The testimony of George Senator was taken at 9:45 a.m., on April 21, 1964, at
200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C., by Messrs. Burt W. Griffin and
Leon D. Hubert, Jr., assistant counsel of the President’s Commission. Dr. Alfred
Goldberg, historian, was present.
Mr. Hubert. This is the deposition of George Senator beginning at 9:45 a.m.
Mr. Senator, my name is Leon Hubert and this is Mr. Burt Griffin. We are
both members of the advisory staff of the President’s Commission.
Under the provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated November 29, 1963, the
Joint Resolution of Congress, No. 137, and the rules of procedure adopted by the
Commission in conformance with the Executive order and the joint resolution,
we have both been authorized to take a sworn deposition from you, Mr. Senator.
I state to you now that the general nature of the Commission’s inquiry is to
ascertain, evaluate and report upon the facts relating to the assassination of
President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald.
In particular as to you, Mr. Senator, the nature of the inquiry today is to
determine what facts you know about the death of Oswald and any other
pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry, and about Jack Ruby.
Now, Mr. Senator, I think you have appeared today by virtue of written request
made to you by Mr. J. Lee Rankin, general counsel of the staff of the President’s
Commission. Is that a fact, sir?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you receive that letter?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What is the date of it?
Mr. Senator. April 16, 1964.
Mr. Hubert. When did you receive it?
Mr. Senator. I received it Saturday. I don’t know what date it was. What
was the date Saturday?
Mr. Hubert. Saturday would have been the 18th.
Now, under the rules adopted by the Commission, you are entitled to a 3-day
written notice prior to the taking of the deposition, but the rules adopted by the
Commission also provide that a witness may waive this notice, and I ask you
now whether you do waive the notice in the event that you did not get the
full 3 days.
Mr. Senator. We will continue.
Mr. Hubert. I understand by your answer that you say that you do waive it.
Mr. Senator. I waive it.
Mr. Hubert. All right, Mr. Senator. Will you rise now and take the oath?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in this matter
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Senator. I do.
Mr. Hubert. Now will you state your full name?
Mr. Senator. George Senator.
Mr. Hubert. How old are you, Mr. Senator?
Mr. Senator. Fifty years old. I was born in Gloversville, N.Y.
Mr. Hubert. And when?
Mr. Senator. September 4, 1913.
Mr. Hubert. What is your present address, that is residence?
Mr. Senator. Right now?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. 2255 Grand Concourse, Bronx, N.Y.
Mr. Hubert. Is that your permanent residence?
Mr. Senator. No; I mean I just come up, you know, I just came to New York
about 2½ weeks ago and am staying with my sister temporarily.
Mr. Hubert. Do you propose to go to another place, to move to another place?
Mr. Senator. Eventually I will, yes; in New York, but momentarily I do not
know where.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, you are staying at your sister’s home temporarily?
Mr. Senator. Temporarily.
Mr. Hubert. But your purpose is to live in New York?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you will, when you find an apartment, some other place to
live, move out from your sister’s house?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. I wonder if you would go over briefly in your own words the
facts of your life, particularly where you lived, and your occupation, beginning
actually with your education.
Mr. Senator. My education was up to the eighth grade.
Mr. Hubert. And where was that?
Mr. Senator. Gloversville, N.Y.
Mr. Hubert. Then after you finished the eighth grade, what did you do?
Mr. Senator. I moved to New York and went to work.
Mr. Hubert. You mean New York City?
Mr. Senator. Yes; New York City. I lived with my sister, too. I mean I
moved in with my sister at that time.
Mr. Hubert. That is the same sister you are now living with?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What is her name, by the way?
Mr. Senator. Freda Weisberg, Mrs. A. J. Weisberg.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you live with her?
Mr. Senator. Originally, let me say approximately about 3 years. I went back
and forth actually from New York back to home. Of course, I was only in my
teens then.
Mr. Hubert. What sort of work did you do?
Mr. Senator. In New York I was working in a silk house, I was working for
a wholesaler where we delivered silk to the dress manufacturer.
Mr. Hubert. And you continued in that occupation——
Mr. Senator. Just in my young teens.
Mr. Hubert. Until you were how old?
Mr. Senator. Possibly about 18, to the best of my knowledge.
Mr. Hubert. You were living with your sister as you said?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now, at age 18, did your life take a change by way of occupation
and residence?
Mr. Senator. Well, I got sick a couple of times so every time I got sick I went
home to mother. I went back home. Of course, the distance, was about 190
miles from my home town to New York City. At one time I had pleurisy, went
back home and stayed a year. Another time I had peritonitis. I went back home
again.
Mr. Hubert. This was after age 18 or before?
Mr. Senator. No; this is now after 18.
Mr. Hubert. Then I take it that after age 18 and for a period of 1 or 2 years
you were not working because of illness and you were staying mostly with your
mother at home?
Mr. Senator. Yes; well, my brother had a restaurant, or rather, still does.
He has a restaurant. I used to help him up there.
Mr. Hubert. Where? What place was that?
Mr. Senator. Gloversville, N.Y. He had a restaurant by his name, by his
last name.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you work with him?
Mr. Senator. On and off, this is a rough guess, it has been so many years. I
would probably say maybe a couple of years, something like that.
Mr. Hubert. At which time you lived with your mother?
Mr. Senator. Yes, I lived home.
Mr. Hubert. Would that take us then in your life to about age 22?
Mr. Senator. I would say around there, yes.
Mr. Hubert. Then what happened after those days of your life?
Mr. Senator. Then I went back. I can’t quote you the exact years, but I
went back to New York.
Mr. Hubert. City, you mean?
Mr. Senator. New York City, and I went to work for a—I was jerking sodas in
the early thirties. That is when I was in my twenties yet then.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you live during that period?
Mr. Senator. I was still home with my sister. I went back. I shuttled
either from my sister to my mother.
Mr. Hubert. You did not have any residence of your own?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Where did she live during that period?
Mr. Senator. My sister? She lived in the Bronx, still does.
Mr. Hubert. I mean the same address?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember the address, or were there several? I am
talking now about this other period, you see, that is to say when you——
Mr. Senator. I can think of the streets but I probably could not think of
the numbers.
Mr. Hubert. Well, that is all right. Give us the streets.
Mr. Senator. All right. When I originally came to New York it was on
Davidson Avenue in the Bronx.
Mr. Hubert. That would have been when you were about 12 years old?
Mr. Senator. No, no. I first came to New York when I was 15.
Mr. Hubert. Where did she live then?
Mr. Senator. On Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. Then from Davidson I
think I moved to Walton Avenue. These are all close by, these streets, you
know. I would probably say a distance of maybe 4, 5, or 6 blocks, something
of that nature. Then I lived there—I am trying to think now. I have to jump
back a lot of years and can’t think of these outright.
Mr. Hubert. We understand that and we understand therefore that your
answers must be approximations.
Mr. Senator. Yes, they are approximations. When I got this job jerking
sodas there, now I’m in my twenties already. Of course, this is in the 1930
years. I was approximately around 25 when I was working in the Bronx
jerking sodas and still living with my sister.
Mr. Hubert. That was around 1938, I take it?
Mr. Senator. Yes, and 1939; 1938 and 1939.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember the place at which you worked?
Mr. Senator. Yes, sure, J. S. Krums, chocolatiers. That is on the Grand
Concourse.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you stay there?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say I may have been there around 2 years.
Now this is roughly guessing. Then the place went out on strike and I went out
of a job. Then from there, two other fellows who were employed with us,
we all went down to Florida. We went down to Florida for the winter and
got a job there for $14 a week and stayed all winter, then we come back again.
Mr. Hubert. What kind of work were you doing and who was your employer?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. Or employers?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t remember. It was a cafeteria with a soda fountain
and I worked at the soda fountain. It has been so many, many years.
Mr. Hubert. Who were the other two people that you went with?
Mr. Senator. One fellow, his name was Ike Heilberun, and the other is—I
can’t remember his name.
Mr. Hubert. Have you seen either of those two people in the last 10 or 20 years?
Mr. Senator. I would say—no, one I haven’t seen in many, many years. As a
matter of fact, I think even before the war.
Mr. Hubert. Which one, the one whose name you don’t remember?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And the other one?
Mr. Senator. The other I think the last time I saw him must have been maybe
around 6 years or 7 years ago. He is down in Florida.
Mr. Hubert. What kind of work is he doing?
Mr. Senator. He is in the stationery business, if he still is, I mean. He was.
Mr. Hubert. And you met him in connection with work or socially or how, that
is 6 years ago?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; it happened to be I went down there. I went down
there for a vacation there.
Mr. Hubert. And you looked him up?
Mr. Senator. And I looked him up and I found him and when I found him he
was in the stationery end.
Mr. Hubert. How extended was your visit with him then?
Mr. Senator. Oh, just casual. I would probably say maybe I saw him two or
three times.
Mr. Hubert. No business relations?
Mr. Senator. No, no; no business relations whatsoever.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s go back now and pick up the time when you came back from
Florida. I say “came back.” I assume you went back to New York.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I went back to New York.
Mr. Hubert. And tell us again——
Mr. Senator. I do not remember if I stayed in New York or went back home
now, because I would say on and off I had worked for my brother at various
times.
Mr. Hubert. Your brother?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What is his name?
Mr. Senator. Jake Senator. Senator’s Restaurant in Gloversville, N.Y. I
worked on and off at his place many times.
Mr. Hubert. How far have you progressed in your own mind as to this chronicle
of your life? We are up to what year now that you were working for your
brother?
Mr. Senator. At the time I enlisted. In other words, when the war broke out
I enlisted down at Albany, N.Y., at the Federal Building in Albany, N.Y. That
was in August of 1941, I believe. I think it was August 20 or August 21, 1941,
and I was with my brother at the time when I enlisted.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember working for the Admiral Hotel in Miami Beach
and the Times Square Cafeteria?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is it. That is the place, the Times Square Cafeteria.
Mr. Hubert. And David and Elizabeth Rosner at the Astor Hotel?
Mr. Senator. It could be possible. I just don’t remember. It could be possible.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, you were in Miami and worked for several people
whose names I have mentioned during the winter of 1939–40 and until about the
end of the season in Miami Beach, I take it?
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Hubert. When did you enlist?
Mr. Senator. I enlisted August 20 or 21 of 1941.
Mr. Hubert. That was before Pearl Harbor then?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall what you did or where you lived from the summer
of 1940?
Mr. Senator. What is that?
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall what occupation you had or where you lived from
the summer of 1940 when you returned from Miami to New York until you entered
into the service in August of 1941?
Mr. Senator. I believe I was back home with my brother.
Mr. Hubert. That is working for him?
Mr. Senator. The restaurant, yes.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you stay in the service?
Mr. Senator. I’ll have to read it, or I’ll let you read it.
Mr. Hubert. No: that is all right. You served for the duration of the war, I
suppose? You hand me now a little document which is a laminated copy.
Mr. Senator. The reason I handed you that is because I lost my original and
I am happy that I have got that.
Mr. Hubert. You were honorably discharged from the Army of the United
States on September 9, 1945, given to you at the Separation Center, Fort Dix,
N.J? This reflects also that you were a staff sergeant.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. That your serial number was 12006042, and that at the time of
your discharge you were with the 101st Bomber Fortress Squadron?
Mr. Senator. Yes; when I came out.
Mr. Hubert. All right. Then after you left the service in September of 1945,
where did you go and what did you do?
Mr. Senator. When I came back out of the service, this fellow Ike Heilberun,
who I mentioned living down there, we went into the luncheonette business and
lasted approximately about a year and lost our shirts.
Mr. Hubert. What was the name of that? Is that the outfit called the
Denise Foods, Inc.?
Mr. Senator. Where is that located? Do you have the location on that?
Mr. Hubert. 254 West 35th Street.
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t remember the name. I remember the street. That
is why I asked you.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, that was a corporation formed by you and this
man you talked about?
Mr. Senator. Yes. We bought somebody out, that is right.
Mr. Hubert. And you were occupied with that endeavor through most of
1946?
Mr. Senator. I would say approximately about that to the best of my
knowledge.
Mr. Hubert. And where did you live then?
Mr. Senator. I was living—of course, I can’t remember if I got married
before that or after that.
Mr. Hubert. But sometime along in there after you left the service, you
got married?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I believe I got married in January 1946, if I am not mistaken.
Mr. Hubert. What was the name of the lady you married?
Mr. Senator. Sherley Baren.
Mr. Hubert. How do you spell that?
Mr. Senator. B-a-r-e-n.
Mr. Hubert. Are you still married to her?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Are you divorced?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. When? Approximately.
Mr. Senator. Approximately about 7 years.
Mr. Hubert. Ago?
Mr. Senator. Approximately, I’m not sure of the date. I’d say approximately
about that.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, you lived together as man and wife approximately
for 10 years?
Mr. Senator. No, no.
Mr. Hubert. Seven years ago would be 1957. You said that you married her
in January of 1946. Maybe you did not live together that long. Maybe the
divorce came after you had physically separated.
Mr. Senator. Yes. Actually, we had been separated I would probably say
around 3 years, I think. I think it must have been around 3 years.
