U.S. OIL SCANDAL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 21 October 1927, Page 8

U.S. OIL SCANDAL.

FALL-SINCLAIR TRIAL CONTINUES. (PY CABLE—rKESS ASSOCIATION—COnTIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) WASHINGTON, October It)/ Tho Government won the first legal skirmish in the Fall-Sinclair trial, when it obtained the admission, in spite of the defence's objection, of Fall's famous letter of July. 1921, to Edward Doheny, asserting that he (Fall) was then in complete charge ol the Government oil reserves. The admission of this letter is considered a blow to the defence, Because- the latter had indicated that it would prove that others than Fall wore responsible for the naval oil policy which finally resulted in turning the reserve over to Sinclair. Earlier in tho session Mr Marl in Littleton, chief counsel for the defence, told the jury that Fall and Sinclair would prove they were prompted by patriotic motives, and acted in tho interest of national defence when they signed tho Teapot Home lease. Mr Littleton asserted that they would disprove the prosecution's claim that Fall received bonds from Sinclair after tho lease was granted.

[Albert Hall and Harry J. Sinclair are on trial in connexion with extensive oil lease frauds, relating to valuable naval reserves. The litigation' has been dragging on for over two years.]