Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-03
BLACKMER FIGHTS
CONTEMPT CHARGE
Counsel for Missing Witness
Begins Argument Against
Conviction.

Fy the Associated Press.
ArsUmentS on 81 motion Ia dismiss the
contempt charges against II, NJ. Black
nler Of Denver. missing witness III the
Fsn-Sinclalr oil cor Spiracy. were be-
gun today III the ST 1remc Court Of the
District o: Columbis- with Justice Fred
erlck L. Si6Gons presiding.
Blackmer was summoned to tell wha;
he knew Of the Continental Trading
Co. oil deal from which the Govern
nent charges Harry T. Sinclair OBJ
tanned part Of the bonds that later
reached Albert = Fall! Blackmcr has
refused "a return from Europe TO testify
Under a law enacted at the behrSt q
Senator Walsh Of Nnn,aU9. Senate 81,
prosecutor, an American citizen rctus~
ing TO return 10 this country 10 testify
in criminal case shall bc deemed
guilty Of contempt Of court AMI rs
property III 10 the value OF 100000
NAV be forfeited. BlackmerS Col nsei
contend this law is unconstitutional.
Seeks Return of Bonds.
The Government seized 100000 in
liberty bonds from Blackmcr, and his
counsel! in addition 10 seeking his dis
charge from the contempt charges, asks
that the bonds be returned 10 him.
Nathan L, Miller, former Governor
Of New York, and George Gordon
Battle. Blackmer'S counsel. contended
that the Walsh act violated the fourth
fifth sixth and eighth amendments TO
the Constitution and that Elackmer
was not a resident Of the United States
Blackmer. they said, retired from bust
ness and left Denver i'll 1924. and TAX
Ing up residence in France decided in
1925 10 reside abroad permanently.
They argued that an act OF Con-
g-eSS could not extend the jurisdiction
az the court beyond the boundaries Of
tie country. and that the court was
without any power 10 serve a person
outside Of its territorial limits
Miller held that the contempt case
was criminal contempt proceeding
you could punish a person for a crime
be must DC brought before the court.
Admits Citizenship.
Atlee Pomerene. who with Owen J.
Roberts. Is special Government prosecu- !
tor. argued that the question Of whether /
Elackiner resided in the United States /
vas lnlr1aterial He said. however, that !
Il was admitted that the oil man was
q citizen o. this country.
The long and winding trail Of the !
oil investigation also led 10 Chicago to- |
DAY after pauSeS in Congress anu the |
local courts yesterday.
warrant for the arrest of Robert |
". Stewart. chairman of the board OF /
the Standard Oil Co. of Indiana. grow |
ing out Of his indictment here yesterday |
for refusing 10 answer questions put TO |
him by the Senate Teapot Dome COM |
I1ittee. was IN the course of preparation |
today at the Office of United States At |
torney Peyton Gordon. Il will be sent |
b. mail 70 Chicago.
Coircident with the return Of the I!
Indictment. which started the eighth |
pending criminal action resulting from |
the naval oil leasing inquiry, Repre- |
sentative O!dfleld of Arkansas, chair |
man Of the Democratic congressional |
campaign committee, issued a statement
IN which he demanded that President
Coolidge repudiate the Republican party
leaders who received the $3.50, 900 con-
tr;bution from Harry F. Sinclair TO help
extingu!sh the 1920 campaign deficit.
Calls Gift Blot"
The shiny trail OF the Teapot Dome
scandal Eas az last been traced 10 the
treasury Of the Republican national
committee. OIGheic asserted.
He termed the disclosures made by
VIII II. Hays. former chairman Of the |
Republican committee, before the Sem |
ate oil committee as the blacklist blot !
or the records Of any political party In |
the history Of the country" and urged |
the President 20 demand" the return |
o. every dollar donated by Sinclair.
Stewards indictment adds another /
phase TO the already clogged criminal |
court docket resulting from the oil dis /
closures. The other cases now pending /
fellow.
Bribery charges against Edward L.
Doheny and his son growing out OF the
Elk Hills lease bg Albert 3. Fall.
Acceptance o. a bride against Fall In /
connection with the same lease.
Fal-S1cla.r oil conspiracy case. re-
sll:3ng from the leasing b. the former
Interior Secretary OF Teapot Dome 10
Sinclair.
Contempt proceedings against Black
me-
siYcla!.'s appeal from three months
!sii sentence on charges Of refusing 10
answer Senate committee questions. t
Other Appeals
Appeals o. Sinclair. William J. Burns.
~ Sherman Burns and Henry Mason
Day from their conviction for criminal
conanpt ii connection with shadowlng
the Fa!l-Sincla!f jury.