Imperial Valley press., 1931-04-06
SENTENCE:
OF F ALL
UPHELD
Former Cabinet Officers
Appeal From Convic-
ton Of Bribery Denied
ONE HOPE REMAINS
Case May BE Taken Be-
fore Supreme Court OF
United States

WASHINGTON April 6. W.P) =
The District of Columbia appellate
court today affirmed the convic-
tions and sentences of Henry M.
Blackmer and Albert B. Fall in the
oil cases OF the Harding adminis-
tration.
Fall, former secretary OF the in
terror, was convicted for the alleged
acceptance of bribe from L. l.. Do
heny OF Los Angeles in connection
with the Elk Hills oil case.
Blackmer. Denver, Colo. oil man
now an exile in France, wes con-
victed Of contempt of court, having
failed TO heed summons to appear
as a witness in the oil trials.
The two were convicted in the su-
preme court of the District OF CO.
lumbia more than a year ago. Both
appealed The appeals Were argued
before the district appellate court
February ? and >.
Falls sentence was to one year
in prison and he was also fined
100000.
Blackmer had been fined s60.0 900.
Under the law. Fall and Blackmer
have until April % to file notice
of appeal. If the notice is filed
they then may have 80 days addi-
tional during which time they may
ask the supreme court to review the
case. II the supreme court consents
to review 1t, the sentences remain in
allegiance until the supreme court
acts. If the supreme court does not
consent to review the case within
the 90-day period, at the expiration
of that period the sentences become
effective.
Fall. now an old man living in
semi-seclusion in New Mexico. his
health broken, is under sentence TO
serve a year in prison and pay a
fine of 500 900 for allegedly accep-
ting a bribe from Edward L. Doheny
of Los Angeles. He was accused OF
having conveyed to Doheny in re-
turn for a 100000 bribe the yalua-
BILE Elk Hills oil rights in Califor-
MIA. AT that time he was secretary
of the interior in the Harding cabi-
net and high in the councils of his
party.
Blackmer In Exile
Blackmer. now in exile in France,
was fined 100000 for contempt of
court, he having refused to obey a
summons to appear as a witness in
the hearings of the so-called Elk
Hills and Teapot Dome oil cases.
Blackmer was wealthy oil man OF
Denver, Colo.
Two lengthy opinions were hand
ed down today. one In the Fall case,
the other in the case of Blackmer.
The Blackmer opinion was writ
ten by Associate Justice Charles II.
Robb. The history of the legal pro-
ceedings states Blackmer was want
ed to testify regarding the Conti-
mental Trading Company, Ltd. and
its distribution in 1921 and 1922 OF
Liberty bonds. some of which are
believed to have been delivered by
Fall to Harry NJ. Sinclair.
Robb held a citizen "owes an alb
solute and permanent allegiance TO
his government"
Associate Justice Josiah A. Van
Orsdel wrote the opinion upholding
the Jail sentence and fine imposed
on Fall. He gave an evaluation of
former Secretary of the Navy Den
by, who figured in the oil cases be-
cause Of his part in the transfer
of the naval oil reserve area to the
interior department presided over
by Fall.
DENLY was passive throughout,
the opinion states, and signed the
contracts and lease under misappre-
hension and without full knowledge
of their contents"