Evening star., 1952-03-05
Picture on Pose A-3.

wv s0SS fN-Ss
four years ago. was called before
the board to see if he could iden-
tify either or both of the men he
told Senate Crime Committee he
had seen being paid off.
All present ABC Board inspec-
tors and several former ones, to-
falling 13, were in the room when
Nelson was called upon by Assist
ant Corporation Counsel Robert
D. Wise to try to make an identi-
fication. Also in the room were
several inspectors. Also in the
room were several inspectors for
the District Department Of
Weights, Measures and Markets.
Points to Smith.
Nelson, who had ben admon-
ished by Mr.. Wise to be sure before
he spoke, gazed about the room for
some moments.
Then he pointed to former ABC
Inspector Blackstone Smith.
"The only thing can say is
this man I knew resembles this
man here" Nelson said.
At Mr.. Wise's request, Nelson
walked over and put his hand on
the former inspectors shoulder.
"This man resembles him, I
wouldn't say If it is him." Nelson
repeated.
When the hearing recessed q
few moments later, Mr.. Smith,
who lives at 735 Eighth street
Sc, told reporters he had never
received any money or anything
else from any one in the Brass
Rail. He said his duties as an
inspector had sometimes taken
him into the restaurant.
Name Mentioned Earlier.
The name Smith" had been
mentioned shortly before the
identification proceedings by Nell
son, when he told Mr.. Wise 1T
seems to me the name of one of
them (the inspectors he said he
saw paid off was SMITH am
sure it was q man named Smith"
Nelson described one Of the men
as "about as tall as 1 am" which
he said was about six feet. He said
the other was perhaps two inches
shorter.
Nelson said he could not recall
the exact date that he said he
saw Milton Saunders, day mana
ger of the cafe, give $25 to each
of two men. Nelson added the
two men had been identified to
him by Saunders as ABC in
Spectors.
Procedure Held Up.
The Identification procedure was
held up for several minutes when
an attorney for Edward j. Gerasi.
another former inspector, stood UP
and protested the legality of the
proceeding.
The attorney, Michael j. Keane,
said Mr.. Gerasi had not answered
a summons to appear at the ABC
office but was in the Municipal
Center Building.
Mr.. Keane said his client was
willing to do anything" but had
sought legal advice.
Mr.. Keane said:
"Mr. Gerasi has a responsible
position in the Government. ]
can't advise him to take the
reckless chance of being identified
by a person we can't have q
great deal of confidence in"
Mr.. Keane said he had gotten
the impression from the news
papers that Nelson twas going to
identify some one"
Mr. Keane said he thought a
District Court judge should rule
on whether this was a proper
procedure and whether Mr.. Gerasi
can only stand up and not make
any testimony to Just be
a sort Of an exhibit A."
Contempt Citation Hinted.
Mr.. Wise said, "I'n be happy to
take this up with the District
Court, and will be happy to ask
a contempt citation against Mr..
Gerasi."
Nelson's testimony came dur
ing another session of deposition
taking in the suit which Mrs.
Yvonne Simkins, owner of the
restaurant and wife of numbers
czar Roger white Top). Simkins.
has filed against the ABC Board.
The board has held up renewal
|of the restaurants liquor license
and Mrs. Simkins,. described as
owner of 98 per cent of the res
taurant stock, is seeking to force
the board to issue her one. The
board delayed issuance of a new
license after testimony before the
Senate Crime Committee indi-
Gated the numbers business
~ 10 L. -