Mr. Ball.

Well, Merchanteers, Inc.---it is the mail order agency for George Rose & Co., is it?

Mr. Rose.

No; may I clarify it?

Mr. Ball.

Yes; well, I better have him, and then I may ask you to clarify it.

Mr. Rose.

Yes; all right.

Mr. Ball.

Tell me what you know of the relationship between George Rose & Co. and Merchanteers?

Mr. Michaelis.

Well, Merchanteers, Inc. is a mail-order business. But, it is also a management company and makes out the paychecks for employees from the George Rose & Co.

Mr. Ball.

I see. Now, what business is George Rose & Co. engaged in?

Mr. Michaelis.

George Rose & Co. are wholesalers and sell to retail stores.

Mr. Ball.

What do they sell?

Mr. Michaelis.

Musical instruments, cutlery, firearms, watches, clocks, and various others.

Mr. Ball.

Does George Rose & Co. engage in any mail-order business?

Mr. Michaelis.

Yeah; we get mail orders, too.

Mr. Ball.

You take mail orders as George Rose & Co.?

Mr. Michaelis.

Yes.

Mr. Rose.

Wholesale.

Mr. Ball.

At wholesale?

Mr. Michaelis.

Wholesale, yeah.

Mr. Ball.

Now, there is also a company called Seaport Traders, isn't there?

Mr. Michaelis.

Seaport Traders is another mail-order business.

Mr. Ball.

It is another mail-order business?

Mr. Michaelis.

Correct.

Mr. Ball.

Do you work for them?

Mr. Michaelis.

Only in a supervisory position.

Mr. Ball.

That is the company that you work for, Merchanteers, you say?

Mr. Michaelis.

Merchanteers; yes.

Mr. Ball.

Is it Merchanteers, Inc.?

Mr. Michaelis.

Merchanteers, Inc.; yes.

Mr. Ball.

They manage the business of Seaport Traders?

Mr. Michaelis.

That is correct.

Mr. Ball.

Now, last fall did the Federal Bureau of Investigation visit your place of business and inquire as to the sale of a certain Smith & Wesson revolver?

Mr. Michaelis.

Correct.

Mr. Ball.

About what date?

Mr. Michaelis.

I believe it was November the 30th, a Saturday.

Mr. Ball.

And in searching your records for any such sale, to what particular record did you first look?

Mr. Michaelis.

We started first, after having received the serial number, through our serial number book for this particular type of gun.

Mr. Ball.

Now, what serial number did the FBI give you?

Mr. Michaelis.

V, as in victory, 510210-65248.

Mr. Ball.

Now, those two numbers signify what?

Mr. Michaelis.

The first number, V510210, is commonly described as the butt number, while the second number, 65248, usually is described as the crane number.

Mr. Ball.

Now, the serial numbers are stamped where on the gun?

Mr. Michaelis.

As mentioned before, the first number is on the butt of the gun.

Mr. Ball.

I see.

Mr. Michaelis.

And also it appears on the lower part of the barrel.
Furthermore, it appears also on the outside rim of the cylinder of the gun. In other words, the first number, 510210, appears three times on the gun.

Mr. Ball.

And that is usually known as the serial number of the gun; is that right?

Mr. Michaelis.

Yes. But, we are---it is required that since Smith & Wesson revolvers carry two kinds of serial numbers, also to list the so-called crane number.

Mr. Ball.

Is that also known as the assembly number, the crane number?