Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-11-25

\AAA IN ONNVA SAAAAAS AAA
ger of the prosecution n
pointed swiftly to d ay to
some Of the most vital spots
in the governments Grim
inal conspiracy case against
Albert B. Fall and Edward
L. Doheny.
Then abruptly it was halted as it
moved to perhaps the most important
point of all, the testimony of the
multi-millionaire California oil man
before the senate oil committee that he
advanced 100000 to the former inte-
rior secretary after negotiations for
leases in the Elk Hills, Calf, naval
reserve had begun. Counsel for the
government offered this testimony in
evidence and instantly the defense
counsel objected. The jury was ex-
cused and after the battery Of legal
talent directing the case had conferred
with Justice Hoehling at the bench
argument on the question went over
until court reconvenes Friday. Before
their rapid presentation was halted
temporarily, prosecution lawyers had
DEVELOPED the dramatic story of the
efforts Of Fall to conceal from the SEN
ate committee the source of the $780,
0O0 carrying the story down to the
point where he asked his personal
friend, Edward B. Mclean, publisher
of the Washington Post, to subscribe
to an untruth.
Besides Mclean, prominent witnesses
today included Senator Walsh, demo-
crat, Montana, prosecutor OF the senate
inquiry; Senator Lenroot, republican,
wisconsin, a member of the oil COM
mittee, and Josephus Daniels, secretary
of the navy in the Wilson administra-
ton.
The millionaire publishers testimony
furnished the thrills of the day to
which the brief examination of Senator
Walsh came as an anti-climax. AS the
dignified, stern-faced Montanan took
the witness chair, the crowd that pack
ed the court room became tense in an
ticipation of long direct and cross
examination of the man who persisted
in the oil inquiry until scandal that
rocked the capital was developed.
If such dramatic chapter of the
trial is in store, lawyers on both sides
deferred it's writing, for Senator Walsh
was asked only a few questions in
reply to which he stated that he caused
to be called the meeting of the oil
committee on January "a, 1924, at
which Doheny testified he was the real
source of the $1,000 which Fall used
to enlarge his New Mexico ranch
holdings.
This meetings was called, the senator
said, at the personal request to him of
Gavin McNab of San Francisco, Do
heny's personal attorney. There was
no cross examination and then govern
ment counsel laid the groundwork for
offering Doheny's testimony.
Preceding Senator Walsh to the
stand, Mclean produced correspondence
passed in early November 1921, III
which he declined a proposal OF FAN
to interest himself in ranch holdings
adjacent to those of the former inte-
rior secretary. They addressed each
other as Ned" and Albert"
shortly after that Fall called on the
publisher personally and persuaded him
to advance 100000 in checks against
Falls personal note which was to be
called within ten days unless Mclean
decided to go into the ranch proposal.
Before that period expired, Mclean
said, Fall returned the checks, explain
ing he had obtained the money from
another source"
The scene was changed abruptly to
Atlantic City, where Mclean met Fall
at the latter's request early in Decem-
Der, 1928, when the senate committee
was on the trail of the money Fall had
turned over to the Harris heirs for
their ranch property.
The publisher testified that FAN
asked him if he remembered the trans
action involving the checks and when
answered in the affirmative, inquired
whether Mclean objected If he said
he had obtained 100000 in cash from
him. No objection was interposed.
Florida was the next meeting place
between Fall and Mclean, the time be-
ing early in January, 1924, when Sena-
tor Walsh went there and obtained
McLean's statement that he had not
advanced Fall cash. Before Walsh
took his testimony, Mclean said he
had two conferences with Fall and
was told to tell the facts.
! At the second conference, the pub
Usher said the former interior secre-
! tary showed him a message which
Fall said he was going to send to
Doheny in Los Angeles and which
stated that Mclean was to testify
that the facts would come out; that
l,a (FalD might be called, bu that
names would no necessarily be dls-
! closed.
what did you say?" demanded Sen
ator Pomerene of government counsel
II said, I'll be damned the pub
Usher replied, amid litter of laugh
ter, which the court bailiff quickly
suppressed.
tain property problems TO chahge there
il