OILFIELDS CASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 30 September 1926, Page 5

OILFIELDS CASE

TEAPOT DOME. SCANDAL.

THE COURT’S DECISION.

PROPERTY TO BE RETURNED. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. NEW YORK, Sept, 28. The United States Court of Appeals ■it. St. Louis, in issuing its decision today ordering Sinclair and his associates 1 to return the Teapot Dome oilfield to, the Government, on the ground that they were obtained through fraud, uttered an outstanding condemnation of corruption in high places. The Court’s opinion states: “It would seem that men of standing in the business* world, when accused of being bribers, would be quick to resent the charge and eager to furnish ‘all the information possible that might remove such a stain on their reputations. It is incredible that a former Cabinet official, in the position of a trustee of public lands for the people of the United States, when accused of bribery and corruption in connection with his official duty in matters Where great public interests are concerned, would not be quick to refute same. Men with hone.st motives and purpose do not. remain silent when their honour is assailed.”

Both the Sinclair and Daugherty cases will probably go to the Supreme Court for final decision.'

A former member of the United States Cabinet, Mr. Daugherty, was involved in the Teapot Dome scandal. On January 22, 1924, Albert Fall was summoned by the Senate to explain cheques to the value of £13,600,. which Mr. “Archie” Roosevelt-, son of the former President, issued while acting for the Sinclair Oil Company. Mr. Rioosevelt .stated that he had. resigned from the company, which had ‘obtained the Teapot Company’s lease, and that fce had been told by other officials- of the company' that he would be expected to lie when called before the Senate. Mr. H. L. Doheny, who is America’s richest oil millionaire, also appeared Before the Senate Committee. Jle said that, in 1922 he lent Fall £20,000 in cash, taking no security: • It was months after this, he said, and without any' connection with the loan, that Fall, then Secretary for the Interior,issued leases worth millions to Harry Sinclair and Doheny. The .investigation later involved Mr. Dauehertv and Mr. Doheny (Secretary for the Navy), who both resigned their offices, Mr. McAdoo and other well-known men.