Evening star., 1951-03-06
'CoNazo Trial Nearinq
End; Defendant Says
He Aimed 10 Hit Guard
By chorIes J. Yorbrouoh

~ ~b3stS9 t1tUtOu4H
The murder trial of Oscar Col
lazo. who fancied himself martyr
when he stormed Blair House with
la blazing gun last November
neared the end today in District
Court.
The 37-year-old Puerto Rican
underwent vigorous cross-exam-
ination by United States Attorney
George Morris Fay before the
noon recess. The rapid progress
indicated the jury could have the
case by tomorrow morning.
Both the Government and the
defense rested. The jury was ex-
cused before lunch, while attor-
neys argued legal technicalities.
The jury will return to the court
room at 9:45 am. tomorrow.
The prosecution completed it's
case yesterday. after six days Of
testimony 26 witnesses and At
exhibits to build up it's charges
against Collazo. He is accused Of
flrst-degree murder in the death
of Blair House Guard Pvt. Leslie
Coffelt:; also with the murder of
Pvt. Coffelt in commission of an
armed felony and with two counts
OF assault with intent to kill two
other guards.
Staying by AccOmplice.
The Government acknowledges
that Pvt. Coffelt was slain by
Collazo's accommplice, Griselio
Torresola. but under District law
Collazo as the only survivor of
the two-man assault can be tried
Tor murder. Torresola died in
the fusillade of 81 shots.
In frequently defiant answers
Collazo has been the only witness
in his defense.
He testified today that II fired
the first shot. I meant to hit him."
Collazo was speaking of Blair
House Guard Donald Birdzell.
Tells Of Noticing Guard Booths.
Collazo once blurted out ANY
factS have to admit will ad-
nit" He testified that with Tor
resola he drove by Blair House the
of the assault, and no
tlced the guard booths thanking
Blair-Lee House.
He told the jury and a crowded
courtroom yesterday he conceived
the plot to come to WASHINGTON
to stage demonstration"
In 1t, he said. he expected to be
arrested, wounded, or killed-or
something"
Backgrounding his testimony
with accounts of an impoverished
childhood in Puerto Rico and a
smoldering disillusionment in his
country's economic and political
fate, Collazo termed his act an
effort to make the American
people know there is no govern
ment in Puerto Rico"
He told Of giving Torresola $50
with which to buy a gun. of OBJ
tatlning 500 from his wife. buy
ing new clothing and then setting
out for Washington on the Penn
sylvania Railroad the afternoon of
October 81.
First Time in Washington.
He said he told his wife he was
going to Puerto Rico and left his
New York home despite her tears
and entreaties. They had no pre-
conceived idea of where the dem
onstration here was to take place.
Neither had ever been here be-
fore, he said.
The afternoon session ended
with Chief Defense Counsel Leo
A. Rover's questioning leading
Collazo and Torresola toward Blair
House and the fray which ended
with Pvt. Coffelt and Torresola
dead, two policemen and Collazo
wounded.
Midway in the afternoon ses-
sion. during conference between
Mr.. Rover and Collazo, a brusuue
offer was made for additional legal
aid for the defendant.
Striding into the courtroom, a
man identified as David Polier.
former National Archives attor-
ney, walked up to the conference
and asked If Collazo wanted an
other attorney.
Collazo Satisfied.
Later the man said he had
$500. or more, to contribute to
the defense because, "as a rank
outsider. felt he was not being
properly defended" He indicated
Collazo should consider an in
sanity plea.
Following a bench conference,
United States Attorney George
Morris Fay and Mr.. Rover made
a joint announcement that both
of them had been approached by
Mr., Polier.
Collazo told Judge T. Alan
Goldsborough for the court record
that he was satisfied with his
legal counsel and that under no
circumstances" would he consider
a plea OF insanity-temporary or
otherwise -