Evening star., 1928-04-20
OIL JURORS HEAR
FINAL ARGUMENTS
IN CONSPIRACY CASE
Continued from First Page)

CLle transfer OF more IMAM 3z0UUUU III
cash and Liberty bonds from Sinclair to
Fall after the lease was a business
transaction, pointing out that the pay
ments were not "In the open by check" +"
no receipts we're given and the where
abouts Of any stock certificates Sinclair
is alleged to have received in return for
purchase Of a one-third interest in
Falls ranch Is unknown.
Says United States Proved Case.
At the outset Of his opening argu-
| rnent, Roberts declared the case takes
on seriousness that the ordinary mill
OF justice does not demand" and when
corruption creeps into public Office. So
ciety begins to disintegrate."
Referring TO his opening statement at
the beginning of the trial, Roberts said
the Government proved every point IT
had promised it would and then he
launched into what he described as a
Knitting together Of the evidence In
this case TO help you reach a decision u
He began by drawing deadly par
alleF" between how lease would be
granted by the Government in the ordi-
nary course of business, and how the
Teapot Dome lease was given and
whether a bribe was passed between
Sinclair and Fall and whether It was a
regular business deal.
II was in December, 1921, or a month
before the Navy wanted Teapot Dome
leased. that Sinclair and Fall met al
Fails ranch in New Mexico, the pros
ecutor explained. Then, he said. at
me January conference in the Interior
Department when the lease question
was up, Fall mentioned Sinclair as a
man competent TO handle the work
fhTna
Sinclair presented a detailed PROPOSE
tlon which was in line with what the
Navy wanted done How did Sinclair
get all the dope to put into the propo-
sition?" Roberts asked.
Cites Texas Company.
The prosecutor then turned to the
efforts Of the Texas Co, which he
described as one Of the biggest oil con-
Germs in the world. to get lease, adding
that when it made this effort on March
81, "the die had been cast" in favor OF
Sinclair. AS the Texas Co.'S president
Amos L. Beatty, negotiated. "Fal
lied. lied and lied and shifted
shifted and shifted about the Beatty
proposition" He cited Capt. j. K
Rooison's testimony to the effect that
Fau had said he attempted to get q
proposition from the Texas Co. Rob-
erts then took up the numerous ap-
plications made both before and after
the lease by other companies and in
dividuals and recited their evidence
which he said showed they had beer
misled and deceived.
ming TO the Fall deposition, Rob.
err declared, IF there was q stitch
in 1t that would help this case, thesG
aStute counsel would have used it. Il
there isn't fraud in this case. they
would have let Fall speak If the bono
transactions aren't crooked. they woulc
have let Fall speak"
The prosecutor then declared in IouC
tones that he would stand forever or
the statement that Albert B. Fall made
the negotiations leading up to tha
lease. he made them with Sinclair II
private and made them clandeStinely.
Attacks Poker Playing.
In the course Of his address Robert.
attacked Robson for his poker playing
in private" with Sinclair. AT the same
time. however. he did not accuse this
former admiral Of any wrongdoing. but
emphasized that Fail had led Robson
TO believe that Sinclair was the savior
OF the Nayy.''
The April Is press memorandum oi
the Interior Department, in which II
was stated that Fall and Secretary Den.
by had invited and considered pro.
posals' for lease on Teapot Dome, /:
"ful OF lies" Roberts declared He Saic
FAN did not invite or consider any pro.
poSal and the added statement in ths
memorandum that after full considera.
ton OF all offers. likewise was untrue.
WIN you say that was as irregular
and crooked transaction as ever came
to your attention, viii you say it?" Rob.
erts shouted.
ON this evidence alone. without com.
ing TO that pi.iful. miserable chaptel
about the bono transactions, will yot
stand on that evidence alone?"
AS he characterized the defense story
OF the bond transaction between Sin.
clair, Fail and NJ. T. Everhart as be.
ing lie" Hoover jumped up yelling
one moment, one moment" and de-
clared that Everhart was the Govern.
ments witness. Roberts objected TO any
further statement by Hoover in oper
court and all counsel went TO the bench
Bonds and Cash.
After the conference. Roberts returned
to his place before the Jury, and re-
Suming his address said: II say thi:
story OF q business transaction Is q
lie" He then launched into lengthy
discussion of the evidence, emphasizing
that money was not passed from SIM
clair by check but IN Liberty bonds
ana large sums Of cash; that Sinclair
got no receipt or no stock certificates
In exchange for his purchase OF a one
thlrd interest IN Falls property as the
defense claimed.
Roberts maintained the alleged bust.
ness transactions were q sham. SO ar.
ranged that II ever the details were
made public the principal parties could
hide behind them and give defense.
There Is no evidence that Sinclair
has the stock certificate for which he
paid $2SS, 900. or that 1t has not beer
torn to Shreds. There is no word TO-
day 10 show 1t was business trans
action" Roberts declared.
! The prosecutor ahSolved Everhart oi
any part III the transaction. maintain
ing that Fall controls him" Roberts
asked the lury why Sinclair, IL he
bought the interest III the ranch tc
establish a sporting club, did not tell
about IL, and why did he not take
his character witnesses there on two
week lunketS, Roberts paused mo-
nlent on the character witnesses. de-
elarlng Sinclair had q hold ON each
Of them"
Roberts concluded his argument hy
asking the jury 10 do its duty hy the
United States as wen as the Ciefend-
ants, BE cold as ice" ne asked the
Jurors.
Hoover, after several heated state
mentS IN which he defended Robson as
an honest. truthful man who saw no
offenSe In playing poker with Sinclair
and even left official ccrreSpondence
bearing on the poker party in his flles.
took up detailed narration Of the
events with respect to drainage OF Tea