New Britain herald., 1928-04-18
GOVT. WINS POINT IN TEAPOT TRIAL
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 grades of navy bunker oil. Cross
 examination of Robison began soon
 after court convened. and followed
 a brief reference to the question of
 national defense as 1t relates to ob-
 taining fuel oil for the navy. The
 line was not pressed,
 National Defense The question of national defense.
 which has figured in the oil trials throughout. was brought into the case through the medium of Captain J. K. Robison, former chief engineer 1 Of the navy who has testified that
 navy officials and not Albert B. Fall 1 decided to lease Teapot Dome as a unit.
 Robison, who occupied the witness stand a greater part of yesterday, testified that he had discussed plans 1 of the navy with Fall. and had told the secretary that there was d grave weakness in the national defense which would be fatal in the event 'of certain combinations against us."
 The defense has contended from the beginning that the question Of obtaining fuel oil available for ships Was factor in the decision to lease the Dome.
 Did you tell him what foreign powers you had ill mind?" asked George r. Hoover, Sinclair attorney.
 At this juncture Justice Jennings Bailey called counsel to the bench, and after a five minute conference Hoover asked the witness to leave out the names of any foreign DOW CTS and tell what he told Fall. Rob- lSon said he could not do it.
 I'll drop the natter said Hoover
 CroSs-eNamined by Owen J. Rob- erts, for the government. the witness said he met Sinclair in January 1922 and had played poker with the oil man in a hotel here.
 Robison said the remark about poker was called forth by seeing Sinclair throw down a winning hand to Sinclair's brother. This game took place just after supplementary lease 10 Teapot had been signed, Robison testified.
 The witness also agreed that he had been Sinclair's guest at the Lotos club in New York at about the same time. He was guest on Sinclair's private car. he said, for about week but paid his own ex- renses.
 The government was seeking to show that Robison and Sinclair be- came close friends after the lease was signed. Roberts tried to bring out that when Robison met Fall in January. 1922. Fall told him he had | conferred with Sinclair at Three | Rivers, N. M. The witness could l not remember and his testimony at ! the civil trial at Cheyenne saying he believed Fall had mentioned Sinclair was read.
 Robison said he met Sinclair in Falls office late in January, 1922. Fall summoned him. he said. and told him he had found a man big enough to handle the lease which required the construction Of pipe , lines. |
 Roberts fired his questions rapid ly and when the retired naval of tcer could rot remember. the prose- cutor used his previous testimony in other oil trials and that of yestcr- day in efforts to contradict him. The witness said yesterday he discussed the placer claims on Teapot Dome on a certain date. but today he could not recall the date.
 Asked about discussing other oil with Fall. Robson could not recall when it occurred except it was before March 15. 1922
 When was it determined Sinclair should have the lease?"
 Some time in March,"
 "When?"
 Early"
 Robison agreed that in his previ- ous testimony he placed the time be- ,wecn the first and tenth of March.
 The witness said Fall told him the interior department frequently made better terms for the government by negotiation than by competitive bid ling and for this reason it had the bidding feature from he Sinclair negotiations.
 Repeats Testimony
 He then reiterated his testimony 'f yesterday that Fall mentioned 'everal other companies in connect ( ion with the leasing of Teapot Dome. Roberts then read Robison's at the Cheyenne civil { 'uit over the lease in which he said Tall led him to believe he had tried 0 get q proposition from the Gulf )il company and it had failed. This vas in March, and Robson said Fall old him he WAS going to get 8 from the Texas company. , Roberts tried to show the Teapot !, ease already had been drawn. but / he witness insisted there was only q ough draft Of it. The prosecutor asked Robison That Fall had said about the Stand |, I'd Oil company. That was right to bar them" y e said.
 "Oh. you are the one who barred :. hem!" exclaimed Roberts. II T am." Eobison replied em- hatically. Q Robison said he did not know :. nen that the Standard Oil owned alf the Sinclair Pipe Line company, Asked at one point if he did not astify yesterday that he tried to get Y all to have Sinclair put in a pipe pc at once. Robison replied with C