The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-25
CHASE JOINS IN REFUSAL TO TESTIFY Sinclair Definitely Certi-
 fled For Jury
 Action FALLS SON-iN-LAW FEARS IMPLICATION. Was Alleged To Have In terceded In $100,000
 Loan REPORTER GIVES
 SOURCE OF STORY  Office Employe Told Him Hays Would Testify Of $1, 100000
 Stock Contribution
REPORTER GIVES
 SOURCE OF STORY

WASHINGTON, March 24.-Harry F. Sinclair, lessee of Teapot Dome, was certified to the federal courts here to- day by the Senate for contempt pro- ceedings because of his refusal to an- swer any further questions put by the oil investigators.
 At the same time another witness. c. c. Chasee, customs collector at Fl Paso and son-in-law of Albert B. Fall, also refused to testify, taking the posi- tion that his answers might tend to incriminate him.
 Counsel Returns
 Special government counsel in the oil cases returned to Washington from the west, conferred with President Cool idge and announced they would pre- sent the cases to a grand jury here April 10.
 A subpoena was isued for Lewis W. Baldwin, president of the Empire Trust company of New York, from whom the committee will seek to learn what col lateral was used to secure note in that bank which Will H. Hays, former chairman of the republican national
 
 with contribution of $75,O00 from
 Harold Vivian, New York Times reporter, told the investigators that Joseph J. O'Neill, attached to Hays New York office, was authority for an article written by him that it was un- derstood Hays would testify that Sin clair had made large stock contribu- ton to help wipe out the $1 900 deficit of the republican national com mittee.
 Denies Denial
 Chairman Ladd read a telegram from O,Neill, denying that he had authorized any such statement. Vivian declared this telegram 'salmost in it's entirety false.Y
 sattsi 4 Thonpsos. ..af Clcpeiansl campaign manager in Ohio for Presi- dcnt Coolidge and close friend of the late President Harding, testified that he knew nothing of any Coil deals" at the 1920 republican convention.
 From Charles P. Oelschalger and Michael Circelli, both of Philadelphia, the committe received testimony that Martin J. Powers, a Philadelphia att torney, had said that he, James G. Darden and John McGlynn, were in terested in obtaining lease of Teapot Dome and that they were to put up S40,0O0 each.
 Powers denied that he was interest ed in the Wyoming maya. reserve and asserted that other stories told about him were .'ignominous lies."
 Bidders Reported "Sore"
 W. W. Tarbell, an oil operator of New York, told the committe there had been a good deal of soreness among representatives of oil companies over the lease of Teapot Dome and that dozen companies would have bid on that reserve.
 Chase was on the witness stand only a few minutes. He refused to answer any questions and since he stood on his constitutional grounds, as did Fall when he last was before the commit tee. no court action against him will be proposed by the investigators.
 fs Chase had been referred to in pre- yious testimony as having visited Price Mckinney of Cleveland last November for the purpose of asking that McKin- ney say he had loaned. Fall $1OO,OOO. Mckinney refused, according to his tes- timony, and Fall then obtained the con sent of Edward B. Mclean, publisher of the Washington Post, to say that he had made such a loan.
 Vote is 12 to
 Decision of the Senate to certify sinclair's case to the District of Columbia supreme court, was on a vote of 12 to 1, Senator Elkins, re publican, West Virginia, casting the negative vote.
 Chairman Ladd presented formal repC..t declaring the oil magnate "in contempt of said committee and the Senate, and Senator Walsh, Montana, the oil prosecutor" moved that the ease be certified. The formal certifi- cate is being prepared and will be signed by Acting Chairman Moses, probably tomorrow. As required by law, it will be presented to the dis trict attorney of this district who will lay the case before grand jury.
 In the event of an indictment and conviction Sinclair would be liable to a fine of not more than $1,0O0 nor less than $10O and imprisonment fin a common jail' for not less than one month nor more than twelve months.
 Possibility that the governments special oil committee might be asked to take over the case developed after the Senate acted. Senator Jones, re- publican, WaShlngC0n, suggested thls course, and White House officials took up the matter with Atlee Pomerene of the oil counsel.
 Several Preeedents.
 There are several precedents for the nction taken today, but in two cases to which attention was drawn there were acquittaIs. E. R. Chapman, New York City was certified to the court in 1896 and was acquitted by a jury.
 John Shriver, a newspaper writer, was certified to the courts by the Sen ate the, same year and was acquitted by a directed verdict. He declined to supply a Senate committee with in- formation as to the source of an ar .- (csntInusd sn Page I've Column sIO