New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Bribe
Probe by U. S.
Half-Hearted
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Hdu-f1cdrTeO
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was a personal friend of Sands. OF
twenty years standing, testified that
on a visit to Sands's rooms in the Hotel
Willard, in Washington he saw Sands
hand Boiling check the amount of
which, he said, was "either $500 OF
$500 He was not sure Of the amount
II told Mr.. Boiling, It's pretty soft
Cor you" testified Fuller, "and he re.
piled, No, it's pretty tough I said
I'm sorry because am gong to make
z big rifle"
Fuller testified that he met Boiling
and John Cranor, representative of the
dDowney shipbuilding Corporation, in
Sandss rooms on several occasions.
He also testified that he had recently
keen convicted of uttering forgery and
sentenced to four years in Jail He
SAID he was ROW out on bail pending
an appeal. He told the committee that
ne was being employed occasionally by
the Department of Justice in an ad-
visory capacity, despite his conviction
Did Not Pursue Investigation
Congressman Walsh, chairman of the
committee, and Congressman Kelley
pressed Mr.. Meehan on the point of
Why he did not pursue his irvestiga-
.tlon of the charge rumored against
Boiling further.
Meehan maintained that in view of
the absence of corroborative evidence
of the charge and because Of the stand
ing and relationship Of Boiling, he did
not think it advisable to pursue the
investigation. He declared that from
what he had been able to learn Boil
shevlst propagandists, headed by L. C.
A. X. Martens, Soviet representative
IN the United States were interested
in dscrediting high otficlals to pro-
mote discomfort, He declared he con-
sidered Sands "a crook" and expresse d
the opinion that Boiling was the
victim of attempted blackmail"
Congressman Kelley-Now, Mr.. Mees
han, you do not believe you have really
made an investigation of this case,
do you?
Meehan-That's up to you to form
an opinion on. I've told you what I've
done.
Did Not Check Up Loans
Meehan admitted under further ex-
animation that he made no attempt
to check up any loans made by Sands to
boiling, and made no investigation of
the charges at all as they involved
Lester Sisler, formerly secretary of
the Shipping Board, who, Sands test-
| fed, had also participated in the d.
vision of the alleged graft
Chairman WalshIt is fact, is it
not, that the investigation you made
in this case stopped with the inves-
tgation Of the Department of JUS
tice and with your interviews with Mr..
Tweedale Boiling and Admiral Ben
son and that it isn't closed?
Meehan-TeS
Chairman Notwithstanding that
( there was no question as to the finan-
cial standing of the Downey Shipbuild-
/ ing Corporation; assuming they had
already had q large contract and that
| there was no need to camoufage to the
extent of 100000 their bank standing,
what is your judgment as to what this
900 was paid for to Tucker r.
/ Sands?
Meehan-In view of the present pro-
ceeiings, / would prefer to wait before
pass an opinion.
Explains Fuller's Unemployment
Congressman Kelley-How do you
explain Fuller's Unemployment by the
Department of Justice?
Meehan-Well if you can get biggc-
crooks by using Fuller ! say get them
and turn him loose
Mcehan added that he was in favor
Of going further into the investigation
Of the charge against Boiling, now that
the charge has gained wide publicity.
He explained, however, that his in
vestigation of Sand and Fuller had
convinced him that they were not to
be relied upon. He said that after his
attention had been called to the rumors
connecting Boiling with the alleged
bribe by Alfred w McCann, the news
paper man who drew up the affidavit
for Sands in which the latter made the
charge, but which he refused to sign.
he again called Boiling TO his office and
took the matter up with Admiral Ben
son.
Boiling Satisfied Benson
Boiling, he testified, went over his
story again and satisfied both Admiral
Benson and the witness that he was
the victim Of attempted blackmail
Meehan testified, also, that he had
learned from a man named Beckerle,
formerly an employee Of the Shipping
Board, and dismissed from its service
that Sands was said to have threatened
Rolling and Il man named Robe rtson,
formerly a partner Of BollinQs in the
brokerage firm Of +. A Connolly & Co.,
Of Washington, that unless he (Sands)
vas paid fee Of 900 for his ser
vices in financing the brokerage CON
Germ he would expose them.
The alleged intended "cNposurc' re-
:errcd, according 10 testimony, to the
connection of the firm with the famous
Supreme Court "leak, which, accord
ing 10 testimony given by Fuller,
forced the dissolution of the firm.
Beckerle also said, Meehan alleged
tina. Robertson and Connolly had en-
tered into an arrangement with him
by which assets Of the brokerage firm
we're turned over TO him as a dummy
20 keep them away from Sands, Boiling
having resigned from the firm imme-
dlatcly following the "lcak" scandal
Rested His Inquiry
But after giving this information,
Mcehan testified Bcckerlc suddenly
became uEconmunicativc and would
offer no more information Mechan
added that, with this source Of infor-
nation cloacd and the records Of Sands
and Fuller being such az TO cast doubt
upon the validity Of any testimony
they might give, he decided to rest his
inquiry.
Chairman Walsh You were investi.
eating Il crooAed transaction and you
would expect crooks 10 be Interested
In it, wouldn't yon?
Nrehan Probably 80
Chairman Walsh Yet, you aatisficd
yourself with Eolling's explanation?
neehan replied that from Bolling'a
manner he believed thc truth Of the cx-
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