Evening star., 1950-11-08
Fay 10 Ask Collazo
Murder Indictment
By Grand Jury Today


A District grand jury was sched-
uled to begin hearing evidence
this afternoon in the case of Oscar
Collazo. 81. accused in the fatal
shooting of a White House police
man last Wednesday, during an
attempt to assassinate President
Truman at Blair House.
United States Attorney George
Morris Fay and Assistant United
States Attorney John w. Fihelly,
who have charge of presenting the
evidence to the grand jury, will
seek f1rst-degree murder indict-
ment against Collazo in the fatal
shooting of the policeman. He
was Pvt. Leslie Coffelt.
Rover Appointed Counsel.
Former United States Attorney
Leo A. Rover, Well-known Wash
ington lawyer, yesterday was
named by District Court Judge
Edward A. Tamm to serve as coun-
sci for Collazo.
Mr.. Rover, veteran of 40 years
active practice in District courts.
accepted Judge Tamms ASSIGN
ment to represent Collazo with
this comment:
L think it is my duty to the
court and to my country to ac-
cept this assignment. I feel that
this man is entitled to able coun-
sci and I shall represent him to
the best of my ability"
Mr.. Rover first won national
recognition when he served on the
prosecuting staff in the Teapot
Dome oil cases in 1925. At that
time he was principal assistant in
the United States attorneys Of
flee.
Prosecuted CASTOR Means.
In 1929 Mr.. Rover was ap-
pointed United States attorney for
the District and served in that
post until 1884. He directed and
participated in many notable
criminal prosecutions. He was
chief prosecutor in the case which
resulted in the conviction of Gas
ton B. Means for swindling the
late Mrs. Evalyn Walsh Mclean
of 100000 in 1888 during the Lind
bergh baby kidnapping investiga-
ton.
CollaZo. who is reported recover
ing from a wound in Gallinger
Hospital. told Attorney William E.
Leahy, who had been named as an
Officer of the court" to confer
with him, that he wanted the
court to name an attorney to
represent him. The wounded
Puerto Rican told Mr.. Leahy he
lacks funds to hire an attorney.
Mr.. Fihelly said late yesterday
the first Government witness was
to appear before the grand jury
at 1880 pm. In all, 20 Govern
ment witnesses were to testify be-
fore the grand jury.
The two policemen who were
wounded, Pvts. Joseph Downs and
Donald Birdzell, are not sched-
uled to appear as witnesses. Both
continue to show improvement in
Emergency Hospital. Il
Griselio Torresola, who accom-
panied Collazo in the Blair House
assassination attempt, was killed
on the scene by police bullets.
Condolences pour Tn
Messages of condolences con-
tinue to pour into the Arlington
County home of Pvt. Cofelt. His
widow received the following yes
terday from Gov. Luis Munoz
Marin of Puerto Rico:
Dear Mrs. Coffelt: Through
me, their Governor. the people of
Puerto Rico express to you their
profound sympathy over the
tragedy that has darkened your
home.
That you have lost your hus-
hand and that President Truman
has lost one of his most faithful
and loyal guards because of the
insanity OF a handful of fanatics is
a course of dismay and madness to
more than million Puerto
Ricans.
1--WE want to convey to you how
much we feel for you and yours
and how strongly we lament that |
your husband, in the courageous
discharge of his duties, became
the victim of men with twisted |
minds.
II especially wish to convey to
you the condolences of those good |
Puerto Rican women whose hus-
bands, like yours, were victims
in line of duty to the fanatical
plot that was directed at the lives
of President Truman and myself.
They, more than I or any one |
else, have a comprehending un-
derstanding of the blow that you
have suffered.
1T is my earnest and sincere |
hope that God will grant you the
fortitude to bear the grief which |
has come into your life through |
the insane actions of two Puerto
Ricans who hurt you only because
of their hatred for all that is good
and decent here on this island"