Evening star., 1926-11-21
Justice HoehIing to Preside
at Hearing of Charges
Against Ex-Secretary.
DOHENY ALSO TO FACE
JURY IN PLOT CASE
Gordon Probes Mysterious Tele'
phone Calls to Men on
Jury Panels.


Doheny, oil magnate, Of Los Angeles.
Calf, on an indictment charging
them with conspiracy to defraud the
United States in connection with the
lease Of the naval oil reserve at Elk
Hills, Calf.
All preliminary motions and efforts
to thwart the trial Of the case have
been disposed of, and the men have
entered formal pleas OF not guilty.
An array of legal talent for the de-
fense will begin tomorrow battle or
wits with special counsel for the Gov
ernment following the selection OF
jury Of II men to pass on the ques-
ton of the guilt or innocence of the
accused.
Justice Adolph A. Hoehling will
preside at the trial. He Is regarded
as especially equipped to try the case
because of his knowledge of the Grim
inal law and his experience at the
local bar before his elevation to the
bench. The justice held a conference
with the lawyers On both sides Friday
afternoon and arranged for the seat
ing Of counsel about the trial table.
Phone Calls Probed.
District Attorney Peyton Gordon
admitted last night that inquiries are
being conducted at his order into
what are regarded as mysterious tele
phone calls to members of the families
of prospective jurors in the case.
Mai. Gordon said the matter had
been called to his attention several
DAYS ago. He declined to discuss the
subject further. except to say that
he had deemed 1t necessary to order
an inquiry to see IL there had been
any violation of the statutes against
the obstruction of Justice.
There are rs men on the jury panel
in Justice Hoehlings court, and 1t
was learned that inquiries concerning
their personal affairs had been made
in practically each case during the
last 10 days or so. The matter was
first called to the attention of Maj.
Gordon last Thursday by Arthur H.
Mitchell of 1900 Lamont street, who
has acted several times as foreman
of juriee selected from his panel. 1t
was learned also that members of the
families Of jurymen in Justice Hitz's
court had been subjected to similar
calls.
Various methods were used by the
telephone questioners. Some repre-
sented themselves as insurance agents.
others said they were speaking for
the court and still others represented
themselves as census takers and
agents for social and telephone direc
tories.
No Jurors Believed Reached.
It was not believed that any pro-
spective juror was reached personally
In this manner, the queries being di-
rected at members of their families.
In one or two cases. it was said. calls
were made at the homes Of jurors.
Mr.. Mitchell said he could not &C
count for such questions, but believed
they should be called to the attention
of Maj. Gordon.
II regarded the situation as dan
gerous and suspicious he said last
night. II have never heard Of such
procedure before and thought 1t my
duty to report 1t.
The first telephone call came to
his house last Monday. his wife In
formed him. She did not think there
was anything unusual about 1t and
only referred to it casually Wednes-
day. She told Mr.. Mitchell that
man who said he represented a social
register had asked her to give him
some information about her husband
and his Affiliations.
This man asked about my politics,
what fraternal organizations l be-
longed to, and whether was mem
ber of the Ku Klux Khan" said Mr..
Mitchell my wife answered all his
questions, and thought so little of
the matter that she forgot to men
ton it to me at the time. Since then
have heard that practically every
member of the panel has been the
subject of such calls"
Plans for Press AcoSh1naodation
Edgar c. Snyder, United States
marshal. and - a former newspaper
man, has made extensive arrange
ments for the accommodation OF the
press. Several benches used for wit
pesses and others attending sessions
of the court were removed and two
long tables arranged for the news
paper men, who Will be attracted to
the trial because Of Its national In
terest Besides the representatives OF
the local papers and men from the
various news-gathering associations,
space has been provided for special
writer's from all over the country.
Significant Of the importance Of the
trial is the list Of distinguished wit
nesses who will be present In court
in response to subpeenas from counsel
for the prosecution. 1t is rumored
that the Government has even sent
out summons for all the members Of
the family Of Edward l.. Doheny. in
Guiding his wife. his son, Edward L.
Doheny, ir., and the latter's wife. This
report could not be verified, as the
subpoenas have not been served as
far as shown by the records OF the
marshals ONCE In the civil suit the
wife Of the accused took the witness
stand with her husbands consent.
Counsel for Doheny declined to COM
ment on the issuance Of the subpoenas
or to indicate what would be their atti-
tude should an effort be made to place
members Of the Doheny family on the
stand for the prosecution.
Distinguished Witnesses.
Notable among the Government
witnesses known to have been served
with process are United States Sena
tors Irving L. 1enroot. Thomas j.
Walsh. Reed Smoot, =. ". Harreld and
former Senator Robert L. Owen of
Oklahoma. Col. Theodore Roosevelt,
candidate for Governor OF New York
In 1924 and former Assistant Secre-
Sary Of the Navy, afAd Jcsephus Dan.
CONTINUED on Pags4. Column a.
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