Evening star., 1952-12-23
Murder Case May Go
To Jury Today After
Weak|ey's Testimony

Luther r. Weakley, 81, former
salesman. was expected to finish
testifying today in his trial on al
charge of first-degree murder.
The case may go to the jury late
today.
Weakley is being retired in con-
nection with the fatal shooting of
his former employer, Thomas G.
Carnes. in the latter's Office in the
800 block of F street NE. on May
20, 1850. Mr.. Carnes was WASH
ington manager of Blue Plate
Foods. Inc. Weakley had been
employed by the concern as a.
salesman but was fired by Mr..
Carnes the night before the shoot
ing, according to testimony.
Under cross-examination by
Assistant United States Attorney
Martin j. Mcnamara, Weakley
testified he clearly remembered the
tussle. he says he had with Mr..
Carnes, during which the shooting
took place.
Different in Details.
Some details as described by the
defendant yesterday differed some
what from the way Weakley de-
scribed the affair during his first
trial in 1850. according to a tran
script Of his testimony at that time.
Weakley's description of the tussle
during the earlier trial was read to
the jury by Mr.. Mcnamara.
Weakley was convicted at the
earlier trial of numbering Mr..
Carnes, but he won a new trial
when the conviction was set aside
by the U. S. Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia.
Weakley testified yesterday he
fired after Mr.. Carnes became en-
ragged and grabbed hold of the
defendants coat. He said he had
gone to Mr.. Carnes' office the
morning of the shooting for an
interview.
The defendant testified Mr..
Carnes became enraged when
Weakley quoted another employe
as stating it was a shame the
way Mr.. Carnes had taken food
from the salesman's trucks.
TeStifieS to Threat,
Weakley said he had suggested
going to the company's head
quarters in New Orleans. At that.
WeaEley testified Mr.. Carnes SAID:
I will cut your tongue so Won
can't talk"
Weakley is being tried in the
O. S. District Court for the Dis
trlct OF Columbia. At one point
during his testimony, Weaklev
testified Mr.. Carnes had given
away food to policemen and
wanted him to alter records to
cover up resultant shortage.
IhlS testimony led to a sur
prise angle yesterday when De-
tense Attorney James j. Laugh
lin issued subpoenas for Com
missioner Donohue and Police
Chief Murray to come to court
with record and orders relating
TO police solicitating free mer-
chandise."
Pollce Inspector George R. Wall
rodt came in as the representa-
tive OF Supt. Murray and brought
with him certain records. which
were not Immediately introduced
as evidence. Inspector Wallrodt
was excused pending his recall as
a witness sometime later.
Opposes Donohue Subpoena.
Meanwhile, Assistant CORPORA
ton Council Milton D. Norman
went into court with a motion
asking the court to "quash or
modify" the subpoena as to Com
missioner Donohue. The motion
to ouash declared the subpoena
Is unreasonable" Mr.. Norman
contended that Commissioner
Donohue could not add anything
to records brought in in answer
to the subpoena issued for Police
Chief Murray. The motion to
quash is to be argued later.
1t was pointed out that police
regulations place limits on gifts
police may receive.
Defense Attorney LaughlinI
contends the gun introduced as
evidence at Weakley's trial is not
the gun Weakley had at the time
OF the shooting.