Evening star., 1927-10-30

| troversy or witnesses are testifvins
| from the box a hush usually prevails
over the entire courtroom, for tn,
| majesty of the law is ever enforced
upon spectators by an alert bal,iff
who is quick to rap for order in th'
court at the slightest infraction o
, the rules. The scrape of chair a.
correspondent hurriedly leaves thu
chamber brings a glance and perhaps
even an admonition from the keeper
of the peace.
Sensations Have Passed.
Whether or not any of the politica
dynamite that once was SO closel,
associated with the oil cases remain.
to add to the interest in the tria
now in progress is largely matter
TO be decided by the individual. The
tremors and reyerbera tions which
rocked the Nation a few years age
have been stiIled. But for the echoes
of the recent Supreme Court deci
sion in the case of Sinclair there
would hardly be any echo.
Few curious spectators such as
flocked to the former trial now stanC
outside the doors of Criminal Divi
sion | to gain admission as the
trial is entering upon it's third week
But the 'repeaters" are in evidence
every day. Necks are craned TO SEE
the two defendants and their famllie:
and ears are cooked for any sensa
tional developments. 1t is much the
same old scene, the same familiar
faces that frequented the courtroom
10 months ago.
For the spectators the two defend
ants, the gray-haired Fall and the
black-haired Sinclair, hold chief inter
est. Seated in the same row will
counsel, but separated, the two centra
figures in one of the most famou:
criminal trials in the history of thu
country furnish a distinct contrast.
FadI Dramatic Figure.
When Fall Is not chewing an unlit
cigar, apparently Needless of some dis
cussion under way, he is conferrins
almost constantly with his two at
| torneys, William L. Leahy and Mark
| 3. Thompson OF New Mexico. lie
| takes an active part in directing the
examination of witnesses in these
whispered conferences and on one oc
casion arose dramatically to his feet
to make a suggestion to the court tC
| tiOns of vital concern to the defense. ;
Facing the ordeal of another tria
| after the present one terminates, Fal
shows the effects of the strain under
which he has lived during the past
! three or four years. The once straight
| shoulders Of the Westerner are now
bent and aging. the former vigorous
| stride is faltering. When court re
cesses for five minutes he PAGES The
floor in the corridor outside, smoking
| cigarettes alone or comforting Witk
| friends.
On the other hand Sinclair sit.
quietly by with the air of the executiv,
who is content TO leave matters en-
tirely in the hands of his staff. Sci
dom does he confer with Mr.. Hoover
or Mr.. Littleton. All highly involved
arguments he leaves entirely to hi.
| counsel. He displays, nevertheless. 8
deep interest in all that goes on and |
is doubtful If he misses anything that
occurs. Only during the bond discus
sion Of the last two days, did he ap
pear to discard any interest in tn
proceedings. Almost constantly h,
buried his nose in a volume Of Senat,
testimony. apparently unconcernet
with the dynamite in Roberts hands
Sinclair Interesting.
This man Sinclair is particular,
interesting figure. He is the wealtbies
| Independent oil operator in the coun
, try, sportsman who finds time (,
! follow his string of race horses, whicl
at one time numbered the famous
IeV, while directing the destinies o
his oil operations throughout tn
| "a 10 rf hnl.. L.
stOcky in build with democratic
manner. however. that dispels mucl
of the cOldness Of his features. II
is the personification of a fighter VIII
has had to make his way in the wor!,
of hard knocks.
AT the contempt proceedings las
Winter, the millionaire oil defendan n
appeared In different suit every day
! Now he wears the sama neat.fittin;
blue suit without changing.
Luncheon hour for Sinclair appar
entity comes as a welcome relief MI
and Mrs. Fall take their lunch In
little room over the basemen
cafeteria. where jurors, attorneys an
newspaper men rub elbows. But YER
few days pass without the presence q
Sinclair standing patiently in line
tray in hand as he waits his turn I
be served his usual dish of beans Ar
sa ndWichcs.
Career Is Brilliant.
Sinclair's meteoric career in tn
; realm of oil forms one of the mos
absorbing chapters In the histor
: Of American seIf-made men. Fror
an obscure drug clerk in Oklahoma
he amassed a huge fortune In tn
lpast 20 years. He still walks with
. perceptible limp in one foot. Thereo