Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-21
SINCLAIR IS HAPPY
ON LEAVING JAIL
Oil Magnate Opens Fight for
Vindication in Press
Statement.

Ing none the worse LOT SIX ana nah
months of confinement in the District
of Columbia JAIL had laid aside his
prison identity today and was enjoying
;.fe freedom of ulti-millionaire oil
A-arcn and proprietor OF the famous
TSancoCaS racing stables.
At IL AS o'clock today, Sinclair turn
ed his back on Washington and was
motoring for his stock farm, at Mount
Holly, N j. He was accompanied by
his brother. E w. Sinclair and his
attorney. c. T. Stanford. Mrs. Sinclair
remained at the hotel, where 1t was
announced she probably would go to
their estate later in the day.
Sinclair has two horses, both sired by
his famous racer. Zev, on the afternoon
racing card at Bowie, through which he
passes en- route 1t was thought likely
that he would stop long enough 10
watch them run.
Sinclair is expected to go later to his
Long Island home and New York Of
flee. At the latter. Fumor says, mer-
ger of his oil company with the Prairie
Oil IL Gas Co. awaits his immediate at
tention.
Cameramen Line UP.
Except for formal statement broad
cast to the press of the country as the
first move in his fight for vindication,
the oil man had nothing, except sallies.
for the group of newspaper men who
stormed the jail 1t was 1907 O'Clock
before Sinclair made his appearance Ill
the reception room Of the red brick
building and greeted a few personal
friends and Lieut.. Col. William l.. Peak,
the superintendent, with whom he shook
hands for the last time during his con-
finement.
Outside in the small jail court, the
cameramen, more than 80 in number,
were formed in a Seni-circle before the
Flagstaff, with lights glazing. A detail
Of 10 policemen preserved order. Sim
clairs limousine, which was awaiting
him, pulled over to one side so there
could be escape for him.
But the oil man, happy at his release
had no intention of trying to elude the
crowd. His face wreathed in broad
smile, Sinclair walked obligingly to the
front of the battery" and stood in the
mercileSS glare of the spotlight
Take your time, men, take your
time" he called out cheerily.
He posed for some 10 minutes, first
by himself, then shaking hands with
his brother, and again finally for the
movietone. When quiet had been re-
stored he spoke into the microphone:
Gentlemen of the newspaper profess
sion," he said. II wish to thank you
NCLy h1AlOly 1OL AOfNiy ASNSPbAOA w
night. / hope you will have another
opportunity and l know you will. for
a little more training, and then be-
lieve you will show a marked improve
ment."
What led to this gentle verbal thrust
was the failure of a number of the
flash lights to operate per schedule. 1t
seemed to amuse Sinclair. who called
out to the cameramen to hold 1t" and
open" ard fire away"
Contrasts With Arrival.
The scene was in marked contrast to
Sinclair'S appearance at the jail the
night of May to begin serving his
first sentence of three months for re-
fusal to answer questions of the Senate
oil investigating committee. HIS second
sentence Tor contempt of court in the
shadowing of jurors ran concurrently,
80 days off for good behavior having re-
duced his time.
A bit of excitement was injected into
the proceedings when the flare of a
movietone outfit toppled over and two
large cases caught fire. The flames
spurted a height of 20 feet before the
fire was extinguiShed, just as SonclalrS
automobile was pulling away.
Earlier in the evening he had sent
q statement to the newspapers. AS he
was going out the door at midnight, he
told newspaper men who asked If he
had anything further to say: L have
nothing to say. You know, came to
jail for not talking"
Former Senator Robert L. owen OF
Oklahoma, where Sinclair made his
fortune in oil, was one of the group at
the jail. Inside, a small group of at
taches, visitors and prisoners congre-
gated in the reception hail. Sinclair
waved to them as he left. Among the
prisoners were Jack Kelliher, recently
sentenced to eight years and half on
gambling charges, and the three re-
porters of the Washington Times, who
are serving sentences for refusing to
answer questions of the grand jury.
While a prisoner in the District Jail,
Sinclair served as jail pharmacist and
assistant to the Jail physician. In the
latter capacity. he made several trips
outside the jail proper. A storm of
criticism was aroused when this became
known, and the practice was discon-
tinued-for Sinclair. at least Another
prisoner was assigned to accompany
the physician.
Statement in Full.
Sinclair's statement follows in full:
81 have made no plans except to go
to my home and then to my office.
Naturally my first thoughts are Of my
family, my associates and my friends,
whose loyalty I have so deeply appre-
ciated. My own absolute knowledge
that have committed no wrong gives
me unimpaired courage and absolute
confidence of final Vindication in the
public esteem. No jury of my country
men has ever convicted me Of wrong.
The courts have admitted I was guilty
of no moral turpitude in the contempt
cases.
II was railroaded to jail in violation
of common sense and common fairness.
The great power and prestige Of the
Government were employed against me
under hostile influences and prejudiced
by a campaign unjustly describing me
as defiant of law. / was victim OF
political campaigns to elect honest
Democrats by proving how dishonest
Republicans were. When l was as
saulted in this worthy enterprise the
Republicans discreetly replied that guilt.
If any, was personal. / was politically
assailed but not politically defended.
THE newspapers wept many tears
over my defiance of law and my I'M
chastened recalcitrance. I cannot be
contrite for sins which I know have
never committed, nor can ! pretend to
be ashamed of conduct which know to
have been upright.
Contempt Not Crime.
ct have just finished serving sentences
for contempt of the Senate and con-
tempt of Court-not for any crime. But
some people seem to think that the
penalties for contempt were in place OF
punishment for some other offenSe with
which / was charged but exonerated by
jury.
THE basis of the Senate contempt
case was my refusal to answer 10 ques-
tions. The law requires questions per-
tinent to a proper legislative inquiry to
be answered Such questions must not
riohtc nf the