Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20
TRIAL NEARS
DECISION BY JURY
Six Hours of Arguments by
Counsel Remain to
Be Made.

The defense In the trial OF Albert b.
Fall having rested It's case, only six
hours of final arguments remain before
the jury of four women and eight men
received by the former Secretary OF the
Interior from Edward L. Doheny was
merely a friendly loan" or was &C.
cepted as q bribe to influence the leas-
ing OF the Nays oil reserves in Cali
foTnia.
Court will convene at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning, the thirteenth day
of the bribery trial, and by Tuesday
afternoon Fall possibly will know
again a free man from the scene of
his former acqulttal on q criminal con-
Spiracy charge.
The defense rested yesterday at noon
after vain attempt to question Mrs.
Falls daughter, about his receipt of the
Falls daughter. about his receipt to the
$10O. 600 which forms the basis Of the
bribery charge. Earlier in the day de-
tense counsel laso had been baked
in an attempt to produce from the
confidential files of the Navy DEPART
ment the secret reports of Admiral
Albert Gleaves, commander of the
Asiatic Fleet in 1921, on which were
based the alleged Japanese war scare.
Other Attempt Failed.
The Secretary of the Navy had re-
fused to lift the ban of secrecy from
the reports on the ground that to do
so would be incompatible with the
national interests" A similar attempt
during the recent conspiracy trial three
years ago likewise failed.
These reports were desired by defense
counsel to Substantiate testimony given
by Doheny regarding the war scare Of
1921. At that time. he had told the jury.
naval of1cials used the alleged menace
of q Japanese invasion of the Pacific
coast to induce him to bid on the oil
storage work at Pearl Harbor, out Of
which the case grew.
While the jurors we're excused yes
terday afternoon to return to their ho-
tel quarters, Justice william Hitz heard
the arguments OF counsel on the legal
points of law which they had asked to
be given to the jury, Owing to the
usual short sessions of the court on
account OF the physical condition Of
Fall, 1t is doubtful whether the case
will reach the jury before noon on
Tuesday.
Government counsel had no rebuttal
testimony to offer yesterday. Aside
from the arguments that ensued over
the testimony Of the defendants rela-
tives, the closing hours of the session
were lacking In color. Frank J. Hogan,
chief Of defense counsel, rested his case
after reading to the jury the message
transmitted to the Senate by President
Harding In response to the La Toilette
resolution Of April 81. 1922 requesting
q report on the Governments policy
with respect to the naval oil leases
They contained Falls defense of the
oil leasing
The time allotted to the final argu-
ments of counsel tomorrow will be d.
vided between Owen j. Roberts and
Atlee Pomerene for the Government
and Hogan and Mark B. Thompson for
the defense.
Defense Scores Point.
From j. C. Anderson OF Los Angeles,
vice president OF the Pan-American
Co. at the time Of the alleged bribinE
of Fall the defense scored what is con-
sidered an important point when he
testified that the Doheny Co, did not
get lease on the whole Of the Elk
Fails reserve. His only conversation with
Fall in Washington during the lease
negotiations, he said, was when the
cabinet officer had told him tfHrt
never will be any naval oil reserve
land be released at 12h per cent?
Rear Admiral J. X. Robinson, who
represented the Navy in the oil matters,
wanted the royalty to be as high as
40 per cent, he said. and in view of
this and other circumstances he had
advised Doheny TO give up the plans
for the lease.
Mrs. Falls appearance on the witness
stand, q matter OF only moment, fol:
lowed that of her daughter.
Hogan questioned her about the
100000 which her husband received
at his Washington home. Before she
could tell the jury what Fall had said
to her about the money, Government
counsel objected. Justice Hitz refused
to let her answer. :
Mrs. Chase also was interrupted by
Mr.. Roberts in the midst of recital
she had started about the scene in Ell
Paso when Fall had closed the deal for
the purchase Of the Harris ranch.
Several character witnesses were pro.
duced, by the defense at the closing
session. Among these were former Gov.
George Vurry of New Mexico. Falls
reputation In the State, he said, was
the very best"
Occasionally during the past week,
Hogan would produce witness, some
times an Indian or rancher, to testify
regarding the defendants reputation
for honesty, honor and integrity.
The Government never cross-examined
any Of them.