Mr. Hubert. Before the divorce?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I think that is it.
Mr. Hubert. Did you have any children of that marriage?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I have one son 16 years old.
Mr. Hubert. He is now 16 years old?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What is his name?
Mr. Senator. Bobby.
Mr. Hubert. Where were you divorced?
Mr. Senator. Through the mail. She was in Miami and I was in Texas.
Mr. Hubert. But where were the divorce proceedings actually instituted?
Mr. Senator. In Miami.
Mr. Hubert. She brought the divorce suit?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Has she remarried?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know to whom?
Mr. Senator. His name is Milton Wechsler. I am not sure of the spelling
of it. I think it is W-e-c-h-s-l-e-r. I think that is how you spell it.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know where they live?
Mr. Senator. Coral Gables.
Mr. Hubert. Now would you tell us of your occupation and residences
after your marriage, say from January 1946 forward?
Mr. Senator. After I went out of business, after my partner and I went out
of business, I moved down to Miami and I had two or three odd jobs there.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you stay there?
Mr. Senator. At these jobs, do you mean?
Mr. Hubert. No.
Mr. Senator. Or Miami?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I stayed in Miami, I would say, around 7 or 8 years. As a
rough guess, something like that, offhand.
Mr. Hubert. You had a number of jobs during the first year that you got
there; is that right?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What kind of work did you do?
Mr. Senator. Restaurant-type work.
Mr. Hubert. I notice that your social security records indicate that you
either had no earnings or at least that none were reported for the second half
of 1947 and the first half of 1948, approximately a year. Can you explain that?
Mr. Senator. 1947 and 1948?
Mr. Hubert. In other words, for the third and fourth quarters from a social
security point of view of 1947 and the first and second quarters——
Mr. Senator. Of 1948?
Mr. Hubert. Of 1948, so it would be roughly from July 1947 to June of 1948
there were no earnings reported.
Mr. Senator. 1947 and 1948?
Mr. Hubert. After which—this may assist your memory—for the third
quarter of 1948, that is say from July on, you report having worked at the Lake
Carrolton Club Grill in Pike. N.H.
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes.
Mr. Hubert. So, perhaps if you remember working in New Hampshire, you
can back off and tell us what happened in that year when there were no earnings
reported. This may assist you too. The social security records show that in
the first quarter of 1947, that would have been January, February, and March,
you apparently worked for the T-A Hensroost.
Mr. Senator. I believe that was the first job I had when I got down in Miami,
if I am not mistaken. I think that was the first job I got. That was an open
stand on the oceanfront.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember that you worked there actually for the first
6 months?
Mr. Senator. At the Hensroost?
Mr. Hubert. Of 1947.
Mr. Senator. At Hensroost? I can’t quote how long I worked there, but I know
that I worked there.
Mr. Hubert. Now then, perhaps we can reconstruct the thing, because you
apparently left there at the Hensroost in midsummer of 1947, and then you pick
up in midsummer of 1948 in New Hampshire, and it is the intervening year
that I would like to have you cover.
Mr. Senator. Wait a minute. Oh, then I think after that, yes, I was out of
a job for a while and I don’t recall how long. Then I got a job in another little
luncheonette for a while and I don’t know how long that was.
Mr. Hubert. It may be that you did not have enough earnings to require reporting
them, you see. What I am trying to do is assist your memory. Do you
recall leaving Miami Beach to go to New Hampshire?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure; I remember going. I don’t remember what year, but
I remember going, yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember what time of the year, whatever year it was?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I went there for one summer.
Mr. Hubert. For the season?
Mr. Senator. The season; yes.
Mr. Hubert. Your wife went with you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. She stayed in Miami?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. When you finished the season there, what happened?
Mr. Senator. Well, I come back and I was—I’m trying to think. What year
was that, 1940-what?
Mr. Hubert. It was the last half of 1948. Perhaps I can assist your memory
too by pointing out that your social security records indicate that you worked
for T-A Troops.
Mr. Senator. Yes, that is the place I was trying to mention to you but I
couldn’t think of it. Now I don’t remember if I worked for that place after I
come back or before. That is the thing I don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. You worked for that place quite a length of time, I believe.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. How long? Do you remember?
Mr. Senator. Gee, I don’t remember how long I worked there.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you live when you were working for Troops?
Mr. Senator. Northwest Fourth Terrace.
Mr. Hubert. Miami Beach?
Mr. Senator. No; Miami.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, the restaurant was in Miami Beach?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. On Collins Avenue?
Mr. Senator. That is right; yes.
Mr. Hubert. You lived in Miami City itself?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Were you living with your wife then?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall what your next move was?
Mr. Senator. I believe my next move is I got a job selling. I was broken in
selling women’s apparel, if I recall right.
Mr. Hubert. Women’s apparel?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Before we leave the Miami Beach situation, what was the cause
of your leaving Miami Beach and the Miami area, because apparently you did?
Mr. Senator. You mean when I went to Texas?
Mr. Hubert. No, when you left Miami you did not go directly to Texas, did
you?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure.
Mr. Hubert. You did?
Mr. Senator. Sure. Come this May 15, and I think I am pretty well on the
date, I have been in Texas 10 years.
Mr. Hubert. So you moved to Texas in 1954?
Mr. Senator. May of 1954.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember working for the Rhea Manufacturing Co.?
Mr. Senator. Yes; out of Milwaukee, Wis. That was my start. Is that in the
year of 1950, something like that? I don’t remember, 1949, 1948?
Mr. Hubert. The social security records indicate 1951.
Mr. Senator. Is that what it is? I just don’t remember. It could be 1951.
Mr. Hubert. You were working for Rhea Manufacturing Co., and the records
also show that you worked for Smoler Bros., Inc., in Chicago.
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Hubert. The Rhea Manufacturing Co. was in Milwaukee, Wis. Did you
live in Milwaukee?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And in Chicago?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. In other words——
Mr. Senator. I only worked for them out of there. In other words, the only
time that I ever went there is when they had sales meetings, when they called
the people in for sales meetings.
Mr. Hubert. Where were you living then?
Mr. Senator. In Miami.
Mr. Hubert. That same residence?
Mr. Senator. Northwest Fourth Terrace?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What was your area, sales area?
Mr. Senator. Florida.
Mr. Hubert. Just Florida?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You sold women’s apparel?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Wholesale?
Mr. Senator. Wholesalers. They were manufacturers.
Mr. Hubert. I notice from these records, too, that apparently during the years
1951, 1952, and 1953, your employer seems to alternate between Smoler Bros.,
Inc., and Hartley’s, whose address is given as 144 East Flagler in Miami.
Mr. Senator. Hartley’s is a large—it almost looks like a department store
but it is not. It is a large specialty shop.
Mr. Hubert. Were you working for both?
Mr. Senator. The only time I worked for Hartley’s was, I think it was either
one or two seasons. I don’t remember which. Just for the Christmas holidays
only.
Mr. Hubert. When you did work for Hartley’s, did you leave Smoler’s?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, Smoler’s continued right on?
Mr. Senator. Yes. In other words, I would probably say maybe a week or
something like that before the Christmas holidays I worked in there. I would
say approximately like that. Approximately a week or something like that.
Mr. Hubert. These records also indicate that actually you worked for Smoler’s
out of Chicago, wherever you actually lived or whatever your territory might
have been, until 1958; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Yes. Smoler’s is the one who forced me to Texas.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us about that.
Mr. Senator. There were two men they were releasing in Dallas, Tex., and it
happened to be I was in Atlanta, Ga., and it happened to be on a Friday, I recall
this very distinctly. My boss called me and I couldn’t imagine what he was
calling me for. He said, “George, we are releasing a couple of men and we
want you to go to Dallas.” And I didn’t want to go. But he said, “You are
going.” So I wound up in Dallas.
Mr. Hubert. When was that? I know you said is was a Friday, but do you
remember the year, the month?
Mr. Senator. No. Oh, wait; yes. It was 10 years ago.
Mr. Hubert. 1954?
Mr. Senator. Because I have been there—come next month, it will be 10
years I have been there.
Mr. Hubert. So the telephone conversation on Friday would have been in
May of 1954, on a Friday?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Actually, May 15, I think you said.
Mr. Senator. No; I think I arrived in Dallas, I think it was May 15.
Mr. Hubert. Did your wife go with you?
Mr. Senator. No; she wouldn’t go.
Mr. Hubert. Had you been living together up to that time?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Was that the cause of your separation?
Mr. Senator. I believe that is.
Mr. Hubert. She never did go to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No; she wouldn’t go, and I had a job to hold down.
Mr. Hubert. She kept the child?
Mr. Senator. She kept the child.
Mr. Hubert. And still has it?
Mr. Senator. And still has it, and, of course, there could have been a possibility
if I didn’t go—I only say possibility—that I could have been released
from my job. This, I only say, there could have been a possibility.
Mr. Hubert. Now tell us what you did then in Dallas. You continued to
work, I take it, for Smoler’s?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; sure.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you live? Can you give us a list of the various places
where you lived?
Mr. Senator. The first year I was just living, you know, in motels, from one
place, you know, wherever I was, because I was traveling the State of Texas.
Mr. Hubert. What was your territory there?
Mr. Senator. Texas.
Mr. Hubert. The whole of Texas?
Mr. Senator. I started off the whole thing and then I wound down until I
probably wound up with just a corner of it. And when I wound up with that
there I said this is not for me, because I can’t make it on only part of Texas.
Mr. Hubert. Of course, that comes a little later.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you live in Dallas? Give us a list of your various
addresses just roughly.
Mr. Senator. The first place that I actually centrally located in, I don’t
remember the name of the place but I do remember the name of the street.
Mr. Hubert. All right.
Mr. Senator. I could go to the place and know where it is but I can’t think
of the name of the place, which was on McKinney Avenue.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you stay there?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I would probably say, I’d have to guess, I would
probably say maybe 6 months to a year. I’m not sure now.
Mr. Hubert. Was it an apartment?
Mr. Senator. Yes; it was an apartment.
Mr. Hubert. Were you alone?
Mr. Senator. No; I was with a couple other boys.
Mr. Hubert. Who were they?
Mr. Senator. One fellow by the name of George Guest. George Guest, he
was a, what do you call them, xylophones. He was a musician.
Mr. Hubert. He played the instrument called the xylophone?
Mr. Senator. What is the one with the woods? It is not xylophone. What is
the one that is made out of wood?
Mr. Hubert. Marimba?
Mr. Senator. Yes, it is the marimba. Is the marimba made out of wood?
Mr. Hubert. As a musical instrument?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. A percussion instrument?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where did he work?
Mr. Senator. He played wherever he got engagements. He got booked locally,
out of town.
Mr. Hubert. Who was the other one?
Mr. Senator. The other one who stayed with us a short while, his name was
Mort Seder.
Mr. Hubert. What did he do?
Mr. Senator. He sells men’s apparel, traveling salesman.
Mr. Hubert. Have you maintained contact with either of those?
Mr. Senator. George Guest got married many, many, years ago. The last
I heard that at that time he had moved to, I think it was Fort Lauderdale by the
sea.
Mr. Hubert. What about the other one?
Mr. Senator. Seder I have seen, the last time I ran across Seder, of course, he
is always traveling, the last time I saw him was, I would probably say in the
last 2 months.
Mr. Hubert. Did you see him often prior to that?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure. We lived together for a while. We lived together.
Mr. Hubert. You mean you lived together initially?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And then lived together after that?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes. Wait a minute, I’m trying to figure how we broke up.
Oh, yes, we lived together for a while but he wanted his own place. He wanted
to live alone. At that time he was not doing too well and he couldn’t stand the
pressure of having an apartment by himself, at that time. So we lived together.
Mr. Hubert. That was the first 6 months or so when you settled in that place?
Mr. Senator. Yes. It happened to be that we both almost got divorced
around the same time. He was living in Houston at that time.
Mr. Hubert. All right, so that accounts, I take it, for your residence at the
McKinney Street address.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And that broke up?
Mr. Senator. No; from there it broke up and Seder and I moved to another
place.
Mr. Hubert. Where was that?
Mr. Senator. That was on Shadyside Lane.
Mr. Hubert. And how long did you live there?
Mr. Senator. This is another guess. I would probably say 6 months to a
year, with a guess again, something like that.
Mr. Hubert. That is you and Seder?
Mr. Senator. Yes; Seder.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you go from there?
Mr. Senator. Columbia Avenue.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you live there?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say we may have lived there maybe a couple
of years. I’m not sure now.
Mr. Hubert. You were still with Seder then?
Mr. Senator. Yes; and that is where he wanted to have his own place.
Mr. Hubert. So he left you, as it were?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you remain at the Columbia Avenue address?
Mr. Senator. I remained there for a while.
Mr. Hubert. And then what happened?
Mr. Senator. I remained there for a while and then he stayed there. I’m
trying to figure where I went from there.
Mr. Hubert. After you left Seder, if you left the apartment in which you
were living with Seder at Columbia Avenue, do you recall whether you then——
Mr. Senator. I stayed there for a while.
Mr. Hubert. You stayed there for a while alone?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I had my own place.
