Albert B. Fall

Albert Bacon Fall was a lawyer. He became a judge, and was later one of the first Republican U.S. Senators from New Mexico.

In 1921 President Warren G. Harding appointed him as Secretary of the Interior. He was soon involved in the Teapot Dome scandal where he received large bribes in connection with two oil leases he granted to friends of his to drill for oil in the U.S. Strategic Naval Reserve. We were taught about the Teapot Dome Scandal in school, but I wasn't very interested then. Maybe if I had known the guy lived here in El Paso I would have been more interested.

Fall was found guilty of conspiracy and bribery. At the time he held the honor of being the first former cabinet officer sentenced to prison as a result of misconduct in office.

Wikipedia says that historians joke about Albert B. Fall, saying he was "so crooked they had to screw him into the ground" upon his death. Sort of figures since he was a republican and a lawyer.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_B._Fall

Albert Fall owned the Three River Ranch north of Tularosa, New Mexico, and he also built an elegant house in El Paso located at what is now 1725 Arizona. N 31.77617, W-106.47698

This house in El Paso is getting a little shabby and is gradually falling into a state of disrepair, but it is still very elegant nonetheless. Among other things it has several stained glass windows made by Tiffany in New York.

The city of El Paso has been trying to preserve the piece of history and they should be praised for their efforts. The current owner has not adequately preserved the property, so the city has finally had to use their power of eminent domain to take the property from this gentlemen. He of course will be compensated at current market value, which is in the range of $400,000-.

The city plans to then sell the property to someone who will put in the necessary money and effort to preserve it.