Evening star., 1926-11-10
Ready to Stand Trial Nov. 22
on Conspiracy Charge,
Their Counsel Say.
EX-SECRETARY SHOWS
EFFECT OF LONG SIEGE
Voice Is Emphatic in Denying
Guilt. However-Wilton J. Lam
bert Appears in His Defense.

ed not guilty in the District Supreme
Court today to a charge Of conspiracy
to defraud the Government in con-
nection with the Elk Hills, Calf.
naval oil reserve lease, which Fall ex-
ecuted to DOheny in 1921.
The proceedings, which lasted less
than five minutes, were held in Grim
inal Court No. 2, before Justice
Adolph A Hoehling. the arraignment
being on the first of four indictments
growing out Of the celebrated Teapot
Dome investigation Of the Senate. Pro-
ceedngs were cut short by the an
nouhcement of counsel for the two
defendants that they were ready to
stand trial on the conspiracy charge,
which is set for November % in the
District Supreme Court.
The atmosphere in the crowded
courtroom was tense when the clerk
called on the defendants to plead
after the reading of the indictments
had been waived. Fall and Doheny
sat alone at one end of the table in
front of the bar. Doheny was the
first called upon to answer to the
charge. In a voice that sounded thin
and shrill he answered. Not guilty -
and sat down.
Falls Answer Is Firm.
Then Fall arose His voice was
full and emphatic as he gave the same
answer. The proceedings were over.
TOday'S appearance of Fall In the
court, his first during the five years of
legal entanglements growing out of
the celebrated oil investigation, lacked
setting Of color whatsoever.
A few minutes before the hour con-
vened Fail and Doheny. accompanied
by an array of counsel, entered the
courtroom, already crowded. some
drawn by the significance of the pro-
ceedings and others awaiting the usual
grind Of the days criminal trials. No
notables were present. 1t was just
an ordinary day in court.
Fall walked falteringly into the
courtroom. His once vigorous frame
and robust appearance had changed
greatly during the five years OF court
battles. His general health, neverthe-
less, seemed vastly improved since his
last appearance in Washington some
three years ago. He was dressed in
a plain blue serge suit. AS the two
defendants came into the room Fall
seemed to tower over the diminutive
Doheny, who walked beside him.
DOheny Appears Unchanged.
They took their seats at the bench
set aside for counsel and smiled and
chatted freely during the exchange OF
greetings. Then they sat silent and
apart during the remainder of the
short proceedings. Doheny appeared
in excellent health, unchanged from
the days when he was u familiar fig
ure in the Senate investigation.
Announcement of counsel for the
two defendants was coupled with one
surprise. Wilton J. Lambert, prom
inent Washington trial attorney, APP
peared as one of the counsel for Fall
This was his first connection with the
now famous case.
At the head of the counsel for
Doheny We're Frank J. Hogan Of
Washington and Frederick r. Kellogg
Of New York, with Joseph J. Cotter
and Harold Walker Of Washington.
For Fall there appeared, in addition
New York, Mark P. Thompson of New
Mexico, and Levi Cooke of Washing
ton.
from Ohio: Owen J. Roberts, special
counsel for the Government in the oil
lease cases, and Peyton Gordon.
United States attorney, appeared as
the opposing array of counsel. The
presence of so many attorneys seemed
heWildering to some of the prisoners
awaiting the call Of their cases, some
of whom were not aware of the i'm
pOrtance of the case.
Indictments First Called.
When the court convened promptly
at 10 o'clock the Fall and Doheny in
dictments were the first on the docket
to be called. Consequently there was
no waiting.
Mr.. Hogan introduced Mr. Kellogg.
counsel for Doheny, who announced
that his defendant was ready to
answer to the Indictment. The same
brief statement by Mr. Lambert suf-
feed for Fail.
Immediately after the brief proceed
ings, Fall and Doheny, who appeared
to regain their compoSure during the
three-minute period, slipped hurried
ly into the anteroom and made for the
rear exit, where an automobile
awaited them. They stood for sew
eral minutes shaking hands with
friends and chatting freely while a
battery of news cameramen bore
down upon them. Then they were
Whisked away.
Both Fall and Doheny are on S., 900
bail, furnished in the Summer of 1925
following their initial indictment
growing out of the criminal proceed
ingS.
Besides this Indictment there is an
other in which Fall and Doheny and
the oil magnate's son, Edward L. Do
heny, jr.. are charged with bribery
in connection with the delivery of
100000 by young Doheny, who car
ried the currency in little black
Continued on paoa ? Col,,p,D ~