Mr. Hubert. When you moved next, did you move in with somebody else or
were you alone?
Mr. Senator. No; I moved in with somebody else. I’m trying to think where,
though.
Mr. Hubert. It might help if you remember who it was that you lived with?
Mr. Senator. I think I moved to the Oasis.
Mr. Hubert. Is that an apartment house?
Mr. Senator. Yes; these are all apartment houses—the various places. They
have all been apartment houses. That was on Live Oak. I believe that is
where I moved next.
Mr. Hubert. Whom did you share that apartment with?
Mr. Senator. I stayed there with two other boys, Ronnie Unger and Kenny—I
can’t think of his last name.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you live there?
Mr. Senator. Pardon me?
Mr. Hubert. How long did you live there?
Mr. Senator. Let me get to this first, please. After I moved, when I moved
in with them, the thing I was trying to figure out before I got there, now I got
through with Smoler Brothers and I can’t think of what year. Do you have a
listing of it?
Mr. Hubert. Our records indicate you last worked for Smoler’s, or rather,
that there is no more income reported from Smoler’s after July of 1958.
Mr. Senator. That is probably when I got through, in 1958. That is when I
got through with Smoler’s, in 1958. I don’t remember when I was with Smoler’s
that I was still living at Columbia Avenue or not. I may have been living there
yet. I don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. Now, we have the sequence of your addresses and the last place
was at the Oasis.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now, from Oasis where did you go to live?
Mr. Senator. Where I moved to?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. From the Oasis I think, I’m not sure now but I think from the
Oasis, I think I went on the road for 9 months and just lived all over, if I recall
right.
Mr. Hubert. Were you working with Smoler’s then?
Mr. Senator. No; I’m not sure I went from the Oasis. I don’t remember
if I——
Mr. Hubert. Let’s see if this will assist your memory. The social security
reports indicate that after the second quarter of 1958, which would mean after
July of 1958, you reported no income or no earnings were reported, put it that
way, for the last half of 1958, for all of 1959, for all of 1960, and for all of 1961.
Now, can you tell us what you were doing and where you were living for those
3½ years, starting from July of 1958 until apparently——
Mr. Senator. July of 1958?
Mr. Hubert. July of 1958 until apparently the beginning of 1962, when you
were employed by the Volume Sales Co. and Merchandise Mart, Dallas. That
is 3½ years there and I would like to know just what you were doing and
where you were living?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t know if I can put them all together right.
Mr. Hubert. Do the best you can.
Mr. Senator. Now, when I was still living on Columbia Avenue, I don’t remember
if I was still with Smoler’s then.
Mr. Hubert. In any case you moved to the Oasis?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I moved to the Oasis.
Mr. Hubert. From the Oasis and after you left Smoler’s whenever it was,
you got on the road.
Mr. Senator. Wait; after I left Smoler’s, I had a couple of odd jobs traveling
which did not mean too much because they were not top lines and moneywise
there was no money to really be made. These were odds, and then I finally
got back with Rhea again.
Mr. Hubert. R-h-e-a?
Mr. Senator. R-h-e-a. Rhea Manufacturing.
Mr. Hubert. Milwaukee?
Mr. Senator. Milwaukee. I got back with Rhea again, I don’t remember
what year. But anyhow, in between that I would almost say there could be
a span with a rough guess approximately about a year and a half I was
unemployed.
Mr. Hubert. How did you manage to sustain yourself by way of paying normal
expenses?
Mr. Senator. I was cooking for the boys and doing odd things for them.
Mr. Hubert. Were you living in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure.
Mr. Hubert. All that period?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, during the period we are talking about, the
3½ years from July of 1958 until January of 1962, you never did change your
residence from Dallas, even though you might be traveling?
Mr. Senator. January of 1962.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s get this part settled. From the time you left Smoler’s,
you were definitely living in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever actually establish a residence of a permanent nature
other than in Dallas any place else?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. So that even though you were traveling during those years,
doing odd jobs or for Rhea’s, you always lived in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes; wait, there was one time, excuse me, I was staying with
a friend of mine in Houston. There was one time, I remember that.
Mr. Hubert. How long ago?
Mr. Senator. But actually, that still wasn’t a permanent residence because
I was traveling with this guy because I was unemployed and I used to help
him.
Mr. Hubert. Who is he?
Mr. Senator. His name is George Hamrah.
Mr. Hubert. How do you spell it?
Mr. Senator. H-a-m-r-a-h.
Mr. Hubert. He still lives in Houston?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he still lives in Houston.
Mr. Hubert. So aside from that period that you are talking about, you
always lived in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Can you bring us forward then as to your residence from the
Oasis on?
Mr. Senator. From the Oasis I believe now, I believe from the Oasis I went
to Jack Ruby’s, if I am not mistaken. I think I moved in with Jack.
Wait, I’ll tell you when I moved in with Jack. It was in February or
March, I’m not sure now, of 1962.
Mr. Hubert. And you think that you were in the Oasis in the interval.
Mr. Senator. No, no; wait, wait. Before I moved in, excuse me, yes, I
moved in with Jack from the Oasis. Now I lived in three different places in
the Oasis with different boys because I was unemployed.
Mr. Hubert. We are not particularly interested in the apartment numbers
in the Oasis.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. But we are in the names of the people that you lived with at
the Oasis.
Mr. Senator. I gave you the names——
Mr. Hubert. Of two of them, as I recall.
Mr. Senator. Of one apartment.
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Right. Then another apartment I lived in, the fellow, his name
was Frank Irwin.
Mr. Hubert. Go ahead.
Mr. Senator. The other one was James Young, and the other one was—this
is all in one apartment. I can’t think of the other one’s name.
Mr. Hubert. Have you seen them in the last few years?
Mr. Senator. Oh, the last time I saw any of them was around the latter
part of last year.
Mr. Hubert. Even the man whose name you don’t know?
Mr. Senator. Even the man whose name I don’t know. I’m trying to think
of his name. I shouldn’t forget it. I think it is John.
Mr. Hubert. Perhaps it will come to you in a minute. We will come back
to it.
Mr. Senator. I shouldn’t forget his name as long as I’ve known him. I just
can’t put my finger——
Mr. Hubert. But you lived with those people at the Oasis?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. At various apartments?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Until January or February of 1962 when you moved in with
Jack Ruby; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where was Ruby living then?
Mr. Senator. Ruby was living at the Marsalla—
Mr. Hubert. Palace?
Mr. Senator. There is a bunch of apartments there.
Mr. Hubert. Marsalla South?
Mr. Senator. It may have been Marsalla South.
Mr. Hubert. There is actually a Marsalis Street; is there not?
Mr. Senator. Yes; but there is an apartment, a few begin with Marsalla,
Marsalla Apartments or Marsalla South. This one here was on Marsalla on
the street.
Mr. Hubert. It was on Marsalis Street?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you live with Jack then?
Mr. Senator. At that time I stayed, I lived with him approximately 5 to
6 months; something like that.
Mr. Hubert. Anybody else live there with you?
Mr. Senator. No; just Jack and myself.
Mr. Hubert. What was the occasion for your leaving him?
Mr. Senator. I left him because I had a chance to go into the postcard business.
Mr. Hubert. How does that relate to leaving Jack? You still lived in Dallas;
did you not?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure. I never left Dallas.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you live after you left Ruby?
Mr. Senator. After I left who?
Mr. Hubert. Ruby. Now, incidentally, I judge from the dates that that
would have been around in September.
Mr. Senator. August.
Mr. Hubert. August of 1962?
Mr. Senator. Yes; August.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you go then?
Mr. Senator. I moved in with a fellow whose name was Stan Corbat.
Mr. Hubert. And where was that apartment?
Mr. Senator. That was on Maple Avenue.
Mr. Hubert. You say that the reason why you moved from Jack’s was because
you got a chance to be a salesman in the postcard business?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. How does that relate, how does your getting this employment
relate to your moving from Jack’s apartment?
Mr. Senator. Jack likes to live alone in the overall picture. First of all,
it is an interference of the time that I wake up and the time that he goes to
bed which don’t coincide. That is part. And then Jack don’t live too clean.
I mean he is a type—in other words, he comes home, he is reading a newspaper,
on the floor, if he is in the bathroom the newspaper goes on the floor and things
of that nature. Though he was very clean about himself, he wasn’t clean around
the apartment.
Mr. Hubert. I judge from what you tell me then that your real reasons
for moving were those that you just mentioned rather than the fact that you got
employment selling postcards? Is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Why I moved?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Please run that back again.
Mr. Hubert. I say I judge from what you have said that the real reason
for your moving from the apartment with Jack in 1962 was your dissatisfaction
with the living conditions rather than that you got a job selling postcards?
Mr. Senator. No; not necessarily. I mean that is part of it. That is not
necessarily it; no.
Mr. Hubert. How does the postcard job, selling postcards, contribute or
how did it contribute to the fact that you had to move from Jack?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I didn’t have to. I didn’t have to; but this way here I
started to get self-sustaining a little bit.
Mr. Hubert. Oh, I see. So you had a steady job?
Mr. Senator. Yes; see, the other way, when I was living with Jack, of course,
I was helping him at the club. I was helping him at the club, and, of course,
I abided by everything he said and did.
Mr. Hubert. So the reasons for moving then, were a combination of factors.
One, that you were dissatisfied generally with the living conditions as you
have indicated?
Mr. Senator. That is only partially it. I had a chance to go out.
Mr. Hubert. And you were financially better off and you had a chance to go
with Corbat, and you did?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And how long did you stay with Corbat?
Mr. Senator. When I went in with Corbat, of course, he only had a one-bedroom
apartment and I had to sleep on the couch again. I slept on so
many couches lately. So I told Stan, I told this friend of mine, Corbat, when
we were staying on Maple Avenue, that just as soon as I get a little extra money
I want to get a two-bedroom apartment and that is where I moved into this
last apartment, 225 South Ewing.
Mr. Hubert. That was about when?
Mr. Senator. I moved in there, I believe it was the latter part of November
of 1962, we found a nice two-bedroom apartment that was very reasonable.
I told Jack about it and Jack moved next door.
Mr. Hubert. But he moved later than you, didn’t he?
Mr. Senator. Well, see, I moved in first.
Mr. Hubert. With Corbat?
Mr. Senator. No. Yes; first I went in alone, no furniture or nothing. I
moved in alone and I was there approximately about a week or something like
that, and Corbat stayed over at the other place because he wanted to finish
the balance of the month out. He wanted his last days in there, you know, for
we paid for the rent, and then he moved in right after that.
Mr. Hubert. He moved in with you?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And that was in November of 1962?
Mr. Senator. I believe it was the latter part of November of 1962.
Mr. Hubert. When did Ruby move in?
Mr. Senator. He moved in around that same time.
Mr. Hubert. But after you?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I would probably say within the week I would probably
say, something like that, within that week.
Mr. Hubert. And then you stayed there until when?
Mr. Senator. The unfateful day.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t live with Corbat all that while?
Mr. Senator. No; I lived with Corbat from the time we moved in there until
August.
Mr. Hubert. Of 1963?
Mr. Senator. Yes; now, the reason Corbat moved out——
Mr. Hubert. Ruby had another apartment in the same building?
Mr. Senator. Yes, yes; we lived, you know, one apartment next to the other.
Now, the reason Corbat moved was because he got married August 8, and there
I was in the apartment alone and I couldn’t handle it alone. But I did stay
there 2 months with a struggle.
Mr. Hubert. So then when did you move from that apartment to Ruby’s apartment?
Mr. Senator. It was the first week in November of 1963.
Mr. Hubert. By the way, would you state for the record what was the number
of the apartment you and Corbat had?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know the number. I said Maple Avenue. The apartment
was Granberry. You mean on Maple Avenue?
Mr. Hubert. No.
Mr. Senator. Room number?
Mr. Hubert. Yes; on South Ewing.
Mr. Senator. 223 South Ewing.
Mr. Hubert. What was the apartment number that you lived in with Corbat
which was next door, you say, to Jack’s and what was Ruby’s number. I want
to get that in the record.
Mr. Senator. I think Ruby’s was 206 and mine was 207, if I recall.
Mr. Hubert. They were next to one another, or opposite?
Mr. Senator. No; in other words, you go along this corridor. There is one
apartment here. Right next door there is another apartment.
Mr. Hubert. And they are numbered in sequence?
Mr. Senator. Yes; 206, I believe his was 206 and mine was 207, something like
that. I think it was 206 and 207.
Mr. Hubert. Now, for a moment, let’s go back to Frank Irwin, who was one of
your roommates. Have you seen him lately?
Mr. Senator. No, I have not seen Frank in, oh, I imagine it must be a couple
years.
Mr. Hubert. What was he doing when you last saw him?
Mr. Senator. What does he do?
Mr. Hubert. What was he doing then?
Mr. Senator. I believe he is a guard for the Bell Helicopter.
Mr. Hubert. What about James Young?
Mr. Senator. James Young works for a finance—I think it is a finance corporation
called Warner.
Mr. Hubert. When did you last see him?
