The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-04-10
CASE AGAINST
0IL0PERAT0R
Is OUTLINED
Government Claims Sinclair
Gave Fall Money in Sus.
pi1ious Manner
4 PAYMENTS MENTIONED
Both Sides Express Satisfac-
tion With yury-Deposi-
tion Is Awaited

Washington, April 1O.--W')--Ihe
charge that Harry F. Sinclair,
lessee of Teapot Dome, gave Albert
B. Fall total of $293,000 in four
payments "under circumstances of
secrecy of suspicion" was made to-
day by Owen J. Roberts in outlining
the governments case against the
wealthy oil operator who is accused
of conspiracy to defraud the gov
ernment.
The first payment. Roberts said,
were made of $233,OO0 in Liberty
bonds. The second was $4,000 in
cash, the third was $4,000 in cash,
and the fourth was $4,000 in
Liberty bonds.
Roberts said that the government
further would show that the con-
spiracy was first hatched at Falls
New Mexico ranch when Sinclair,
the cabinet officer, and his counsel,
J. w. Zevely, laid plans for getting
control of the naval oil reserve.
Jurors Under Guard
The jury to try the case was se-
lCSlCu vCSVCIu0ys III q ICLlC UIOlS
than three hours. The men range
in age from % to SO. Both sides
have expressed satisfaction with the
makeup Of the jury which, unlike
that in the first trial of the oil
operator with Fall on the same
charge, will be placed under strict
guard.
The first trial was declared mis-
tried as a result of Sinclair's hiring
Of Burns detectives to shadow the
jury. The case since was severed
and now Sinclair faces trial alone.
The charge against Fall will not be
pushed so long as the former inter-
ior secretary is too i'll to stand trial.
Arguments were expected to be
completed late today or tomorrow.
Then the government will call it's
first witness.
Falls deposition taken at Ell Paso
and which Sinclair intends to use in
his defense has not as yet reached
Washington. 1t is understood that
M. H. Bull, the commissioner who
took the oral testimony in the Texas
city, will bring the text here per-
sonally when he finishes typing it.
Sinclair and Mrs. Sinclair entered
the courtroom a few minutes be-
fore court opened, he sitting by his
! counsel where he listened closely to
the arguments of Roberts.
Willing to Pay a Million
Roberts spoke of the high value
Sinclair placed on the reserve, and
Of his buying up "valueless" placer
claims so that he would be the only
man able to surrender them to the
government as a part of the Tea
pot Dome lease requirements. In
order to put the deal over with
Fall, he said, Sinclair was willing to
pay million dollars for the claims.
The government attorney told the
jury of secrecy" which he said had
been thrown about the lease trans
actions; of untrue statements
made by Fall when other prospec-
tive lessees inquired into the status
of the reserve.
"When the government shall
have proved to you these matters" !"
Roberts continued, 1--WE shall ask
YOU 10 IIuU tnaL LueSc CWC i:oM QlO
conspire to defraud the United
States and did do acts and things
to bring to fruition their agree
ment and conspiracy and to find
them guilty as charged in the in
dictment."
Defense Is Outlined
As Roberts concluded the defense
counsel conferred briefly and Dan
iel Thew Wright, speaking without
prepared argument, outlined the
defense.
"My adversary has been able ia
give you so little information that
we hope to give you facts that will
aid you in reaching your decision, =
said Wright. He outlined the min.
ing laws and oil and mining leases
that were in force before the Tea.
pot Dome lease was negotiated, and
sought to show the placer claims in
the Teapot Dome reserve were not
| v,ol,po1aec - pnhnrks + 4 - = -, "a: =, -