The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-25
GIVES TRUE
STORY Of
D()HENY
LOAN
Recalls Long Friendship and
Says 500, 900 Had Moth
7 ing to Do With Oil Leases.
BY KENNETH w. CLARK,
International Neus serrios.


Haggard of face and obviously
broken in spirit by the succession
of ugly charges hurled at him in
the last two weeks, former Sec.
rotary of the Interior Albert B.
Fan struck back at his accusors
today with what he declared to
be the true story" of the famous
100000 loan.
There was no connection
whatever between the 100000
loan received from Doheny and
the lease he obtained for naval
reserve lands in California" Ball
told international News Service.
Explains DOheny's Story.
Fall referred to testimony of e. L.
Doheny, president, of the Pan
American Petroleum Company, be-
fore the Senate Public Lands Com
mittee investigating naval reserve
leases to private interests. The oil
magnate declared he loaned Fall the
100000 on November 80, 1921, on q
promissory note, and that no men.
ton has been made since that time
about payment of the loan.
II loaned him Falli the money
because he has been a warm per-
sonal friend of mine for thirty
years, and was happy to do this
favor for friend, especially az
could easily spare the money"
Doheny said.
The loan was made only shortly
before Doheny got the lease for the
81, 900 acres in the Elk Mills, Cali.
fornia, reserve. The money was
sent to Fall in Washington from
New York in cash, carried in a little
black satchel by Doheny's son.
Mr.. Doheny loaned me the
money because of tha years OF un.
broken friendship between u.s."
Fall added. Besides, it was in
gratitude for the many things /,
and no one else, had been able to
do for him In Washington during
the involvement of his Mexican
properties by the war in that
country.
HE never gave the money on
account of any oil leases"
Denies Other Big Loans.
Fall also denied fatty that he
borrowed any large sums other
than the 100000 from Doheny.
The impression was gained by some
members of the committee from
the mans testimony that there
might have been a second 100000,
inasmuch as Doheny said the cost
Of buying the Harris ranch snd
improvements on his own ranch
exceeded 100000" He declared
Fall asserted the purpose of the
loan was to purchase the adjoin
ing ranch. not mentioning install
lations on the ex-secretary's own
ranch which were said to have
cost about $4,000.
II did not get any money from
Harry r. Sinclair" Fall said. II
did not get any money from Ed
regret In all this unhappy stu.
alton is that said I did get money
from Mclean, and am ready to
apologize for having said It."
Senator Caraway, Dsm.l, of
Arkansas, charged that Fall sud
denly came into possession of
$180,000 after the leases 20 Doheny
and Sinclair. although It was
shown he was broke and unable to
pay taxes before the leases were
made"
To clarity these charges, the CON-
mittee summoned Fall to appear
Monday.
The decision to delay Fall's ap.
pearance until next week was
reached after committee members
had communicated with the ex.
secretary's physician.
Fall IL in no condition to test.
fy yet" the physician said. ''He
needs couple Of days rest. He IL
worn out and fatigued by the trip
from New Orleans. Fall II a very
sick man and any untoward excite,
ment might prove disastrous to
him. Some time ago recommend.