The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-21
BOILING EX'r.,.::'s;; :';i :s;iiio '
 SAT|SF FACTOR|LY, IS BENSON STATEMENT
Bribery Charges Agains t Brother ln-LaW of President Absolutely Unfounded,
 Says Chairman
By Associated Prexs

By Associated Press
 Washington, November p-Chairman Benson of the shipping board. in for nal statement regarding charges or bribery made before the Walsh com mittee in New York against R. w. Boil ing, treasurer of the board, declared that was perfectly satisfactory"
 While the attitude of the chairman of the shipping board is to render every possible assistance to the Walsh investi- gation committee Chairman Benson's s formal statement said, and to do every out the duties assigned to the commit tee, he feels that, in view of the serious charges that have been made against 8 responsible official of the shipping board, in order to reassure the public mind at the earliest date, he should make a statement in regard thereto"
 The chairman said that after he took treasurer, Mir. Boiling told him the whole story of the alleged charges made by Tucker K. sands.
 PERFECTLY SATISFACTORY
 His explanation was perfectly satis- factory to the chairman of the shipping board" Admiral Benson said. Tn addi- tion. after the same subject had been brought to my attention by Mir. McCann, the matter was discussed with Colonel Golf, our general counsel, and together we directed that thorough and com plete investigation of the various ale gations and charges against Mr. Boilns be made"
 Attached to the chairmans statement was a copy of the report of the inses- tigation made by the division of inves- tigation, dated September g, 1920. It was signed by Frank Burk, chief of division, who said the inquiry had been as to charges made that MT. R. w. Boiling, now employed by the shipping board, had participated III commissions, said 10 have been paid by the Downey snip building company to Tucker Sands.
 II saw Mr. Houston Thompson, vice president of the federal trade coinnlis- sion, and who was TOT some time. up to the latter part of 1sla United States Assistant Attorney General the report said who told me that Mir. Boiling came to him about two years ago and reported that an unsigned communication had reached MT. Tumulty, secretary to the President in which the writer charged that he mad accepted part of $to,00o which was paid by Downey of the Downey Shipbuilding company to Tucker Sands.
 URGED INVESTIGATION
 MT. Boiling requested Mir. Thompson to make a very thorough investigations, because Of the fact that he was charged with a serious crime, and If he was guilty he should be punished; if innocent, his innocence should be established. The letter, it seems, was either misplaced or destroyed, so that nothing was done at the time.'
 After receipt of second unsigned let ter. which they believed emanated from the Sands family" MT. Thompson sad MT. Boiling had told him that Tucker Sands had mace "a very urgent demand that he (Bolling) see theA President and use his influence with the President to have the activities of the department ot justice stopped and have the prosecution against Sands dropped.
 Sands at this time,'' the statement continued, was under indictment by a federal grand jury, charged with viola ton of the banking act. On advice or MT. Thompson Mir. Boiling wrote letter to Sands telling him that, while he re- gretted exceedingly that he had become involved with the government, he couio moi and would not approach the Presi- dent on any such proposition.
 Investigation by the department or justice of the charges against Mir. Boiling was then ordered at Bollings repeateo request MT. Thompson said.
 PRE-WAR DEALS MENTIONED
 lra-war transactions between MT. Boli- ing and Tucker Sands, which aggregated nof more than $500, were mentioned, anu jn this connection Mir. Burke's repos' said MT. Boiling had produced his check stubs and other documents, >which after investigation, proved to be trans actions outside of and prior to the uaes OH which Sands charged that Downey raid over a sum of money, part or Wn'cn
 "F,xnert bank accountants from the de- nartment of justice traced out all checks. notes drafts and other papers that couiu nossibIy have any bearing on the case tha report said, land failed to find any thing that corroborated the statement oA sands" adding, In the oehef or MT. Thornpson. 1t was blackmail engineereo by Sands to force Mir. Boiling 70 nus, cede with the President to save sands from further er-prosecutfon py the uep~ ment of justice
 .In view of the fact that this mat fer has been investigated by the depart ment of justice and nothing found in- criminating against Mir. Boiling. WIT. purke's report said, T will consider this matter closed, as far as the division oi investigation is concerned. unless otner- wise instructed. ..r~,u
 ROLLING MAKES STATEMENT
 MT. Boiling later today. in the pres ance of Admiral Benson, made public statement. explaining his connection with sands and the Downey shipbuiiding com many. He had been acquainted with Sands since 1913. he said, and had built house for the banker in 1916. out of which grew an indebtedness, he said. from Sands
 (Continued on Page EishtD - YA Yo~ H~