Mr. Senator. I saw him, he was coming through, he was working out of El
Paso and he was being transferred, I think he said to Oklahoma City, and I
saw him that one day, rather, that one night in Dallas.
Mr. Hubert. What time?
Mr. Senator. At night.
Mr. Hubert. No; what day?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. What time of the year, what month?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I think it was in December.
Mr. Hubert. Of 1963?
Mr. Senator. I think so, in December 1963.
Mr. Hubert. When had you seen him prior to that time?
Mr. Senator. Prior to that time? I don’t remember. It could have been a
couple years, I guess.
Mr. Hubert. I think you mentioned that there was another man, a third
man——
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Whose name you couldn’t remember at the time. Can you remember
his name now?
Mr. Senator. Jack Loftus.
Mr. Hubert. L-o-f-t-u-s?
Mr. Senator. Yes, that is correct, Jack Loftus, and he lives in Hillsboro, if he
is still there.
Mr. Hubert. What is his occupation?
Mr. Senator. I think he works for a newspaper down there now in Hillsboro.
Mr. Hubert. Texas?
Mr. Senator. Yes, Hillsboro, Tex.
Mr. Hubert. When was the last time you saw him?
Mr. Senator. I saw him the same night I saw Young. I may have seen him
after that. I know I have seen him a couple of times, but I don’t remember if
it was after that or before that. I don’t remember that, but I do definitely
remember seeing him the last time in December. This part I do remember.
Mr. Hubert. That was the same day you saw Young?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Was that just a coincidence or was it a plan?
Mr. Senator. No, no; no coincidence. They were looking for me and I’ll tell
you where I saw him. I saw him up at Jack Ruby’s club.
Mr. Hubert. That was after Oswald was shot?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. They were looking for you for what reason?
Mr. Senator. Sir?
Mr. Hubert. For what reason were they looking? Why were they looking
for you?
Mr. Senator. Just friends, that is all, because I had lived with them, you
know, for a while. Nothing particular.
Mr. Hubert. I suppose, too, they had known that you were in the apartment
with Ruby.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Of course, it was national news.
Mr. Senator. They had read of the incident or heard of the incident somehow.
Mr. Griffin. How long was that after Ruby killed Oswald that you saw them?
Mr. Senator. These two boys?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I think it was in December now. I don’t remember if it was a
week, two or three. I’m not sure. I just don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. Can you relate it to say Christmastime, Christmas day?
Mr. Senator. It could be. I just can’t think of when it was. Possibly.
Mr. Hubert. How long prior to then had you seen Loftus?
Mr. Senator. Before?
Mr. Hubert. Yes, say before Oswald was shot. How long had it been since
you had seen Loftus?
Mr. Senator. Let me put it this way: I can’t quote it. I really can’t quote
it, but I would say that he lived in Hillsboro and he used to come up on weekends
and I believe he stayed with his friend in Irving, Frank Irwin.
Mr. Hubert. What was the friend’s name?
Mr. Senator. Frank Irwin.
Mr. Hubert. I-r-w-i-n?
Mr. Senator. I-r-w-i-n, yes.
Mr. Hubert. And that person lived in Irving, Tex.?
Mr. Senator. Irving, yes; he lived in Irving. Now I used to run across him
once in a while. He used to come up you know for the weekend.
Mr. Hubert. Did he know Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he knew him casually.
Mr. Hubert. What about these others, Frank Irwin and James Young?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if they knew Ruby.
Mr. Hubert. Did Stanley Corbat know him?
Mr. Senator. Casually, because Stanley and I lived next door to him. But,
of course, Stan never went to his club unless I took him there.
Mr. Hubert. Stan got married, of course, and that is why he moved out of
the apartment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where is he living now, in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know the number, but I think he is living on Munger
Street.
Mr. Hubert. Have you seen him since Oswald was shot?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure.
Mr. Hubert. How did you come in contact with him, socially?
Mr. Senator. I just happened to run across him one day. I ran across him
once in a delicatessen.
Mr. Hubert. Just once?
Mr. Senator. In the delicatessen. I ran across him once in a delicatessen.
Then I ran across him another time. As a matter of fact, I ran across him I
think it was twice since the happenings.
Mr. Hubert. What does he do?
Mr. Senator. He is a buyer for a department store. He buys women’s budget
dresses.
Mr. Griffin. Which department store?
Mr. Senator. Titche.
Mr. Griffin. That is in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Where is that located?
Mr. Senator. That is I think on Main Street. I think it is on Main Street.
Mr. Hubert. Let me ask you a few other questions about yourself.
Have you ever been in any difficulties with the law, that is to say, by way of
charges?
Mr. Senator. No; the only incident I ever had with the law, and I have been
asked many times before on this already, that one night—this goes back maybe
3 or 4 years ago—there was another chap and I, we went to a cocktail lounge
and we both had two scotches and water. We crossed the street and I think we
crossed the street against the light because in Dallas they are very meticulous
of crossing against the lights, and we went into the coffee shop to get something
to eat. We no sooner got in the coffee shop than two cops nabbed me, us rather.
They said we were drunk. Now I wasn’t any more drunk than he was.
Mr. Hubert. Did they charge you?
Mr. Senator. Yes; they took us down to jail, 4 hours to sober up, but I had
nothing to sober up with.
Mr. Hubert. Did they follow up with any charges?
Mr. Senator. No; we were fined $15.
Mr. Hubert. You were fined?
Mr. Senator. I believe it was $15.
Mr. Hubert. Is that the only time?
Mr. Senator. The only time in my life.
Mr. Hubert. The only time you have ever been arrested?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. There have been no other charges?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Also I gather from the fact that you got an honorable discharge,
that you had no difficulties with military justice?
Mr. Senator. Never.
Mr. Hubert. During the war?
Mr. Senator. Never, none whatsoever.
Mr. Hubert. Now, while you were living in Miami, did you have occasion to
get to know or meet or make friends with, either one, any person who would be
classified as gamblers, professional gamblers?
Mr. Senator. Professional?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Did you go to any gambling houses?
Mr. Senator. Me? No; of course I’m certain there must be sneak gambling
you know, like anyone else. They call it sneak gambling, you know, you do it
under cover. But at that time when I got down there, I think it was either shut
down or close to being shut down. I don’t remember just what year it was.
They just clamped down, you know.
Of course, I remember when I first went there as a kid, everything was open.
Slot machines used to be on the streets and all that.
Mr. Hubert. Have you yourself ever done any gambling?
Mr. Senator. No; I’m no gambler. When you put it this way, I will put it
this way: You mean have I played poker at home, 5 and 10 or something like
that?
Mr. Hubert. No.
Mr. Senator. No; the only time that I ever did any gambling was when I was
overseas. I was in the jungles for approximately 3 years. What other recreation
did we have? So we gambled.
Mr. Hubert. I want to explore a bit more the means by which you obtained
money to live during the 2½ years that you were apparently unemployed, at
least no earnings were reported, that is to say, from July of 1958 until the first
of 1962.
Mr. Senator. What years?
Mr. Hubert. According to the records, there were no earnings reported for you
by anybody nor did you apparently report any yourself from July roughly of
1958 until January 1 of 1962, or the first part of 1962.
Mr. Senator. Approximately about 4 weeks ago the Internal Revenue had me
and they called me right after I got off the witness stand at the Jack Ruby trial
that they wanted to see me.
Mr. Hubert. Go ahead.
Mr. Senator. They gave me a notice to come up and see them. They allowed
me 10 days to come up and see them, which I did.
When I was unemployed, when I lost my job I think it was in 1958, when I
was with Rhea, which is a very depressing feeling, I don’t know how to explain
this, I really don’t know how to explain it to you, I didn’t file. Why I didn’t
file I can’t even answer, I don’t know why I didn’t file.
Mr. Hubert. Before you get to that, maybe we ought to get to this part.
You say you lost your job. You are talking about being with Smoler’s?
Mr. Senator. No; that was with Rhea.
Mr. Hubert. You were with Smoler’s a long time. What caused you to lose
your job there?
Mr. Senator. With Smoler Brothers?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. As I say, they weren’t happy with me and I wasn’t happy with
them.
First of all, I’ll tell you they had cut down the territory and they were
unhappy with the type business I was doing. So, this was a volume house, and
the type operation was, I don’t know if I classify, if I tell you $3.75 a dress, I
don’t know if it means anything to you or not, but at this price range, at the
wholesale price range, you have got to do a volume business to make any money.
And through this they weren’t happy. And I wasn’t happy because they had
cut my territory down so, so we parted good friends. I wasn’t making any
money anyhow over that.
Mr. Hubert. Had you had times with Smoler’s when you had done considerably
better?
Mr. Senator. There were times that I did better. I don’t say that I did a
fantastic job with them, but I have done a little better than that.
Mr. Hubert. Had you been able to make any savings to carry you forward?
You see, that is what I want to get at. We find when you left Smoler’s, you
go to Rhea’s——
Mr. Senator. Excuse me, before I went to Rhea I had other odd jobs you
know that were nothing to speak of.
Mr. Hubert. Here is what I want to get at.
Here is a period of 2½ years, you had to have some money to live on or people
gave you money or something of that sort. Now tell us about that.
Mr. Senator. I lived on handouts.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us about it.
Mr. Senator. I lived on handouts. When I mentioned these boys here and
I was living on handouts with them. In other words, I used to cook for them
and wash dishes and things of that nature. I was really depressed, extremely
depressed and down and out, and they slipped me five, three, two, whatever
it was, and I helped them along in the house there and they kept me for a while.
Mr. Hubert. You did not pay any part of the rent?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And that is true for that whole 2½-year period?
Mr. Senator. It wasn’t two and a half. I would say it was approximately
a year and a half, to my knowledge. I don’t think it was 2½ years.
Mr. Griffin. You went from Smoler Brothers to Rhea directly?
Mr. Senator. No, no; I say I had the odd jobs directly.
Mr. Griffin. Now, how much time was there between Smoler Brothers and
Rhea?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think there was much time between them.
Mr. Griffin. What would you say, 3 months?
Mr. Senator. It’s hard for me to really guess. I’d have to make such a
fantastic guess I wouldn’t know if I was right or wrong.
Mr. Griffin. This was not too long ago. This was back in 1957.
Mr. Senator. Yes, if I told you 3 months I don’t know how close I’d be and
if I told you 6 months I don’t know how far I’d be.
Mr. Griffin. You say you had odd jobs. Can you be more specific?
Mr. Senator. Yes, I was with another dress house for a short while, which
didn’t last too long.
Mr. Griffin. Doing the same kind of work?
Mr. Senator. Yes, doing the same kind of work.
Mr. Griffin. Covering territory?
Mr. Senator. Yes, they were with a top house. I didn’t stay with them long
and I wasn’t making any money with them.
Mr. Griffin. What company was that?
Mr. Senator. Junior Age. I don’t believe they are in business any more.
Mr. Griffin. How long would you say you were with them?
Mr. Senator. It may have been 3 months. I don’t know, 2 months, 4 months.
I’m not sure. It wasn’t too long.
Mr. Griffin. Were you on a straight commission with them?
Mr. Senator. Yes. No, a draw against commission.
Mr. Griffin. A draw against commission?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. But if you didn’t make your draw, you were in the hole with
them and had to pay it back supposedly, somehow?
Mr. Senator. I didn’t pay it back, but I was in the hole, yes.
Mr. Griffin. But after you left this dress house, who did you work for next?
Mr. Senator. I’m trying to think from the time there until Rhea. I know
I did some odd things. I was with Rhea——
Mr. Hubert. Were these odd things always in the same line, or did you get
into other lines?
Mr. Senator. No. I worked in a little bare place, I think I lasted, I worked
there for about 6 weeks once at hardly nothing, just to keep me going.
Mr. Griffin. Was that in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And that was before you worked for Rhea, or was it?
Mr. Senator. No. I think that was after. I think that was after I worked
for Rhea.
Mr. Hubert. How long did the Rhea employment last?
Mr. Senator. I may have been with them maybe a year, year and a half,
I’m not sure now.
Mr. Hubert. Did you make any money off of that?
Mr. Senator. Just a draw part.
Mr. Hubert. Were you on the handout basis when you were working for Rhea,
that is to say, handout with your roommates, or did you have enough money
then to pay your fair share?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; I paid my fair share as long as I was——
Mr. Hubert. So when you are talking about the handouts——
Mr. Senator. The handouts is when I was completely out.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t have any employment at all?
Mr. Senator. No, I was completely out.
Mr. Hubert. That was for about a year, year and a half?
Mr. Senator. I would say about a year and a half at a rough guess.
Mr. Hubert. When did that begin and when did that end, that year and a half?
Let’s look at it this way: You were not working at the time you were living
with Ruby, were you, that is to say you were not making any money?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. You were not contributing?
Mr. Senator. No. Ruby gave me handouts.
Mr. Hubert. That is right?
Mr. Senator. Certainly.
Mr. Hubert. So that is a year and a half back from November of 1963, is it
not, roughly?
Mr. Senator. No, I was with this Volume Sales like you mentioned before.
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I was with them. Now, I was with Volume for maybe about
9 months, I think.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s take the time that you were with Corbat. Was that on
a handout basis too, or did you pay your fair share then?
