Evening star., 1926-12-03
Letter Signed by Secretary
Directed Him to Keep Back
"ConfidenceS."
LATTER IS EXPECTED
TO APPEAR NEXT WEEK
Balm N,te to Fall Expressed Hope
of Making It EASY" for
Californian.

Capt. John K. Robson, U. s. N, re.
tired, and prominent figure in the
Senate oil investigation, today admit
ted on the stand while testifying as
defense witness in the Fall'Doheny
conspiracy trial that he had been di-
rected by Secretary Wilbur not to
disclose certain matters to the court.
A letter addressed to Capt. Robson
and signed Curtis D. Wilbur" was
produced by the witness on demand
Of the court when he refused to show
II to Attorney Frank j. Hogan, CHIEF
counsel for Doheny. The letter, dated
November 80, 1926, which Capt
Robson said was presented to him
yesterday. stated that, in his 1ortn,
coming testimony at the trial, l
hereby direct you not to disclose any
information of a confidential nature
which you received as an ol1lcer Oh
the Navy" -,
This surprise in the courtroom fol
lowed the announcement out or court
TODAY by Mr.. Hogan that he had sub
poenaed Secretary Wilbur to inquire
why orders had been given Capt:
Robson regarding his testimony ana
also why certain documents ana let
ters could not be obtained by the de-
fens, for the presentation OF tnelr
case When Mr.. Hogan made his an
no,ncement he said his information
about Cant, Robson was from a re-
liable source. He said he expected
Wilbur to appear next week.
Hogan Is Persistent.
Capt. Robson had, been On the
stand more than an hour ana was oe-
failing his connections with the on re-
serves. The matter was brougnt up
to the point where Admiral Latlmer
had issued an opinion regarding tne
legality of the Pearl Harbor con-
tracts and this occasioned a confer
ence between Secretary of the Navy
Denby. Latimer and Robson. MT.
Hogan persisted in his questions as 10
what Robson had said and the VIII
ness continued to answer, Il don't re-
member"
Mr., Hogan seemed to lose his com
posure, and, jumping up from MS
chair. shouted: 'Have you received
any orders from the Navy Department
about YOUR testimony here? the
witness hesitated and then replied In
the affirmative.
Hogan then asked If the orders were
on paper, and when the witness nodded
assent Hogan demanded to see IT.
Capt. Robson took a paper from
his pocket and turning to Justice
Hoehling said:
"Before I show it to the attorney
I would like to show it to the court. ,
Justice Hoehling read the paper and
observed there should be no ob]ection
to it. Robson, however, stated
"there is no necessity for publishing
this, though"
Received It Yesterday.
Hogan asked the witness when he
received it and Robson said it was
Yesterday morning. He added he had
not seen Wilbur in person. Hogan
then offered the paper in evidence,
but Government counsel objected.
Hogan had it marked for fdentiflca'
ton and then asked Robson If, IN
view of this letter, he felt at liberty
to answer his questions at this time.
Robson replied that he had answered
them and added. while in office l
obtained access to information which
I don't think is necessary to disclose
here"
Just prior to the incident which
divulged the order by Wilbur, Robson
had testified that he presented to
Secretary DENLY a proposal to store
oil in Pearl Harbor and in response
to a question by DENLY as to what
he thought about it, Robson said he
replied: "You cannot touch oil with
out getting dirty"
DENLY. the witness related. then
said: 1.-THE way you put 1t to me
makes it a duty" He then approved
the plan to store the Navy oil from
the reserves and placed Robson In
charge Of it for him. the witness
added.
owen ]. Roberts, chief counsel for
the prosecution. closed his cross-exam'
Continued on Page 4, Column ~