Evening star., 1928-11-13
MOntanan SWearS Accused
Oil Man Said He Had Moth
ing to Do With Distribution.
QUESTION NOT ASKED,
DEFENSE COUNSEL SAYS
Declares Errors and Misunder-
standings" Occurred in Steno-
graphic Reports.
By the Associated Press.

The Government reached into the
Senate today for testimony in it's eff
forts to prove that Robert w. Stewart.
chairman of the board of the Standard
Oil Co. of Indiana, perjured himself
during the long-drawn-out investigation
of the oil scandals.
1t placed on the stand as its first
major witness Senator Walsh of Mon
tana, who pounded for months at those
who appeared before the Senate inves-
tigating committee, and the Montanan
Swore that the oil man had last Febru-
ary testified before the committee that
he knew nothing about bonds of the
Continental Trading Co., which figured
largely in the case.
Senator Walsh said he had asked
Stewart whether he knew ANYTHING
about the bonds. and that Stewart re-
Piled he had nothing to do with the
distribution of any bonds.
Inc question was asked again."
Walsh added, land he replied that he
knew nothing about the bonds.'
Bonds Reach Fall.
Testimony has shown that a large
batch of these bonds found their way to
Albert b. Fall, who leased Teapot
Dome to Harry F. Sinclair.
Leo A. Rover, district attorney. in
qu1red whether Stewart had been asked
about his knowledge of any recipients
Of the bonds.
Saying that Senator Nye Of North
Dakota had asked such a question,
Walsh added that Stewart had said he
had nothing to do with any distribution
OF the bonds and had not made a dol
lar out of them" Upon repetition of
the original question: Walsh said that
Stewart had denied any knowledge of
now the bonds were distributed.
On croSs-examination by Frank j.
Hogan, defense counsel, Walsh could
not recall testimony in the trial of
Stewart last Spring on contempt charges
for refusing to answer questions by the
Senate committee. When his memory
was refreshed by excerpts from his
testimony, however, the Montanan saic
he was willing to accept the transcript
as valid.
Rover sought to bring up Stewart
testimony before the committee in April.
when he acknowledged having received
$759,000 in bonds from profits made by
the Continental Trading Co. in an oil
deal, which he turned over to trustee.
Hogan objected, and this phase was
passed over after a conference at the
bench.
Asks mot Guilty" Verdict.
Earlier in the day, after Hogan had
asked for quick mot guilty" verdict,
Rover said his Office was endeayoring
to ascertain the identity of the young
man whom Robert N. Caldwell, a pros
pective juror in the case. had said called
at his home wanting to know whether
ne would hold out" The investigation
would continue, said Rover, with the
matter not being placed before the
grand jury unless evidence to SllbStan-
t1ate CaldwellS information was uncoy-
cred
Hogan reviewed Stewards two appear
ances before the Senate committee and
declared that no such question as those
upon which the indictment is based had
Deen asked. 1T was never asked and
never answered" he said, "and if it
was. 1t was never understood"
Inc defense counsel recalled that 457
questions had been put to Stewart in
Feoruary and 479 in March. He con-
tended that the stenographic reports Of
tnese hearings were not entirely ac-
curate, and that "errors or mislInder-
standings" had occurred at that time
Hogan read at length from the
stenographic report of the FEBRUARY
committee meeting, centering his at
tentlon on the questions and answers
passing between Walsh and Stewart
on that occasion. In several instances
the Senator agreed with defense coun-
sci that errors in reporting had been
made
Emphasizing Stewards refusal tn
answer as to any knowledge he had of
the distribution c. S:-rds from the
Continental Co. profits, Hogan read
the resolution presented to the Sem
ate February 8, calling for the oil mans
arrest on contempt charges. He asked
why. II Stewart had denied any knowl-
edge of such distribution, it had not
oeen included in the report, and Walsh
croSS-examination of the oil prosecutor
went on for nearly two hours.
1ngham Mack, clerk of the Senate
committee, as the first witness, identi-
ned various minutes Of the committee
hearings, including those of the ses-
sions at which Stewart appeus. s:i On
Hogan developed
that the witness could not say definite
ly whether there had been a quorum
present when Stewart was questioned
February 2. The court admitted the
minutes into evidence over objection.
Justice Bailey yesterday ordered the
jury locked up for duration of the trial.
This action came at the close of the
opening session, as Hogan was winding
up his opening statement to the jury.
The nine men and three women had
earlier heard the Governments case
sS3eEAsd b, Rover.
Justice Baile- conducted the exami-
nation OF prospective jurors, declining
over objection to allow defense counsel
that opportunity. As finally selected
he jury included Albert K. Baker, street
car conductor; Carl w. L. Horn, sales
man; William E. Egan, salesman; Mrs.
Eva Buckley, widow; Mrs Sadie G.. Jen-
kins, clerk; Morgan c. Emmons, sales
man; Walter N. Hogan, insurance So
licttor; Laurence l.. Kiefer. secretary;
Hugh r. O'Donnell. unemployed Mrs.
June p. Chaffee, housewife; Fred P.
Haas. clerk, and Charles E. Henderson,
department store floor manager.
All of them denied acquaintance with
any figures involved in the oil scandals,
Dr. counsel in trials growing out Of these,