"ABSOLVES U.S. NAVY OFFICIALS FROM CULPABILITY"

GOVERNMENT LOSES TEAPOT DOME CASE

Cheyenne, Wyoming (JFK+50) On June 19, 1925, The International News Service reports on a decision made today in the "heated legal battle between the United States Government and Harry F. Sinclair*." 

The decision was handed down by Judge T. Blake Kennedy** absolving U.S. Navy officials, including the Navy secretary, "from culpability in the negotiations" for $50 million Teapot Dome lands. 

The judge determined that the charge of secrecy in the case had not been "substantiated."

*Harry Ford Sinclair (1876-1956) was born in Benwood, West Virginia & founded Sinclair Oil Company.  HFS was also involved in baseball financing & horse racing.  He served 6 months in prison for contempt of Congress.

**Thomas Blake Kennedy (1874-1957) was born in Commerce Township, Michigan & earned his law degree at Syracuse University.  TBK served as U.S. district judge (Wyoming) 1921-1955 & was appointed by President Harding.

SOURCE

"Teapot Dome Case Lost By U.S.," The Washington Times, June 19, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Harry F. Sinclair

Jan 22 1923

National Photo Company

Library of Congress

 

"COMMITTEE OVERRULED OBJECTIONS OF HIS ATTORNEYS"

SINCLAIR HELD IN CONTEMPT BY SENATE OIL COMMITTEE FOR REFUSAL TO TESTIFY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 22, 1924, the United States Senate oil committee "voted unanimously...to certify Harry F. Sinclair*...for contempt" because he refused to "testify further before the committee."

Will H. Hays submitted "a flat denial of the story that Sinclair had contributed a large batch of oil stocks to wipe out the deficit in the republican party treasury."

Mr. Sinclair's refusal to provide further testimony before the committee came after it "overruled unanimously" the objections of his attorneys.

JFK+50 NOTE

Harry F. Sinclair's contempt citation by the U.S. Senate was upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court in 1929 & he served prison time as a result.  

Although HFS appeared several times before the committee, his refusal to answer a question on March 22 1924 in regard to a contract associated with the Teapot Dome scandal resulted in the contempt citation.

*Harry Ford Sinclair (1876-1956) was born in Benwood, West Virginia & grew up in Independence, Kansas.  HFS attended the University of Kansas & formed the Sinclair Oil Company in 1916.  By the close of the 1920s SOC was producing 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

SOURCES

"Harry Sinclair To Serve Term For His Silence," The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama, April 9, 1929, www.newspapers.com/

"Sinclair Refused To Testify Brings Contempt Action Vote By Senators," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 22, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Sinclair & Attorneys at the Teapot Dome Hearing

National Photo Company (1924)

Library of Congress 

"COLOSSAL RAID ON VALUABLE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY"

TEAPOT OIL RESERVE BEING DRAINED BY PRIVATE OPERATORS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 22, 1923, the Associated Press reports that the Wyoming naval oil reserve, Teapot Dome*, "is being drained so heavily by adjacent private operators that it will produce far less oil than originally predicted."

The reserve, leased last year to Harry F. Sinclair**, is being investigated by the Senate public lands committee.  Geologists Frederick G. Clapp and James O. Lewis of New York, working in behalf of the committee, report that only 26 million of the original 135 million barrels remain.

The Senate inquiry was initiated by Senator Robert LaFollette (R-Wisconsin) who "assaulted the Sinclair lease as a colossal raid on valuable government property."

*Teapot Dome Oil Field was designated National Petroleum Reserve #3 in 1915 as part of a program to ensure the US Navy would have ample fuel reserves in an emergency.

**Henry Ford Sinclair (1876-1956) was born in Benwood, West Virginia & founded the Sinclair Oil Company.  He was educated at the University of Kansas. HFS was implicated in the Teapot Dome Scandal & served 6 months in prison. 

SOURCE

"Teapot Dome Oil Four-Fifths Gone Experts Disclose," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 22, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

 Teapot Rock

Natrona County, Wyoming

Library of Congress

www.picryl.com/