Mr. Senator. No; with Corbat I paid him very little. I’ll tell you when I
paid him very little, though. I paid him very little when I first moved in with
him, because I had no money.
Mr. Hubert. And then you got——
Mr. Senator. Then when I moved, when I was able to a little, we went on a
50-50 basis.
Mr. Hubert. That is when you moved to South Ewing?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Which was in August of 1962?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where were you making money at that time?
Mr. Senator. The cards. My half of the rent was $62.50 a month and his
half. In other words, it ran about $15 a week, approximately.
Mr. Hubert. And you earned enough to pay your half by selling postcards?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I was in the postcards.
Mr. Hubert. That is what business? What company is that?
Mr. Senator. Texas Postcard & Novelty Co.
Mr. Hubert. How long were you with them?
Mr. Senator. I was sales manager, whatever that means.
Mr. Hubert. How long were you with them?
Mr. Senator. August of 1962 until November of 1963.
Mr. Hubert. What part of November?
Mr. Senator. The latter part of November.
Mr. Hubert. You mean you ceased your employment with them after Oswald
was shot?
Mr. Senator. Yes; this is when I fell apart with the incident.
Mr. Hubert. What were you making then?
Mr. Senator. $75 a week, but $61.45, that is my actual draw.
Mr. Hubert. That was your actual draw?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. In cash?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Roughly $250 a month?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. I think you said you paid your half of the rent with Corbat?
Mr. Senator. Yes; $15 a week, $16 a week, or whatever it was.
Mr. Hubert. And then when you lost that employment—just a minute; you
had not lost that employment at the time you moved in with Ruby, because you
say that that employment——
Mr. Senator. No, no, no; you mean prior to——
Mr. Hubert. To the shooting.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You were still working with them?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you were still drawing that pay?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What did you mean when you said a little while ago that you
were on a handout basis with Ruby since you were making $250?
Mr. Senator. No; I am referring to the first time.
Mr. Hubert. Oh, I see.
Mr. Senator. That was in 1962.
Mr. Hubert. You were living in another place?
Mr. Senator. Yes; in 1962.
Mr. Hubert. But with reference to the last time you lived with Ruby; that is
to say, commencing the beginning of November of 1963?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You were——
Mr. Senator. I was under pressure those 2 months because the rent—you
know, when you switch from $62.50 to $125 you are going broke.
Mr. Hubert. From the time you left Corbat until you moved with Ruby——
Mr. Senator. I struggled for the 2 months, and Jack Ruby said to move in,
so I moved in.
Mr. Hubert. And were you supposed to pay any part?
Mr. Senator. With Jack, no.
Mr. Hubert. The arrangement was that you were not to pay anything?
Mr. Senator. I wasn’t to pay, but you know I would help him. I would help
him Fridays and Saturdays, or once in a while I would pop up during a week
night.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you something to get it straight about this Rhea
Manufacturing Co.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. What did they do? What did they make?
Mr. Senator. They manufacture dresses and sportswear.
Mr. Griffin. I notice your social security earnings record with Smoler Bros.,
that there seemed to be times regularly where you did not report any earnings
from them, or they did not report any payments to you I should say, to be more
accurate. Was there something seasonal about that business with Smoler Bros.?
Mr. Senator. The type business?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Yes; every season wasn’t good. In other words, let me put it
this way: When you get down to the latter part of the year, you know, see, we
are more so of a cotton housecoat, not a housecoat but a cotton dress. You have
seen these women wear these inexpensive cotton dresses. They look like plaid
variations. Well, this wasn’t a big factor at that time of the year. In other
words, our spring and our summer was the best for us as far as selling goes.
Mr. Griffin. And the spring and the summer were you selling for the spring
and summer seasons, or were you selling in the spring and summer for the following
season?
Mr. Senator. Let me explain it this way: I’m certain we are both on the right
track, but let me explain it this way. In other words, we will start in May.
In May your fall lines come out, see, come out, and you start selling them in May.
Some of them sell them in April, even. It all depends who the manufacturer
is and how fast they put them out. Then your spring line—let’s see, from the
fall line your spring line will come out in, I think it’s August, August of the year.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s see if we cannot get it this way. You never actually ceased
your employment with Smoler’s at any time until the final time?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is right.
Mr. Hubert. Now, there are periods from these reports that we have in which
Smoler’s apparently did not report any earnings for you. What we want to
know, is: Is it a fact that you did not earn anything during that period or did
not even draw during that period, or have you any explanation for the reason
that Smoler’s apparently did not report any earnings for you during several
years in a row for certain quarters, seemingly for the third and fourth quarter
of each year, and why would that be?
Mr. Griffin. That is right.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Were you always on a draw right along?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Were there some periods during each year when you did not
earn your draw?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes: there were many times I didn’t earn my draw.
Mr. Griffin. Was there anything seasonal about that? Were there certain
times of the year when you were working when it regularly happened that you
did not earn your draw?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure.
Mr. Griffin. What times of the year did that tend to be when you did not
earn your draw?
Mr. Senator. I cannot base it on any particular time or periods, but there were
many times, especially when you get chopped down a bit on your loans. I have
never made what you call any big money with them. I was always, I would
imagine, hitting probably around my draw part, or there may have been times
when I fell even behind.
Mr. Hubert. I want to get to the time when you first met Jack Ruby.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Hubert, I have a couple of questions. I would like to clear
up on some much earlier stuff before you get to that.
Mr. Hubert. All right.
Mr. Griffin. First of all, where is Gloversville, N.Y.? What part of New
York State is that?
Mr. Senator. Are you familiar with Albany?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. You are familiar with Schenectady?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. How about Amsterdam?
Mr. Griffin. Well, if I am not, if you tell us where it is.
Mr. Senator. I haven’t been there in so many years I may not have the right
direction now. All I know is I am trying to figure what the locality is. It is
30 miles from Schenectady. In other words, it is off the beaten path a bit from
your main lines.
Mr. Griffin. It is upstate New York?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I would probably say in the locale of the foothills of the
Adirondacks.
Mr. Griffin. Now I perhaps did not catch this, but there was a period in 1947
when you went to work in New Hampshire?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Why did you go to New Hampshire?
Mr. Senator. I needed a job.
Mr. Griffin. How did you happen to go there?
Mr. Senator. The man who was running the Red Rooster—what was the name
of it again?
Mr. Hubert. The Hensroost.
Mr. Senator. Yes; the Hensroost; he was up there for the summer. So he
got me a job up there for the summer. That was another time when I was very
much in need of a job. The type of work that I did up there, they had a little
place where the help used to come in, you know, to eat or drink or buy cigars, separation
from the guest part. This is the part I worked, made them hamburgers
or whatever it may be of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. I do not have anything else, Mr. Hubert, if you want to go on.
Mr. Hubert. Now, as I understand it, it was in May of 1954, almost 10 years
ago, that you moved to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. How soon after moving to Dallas did you meet Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. I would say it may have been—I would say approximately about
within a year or approximately about a year; I’m not sure.
Mr. Hubert. You did not know him prior to moving to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; I had never heard of Jack Ruby before in my life.
Mr. Hubert. You think it would be somewhere in 1955 that you first met him?
Mr. Senator. I would even say in 1955 or early 1956. I mean give or take
a few.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us the circumstances under which you met him.
Mr. Senator. How I met him?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I was with a friend of mine one day. We went over to—I am
certain you heard of the Vegas Club in Dallas?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. That is where, you know—at that time this is all Jack Ruby
had was the Vegas Club and this is where I met him casually. Never seen him
before, and I was introduced to Jack Ruby like I guess anybody else walked in,
Jack Ruby.
Mr. Hubert. All right; now, starting from then, would you tell us how your
friendship or acquaintance developed?
Mr. Senator. I have seen Jack; I have met Jack here or there, you know; it
can be in a restaurant or whatever it might be or a luncheonette or something
like that. I have met him many times. I have seen him, “Hi, George”; “Hi, Jack,
how are you?”
Mr. Hubert. Did you go to the Vegas Club frequently after that first meeting?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; very, very seldom, very seldom, and the only time that
I really got close to Jack was about 2 years ago. Always previous to that it has
always been, “Jack, how are you?” wherever I met him; having coffee, he always
offered to buy me something to eat.
Mr. Hubert. You describe your relationship with Jack up to 2 years ago as
casual?
Mr. Senator. Strictly casual, like I’d meet any other friend anywhere else.
Mr. Hubert. It could hardly be called friendship as it ultimately developed,
in any case.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I respected him; he respected me. We talked nice.
Mr. Hubert. You did not go to the Vegas very much?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t go to the Vegas very much.
Mr. Hubert. At the time you indicated that there was a change in that casual
relationship to something else 2 years ago.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Can you tell us what brought that about?
Mr. Senator. Yes. (Brief recess.)
Mr. Hubert. Mr. Senator, we have had about a 10-minute recess. You understand,
of course, that we are continuing this deposition by the same authority and
under the same conditions which I stated to you at the very beginning of it,
and further that you are under the same oath that you were prior to the recess.
Is that agreeable with you? You understand that?
Mr. Senator. I can’t lie because I didn’t bring a lawyer with me.
Mr. Hubert. What?
Mr. Senator. I said I am not lying because I didn’t bring a lawyer with me.
Mr. Hubert. So that the record may be clear on the point, I want to see if
I understand your last remark. Does it indicate that you wish to have a
lawyer?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. I just wanted to get it straight.
Mr. Senator. I say that I didn’t come here to lie; so I don’t need a lawyer.
Mr. Hubert. All right, now we are at the point about 2 years ago when a
casual relationship which you have described with Ruby changed into something
else. Why don’t you just tell us about that in your own words?
Mr. Senator. All right. I mentioned before Volume Sales. When I got
through with Volume Sales I was unemployed again, and I used to jump up to
Jack’s place, his other place, which is the Carousel. Previous to that there was
the Sovereign Club, a private club. On rare occasions I used to go up there
and we started getting a little more friendly.
Mr. Hubert. That was about 2 years ago or prior to that?
Mr. Senator. No; that was while I was still with Volume Sales. In other
words, that was, I would say, approximately about 2½ years ago. I used to
go up to the Sovereign Club; you know it is a private club; they don’t let you
in normally, but he used to let me in to watch the show.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember actually when that opened?
Mr. Senator. Which?
Mr. Hubert. The Sovereign.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember when it changed from the Sovereign to the
Carousel?
Mr. Senator. I wasn’t around for the change, but I would say that it was
over 2 years ago. Now just how much over, I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Would you concur in the suggestion that it would be approximately
Christmas of 1961, which would be about 2 years and 5 or 6 months?
Mr. Senator. That it changed to the Carousel?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t quote that. I couldn’t even quote it.
Mr. Griffin. Can I interrupt you here Mr. Hubert? How did you happen
to come to terminate your employment with Volume Sales?
Mr. Senator. You have got to know the man. He is a hard guy to work for.
He was really a tough guy to work for. You see, No. 1, he is a salesman himself,
and he is a pretty shrewd salesman, and he had Volume Sales, which were
novelty, sort of novelty and gift item type things.
Mr. Griffin. What kind of things?
Mr. Senator. Novelties? Well that would be variations. In other words, you
probably have seen these little things with different sayings on them. Remember
the little miniature loving cups with the different sayings on them? Things of
this nature, and other gag items and key chains and little bar sets and little
weather sets and things of that nature, and funny matches. Just a variation
of those things of that nature. And when I traveled for him and I’d get back
to town, he would knock me off $50. In others words, my draw wasn’t stable
with him.
Mr. Griffin. When you first started to visit the Sovereign Club, as you say
Jack would let you in, I take it you didn’t have membership in the Sovereign
Club?
Mr. Senator. No; because I think at the Sovereign Club I probably attended
that place maybe three or four times or something like that.
Mr. Griffin. Was Mr. Ruby running the same kind of shows at the Sovereign
Club that he later had at the Carousel?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; he was running acts, you know, he had acts, singers or
dancers or comedians, something of that nature you know.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have striptease performance?
Mr. Senator. No; the Sovereign; no; there were no strippers when he had
the Sovereign Club.
Mr. Griffin. Were you familiar with the other nightclubs in town when Mr.
Ruby had the Sovereign Club?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I knew some of them; yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did you visit any of those?
Mr. Senator. On rare occasions; yes. I couldn’t afford them, number one.
I was never a member because I couldn’t afford membership. I wasn’t making
that kind of money. But I’d either go up with a friend who was a member or
something of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Was there something about the Sovereign Club that was more
attractive to you than some of the other clubs?
Mr. Senator. No; not particularly; no. It is just that I knew Jack and Jack
said like he said a thousand times to many people. First of all the Carousel
of course is a $2 admission. But many people would say “Come on up, be my
guest,” free admission.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know any other nightclub operators in town at the
time Jack was running the Sovereign Club and letting you in?
Mr. Senator. Well, normally on getting into clubs I would probably go in
with a friend who was a member. You probably know the Kings Club and the
Adolphus don’t you or you heard of it?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; for example did you know the manager of the Theatre
Lounge?
Mr. Senator. As of recent?
