Evening star., 1927-10-20
FALL INTERRUPTS
COURT TO REQUEST
OIL LEASE OPINION
Former Secretary Creates
Sensation in Plea for
Statement by Finney.
TEAPOT DOME CLAIMS
BASIS OF EXAMINATION
Refusal of Payne. ex-1nterior De-
partment Head. to Grant Leases
Is Brought Out.

The Fal-SlnCtdlf conspiracy IEtdl
was thrown into a sensation imme-
diately after the luncheon recess this
afternoon. when former Secretary Al
bert B. Fall of the Interior Depart
ment arose from his chair and ad.
dressed the court, requesting that Ed
ward e. Flnney, Assistant Secretary
of the Interior. then IN the witness
chair on cross-examinatiou, be allowed
IN answer a question over which the
Government and defense counsel had
wrangled for many minutes.
It was the first time the voice of
former Senator Fall had been heard
either in the Fall-Doheny conspiracy
trial or the present case. The matter
at issue concerned the Interpretation
OF the rights of the Secretary of the
Navy and the Secretary of the In
terror to grant leases under the gen.
eral leasing act and subsequent
measure concerning the oil reserves.
Justice Frederick l.. Siddons, presld-
ing. became embroiled in the discus.
sion, which apparently went unnoticed
hv most of the spectators, when sud-
denly the tall figure of Fall stood up
in the court.
MAY it please the court he be-
gan, only to be interrupted by JUS
lice Siddons with the statement that
he was represented by able counsel,
although he did not like to deny him
the right of speech.
Il do not desire to make a speech
TO the iury," said Fall. Judge Fin
ney in the chair is qualified to settle
the question. He can clear the mat
ter in two minutes" In glowing and
flowery terms he then mentioned his
counsel as well as the attorneys for
both sides, lauding their ability but,
he added, "the court maybe led into
n ruling that it will very much regret
a little later
.The law put Judge Finney in Of
fee as Assistant Secretary of the In
terror to interpret those things. The
law makes it his duty TO interpret
Them. LIZ he is wrong the Supreme
Court of the United States may re-
verse him. But in his own jurisdic-
,ion his law may stand as the law OF
the land.
FAN declared that il a ruling ls
made to the effect that Finney could
NOT testify sit is vital and constitu-
tionai in the defense of this case.
Arises Second Time.
"I bey the courts pardon" Mr.. Fall
declared. as he resumed his seat
Justice Siddons. however, said 1t was
his understanding the question at
issue was on the Interpretation OF
a paragraph in a letter Secretary OF
the Navy DENLY had written to Fal
setting forth the Navy's policy wltn
regard to the oil leases and not on
a question of interpreting the law.
ho
the defense in its cross-eAamination
sought to interpret the language OF
the letter from Mr.. Finneys view
point
Fall then rose for second time ana
turned the pages of several volumes
on the table before his counsel. VIII
liam F.. Ieahy. but did not speak, and
then sat down.
When Mr.. Fall resumed his seat
after his statement the court an
novnced that it had no intention II
sitting any test vital TO the defense.
Mr.. Fall took sniff OF some spirits
of ammonia, produced cigar which
he chewed vigorously and calmly
awaited the final ruling OF the court,
During the discussion that followed
Mr.. Hoover protested that anything
that throws any light on these leases
is relevant and pertinent" He added
that he wanted to show by this wit
ness and others what was contem'
Mated in the letter in pursuance OF
this policy.
Justice Siddons interjected that the
circumstances did not relieve him
from the necessity of determining for
himself the admissibility OF evidence
under the rules. The court declared
that he did not think he was justified
Aft .,Cl- q
witness what he did under his inter
p~etation.
For this reason. Justice Siddons
held, the court sustained the ohiec-
ton of Government counsel.
There was some further pickering
about other questions put by the de
tense attorney. and then Mr.. Hoover
asked the witness what leases had
been made up to the time the policy
letter came 10 his attention.
''Prior To this time leases had beer
made for - producing wells in nava
reserve No. l 10 the Pan-Americal
Petroleum Co.. and the United Mid
wav CO. Finnev answered.
Certain leases also had been made
prior TO this date for wells in reserve
No. q
Mr. Hoover then sought TO brint
ont that the policy letter of July ha'
dealt with royalties accruing iron
these wells.
He next directed the attention n
the witness 10 matters in connection
wjth ROYALTY oils in the Californi
leases and his own connection Wit
them.
Gist of Controversy,
The cortroversy was nver the fol
lowing paragraph IN letter signed
nv Derbv and addressed 10 Fan, OF
October 25. 1921:
80 Terms for conversion ~ crud
iTstfne well 10 fuel oil OF fidew4te
n, In tanks 10 he provided by III
lessee win be submitted 10 the Nav.
f)epartment for approval Of the dnal
ities. deliveries. engineering and othe
features involved
-. That all leases and contracts e.
cept as provided in paragraph six. vii
hs arranged and consumm3ted by tn
Interior Dep3 copies OF sam
being furnished to the Navy Depart
1nent as matter of information an
record only.
Denial Of Leases Recalled.
Under cross-eXa nina tlOn Flnnef ~
lated that four applications for lease
IN Teapot Dome, embodylng abot
2 900 acres and based upon priC
,;,,s ~ oil nroduring wells wei