Evening star., 1952-06-29

ters, none of which was ever
molested by the police, and
began to crowd other bankers
out of the field.
In 1948, when a corporal, a
sergeant, and a lieutenant, all
of the fourteenth precinct, ar
rested some of Simkins' men in
the act of transporting numbers
slips, the officers were severely
reprimanded by Capt. William
T. Murphy. commander of the
precinct, who accused the lieu-
tenant Of using poor judg-
ment," and the corporal and
sergeant were given the unusual
assignment Of handling traffic
at suburban school crossings,
with a sharp injunction Ito get
the children across the street,
not to be out there harassing
those other people"
Brass Rail Shooting.
Roger Simkins' power shows
most nakedly in connection with
a shooting which occurred jan
uary 8. 1948, in Simkins' res
taurant (nominally owned by
his wife, Yvonne Simkins), the
Brass Rail. The victim was
Charles H. Nelson, night man
ager of the Brass Rail. Another
we'll known numbers operator,
Henry Piggy Leake, came to
the restaurant shortly after
closing time while Nelson was
counting the days receipts.
Leake was one of the operators
being squeezed out of business
by Simkins. When Leake in
sisted on being. admitted, Nell
son, who did not know Leake,
took a gun which was kept on
the premises and went to the
door. Leake asked for Simkins;
Nelson protested truthfully that
Simkins was not there, where
upon Leake, without provoca-
ton, drew a gun and fired
point-blank at Nelson, wound
ing him in the chest. Nelson
returned the fire and wounded
Leake.
Later that morning Nelson
found himself in the same hos
pital ward with his assailant.
Two detectives interviewed him,
explaining, 1.-The reason you got
shot was Simkins had Leake's
place knocked off or raided." "
Leake had been arrested at
once, and was under guard.
charged with felonious assault.
Next day (January 81 the then
acting head of the homicide
squad came to the hospital and
interviewed both Nelson and
Leake. Immediately thereafter.
demonstrating full knowledge Of
the underlying situation, this Of
ficer sought out and interviewed
Roger Simkins.
Hospital Bills Paid.
Shortly after that, while Nell
son and Leake were both in the
ward, Roger Simkins came to see
Nelson. He assured Nelson that
he would take care of him and
would see that Leake was prose-
cuted. Thereafter Simkins paid
Nelson's hospital bills. gave him
small amounts of cash and re-
peated the promise that, as for
Leake, he, was going to burn
him up." Simkins also promised
to give Nelson three or four
thousand dollars and to provide
an attorney. But Simkins' real
interest soon became apparent.
Although the threat of pending
prosecution effectively silenced
Leake, Simkins was most anxious
that Charles Nelson not testify
at all before a grand jury. Sim
kins made it clear that he want
ed the assault complaint against
Leake dropped if Nelson were
compensated.
The plan went awry, however.
since Nelson refused to trust
Simkins and demanded his
money before withdrawing as a
witness against Leake. He dis
charged the lawyer provided by
Simkins and engaged another.
He also began to intimate that
he was going to tell the whole
truth about Simkins' relations
to the police department if Sim
kins did not pay up.
Talks to Detective.
At this point Detective Sergt.
Reuben Nichols, apparently
friendly with Nelson. and who
knew of Simkins' promise to
take care Of Nelson, was sum-
moned by the latter, who told
him. These cops on my case
have twisted this thing all
around and have tried to make
me the goat in this suit
Since they are trying to drown
me, I am going to drown them
all with me I have been
paying off a whole lot Of the
so-and-so's."
This occurred early in March
When Nichols relayed the SUBJ
stance of the conversation to
some of his superiors, still more
police officials quickly became
involved.
Nichols went first to Capt
Clyde N. Strange. one of the
officers named by Nelson
Strange says he reported the
matter at once to Major Bar
rett. Meanwhile. Nichols con-
veyed the same information to
1t. Daniel d. Pittman. another
officer named by Nelson.
The following evening Nichols
received a telephone call from
Simkins urging a meeting be-
tween them at once. Nichols
proposed his Office at police
headquarters. Simkins specified
ANY place but there" It wa.