Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-29
Thoman Sticks
Story About
Reporting Bride
Declines to Change
Contradictory Dates
In Early Testimony
BY JACK JONAS

BY JACK JONAS
Capt. Todd o. Thoman, jr.,
said today he did not want to
change contradictory testimony
about when he made up his mind
to report a bride offer from a
fellow officer.
Testifying in the bribery and
conspiracy trial of two police
men and six alleged gamblers.
Capt. Thoman told Defense At
torney John Burnett that he de-
cided to report the incident when
he got a $500 bride October 81,
1858, from suspended Detective
George c. Prather.
Mr.. Burnett pointed out that
IN reply to a similar question
several days ago by Defense At
torney Myron G. Enrich, Capt.
Thoman said he had not made
up his mind to report it until
November 2.
Sticks to Testimony
do you now want to change
your testimony" Mr.. Burnett
asked.
II do not" Capt. Thoman re-
piled.
The police captain, who has
told the jury that more than
$4,000 in bride money passed
through bis hands while he was
investigating the case, was in
his 18th day in the witness chair
as a key Government witness.
On trial in addition to Mr..
Prather are Capt. John B. Mon
roe, suspended Twelfth Precinct
Commander; Roger w. white
top) Simkins, SIS. colored:< AL
bert H. (Real Estate) Smith,
As; Curtis M. (Bozo) Taylor, 80,
colored; Charles (Geechie-
Charlie) Anderson, 40, colored:
John Lefty Winston, AZ, col
ored. and Burnie King, 20, COL
ored.
Dwells on Dates
Under questioning by Mr..
Enrich earlier Capt. Thoman
had pointed out that the first
bride offer by Capt. Monroe was
made on Friday. October 20,
1858. At that time, he said, he
turned over in his mind almost
constantly until Monday, trying
to decide whether to report it
to his superiors.
Harking back to earlier testi-
mony that Capt. Thoman had
received $500 from Mr.. Prathen
on Saturday, October 81, Mr..
Burnett asked the police captain
If he had made up his mind at
that time to accept brides from
gamblers.
mo, sir, had made up my
mind to report it," Capt. Tho
man said.
Were these questions asked
you the other day by Mr.. Ehr-
Itch? Question: And then did
you think about it Monday morn
ing? Answer: I made up my
mind what I was going to do on
Monday morning."
Eyes, sir" Capt. Thoman re-
piled.
And do you now want to
change your testimony"
Il do not" Capt. Thoman re-
iterated.
Seeks Reason
Mr.. Burnett asked the captain
why, if he had not yet decided to
report the bride offer, he agreed
to meet Mr.. Prather October 81.
He asked me to meet him."
Capt. Thoman replied.
We'll, you didn't think you
were going out there to a Sunday
school picnic, did you?"
mo, sir" Capt. Thoman said.
Mr.. Burnett, who represents
Simkins, pressed the witness
sharply once more on the entrap-
ment theme, the defense conten-
ton that the defendants were
trapped into violating the law.
May Call Beach
Earlier, the defense indicated
it may call former Police In
spector Beverly c. Beach as a
witness.
Mr.. Enrich yesterday told
Judge Burnita S. Matthews Of
U. S. District Court for the Dis
trict of Columbia that he was
considering calling the dismissed
inspector to dispute testimony
Yesterday by key Government
witness.
Capt. Thoman had denied
under cross-examination that he
offered Mr.. Beach" lot Of
money" in 1947 for list Of
questions in the examinations for
promotion from police sergeant
to lieutenant.
Capt. Thoman. at the time,
was a sergeant. and Mr.. Beach
was on the board of examiners
for the sergeant-to- lieutenant
promotion,