Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-06
Commitment of Oil Magnate
Demanded by District
Court Judge.
SURRENDER BY TONIGHT
REGARDED AS PROBABLE
Camermel Are Barred From Build
ing Despite Turfman's Alb
scence From Hearing

The machinery of justice, moving
steadily forward under pressure Of e
mandate from the Nations highest
tribunal, this afternoon swung wide
the gates of a common Jail" for an un-
usually prominent victim. Harry F.
Sinclair, of oil and turf renoWn.
AS final technicalities preliminary to
Slnclairs imprisonment were being
completed this afternoon at the District
Courthouse. it became apparent that the
convicted oil magnate would not pass
within those gates -r;ntil late today or
tomorrow.
Neither Sinclair nor his counsel were
in court when the District attorney pre-
sented the mandate to Justice Hitz.
Half of the spectators in the room at
the time were newspaper men.
Rover interrupted a trial which was
in progress in order to present the Sin
clair case to the court. He handed the
document to Justice Hitz with the brief
explanation that it was the mandate
of the United States Supreme Court
ordering the court to carry out its SEN
tence as rendered in the Sinclair case
The judge inquired if Mr. Sinclairs
attorneys knew Of the mandate. Rover
explained that he was going to notify
them as soon as the commitment order
VAS issued.
May Surrender Tonight.
"All right" said Justice Hitz. Garry
Mr.. Sinclair's sentence into effect"
IL 80, - - l.. L.
courtroom. indicated his belief that Sim
clair might present himself some time
this evening. He said he had no
definite information regarding this.
| however He said Sinclair could either
surrender to the United States marshal
or go direct to the Jail and present
I himself to Maj William L. Peak, super
intendent
Rover returned at once to his Office
! and prepared the formal commitment
order It will read as follows:
In the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia. holding a criminal term
| the United States versus Harry F. Sim
clair; indicted for violation of section
| 1902 Revised Statutes, United States:
To the superintendent Of the Wash
! ington Asylum and Jail:
The defendant, having been found
guilty of violating Section 102, revised
sentenced to be imprisoned in the
Washington Asylum and Jail for the
period of three months, to take effect
from and including the date Of his ar
rival at said Jail, and to pay fine OF
$500: therefore you are hereby COM
manded to receive into your custody the
body of said defendant and safely keep
in your said custody until he shall be
discharged by due course of law; and
fOr en- IOi,7O thic cha1 no sufficient
warrant
witness. the Honorable Walter 7.
Mccoy. chief justice of said court, this
sixth day of May. 1929. Frank E. Cum
ningham. clerk, by w. S. Adkins, as
slstant clerk"
The mandate of the United States
Supreme Court ordering the District
Supreme Court to commit Sinclair TO
Jail for three months for contempt of
the Senate was presented formally to
Justice Hitz at 1:30 o'clock this after
noon.
Justice Hitz. who presided during the
trial of the New York millionaire, re-
ceived the mandate from Leo A. Rover,
| United States District attorney. to whom
the paper had been presented by Frank
E. Cunningham, clerk OF the District
Court. Cunningham received the order
bv mail this morning from the clerk
Photographers Are Barred.
First word that Sinclair would not
appear at the courthouse today was re-
Ceived from deputy United States
marshal, who had been assigned to keep
the court building clear of all phOtOg-
raphers. He announced to an as
sembled group of more than a dozen
still and movie" Cameramen that
George P. Hoover. attorney for the oil
man, was authority for the statement
that Sinclair would not be present
today
Most of the photographers and a
number Of the corerspOlTlentS departed
upon hearing the announcement. but
a few cameramen remained camped
upon the courthouse steps. regardless.
The mandate, repletc with legal ter
minOlOgy. affirmed SinclairS conviction
and sentence by the District Supreme
Court and commanded" the Judges Of
! that court to take such proceeding
as according to right and justice
and the laws of the United States ought
to be had"
Right, justice and the laws of the
! United States demanded that Justice
Hitz issue an order committing Sinclair
| to jail for 90 days, and he proceeded
so to do. The commitment order was
directed to the United States marshal
Marshal Edgar c. Snyder was prepared
Continued on Page ,, Column g.
STII0ENT Is REI EASE0