New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
I. r. Meehan Admits In.
vestigation Is Not Com
.plete; Sands Reiterates
His Charge of Graft
Witness Says He
Saw Check Passed
Broker Insists Wilson's
Brotl,er-in-Law Received
$1,000 as His Share i'm
the Form of a Loan

No complete inquiry into the
charges brought against r. Wilmer
Boiling, brother-in-law of President
wilson, by Tucker K. Sands has
ever been made by the government,
according to testimony given yes
terday by John r. Meehan, deputy
chief of the division of investigation
Of the Shipping Board, before the
Congressional committee Investigate
ing that body.
Boiling is charged by Sands with
having accepted as loan part of
$4,000 graft alleged to have been
paid by the Downey Shipbuilding
Corporation for assistance in obtain
ng contract from the Shipping
Board. Meehan said yesterday the
case was still open. Boiling is at
present treasurer of the Shipping
Board. Meehan also told the COM
mittee that no investigation what
ever had been made of the charge
4 sharing in the bribe brought
aeslnst Lester Sisler, formerly sec
retary Of the board
Under cross examination Yesterday
b. Congressman Kelley, Meehan ad-
n.is-ed: 1T is possible that Sands has
tsea telling the truth and. Boiling
ing
Denies Trhuence Stopped Probe
II har $50 testified that the fail
ure I'd .ae governments officials to
nroan ieo~er into the charges against
Boz WIS rot due TO any influence
from 'a. sher up but to the fact that
tee ~a pl.ag Board officials. following
All .afes-ie a..on by his division and
tn Department q Justice, were con-
y.aea4 sha. Boiling was victim Of at
..sr.el h.cckmaN. Meehan said posi-
tre-N nad received no orders 20
SOD -le INVESTIGATION.
-t-o-cd Oh the extent OF his ac-
--.-. A,eenan said his bureaus in
.r-c5 Were confined TO talking to Mr.
f., rs. admiral Benson, Martin Gill
IN. -Fecial assistant 10 the admiral.
.ad 10 ascertaining the findings of the
Department OF Justice He told the
e ma ttee that his Investigation Of
The case took place about June | of
t'ls year
sed hy Mr.. Walsh to say whether
se knew Of single Investigation con-
aIc-ed by the Shipping Board prior to
1920 Aeehan replied he did not.
Sands Reiterates His Charges
Other developments in yesterdays
testimony were:
l. Sands. who resumed the stand
ssly in the day, insisted that the
sl,soo which, he testified, he paid to
aol4,ng as part OF his share n the
legged graft in the form of loan was
eet4al paid BY him and in the form
re originally testified.
3. Congre ssman Kelley, o. Michigan,
member % the committee, read into
ae record abstracts Of report sub
aitteo 10 re Shipping Board by the
.aaager Of its credit division to the
fec. that the standing Of the Provi-
oence Engineering Corporation, OF
when Wallace Downey is the head,
.as J.. every Wa satisfactory and JUS
Ared the granting Of contract to the
- =r 10 -l ~ tit Ob4pplLB DOGlN.
This report tended to contradict the
sietemert publ ned yesterday morning
= Downey 20 ene effect that the s40,-
80 pad Sands in four notes was for
terV'ces rendered by MIN as an Official
9. the Conan ercial National Bank Of
Nasa.ngton in extending 100000
erea.- ~ the corporation. enabling it to
'ee-re contract from the board.
Says Sands Gave Boiling a Check
CDneressman Kelley insisted ne
could not understand why hrm whose
.'4r1 - va recognized by the credit
'.-!on of the Shipping Board to have
teen perfectly sat- factory should
'@fe to pay $4,000 TO establish It's
position.
.. Franklin Fuller, VINO described
a.nseif Is Z food salesman and said ne
Continued on oags thre.l