Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 309, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 April 1927 — Page 5

APRIL 4, 1927

DOHENY OIL LOSS OF TEN MILLIONS . WILL BE DEFENSE Attorneys Will Argue Friday Against Conviction of Bribery. Timex Waxhinoton Bureau. 1322 .Veto York Avenue WASHINGTON, April 4.—The $10,000,000 loss Edward L. Doheny sustained when the Supreme Court voided his lease of Elk Hills naval oil reserve may be the means of saving him from jail. His defeats will form the bulwark of his defense when his fight to avoid conviction on a charge of bribery begins this week. His attorneys will come into coyrt Friday when arguments on a demurrer to the bribery indictments will be heard and make assertions which they have denied in the past and which Government counsel have stoutly upheld. Doheny and his son are charged in the indictments with giving a bribe and Albert Fall with accepting a bribe. Defense Theory But Doheny’s counsel will tell the court that there could have been no bribery because you can't bribe a man to do a thing he has no power or authority to do. They will say the executive order signed by President Harding in May, 1921, transferring to Secretary Fall power to lease naval oil reserves was illegal. . If Fall had no power to make the J contracts, they will claim then the SIOO,OOO in a little black bag, whether a,loan, as Fall and Doheny contend, or a corrupting gift as the Government asserts, had no significance and could therefore not be a bribe. Arguing the Doheny-Fall conspiracy case before a jury, defense counsel were at great pains to prove the innocence of the SIOO,OOO transaction. In this argument before Justice Hitz of the District Supreme Court they will rely on the technicality. Used Harding Letter In the jury case the defense used as one of their telling weapons a letter Warren G. Harding wrote to the United States Senate, approving and upholding the actions of Fall under the executive order. Government counsel questioned the validity of the order and introduced testimony of former Attorney General Daugherty that he had never given it legal approval. Judge Paul McCormick of Los Angeles, Cal., first to rule on the Pan-American Petroleum Company lease of Elk Hills, ordered cancellation of the leases on two grounds: First, because of fraud and conspiracy; and second, because "of the illegal and invalid trasnfer of power." The recent decision of the Supreme Court, while asserting that "after the executive order of May, 1921, Fall dominated the administration of the naval reserves," goes on kin state further that not even the of the Navy had the power, under ex -ing acts of Congress, to enter h.to the sort of contract lie did with the Doheny company for exchange and storage of fuel oils, and the lease was an offshoot of this contract. Based on Decision It was the sweeping condemnation of the Fall-Dolieny transaction by the Supreme Court which determined Government counsel to attempt to convict Doheny of bribery in spite of the failure to get a conviction on the conspiracy charge. But the new defense policy gives an interesting twist to the case—resolves it into a battle to determine who shall wield the weapon forged by the courts for protection of the country’s property.

ROAD PLAN IS MODEST Neighboring States Lead Indiana in 1927. 'That Indiana’s State road building program for 1927 is conservative compared with surrounding states is shown by a comparative chart of estimates prepared by the Federal Road Bureau. The total mileage given for Indiana for the year is 415, which is lower than all neighboring states except Michigan, which *s placed at the same figure. Kentucky’s estimated mileage is placed at 900; Illinois, 1,255; lowa, 1,090; Ohio, 850, and Wisconsin, 1,569. Construction of 26,841 miles of road and maintenance of 239,847 miles are included in the 1927 program of the forty-seven states. It is expected that $648,483,000 will be expended. County expenditures of $475,000,000 may be added to the State appropriations, according to Ihe estimate. PLAN SERVICE PLANT Indian Refining Company to Erect $250,000 Structure. A central service plant sos the Indian Refining Company, Belt railroad and E. New York St., will be constructed soon, it was announced today when the Fletcher American Company offered an issue of the first mortgage serial gold bonds of the Indian Realty Company, subsidiary of the firm. The plant will be used ns a service point for all the firm’s properties in this State, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. The program calls for an expenditure of $250,000. TO INSURE EMPLOYES ’otropolitan Life Sends Official Here for Roxana Group Policies. M. K. Tucker, contributory superkyisor in the group insurance division of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, of New York, arrived here today to direct the application of group insurance to employes of the Roxana Petroleum Corporation. He announced his company was insuring 11,000 employes of the Roxana organization throughout the United States.

Leader of Famous Sixth Marines

jclf*"** JB • S| :: ’ jis £ Jna

Colonel Harold C. Snyder, veteran Marine Corps warrior, who is to lead the famous Sixth Regiment, revived for emergency service in China, when it sails from San Diego, for the oriental war zone. With Colonel Snyder from his station at the. barracks went many men ordered to join the regiment on the I’aeific coast.

