Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-10
Recording of Prother-T honun Talks

sNSSSs~"sS W
This is a partial teri of tDhat
the Government says Is a
transcription OF a converse
ton April s, 1854. between
Capt. Todd o. Thoman, jr.,
and George C.sPrather, pro-
stationary detective. as they
sat In an automobile on the
Hot Shoppe restaurant park
ting lot at Fourth street and
Florida Avenue NE. From the
Ditness stGnd in U. S. District
Court for the District OF
Columbia yesterday. Capt.
Thoman identified the uoices
as the recording iDas played
for the jury.
Prather-I talked with Wal
lace this afternoon and he says
he can't meet me downtown in
the evening until Friday or Sat-
urday. I could 60 out to the
---- house. But I don't want
to go out there on account of
that woman, because I don't
want her to know any Of my
business.
Thoman-Oh. my God, no.
Prather-I am afraid to 60
out there. You know, I told you
about it. So that is why I al
ways arranged to meet him out
somewhere, so she don't know
what is going on. She called me
not long ago and said to come
out to the house anyway.
Thoman-How come? To come
by your house? For me to go
by there?
Decided to Go.
Prather-Against my better
Judgment, I went. I thought
If I didn't go, she is liable to
shoot her mouth off where it is
worse. I didn't know what the
49, was going on there. She
says, 60 ---- -, he is spending
his money some way. He amt
bringing it home" I said THAT
is none of my business" She
says he is taking dope. I said
Go down to the market your
self, Marie, that man amt tax
ing no damn dope" She just
wanted somebody to blow her
top off to. see.
Prather-Now there's another
thing I want to ask you. This
guy came to me last week with
q proposition. He wants to give
me five hundred bucks a month
to get Strengthened out.
Thoman-Uh-huh.
Prather-In other words, he
came to me and asked me, what
do you think it would cost to get
Strengthened out? I said I don't
know whether you can even get
Strengthened out. He said he
picked up a little business last
month running around
$4,000 a day. He said if I can
get Strengthened out 1t will
be worth $500 a month. I
didn't commit myself. 1 said,
"Well, I'll see what I can do
for you"
Thoman-Who the hell is it?
Prather-Anderson.
Thoman-I never heard of
him.
Old Simkins Aide.
Prather-He is over Northeast
working, on Oak street, that is
where he lives. He is one of
Simkins' old men from way back.
I tell you, when I was in No. 2
I knew him, he had big drop
in the unit block of M street
and he was one of Simkins' main
drops then. You heard that
Whitetop was going back in bust
ness. didn't you?
Thoman-I presumed that.
Prather-Well, do you know
who his lieutenant is? This
they call Catfish; do you know
him?
Thoman-Not Turner?
Prather-No, 1t Is a Catfish
that used to run a game up in
the HOO block Of D street on the
north side of the street. He is
a No. Is man. He has lived in
10 for years. He has gone up
on the Hill or Southeast some
where now. can't tell you
to save my life what he looks
like. but they all tell me I should
know him. He is supposed to be
Simkins' main mani mean. all
the business that Simkins is
gathering, he is going out and
starting to gather. see? He is
turning it over, and he says now
/ will send a man down to see
you. I understand he and
Whitley had q Of a falling
out about something. That
Is what he wants to do, and I
didn't commit myself or men,
ton any names or didn't say
nothing.
Thoman-What does he want
for the $500 he's going to give
me.
Prather-What he wants is,
he wants a cover on his Office.
In other words, he wants to have
some place he can work without
being worried. I told him, now
it's no use Of my telling you that
if you make this proposition you
are going to have protection for
every little on the
street, because it amt that way.
What could be done. if any
thing, would be to cover the
Office and three or four of your
main drops and that would be
the extent of it. He said he
understands that. He said II
don't want to go to Jail myself.
I realize some Of these little boys
have to go to jail. If they get
picked up and don't get off with