Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-01
IS IN CAPITAL
FOR DR|BERY TRIAL
Former Secretary of Interior
Still in III Health on Eve
of Facing Court.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Albert B. Fall. now So years old, has
returned to the city, which he said
nearly two years ago he might never
bribery in connection with the leasing
Of the Elk Hills, California, naval oil
reserve
In November, 1927, the former Secre-
tary Of Interior sat in a hotel room
here. He had battled grimly for more
than a week against illness. STOPPED
of shoulder and shrouded in a heavy
bathrobe, the paleness of his face show
ed how illness had Slapped his vitality.
His trial with Harry F. Sinclair. wealthy
oil man, for conspiracy in the leasing
Of the Teapot Dome Reserves had just
ended in mistrail. with the Govern
ment charging the jury had been tam
pered with.
Falls Comment.
IT would like to feel" he said. COM
menting on the fact that the new trial
had been set for the following January,
that there Is more than an even chance
for my ever returning home after that,
but think there is only $3.50
chance"
Since then Fall has not returned to
the Capital until this week. He will
go to trial Monday on the bribery charge
growing out of the Elk Hills lease, which
the United States Supreme Court has
held was arranged without legal au-
thority and was tainted with fraud and
corruption because of the 100000 sent
to Fall in "a little black satchel" by
Edward L. Doheny, the lessee.
Each time the case has been called
physicians for the former Secretary
have presented affidavits that he was
IN EoviPn hnFna
and the sanatoriums where he was seek
ing to regain his health. Even until
q few weeks ago it was reported that
he would again ask postponement OF
the trial because Of the condition OF
his lungs.
He has returned. howveer. and an
nounced through his counsel, Frank
Hogan, that he personally would ask
dismissal of the bribery indictment on
double jeopardy, he and Doheny having
previously been acquitted on charge
of conspiracy.
Presentment of Death.
He has come back asserting conf
dence of clearing himself Of the charges
against him. But about his health ne
is more doubtful; the presentment OF
death that he voiced two years ago has
not been dissipated by the two years ne
has spent in search of health.
Il hope TO get back soon," he said:
This Washington climate never did
agree with me-
With Fall on his return to the Capital
were his wife and two daughters. Mrs.
C. c. Chase and Mrs. Jouett Fall Elliott.
He also has with him his family ply
stefan, DR.. H T. Stafford. Mr.. Doheny
and his wife arrived here yesterday from
Chicago. They will be defense witnesses
and next to Fall, Doheny probably is the
most interested in the outcome of the
trial, for whether he will be brought to
trial on the same charge depends on the
Governments success or failure in the
Fall indictment.
Other Witnesses.
Other defense witnesses summoned
include Charles Francis Adams, Secre-
tary of the Navy; George Curry. former
Governor of New Mexico: DR.. H. Foster
Balm, former director of the Bureau of
Mines and a number of officers of oil
companies and representatives of the
Navy and Interior Departments.
The prosecution has called Harry
NJ Daugherty, former Attorney Cen
eral; Edward 3. Mclean, Paul Shoup,
president of the Southern Pacific Rail
road: DR.. George Otis Smith. chief of
the Geological Survey. and a score more
of Government Office holders and
others.