Evening star., 1936-05-04
TWO WEEKS TIME
MAY Be CONSUMED
BY TWO HEARINGS
McDermott Will Be First to
Face Jury in Death of
Route Agent.
PRISONERS ARE BROUGHT
INTO COURT MANACLED
Secretary of State Dawson, Coun.
sci for Second Hoodlum, Ap-
pears on Clutches.
BY WILLIAM H. SHIPPEN Jr,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

BY WILLIAM H. SHIPPEN Jr,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
CUMBERLAND, Md, May A
fortnights trial was indicated today
when the court ordered separate hear
ings for two Washington hoodlums
accused in the gang Staying OF Allen
B. Wilson.
The severance was granted over the
protest Of States Attorney James H.
Pugh of Montgomery County. A re-
ces then was taken to permit counsel
to rearrange plans.
Albert McDermott, alias John
(Slim) Dunn, i to be tried first and
Immediately thereafter Albert S. Sut-
ton will face a jury.
Pugh told the court that three and
a half days will be required to pre-
sent the States case against one man.
Dawson on Clutches.
Separate trials were granted on the
motion of Thomas L. Dawson, Mary
land secretary Of State, rho represents
Sutton. Dawson ppeared before the
bench on crutches, due to injuries in
an automobile accident.
The attorney asked the severance on
the ground that Sutton is accused of
hiring the gunner and was not at the
scene Of the crime. Dawson also asked
a poStponement, but this was denied.
McDermott and Sutton came in to
court manacled to policemen between
lines of armed guards. Among spec
tators in the court room at the time
was the widow Of the gang victim.
Wilson was slain in October Of 1884
as he delivered a newspaper to the
Takona Park home of Edward G.
Mickey Mcdonald, Washington gam
bier.
Offutt Opposes Severance.
The State charges Sutton hired the
killers to do away with Mcdonald so
that he could take over the gamblers
business. The nervous gunmen mis-
took Wilson for Mcdonald and riddled
him with shotgun and pistol slugs.
The severance was opposed by Henry
Dorsey K Offutt of Washington, who
represents McDermott.
The defendants we're brought here
in automobiles yesterday under heavy
guard.
The two were lodged in Allegany
County's escape proof" jail along
with two gangsters expected to testify
for the State.
The Federal Government has
watched over McDermott with great
solicitude since he was brought East
for the trial from Alcatraz Prison
near San Francisco.
McDermott Carefully Guarded.
McDermott was serving sentence
there for the tri-State gang hold-up
of the Heurich Brewery in Wash
ington.
Recently States Attorney Pugh ard
Department of Justice agents came
here to inspect the jail in which
McDermott and the others were to be
held. The Federal agents pronounced
the Jail in good condition.
Local citizens congratulated them
selves upon this verdict.
They were somewhat dismayed, how
ever, when two young larceny sus-
poets sawed through the bars and slid
down rainspout to freedom last
week.
Jail Is Strengthened.
The police we're looking for the
fugitives today and in the meantime
strengthening their Jail.
State patrolmen slept last night in
a dwelling adjoining the lookup.
Extra guards were put in the cell
block. The "cat eye" detail of guard
on night duty was ordered to be on
the alert. Bars of the prisoners cells
were wired to an alarm siren and
flood lights were installed to play on
the Jail exits.
These elaborate precautions were
extended to the court room today.
Spectators were searched and police
patrolled the corridors armed with
riot guns.
Cleary Is Witness.
McDermott and Sutton obtained a
change Of venue from Rockville.
Defense attorneys by this move hoped
to clear them of the murder charge
under which Everett w. Myers re-
Gently was convicted.
The State today was to confront
the two "Alberts" with the same
witness who convicted Myers-Willie
Cleary, a tough little Philadelphia
gangster and former convict.
Another witness expected to testify
for the State is Dewey jenkins, for
mer tri-State gangster.
Jenkins, police say, helped to plan
the Staying Of Mcdonald, but dropped
out before the shooting started.
Mcdonald and his wife came here
yesterday to attend the trial. The
gambler said he probably would not
testify, but that he was too interested
to stay away.
why not" he asked reporters.
wasn't I the cause Of it alp"
Trial judges are D. Lindley Sloan,
Frank D. Wagaman and David A.
Robb.