Evening star., 1927-10-19
OPPOSING COUNSEL
CLASH AT OIL TRIAL
Not Consulted on Develop
ments Leading Up to Lease,
Finney Testifies.

Continued from First Paeel
these found their way into the hands
of Fall.
The only identification Sinclair had
with the trading company was as half
owner of the Sinclair Crude Oil Pur-
chasing Co. which bought oil from the
Trading Co. Harry NJ. Blackmer, now
residing In Europe, and who has re-
fused to testify in the case in the
capacity of chairman of the board of
the Midwest Refining Co.. originally
negotiated for the purchase of the oil
before nominating the Continental
Trading Co. for the role of purchaser
from A. n. Humphreys of Texas, now
deceased. he declared.
The first Government witness was
called by Mr.. Roberts at 1870 o'clock,
He was George w. Holland, a clerk in
the United States Geological Survey
whose duty it will be to remain in at
tendance throughout the trial to
identify. all papers used as evidence
as coming from that bureau.
Executive Order Produced.
Through the witness, Mr.. Roberts
produced the original executive order
of April so, 1915. creating the naval
oil reserves, ''for the exclusive use of
the Navy"
Before calling the next witness. Mr..
Roberts read to the jury the act of
Congress of February 25, 1920. regu
lating the lease of oil lands. and the
act of June 4, 1920, putting the admin
islration of oil reserves under the con.
troll of the Secretary of the Navy.
Stephen G. Quigley, a clerk in the
State Department, was the next
person called by the Government
counsel. 1t was his purpose merely to
identify the appointments of Secre-
tary Fall and Secretary DENLY and
the length of their service in the
cabinet.
President Harding's executive order
of Nav 81, 1921, which figures so
prominently throughout the trial, was
next identified by the witness before
he was excused to make way for DR..
George Otis Smith. director of the
Geological Survey.
At Roberts request, DR.. Smith pro-
duced a large colored map of Teapot
Dome reserves and it's. surroundings.
The siXe of the map caused consider
able trouble in handling and Mr.. Sim
clair, one of the two defendants,
eagerly assisted the various attorneys
in unrolling it. II was finally stood
up at the back Of the courtroom where
the jury and counsel could readily see
it.
DIR. Smith Explains.
Tn response to questioning, DR..
Smith explained that the policy of
conserving oil was first recommended
to President Taft by the then Secre-
tary of the Interior at a conference
in Salt Lake City. The next day. Sep
tember 81, 1909, President Taft issued
an executive order withdrawing three
million acres of oil lands in California
and Wyoming.
The order establishing reserve num-
ber three in Wyoming was issued by
President Wilson on April 13, 1915. he
testified.
During the cross-examination OF
Mr.. Smith by Falls counsel, the for
mer Interior Secretary took an active
interest in the questioning, transmit
ting inquiries to his attorneys fire.
uuently. This marked the first out
ward interest the former cabinet
officer has displayed in the proceed
ings since Monday, when the case
opened.
Leany VOICES FFOtcSt.
DR. Smiths cross-examination was
of a perfunctory nature and concerned
technical questions or routine per-
formaYice of the institution of which he
is the chief. When Roberts excused
the witness from the stand and re-
quested him to remain in the court
room, as he would be called later.
Leahy objected. declaring the witness
should be exhausted of his testimony
at the time he is on the stand. Rob
erts explained he would question him
on an entirely different matter the
next time he appeared, and Justice
Frederick l.. Siddons signified his ap-
proyal of the Government counsel s
procedure.
Capt. II. A Stewart, U. S. N, who
appeared as a witness in the Fall-Do-
heny trial on many occasions and who
is assistant director of the naval pc.
troleum reserves, stated, after ques.
tioning by Roberts, that he would pre-
sent various documents for identified.
tion and remain in court subject to
the call of the Government. The third
witness, Reid Martin of the controller
generals offise. produced the lease of
April z, 1922. between the United
States and the Mammoth Oil Co. This
lease is the Teapot Dome lease. When
1t was handed by Mr. Roberts to Sin
clair's attorneys for perusal and when
they passed 1t back Fall interrupted:
Let me see that. and after examin.
ing the signatures declared his sigma
ture was correct.
Agreement Is Produced.
The agreement between the Govern.
ment and the Mammoth Oil Co., Sim
clair's concern signed February g.
1928, calling for the construction OF
fuel storage tanks to be built by the
oil company, was then produced and
examined. At the request of the Gov
ernment, the defense agreed to the
substitution of photostatic copies OF
these documents for use throughout
| the trial.
| After Mr.. Roberts read the most
| important excerpts from the Teapot
| Dome lease, he called Judge Z. C.
Finney, First Assistant Secretary OF
the Interior Department. who figured
SO prominently in the Fall-Doheny
case.
| Judge Finney testified that he has
held this present position since March
Is, 1921, and has been in the Govern
ment service since 1894 in various po
sitions under the Interior Department
Roberts proceeded Immediately tt
get down to brass tacks. He inquired
of the witness under whose supervis
ion fell the general leasing of oil lands
prior to Harding's executive order
F'inney admitted that he had super
vision over leasing of all oil lands. in
Guiding naval
Leahy Objects Again.