Evening star., 1944-09-12
Jones Says U. 5.
.DeniiedHimbaiI,
ProperCounse|
Sedition Defendant
Says Choice Not His
In HondIing Defense
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Ellis o. Jones, one of 2e de.
PENDANTS In the sedition case,
charged in District Court today that
he was defending himself, not from
choice, but because he was brought
5000 miles from his home for this
trial, refused bail and deprived of
an adequate chance to employ coun.
sci.
Jones, who was cross-examining q
Government witness, made this as
sertton after q wrangle between o, =
John Rogge and several defense at
torneys. They protested against fire.
quent Government objections to
Jones questions and the sustaining
of most objections by Chief Justice
Edward c. Eicher. The defense at
torneys pointed out that Jones was
defending himself and said he
should be given wide latitude.
Eicher Comments.
Justice Eicher commented that
Jones was defending himself by
choice and had refused repeated
offers to be provided with counsel.
The defendant, q veteran editor
and writer Of satire and songs, took
exception to the courts remark.
Jones said he was forced to defend
himself. Citing that he had been
brought from his Los Angeles home,
Jones said: Bail was withheld and
I was deprived of an opportunity to
obtain counsel Of my choice"
Jones faces two prison terms In
California, along with Robert Noble,
former defendant, on previous
convictions of violating State and
Federal sedition laws. The episode
occurred during the cross-examina-
ton Of Mrs. Betty Lee Mclaughlin
OF Los Angeles, who told of meet
ings there conducted by Noble and
Jones at which the war was de-
nounced and audiences were urged
not to support it.
Limit Is Reached.
Justice Eicher told intervening de.
tense counsel, Jones had been al.
lowed the utmost liberty in cross.
examining the witness, but had al
most reached the limit of what could
be allowed under the rules Of
evidence.
When Jones asked Mrs. McLauph-
lin II she recalled that at one of the
meetings he had objected to the
circulation of "subversive" literature
in the audience-something headed
"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"
This has reached the ridiculous,
Prosecutor Rogge protested.
| Started With Ridiculous"
I'VE started with the ridiculous" :"
1Jones retorted.
| E. Hilton Jackson, dean of the de-
tense attorneys, contends that Jones
was being restricted and deprived of
his rights, and what affected one
defendant affected all in this con.
lspiracy case.
i This has been going on for nearly
five minutes" Mr.. jackson added,
Most of the evidence has been ad.
mitted Professionally, and the prose-
cutton has gone far afieId. And now
the prosecution Is objecting to our
going deeper into matters 1t has
brought OUT
Mr.. Rogge replied that the Gov
ernment had required half day for
the direct examination Of Mrs. Nc
Laughlin and the defense already
had taken two and a half court days
indication it had not been unduly
restricted.
Naxi Ambassador in Case.
At yesterdays late afternoon ses.
sion, Manfred Won Killinger, German
Ambassador to Romania, who was
reported to have killed himself in
the Embassy at Bucharest when the
Russians arrived. was listed as q CO.
conspirator in the sedition case.
Won Killinger was one of 43 for
eign on1cials and propagandists on
a list of alleged conspirators headed
by Hitler himself. These persons
were not named as defendants, but
were described in the Government's
bill OF particulars as co-conspirators.
Press accounts said Won Killinger
went berserk with a machine gun
when he saw the Red Army entering
Bucharest and killed several per-
sons before taking his life. He for
merly was German consul general
at San Francisco.