Mr. Griffin. Back there when you were going to the Sovereign Club and
Jack would let you in.
Mr. Senator. No; I knew who the owner was but I didn’t know the manager,
who the manager was at that time.
Mr. Griffin. You know Abe Weinstein?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; I don’t know him that well. I know who he is, I know
him casually.
Mr. Griffin. Had you visited his clubs?
Mr. Senator. On very rare occasions. Abe’s place I have probably been up
maybe as long as I have been in Dallas, if I have been up there four times I have
been up there a lot, if I have been up there that many times.
Mr. Hubert. All right; now we had progressed to the point where your casual
relationship with Jack Ruby had developed into a little more than that commencing
roughly about 2½ years ago when you began to go to the Sovereign
Club. I think you went there about four or five times before it changed to
the Carousel. But you have previously mentioned that about 2 years ago
something happened that changed this improving relationship let’s say in the
sense that you got to know each other better, so that you could be called friends
then. Something happened you said about 2 years ago, and that is what I
want you to take it from there.
Mr. Senator. When I got through with Volume Sales I was unemployed again.
In other words, I was down again. So Jack Ruby is of a nature, he will help
somebody. Rather he has to feed them or give them a place to sleep or something
of this nature, this is when he took me in when he knew I was broke.
He said “George you can stay with me.”
Mr. Hubert. Did you tell him you were broke or did he find out from another
source?
Mr. Senator. No; I told him I was down.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ask to go in with him?
Mr. Senator. No; I’ll tell you why. I don’t think I did. At that time Jack
was changing over and he had some pretty rough times. He had changed over
from this Sovereign Club. Now how rough he had it there I don’t know because
I wasn’t intimate with him at that time, that intimate. And he went into this
burlesque business.
Mr. Hubert. That is the Carousel you mean?
Mr. Senator. The Carousel and he was bucking somebody who had never been
bucked before. That is the Weinstein brothers who owned the Theatre Lounge
and the Colony Club and who have had the monopoly of that type nature of
business for many, many years. Now, for him to buck them he has really got
something to buck.
Mr. Hubert. So he was having difficulties and you were too?
Mr. Senator. Yes; originally I was sleeping at the club and so was he.
Mr. Hubert. You mean he didn’t have an apartment at all?
Mr. Senator. He didn’t have an apartment at that time.
Mr. Hubert. How long did that situation go on?
Mr. Senator. It didn’t last too long, because as business started to pick up
some he was sleeping, he had his own room in the club and he had a fold-out bed
that I could sleep on and I slept there for awhile.
Mr. Hubert. So that originally when Jack took you in, as it were, to assist
you, he took you in at the club, and not into any apartment which he then had?
Mr. Senator. He didn’t have an apartment.
Mr. Hubert. That is what I say.
Mr. Senator. He didn’t have an apartment at that time. But he was always
good in feeding somebody if they were down and out.
Mr. Hubert. You mean he gave you cash?
Mr. Senator. Either that or he gave me a little cash for spending money or
he would just take me.
Mr. Hubert. Just do what?
Mr. Senator. Take me to eat, you know, when he went to eat. He’d pay for
my laundry or have my suit pressed, things of that nature.
Mr. Hubert. But then he did get an apartment?
Mr. Senator. He got an apartment but I don’t remember just how long after
that.
Mr. Hubert. In any case when he got an apartment you moved into that
apartment with him?
Mr. Senator. See I am a little blank on one point there. I just don’t remember
how the outcome was when he moved out of there into the apartment. I can’t
remember just how long I stayed up at the club with him. It wasn’t too long,
though. I don’t remember how long. But anyhow he got this apartment on
South Ewing.
Mr. Hubert. On South Ewing?
Mr. Senator. No; Marsalis.
Mr. Hubert. And then you moved in with him right away?
Mr. Senator. Then I went in with him. Now I don’t remember if I went
in with him—I don’t remember how I went in with him. I can’t place it together
but I know I was there.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t have to pay any rent?
Mr. Senator. No; but I helped him in the club.
Mr. Hubert. Now when you helped him in the club, what did you do? What
kind of work did you do at the club?
Mr. Senator. Well, I sort of ran the lights for him for awhile and I’d take
cash for him.
Mr. Hubert. You mean that is on the front door?
Mr. Senator. Yes; on the front door.
Mr. Hubert. That is the $2 admission charge?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is right.
Mr. Hubert. And what other jobs did you do?
Mr. Senator. Whatever errands he wanted me to do during the course of the
daytime, if he wanted me to pick up something here or pick up something there
or buy something that he needed for the club, go shopping and things of that
nature, whatever it might be.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t do the clean-up jobs?
Mr. Senator. No. He had a clean-up boy.
Mr. Hubert. Who was he?
Mr. Senator. His name was Andrew Armstrong I believe it was.
Mr. Hubert. Was he there when you first went there?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He was with Jack quite awhile. He was with Jack, I
think he was with Jack before I was there, yes, and he was there until the time
the club closed down.
Mr. Hubert. Did you travel around with Jack during this period when you
were unemployed and he was helping you out and you were helping him out by
doing errands and so forth? I mean when you got up in the morning did you
both go together? Did you move together or how was it?
Mr. Senator. It all depends. First of all he slept pretty good. He slept
pretty late. He liked to sleep. And he used to get up in the afternoon and
mess around, sit around the apartment. If the weather was right, I mean if it
happened to be summertime, he is a great fan for swimming. Or he’d just mope
around the place or hang around the apartment house.
Mr. Hubert. What I am trying to get at is whether your helping him out at
the club was a regular thing or just done once in a while.
Mr. Senator. No; I was doing it regularly. As long as he was keeping me
up, I had to do something, see.
Mr. Hubert. That is what I had in mind.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you go to the club at the same time that he did?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Did you leave at the same time that he did?
Mr. Senator. I would leave when he left.
Mr. Hubert. Because you were both going back to the same house?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What about going there? You went earlier?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; I left earlier. In other words he could sit in the apartment
longer than I could.
Mr. Hubert. What time did you normally go to work then?
Mr. Senator. He would always make me go in in early, somewheres around
between 7 and 8. He wanted me to see that things were set up.
Mr. Hubert. You never had to go in midafternoon though?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; unless if we did go in midafternoon, which was rare,
probably maybe to feed the dogs or something like that.
Mr. Hubert. Who took care of the reservations and all other matters of that
sort?
Mr. Senator. Andrew.
Mr. Hubert. What time did Andrew get there?
Mr. Senator. Andrew was there; Andrew would come there somewhere around
1 o’clock in the afternoon. See Andrew lived there for a short while too after
we had left. He was staying there. And then I think he got married or something
like that. But Andrew was with him about 2 years I guess, maybe a
little longer.
Mr. Hubert. I think you have already covered the next stage, and that was
when you got a job and also you were disgusted with the conditions and so you
moved in with Corbat?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now during the period that you lived with Corbat, which would
have been, as I remember it, from August of 1962 until August of 1963—is that
right?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What was your relationship with Jack then?
Mr. Senator. August of 1962.
Mr. Hubert. That is when you moved out of Jack’s apartment and took up
with Corbat.
Mr. Senator. I always went to see him. I always used to come up there. At
rare times I would help him at the door.
Mr. Hubert. But you had a job then?
Mr. Senator. Yes. But I would go up there and I would help him at the door,
things of that kind.
Mr. Hubert. As a matter of fact, he for a good part of that period he actually
lived in the South Ewing Apartments where you lived with Corbat, is that
right?
Mr. Senator. Yes. We moved there practically the same time; yes.
Mr. Hubert. So that in spite of the fact that you broke up the domestic
establishment that you had, there was no ill feeling between you.
Mr. Senator. Never, no, no. We have never had any ill feeling. We got along
excepting when he hollered at me.
Mr. Hubert. Well we will get to that. In this new job which you had when
you were living with Corbat did you have to use an automobile?
Mr. Senator. Yes; a wagon.
Mr. Hubert. A station wagon?
Mr. Senator. Volkswagen, one of those box things, what do you call them?
Mr. Griffin. One of those Volkswagen microbuses?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Is it a passenger car?
Mr. Senator. No; it is one of these solid enclosures. It looks like a box,
you know. I don’t know what you call them.
Mr. Hubert. Was it to hold goods you were displaying?
Mr. Senator. That is right; but there was no windows to it except in the
back, the back part.
Mr. Hubert. Was it your car or did it belong to the company?
Mr. Senator. It was the company.
Mr. Hubert. And you say you continued to go to the Carousel from time to
time. How often about, just roughly?
Mr. Senator. Two or three times a week. It all depends.
Mr. Hubert. And you would help there?
Mr. Senator. Not always. Sometimes I would, sometimes I wouldn’t.
Mr. Hubert. If you helped did he pay you?
Mr. Senator. No; I did it because I still remember what he has done for
me when I was down and out, and it wasn’t that many hours or it wasn’t
difficult labor or anything of that nature. But I still remembered the
things he did for me, when I was down and out.
Mr. Hubert. All right, then I think we have covered the time when Corbat
left and you lost your job and found that you were down and out and again
you moved into his apartment then, giving up the apartment next door.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did he invite you in then or did you ask him?
Mr. Senator. No; he invited me. He knew I was pressed.
Mr. Hubert. And you had to give up the automobile at that time?
Mr. Senator. No; I had the automobile until January.
Mr. Hubert. The fact is I think you told us that you were working with these
people until after Oswald was shot?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. But at the stress of the——
Mr. Senator. But the stresses.
Mr. Hubert. The stress of having to carry the whole apartment when Corbat
left was one of the factors that put pressure upon you, is that right?
Mr. Senator. Yes; it is the pressure of the extra amount of money.
Mr. Hubert. You did not own an automobile of your own I take it?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Have you ever?
Mr. Senator. Oh, when I was traveling the road; yes.
Mr. Hubert. When was the last time you owned an automobile?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know, it must have been about 4 or 5 years ago.
Mr. Hubert. What kind was it?
Mr. Senator. I think the last one I had was, I think it was a Buick.
Mr. Hubert. Did you sell it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t remember if I sold it or traded it in.
Mr. Hubert. You traded it in for what?
Mr. Senator. I had a Buick once. I mean I had a few Buicks. When I say a
few I mean there might have been about 3, and I had a Ford once I believe.
Mr. Hubert. In any case you haven’t owned a car of your own for about 4 or
5 years?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And the last car you owned you must have sold it I suppose.
You couldn’t have traded it in because then you would have gotten a new car.
Mr. Senator. I am trying to think what was I doing with the last car. I
think the last car, I think I lost it on payments. I couldn’t keep up the payments
if I am not mistaken, if that is the one. I think that is it. I am not
sure.
Mr. Griffin. Let me interrupt a second to clarify one thing in my mind.
You mentioned this Volkswagen. The last time you had it was in January?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now what year?
Mr. Senator. 1964.
Mr. Griffin. Just a couple of months ago?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Coming to the first part of November 1963, was that when you
moved in with Jack?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I believe it was somewhere around the 1st or 2d of November,
something like that.
Mr. Hubert. Then I suppose you went back to the routine of the general
mode of living and working with him that had existed before?
Mr. Senator. No; then I was helping him, I mean I was staying with him,
so I was helping him on weekends. Once in a while I would pop in maybe
on a weekday.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, your operation——
Mr. Senator. Just at the door.
Mr. Hubert. Your operation insofar as the Carousel is concerned was not like
it was before?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Not on a daily basis?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Just at night, not every night?
Mr. Senator. Normally I would come in on Friday and Saturday.
Mr. Hubert. But you were still at your job?
Mr. Senator. Yes; after all I was staying there and felt he was entitled to
something, you know, so I’d come in there and help him.
Mr. Hubert. Did you assist in the cooking or anything of that sort?
Mr. Senator. There was no food. The only food there was, they make pizzas
once in a while.
Mr. Hubert. I don’t mean at the Carousel, I mean at the house, the apartment.
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; but I couldn’t cook right for him. He is a funny guy
in cooking.
Mr. Hubert. Did you do any cooking there at all?
Mr. Senator. Yes. If I don’t broil right for him, if I make him eggs, it has
got to be so much of this in the butter because he was watching his diet, and
I got so tired of it I says, “Make your own eggs.” You just couldn’t make anything
right for him. And all meats had to be broiled. He don’t believe in fried
stuff. And he was just hard to cook for.
Mr. Hubert. The routine then I suppose is that you were working and you
would come back to the apartment after normal working hours, which would
be around when, 5 or 6 in the evening?
Mr. Senator. To cook for him? That would be rare. I got away from that.
Mr. Hubert. I am getting to the normal routine as to your relationship. You
had a regular working day I take it?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Which started off at 8 or so in the morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And ended up at 5 or 6 in the evening? He, on the other hand,
would be sleeping in the morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And I understand would leave the apartment after you got
back at night or before, as a normal thing?
Mr. Senator. It wasn’t always necessarily that I came home between 5 and
6 because many times I stayed out.
Mr. Hubert. Was there any kind of a pattern at all to your living in point of
time?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; there is no particular pattern.
Mr. Hubert. What about weekends? Was that different?
Mr. Senator. No; not particularly. First of all I always get up before he
does, whether I am working or otherwise.
