Mr. ROSENTHAL. I deposited it, I think, in the Girard Trust Co., in Philadelphia, or the Real Estate Trust. Mr. DAVIS. Of Philadelphia? Mr. ROSENTHAL. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know whether you could get a record of the payment of that check from that company? Mr. ROSENTHAL. Oh, I suppose I could, if you think it is very important, although it is a long time ago. The CHAIRMAN. From that we might ascertain whether this was a private personal check of Col. Michael or not. Mr. ROSENTHAL. Would they know that? The CHAIRMAN. They would keep a record of that. Of course they keep a record of the payee and drawer of the check; most banks do, and also the amount; they will keep that, of course. That is a very important matter now for you as well as for the committee. Mr. DENT. Do you remember whether you deposited this check to your credit or whether you got the cash on it? Mr. ROSENTHAL. No; I always deposit. Mr. DENT. To your credit? Mr. ROSENTHAL. Yes. Mr. DAVIS. Then you could ascertain, I presume, by going to the bank, just that information? Mr. ROSENTHAL. Yes; but the only trouble is I changed Mr. DAVIS. And they could tell you from their books. Mr. ROSENTHAL. If I could recollect exactly the date about it I do not think there would be any trouble. Mr. DAVIS. They have a record of that check; if they destroyed the check they have a record of it. The CHAIRMAN. You might find your deposit slips. Mr. ROSENTHAL. Would they keep a record as far back as that? The CHAIRMAN. They keep it in their records of their bank, but I thought perhaps you might have your deposit slip. Mr. DAVIS. Hardly. The books of this Girard Trust Co. will show a good deal about that check; to whom it was paid and the nature of the check? Mr. ROSENTHAL. Yes. Mr. DAVIS. Do you know or do you have any distinct recollection whether that check had Col. Michael's name on it at all? Mr. ROSENTHAL. My impression is that it did. And in making inquiry I understood that the chief clerk had the power to make a requisition on the State Department, the Appropriation Committee, or whoever had charge of the funds, for a fair amount any time he wanted it and then check off by his personal check for small things that he wanted along; I understood that he had that authority. The CHAIRMAN. And that you got one of those personal checks? Mr. ROSENTHAL. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Will you look up your bank records over in Philadelphia? Mr. ROSENTHAL. It is worth about a thousand dollars to do that, but I will try. (The subcommittee thereupon adjourned.) |