The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-05
Oil Magnate and Detective
Chief, With Aids, Go
on Trial.
JUDGE TO DECIDE CASE
Six Defendants Put on Trial
Without Jury; Contend
ShadOWing Legal.
BY HERBERT LITTLE
United Press stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The six
defendants in the Burns Sinclair
contempt case today opened their
trial before Justice F. L. Siddons in
District Of Columbia Supreme Court
by filing formal denials.
ALI the defendants, Harry F.. SIM
clair, noted oil magnate and prin-
cipal in the Teapot Dome cases;
Henry Mason Day and Sheldon
Clark, officials of Sinclair Oil Com
pany; William j. Burns, interna-
tional detective; w. Sherman
Burns, his son, and G. L. Veitsch,
Baltimore, Burns agency manager,
were present.
The trial Immediately adjourned
until 1 p. m, after presentation OF
the defense pleadings, to give the
Government time to study points
Of law raised by the accused.
Courtroom Filled
There were few spectators, but the
ten men and two women of the
Fau-Sinclair oil trial jury, fifteen
Burns agents who Swallowed them.
and other witnesses filed the court
room.
Charges of any unlawful or I'M
proper conduct by the Burns Agency
are unfounded," Burns said.
Each defendant filed a separate
pleading, denying the governments
charges that Sinclair hired Burns
agents to shadow the Fall Sinclair
jury trying Sinclair and former
Secretary of Interior A. B. Fall for
conspiracy to defraud the govern
The government has charged the
espionage was designed to plant"
evidence so the oil king could force
a mistrial if the case appeared to
developing unfavorsbly to his side.
Admits Hiring SIeuths
Sinclair'S brief referred to-. en-
ployment of the Burns men as fol-
lows:
"He (Sinclair) did authorize the
employment of the William ].
agency, but solely to keep said jurors
under observation for the purpose
of ascertaining what persons, If any,
came in contact with said jurors, to
the end that he might know If any
persons who might be DESTROYS Of
seeing him convicted of the charges
against him should endeavor in any
way to seek contact with any Of said
jurors"
Keep Plans Secret
Government attorneys kept secret
their plans for presentation of the
case against the oil multi million
aire, the famous international de-
tective, and their helpers, who
sprang into national prominence
when the Fall Sinclair oil trial col
lapsed a month ago.
Upon the line of argument taken
by the defendants in their pleadings
will depend the course to be followed
by the Government, which has sum-
moned forty-four witnesses, includ-
ing all members of the Fall Sinclair
jury and the fifteen Burns agents
who Swallowed the jurors, allegedly
at the behest Of Sinclair.
No Jury Present
Justice Sidoons will preside, with
out jury.
The contempt charges resulted
from alleged employment by Sin
clair Of the services of the Burns
agency to shadow the ten men and
two pretty young women of the oil
trial jury.
The trial ended in a mistrial, de-
clared by Justice Siddons Nov. 2,
after the Government submitted af-
f1davits telling Of the jury-shadow-
ing by Burns agents, and also of
the alleged talkativeness Of Juror
Edward j. KidwelI
Martin w. Littleton, and George
P. Hoover are to represent Sinclair.
Charles A. Douglas is to represent
the Burns faction. Major Peyton
Gordon, United States attorney for
the District Of Columbia, and Neil
Burkinshaw, one Of his assistants.
will represent the Government.