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B-129716, DEC. 6, 1956

B-129716 Dec 06, 1956
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LEWIS: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 12. WHICH WAS FORWARDED TO OUR OFFICE BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND TO YOUR COMMUNICATION OF NOVEMBER 25. THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TREASURER ADVISED US IN PART AS FOLLOWS: "THE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE DISCLOSED THAT THE CHECK WAS RECEIVED. LEWIS WAS INTERVIEWED. SHE ADVISED THAT SHE WAS SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND AND HE WAS OBLIGED BY COURT ORDER TO PAY HER $12.00 A WEEK. MARYLAND CREDITED HIS ACCOUNT WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE CHECK WHEN THEY WERE ADVISED BY MRS. IT IS FURTHER STATED IN THE REPORT THAT WHEN THE PAYEE WAS INTERVIEWED. YOU STATE THAT YOUR WIFE FORGED THE CHECK EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE SENDING HER ALIMONY THROUGH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT OF BALTIMORE.

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B-129716, DEC. 6, 1956

TO MR. FITCHER L. LEWIS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 12, 1956, WHICH WAS FORWARDED TO OUR OFFICE BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND TO YOUR COMMUNICATION OF NOVEMBER 25, TO US, CONCERNING YOUR CLAIM FOR THE PROCEEDS OF 1951 SPECIAL DIVIDEND CHECK NO. 28,674,069, DATED JUNE 17, 1952.

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT AS A RESULT OF YOUR ALLEGATION OF NONRECEIPT OF THE CHECK, OUR OFFICE TRANSMITTED YOUR CLAIM TO THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ON MAY 13, 1953, FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

IN A REPORT DATED AUGUST 13, 1953, THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TREASURER ADVISED US IN PART AS FOLLOWS:

"THE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE DISCLOSED THAT THE CHECK WAS RECEIVED, ENDORSED AND NEGOTIATED BY MRS. LUCILLE LEWIS, THE ESTRANGED WIFE OF THE PAYEE. WHEN MRS. LEWIS WAS INTERVIEWED, SHE ADVISED THAT SHE WAS SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND AND HE WAS OBLIGED BY COURT ORDER TO PAY HER $12.00 A WEEK. HE DID NOT ABIDE BY THE AGREEMENT MADE BUT THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND CREDITED HIS ACCOUNT WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE CHECK WHEN THEY WERE ADVISED BY MRS. LOUIS THAT SHE CASHED THE ITEM PAYABLE TO HIM. SHE ALSO INFORMED THE AGENT THAT THE PAYEE HAD AUTHORIZED HER TO USE THE PROCEEDS OF ANY CHECKS PAYABLE TO HIM FOR AN OVERDUE PAYMENT ON FURNITURE WHICH THEY HAD PURCHASED; THAT WHEN THE CHECK ARRIVED SHE PAID $18.00 ON THE FURNITURE BILL AND USED THE BALANCE OF $12.00 TO PAY THE RENT. MRS. LEWIS SIGNED A SWORN STATEMENT TO THIS EFFECT. IT IS FURTHER STATED IN THE REPORT THAT WHEN THE PAYEE WAS INTERVIEWED, HE REFUSED TO SIGN A RELEASE EVEN THOUGH THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT HE BENEFITTED IN THE PROCEEDS OF THE CHECK.'

ON THE BASIS OF THE FINDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE AND A DETERMINATION BY OUR OFFICE PREDICATED ON SUCH FINDINGS, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT CLOSED THE CASE AND NOTIFIED YOU ACCORDINGLY.

YOU STATE THAT YOUR WIFE FORGED THE CHECK EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE SENDING HER ALIMONY THROUGH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. YOU ALSO SAY THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED JUSTLY IN THE MATTER, AND YOU WILL NOT SIGN A RELEASE UNTIL FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN YOUR CLAIM.

IN VIEW OF YOUR WIFE'S SWORN STATEMENT THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THE CHECK IN QUESTION WERE CREDITED TO AN ACCOUNT WHICH YOU WERE REQUIRED BY COURT ORDER TO PAY, IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT OF THE CHECK. FURTHER, THERE IS NOTHING OF RECORD TO REBUT THE TESTIMONY OF YOUR WIFE.

ACCORDINGLY, THE MATTER APPEARS ONE FOR ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR WIFE, AND DOES NOT PRESENT A SITUATION REQUIRING FURTHER INTERVENTION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.

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