The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-03-13

the following detailed and empnaClc
statement of facts:
Il have absolutely no knowledge re-
garding any leases upon naval oil re-
serves made at any time to any per-
son or any company except such
knowledge as I, in common with all
the rest of the American public have
received from newspaper reports.
"As to the so-called Sinclair leases
and companies:
Never Knew of Lease.
az never have known anything about
any lease of any oil land to the Sim
clair company and know nothing to-
day about this except what / have
read in the newspapers. / do not
know Mr.. Harry F. Sinclair and have
no recollection of ever having met
him even in casual way. l have
never had any interest of any kind
directly or indirectly for myself or
any other person, in any of the So
called companies.
Il did not even know that there was
such thing as the Mammoth Oil
company until / saw it mentioned in
the press reports in connection with
this investigation. | did know as any
one who reads the newspapers would
have known, thatJthere was company
known as the Sinclair, Consolidated
Oil company, but l have never had any
connection with it or any interest in
it and have never owned or had any
interest in a single share of the
stocks of that company or any COM
pany in any way connected with it.
I'm word, l had no knowledge of,
or connection with Mr.. Sinclair's oil
leases or his companies or his bust
ness or his transactions.
Did Not Know Doheny.
81 onot know Mr.. Edward L. Do
heny, and so far as am aware, | have
never seen him in my life. | did not
know that he had any connection with
any leases upon naval oil reserves un-
til read of them in the newspapers.
81 do not know the names of Mr..
Doheny's companies, but | am inform
ed that he is president Of the Mexican
Petroleum company and of the Pan
American Petroleum company and that
those large companies, like most large
oil companies have branches.
81 have never owned directly or in
directly for myself or in connection
with any other person whatever, a
single share of stock in the Mexican
Petroleum company, the Pan-American
Petroleum company or any of their
dependent companies, or, SO far as
know, any company that Mr.. Doheny
had any interest in or connection with
Il know nothing about the con-
tract or leases between the govern
ment and the Doheny companies.
again, in brief, have had no con-
nection with, interest in, or transac-
tions with Mr.. Edward L. Doheny or
any company or business of Mr..
Doheny in my life.
Just Personal Friend.
Former Secretary of the Interior
Albert B. Fall has for several years
been a personal friend of mine. My
relations with him, however, have
been personal and never official.
have never at any time had any Of
fetal transactions with the interior
department of the United States
government.
GAS regards the navy department
and Secretary DENLY, 1 can say the
same as / have already said about the
interior department. My personal ac-
quaintance. with Secretary DENLY has
been very slight one. / have had no
business relations whatever. with the
navy department and have never been
interested in or connected with any
contracts of any kind made by or with
that department.
"The newspaper with which I am
connected, may have carried some gov
eminent advertising, but of course, it
will be recognized that this is mat
ter not handled by me personally.
"I have never been interested in the
purchase of any Sinclair or Doheny
oil stocks, directly or indirectly, by
which l mean that i have never made
any such purchase, nor have had any
interest in any such purchases made
by any one at any time.
"The public press has repeatedly
carried reports that an important wit
ness was negotiating for immunity
from prosecution in consideration of
the disclosure by him of sensational
facts. The press reports have too
clearly indicated that I was that i'm
portant witness for me not to be sem
sible to that imputation.
81 am now ready, gentlemen to ans
wer any relevant questions relating
to the subject of this investigation
that you may have to ask upon the
assurance and confidence, of course,
that I will not be called upon to ans
wer any questions which the laws
protect as privileged between my
counsel and myself"
Ladd Succeeds Lenroot.
The resignation of Senator Lenroot,
Republican, Wisconsin, as chairman of
the committee, is expected to have no
effect on the investigation which is
practically under the direction of
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana.
Senator Ladd of North Dakota, a Re-
publican member of the committee,
who is identified with the LaFollette
group, is to be named formally to
succeed Senator Lenroot by the Re-
publican committee on committees
which also must fill the vacancy in
the membership caused by the chair
mans retirement.