Evening star., 1934-06-22
WOODR|NG NAMED
CONTRACT AUTHOR
Col. McMullen Testifies Chief
Ordered Terms Of Silver.
man Deal.
Continued From First Page.)

silverman and the Government. In
volved in the deal, he said, were
100000 undershirts and 1000, 600 wool
en- drawers. Silverman was planning
to sell the underwear to the c. c. G.,
the committee was told.
How old you happen to go to
O'Neil's apartment the chairman
asked.
"Woodring ordered me to go there"
McMullen testified, and take the con-
tract to ONeil. ! drew the original
draft, but the terms OF payment were
different in the final contract. l
drew up the rough draft in my office,
and Mr.. Woodring had 1t redratted-
that is, he interlined it and gave 1t
back to me. and then I had it rewrit-
ten to conform to his wishes. Wood
ring gave me all the papers and told
me to draft a contract along the usual
lines"
Denies Action Peculiar"
Didn't 1t strike you as peculiar
that YOU. chief OF the patents section,
should be asked to draft this contract
dealing with surplus goods?" Rogers
asked.
McMullen replied in the negative
and added that about 40 per cent OF
his work had nothing to do with
patents.
In response TO a succession of ques-
tions. McMullen, pufing calmly at
pipe. said that the supplemental con-
tract" had been drafted last July at
his Maryland home He said he had
been on leave for two or three days
and that Woodring called him by tele-
phone and asked him to see lawyers
for Silverman and other dealers who
wanted the provision against resale OF
surplus goods in this country elimi-
mated from their contracts.
In response to a question from the
chairman, McMullen denied there was
ANYTHING strange about Woodring call
ing him at his home on vacation to
draft a contract having nothing to do
with patents. 1t was at this point NC
Mullin suggesed that the committee
question Woodring on that angle.
Export Clause Changed.
McMullen explained that an export
clause in the original contracts with
Silverman and others prohibited the
domestic sale of surplus Army clothing
and the lawyers for the dealers wanted
the clause eliminated. so that the
goods could be sold to the C., c. c.
Who attended this conference at
your home?" Rogers asked.
Ralph ONeil, Robert Jackson and
to the best of my recollection, be-
lieve Mr.. Combs also was there.
O'Neil was representing Silverman and
jackson and Combs were represent
ing the Newbury Manufacturing Co.
OF Boston"
Questioned about letters contained
in papers which the lawyers brought
to his home, McMullen said there
were letters from a Representative
and a Senator, but he wasn't sure OF
their names. Pressed for the identity
of the authors of these letters. the
witness said he thought Senator Cope
land was one and that the other was
a House member from New Jersey
whose name escaped him.
McMullen said that as far as the
trading deal between Silverman and
the Government was concerned, he
drew up the contract in accordance
with terms outlined in a letter from
S-~N
usual contract form.
Then I delivered the contract to
Mr., Woodring," McMullen said.
He made quite number of changes
until he got 1t to satisfy him"
Later, he stated, Woodring executed
the contract in McMullen's presence
Silverman already had signed it, the
officer explained.
Saw SiIverman Sign.
McMullen's memory was hazy at
first as to whether he had witnessed
Silverman's signature, but when Rogers
refreshed his recollection by reading
excerpts of what appeared to be Nc
Mullens testimony before the grand
jury. the officer said that he prob
ably" saw Silverman sign it.
THE assistant secretary (Mr Wood
ring) told me to get Silverman to
sign it and I did," McMullen testified
McMullen said he did not recall
whether Woodring asked him about
the legality Of the contract and the
officer explained to the committee
that he was acting under orders
merely as the writer of the contract" ;"
Confirms Early Story.
Representative James, Republican,
of Michigan, read excerpts from a
story in The Star some months ago
in which a meeting at McMullen' S
home was disclosed publicly for the
first time. The witness confirmed
certain statements made in the article.
Asked about his reluctance to tes-
tify yesterday afternoon on grounds
of determination, McMullen told the
committee today he had no fear of
incrimination and had refused to tes-
tify at that time because he had got
ten mad and flown off the handle" "
Quizzed About Check.
McMullen was questioned about a
check he received for teStifying for
q private firm, Lowell & Dunbar, de-
PENDANTS in a suit brought by the
Government. McMullen said he was
sure the check was mot over $500"
and that it was "for expenses and a
little something over" He said he
didn't consider his testimony in this
case improper because the suit was
friendly one" to settle legal point.
McMullen identified letters he had
written to members of the patent firm
of Semmes & Semmes, with which his
son is affiliated The letters referred
to checks that we're inclosed for cer-
tain members of the firm lin payment
of services rendered"
The chairman put into the record
notation of a payment by the firm
of a bonus to McMullen's son.
Stage Already Set.
The stage for today's Showdown"
was set yesterday afternoon when
Col. McMullen baked at a query by
RenreSentative James