Page:Special Committee on Un-American Activities, Investigation of Nazi Propaganda Activities and Investigation of Certain Other Propaganda Activities 3.djvu/21

 148 INVESTIGATION OF NAZI AND OTHER PROPAGANDA Mr. CHRISTMAS. I went chiefly to take my wife to the fair and it coincided with this other business. The CHAIRMAN. But this $60,000 went with you? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Where did you stay in Chicago? Mr. CHRISTMAS. At the Blackstone. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. MacGuire stayed at the Palmer House, did he not? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. In addition Mr. MacGuire took out a letter of credit for $30,300 to Chicago, did he not? Mr. CHRISTMAS. So I have been told he has testified. The CHAIRMAN. So that at this Chicago convention you had a letter of credit for $60,000 and he had letters of credit amounting to $30,300, is that right? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes; that is correct. The CHAIRMAN. All of which were cashed? Mr. CHRISTMAS. No. The CHAIRMAN. Excepting $24,000? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not know about Mr. MacGuire's letters. All except $24,000 of mine- The CHAIRMAN, He has testified they were all cashea. Mr. CHRISTMAS. Very well. All cashed except $24,000. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, between you and Mr. MacGuire you had $66,000 in cash at the convention? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Approximately. The CHAIRMAN. Did you know Mr. MacGuire had put his money into a sofe-deposit box in the First National Bank of Chicago? Mr. CHRISTMAS. You told me last week. The CHAIRMAN. Did he ever tell you that? Mr. CHRISTMAS. No. I never discussed the matter with him. The CHAIRMAN. Where did you put your money? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not think I put it anywhere. I had it one night, I believe, and left it in the hotel safe over night. The CHAIRMAN. Then you delivered it to whom? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Mr. MacGuire. The CHAIRMAN. Did you deliver the whole $60,000 or all but $24,000 to Mr. MacGuire? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I delivered about $34,000. The CHAIRMAN. About $34,000 which with his $30,000 made about $64,000 or $65,000 that he had? Mr. CHRISTMAS. That is approximately correct. The CHAIRMAN. That is the amount of money he had at the con- vention. What was this first $25,000 given to him for? Mr. CHRISTMAS. It was an advancement or a partial advancement or partially in repayment of traveling and entertainment expenses previously incurred." The CHAIRMAN. If that is so, his own account shows he bought letters of credit with it in addition to the $15,000 you gave him, which he cashed in Chicago. Can you account for that? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not think I quite understand the question, The CHAIRMAN. The bank records show he immediately drew out that $25,000 and that he purchased $30,300 worth of letters of credit. Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes. INVESTIGATION OF NAZI AND OTHER PROPAGANDA 14. The CHAIRMAN. With the $25,000 and the additional money you gave him, which was $15,000. That was your own check? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. He cashed that in Chicago. Immediately when he went out there he cashed it in Chicago. Why would he do that if he was going to use this money for traveling and entertainment expenses covering a period of months? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not know, unless he was not sure that I was going to be able to get out. In fact, I do not think I knew until the last minute that I could go myself. The CHAIRMAN. Why should you give him such a tremendous sum of money in addition to what he had received, totaling some $64,000 at Chicago, for entertainment and traveling expenses if that was to cover a number of months? Mr. CHRISTMAS. He was so busy he had no time, as I understand, to go and get this money out. The CHAIRMAN. He had time enough to make two trips back to New York while he was supposed to be in Chicago. Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not know that. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know that he made a trip to Washington during that period he was supposed to be out there? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, he went out there on September 21 and remained there until October 5? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Yet he came back to New York on September 23 and got a $13,000 letter of credit with thirteen $1,000 bills. Did you know that? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I have no recollection of the details. The CHAIRMAN. Did you know that he came back on September 29 and purchased a letter of credit with the $15,000 that he got from you? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not recall whether I knew that or not. The CHAIRMAN. As a matter of fact, the $15,000 check was a check for $15,075, was it not? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I do not think so. The CHAIRMAN. It was a certified check? Mr. CHRISTMAS. A certified check, I believe. The CHAIRMAN. Did you know he had come to Washington and stayed at the Mayflower Hotel on September 24 and September 25? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I cannot recall at this date whether he was in Washington on that day or not. He made many trips to Washington. The CHAIRMAN. I see. Now, Mr. MacGuire's bank account, and he could not give us any assistance either, shows on September 11, 1933, deposit of $15,000, which you carry here under date of September 12. It shows on September 13 a deposit of $10,000, which is carried here under date of September 14. It shows on September 16 a deposit of $2,200. Do you know anything about that? Mr. CHRISTMAS. I know nothing about that. The CHAIRMAN. On September 18 there is a deposit of $20,000. Is that a swapping of checks with you? Mr. CHRISTMAS. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. On November 17, $1,000, which was drawn out of the Robert Sterling Clark custody account, shown here under date of