Evening star., 1950-05-02
New Defense Wines!
To Testify Today for
Rigsbee in Staying

At least one additional defense
witness was expected to testify
today in the District Court first
degree murder trial of James A..
RigSbee, IS, accused of shooting
Joseph H. Scheve, Sc, alias big
Joe" Henderson, convicted gam
bier. In a Ninth street pool room
last December.
The trial was postponed until
this afternoon, following sensa-
tional testimony by Rigsbee yes
terday.
Rigsbee testified yesterday be-
fore the jury Of IL men and one
woman. as the trial went into its
third day. that Scheve once tried
to hire. him as q trigger man to
murder William (Snags) Lewis,
another gambler.
Rigsbee. who says he killed
Scheve in self lf-defense, testified
that Scheve told him he planned
to move into Washington and
take over the syndicate. Govern
ment objections prevented further
elaboration on this testimony.
Wanted Narcotics Delivered.
Rlgsbee. however, testified that,
among the things Scheve wanted
him to do was Ito make trips to
New York and bring in supplies. ~
Rigsbee testified .Scheve meant
supplies of morphine. heroin and
stuff like that"
He also wanted me to do a
little killing for him." Rigsbee
testified. "I told him I didn't
want to do it," Rigsbee said.
Under sS-examination by AS
sistant United States Attorney
Cecil r. Heflin, Rigsbee said he
did not know what happened the
night Of the Staying.
did you shoot Scheve acci-
dentally, or in self -defense?"
asked Mr.. Hef1in.
II don't know what happened
I pulled the gun from my pocket
and 1t exploded" Rigsbee an
Swered.
AT another point in his testi-
mony Rigsbee declared he wouldn I
have shot anybody Intentionally. -
Afraid Of Scheve.
Rigsbee also testified he had OBJ
tanned the gun about two weeks
before the shooting and that he
had let Scheve know that he had
it, believing Scheve would let him
alone. He testified he was afraid
of Scheve.
Defense Attorney James J.
Laughlin asked Rigsbee: did
you believe your life was in dan
ger?"
"Yes, sir" replied Rigsbee.
rs that why you pulled your
gun?" asked Mr.. .Laughlin. Rigs
bee replied that it was the reason.
Rigsbee testified he had gone
back to the pool parlor the night
Of the shooting to collect $50 owed
him by some one there.
Asked by Prosecutor Heflin If
he was willing to risk his life for
that amount. Rigsbee replied:
Il have risked my life many
times for $50 or $780,"
Rigsbee admitted he had plead
ed guilty In the sos to a charge
of assault with intent to commit
robbery. He said he had been
given probation on the charge
He also testified he had been fined
on simple assault charge.
COntradicts Statement.
At one point RigSbee,s testimony
differed from statement he had
given police. In that statement
he was quoted as stating he was
unarmed earlier on the night of
the shooting. that he had gone
out and gotten the gun and re-
turned to the pool hall after
Scheve had threatened him. Rigs
bee denied that statement yester-
day and said he did not remember
parts of statement he allegedly
had given to police.
Rigsbee also is being tried on a
charge of assault with a danger
GUS weapon in the shooting and
wounding Of David Silverman of
the 1900 block Of Missouri avenue
NV. at the same time Scheve
was shot. The Government con-
tends Mr.. Silverman was shot and
wounded by Rigsbee while the
defendant was shooting at Scheve.