Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-11-24
OIL Jury SCANDAL
IS INACTIVE TODAY
First "Vacation" Afforded
Those Concerned in FALL
Sinclair Case.

Thanksgiving day found the Fall
Sinclair jury tampering scandal quiet
and inactive for the first time since
1T was hurled into the oil conspiracy
trial and resulted in those proceed
ings being brought to an abrupt end
by the presiding justice.
First Vacation"
Before closing their desks for the
first vacation" they have been able
10 take advantage of since the first
of the month, United States Attorney
Peyton Gordon and his assistant,
Neil Burkinshaw, set into motion ma
chinery for serving the six Sinclair
and Burns men with certified copies
of Justice Frederick L. Siddons' rule
to appear before him December and
show cause why they should not be
cited in contempt of court. Accom-
panying the rule were certified copies
of Mai. Gordon's petition to the court
alleging that the individuals in ques-
ton tempered with or sought TO in
fiuence the oil trial jury.
Harry F. Sinclair, New York oil
magnate, and his confidential asso'
tciate, Henry Mason Day, vice presi
dent of the Sinclair Exploration Co.,
will be approached within the next
few days by the United States marshal
in New York City and presented with
the rule and petition. Sheldon Clark,
another confidential associate and vice
president of the Sinclair Refining Co.,
will be served by the United States
marshal in Chicago, Clark's residence.
William j. Burns, founder of the
Burns international Detective Agency,
Inc, and former chief of the
Bureau of Investigation, Department
Of Justice; his son, w. Sherman Burns.
secretary treasurer of the agency,
and Charles L. Vietsch, manager of
the Baltimore bureau of the agency.
will be served in the office of their
attorney, Charles A. Douglas, in the
Southern Building, Monday, by a
deputy United States marshal.
Mr.. Douglas, noted criminal lawyer
and who represented NJ. T. Everhart,
son-in-law of Albert B. Fall, at the
latter's trial when Everhart, as a
Government witness, refused to an
swer questions on the ground Of self
incripination. made arrangements
yesterday with Maj. Gordon for the
service of the courts orders upon his
three clients.
Does Not Doubt.
Mai. Gordon has no doubt but that
all SIX persons ndHlcu III tlle RUE
IN show cause" will accept service.
Other attaches Of his office. however.
exnlained that should the seXtet
desire, they could tie up Maj. Cor
don's contempt proceedings indeti-
njtely by refusing to accept service
and be within their constitutional
Ali those mentioned in the con-
tempt rule will be required to appear
in person before the court while
1heir attorneys, it is anticipated, will
effer testimony and arguments in
REPUTATION of the charges. There is a
Feasibility that the contempt proceed.
1ngs may becme quite lengthy affair.
Mai Gordon at his home today said
he would be back at his office tomor-
row ito get things ready for the 9Th
~ december" In addition TO the con
tempt proceedings on that day hear
ing is scheduled to be held before
United States Commissioner Needham
= Turnage on the complaint signed
khv Rurkinshaw charging Clark with
ATTEMPTING TO influence the Fall
i,cIair Jury. The complaint was