Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-12-02

RESTSTODAY
IN FALL CASE
Defense Attorney,
Opening, Says Gov
ernment Has Pre-
sented Poor Case

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Dec. 2.-tF1
Albert q. Fall was pictured In
court here today as a figure very
much in the background during the
leasing negotiations which form the
basis Of the criminal conspiracy
charge on which he il being tried.
S. Foster Balm, who served aE
head Of the Bureau Of Mines while
Fall was Secretary Of the Interior,
testified that details of negotia-
tions were conducted by others.
that secrecy was observed because
the Navy Department asked for IL,
and that the interior head, many
miles away from Washington final
ly gave MS approval to the celebrat-
ed Elk Hills lease without making
any suggestions of his own.
BAN appeared as one Of the first
witnesses for the defense.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 2.-tR-
The government rested today in the
Fall-Doheny criminal conspiracy trial
after brief examination Of Senator
Senate oil investigation.
Senator Walsh identified the sum-
mary Of letter in the senate record
written by him to Albert B. Fall, for
mer secretary Of the interior, in jan
uary, 1924, seeking information about
100000 which had come into Fall's
possession while the negotiations
were pending for the lease Of the Elk
Hills. Cal. naval reserve. which later
was turned over TO Edward r. Do
henys company.
Falls reply said the money came
from Edward B. Mclean, publisher Of
the Washington Post, but later il was
developed that ii came from Doheny,
who described it rs a friendly loan
Wins Another Point
The government won another point
when the court admitted in evidence
over a defense objection, a 1922 con-
tract between the Pan-American Com
pany and the Associated Oil Company
OF California, undscs. which the Pan
American sold oii> Sthe Associated.
The prosecution offe. Nthe contract
in support Of its contei that the
oil obtained through the = I'll con-
tract was Immediately sold to- -ts-
sociated Company at a premium o.
fifteen cents a barrel.
Before the first defense witness
was called. Wilton j. Lambert, coun-
sci for Fall. made an opening state
ment had presented n poor case. The
ment had preseteda poor case. The
defense might well rest without fur
ther procedure, he said, but would go
on until every availabla bit Of sup
Elementary evidence was presented.
Lambert pointed out that Secretary
DENLY Of the navy, in October. 1921.
appointed Admiral J. X. Robinson spa
cial representative of the navy 10 CO.
operate with Interior Department Of
ficials in the administration Of naval
oil reserves.
Points Out Absences
We will show that Secretary Fall
was out of the capital continuously
between July 81. to October 25, 1921.
and between October 2S and December
4. Of the same year" he said. He
left again. this time for his Three
Rivers, ~ NJ, ranch. on April IL,
1922. and did not. return 10 Washing
ton until May Il.
The Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. oil stor-
age contract was awarded Dohcnys
company on April 2S, 1922.
Lambert said the defense would
show that the Navy Department was
in contact with every step in the leas-
ing negotiations and that such an ar
ranrcment between two departments
prevented any act Of collusIon be-
tween Fall and Doheny.
Fall left everything TO the Navy,
Lambert said. We will also show
that from the time Fall took office IN
March, 1921. there ran through ms
policy. constantly and UNMARRIED, like
d thread Of gold. one great and all I'M
portant policy-to conserve in the
ground every barrel of oil and every
foot of gas which could possibly be
kept there.
Doheny's Character Up
The defense began its testimony by
presenting character testimony TO
show the standing of Doheny IN his
community. Carl Leonard, presidents
of the Southwestern Portland Cement
Company, Los Angeles. was the first
witness.
Leonard said he had known Doheny
intimately for 80 years, and held HIM
a man of good reputs for honesty, IN
tcgrity and patriotism
Frank 5. Powell Of Los Angeles.
son-in-law OF Leonard, testified Do
heny was the foremost patriot In
Los Angeles.