Evening star., 1928-03-23
Former G. O. P. Head FIRE.
quentIy Visited Oil Magnate,
Baldwin Says.
DECLARES FALL JOINED
IN RUSSIAN OIL MISSION
Former Employe Claims Archie
Roosevelt's Charges Were Con-
ceived After Few Highballs."
BY the Associated Pre- =.

By the Associated Pre- =.
Beating the bushes again today in
search Of the fugitive Continental
Trading Co.'S Liberty bonds, the SEN
ate oil committee heard further evi-
dence Of the relations between Will H,
Hays, former Republican national
chairman, and Harry F. Sinclair.
incidentally. 1t was told that Archie
Roosevelt had had a few highballs"
when he became convinced that Sim
clair was sending money to the ranch
Of Albert B. Fall.
Merritt Baldwin Of Meriden. Conn.
former confidential employe of Sim
clair, said Hays was a frequent visitor
to the oil mans office at one ueriod
He believed Hays merely came in to
say Hello" He also told of securities
kept by Sinclair in a vault of the EN-
pire Trust Co., New York. but knew
nothing Of the Continental bonds.
Archie Had Few HighbalIs."
As to young Roosevelt. the witness
SAID ne assumed Roosevelt referred tn q
check he saw for S63. 900 which waS
sent TO Sam Hildreth, trainer of Sim
cIalr'S RancocaS racing stables. ARCHIE
nad few highbaIls." he said. adding
mat the check was shown TO Roosevelfs
VINO was Sinclair employe. The wit
ness mentioned Mr. Mccormick" as
having written TO Sinclair about polit-
:caI contributions. but was unable to
identify him. He said Mccormick was
connected with some political partv
The S25.000 Liberty oond Joan
which Sinclair made to Fall in June
1923, prior 70 Falls trip TO Russia with
Sinclair. was inquired into today BY the
committee as the hearing got under
way
Baldwin, the sole witness, told the
committee at the outset that, while he
could give no information about the
Continental bonds which Sinclair re-
ceived. he knew Sinclair wanted FaJ
as an outside attorney" and particc
larly 10 make the trip TO Russia. where
Sinclair was seeking oil concessions
from the Soviet government.
Money Wired 70 FaTL
Il think Col. J. W. Zevely was asked
to procure the services of Senator Pail.
as Mr.. Sinclair felt he was the best
man for the job Baldwin said. Il
think Senator Fall wired Col Zeyely
that he could not so. as he vas plan
ming a deal in New Mexico and could
not go until that was conSIImmated. He
also said he needed lot of money. and
Sinclair loaned him the money Sena-
tor Fall could not SO with US. but came
over later"
The witness said he left In May with
Sinclair. and the bond payment was
made later
Did Senator FAN 20 to RuSsiag" ask
ed Senator Walsh,
'Yes. sir: to MOSCOW" Baldwin re-
piled
That's strange: my recollection is
that the testimony shows Senator Fall
lid not get further than London. /" Walsh
observed.
'wen. he went TO Russia. all right"
Baldwin said
did YOU know where Mr. Sinclair's
securities were kepts"
In safe deposit box in the Empire
Trust Co"
Who had access to that box?"
Harold kenwell. the cashier
The witness thought the records on
this account were kept apart from the
records OF the Hyva Corporation. q SIM
clair personal corporation He heard
OF the Continental TraehGg Co during
1922 and 1928. but knew nothing Of the
S26o,c00 in bonds turned over 70 VIII
II, Hays, Republican national chairman.
by Sinclair.
Referred to Racing Checks.
Baldwin said that while he took SIM
clalr'S dictation during the time he was
with the oil operator he had no recol-
lection Of any correspondence relating
TO the Continental Trading Co. or SIM
clair'S political donations,
Questioned about the sensational teS-
timony given by Archie Roosevelt in
1924 about = payment by Sinclair Of
SIS, 700. Baldwin said he assumed this
referred 20 check for $6S,O00 sent 90
Sam Hildrrth, trainer og SinclaIrNS Ran
cocaS Stables
Archie had had few high balls
Baldwin said, adding that the Hildresh
check MAS on the desk Of J, u. Waht-
berg. Sinelasr'S secretary, and IL vas
shown 10 Roosevelt
Il went into the Office, Baldwin said.
and saw the check, I told Wahiher9
that the chief had signed the check and
l was going u shoot Il along. I put
It IN the chute myself"
The witness said Roosevelt had stated
that there Was a payment 60 the super
intendent of Falls ranch. but the cheek
went 20 the trainer OF SinelairS race
horses.
What was SinclatrS attitude toward
all thlse" Walsh asked,
"Ae Just laughed Il OF. BALDWIN
replied
do yeu know OF any loanS Sinclair
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