Evening star., 1926-11-22

never heard Senator Walsh's radio
address and had only read about the
present case in the Sunday news
papers.
Mr.. Roberts and Maj. Gordon then
deliberated for several minutes pre-
pairing to exercise their first challenge.
The result of the conference was that
Mr.. Kues was excused. Bertram A.
Sampson, 90 years old. Of 1875 Otis
street northeast, a salesman for Guy.
Curran & Co., was called to fill the
vacant chair.
Under questioning by Mr.. Hogan,
he said he had sister employed in
the Navy Department, but that she
had been there only six months and
had not discussed Navy oil contracts
with him. He further admitted that
he had read of an inquiry having been
made concerning the affairs Of MEM
bers Of the jury panel and that some
body came to my house and made
those inquiries Of Mrs. Sampson"
Mr.. Lambert inquired If the tales
man was affiliated with any organiza-
tions cor dance clubs with which
Senator Walsh might be connected"
Mr.. Sampson was allowed to sit down,
and talesman No. 10, Mr.. Clarkson,
was challenged by the defense and ex.
cused.
Government Challenges Another.
Charles V. Samuels, concert mu-
sician and teacher of 1881 Tenth
street. was next on the list to be
called for the tenth chair. He told
Mr.. Hogan that he read in The Star
yesterday that somebody was trying
to get line on the jury. and that
somebody had been to a neighbor and
inquired about my standing and who
I was" He was temporarily accepted
and the Government challenged Mr..
Blodgett. No. s.
Mr.. Blodgett was excused and
Charles w. Simpson. jr.. 81 years old,
a real estate salesman for the Ward
man Construction Co, was examined
for this vacancy. He said he had
brother in one of the engineering
branches Of the Navy Department,
but had never talked with him about
oil cases. AS both sides concluded
theh examination, Simpson asked au-
thority to approach the bench, but
Justice Hoehling said he would have
to make any statement in open court.
This the talesman declined to do and
Maj. Gordon asked If he saw any
reason why he should not serve as a
juror, to which Simpson replied no.
The defense then exercised another
challenge. excusing Mr.. Sampson,
who previously had stated inquiries
had been made at his house. John F.
Smoot, jr.. 26 years old, 2121 New
York avenue. a clerk in the Western
Fruit Express Co., entered the jury
box and was examined, only to be
challenged by the Government and
excused after he had been seated. In
his place Hugh P. Smyth, 43 years
old, 1852 Park road, real estate
operator, was accepted, and the de-
fense then challenged chair No. 10,
occupied by Mr.. Samuels, who a few
moments before had told Of inquiries
having been made about him of a
neighbor.
Bernard s. Snow was called from
the panel in the courtroom, and as he
took his chair Justice Hoehling re-
cessed court until 1870 o'clock. At
this point both sides had exercised
8 of their 10 challenges each.
Several Indictments Returned.
The indictment under which Fall
and Doheny are being tried is one Of
q number returned by O. grand jury
as a result Of the Senate investigation
two years ago into the leases Of Naval
oil lands both in California and Wyo-
ming made by Fall to Doheny and
Harry l.. Sinclair. during the first
two years Of the Harding administra-
ton, after the control of the reserves
had been transferred from the Navy
to the Interior Department by execu-
tive order.
Sinclair and Fall also are charged
with conspiracy to defraud the Gov
ernment in connection with the IA
nous Teapot Dome lease, but this
case Is before the United States SUI
preme Court on a request for a review
cf the action of the District Court of
Appeals in dismissing an appeal from
a lower court decision refusing to
quash the indictment.
Sinclair also is under indictment for
contempt Of the Senate in refusing
to answer certain questions before the
public lands committee during the oil
investigation, and there is still an
other Indictment against Fall and
Doheny and Edward l.. Doheny. jr.,
charging bribery in connection with
the 100000 loan which Doheny made
to Fall during the course of the nego-
tiations for the Elk Hills lease and
which will be gone into at this trial.
SINCLAIR MANDATE STAYED.