The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-13
OIL SUIT FILED
LISTS FALL
IN FRAUD
Eight Counts Are Contained
in Bill Of Complaint Be-
fore Wyoming Court.
Continued from First Page)

Continued from First Page)
that he might deal with
the lands not in the interest Of the
United States, but to the advantages,
profit and benefit of defendant
Mammoth Oil Company, .
and in particular of Harry F.. Sin.
clair. The REPRESENTATIONS
so made were in the interest of
and for the benefit of the United
States of America.
All Branded False.
Gan of said representations made
by Albert B. Fall were false and un-
true and were at the time known to be
false and untrue and were made
by him for the unlawful purpose of
enabling him, as Secretary of the
Interior, to effect a pretended and
unlawful transfer of rights in said
lands from the Government Of the
United States ~ the Mammoth OIL
Company.
Referring to the lease to Teapot
Dome entered into by Fall and
DENLY with Sinclair on April z,
1872, the complaint said the lease
was null and void in that its pre-
tended execution was effected with.
out authority IN law
AS to the agreement of February
Q, 1928, for the construction of Gov
eminent oil storage tanks by Sin.
clair, this was declared to have
been made without advertisement or
competitive bidding and was there
fore fraudulent, illegel, null and
void"
In one paragraph of the Govern.
ment's bill 1t was stated that Score.
tary Of the Navy DENLY took no
part in the negotiation Of the Sin
clair lease and contract and "af.
fixed his signature thereto merely
IN colorado attempt to evidence
the compliance by him in its terms
and an exercise of discretion in
connection with its making"
Details the Negotiations.
Detailing the negotiations between
Fall and Sinclair, the complaint said
that other persons, viz, the Texas
Company, The Pioneer Oil Com.
pany, Edward L. Doheny, Leo A.
Stack and others, tried to get leases
in the Teapot Dome, but were de-
MED an opportunity by Fall.
1t was declared that Fall "stead.
lastly refused to take the opinion
Of the Solicitor of the Department
Of the Interior or of the Attorney
General of the United States con.
corning the legality" of the leases
and charges were made that Fall
secretly communicated" to Sin
clair that he could not obtain any
leases in the Teapot Dome until he
lie
lands embraced within the agree
ment.
Charges Of Conspiracy.
Said Albert B. Fall" the com.
plant went on, made the obtain.
ing of such a quit claim deed a
condition precedent to the obtain.
ing OF a lease upon the said lands
after it had been fraudulently and
secretly arranged between him and
the said Harry +. Sinclair, that the
said Sinclair should obtain a quit
claim deed for said mining claims,
with the purpose and with the eff.
feet OF preventing and disabling
competitors Of the said Sinclair
who desired to obtain a lease upon
the said lands from bidding for
such lease and obtaining the same"
Reference also was made to the
agreement whereby John c. Shat
fer, Denver newspaper publisher,
obtained certain lands in the naval
reserve by negotiations with Sin.
clair and Fall; and to the fact that
public announcement of the Teapot
Dome lease was not made until
several days after the contract was
consummated.
Alleged Fraud Cited.
"In negotiating and concluding
said agreement" the bill declared
"said Albert B. Fall and said Harry
F. Sinclair did fraudulently and
covinously combine, confederate and
conspire in the manner and by the
acts hereinabove set forth! and
other matters and things, to de.
fraud the United States Of America.