The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-03
BOILING DENIES
GRAFT CHARGES
Presidents Brother-in-
law Declares Ac-
cusations are False

Drother-in-law of President Wilson
denied on the stand before the Walsh
congressional committee here that
ne had assisted in obtaining any ship
building contract. He futher denied
having knowingly received may part
OF the $4,000 'fee" alleged to have
been paid by Wallace Downey Of the
wallace Downey ship building cor
poration.
Boiling testified that Sands paid
him $500 in 1918, but that this
represented profit Sands had agreed
to pay him for building Sands house,
and that he had refused to accept
part OF a $1,000 fee which Sands said
ne got from ship building corpora
tien, but said that he did not know
the source of this $500.
Boiling testified that he had met
A Mr.. Cranor" who Sands had pre-
viously testified was the agent Of
wallace Downey-and that he Boil
Ing had interceded with Lester Sislor
then secretary of the shipping board
to aid Cranor in facilitating the ship
ment Of some bending roll machin-
cry to Cranors company.
But while Mr.. Boiling denials were
along the same lines and quite as
emphatic as his original statement
in Washington, Chairman Walsh dis
covered number of discrepancies
between today's statement and his ut
terances to newspaper men in the
capital Immediately after Sands
charged had been communicated to
Boiling. When Chairman Walsh
called Bolling's attention to these
discrepancies, Boiling said that his
Washington statement was made
when he was upset" and without
consulting many records.
"Today's statement is the correct
one" The witness said.
"Mr. Cranor told me that this ma
chinery was bending rolls and was
to have been shipped to his company
from the factory, but at the last min
ute some other capital succeeded in
having the order changed and that
it would be diverted to them and
than injustice was being done to
Cranors company.
II know nothing about the con-
struction division, so in the presence
of Mr.. Cranor | called up Lester
Sisler, who was then secretary OF the
shipping board. He said he would
make inquiry and subsequently told
me that he had found from inquiry
that the rolls had been promised Mr..
Cranors company and would be ship
ped to them.
"a short time afterwards Mr..
Sands told me he made $1,000 in con-
nection with this transaction that he
was going to take care of me. ! told
him ] would accept nothing. He
then mentioned the $500 which he
still owed me in connection with the
changes made in his house which
had built saving that he had not for.
gotten it and would pay it.
II gave no thought as TO what Mr..
Sands relationship was to the prin-
cipal that looked upon him as vice.
president of large bank, and man
who was Justly indebted to me.
II told him l would be glad to
have him pay me what he owed me,
but that it would in no way be con-
nected with fees or commissions in
volving government work.
upon my request he paid me
5000 as follows:
February IS, 1918, $500; Janu-
Try 26; 1918. 5000 and August 5.
1918, 500.
II have no knowledge of where
his money paid me by Sands came
rom.
"Mr. Sands also made me loan
II 5000 on May 81, 1918 for which
| gave him my note. This was re-
paid by me to him July IA, 1918 with
interest, at which time Mr.. Sands
was unable to find my note.
However, l have my cancelled
checks bearing HIS endorsement. This
represents every cent Mr.. Sands has
paid me since December 81, 1917.
"Of the $4,000 which Mr.. Sands
says he was paid for procuring con-
,racts never heard until it was men,
Toned in anonymous letters coupled
with threats that unless something
was done to stop the department of
Justice action against Mr.. Sands that
my name would be brought into it.
upon receipt of these letters l
referred the matter to the depart
nent of justice requesting that an
Of my transactions be
made.
II feel that it is unnecessary to
,ay that | never by word or deed
.ried in any way to assist the pro-
,idence engineering company, or any
,ther company, to procure contract.
Regarding the testimony given
before the committee by Benjamin
,. Fuller, who was indicted for
orgery and sentenced to the penn
entiary for four years, that Mr..
sands gave me a check in his pres
nee, l beg to say that his state
nent is absolutely false.
81 therefore most urgently request
he committee to request Mr.. Sands
o Immediately produce all his
hecks made to me since January I,
.918."