Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-17
Adverse Comment
(contlnued from Paa. on.l

Adverse Comment
Continued from Page ons)
deliberations. upon Doheny's 500. 600
loan on November so. 1921. to FAN,
described in defense testimony as a
friendly transaction between old
partners.
Under the law the government can
take no appeal.
Ihe ten minute climax of the SEN
satlonal four weeks trial presented,
IN the jury's return from It's third
moor conference room. q scene of
electrifying dramatics.
The Jurors FL into their box be-
fore a tense, eager, and breathless
throng at 1908 o'clock this morning,
! Seven minutes later the room was
deserted, having shifted its charac-
ter in the interim from q federal
court at the finale of one of the most
celebrated criminal cases in q ma
tlon's history. to q maelstrom OF
humanity reacting as II to q touch
down.
Thirty seconds after the jurors had
nodded affirmation of the report de-
nvered by their foreman, Justice
Adoiph A. Hoeling ended the case
with the soft-spoken and direct
statement: very well, gentlemen,
you are now dismissed"
The acquittal produced senatorial
reverberations almost before the
Jurors reached their homes.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, of Mon
tana' a principal in the sensational
OH committees revelations three
years ago. said In a statement:
PROOF IN criminal case must
snow guilt OF the defendant beyond
a reasonable doubt; and in view of
thar rule, apprehend that the
widespread conviction that the trans
actlon was a represensible one will
not be dissapated."
Senator Heflin, Democrat, Of Ala
pama, denounced the trial in I'M
measured terms on the senate floor.
An insult to justice" he shouted
fervldly at one point in an address
deilvered two hours after the verdict
with Fall and Doheny going free
and Frank L. Smith coming to
Washington. God help the nation!"
Senator Norris, Republican, Of Me-
committee, made the trite comment
that you can't convict a hundred
million dollars
Owen j. Roberts, special govern
ment oil prosecutor, dismissed the
verdict with these words:
1T has been submitted to u men
and fairly submitted. OF course we
will go along with the other cases. u
Four indictments growing out of
the Senate investigation, two against
Fall and Doheny for bribery, one
| against Fall and Harry f. Sinclair
lessee Of the Teapot Dome reserve,
and one against Sinclair alone for
, contempt Of the Senate, are still to
be disposed of by the prosecutors
Argument will begin tomorrow in an
other branch of the district supreme
| court on a motion to quash the con-
spiracy indictment naming Fall and
Sinclair in the Teapot Dome case.
The defendants expressed jubila-
ton over the verdict, Fall remark
| ing:
Il have said right along I would
leave it to the courts" while Doheny
who said that "the ordeal was a ter
rlble ONE made this additional
comment:
Il hope that the American people
whose belief in trial by jury amounts
| almost to a religion, will accept the
verdict of this typically American
jury"
From her rooms at the Carlton Ho-
tel, where she is confined with cold
Mrs. Doheny through defense counseI
said, MY prayers have been answer
| ed"
| Counsel for both sides Joined in
commentator of Justice Hoehling
| for his conduct of the trial.
| "The trial was orderly, dignified
and scrupulously fair" Roberts said
in behalf of the prosecution, and At
lee Pomerene, his associate, concur
| red
"The court was fair in every in
| stance" said Frank J. Hogan, chief
| Of defense counsel.
Senator Walsh, speaking in the
| Senate several hours after his terse
public statement, and directing his
remarks entirely to Senator Helms
observation that the trial never
should have been held before a judge
appointed by President Harding
said:
81 feel compelled to say that the
conduct of Judge Hoehling was
characterized by dignity. discern
ment and impartiality. I think the
Senator from Alabama would not
have criticized the courts charge t.
the jury had he read 1t more care
fully. In justice to Judge Hoeh-
ling, wish to say bis conduct SEEM
ed to me to be past all criticisms"
Senator Hefin, replying to Senator
! Walsh, said his criticism of Justice
| or o1, IN mo G
based on a newspaper story and not
on actual reading Of the charge.
II do not know this gentleman. He
may be all right. But he was ap-
| pointed by President Harding. 1t was
! shown in this trial that President
| Harding approved the lease for the
| Elk Hills reserve. He mioht uncon-
sciously have been Influenced.
would rather some other judge in the
| district had tried this case"
The government prosecutors had
not definitely formulated their plans
tonight concerning the remaining
| bribery indictments standing against
/ Fall, Doheny. and Edward Doheny,
Jr., his son. in the Elk ills case. De-
Tense counsel anticipate the indict-
ments will be nolle pressed after the
| Sinclair trial. which likely will begin
about January 10.
More than 600 congratulatory mes
saees from the United States. Eng
| land and Mexico. reached Mr.. Dohnny
at his hotel this afternoon. Two
hundred others arrived at the office
| of Hogan, congratulating him upon
his conduct Of the trial.
GUSHING POWER