Evening star., 1927-12-24
OIL TRIAL DELAYS
NOW SEEM CERTAIN
KidweII Intimidation Inquiry
May Force FaII-SinClair
Case Postponement.

| II lNWeIl ou'Sicpt, Wi'N'
adjourned yesterday afternoon for
| the holidays with only the surface
scratched, would bring about post
! ponemCnt of the Harry Nj. BlaCkmef
| contempt hearing and the new FaIl-
! Sinclair conspiracy trial, both OF
! which are set for early in January.
| Rlackmer. former chairman OF the
hoard OF the Midwest Refining 60.
! and resident OF France since the
Teapot Dome scandal broke, has been
ordered to appear before Justice Fred
erich l.. SiddonS. January 6, and snow
cause why he should not be cited IN
, contempt for refusing to appear at
! the last Fall-Sinclair trial in answer
| TO a subpoena. Blackmer is wanted
| in connection with the Government
evidence about an "ol deal" some or
! The profits of which are alleged 10
have reached Albert B. Fall, secretary
| If the Interior, month aiteI "e
| gave the Teapot Dome lease TO harry
| r. Sinclair.
| The new oil conspiracy trial Is set
| for January l6 But nine court days
| remain between the resumption of the
present proceedings and the new fail'
Sinclair case and both sides today
! thought il would he virtually impoS-
/ sible to complete the presentation ol
evidence on the Teapot Dome Jury
shadowing charges before the l6th.
! Inasmllch as the date for the Black
mer hearing falls on Friday, which is
motion day, il was thought the SIN
! clair Burns case might be suspended
/ on the previous dav until the follow
: ing Monday in order to leave tho bth
open for argument on the law m
| der which Blackmcr was cited. This
J 4 10. ttt1n N
! court dav. but there would be other
,spects of the case 10 be heard. and
these would have to be taken care
/ ot at a later date.
Kidwpit to Resume.
When the Sinclair Burns case Is re-
sumed Tuesday. January :. Edward j.
! kidwell the alleged talkative juror in
| the Teapot Dome case. will he in the
/ witness chair and still under direct
examination by the Government Kid
well just before adjournment yester-
day completed the recitation OF every
act and word by Assistant United
! states Attorney j. ]. O'Leary which
| he thought amounted TO intimidation
! and coercion"
! Now. Mr.. kidwell, have YOU told
! the court everything concerning in
/ timida ion?" asked O'Leary and when
/ kidweil said he had nothing more"
! to say wave of disappointment
| swept over the spectators who had
! filled the courtroom since the charges
! broke in anticipation of something
/ sensational.
! Kidwell had testified to everything
! that occurred between himself and
| OF I.eary from the day they first met.
! December ., until Tuesday morning
1 L, ,,Ia ES. az nd t,x
| give evidence that he was aware he
was being shadowed while serving as
juror In the Fall Sinclair trial. With
| the utmost difiiculty observers were
| a BILE to sift from his statements an in
| timation that he was asked To remain
at the United States attorneys office
| for long periods. most of which. how
ever. he spent alone and writing
/ statements of what he knew of the
''kidwell incident"
On one occa sion. Sunday. December
! Is. he reported at O'Ieary's office at
. o'clock in the morning and after
spending about six hours in writing
statements and waiting for O'Leary.
whom he saw only once, the assistant
United States attorney appeared and
asked "What the hell have you been
! doing all day?" he testified.
/ neVbTts ttutkfu NuHNPINdtWV
II was while waiting between 9 and
! 10 O'Clock on that Sunday morning.
| kidwell said, that he was approached
| by William j. McMuliin. former Burns
detective. who aha ndoned his employ.
er and turned states evidence" aud
! asked IL he had recognized Burns De-
.ectives O'Reillv and Stewart as he
! two men who approached him on two
different ncca sions while he was ait
! ling AS ID juror in the tail.Sinclair
| case.
! II said no" kidwell testified, "and
! McMullin said. I'm pretty sure
oReilly was the man outside the
! court house that day and IL YOU can
! recognize those two men the Akers
and King matter will be- killed and
| there will be no more trouble about
| IT,
The "Akers and King matter" re.
ferred TO by McMullin constitute two
afidavits by J. Ray Akers. former
street car conductor. and Donald Is.
/ King. newspaper reporter. that Kid.
weil. while Juror. told them OF his
| admiration for Sinclair and that he
! expected IA car as long as block"
when the trial was over. These am
daVits together with two others re-,
lnting To Rurns detective activities
/
| Fnli Sinclair case.
! When McMulin made this state.
ment. kidwell said. O'I.enry was not
present. The Witness. pressed by
! OI.eary 10 tell every intimate detail
OF the lationship between the two
recalled that you toLeary1 told me
these high priced lawyers were not
going In beat YOU, that you would
show them M and that you were
stalking your reputation as lawyer
on me aud that YOU were the only
friend | had in the Distric, attorneys
Office
Refers to tkrrs' ttiidavit
| Saturday morning, December Il,
! kidaeli said DIeaiy told him he was
going 10 question the witness M much
nn he would question Akers. hot Nou
would protect ne nS much rs You
/ could although Nou could not prrtnim
miracles" kliw~li said he replied he
needed no protection ~ he had done
no wrong, AT this same time kidwell
declared Ol.eatN said he didn't he'
lieva IA damned word of the Ak"rs
| att,daVtt hs he Akrlsb had told me
three different stories already
| While waiting in the United SthtcH
| attorney office SUNDAY, kidwell said
Mai, reyton Gordon approached him
and ASKED him what he was waiting
! IA, and when informed by kidw"ll
| he was waiting on ol.eary the
| United States attorney said II would
ust tired sitting around any dnmned
| office all the lime. huhpoona ~ NJ
subpoena
TUESDAY mm ming. the day he took
The stand kidNet said he had heen
! "toid" by Ot.eaIN I" stick by nun hhh
not To lose his nerve. lie then added
thst o'Ieary said. ''ttont us Ia help
me. listen Ia the questions ana AFTER
yo,, have answered. stop, II Won are