The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-19
JURY WILL GET
SINCLAIR Case
BY SATURDAY
Defense Rests Suddenly;
Falls Deposition Is
Not Used.
ARGUMENTS ON FRIDAY
Dozen Old Friends Describe
Good Reputation of
Oil Magnate.
ARGUMENTS ON FRIDAY
BY HERBERT LITTLE

united Press STAFF Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 19-The
conspiracy case against Harry F.
Sinclair will be in the hands of a
jury sometime Saturday, and the
oil multi-millionaire may hear the
verdict before that day is over.
Presentation of evidence was
ended abruptly and unexpectedly
today Reliable reports that Sin
clair had decided to take the stand
were circulated in the court room
up to the mid-morning recess, but
instead Martin W. Iittleton, Sim
clair'S legal adviser announced at
11:12 a. M, "the defense rests"
The Government then presenetd
perfunctory documentary evidence
and sought to advise the jury of the
existence of the deposition of for
mer Secretary of Interior Albert B.
Fall, who was originally charged
jointly with Sinclair with conspir..
ing to defraud the Government in
the Teapot Dome lease.
Withhold Falls Evidence
The deposition was not offered by
the defense as expected, and the
prosecutors wanted to let the jury
know of it, as they contend
the story would not materially
strengthen Sinclair's case.
Justice Jennings Bailey said he
would rule early Friday on the ad-
instability of the evidence that the
deposition exists and is sealed in
the courts records.
Justice Bailey Immediately ex-
cuSed the jury until Friday when
the closing arguments will begin.
Each side will get three hours, it
was understood.
The jury of twelve men ranging
in age from % to So, seemed re-
ieved at the prospect of verdict i'll
the next few days. This would en-
able them to return home from the
guarded dormitory room on the third
oor of the courthouse where they
have been locked up since the trial
started a week ago last Monday.
Aided by Old Neighbors
The closing feature of the de-
fense was the glowing testimony of a
dozen oil men, neighbors and aSso-
ciates of Sinclair, including Finley
Peter Dunno, famous humorist,
writer of the "Mr Dooley," that Sin
clair's reputation for honesty and
fair dealing was very good" up to
May, 1925, when the conspiracy in
dictment was voted.
The last defense witness before
the close of the case was James F..
Allen, New York broker. Allen said
the oil mans reputation was good"
Men who were youths with the
famous man when he was a drug
store clerk in Independence, Kas.,
previously had testified for Sinclair.
M. L. Trubee, partner with Sin
clair in 1906 to 1903 in ownership of
a professional ball cam, testified.
Former Senator David Elkins of
West Virginia testified he has
known Sinclair for ten years and
that his reputation was good"
Reputation Excellent
Albert Daingerfield of New York,
secretary of the jockey club which
manager New York racing, testified
that the oil mans reputation was
excellent"
Others we're H. w. Farnum, Chi
cago broker; Richard Henry Will
liams, New York coal man, and L.
L. Humphrey of Independence, Kan.
Sinclair sat impassive as the wit
nesses painted the attractive picture
of his character.
Patrick McGovern, one of Sim
clair'S neighbors in exclusive Great
Neck, Long Island, testified Sin
clair's reputation was first class"
among his acquaintances.