Report from Special Agent James H. Griffith

Form No. 1388 (Revised) MEMON DUM REPORT (7-1-50) UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ORIGIN OFFICE FILE NO. TYPE OF casenier is Office STATUS Washing ton, D. TITLE OR CAPTION 00-1-3264 Non-Criminal Investiga- me 779 Closed PERIOD COVERED Final Report Location of Duplicate Set of China- INVESTIGATION MADE BY 5-22-7-22-52 ware Used by the Cleveland Adminis. ARCHIVES AND CORDS Agent Janes M. Griffith SERVIDE SOVERN Reference is made to Initial Report, dated July 2, 1952, submitted in the above- captioned case. Three phases of inquiry were made in the course of this Investigations the attempt to locate and intervie members of the Taylor family or surviving persons acquainted with the family; the verification of Mr. Alvin T. Embrey's story through persons and records to be found in Fredericksburg, Virginia; and the search of reference material on china through sources available in Washington, D. C. A preliminary check for the Taylor family was made in the "Washingtonia" Section of the City Library on May 22, 1952, but no record was found of Pershon Tayleur or Taylor or anyone believed to be related to him. On July 2, 1952, the reporting Special Agent visited Fredericksburg, Virginia, and interviewed Judge Alvin T. Embrey in his offices in the Law Building in that city. Judge Embrey, now 78 years of age, is one of the most prominent citizens in Prodericksburg; is a descendant of a wealthy and distinguished pioneer fanily, and is still quite active in legal circles in Fredericksburg and the neighboring area. At one time, he was Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia, and also served two terms as Commonwealth Attorney. Judge Embrey is regarded as one of the outstanding authorities on Northern- Central Virginia history and land titles. In the latter category, he worked twelve years compiling several tremendous volumes recording land grants, titles, deeds, and wills, which have constituted an excellent source work for attorneys over a wide area. In this exhaustive compendium, Judge Embrey has traced many land titles from the original patents granted in Colonial Virginia. These books were printed in duplicate, and the Judge has given the original set to the City of Fredericksburg, and they have been placed in a special room in the Court House, known as the "Embrey Legal Library." Judge Embrey is a raconteur and readily tells one story after another, mostly on topics of historical significance. However, his health has been failing considerably of late, and he spends only about two hours a day in his office. DISTRIBUTION COPIES REPORT MADE BY DATE Chief Orig. & 3 ec. January SPECIAL AGENT H. Griffith 7-22-52 APPROVED James m. Beary James H. Griffith DATE Washington, D. C. 2 cc. SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE 7-22-52 Beary (CONTINUE ON PLAIN PAPER) PRINTING OFFICE 16-61806-1