Evening star., 1925-01-28

Continued from First Page)
considerations for a District of Co
lumbia proceeding
After the Attorney General had de
clined to go into details of the evil
dence on the case to be presented
here, Senator Walsh placed in the
records a letter written to Mr. Stone
last May. asking for an early hearing
of the case in Montana since a jury
then was sitting at Butte
This matter was referred TO United
States Attorney Slattery in Montana,
who advised that the jury was about
to adjourn, and that, besides, there
was further investigation of the case
to be made.
Slattery wrote the Justice Depart
ment that Senator Wheeler was urg-
ing early trial so as to take advan-
tage of the whitewashIng given him
by his colleagues in the Senate"
The reference was to the Senate
investigation which last Spring re-
suited in Senator Wheeler's complete
eNoneration at the hands of a COM
mittee headed by Senator Borah, Re-
publican. Idaho, Answering questions
by Senator Walsh, Mr.. Stone said
the same witnesses who appeared be-
fore the Senate committee would go
before the grand jury here, but that
others also had been summoned
1t was developed that while Stat
terry now is willing to have the case
tried at Butte, there can be no trial
there until the middle of March.
That will be after the grand jury
here IS through?' asked Senator
Walsh.
az assume So" Mr. Stone replied
In describing to the committee the
investigation by Assistant Attorney
General Donovan and its results, Mr.
Stone said:
Calls Schemes Fraudulent.
THE investigation indicated that
CampbeIls promotion schemes In
volved primarily the securing, fraud
ulently, of oil and gas prospecting
permits on public lands in Montana
and that the most important ele-
ment in them was the valuation OF
these permits by the Interior Depart
ment and the approval of assign
ments of these permits by the exec
utive officers of the Interior Depart
ment at Washington,
These subsequent investigations
changed entirely the aspect of the
crime. which seemd to have been
committed in Montana. Instead Of a
mere fraudulent scheme to use the
mails in the selling of oil stock, 1t
appears that there was scheme to
defraud the United States of its pub
lie lands and of the oil and minerals
underlying those lands.
The principal and most important
acts in furtherance OF the scheme
were to be performed. and were in
fact performed. at the seat OF the
Government. A crime il committed
In these transactions was committed
within the District of Columbia
where, under the statutes OF the
United States, it was properly triable.
while from the facts presented to
me it appeared that a number OF
people were unquestionably impli-
Gated in this transaction, 1t became
apparent that testimony could not be
taken with respect to it without fndi-
eating that Senator Wheeler was in
conclusion that in fairness to him
and with a view to the due and
orderly administration of justice, ar
opportunity should be given to him
to explain his connection with the
transaction.
But independently of his connec.
tion with 1t, there had apparently
been a crime committed and that
crime had been committed within the
District OF Coiumnla ana the case
could not be submitted to grand
jury without developing the par
Senator Wheeler had taken in 1t.
II therefore gave instructions earl!
in December that the matter shoult
be submitted to a grand jury in tn,
District of Columbia l further, a
that time. gave instructions that tn,
utmost caution should be used in pre-
senting the case, to present it will
absolute fairness to all the defendant
concerned, and. in view of Senator
wheeler's relation to the case, 1 CAV,
] instructions that he should be per
mitted to appear before the grant
/ jury to testify, IL he so desired, pro
vided he waive immunity, and that a
| a reasonable time in advance of gran,
| jury proceedings, either Senato
Wheeler or his counsel should b.
advised of my determination"
Mr.. Stone said he accepted "ful
personal responsibility" for what hac
| been done with respect to the case
here.
'The course pursued by the De.