Imperial Valley press., 1928-03-24
SINCLAIR
REFUSES
RECORDS
Will Not Submit Books
of Hyva Corporation to
Committee.
EMPLOYE TESTIFIES
No knowledge of Bonds
Being Given to Fall or
Will Hays
ny United Pre-s Leased Wire

WASHl NGTON, March 24.-Har-
~ $. Sinclair, oil magnate, refused
today through one of his employees
to furnish the Teapot Dome investi
eating committee the records Of his
private Hyva corporation.
Harold Kenwell, New York en-
ployc of the corporation, testified
Sinclair had refused to give him the
books when the senate subpoena
came.
1.-THE books are in Mr.. Sinclair 5
private safe, so | could not get
tLcm,' Kenwell said.
"They are out of my posses
sion.'
The committee wanted the books
TO see what Sinclair did with bonds
he obtained from the Continental
Trading Company deal.
This development came after A.
d. Lasker, chairman of the shipping
board in the Harding administration
Lad testified he had no knowledge
of raising funds to pay off the 1920
Republican deficit.
Lasker said he was intimately
associated with most Republican
leaders who raised the money but
that they never spoke to him about
the matter. He testified to making
$4,000 contributions in 1920, but
professed to know nothing of a
$4,000 contribution later listed as
tmanating from him.
Would Feel Complimented
Asked if he would deny any re-
port of giving $l50,000 in bonds to
Thomas Miller, former alien prop:
rrty custodian Lasker said he would
"thank anybody for the compli-
ment.'
Kenwell testified Sinclair also
had declined TO furnish his own per
sonal books.
He said he had no record of Sin
clair's delivery of $233,OOO to for
mer Secretary of Interior Fall
through Falls son in law, NJ. 7.
Everhart.
81 never heard of that transac-
tion until I read it in the newspap-
ers,' Kenwell added. 81 have n
record OF ail tnc bOhuS DouSht anu
sold by Mr.. Sinclair. -
Kenwell likewise said he had no
information or record that Sinclair
gave $500. 900 in bonds at one time
to Will Hays, former chairman of
the Republican national committee.
He said he could not explain how
that transaction could have oc-
4 IN nnn
Kenwell indicated once that Sin
clair contended he had not owned
the bonds given to Fall. The wit
ness said that might be reason
why they did not appear on the Sin
clair books.
No Continental Bonds
While Kenwell professed not to
know what Sinclair did about the
matter, the manner in which he an
swered questions left the impression
with the committee that Sinclair
might plead in the criminal case a
gainst him that some one else -
probably the Continental Trading
Co. - owned the bonds which Sin
clair, acting as an agent, delivered
to Fall.
If Sinclair owned the bonds ]
think the books would show the
transaction, Kenwell said
$50 far as l know we never had
any Continental bonds.
Walsh called Kenwell's attention
to the fact that the committee had
direct evidence that Continental
bonds were sent to Fall from vault
in the Empire Trust Company to
which Kenwell had access.
Kenwell said he did not know a
bout that.
Kenwell said he had no record in
dicating Sinclair ever obtained any
stock Of the Tres Ritos Cattle Co..
in New Mexico. 1t has been con
tended Sinclair advanced $233,00O
to Fall for one third interest in
this company.
Kenwell said he believed Sinclair
had safe or a,vault in his private
home where he may have kept Sc
curities.
The committee then adjourned
subject to call.