a pistol of a disgruntled Gus
toner.
The case against Joseph H
Scheve. so, alias Big Joe Hender-
son, and three companions was
expected to go to the jury in Dis
trict Court late today or tomorrow
morning.
The statement of Joe Scheve
from the stand yesterday that he
hit Robert e. Kicker in the head
with his automatic because he
feared for his life was attacked In
the closing argument of Assistant
United States Attorney Arthur J
Mclaughlin.
The prosecutor described Mr.
Kicker as a man with weakness
for gambling who was being "bled
to death" by gamblers operating
q crap game at 2730 Woodley place
NV.
Tells Of First Attack.
Big Joe is accused with the other
three of operating the dice game
and also Is charged with assault
with a dangerous weapon and as
sault with intent to kill Mr.. Kicker,
described as a former businessman
from Hawaii, who has roomed here
recently in the 1900 block of Six
tenth street NV.
Scheve declared that he pulled
his automatic and dubbed Mr.
Kicker after the latter attacked
him with his fists as Scheve was
trying to leave the apartment on
Woodley place on the morning OF
January 8.
Mr.. Kicker previously had testi-
fled that Scheve slugged him with
the gun and then snapped the
weapon at him several times on
the steps outside the apartment.
Tells of Losing $500.
The witness told investigators
he had lost $500 there over a
three-month period in base
ment dice game which, he said.
was backed by as much as $50
900. He said his. wife visited
the establishment to protest and
seek the return Of $3.50. and that
he was assaulted by Scheve when
he went to his wife's defense.
All four defendants accused of
setting up and keeping gaming
table for dice took the stand yes
terday. The other three men are
Theodore J. Scheve. 80, son of
big Joe" of the $500 block
of Thirty-fourth place Sc: Her.
man Kadan. 46. of the Woodley
place address. and LYMAN Rosen,
about 40. of the 1900 block OF
sherwood street NE.
Big Joe Sheve testified Mrs.
Helen Kicker came to the Wood
ley place apartment about 1870
am. en- January 6 and kept de-
manding $3.50 because her hus-
band was sin distress and would
have to go to jail" unless he got
the money.
Cornered for Hours.
The heavy-set man declared the
small but determined woman kept
him cornered for hours. Every
time he started for the door. he
said, she leaped in front of him.
Her husband came in and asked
her to leave. but she refused.
Later, Scheve testified. Mr.. Kicker
left and returned in few hours
Around 10 or IL o'clock that
morning. Scheve said, Mrs. Kicker
began to pound him on the chest.
He declared he said. This is it!
I'm going out that door and no.
body's going to stop me-"
The accused man said Mrs.
Kicker clawed at his eyes and her
husband began to swing his fists
He then pulled his gun from his
pocket and dubbed Mr.. Kicker. he
said, because he feared for his
life.
Met Kicker TOtel.
Scheve testified l.. 1T to q
hotel with his son and II en- and
met Mr.. Kicker In the cocktail
lounge. He said Mr.. Kicker re-
peated his demand for money ano
threatened to get them all ir
trouble unless he complied.
Neither the accused men mol
q defense witness. Mrs. Herman
Kadan. would admit that Mrs
Kicker had asked for the none,
back because 1t was a gambling
loss. Mrs. Kadan said she ane
her husband had lived at thu
Woodley place apartment for tn,
last II years. Kadan testified HI
operated a grocery.
Mrs. Kadan also denied under
questioning that she had taker
the arm Of a Government wit.
ness, Harry E. Liberette. a taxi.
cab driver. and walked up ane
down with him in the courthouse
corridor during the trial.
Denies Identification.
Mr.. Liberette admittedly hae
changed his version of what HI
saw on the morning he drove Mr.
Kicker to the Woodley plac.
apartment. He identified state.
ment he had written out at Mr.
Ricker's request in which III
stated he saw a big man" come
out of the apartment and try IL
fire an automatic pistol at Mr.
Kicker. He had added that HI
saw a clip fall from the automati,
onto the steps.