The Omaha morning bee., 1924-01-23
Trials Are
Ordered bv
President
Daugherty Says His Depart.
ment Investigating Teapot
Dome Deal S eparate
From Senate Body.
Lack Evidence So Far
By Universal Service.


Washington. Jan. 22.-Prosecution
of all guilty persons and return TO the
navy Of Teapot Dome oil reserves was
decided upon today by President Cool
idge.
This was disclosed by Attorney Gen.
eral Harry N. Daugherty after long
conference at the White House with
the president.
The attorney general also revealed
for the first time that Department of
Justice agents have been investigat-
ing every phase of the lease for the
last three weeks and had started their
inquiry long before the senate com
mittee got under way.
No matter how high the station OF
those who may be involved in the
transaction. Attorney General Daugh-
erty declared, they will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent Of the law.
To Show No Favors.
The attorney general issued this
statement:
The Department OF Justice is close
/ ly observing the testimony or pro-
ceedings before the senate committee
and has been making some investiga-
tions on its own account during the
time the committee investigation has
been under way.
! In pursuance OF custom the De-
partment Of Justice awaits the action
of the senate committee. Except in
extraordinary cases where the evi-
dence is sufficient the Department OF
Justice does not interfere with the
congressional committee. and awaits
the result and recommendation Of the
committee.
This does not mean that the depart
lment would wait until the investiga-
tion Is concluded when the evidence
lis competent 10 lay before a grand
Jury, or court. and I'm the opinion Of
the department showed the commits
sion Of crime and is believed to be
, sufficient to secure q conviction.
Has Plenty of Evidence.
In this or any other case the De-
partment of Justice welcomes the Of
fer OF any testimony TO show a yio-
lation OF the law and no matter who
the person is. the same course VIII
be followed and with the same
promptness."
II was al this point that Attorney
General Dsugherty departed from his
formal statement TO say that agents
began an independent investigation
because of suspicious about the par
ticular case and that considerable
evidence has actually been gathered
He said that trained Investigators
had been following up various leads
that are taking them into every part
of the country where evidence may
be revealed of financial transactions,
or IL Is believed that there are per-
sons who may know something OF
any possible unusual circumstances
OF the lease.
Cabinet Discusses Case.
Todavs cabinet meeting was
given over largely TO a discussion OF
the Teapot Dome case. BY direction
Of the president. Attorney General
Daugherty has assigned assistant At
torney General Holland TO the case.
Holland is sitting in the COMMITTEES
sessions as an official observer to
see what evidence may he disclosed
that will give the department ground
on which TO take action.
Holland today conferred with Chair
man I.enroot OF the investigating
committee. They agreed that tbs
. evidence thus far is not supported BY
sufficient proof TO warrant criminal
| rraraeaineS AGAINST any person de-
spite the damaging character OF re-
cent disclosures before the commits
tee. particularly yesterday, the testt-
mony Of Archie Roosevelt and n. G.
Wahlhere.