Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-02
FALL REGRETS
TRIAL ENDED;
READY AGAIN
Former Interior Secre-
tary Says He Has
Never Had Chance
To Tell His Side

WAShlNGION, ~. O., Nov. 2.--tP
Expressing regret over the mistriaI
Of the oil case, Albert b. Fall, said
in a statment today that Justice Sid
dons took the obviously right course
THE fair and impartial trial
guaranteed to every citizen by the
constitution of the United States
has been made impossible by the
publicity of the last as hours, ire
apective of any other consideration, "
Fall said. "The determination Of Mr..
Justice Siddons TO accord a fair trial
has been manifest in this case.
Personally, i greatly regret and
am deeply disappointed BY what has
just occurred. In i'll health I came
here for this trial. 1t offered me the
first opportunity to present to q
court and jury my defense 20 charges
which have been made the football
of politics and the delight of the
muckraker for more than three
years.
"Only the evidence of the prosecu-
tion has been presented. Not one
word had been said in connection
with my defense when this case end
ed. The time for my counsel to out
line the defense had not arrived.
Ready 20 Refute Charges
81 had expected that within the
week our opportunity would come. /
was prepared TO completely refute
the charges against me and / enter
tanned no doubt whatever but that a
verdict Of acquital would be rendered
because | am confident that my de-
fense would convince every fair mind
ed man Of my integrity and the COM
plete rectitnde Of every action in
connection with the Tea Pot Dome
lease.
During the more than three
years which have passed since the
naval oil reserve leases became the
subject of political investigation
there have been two civil cases and
one criminal case tried. / was not a
party 10 either Of the civil cases. |
could not be made n party or even
be represented BY counsel in either
Of them ! was not called to testify
in either.
"The government summoned me as
witness to the civil trial OF the
so-called Tea Pot Dome case cat
Cheyenne. Wyo. | went 20 Cheyenne
to testify, but the government did
not call me 20 the witness stand.
Wants Day in Court
"At no time since the indictment
was returned in this case have / been
given my day in court 70 respond 70
the charges made in that indictment.
In the one criminal case / was ac-
corded q fair trial and promptly ac-
quilted. In that case every fact re-
lating TO the transactions attacked
was fully, frankly and truthfully laid
before court and jury.
"lf il is said that | did not per-
sonally testify in that case. il need
but be remembered that my code
fendant, Mr.. Dohcny, testified In
great detail and that. as my testi-
mony would have been but 4 repiti-
tion and corrohoration OF his, c0un-
sci in charge Of the conduct Of the
trial saw no need Of that mere repi-
tition. a. regards tho jury in the
case just ended l have only this 10
say:
II never saw one Of the men or
women on this jury before the day
this trial began After the
jury was selected knew no more
about them than ! did before except
that which I learned from their daily
appearance in the court room. Meth
er directly nor indirectly did / or any
one on my behalf have any communi-
cation OF any kind with any member
Of the jury. Neither directly nor
indirectly did anyone on my behalf
have the jury under surveillance.
II am ready for retrial immediate
~"