New-York tribune., 1920-12-01
Sands CHARGE
Is Vengeance,
Says Boiling g
Never Got Cent of Graft.
lie Swears, and Asserts
Refusal to Aid Indicted
Banker Caused Attack

R. Wilmer Boiling, treasurer of the
United States Shipping Board and
brother-in-law of President Wilson,
appeared before the Congressional
committee investigating the board in
this city yesterday and denied under
oath the charge made by Tucker R.
Sands that he received share in the
$4,000 graft alleged to have been paid
by the Downey Shipbuiding Corpora
tion for assistance in obtaining a con-
tract with the Shipping Board
Mr. Boiling likewise swore that he
never received $500 as his share of a
$1,000 gratuity alleged to have been
obtained by Sands for helping the
Downey Shipbuilding Corporation get
Il shipment of bending rolls from the
government for the corporation. He
also asked that thorough investiga-
tion of his transactions with Sands be
made "both for my own and my family 5
sake"
Lester Sisler, former secretary of
the Shipping Board, who also was in
volved in the Sands charges, likewise
made fiat denial of the accusations.
Tells of Threatening Letters
Mr.. Boiling, who was on the stand
for more than seven hours, told of his
business associations with Sands as
vice president of the Commercial Ma
tional Bank of Washington, dating as
far back as 1916. He offered all his
personal records to the committee, in
cludin0 checks and deposit records, as
we'll as an anonymous letter sent
originally to William G. McAdoo in
which the writer threatened to involve
Mr.. Boiling in trouble unless he as
sisted Sands in having an indictment
for violation of the banking laws
against him quashed:
This letter, Mr.. Boiling testified, was
one of two missives, the second having
been sent to MIR. Tumulty, secretary to
the President Mr.. Boiling said that
both Sands and Mrs. Sands had plead,
ed with him to intercede in Sands's
behalf with President Wilson and that
he positively refused to do SO.
The witness asserted that he believed
him are due to his refusal to inter
vcne and expressed the opinion that
the two anonymous letters were writ
ten by Sands or Mrs. Sands. He said
that Sands had once intimated to him
that unless he did come to his assist
nnce the situation might ultimately
prove unpleasant to him. He did not
say that Sands actually threatened
him.
Mr.. Boiling testified that on one oc-
cason Sands took him to the residence
of Senator Owen. Of Oklahoma, to
whom Sands told his troubles. 1t was
after that visit, Mr.. Boiling testified,
that he finally wrote Sands saying that
he could not intercede for him with
the President and that the President
would. take no action even If the in
dictment in question affected Boiling
/ himself The original of that letter
was offered in evidence.
Charge Groundless, Says Tweedale
Alonzo Tweedale, comptroller of the
Shipping Board, testified that he had
inve stigated the charge against Mr..
Boiling when it first became rumored
in Washington and found it groundless.
He gave Mr.. Boiling a clean bill of
health, saying that he was trustworthy
in every way and handled millions OF
dollars for the Shipping Board with
care and accuracy.
MIR. Boiling had testified that while
he was treasurer and assistant treas
urer of the Shipping Board he had
handled about l37.00O.000 of the gov
ernnlent's money. He said that only
four years ago he vas a bank exam
I iner at, sal-ry.of S2,5CG year. that
his salary as assistant treasurer was