Imperial Valley press., 1929-11-01
SENTENCE.
IMPOSED
ON FALL
One Year Jail Term And
Fine Of 100000 For
Former Cabinet Man.
NEW TRIAL DENIED
Defense Plans To Carry
Fight To Higher Courts
For Reversal.
(By HERBERT L1TTLE)
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON,Nov. 1.-W.P -
Former Secretary oe the Interior
Albert B. Fall was sentenced to
serve one year and fined 100000
by Justice William Hitz today fol-
lowing his conviction ON charge of
having accepted bribe from E. L.
Doheny, multimillionaire California
oil man, in connection with the Elk
Hills Oil Reserve Leases.
Fall, who has been i'll with lung
trouble and whose condition threat
cned to cause a mistrial, was not
granted suspension of the sentence.
1t was the first time in American
history that former cabinet Of
fieer has been sentenced to Jail for
a felony committed while in office.
Sentence was imposed after JUS
tice Hitz had overhauled motions
for new trial and for arrest of the
judgement against Fall.
Justice Hitz announced that he
would have suspended the prison
sentence if the execution of the
penalty was to have gone into eff
feet today, because of Falls ply
ical condition.
T As the case is to be appealed, he
said. this could not be done.
disqualification of Fall from hold.
ing PUBLIC office, although not mem
toned by the Judge in sentencing,
follows automatically under the law.
There was no demonstration in
the courtroom when sentence was
passed. Mrs. Fall, sitting close to
her husband, patted him on the
back and whispered a few words to
him.
Fall's two daughters, Mrs. c. C.
Chase and Mrs. Jouetl Elliott, bowed
their heads as if shocked by the
sentence.
Doheny Coming Home
The 100000 fine was exactly the
amount which Fall received in
satehel from Doheny eight years ago
this month which was held by the
jury last week to have been a bribe.
Doheny, against whom a bribery
indictment growing out of the same
transaction is pending, sat beside
Fall throughout the trial but left
for California Immediately after the
verdict. His trial is expected to be
held in January. T
Fall, much refreshened from the
week of rest since the verdict was
rendered, walked into the courtroom
on the arm of his physician. having
discarded the wheel chair which he
came to court in during the trial.
After sentence was imposed how
ever, wheel chair was used to take
him to an automobile awaiting at
the court house door few feet away.
Falls bond of $4,000 on which he
has been free since his indictment
in June, 1924, was renewed by JUS
tice Hitz pending disposition of the
appeal.
Two members of the jury which
convicted the aged former secretary
week ago sat in the rear of the
court room when the sentence was
imposed They We're Foreman Thom-
as f. Norris, the young bank clerk,
who announced the jury verdict
guilty, and Miss Virginia Cooper,
23, bookkeeper.
Attorney Frank j. Hogan made
no plea tor clemeney, merely reply
ing III the negative when Jusrlce
hitz asked IT tnere was any reason
why sentence should not now be iul.
posed.
ran may avoid payment of the
flne by taking poor convIet's1
oath and serving 80 Jays adaltional
III Jail.
Justice Hitz said he would under
normal conultlons nave Imposed Inc
MaAimum penalty, three years IN
pitson ana Inc OF e3UO,o ,ouU. hut
necausc or what the euurl saw OF
+ All during the triai ana because uf
the unamluious report or physicians
mat ran was seriously III with "a
prOnellial aument, justice Hltz de-.
eided that the maximum penalty
wouid hot DC imposed.
Justice nltz suued that since an
appeal was 10 be taken, automatic.
any suspendlng operation OF the SEN
tence. he wouiu let, the penalty
stana, Incorporating in the record
oefenuant's CONDITION was as il was,
the statement that AS long as the
he favored suspension.
Faii returned to his hotel with his
FAMILY at the end of the 20 minute
session OF court which was 40 mo.
mentous FOR him. He refused To
comment on the sentence but said
that statement would be issued Ia
his behalf later in tho day.
Mark Is. Thompson, Phoenix, Ariz.,
FAIRS personal lawyer, who collapsed
with a heart attack when the Jury
verdict was reported, sat by Falls
side today but did not address ths
nj