The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-23
SAYS
HI: WARNED
MELLE'TT 7
Accused on Witness Stand
Declares Phone Carried
News of Plot.
FAMILY ATTENDS TRIAL
Widow and Children of Slain
Editor Present.

Dermott took the witness stand to-
day to save himself from the electric
chair in his trial on charges of con-
spring with the underworld to as
sassinate Don r. Mellett, editor of
the Canton Daily News.
The day Kascholk declared he and
Pat met Ben Rudner and Louis
Mazer, who are alleged to have con-
spired in the reprisal murder-the
witness said he spent the afternoon
in a pool room and then went to
Canton, registering under an as
sumed name on the advice of his
companion, Kascholk.
did he go out that evening""
Mills inquired.
"Yes."
after he came in what did you
do?"
HE said he had a job for both
Of us to beat up Editor Mellett! l
told him he was crazy"
On Saturday, McDermott said, he
called the Mellett home.
"I called the number" he said.
"a lady answered. 1 said, Hello,
Is Mr.. Mellett there?' She said he
was not, and then I warned her
about the plot"
The attorney began accounting for
the defendants movements for the
days that followed, but McDermott
interrupted:
but ou're getting ahead of the
story. DON'T forge tiny call Sunday
night"
Mills then suggested: Did you
call Don Mellett?"
yes, on Sunday night. told
lin there were several men hang
- ound his garage"
hat did he say?"
~ He asked who it was talking
and l said an enemy of your enc
mics"
Describes Movements
McDermott then told of his move
n'ents on each day up to the Thurs
" preceding the midnight murder.
said he slept until 1890 Thurs
1y, walked around, went to show
and was in bed early, arising the
next morning at o'clock--nine
hours after Mellett was ambushed.
When did you first learn of the
muder?"
1.-THE next day. replied McDer-
mott. 'I heard it talked about and
/ saw something about it in the
paper"
McDermott was held in contempt
of court when he stubbornly refused
to answer a question to name the
person who furnished him with
funds while he was in hiding in
Cleveland, following the murder. The
court admonished him, but Pat
clung to the code of the under
world" and refused to divulge the
information.
"But what can I do about it?" said
Judge E. w. Diehl in ruling the wit
ness was in contempt. 'I can't
throw him in jail-he is already
there"
Under questioning by his attorney,
L. L. Mills, the witness said he was
2S years old and his parents live jim
Nanty Clio, Pa.
McDermott charged that his ac-
NuoSIs ClSN6 NdSCIOlhs WAS the one
who proposed that they beat up"
Mellett.
Bushes at Camera
The defendant was asked by his at
torney to sit quiet for a moment
AYhile photographers snapped pic.
lures. He blushed till his face was
the hue of his auburn hair and
nodded assent. He looked steadily
at the battery of cameras trained on
him and smiled in his most pleasing
fashion.
AS the debonair youth was called
for his supreme moment and the
climax of the three weeks trial of
the reign Of vice masters in Canton,
Mrs. Florence Mellett, widow of the
crusading editor, took a seat near
the witness chair. Her four children
accompanied Mrs. Mellett.
Under an agreement reached be-
fore court opened today the case will
go to the jury tomorrow and Nc
Dermott probably will learn his fate
as Christmas present.
McDermott, dressed to initiate a
fashion plate, was smiling with con-
hdence as he took the witness chair
and faced the crowded courtroom.