New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-05
Kilroe COnfers
With McMillin
On Aero Fund
4. II. Hawley, Former Presi-
denl of Club, and Wood,
Two Trustees of Money,
Call for Full Inquiry
Broker Tells of Gifts
Apparent Discrepancy of
S4,O5O Still a Mystery;
Further Action Monday

Two important development sin con-
ncction with the disbursement Of the
national aeroplane fund OF S37S,3S1.l1,
collected by the Aero Club of America
IN 1916, resulted yesterday. They we're:
Edwin F. klroe, Assistant District
Attorney in charge of the bureau Of
commercial frauds, mad a consultation
with Emerson McMillin, banker of 120
Broadway, who was the largest con-
tributor to the fund.
Alan r. Hawley, former president Of
the Aero Club, and Henry A. Wise
Wood, two of the three trustees Of the
fund, in communications to Colonel
Jefferson De Mont Thompson, presi-
dent of the Aero Club. requested a
complete investigation Of the fund in
order to clear the matter
Mr.. kilroe has requested the three
Administered =. Messrs. Hawley Wood
md Henry W dollhouse, to come to his
office or Monday.
Banker Tells of Contribution
During the discussion with the AS
sistant District Attorney Yesterday. Mr..
McMllin said that he had contributed
% the fund on the agreement to give
81 for every so collected. He said
that MS total contribution was approx
imately $34 900. He expressed the opin-
ION that as the administrators had not
collected the entire $4,000, he had
subscribed more than he should have
done under the arrangement. Despite
this. however, he said that he was
reluctant to press the matter. as he
no
club or the authorities to investigate.
The official report upon the fund pre-
sented TO the board of governors of the
Aero Club by Messrs. Hawley, Wood
and Woodhouse on October Is, 1915,
says Sill o31.l7 yas received direct.
In computing the total of $37S,381.17
The report declares that to the SILL
031.17 was added the value Of aero
planes and courses of training for mill
s94 900; and also funds, airplanes and
courses OF training secured for differ
emf states, in different ways, not shown
on the books of the fund" Amounting
TO about s109, 300. The apparent dis
crepancy of 81 $50 could not be acer-
tanned yesterday. This report sets the
contribution of Emerson McMillin al
$33,956.15.
The report shows that the largest
recipient from the fund was the LIST
Aero Company, N. Y. n. G., which re-
ceived S21,535.74. Disbursements for
postage are given as sl2197.24, multi
printing and engraving as s17,775.61.
Nj. Hawiey in his letter to Colonel
Thompson, which was made public at
the Aero Club yesterday, said: Eyes
terday when Henry Woodhouse, one of
the trustees of the National Aeroplane
FUND, brought to the attention of the
board Of governors at its regular meet
ing, several newspaper statements re-
garding the fund, members of the board
told him that the matter did not
amount to anything and discussion re-
gardlng the fund was stopped.
Full Inquiry Urged
Upon returning to the club house,
we found the following telegram ad-
dressed to you. Tribune reports Nc
Millin wants invest gation national
please add my name TO his as request
ing inquiry. Suggest McMillin be re-
quired TO appoint auditors. Sugges t
inquiry go TO bottom of matter 30
thereafter no question can be raised
Henry A. Wise Wood
Personally, | request and demand
that all other club business executing
routine business be laid aside until the
board has taken measures to make q
thorough investigation Of this fund, in
which | have taken so much pride and
the work accomplished has been pro-
nounced by the country at4arge as not
only having advanced the cause of
national preparedness before America 8
entry in the war, but was instrumental
also in having several hundred aviators
trained al private EXPENSE VINO were
the first 10 die for the cause of civli-
cation and humanity, one of whom
was member of The Board of Govern
ors OF the Aero Club of America"
In the final paragraph of his letter
Mr. Hawley writes: in justice to the
trustees it Is now necessary for the
Board Of Governors to take prompt
steps to clear the trustees of the
iibe Gus ard unjust accusations and
insinuations circulated in some of the
daily papers and to ascertain the mo-
tives and parties responsible for these
attacks so that legal action may be
taken"