Evening star., 1944-08-12
Sedition Defendant
Offers 10 Aid Accused
Government Witness
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

A defendant in the sedition case
took the side of prospective Gov
ernment witness today, offering to
testify before grand jury in New
York In support Of police charges
that he was victim of frameup in
an effort to discredit him at the
District Court trial.
Edward James Smythe. one Of the
26 defendants on trial. telegraphed
New York County's District Attor-
ney Frank S. Hogan, volunteering to
give information regarding Edwin
P. Banta, accuser of Arthur Derou-
nian, who wrote. under the name Of
John Roy Carlson, the ,best-seller
Under Cover"
Derounian, expected to be star
Government witness in the sedition
case, was charged recently by a
young woman with criminal assault
Later the New York police arrested
Banta and District Attorney Hogan
issued an information charging
Banta with conspiracy to accuse
Derounian falsely. The girl was re-
ported by the district attorney to
have admitted Banta persuaded her
to accuse the writer. The grand
jury is investigating the matter.
Doesn't Believe Attack Story.
Smythe told the district attorney
that Banta lis not connected with
the sedition case and no one down
here wants anything to do with
him. and l don't believe his fantas-
tic story relative to John Roy Carl
SON"
The telegram was made public
through Smythe's attorney, M. Ed
ward Buckley. Smythe said he had
known Banta for years and could
give the authorities considerable in
formation about him.
Smythe, who is under bond. Is an
Independent candidate for Congress
from the 2lst New York district.
While the Government has not
disclosed in advance the names OF
any of its witnesses, it has been as
sumed by those in touch with the
case that Derounian would be called.
In Under Cover" the author re-
ported personal contacts with many
of the defendants, whose confidence
he said he gained in his investiga-
tion of Fascism in the United States.
He has been reported in Washington
several times recently.
Woman to Resume Stand.
When the trial is resumed at 10
am. Monday before Chief Justice
Edward c. Eicher, defense attor-
nevs will examine Miss Alma
McGroarty of Alexandria, Va. who
testified Thursday to conversations
she said she overheard between a
defendant, George E. Deatherage.
and former defendant, James
True.
True was said to have discussed |
plans for a revolution which would
break out in New York with seizure
of the public utilities, and Deather-
age to have remarked that his home |
In West Virginia, near an Army |
camp, was an open house for officers, |
and he had gotten in some very
good work"
The 26 defendants are charged !
with conspiring to undermine the
loyalty of the armed forces.
Elmhurst Sues Pearson.
Ernest F. Elmhurst, a defendant. |
filed suit in District Court today
asking damages of 100000 from
Drew Pearson, radio and newspaper |
commentator; the Blue Network,
Station WMAL. Mr.. Rogge and the
Shoreham Hotel. Elmhurst said he |
lost job as night captain at the
Shoreham Hotel dining room after
Mr.. Pearson broadcast the fact that
he was working there and was
defendant in the sedition case.
The complaint said Mr. Pearson
told his radio audience that Elm
hurst was lin position to overhear
private conversations carried on by
James F. Byrnes, war mobilization
director; Bernard Baruch and other
high officials Mr. Rogge was
blamed for allegedly telling an un-
named person that he was going to
have Elmhurst fired James J.
Laughlin, ousted defense attorney
in the sedition trial appears as |
counsel for Elmhurst in the civil
Sllit