New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-06
Wood, in Testimony,
Also Mentions Mrs.
Wilson'S Brother.
ADMITS EVIDENCE
is ONLY HEARSAY
Stock Exchanges Asked to
Save Records; Lansing
May Be Witness
From The Tribun. Bureau. J


cusers. after two weeks of vague gen
eralities, got down to cases today.
Names that arc household words we're
dragged in. and it became apparent
that something like a real investiga-
tion would have TO be made.
The sensational development Of the
day was the mention OF Joseph P.
Tumuty's name by Representative
William Il. Wood, Of Indiana. at the
first leak" hearing of the House Com
mittee on Rules. Mr. Wood said that
it was "rumored" that the Presidents
secretary had lunched a day or two be-
fore the alleged leak with Barney
Baruch. the prominent Wall Stree
operator who made a million or so on
the markets antics after the dispatch
Of the note and before II had been
given to the public. The luncheon took
place at the Biltmore Hotel, in New
York this rumor said.
Mr.. Wood did not make this state
ment as a charge against Mr.. Tumulty
or MIR. Baruch, he said. but only 10
inform the committee that such
rumor was in circulation.
Tumulty Asks Apology
Mr. Tumuty was highly indignant,
and in a public statement, denying all
the allegations he called on Mr.. Wood
for an apology.
Mr.. Wood mentioned even more in
definitely the rupor that "Mr. Boiling
. brother-in-law Of the President, was
connected in some manner with the
leak r. w. Boiling, a brother of Mrs.
Wilson, in the brokerage business here,
denied the insinuation.
Otto Kahn, of Kuhn, Loeb & Co, was
mentioned also as a rumored beneficiary
Of the leak, and ne also denied the
story.
Not line OF evidence was submitted
at to-day's session, and already the in
vestigation is taking on more or less
I free-for-all character. Acting on the
suspicious aroused by the "rumors" re-
tailed to-day, the committee voted TO
direct the New York Stock Exchange,
the Chicago Stock Exchange and all the
stock brokers of Washington, to pre-
serve their records for ten days prior TO
the dispatch of the peace note. in the
hope Of discovering some clew.
Baruch To Be Called
decided to subpoena Barney Baruch and
"a. Curtis" of New York. This Mr..
Curtis, said TO be stock trader sent
letter to Mr.. Wood repeating the
! rumor concerning Mr.. Tumulty and
J Mr.. Baruch. This letter, produced
later. was written on paper that did
not contain the writer's address, and
up to a late hour tonight Kenneth
Romney, deputy sergeant-at-arms of
the House, in New York, searching for
A. Curtis, had been unable to find q
trace of him.
Mr.. Tumulty will probably be called,
as well as Secretary Lansing. Both
| officials are more than willing to tell
the committee that the leak stories, in
all versions that have yet appeared, are
absurd.
Following the Tumulty and Boiling
denials Wood made a statement point
/ ing out that he had desired to testify
in private, and adding that those whose
names were the subject OF rumor
should court the. fullest investigation.
Tomorrow the committee prob
ably will hear Representative Gardner,
who declared on the floor of the House
recently that he knew there was
! ogeak" Monday Thomas W. Lawson,
- pnh ~ hp can
he reached Bernard Baruch will be
| subpenaed.
Testimony OF Wood
81 am informed" Representative
Wood testified, Chat Barney Baruch
had information about the note to the
European belligerents two or three
days before it was sent. and that on
/ +uo or three occasions about that time
bo was in consultation with Mr.. Tumul-
tv AT the Biltmore Hotel, in New YORK;
Representative Bennet, of New YORK.
q member Of the committee, SAID on
the House floor Wednesday that Barucn
was reported in New York to have sold
short $4,000 shares of Steel on rising
market shortly before the note was
made public.
sentative CampDell' OF haHoooi ili"'N"
TO subpoena Secretary Lansing, Secre-
tary Tumulty, Baruch and Thomas W.
Lawson. He was prevailed upon by
other members to withdraw his motion,
but he said he would make 1t again
later.
Representative Wood objected siren
uousiy TO testifying in public. Wnat
/ information he had regarding the So
called leak, he said. was only hearsay,
and he feared that a public statement
would interfere with the work of the
committee in obtaining witnesses.
Representatives Chiperfeld. OF llli-
nois. Foster. of Illinois. and Harrison,
Of Mississippi, protested so vigorously
against any star chamber" proceed
ii'gs that Representative Garrett, OF
/ Tennessee. who had moved that the
sessions be made executive. withdrew
/ his motion.
Chiperfied insisted that. as witness
sworn to tell the truth, Wood should
! Owe the committee the advantage OF
/ all the information in his possession.
Thomson Mckinnon Tip
Representative Wood testified he had
! been Informed that on Wednesday, De-
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