Evening star., 1951-01-11

hey were waiting to testify at an
1g of George p. Harding, under
haste to follow Nesline upstairs
had knocked over his chair in
getting up from his table. But
none testified they had seen the
shooting or heard any commotion
upstairs.
Testimony also indicated that
the dispute between the two men
was not discussed in the club be-
fore the shooting, even at Nesline' s
table. 1t also was not discussed in
NeSline'S car on the way to the
club. witnesses said.
The other passenger, besides Mr.
Corsi, in Nesline's automobile was
John Marissi, 2148 F street NV.
who identified himself as a tile
setter. He said he and Nesline
had watched a "pinochle game
at a coffee house, which he later
identified as ''Blackstone's," before
driving to the Hide-Away Club.
Asked by Mr.. Alder if Harding
ever had threatened him, Mr.
Marissi said. Eyes, on a few oc.
casions." He agreed when Mr.
Alder said Harding had a "ter.
rible reputation" He said hi
didn't know the trouble between
Nesline and Harding but hac
heard "a few things George sale
to Mr.. Nesline. That could have
been a few months ago." he added
Not Awakened by Shot.
Tommy Wiman, one of the
clubs operators. said he wa.
asleep at the entrance at the time
OF the shooting and the gunshoi
failed to waken him. (Mr. Wimar
is said to be former co-owner
of the Turf and Grid Club
Edward Thomas Digman, 2O1s
I street NV, a waiter at another
place and a club patron, testified
that he saw Nesline have a cup
of coffee and two drinks at most"
during the time before the shoot
ing. (Mrs. Gilbert testified she
served Nesline only coffee, but
there were other mattresses. }
Harding came in about three
quarters of an hour after Nesline
but he wasn't certain about the
exact time, he said. He added he
(Digman) had had "quite a Bit
to drink.
1t. Mccormick, in his testi-
mony, said he had not known
Harding or Nesline before the
shooting but had noticed the man
later identified for him as Harding
seated at table near him. The
lieutenant said he didn't see
either man go upstairs because
he was talking with Horowitz, one
OF the club owners, at a table
near the entrance.
The lieutenant told a reporter
just before the inquest that HI
and Sergt. Arthur Gernhofer were
drinking coffee and he was JUS
finishing his second cup when tn,
shot rang out.
Dropped in for Checkup.
1t. Mccormick was questioned
in some detail by Mr.. Alder OF
his knowledge of Harding befor,
the shooting. He said he knew
OF Harding's reputation "jus
slightly" but that he wasn't in.
formed until afterward that Capt
Beach had issued instructions tha
Harding was "a troublemaker, wa,
to be kept out of those premise.
and kept out of Georgetown.
This Capt. Beach told him yester.
day morning. he said. The lieu.
tenant was assigned to the precinc
December 81.
The lieutenant said he ans
Sergt. Gernhofer had dropped
into the club on a routine checl
in accordance with instruction,
ito give the Hide-Away Club spe
cial attention to prevent any law.
breaking or disorders from occur.
ing there"
Maj. Robert j. Barrett, superin.
tendent Of police. said he is salts.
fled with the presenre of 1t. Nc.
Cormick and Sergt. Gernhofer O.
the Seventh Precinct in the Hide.
Away Club at the time of the
shooting. The officers explained
they had entered the club 10 min.
utes before the Staying on "rou.
tine check"
Suggested Checkups.
Maj. Barrett said he hac
talked to Seventh Precinct Com.
mander Beach some time age
about the operations of the Hide,
Away Club and suggested thaI
uniformed officers stop in the
establishment at frequent inter.
walls to see if they could detect any
violations of the law.
The club is incorporated anc
open only to members and theil
guests. Members are permitted tt
keep their private bottles of liquor
behind the club bar. Set-ups arr
served to mix with drinks from
these bottles. The club operators
insist no liquor Is sold in the club
Maj. Barrett said his views
about after hours club were force.
fully expressed before the HOUSE
District Crime Investigating Com.
mittee when he asked for stiffel
laws which would enable police tt
close them.
1t. Mccormick said at the in.
quest that he unloaded a 49,
|caliber pistol found in Harding's
fright rear pocket. One bullet was
lin the chamber and three were in