Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-23
STEWART IS HELD
TOBE E|NCONTEMPT
IN OIL CASE PROBE
Judge Rules Senate Had Right
to Question Him on Bond
Disposition.
BLACKMER GOT S763,OO0
OF ISSUE, LAWYER SAYS
Kidwell and Burns Agents to Be
Brought Into Court Next,
Gordon Announces.

UoTQ0n announces.
Bv the Associated Press.
The Government struck at the long
standing oil case from three directions
today, winning a point in its conten-
ton that the Senate had a right TO
arrest Robert w. Stewart of the Stand
ard Oil Co. of Indiana, developing that
H. NJ. Blackmer got s763.0O0 Of the
Continental Trading Co. bonds, and
starting move to bring another batch
Of men before court on contempt
charges.
In the District Of Columbia Supreme
Court. Stewart's contention that the
Senate had no right to ask him CUES
tons about the bonds. some OF which
the Government charges reached Al
bert B. Fall, was held to oe trivial. and
he was ordered remanded to congress
sional custody. He appealed, however,
and remained at liberty under 5000
bond. He will have 40 days to perfect
the appeal
Before the Senate oil committee, Kari
c. Schuyler, lawyer for Blackmer, q
missing witness in the oil trials. testi-
fed Blacknler received the bonds, and
that they were now In New YORK bank.
He said his client had told him he
knew of no Illegal use having been made
Of the profits of the Continental COM
pany.
Following his success In convicting
Harry F. Sinclair, william ]. Burns and
others Of contempt for shadowing the
Fall-Sinclair oil jury, District Attorney
Gordon announced he would proceed
against Edward J. Kidweu. the alleged
talkative Juror, and all Of the Burns
detectives who participated in the jury
surveillance.
Must Await Court Action
The courts action and the appeal
means that SteawartIs appeal cannot
be taken before the Senate until after
the Supreme Court decides the issue
II the Court of Appeals decision is
against the oil man he viii appeal 70
a year or longer before the final de-
cision.
Reviewing the plea Of Stewart. who
specifically declined to reply 70 questions
as 70 whether he had discussed the Con-
tInensal Trading Co.'S Liberty bends
with Harry r. Sinclair. Justice Bailey
held that the Senate resolution autho--
king the Teapot Dome inquiry called
for an investigation supplementary 20
one previously authorised and on which
the committee had made no final report.
The former investigation. he said.
had resulted in legislation directing
the prosecution Of suits, one Of which
resulted In the recovery OF valuable
property OF the Government. and n
other legislation. and IL may be assumed
That the Senate had in mind the pcssi-
oility OF the need OF further legislation
"nen TIE latest resolution was passed.
Appeared as Voluntary Witness.
The petitioner states that he a.
peared voluntarily before the cou,uIt-
lee ID give his testimony" the Justice
continued. He took al cath 10 tel
the truth. the whole truth. and aothi-s
but the truth
He raised no general objection 70
the scope Of the inquiry. cut after he
mad proceeded 10 answer numerous
questions he finally refused 70 answer
as 10 his knowledge OF any one who re-
ceived The Liberty bonds mentioned y
the resolution. or whether he had css-
caSSed any Of the boGd transactions
with Sinclair. and other questions @.
similar character.
He voluntary testified in part, bur
reused TO tell the whole truth. ard a
Mrtta! truth may be rs misleading IS
= islssnood. These questions were clear
Y resssant 70 the inquiry and involved
no question az privilege. They did NO.
involve the private affairs of ire Wiz
ness and the witness cannot MAKE
Soch claim ~, eehal. 81 others when
ne DOES not appear TO ee acting II a
representative capacity,
hut even Such a grouyS vc9,S No.
cs al eNcssSs for failure - answer c;,sS-
a.cias relevant 20 any matters which
were the subject cf property inquiry"
Rules ON Contention.
To SEewartS contention tHs; re
Senate WAS without power - arrest hum
wh!se re was witness before the cs,sr-
,nNtss III Obedience ~ subpoena issued
by IL, Justice Bailey said
IL sils committee Was seeking iafcS-
na''>n rs = basis for legislation by Coa-
Srr>S and Il the Q,seSts>ssS asked the Ne
'isloaer were pertinent q s.,ch .,,s,sirv
and did not invade any ~ his Sos.S.:-
las'eaal rights. IL MAS his Sutv 10
answer, and his refusal ~ d. 81 S>,u'a
x treated rs al acE N cc0,en,rs u
he Senate,
The Senate IS ~; necessarily s>,a~
'FM'ed ~ the practice Of tl,e e<>ssysS -
,isn.lar eases"
Stewart, with his counsel. 81. II, the
aSt row ~ the ccs.yt, wastx,>s ENr his
'SSe IL ee eastea As<,0s y minutes
.'tes the dersSS,>is MAS handed ScMs,, che
ss{erSant iefy the ecurtr<>>s,. a,sd w,a.
= tse eSSee & the esSsS - arrange
Hopkins, Starr 4 Hopkins, cAseaso
attorneys, formed ;Ae S,ewagy ,sSsl
tan to-day. and appeared wl.A Asyl As
se made eoad
Stewart wsN nAt REMAIN sege. ~
AWAIT the aegscn ~ gAs grand ,.yN.
sNsch has eSeo ASKED ~ lSSA>. a.Is
or eoatenspt N the SSnasy Sss MI
eaNe this assexls<<,a tG Casasc ~
'enlaW indeftEStsN,
Msarwhsse e<sgeSe the Senate III S>nsn.
'nitsNe ScAaSlsr declared thas HaGSasss
lad told him ga AlAntressl IN As$stSe.
ssS> that he sot Sf>olOa ~ rsSsgttS In
he SNMtaensal DIAL Vie SAID ne M
aimed this nscrsoats>us WA&a Ne MAS
Ssansea te at t~ the missing WstgeSs
Sought 60 freteSt SELF,
The wttneSS seStigsed that NaasSessx
sad snioGfnsd hnN Nulse90tyS<Alsy" that
ie had no kn,w,e<sSe that any fs,asSsS
the Continental had eS<n ussNs III
araeaee the lea>e N the lSsAyN,s rNsMs
iaNal s1l reserve ~ sox Any unlANfsi
'aspSse,
II believed him then Aea had M
astse ta change MY mind SsssrS,~
sehuyies declared,
AlaSkmeg toAa hlsa. SSauNser SAID,
hat he had not VclWuseSyea ~ wt~
.eSs IN she 1ealsas NssAe elvn case at
,heSenne IN 1913 esSaVSs had ne Ap~