Mr. Hubert. You would help him at the club?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. On weekends and if you did I suppose you came back about the
same time he did?
Mr. Senator. At night? Yes. But as far as I getting up in the morning, I
always got up much earlier than he did. It was just natural. It was natural
for me to get up, and it doesn’t make any difference what particular time I
went to bed at 2, 3, 4 or 5, I am of that nature that I get up.
Mr. Griffin. What is your regular rising time?
Mr. Senator. I would say 7, 7:30, sometimes 6 in the morning. A lot of
times it would probably depend what time I go to bed. If I go to bed at
10 o’clock at night I probably wake up at 5 or 5:30 in the morning.
Mr. Hubert. What about on weekends?
Mr. Senator. On weekends? Say like a Sunday. I would probably wake up
at 7:30 or 8 o’clock in the morning on Sunday.
Mr. Griffin. Has it been your habit when you get up in the morning you
make yourself a breakfast or what do you do?
Mr. Senator. No. I will tell you, when I wake up in the morning I want
coffee, but I don’t have that appetite in the morning when I get up. It is very
rare that I will eat the moment I wake up in the morning. But I get hungry
maybe an hour or two later or something like that.
Mr. Griffin. So on a working day would you go to work, grab a cup of coffee
and go to work?
Mr. Senator. No, no; on working days I go downtown and have my coffee.
I don’t even make it there. Never. I don’t sit there and make coffee in the
morning.
Mr. Griffin. Any particular place that you eat at regularly?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Where?
Mr. Senator. I had a hangout. The Eat Well. There is three places that I
normally went to. Eat Well, I always went there every morning, even on Sunday,
and then the Chefette. Down where the Chefette is in the Hotel Adolphus
and then the Walgren also in the Hotel Adolphus. Those are the three places I
normally was always in.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have any regular place where you ate lunch?
Mr. Senator. No; there is no particular—I mean I don’t pick my spot where
I eat lunch.
Mr. Griffin. What would you do about dinners?
Mr. Senator. Dinners I normally would like to go home, for meal, but I ate
more when I was living with Stan or by myself than I did with Jack, because I
just can’t cook of his nature.
Mr. Griffin. Was Jack in the habit of coming home for dinner?
Mr. Senator. A lot of times, yes; and then I would probably say maybe; on
rare occasions, no. It wasn’t necessarily that he had to be home for dinner
because there were many times he also ate out. But he was hard on food,
even at a restaurant he was not easy. It had to be so-so.
Mr. Griffin. Who did the shopping?
Mr. Senator. Jack did the shopping. I couldn’t do no shopping. I can’t shop
for him.
Mr. Griffin. So Jack in effect would buy the meat for the meals and he
would plan the meals? Is that the idea? Then you would cook them?
Mr. Senator. He would buy what would suit himself, and if I didn’t like it
that is too bad.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have a regular routine of going to a grocery store once a
week and going shopping for a week or how did it work?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say something like that. Of course, it all
depends, you know, how much he is buying, how much he is going to buy.
But he always had a lot of meat. He always kept his refrigerator pretty well
filled. He’d buy grapefruits, half a grapefruit and grapefruit juice like crazy.
Holy God, you know he’d wake up in the morning, the number one thing was
that grapefruit. If he bought grapefruit which he’d normally buy 6, 8, 10 of
them at a clip, he would cut up about 2 of them, 2 at once mind you, and put
them through the wringer and wring them down, you know, the machine he
had home and drink solid grapefruit juice, but from 2 of them, 2 whole grapefruits,
unless he had the frozen grapefruits which he diluted with water. This
is number one before he did anything, the grapefruit bit.
Mr. Griffin. Did this pattern prevail both when you were living with him the
first time and when you were living with him the second time?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure.
Mr. Griffin. Or was there some difference in your relationship?
Mr. Senator. No; there was no difference. His way of living was set before
I ever heard of Jack Ruby, his way of eating.
Mr. Griffin. He would do all the shopping? Who would decide on any particular
evening what the meal was going to be?
Mr. Senator. I had no say. I had no say.
Mr. Griffin. Would he call you in advance to let you know when he was
coming back for dinner?
Mr. Senator. No; no call; no.
Mr. Griffin. What would you do? Did you have a time when you liked to
eat, if Jack wasn’t there that you would?
Mr. Senator. If he wasn’t there then I’d help myself or even if I made a couple
of eggs or whatever it might be. Sure, I mean there was no particular time
that I had to sit down and eat with him, because if I wasn’t there he ain’t waiting
for me.
Mr. Griffin. If you felt like eating dinner, would you go into the icebox and
pull out a steak and make some potatoes and do what you wanted to do?
Mr. Senator. Yes; sure, sure. If he wasn’t there, look, I am not going to sit
there and wait for him, you know. And he certainly isn’t sitting there waiting
for me, because I probably don’t know what time he is going to be home and
he probably doesn’t know what time I am going to be home or sometimes we
may be there together. But there was no set pattern. There was no particular
time.
Mr. Hubert. I gather from all this, from the fact that your acquaintanceship
with Ruby ripened into friendship, and ripened further in the fact that you were
sharing an apartment together, that you got to know the man pretty well as a
man, and knew his habits?
Mr. Senator. I knew something about them.
Mr. Griffin. His likes and dislikes. You expressed an opinion about that
already and that is what I would like to get to now with reference to particular
areas. You have mentioned the question of dogs, and I would like you to tell
us about what you know of him with reference to dogs and his attitude towards
them and so forth.
Mr. Senator. He had enough of them.
Mr. Hubert. I gather from that you mean he had plenty of them?
Mr. Senator. He had a few dogs.
Mr. Hubert. All the time that you have known him was that so or when
did that begin?
Mr. Senator. Well, I don’t know when it began because he had dogs the first
time that I got close to him or acquainted with him.
Mr. Hubert. That is about 2½ years ago?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. But you don’t know anything about the dogs?
Mr. Senator. Previous to that I didn’t know anything about dogs before.
Mr. Hubert. I guess the number of dogs varied, didn’t it?
Mr. Senator. It happened to be why he had so many dogs, his dog Sheba, who
was attacked by one of Sheba’s sons at a later date, gave birth to six at one time.
What are you going to do? He had dogs.
Mr. Hubert. So he kept them.
Mr. Senator. Yes. He didn’t want to give them away.
Mr. Hubert. Where did he keep them?
Mr. Senator. They were born in the apartment. He had them in the kitchen
until they were old enough, you know, whatever age that they might be, a month
or two, and then he brought them down to the club and he puts them way in the
back room of the club. He used to bring everybody in “See my dogs.” Of course,
his pet was Sheba, which everybody in this country knows.
Mr. Hubert. She was the mother?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that was the mother of the whole crew. So he wound up
with——
Mr. Hubert. Did Sheba stay at the club or at his house?
Mr. Senator. Both. Jack goes to the club, Sheba goes with him.
Mr. Hubert. Sheba was always with him?
Mr. Senator. Yes; this was the only one. I would say on rare occasions he
would probably bring the other dog home or two, just overnight.
Mr. Hubert. He gave some of the dogs away didn’t he?
Mr. Senator. Yes; Jack had close to 10 dogs. He had about 9 or 10 dogs.
Don’t forget Sheba had six at one clip.
Mr. Hubert. What was his attitude towards these animals? Was it a normal
attitude that people have to dogs?
Mr. Senator. I know people have mentioned it to me before in the past and the
quotations that I have heard though I have never heard them from him though
I have heard them otherwise like “My family” or “My wife.” I have read these.
I am certain everybody else has too or heard it. But he liked dogs. To me
this has no meaning. To me it has no meaning when he says this.
Mr. Hubert. Did you hear these comments made by other people concerning
Ruby and his dogs prior to the shooting or afterwards?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Hubert. Prior to the shooting or afterwards?
Mr. Senator. Prior I don’t recollect. I don’t say—it had to be prior to. No;
it had to be prior.
Mr. Hubert. You have read perhaps a lot about the dogs——
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Since the shooting?
Mr. Senator. I heard somebody mention once that he went up to see his Rabbi
Silverman who I am certain you probably heard of I guess, and I don’t know if
he had two or three dogs with him or what it was. I’m not sure of the words he
used but I think he said to the Rabbi “I want you to meet my family” or something
like that. There was a quotation he used. Now this may have been it,
I’m not sure.
Mr. Hubert. Were there other people that you remember who commented to
you about Ruby and his dogs? You have mentioned one. That is that he was——
Mr. Senator. I heard two things already. One was “my family” and one was
“my wife,” which absolutely has——
Mr. Hubert. Both of those you heard prior to the time Jack went to jail?
Mr. Senator. Yes; these were prior to it, but when I heard it it was after,
see.
Mr. Hubert. I see. You mean that the remarks were made prior?
Mr. Senator. The remarks were made after, that is right.
Mr. Hubert. Wait a while, let me get that straight, the remarks were made
after?
Mr. Senator. After.
Mr. Hubert. But the occurrences were supposed to have, the facts were supposed
to have occurred prior?
Mr. Senator. Prior. Right. Prior I never heard.
Mr. Hubert. You do not remember having heard anything prior to the
shooting?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. What was your own opinion as to his attitude toward these
animals?
Mr. Senator. Like any other human being who had a dog for a number of
years.
Mr. Hubert. There was nothing abnormal about it?
Mr. Senator. Nothing. To me, there was nothing absolutely abnormal about
it. Just like anybody else having a dog, and I am certain anybody who has a
dog he has had about 5, 6 or 7 or 8 years who is very much attached to him.
I would probably say the overall picture of the majority owners are attached to
a particular dog of whatever the dog may be.
Mr. Hubert. There is some rumor if you want to call it that that at some time
or another Jack had a strange sort of relationship with one of the dogs. Have
you any comment to make on that?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t listen to that stuff because it is not true.
Mr. Hubert. Of course, you never saw anything of that sort yourself?
Mr. Senator. Never, never, and I tell you this from my heart.
Mr. Hubert. From your knowledge of Ruby and his relationship with the dog,
do you think that that is likely or unlikely?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Hubert. From your knowledge of Ruby and of his relationship with those
animals do you think that such a story is likely or unlikely?
Mr. Senator. That he would have?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No; that is so far-fetched I don’t believe in that stuff.
Mr. Griffin. Can you be a little bit more explicit about why you feel that
way?
Mr. Senator. Well, I feel that I have been around him enough to see him pet
the dog, and I pet the dog many times. I picked up the dog many times like
anybody else has picked up a dog and just scratched him on the head but I
have never seen an incident like this, at no time.
Mr. Hubert. What about his interest in physical culture and keeping himself
in good shape? There have been some reports about that but you are in a position
perhaps to give us further details about it.
Mr. Senator. Well, he loves to swim, and when he gets into a pool he can
really go from one end to the other and go, because I heard it mentioned one
time he said “George you know I used to be able to swim 2 or 3 miles” which I
would probably say is a pretty good distance. I know I can’t do anything
like that, or nowheres near it.
Mr. Hubert. Did he do any ice skating?
Mr. Senator. Yes, we were ice skating once.
Mr. Hubert. Was he good at it?
Mr. Senator. He was good because—I’ll tell you why he was good, because
he had never been on ice skates before.
Mr. Hubert. You just know of one occasion he had been on ice skates?
Mr. Senator. Sir?
Mr. Hubert. You just know of one occasion that he was on ice skates?
Mr. Senator. I was with him and a group of people one time. They asked
me to go, too, and did I suffer.
Mr. Hubert. That was the first time he had been, too, to your knowledge?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if that was the first time we had been. I mean I
was only there one time. That was over at the fair ground in Dallas, but
he had been I think twice. And the people who he was with, you know, we
had some of the show folks there of the help, the people who worked there,
thought he did very well for a man who had never been on ice skates, including
his age.
Mr. Hubert. Did he take any regular exercise so far as you knew?
Mr. Senator. Yes; his dumbbells. He didn’t do them every day but he did
them quite often. Not the dumbbells; what do you call the things, weightlifters.
Mr. Hubert. Weightlifting equipment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. He had them in the house?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he exercised and very frequently he used to go to the
YMCA which he went for quite a long while. He has gone to the Y before
I ever knew him or even became acquainted with him.
Mr. Hubert. What was his general physical condition?
Mr. Senator. Excellent.
Mr. Hubert. Was he a powerful man?
Mr. Senator. A powerful man?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I’ll tell you, I won’t want to get rapped by him.
Mr. Hubert. Have you ever heard of any of his episodes in which he tangled
with people?
Mr. Senator. I have never had the pleasure—I can’t say pleasure. I have
never really witnessed a battle with him. Now I have seen him poke a couple
of people.
Mr. Hubert. You mean between him and other people.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I have seen him poke a couple people.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us about those, would you?
Mr. Senator. Take for instance in the club. All right, here is a man who is
of a temperament you know, he is a temperament man. He has a temper.
And I would probably say that he flies off, if you want to compare us, I am
an angel when it comes to flying off compared to him, because he can go this
fast, you know. I mean he can fly off pretty well. If somebody was hollering
or out-of-line or pinch a girl which happens now and then while the girls are
dancing he doesn’t like this.
