Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-31
Captain Tells
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Bride Suspects
Watched Thomun
Meet With Accused
Layton Testifies
BY JACK JONAS

BY JACK JONAS
A police captain told a Federal
Court jury in precise terms today
how he Swallowed suspects as
the Police Department built
a bribery and conspiracy case
against two policemen and six
alleged gamblers.
Capt. John B. Layton, head of
the Gambling Squad, reeled off
times, dates, names and places
as he told of watching Capt.
Todd o. Thoman, jr., also an in
vestigator in the case, meet with
the suspects.
Can't Recall Some Events
Under cross examination,
however, Capt. Layton was vague
about other events in which he
took part during the 1912
months of investigation. He
told defense attorneys he had
rehearsed his Government testi-
mony several times.
On trial are Capt. John B..
Monroe, suspended Twelfth Pre-
cinct commander; Probationary
Detective George C. Prather, sus-
pended in the Thirteenth Pre-
cinct; Roger w. (Whitetop) Sim
kins. SIS, colored; Albert H. (Real
Estate) Smith, As; Charles
(Geechie Charley Anderson, 40,
colored; Curtis M. (Bozo) Tay-
lor. 80, colored; John Lefty
Winston, AZ, colored, and Burnie
King. %, colored.
Capt. Layton told of following
Simkins' green Cadillac sedan
during a ride Capt. Thomas,
Simkins and Smith took last
July 8. Capt. Thomas has testi-
fed he got a $500 bride payment
from Simkins on that date.
He told of watching several
other meetings between Capt.
Thoman and the accused.
Described Events
Typical of the detail in which
he testified was his description
of events of September IA, when
the suspects were arrested. Capt.
Layton told this story:
II got a report from then 1t.
Thoman about 5:45 pm. I drove
first to the rear of the Hedin
House at Newton street NE. and
Rhode Island avenue. There
met Deputy Chief clarence HI
Lutz and Inspector Lorraine T.
johnson. I drove with them to
the Dixie Pig parking lot at Col
mar Manor and met Capt. Tho
man there.
Il took from him his billfold
and all the money that he had in
his possession, with the exception
OF five $40 bills in the pres
ence of Deputy Chief Lutz and
Inspector johnson I checked
with Capt. Thoman the serial
numbers on the bills and re-
turned them to him. At about 7
pm. I drove with Deputy Chief
Lutz and Inspector johnson, fol-
lowing 1t. Thoman's car south
on Bladensburg road--following
at a distance. After he had
turned right on Eastern avenue I
drove again to the parking area
to make an observation.
II observed the car of defend
ant Monroe parked on Eastern
avenue. We remained on the
parking lot for about five min
utes. Then l.. drove off and
parked in the rear of Capt.
Thoman's car. We left the car
and approached Capt. Thoman's
car approached on the left
side. Deputy Chief Lutz and In
spector johnson approached on
the right hand side, the passen-
gers side.
Deputy Chief Lutz spoke to
defendant Monroe and asked him
to get out of the car and took
from him five $40 bills which
were checked in his presence
from the list that / had. The
serial numbers of the bills were
the same"
Capt. Layton said Capt. Mon
roe protested that the 500 was
given to him by Capt. Thoman
in repayment of a loan.
Defense Stresses Meetings
When cross-examination be-
gan, Myron G. Enrich, attorney
for the two policemen on trial,
emphasized the meetings between
the investigators and what was
said during those meetings.
Capt. Layton said he could not