City Council Seeks to Open Asphalt Plant,

Write your troubles to Mr. Fixit. The Times’ representative at the eitv hall, who will present them to the proper eitv officials. Write him in care of The Times, sisrnins full name and address. Name and address will not be published. The city council tonight will try to open the city asphalt plant to speed up street repair work. Councilmen declared the repair work must be speeded up. They blame the city engineer and the board of works for the failure to repair the streets. The works board and the engineer blame the council for not appropriating the necessary money for the repairs. Consequently the streets are not improved. Mr. Fixit would advise persons interested in this work to talk to the members of both bodies and see if some of the ‘buck passing” can’t be stopped and the streets repaired. And now one person wants Mr. Fixit to see that it is “Bye, Bye Blackbird” for the thousands of blackbirds that come to Indianapolis each year. He declared that the horde of birds make life distressing for the people living In the north end of Indianapolis. He declared that they seem to drive the other song birds away. The letter is: Dear Sir: I notice that Ft. Wayne Is organizing an attack on the blackbirds of its community, and I am wondering if you would not be v filling to use your influence to get rid of a great horde of black birds which much of the year make life distressing for the people living in the north end of Indianapolis? They not only drive one Insane by their infernal racket, but seem to drive away all the sonfc birds as well. They have become a regular pest, shall greatly appreciate anything that you can do. REV. F. V. K. R. Walter Jarvis, park superintendent, took the matter under advisement and will let Mr. Fixit know in a week or two what action will be taken. Watch this column. Dear Mr. Fixit: Will you please see what you can do toward getting the W. New York St. bridge opened? If any one wants to cross the bridge they have to get out of their car and move the blockade. M. E. C. City Engineer Frank C. Llngenfelter told Mr. Fixit this bridge is open. Dear Sir: How long can a car be parked in front of a residence? One person parks his car in front of my house for twenty-four hours a day. D. H. R. According to a council ordisnance a car may be parked in front of a residence "not to exceed twelve hours.” This ordinance is not stridtly enforced,, however. The parking of the car in front of your house should be called to the attention of the patrolman on your beat. Troops Await Call to Chicago’s Polls Bn United Press CHICAGO, April 4.—Troop orders in preparation for tomorrow's mayoralty election are expected to go out today. Following a conference yesterday between Adjutant General Carlos Black, Maj. Gen. Roy D. Kechn, commandant of the ThirtyThird division, and Sheriff Charles Graydon, it was announced that "proper steps will be taken to meet any emergency.” It is expected that three infantry companies in Chicago will be ordered held in readiness in case any outbreak of trouble mars the election. A request for troops was sent Governor Len Small Saturday by the sheriff after backers of William Hale Thompson, Republican candidate, charged Democrats were attempting to incite racial trouble. MISSISSIPPI SWOLLEN Weather Bureau Predicts Further Rise in River Waters. Bu United Press '""ST. LOUIS, Mo., Flood waters from tributary streams had brought the Mississippi River to a stage of thirty-one feet here today and the United States weather bureau predicted continued rise. Serious menace from the flood waters was reported at several points abc/ve St. Louis, but there was no danger from floods here.

iTHIEF GETS $550 JEWELRYIN HOME Is Only Big Robbery During Week-End, Say Police. Reporting the only major robbery of the week-end, William Raymond, 1C N. Linwood Ave., told poiice his home was entered and three rings and a Watch, total value $550, were taken. Two men were seen to enter the basement of the St. Paul Episcopal Church, New York and Illinois Sts., Sunday while services were in progress. Later Ted Wagner, 2357 N. Talbott Ave., discovered clothing and money totaling sl7 taken from the cloak room. Mrs. Cora Rupert and family left their home, 417 N. Liberty St., for two hours and returned to find

aK \ % 2mm ( KV. ||gk

Old Trails Automobile Insurance Ass’n

711 Merchants Bank Bldg.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

burglars had forced a window and i taken $1.50. Grahn, proprietor of a drug store at 1249 Cornell Ave., was taking an invoice of his stock today to determine the amount of loot taken by burglars Saturday night. MOB TURNS FANATIC Attempt Made to Attack French President at Celebration. Bu United Press PARIS, April 4. —A mob attempted to take summary vengeance on a fanatic who tried to attack President Doumergue at Lille after a war celebration yesterday. The fanatic approached the French president muttering revolutionary oaths. Police stopped him before he could harm Doumergue, but had difficulty keeping him away from the crowd. The president had just dedicated the new town hall at Lille, replacing the structure destroyed by the Germans during the war.

