Evening star., 1952-03-06
Odessa Madre Faces
Quiz for Deposition
In Brass Rail Suit

ILL Dt09S N0u JUL
Odessa Madre. convicted dop.
Ipeddler whose name has beer
linked with the numbers operation
lof Roger (Whitetop) Simkins, vii
be called to give q deposition ir
the suit that Mrs. Yvonne Sim.
kins. wife of the gambler and own.
er of the Brass Rail Restaurant
had fled against the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
Assistant Corporation Counse
Robert D. Wise, who is represent.
ing the board, said he did moi
know when Mrs. Madre would b<
called. She is currently serving 8
prison term for a narcotics law vio.
lation but recently testified before
a special District grand jury prob.
ing crime here.
After that appearance, she was
described by prosecutors as "ar
excellent witness"
Mrs. Madre's name was brought
into the pre-trial testimony In the
Simkins suit when Maurice New
some said he had seen Mrs. Sim
kins working at a Simkins' num-
bers headquarters in Mrs. Madre's
house. Mr.. Newsone, q restaurant
owner, said he had managed a
numbers operation for Simkins in
1945, while the gambler was in Hot
Springs. Ark. divorcing his first
wife.
Letters Go Into Record.
Mr. Wise also read into the rec
ord letters purportedly written to
Simkins by his present wife dur
ling his Arkansas stay. Mrs. Sim
kins told The Star several weeks
ago that Mrs. Madre had obtained
some letters she sent her husband
lduring this time.
Mrs. Simkins, owner Of SO per
cent Of the stock in the Brass Rail
is suing the ABC Board in an
attempt to regain the restaurants
liquor license. The license wa&
held up by the board after testi-
mony before the Senate District
Crime subcommittee to the effect
that the numbers business was be-
hind a celebrated, but confusing
shooting at the cafe four years
ago.
The rest Of the deposition-tak-
ing ended yesterday, after a for
mer night manager at the Brass
Rail pointed out a former ABC
Board inspector as a man who
resembled one of the two men he
said he saw receive $25 each from
a restaurant employe.
Charles II. Nelson, one Of two
victims in the shooting, pointed
to former Inspector Blackstone
Smith and said:
"The only thing I can say is
this man knew resembles this
man here"
Quizzed on Payoffs.
Mr.. Nelson was closely ques-
toned by Mr.. wise concerning his
testimony before the Senate sub
committee that he had seen al
legged payoffs to two men identi-
fled to him as ABC inspectors.
Mr.. Smith was picked out of q
room crowded with d dozen pres
ent and former ABC Board in
spectors and as many more en-
ployes of the District Department
Of Weights, Measures and Mar
ketS.
Immediately after Mr.. Nelson
ended his testimony, Mr.. Smith
accompanied by his attorney
asked for an opportunity to tes-
Itify.
Mr.. Smith denied he had ever
received ANY money or gifts
from any one connected with the
Brass Rail. and added that, to his
knowledge. he was the only in
spector who had ever cited the
restaurant for ABC law violations
MIR. Nelson had testified earlier
he had "just been introduced" to
the two men he accused Of receiv-
ing gifts and had no conversation
with either Of them. He also
said he had seen the two men
only once.
One of the former ABC inspec-
tors subpoenaed to appear at the
lineup did not show up. on ad-
vice of his attorney.
| AS Mr.. Nelson stood up to at
tempt his Identification, the at
torney, Michael j. Keane, inter-
rupted and said his client, Edward
j. Geraci, was not in the room
II can't advise him to take the
reckless chance Of being identi-
fed by a person we can't
have a great deal Of confidence
in," he said.
Mr.. Keane said Mr.. Geraci was
in the building and was willing
to do anything" But Mr.. Keane
questioned the legality Of the pro-
cedure. The lineup continued
without him. although Mr.. Wise
threatened to ask a contempt pro-
ceeding against the former In.
spector.