New Britain herald., 1926-12-23
CLAIMS HE WAS FRAMED UP
Denies Me[lett Murder and Says
 He Warned Publisher
ACCUSES STATE WITNESS
Sensational Canton, Ohio, Murder Trial Reaches Spectacular Climax When Accused Refuses To Name Man Who Hid Him.

NHSu hCCuSeu fkSIuSeS TO NdHle
 Man Who Hid Him.
 Courthouse. Canton, Ohio, Dec 23 P-Patrick Eugene McDermott, testifying today in his trial on a charge of murdering Don R. Mel lett. Canton publisher, denied any complicity in the crime and pointed to Steve kascholk, the states star witness, as the probable slayer. Me Dermott said 1t was he who warn ed Mellett by telephone that three men were lying in ambush for him at his garage door.
 says He Was Framed
 McDermott was defiant through out his cross examination by Prose cutor C. B. McClintock and shouted that he had been framed. On two occasions, Judge Edwin w. Diehl was forced to reprimand McDermott for his retorts to McClintock. When he refused to reveal the name of man with whom he said he had hid for a while in Cleveland, the prose- cution asked that he be held in con- tempt of court. but the ruling was deferred and McDermott repeatedly refused to declare the name, declar- ing: I'm no rat"
 Accuses kaScholk
 McDermott declared it was kas- cholk who induced him to go to Massillon last July to hunt for a job. He said he came to Canton from Massillon alone and was ioin- ed by kae ,holk wi said he had been ''hired to slug kn edi;Vr, Met- lett" McDermott said he called Mellett's home twice to warn him.
 He denied knowing Ben Rudner and Louis Mazer, his co-defendants. and denied that he had ever had gun while he was in Canton. He said he was in bed early on the night of the murder and left the next day when he received a tele- gram from R. L. Strang" instruct ing him, in code. to "clear out" He said he presumed the telegram was from kascholk who wanted him to clear out because he knew too much"
 Went To Cleveland
 McDermott said he went to Cleve- land and gave fictitious name be- cause he was afraid he would get mixed up in the murder case because he had warned Mellett. He said he hid out after his sister told him he was being sought. He was conceal ed by Ben Nadel. for whom he had sold liquor, he admitted, and by Dan Pfaff, both Of Cleveland.
 He whispered answers into the court record in reply to his coun- sells query on direct examination concerning alleged transactions be- tween him and Prosecutor McClin- tock. The answers were barred from the jury's ears by court rul- ing which sustained the states ob- jections
 McDermott Called
 McDermott, on trial charged with the murder of Don R. Mellett, took the stand in his own defense as court opened.
 Admits Knowing kaschoik
 McDermott said he knows Steve kascholk, states chief informer, and went with him to Massillon from Cleveland on July 5 as related by kascholk. It was on this occa- sion that the state charges Mo Dermott conferred with Ben Rud- ner, his co-defendant, about slug ging an editor"
 McDermott denied knowing Ben Rudner, one of his co-defendants.
 Denies Meeting Rudner
 He said he did not meet Rudner in Massillon on July 26, the all lesed ''pay-off' night. On that oc- casion. he said, he visited pool room and hotel but saw no one whom he knew.
 McDermott was obviously her vous. His voice was husky and from time to time he swallowed and attempted to clear his throat.
 McDermott maintained it was Kascholk and not he who suggest ed the trip to Massillon. He de- clared kascholk told him he. was going to slug an editor"
 Says He Gave Warning
 McDermott asserted it was he who called Mellett several nights before the murder to warn him of the plot against him,
 He said the first time he at tempted to give the warning a woman's voice answered and said Mellett was not there. so he called later and told Mellett to stay away from his garage because some enemies were waiting to "get him"
 McDermott testified he did not have a gun at any time while he was in Canton and that he was in bed soon after 10:30 on the night of the murder.
 Was Liquor Agent
 The defendant admitted he one time sold liquor for Ben Nadel, who Is alleged by the state to have hidden McDermott for two months after the murder
 (Continued on pa ra 4ayenl