Evening star., 1926-11-24


Wilson administration, witnesses for t
Picture made at the courthouse today.
formed President Harding that here
after he would act in the capacity of
a public trustee, that there would
be no further conflict with the Navy
Department and that hereafter he
would handle matters with the Presi-
dent. He told Doheny that he had
informed the President Of his patri-
otic offer in connection with the Pearl
Harbor project and that the Pan
American Co. was willing to surrender
eight wells at q sacrifice to the United
Midway Co. so that the Government
could secure a release from that com.
pany's claim to the reserve.
Falls Letter Presented.
Mr.. Roberts then read a letter from
Fall to A. D. Heur, vice president OF
the Pacific Oil Co., dated July Is,
1921, which indicated Mr.. Falls oppo-
sition to further drilling on naval re-
serves unless absolutely necessary to
protect the oil. He followed this with
a letter dated July %. 1921. and July
to Secretary DENLY and the latter
from DENLY to Fall. Falls letter sug.
gested that crude oil in the reserve
be exchanged for fuel oil, and If the
proposal met with favor he would be
glad ito undertake the matter"
Denby's reply was that he acquiesced
in Falls suggestion.
Then followed a letter, dated Octo-
Der 25 Of the same year, from DENLY
to Fall, giving details of the plan
for the exchange of the two classes
of oil, all Of which were technical.
AS Mr.. Roberts concluded the reading
Of this letter Mr.. Lambert inquired
for one dated in September of 1921
but Government counsel explained it
was not available as yet.
AS Mr.. Lambert sat down he oh.
served that, II take it that when
you produce some letters you will
produce the seQuels.'
Another letter, dated October 80
1921, containing Falls reply to Den
by's letter and the formers approval
of the detailed plans, was read. After
this came one dated November %
from Doheny to Fall. AS Mr.. Rob
erts prepared to identify Doheny'
signature Hogan admitted the authen
ticity Of 1t, and then it was shown to
Fall, who likewise approved 1t.
DOheny Writes 30 ran.
The letter began: "My Dear Mr.
Secretary: Along the lines of your
suggestion 1 have made inquiries for
construction of tanks at Pearl Har
bor." Mr.. Doheny then continued
that the total cost for erecting the
tanks and filling them with fuel oil
would be 1880. .420. In return for this
expenditure by the Pan.American Co
Doheny said his concern should re
ceive the equivalent of the amount In
crude oil, which. figured at the price
obtaining on the date the letter
was written, amounted to 2.973.S23
barrels. The letter concluded that
Mr.. Doheny supposed Fall would turn
this over to Acting Secretary Finney
who. with Admiral Robinson. would
arrange the details. as Mr.. Fall would
shortly leave for New Mexico.
Doheny added that he had conf
dent!ally informed Mr.. Cotter of the
Pan American Co. what the proposal
was, as he likewise woud BILE leaving
Los Angeles.
The Governments trail of question
ing diverted abruptly from the routine
of public documents to the transaction
between Fall and William Edward
Harris, from whom the former Secre-
tary purchased the adjoining Harris
estate at Three Rivers, y. NJ, with
the 500. 900 loaned him by Doheny.
Received $91 800 for Ranch.
Harris. a wiry young rancher. made
picturesque appearance. 1t was
his first visit here since called by the
Senate investigating committee.
In reply to questioning by Mr.. Rob.
erts he said that the total amount
paid for his ranch, lying directly east
Of the Fall ranch, was $91 500 in
cash.
He was cross.eXamined by Mr.. Ho-
gan and Mr.. Lambert. for the defense.
The witness replied emphatically
that there had been no attempt at
concealment in the transactions; that
Fall had never asked him to main.
tain secrecy regarding them. and, in
wiring him relative to the meeting in
FL Paso. he declared that Fall had
used the public telegraph. The de-
fense attorneys seemed to think that
these admissions tore the veil of Sc
crecy that has appeared to surround
Doheny.
Attorney Roberts turned Harris
over to former Senator Pomerene for
direct questioning.
1t was brought out that early in De
cember. 1921, Fall had wired to Har-
ris. who was one Of the eight heirs to
the Harris estate, asking him to meet
him at Three Rivers. He saw Fall on
the train there and arranged for a
meeting the next day at the ofilce of
c. c. Chase. Falls son-in.law, at Ell
Paso, Tex.
Those at Conference.
Harris testified that the persons at
the conference at Ell Paso, in addi.
ton to himself. Fall and Chase. were
his own sister and brother-in-law,
Mr.. and Mrs. A. B. Brownfield.
He was asked about the purchase
price of the estate.
The witness replied, 1891. $780,"
which included cattle and grazing
privileges. He was not certain about
the date of the conference. but be
lieved it was December 4 or 5.
Asked how the payments were
made. Harris replied that the day the
contract was signed he and his
brotherin.law were given $4,000 in
cash.