Evening star., 1928-04-22
Oil Millionaire Goes to New
Jersey Farm Following
Verdict.
JURORS DECLARE RESULT
WAS BASED ON EVIDENCE
Parallel Case" Cited by 0ne-An-
other Glad to Regain
Liberty.

Harry r Sinclair. internationally
known oil millionaire, today IS at ais
2ancocas, N. j., farm free Of the charge
ne has borne for more than five wears
hat he conspired with former Secreta-y
Of the Interior Albert 3. Fall to defraId
the Government in the leasing Of Tea
% Dome
A jury of IL District o. Columbia citi-
zens, after listening for 10 trial days
to the evidence presented by both sides
in support Of their respective claims,
reporte5 a verdict of not
guilty" little less than two houfs after
receiving the case and at the end Of the
third ballot. Not a vote was cast for
conviction OH the first two polls Of the
jury. although there were four "uncer-
tain" on the first and two on the sec
ond ballots. The third was unanimous
for acquittal-
The news Of Sinclair's acquittal ad
not penetrated the sntire city before
the question was raised, What about
FaI?" The Government prosecutors.
former Senator Atlse Pomerene Of Ohio
and Owen J.. Roberts Of Philadelpnia,
appointed by President Coolidge to
prosecute the oil cases" replied there
would DC an announcement from them
the middle of the week" Beyond this
they would not indicate what heir
course would be.
Fan Still Under Charges.
However. the legal minds in attend
ance at the trial threshed the matter
out as standing in this manner: That
as a practical move, no criminal pro-
eeedings would be brought against Fall,
as the jury. in effect, said the two did
not agree 70 commit an unlawful act.
But from the legal viewpoint. the Gov
eminent would be at liberty to bring
Pail into court as the indictment reads
in substance that Fall and Sinclair and
other persons unknown TO the grand
jurors, entered into the alleged con-
spiracy.
Had it not been for his poor health
Fall, now recuperating in California.
would have been in court with Sinclair
during the past two weeks. as he was In
October last when the proceedings be-
fore Justice Frederick L. SiddOnS we're
sensationally cancelled on allegations By
the Government that the Jury was be-
ing Shadowed BY the defense. Fails
attorneys obtained q severance for this
case and the trial of the former Cahine;
officer was postponed indefinitely.
The next outgrowth Of the proceed.
ingS 70 demand equal attention from
the Government, defense and puhliG
was what took place In the Jury room
Several Of the jurors were approached
and asked 70 be excused from DISCUSSING
the case. explaining IL was AL over
and we did our duty" Three others
however. had a different view Oh
making public what tranSpired in the
final stage Of the long proceedings
which had their origin IN the Senate
public lands committee.
One Of these, Kenneth Carter, turoG
No. IL, Is years old, OF 134l Taylca
street. told the Associated Press that
tim OF circumstances. Although the
counsel made a good I'M
preston" he said. they did not prove
that Sinclair cOnSpired with Fail C
lease the property. II Fall had wanted
TO sell the lease it seems 10 me that h
would have gone after at least 81, ,ooo. .0oe
and would not have accepted $23S.0G
as he could have gotten more"
Expects Blame for Verdict.
Carter said he did not believe Sir
clair agreed TO pay Fall anything hS
fore he got the lease. IT may be tha
after Sinclair did set the lease. Pa
got some money from him by the arSu
ment that he had favored Sinclair with
the lease.
Il mean. that suppose I did some
thing for somebody and then late.
came around and asked for loan G.
a gift on the plea that had done :
service for him, II he should give me
the money you couldn't say that he wss
guilty OF a conspiracy.
"Of course, We viii get blamed toz
the verdict he continued 'Eecris
don't realize that all we could conSi6e-
was this particular charge and o0ly
the evidence produced at the trial. Be-
cause Sinclair has been pictured il ali
sorts of lights during the last six years
didn't mean that We could take that
into consideration. We had 70 stick g
the evidence.
II will say this Carter declared With
a blow Of his fist on the arm Of MS
chan This jury certainly realized It's
ana tried % do It's 6uty.
We went into this case With an op&C
mind as any IL men could have, o.
course, We had read ot the case CASUALLY
i'm the newspapers and noeoCiy BAR a.
hadn't, But I don't believe
any Of the jury. and know I hadn't
until We were summoned on the Jury.
Another Juror. who requested that MS
name he withheld, said there was 50
much stun about FAN and the Interior
that it was hard - see
where Sinclair had anything 10 a.
With it" The Juror volunteered. hon.
'ver, that he and his eolleaSueS thought
here was something funny ahcQt the
'aneh deal" but the Government eVt-
ienee on this point was noe Sufacisntly
.srong 10 convince them beyond q vea-
doubt that conspiracy had
seen entered into.
"Rawled Out" by ReSS,
i've been TaEzed to death since Sot
sanae." said the Ilror, y called w my
AaSS - tell him IL was all ever, and
when / told HIM the verdict he eawled
ne cut And suppose a lcS et other
seopls viii he talking the same way,
But l don't care, did my duty and
tooS by my conscience and Neflet. II I
had disagreed with the others, ! Nc0ld
lave held cNt forever"
The Juror declared that uENon the ecsa-
'luSion Of Roberts opening argument g
he Jury Friday morning. the is men as =
Aady were sold ON the Governments
'aSe We liked MIR Roberts anc | felt
'ery sorry for him when We eroNght IN
he verdict ne exAntlnued Il saw MS
lead drop down and I'll never forget
hat hook en his face, | had tRAeaAded
eakIng at Sinclair. nat RohereM took
III nay attention. Next to Mr.. Roberts
- liked Col tittleten Martin w. Iit-
letan al New York, at Sinclair eeen~
ell, but we cid rot lee personalities
inter- into the case
erhere Mas one thiNg "a the case