Evening star., 1928-04-01
FAIL ENDS STORY
Of TEAPOT LEASE
Government Begins Cross
Questioning for Sinclair
Trial Here.
ey the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Ell. PASO, Tex. March 3l.--Albert B,
Falls own direct story Of the leasing
OF Teapot pome-an act which he de-
clared was open and above board--was
finished today and his croSs-eXamina-
ton was begun by Government counsel
to complete the former cabinet officials
deposition for use in the trial of Harry
r. Sinclair. oil maenate.
Weakened from long Illness which
prevented him going to Washington for
Joint trial with Sinclair, Fall had
been on the witness stand in the
privacy Of his library for more Than
IL hours when Daniel Thew Wright.
taking the deposition for Sinclair,
turned him over 10 Atlee Pomerene,
special Government counsel. The Gov
eminent charges the former Secretary
Of the Interior conSpired with Sinclair
in granting him the lease on the naval
oil reserve.
Required Stimulants.
Fall was able to so through last
nights session and again today. only
through the administration Of heart
stimuiants by his physician.
Fall. looking forward to the cross
examination by his former Democratic
foe on the foor Of the Senate. was en-
iivened by his anticipation of the mental
eparring OF pomerene.
It was at the night session that the
former foes. who had matched wits on
the Senate floor years ago. met
again, this time across q library table
in the spacious home OF Mrs Fall,
II was like old times in the Senate,
members of the family said, and Mrs.
PAN declared that Falls eagerneSs TO
meet former Senator Pomerene across
the witness table. she believed to be one
reason he had held up SO well during
the gruelling three days of testifying,
The windup of the direct examination
by Wright covered the sale Of one-third
Of Falls ranch property. the Tres Ritos
Cattle a.. Land Co, the show ranch OF
Southern New Mexico. 100 miles north
OF FL Paso, to Sinclair. 1t was for this
interest in the large ranch that Fall
maintained he received S233.000 In Lib
erty bonds from Sinclair. The interest.
he asserted was worth more than he
received for 1t.
Denies Getting Money.
Fall, during his testimony. contended
that he did not receive a penny from
Sinclair for the oil lease. that, In fact,
Sinclair ut one juncture OF the negotia-
tons, tossed the lease back TO him and
that the deal for the interest in the
land company was not started until
after the signing Of the Teapot Dame
lease.
Odds and ends OF the oil and ranch
Seal we're covered In Falls fnal direct
examination before Ponerene plunges
INTO his cross-examination. The Gov
srnment charges that Fall favored SIN
eiair with information regarding the
oolicv of leasing Teapot Dome. that
sther possible bidders were discouraged
and that the then Secretary OF the In
eerior received the liberty bonds In ex-
shange for the lease.
pornerene would not venture predic-
fion as to how long the cross-examina-
tfon would take or whether Fail would
Be- able to continue his cross-testimony
for any length Of time. Falls condition
ts causing his physician some concern,
as he feels that when the excitement
Of telling his story OF the lease Tor the
first time is ended there may be
startling letdown In Falls physical con-
Gition.
After the morning sessions today, Eau
went 10 bed and was asleep when word
~as received that Senator Nye expected
that A group of Senators would soon
Introduce q resolution providing for in.
visitation of all Government ana
indian land oil leases during FAILS
adrnIr1igtration as Interior Secretary.
The announcement brought laugh
from members OF the family, who De-
elared that IL there Was any oil lease
sorne Senate committee had not alreaoy
investigated that they. by AL means:
should investigate II and make lneif
record 100 per cent.
uTTLEToN ANSWERS WALSH.
Sinclair Counsel Promises Open Letter
ON Suggestion That He Quit.
NEW YORK. March 81 Py.-Martin
" Iittleton. chief counsel for Harry
Sinclair. announced today that ne
would write an open letter" TO SEN
stnY Walsh and members OF the Sen
ate committee investigating the Teapot
Dome oil reserve transfer. IN reply 10
fiae suggestion Of Senator Walsh on the
Foor Of the Senate yesterday whether
II might be entirely etheical for Mr.
Isttiefon TO sever his connection WITH
the oil man.
Meanwhile. he issued the following
statement:
Il have been frequently tempted TO
aay what I had IN my mind about the
ethics of certain Senators, and even
nf the 2dyigabiIity Of their Withdraw
ing from their positions In the Senate.
bsIt on each occasion I have been re-
strained by the fact that IL was none
Of my business rule which. II fol-
loved BY Senators, would permit them
% discharge their constitutional duties
faithfully instead Of becoming 'nleddle-
aonse u1Atsies' and scandal mongerk."
Mr. I4ittieton expects 10 return to
Washington either tonight or tomorrow
to prepare for the opening Of the Sin
clair trial