Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-23

The jury verdict acquitting Albert
B. Fall and Edward l.. Doheny OF
conspiracy against the Government in
connection with oil leases is the sub
ject Of emphatic comment in the press
from one end of the country to the
other. Many editors denounce the
verdict and declare that it cannot In
huence the conviction of the defend
ants at the bar of public opinion
others are not surprised and point tc
the difficulties in the way of proving
conspiracy charge, and a few regard
| the result as vindication of the jury
system in q case involving partisan
prejudices.
Believing that "the entire prosecu
ton of these defendants has been en-
veloped in partisanship and sensa
tionalism,' the New York Herald
Tribune Republican, halls the result
as "a wholesome corrective and
triumph for the jury system" That
paper, however, declares that no one
will conceive that the jury'S decision
is a clean bill of health for Mr.. Fall
1t finds him unfit for public office. .
and sees, in his record, Items which
contradicted a sense of public dutyVto
say nothing of a sense Of propr1ety
and which would forever disbar him
from a post Of public or private trust. y
The Kansas City Journal-Post Tin
dependent) asserts that ''the passions
and the prejudices kindled by discus
sions and advance verdicts on the part
of the public are without parallel In
American life. Disappointed par
tisanship may decline to accept the
finding" continues the editorial; mot
even such prejudice can, however,
deny it's substantially"
1.-THE verdict might be dismissed,
advises the Tulsa World independently,
with the statement that the disposi-
ton of juries of recent years to acqult
wherever there is even the suggestion
that political prosecution Is involved
has become so noticeable that further
comment Is unnecessary" Assuming
that 1.-The prevalent impression OF a
Majority of readers has been that the
trial would eliminate in the disagree
ment of the jury" the Syracuse
Herald independently emphasizes
formidable difficulties always con.
fronted in establishing a charge of
conspiracy, particularly one in which
many political or official factors, in
fluences and motives enter" and looks
upon the verdict as mot so surprising,
after ALL"
X X X r
The Pasadena Star-News dnde.
pendent) also accepts personal win
dication of Messrs. Doheny and Fall
and declares that long. useful and
blameless lives counted with the jury"
1t explains that "indiscretion was
proven, but not criminal guilt" The
Duluth Herald independently draws
the conclusion that critics can con-
vict upon suspicion; the jury could
not"
To the Hartford Courant (Repub-
lican) ''the transactions between Sec
rotary Fall and Doheny had a sinister
look" though in view Of the fact that
Fall and Doheny were lifelong
friends" 1t is conceded that "the jury
evidently believed 1t conceivable that
Doheny's loan to Fall could be per-
fectly legitimate transaction" OF the
war scare in the Pacific, the Courant
states that "the public may be par
doned for restraining it's admiration
for Mr.. Doheny's patriotism" The
Columbus Ohio State Journal Gre
publican) adds that 'it is not likely
that the jury's verdict vindicates the
alleged conspirators in the public
mind" The Richmond News-Leader
independent Democratic) offers the
judgment: "a duped people will be
disappointed, if not Disguised, at the
outcome of the first trial. They want
to see some one behind bars as punish
ment for as shameless a breach of
trust as ever disgraced America"
"The fact remains" remarks the
Oklahoma City Times Democratic).
that Doheny sent 100000 to Fall in
a little black satchel before the lease
was granted. This alleged loan was
made on note without bankable
security, and with no rate of interest
named That may not amount to
proof of conspiracy to defraud the
Government, but it is enough to con-
vince the people that Doheny's prating
Of patriotism in the affair Ia cause for
loud and rat1cous laughter