New Britain herald., 1928-02-03
STEWART REFUSES
 ID MAKE REPLIES
lcontinued from First Page,


 growing out Of the lease of Teapot Dome to Sinclair. The government charges that t3so.0oo of the Con- tinental profits went to Fall.
 Stl Remains Silent
 Before Stewart was excused from the stand. Chairman Nye told him he must understand that the com mittes must reach the conclusion that 1t was possible that he and his associates knew the purposes of the Continental before 1t was organized. The company. whose eood faith was guaranteed by Stewart and Sinclair. bought 33,000.o00 barrels of oil for $1.60 . barrel and sold 1t back to Stewart and Sinclair companies for $l.75.
 Have you any statement to make about that?" Nye asked. Stewart was silent.
 One of the final questions asked the witness dealt with the angle of the case involving whether any of the profits went to a political fund.
 Do you know anything about any of these bonds going to a political party?" Stewart was asked.
 No. sir" he replied.
 Stewart Stands Pat The oil magnate stood fast by his decision to refuse to answer ques- tions as to whether he had discussed with Harry F. Sinclair. lessee of Teapot Dome. the profits of the ex- tinct Continental Trading company, which made millions by buying oil for 50 cents barrel in the United States and selling 1t back to the Stewart and Sinclair companies for 75 cents.
 Contradict Stewart
 The witnesses called to contradict Stewart were former Senator Thom- as of Colorado, Beman c. Dawes, president of the Pure Oil company of Ohio, and A. E. Humphreys, Jr., son of the man who sold 33.333,333 1-S barrels of oil to the Continental company for $1.5o . barrel and which the Sinclair and Standard companies bought back for $1.75.
 They said they did not hear men, tioned at . conference in New York . price Of t1.75 for the oil. Stew. art said yesterday H. M. Blackmer. then chairman of the board of the Midwest Refining company. had told him this price would have to be paid by the Standard Oil interests if they wanted the oil.
 Replying to Senator Walsh, demo- crat, Montant, the committee pro. secutor. Stewart said the contract Of sale by tho Continental to the sin- clair Crude and the Prairie Oil was executed at the same time.
 "Were all of these gentlemen pres ent?" Walsh asked, referring to tht various oil men mentioned as parti- cipants in the conference.
 "Oh. I don't think 90. It was about the same time. as my recol- lection is, I went back to Chicago from tho New York meeting and presented the contract to my board of directors"
 Recalled to the witness stand fac ing citation for contempt, the Stand ard oil man stubbornly resisted the attempts of Senator Walsh. demo- crat, Montana, the committee pro- secutor, to testify on question which he said should be placed first before judge and jury. He is a witness in the Fall-sinclair conspir acy trial growing out of the Teapot Dome lease.
 Before he appeared. Beman c. Dawes, brother of the vice-president former Senator Thomas of Colorado and A. E. Humphreys. IT,. of Den- yer, were placed on tho stand to dispute his testimony that price of t1.75 for the Continental Oil had been mentioned in their presence at tho conference in New York. where tho famous deal was consummated.
 Dcciines To Answer
 After preliminary sparring be- tween Walsh and tho witness when Stewart was recalled. the prosecutor finally asked:
 Did you know anything about the purchase of Liberty Bonds by the Continental"
 Repeating what I have said be- fore" the witness replied, T don't think I should answer"
 Were you ever consulted about the purchase of these bonds?"
 T reiterate what said before"
 ''Wero you ever consulted about the disposition of the bonds?" Stew Art hesitated.
 Why did you hesitate?" Walsh asked.
 '"That is none of your business senator. nor is it any of the busi- ness of the committee. say that with all deference."
 Then the Standard official again declined to answer.
 Walsh propounded series ol questions as to what Stewart knew about the disposition of the bond. and he declined to answer again or the grounds given yesterday-tha the case was in the courts.
 Senator Bratton, democrat, O New Mexico. then took Stewart ovel some of the ground covered yester day.
 T am not here to argue thes, matters with you. Senator Bratton, Stewart said at one point. Question Irrelevant At another point he said question: put to him were Irrelevant" Asked about the Teapot Dom, naval oil reserve which was leased to Harry F. Sinclair and later re covered by the government, Stewar said he never 'even knew there wal a Teapot Dome until after 1t wa, leased"
 Bratton went back to the $S,000, 900 the Continental might hav' made on the contracts for the oi bought from the Humphreys inter Act nf.i