Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-12-04

was admitted as evidence ~ the
trial today over the objections ot
the government.
Justice HOehling permitted the
paper to 20 in after hearing argu.
ments by opposing counsel. He held
that IL was pertinent 10 the cause MI
the defense in its effort ID absoive
former Interior Secretary Albert r..
Fall and Edward L. Doheny, the oil
magnate Of the oil leasing conspir-
acv charge against them.
Robson. a defense witness, iderti-
fled the order a. one which had
been delivered u him by q naval ~
ficer the day before he took the
witness stand. II said:
1t appearing that you have been
subpoenaed 20 court, you Gre here
by ordered not ID disclose any con-
fiHcntiai information which may
have come into your possession as
an officer of the navy.
Curtis u. Wilbur. secretary"
Trial Court Held Supreme.
Robson was the representative of
the Navy Deuartment in the leasing
negotiation which led to award Nj
The Flk Hills contract 10 noheny
while Fall was the head Of the IN
terror Department. and the deferse
counsel contendcd that Secretarr
Wilbur's order would lend 20 pre-
vent the admiral from making dis
closures lS ~ the extent t0 when
the navy itself was responsible for
the award
Justice Hoehling ruled that the
trial court alone was vested with
authority 20 determine what may 50
before q jury.
TIE zecretary's order was read NJ
Thu iurv by Frank y. Hogan, chief
Of defense counsel.
When Robson resumed his tssti-
mony. however. he flatly declined 10
answer HOgan's questions about
cnnfidertiul aspects If the ncgotia-
tinns with Doheny.
The questions related 10 CON
varsation Robson had with DOneny
regarding the plan for oil storage
at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii. later
undertaken by the Doheny Interests
n recited him secret informatic
that I can not reveal" said Robson.
Directed To Answer
Hogan asked the court to direct
the witness "a answer. and Justice
Hoehling ruled that no uarticular
powc~ need be mentioned by same.
but that otherwise the questions of
counsel must be answered
-T- yHs W conversation with thc
defendant in this trial pertinent to
the issues were involved justice
Hoehling said. Robson sat silent for
"a while. then began to reT!y. choos-
inc. his words carefully.
II told Mr.. Doheny of the II h-
tarv nlans ccntered on Pearl hnr-
hor and az possible naval onera..
LIONS NJ other nowers." liz said. II
informed him of the sort Of defense
that it was necessary for the L. :
to accomplish in order 20 prevent
an invasion of the Pacific coast
And linked the security oI the ta-
rifir coast with the establishment
OF our naval defense.
Did YOU observe NJ Doheny
reaction to what you told him
81 did"
"What was il :"
ale was considerably aGitatcd
"And YOU had explained ~ him
IN prcyious conversations what part
the Pearl Harhor oil storage pro-
gram had in the general defense
| plan?'
Il had
Assured Of One Bid
"You told him that before TIT told
Won the government could bank TIT
III least one bid on Pearl Harhor:
'Yes"
Hogan then read to the jurv
memorandum from Robson 70 Rec.
! retarv Denby Of the Navy dated
October ~. 1922, rtportine ROM
sons conversation with Doheny on
the Pearl Harbor development.
The letter said that lin return
| for these concessions Mr. Dohen!
asks leases on Certain Of the unde-
veloped portions Of the Gala re-
serve number 4. This i the Els
Hills reservation. leased u Doherv..s
| Par American Petroleum of Gait
fornia on December II. 1922. a
preferential right" to such lease
was granted in the Pearl Harboi
contract Of April %, 1922.
"The cost a the Pearl Harhni
proicct to the Navy" Robson wrote
| IL DENLY "will be practically noihlnr
exccpt that ehe government will bF
| committed 70 this company IN tnt
matter of future leases on the Eit
Hills reservation.
Robson urged acceptance ot thf
offer. Drainage Of naval on through
nearby private wells made such leas-
| ines imperative the letter said.