Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-12-06
robson ON
STAND AGAIN
IN OIL TRIAL
Secretary Wilbur To
Be Heard Tuesday;
Prosecution Wins i'm
Sinclair Case


Leaving the testimony of Secre-
tary Wilbur 20 bc heard tomorrow,
counsel in the Fall-DOheny oil trial
today continued their questioning OF
Admiral J. X Robson. spokesman
for the navy in the oil leasing policy
Of 1922
The admiral already had de-
scribed to the jury in general terms
why the navy desired. for strategic
reasons" To establish an oil storage
depot at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. To-
dav the defense drew out the ad-
miral on details Of the story. while
the prosecution watched every op-
rortunitv to bring out evidence de-
signed to show t5at the navy's poll
cies were not the compelling force
behind the leasing Of the oil re-
serves.
The government is seeking 70 show
that Albert r Fall. a. interior sec
rctary. influenced the policy under
which thc Elk Hills and Pearl Har-
Dor contracts were awarded to his
personal friend Edward l.. DC heny,
from who he had received loan"
Of 100000. These awards form the
basis Of the conspiracy charges pend
inr against Fall and the multi
millionaire Oil man.
Toheny Back at Table.
Doheny was back in his usual place
at the big counsel table today de-
spite the illness which caused
physicians 10 0rdc~ him 10 he'd after
Saturdays adiournmentl The sew
erty year old oil maEratc appeared
wv he in usual health Hs physicians
said the hand Infection which had
been worrying him was yielding to
treatment.
Robson began tcdav's testimony
with IN account of the conversation
which Tea the then secretary of the
navy. Edwin DENLY, to approve Rob
ison's proposal to lease the Elk
Hills reserve. Convinced that "the
first fellow to drill well would get
all the oil" out Of the reserve. Rob-
ison said he told his chief the gov
errmcnt should have ar Xiii orEanl-
ration nn the scene. "aS sort ~
perpetual watch dog NJ it. interests
The only practicable way 70 DO that,
he said. was through the leasing
policy which had previously been
suggested tO him by subordinate Of
ficials w the Interior Department
Defense counsel required but
few minutes tO complete their di-
rect examination of the witness, ana
then Owen J. Roberts for the prose-
cution began the cross examination.
Half 2 dozen sharp questions faiied
"a shake Rohisnn's story that only
the desire IN protect national de-
fensc plans dictated the navy's pol
icy of secrecy in the Pearl Harbor
negotiations He reiterated demands
for secrecy originated in the navy
denartmcnt and not in Falls juris-
diction.
Letter or 1922 Presented.
Roberts presented the first draft
of letter NJ November 1922 from
Fall 20 DENLY. which Robson had
helpcd draft. regarding the Elk Hills
leasing proposal. The sentence IN
the draft regarding the method n
leasing originally called for awards
WI thp basis WI public competition
IN Falls handwriting, the words "or
other wise" had been inserted.
Asked il he had presented let
ter from Dohcnv at Navy Depart
ncnt conference On November ~,
1922. Robson said ~ had not. 10
the hest VI his recollection Roberts
then read the minutes Of the meesr
inr quoting Robison's words in ref
orence 10 "this letter, which, the
record indicated had been previously
Identified a. 2 comnunicatlon from
Dohrny.
Then YOU did take the letter into
the navy council7" Roberts con-
tinued.
Meeting Develops Objection
"Tc record shows the facts, ] pre-
.umc." replied Robson.
The meeting devcloned objection to
he LEASING MI TIM FIX Hill reserve.
7st suggested ~ Robson, Fall and
Doheny.
ran was quoted as having said:
EFF we don't get this oil out now
there won't be any three months
from now
"And. NJ course, that statement i
not true?" Roberts said.
"Of course it's not true, said the
witness.
Roberts then develored that the
Washington arms conference was IN
session during tho same months that
the navy VIA shroudinE lis Pearl mar
hor plans in secrecy and that the
four-nnwcr treaty covering relations
in the Pacific was ratified by the
senate on December IL. 1922. two
davs after the signing Of the second
Pearl Harbor ana FIX Hlll 'oHtiaNeN.
Robson conceded that three OIL
companies of California had IN
formed Interior Department repre-
sentatives thew questioned in ad-
vance the legality Of the ELK Hills
and Pearl Harbor contracts but he
said he did nothing about il because
he felt that legal debates were for
the attention or legal minds. He was
Interested principally in the major
strategic factors.