Evening star., 1950-11-09
Rover Blocks Fay Plan
For Rush CoIIazo Trial;
Says He Needs Time.

bC1OAC LIlc CllQ VI Ills UlOllIIl The
surviving Puerto Rican gunman
in last weeks attempt to assassi-
nate President Truman ran smack
into a solid obstacle today.
Attorney Leo A. Rover, appoint
ed by the court to serve without
fee as counsel for the gunman,
Oscar Collazo, 81. said he did not
think Mr.. Fay's time schedule
could be met
After his first interview with
the wounded gunman at Gallingec
Hospital, MI. Rover smiled wryly
when told Mr.. Fay hoped to have
Collazo indicted before the end of
this week and brought to trial
before the end of this month.
Finds Client Under Sedatives.
II don't see how that could be
possible, Mr.. Rover observed
MY client was asleep under the
influence of sedatives when I first
saw him. He told me his mind
was not clear and We did not at
tempt to discuss the case.
I'm sure the court will give US
amole time to, discuss the case
and prepare our defense outside
the presence of a United States
marshal before trial date is set.
just don't see how We could do
that by the end of this month. I"
Mr.. Fay, meanwhile, continued
today to present witnesses before
the grand jury. He said he hopes
the Government can conclude
presentation of its case today.
Detective Quotes Defendant.
Among the witnesses appearing
before the grand jury was Police
Detective John E. Tayman, who
quoted Collazo as saying he came
down here ito shoot the Presi-
dent"
He wanted to give the impress
sion he was a hero" the detective
added.
Another witness was Joseph
Robichaux, owner and operator of
the Harris Hotel. where the two
assailants registered He told re-
porters that when he heard about
the shooting he "just couldn't be-
lieve 1.-TWO neat little fellows
like that"
Other witnesses today were
George A. Berley, Federal Bureau
of Investigation laboratory tech
nician, who made ballistics tests;
Police Detective Sergt. Alfred D.
Clark, Detective Sergt. Lawrence
A. Hartnett, Vincent P. Mroz, a
Secret Service agent and a witness
to the assassination attempt who
got in one shot at the two men;
Pvt. Charles L. Gallagher of the
third precinct, another witness;
Pvt. Marion r. Preston, another
guard, whose jacket was pierced
by one of the bullets, and Special
Agent Joseph J. Ellis of the Secret
Service.
First Degree Charge Asked.
The jury is being asked to re-
turn a f1rst-degree murder in
dictment against Collazo, who was
shot in the chest and shoulder /
while his accompliee was being |
killed by bullets of White House I
policemen.
White House Police Pvt. Leslie
Coffelt was killed in the bloody |
gun battle with the two Puerto
Rican revolutionists.
Mr.. Fay and his first assistant.
John w. Fihelly. said after evi-
dence supporting the Govern
ment's first-degree murder charge
against Collazo has been pre-
sented, the grand jury is to con-
slider any conspiracy angles which
may develop in the widespread
investigation being supervised by
the Secret Service.
Twelve witnesses testified yes
terday.
One of the first witnesses called
was John Gavounas. cab driver,
of 423 Massachusetts, avenue NV,
who drove the gunner to the
scene of the shooting.
MI. Gavounas told reporters he
picked up the Puerto Ricans at
North Capitol street and Massa-
chusetts avenue N.W-near the
Harris Hotel-last Wednesday
about 1:45 pm. He drove them
to Seventeenth street and Penn
sylvania avenue, where they paid
him so cents and got out.
They were very gentlemanly
and spoke Spanish while they
were riding" Mr.. Gavounas told
reporters. THE only word I could
understand in their conversation
was Truman
Drove Away Before Shooting.
Mr.. Gavounas drove away be-
fore the shooting started. He
saw a picture of one of the gun
men in a newspaper and identi-
fed him as one of his passengers.
Other witnesses before the grand
Jury yesterday included Deputy
Coroner Christopher j. Murphy,
Drs. Robert Ryan and Eulane
Maiden of Emergency Hospital,
Attorney Harold P. Cams, a
friend of the Coffelt family;
United States Secret Service Agent
Floyd Boring, who shot at the
gunmen; White House Police Pvt.
Edward Tehann, Matthew j. Cul-
len of the Budget Bureau, who
witnessed the shooting from his
Office in the old State Depart
ment Building; DR.. Benjamin
Franklin Dean, jr., police surgeon,
who operated on Coffelt; Chris
tian Dirks, $40 Connecticut ave-
nue. NV. an eyewitness; White
House Police Pvt. Joseph o. Da-
wilson and Frank c. Fletcher, desk
clerk at the Harris Hotel.
ADVERTISEMENT.