|f

TWO HURT WHILE CLEARING TRACK Foreman Has Fracture of Skull; Near Death. Omer Robison, 35, 2352 Adams St., Big Four wreckmaster, is near death with a fractured skull, and Charles Piper, 48, of Maxwell, Ind., section hand, is seriously injured in Methodist Hospital today as the result of an accident while wrecking crews worked Saturday night and early Sunday morning to place derailed freight cars back on the Big Four track near Willow Branch, fifteen miles east of this city, on the Springfield division. No one was injured when the cars were derailed, but the two men were hurt when a heavy chain snapped as

fjhis Accident Would Have Blasted Dean’s Career If It Had Not Been for Manf

HOME OFFICE Indianapolis, Indiana i

the cars were being dragged into place. Supreme Court to Say Who’s Sheriff Bu Times Special JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., April 4. —lndiana State Supreme Court will be called on to decide who's sheriff here. Circuit Judge George C. Kopp ruled in favor of Hal K. Hughes, Democrat, in a quo warranto suit, ousting William A. Baird, Republic;an incumbent. Baird served notice he would appeal. Baird was elected two terms, totaling four years, but he claims he is entitled to serve out the unexpired term of Henry Dugan, his predecessor, who died in November, 1922. THIRD lIODY FOUND Bu Times Special GARY. Ind., April 4.—The mystery surrounding the disappearance of

THIS MAN saved Dean from losing his home, his savings and much of his earnings sor # several years to come. THIS MAN saved Dean from great mental stress, costly legal battles and the loss of valuable time from his business. THIS MAN has the lifelong gratitude of Dean and his family for the service he rendered just • as a part of his daily job. ' THIS MAN is an OLD TRAILS AGENT. It was a week after the accident before Dean fully realized what he might have been up against. What happened in that tragic instant when he skidded into another car on the slippery street, appeared to be beyond Dean’s control.. Yet a man crippled and a little girl desperately injured, brought him face to face with the crisis of his career—a tremendous damage suit!

OFFICERS SAMUEL O. DUNGAN, President F. N. DANIEL, V. P. and Gen. Mgr. HARRY R. DEWOLF, Vice President THEODORE E. MYERS, Treasurer DWIGHT S. RITTER, Secretary

three boys was solved today with the flnlding in Lake Michigan of the body of Walter Wojeck, 14. The

AVOID ACIDITY Why put up with the discomfort and dangers from acidity? Prominent physicians here prescribe Mountain Valley Water for this—and it will help you. It is delightfully tasting, too. Phone ‘for a case today. M. M. Dennis Says: (INDIANAPOLIS) “Continued use of Mountain Valley Water greatly reduoed the excess acid my system contained. I feel the use of the Water is steadily overcoming my trouble.’' ASK YOUR DRUGGIST OR GROCER OR PHONE US FOR MOUNTAIN VALLEY WATER From Hot Springs, Arkansas Loral Distributors, 911-913 Massachusetts Are. Phone, MA in 12A0

But OLD TRAILS had everything in hand. OLD TRAILS had a fair and square settlement under way and freed Dean from every legal and financial worry. Dean once thought he knew all about automobile insurance—had never had an accident, so why pay good money for these modern ideas of Personal Liability and Property damage insurance? But THIS MAN made him listen —made him realize the meaning and necessity of proper automobile insurance coverage. Told him of OLD TRAILS and its pioneering in broader insurance at low rates. Showed him an OLD TRAILS policy and explained the strong financial standing of the company. THIS MAN typifies hundreds of OLD TRAILS agents who are serving motorists throughout Indiana today. When he calls on YOU hear his stoiy. The day may come—and soon —when YOU will be as thankful to an OLD TRAILS agent as Dean is today!

I f INS OLD TRAILS! I INDIAN CP C 1-1 S' ■

bodies of the other two lads, John and Andrew Schubelek,, brothers floated ashore several days ago.

What, if your automobile had rammed another car as Dean’s did this one— would you he able to pay all the damage and injury claims yourself?

DIRECTORS Samuel O. Dungan F. N. Daniel Harry R. DeWolf Theodore E. Myers Dwight S. Ritter Dr. J. T. Hoopirvgarner Albert J. Pfeiffer Mark V. Rinehart

Phone—Riley 1301

PAGE 5