Mr. Hubert. You said you remember two specific instances. Could you just
tell us about those.
Mr. Senator. I’ll tell you one.
Mr. Hubert. About where they happened and the time.
Mr. Senator. I saw one happen, this was outside of the club, this one. Do
you want it in the club or out of the club?
Mr. Hubert. Any one.
Mr. Senator. This was outside of the club.
Mr. Hubert. When was it?
Mr. Senator. Last year.
Mr. Hubert. About what time last year?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say it was sometime last summer.
Mr. Hubert. The summer of 1963?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us what happened.
Mr. Senator. I was sitting in the Burgundy Room. You know where the
Burgundy Room is?
Mr. Hubert. The Adolphus Hotel.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I was in there having a drink and I was sitting with this
fellow here.
Mr. Hubert. Who, what fellow?
Mr. Senator. His name?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Don Taber or Tabin.
Mr. Hubert. T-a-b-e-r or T-a-b-i-n?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You were with that man?
Mr. Senator. I was with him for a while but he shifted. He saw some girl
and went over to talk to her.
Mr. Hubert. So you were alone at the table?
Mr. Senator. I was sitting there. I was sitting at another table and I assumed
he come in looking for me to see what I was doing.
Mr. Hubert. Who came in?
Mr. Senator. Jack Ruby. Jack don’t like to have me drink. He doesn’t like
to see me getting drunk. He thinks I’m always drunk all the while which I am
not. And as he walked in through the door, this Don Taber was getting pretty
well loaded. He had a few drinks in him, you know, and he has always had a
grudge against Jack for some reason or other, I don’t know what it was, and
Jack was always telling him “Don, I want you to stay away from me” and I
have heard him warn him once before by the club, downstairs from the club.
Well, he used a pretty obscene word with him. I don’t know if you want to take
this down or not?
Mr. Hubert. On the occasion in the Burgundy Room?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Yes; you tell us what happened exactly.
Mr. Senator. I think he told him to go “F” yourself.
Mr. Hubert. Go what?
Mr. Senator. Do you want me to use the word?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. He told him to go —— himself.
Mr. Hubert. Who told who?
Mr. Senator. Don to Jack.
Mr. Hubert. Told that to Jack?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he is a type, he is a great guy when he is sober but when
he isn’t he is not easy to get along with you know.
Mr. Hubert. You mean when Jack came in?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Taber or Tabin told him that?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And there had been no previous conversation between them?
Mr. Senator. No; because he has always picked on Jack for some reason or
other.
Mr. Hubert. Let me get the picture. Jack walks into the room and this man
Taber says “Go —— yourself?”
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. To Jack?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Then what happened?
Mr. Senator. I forgot what Jack says. Jack says something to him. Then
I think there was an answer back or something, I just don’t remember but all I
know is Jack let him have it, hauled off.
Mr. Hubert. You mean he hit him?
Mr. Senator. He hit him.
Mr. Hubert. With his fist or what?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did he have any knucks?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Or pistol?
Mr. Senator. It was his fist, yes.
Mr. Hubert. What happened?
Mr. Senator. So they got into a little battle.
Mr. Hubert. Did Jack knock him down with that first blow?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. So they actually squared off?
Mr. Senator. They squared off. It didn’t last long though.
Mr. Hubert. What happened?
Mr. Senator. They stopped it but the other fellow got the worst of it.
Mr. Hubert. Was he knocked off his feet?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Was he a big man, this Taber?
Mr. Senator. He was a little taller than I. I believe he was a little taller than
I. But I would probably say he is a chap about maybe around I would say
between 165 and 170 or 175. I am not sure.
Mr. Hubert. And how tall?
Mr. Senator. I would say he is probably, and I am only guessing, I would
say maybe 5 feet 9 inches or 5 feet 10 inches.
Mr. Hubert. How big a man is Jack by the way in point of height and weight?
Mr. Senator. Jack I think, is about 5 feet 9 inches.
Mr. Hubert. And weighed what?
Mr. Senator. Jack weighed around 185, somewheres around that, 185.
Mr. Hubert. Would you consider most of that was bone or muscle or did
he have much fat?
Mr. Senator. Well, he is 52. I don’t care how you drill yourself, I am certain
there is a certain amount of flab that hangs around the side which I didn’t dare
comment on. If I told him that he didn’t like it. But still there is a certain
amount of flab, but he had a powerful back. I mean to look at the man’s back at
his age, he had a tremendous back.
Mr. Hubert. Was he fast with his fists?
Mr. Senator. I would say for his age he was.
Mr. Hubert. When you saw this battle with Taber?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he was pretty fast.
Mr. Hubert. And he definitely got the best of him?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What about the other occasion?
Mr. Senator. Well, there was one occasion where he hit somebody I didn’t
catch it with my eye but I happened to be there. I was there and he hit a guy
bigger than him. I don’t remember what it was.
Mr. Hubert. Can you tell us where that was, in the club?
Mr. Senator. Yes, it was in the club. It was in the hallway near the stairs.
But it happened to be I didn’t see it because I happened to be around the side
and all I caught is the tail end.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know when?
Mr. Senator. That was in 1962.
Mr. Hubert. Did he knock the man off his feet?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. But I know he got the first lick in.
Mr. Hubert. How do you know that? He told you?
Mr. Senator. No, I heard he always gets the first lick in. He ain’t going to
get hit first if he can help it, if it comes to an argument.
Mr. Hubert. Is this the opinion that is generally held?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if that is the opinion that is generally held or not.
Mr. Hubert. What I am trying to get at is how you got it. Is that your opinion
then that he always gets the first lick in?
Mr. Senator. I would say so because he is pretty fast for his age.
Mr. Griffin. What was the provocation for his hitting the fellow at the club?
Mr. Senator. I think this chap here was getting a little loud. I don’t remember
what the incident was. I think he was making a scene there of some nature.
Mr. Hubert. Those are the only two occasions that you yourself knew about
from having observed them yourself?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I have seen him push somebody out without hitting him.
Mr. Hubert. Have you seen that often?
Mr. Senator. No, I don’t say often. I have seen it happen. And when it
has happened, he happened to hold down certain people.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever hear him threaten anybody?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Like throwing them down the stairs?
Mr. Senator. I have heard somebody talk about that. Who did I hear? Oh
yes, I’ll tell you where that was quoted. When I was on the witness stand and
Mr. Alexander asked me that.
The question he asked me, if I can quote him, was that he picked on nothing
but small men who were drunk and women who were drunk and beat them up.
Mr. Hubert. What was your answer?
Mr. Senator. If I recall right, he sort of hollered at me a bit if I remember
right.
Mr. Hubert. Who did?
Mr. Senator. Mr. Alexander.
Mr. Hubert. But in any case what is the truth?
Mr. Senator. What did I answer him?
Mr. Hubert. What you answered I suppose is the truth. What is the truth as
to that question.
Mr. Senator. I’ll tell you how I answered him.
Mr. Hubert. Yes, all right; tell us that first.
Mr. Senator. I answered him, I said to Jack Ruby, height has nothing to do
with it, or something to that effect if I remember right. It doesn’t make any
difference if the man is bigger than Jack Ruby because that isn’t going to stop
him. Jack Ruby isn’t afraid of height or size, something like that I answered
him.
Mr. Hubert. That is your opinion now, too?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you base that opinion on what?
Mr. Senator. In other words, I base this opinion to say, when I was asked this
question on the witness stand, that all he would do would beat up people who
were smaller than he and who were drunk.
Mr. Hubert. And you think that is not so?
Mr. Senator. No; I say that he doesn’t go according to size. I mean I know
that he doesn’t fear anybody who is taller than he is.
Mr. Hubert. Now how do you know that? How do you form that opinion
right now?
Mr. Senator. How do I form that opinion?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Because I think Jack is of that temperament where size don’t
mean anything to him.
Mr. Hubert. You just base that upon your general knowledge of the man?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t think he is of the nature who would back off.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever see him act in what might be considered brutal in
the sense that he went further than he had to go with reference to anything?
Mr. Senator. No; I have never witnessed any.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know or have you ever heard of an occasion where he had
a fight with a man who bit part of his finger off?
Mr. Senator. I haven’t seen it. I mean I see the finger. I have heard that,
yes. How it happened I don’t know. There was some sort of a fight and the guy
bit it. Now what happened I don’t know but I’ve heard that.
Mr. Hubert. Did Jack ever talk to you about it?
Mr. Senator. No; as a matter of fact I have noticed his finger, you know, I
have seen his finger but I never asked him why, because it happens to be we both
got the same type finger. Mine is a paper cut. His cut much more off than mine.
Mr. Hubert. He never told you how he lost that part of the finger?
Mr. Senator. He told me that he lost it, somebody bit his finger in a fight.
Now I don’t know if it was the Silver Spur or wherever it happened. I just
don’t remember where or how it happened.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever hear about him beating up a taxicab man who came
in to fetch a fare, or to collect a fare?
Mr. Senator. I have never seen it.
Mr. Hubert. You have heard about it?
Mr. Senator. I have heard about it. I never heard no names or anything of
that. I heard about it but I have never seen it.
Mr. Hubert. Now you have expressed to us your opinion that Jack is a man
who was not fearful of anyone irrespective of size. Would you give us your
opinion as to whether or not he was the type of man, from all you know of him,
who would be brutal in a fight? By brutal I mean when he got his man down
he would kick him and be sure he was down, kick him in the groin, in the head
or something of that sort?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I couldn’t answer that. I have never witnessed
anything of this nature.
Mr. Hubert. Have you an opinion?
Mr. Senator. You would ask me guess then and if I guessed I wouldn’t know
what I was guessing at.
Mr. Hubert. I would ask you to guess on the same basis that you expressed an
opinion that he was afraid of nobody.
Mr. Senator. He certainly wasn’t afraid of size. In other words, if the man
happened to be 6 inches taller than him he wouldn’t back off.
Mr. Hubert. And that was formed I think you told us from your general
knowledge.
Mr. Senator. That is right. He wouldn’t back off.
Mr. Hubert. What is your opinion from your general knowledge?
Mr. Senator. Now when you ask me about kicking and all that, I mean I
don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. You know the man and that is all I’m asking. Is he the type of
man who would do that in your opinion?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. First of all I don’t think so. Personally, I
don’t think so, but after all I can’t answer for what another individual would
think in his mind. I don’t know, see.
Mr. Hubert. We understand this is merely your opinion, you see.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t personally think so. I don’t think he would be
that brutal.
Mr. Griffin. You saw him in this fight with Taber or Tabin?
Mr. Senator. Yes, but there was no kicking.
Mr. Griffin. I want to ask you about this. I take it this was not a prolonged
thing. Jack hit him once and that was it?
Mr. Senator. No, no; there were probably six or eight blows swapped.
But I would say Jack got most of the blows in.
Mr. Griffin. And this guy swung. What caused Jack to stop? Did somebody
pull him off?
Mr. Senator. Yes; they stopped it. They stopped it and pulled off.
Mr. Griffin. This episode at the Carousel that you saw, you say you didn’t
actually see any blows thrown at the Carousel. You came in at the tail end of
it.
Mr. Senator. No; I would say, see, there is an archway; in other words,
it is going up a flight of steps.
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. And at the flight of steps the doors open and then there is a
walk in, you know, an archway. It is almost like in a closed archway which
is maybe about 20 or 25 steps. Well, around the L shape of it I didn’t see.
Mr. Griffin. Could you tell from where you were how many blows were
thrown?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. How long did this last?
Mr. Senator. It didn’t last long because there must have been one or two
blows and that was it.
Mr. Griffin. Did anybody come in and break that up?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know what happened. I just don’t remember what
happened there. I think he knocked him down. I’m not sure. I think he
knocked him down with that blow.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack accomplish his purpose?
Mr. Senator. There was a few people gathered around and the next thing
I think they took him down or something like that. I don’t know. I just don’t
recall what happened on that particular incident but I do know that something
did happen at the time where this fellow I think he was drunk. I really don’t
know if he was. I think he was.
Mr. Griffin. Have you ever talked with Jack about what his attitude is
about using his fists?
Mr. Senator. No; this, which I don’t know too much about his youth, it
probably comes from the bringing up of his youth, the poverty that the family
went through. His father was a habitual drunkard, of which I have heard,
and the separations of the family and they lived in a cold water flat and the
only way I’m familiar of something of this nature is what I have seen in
motion pictures of past years of this.
Mr. Griffin. I want you to tell me now if you think I am wrong. I am going
to suggest this to you and I want to know if this is a fair evaluation.
Would you say from what you know of Jack that the background that he
came from was such that he had the value that one of the ways you solved
problems is in certain kinds of situations you haul off and smack the guy, and
that this is a tool that people use? Now there are some people who in their
daily life wouldn’t hit anybody because they don’t think that is a proper thing.
Would you say that Jack looked at this as a tool that was perfectly acceptable
to use?
Mr. Senator. To tell you the truth if I answered it I don’t even know if I
would be answering it correctly. I would probably say maybe in certain aspects
yes and maybe others no. I really couldn’t answer correctly. I couldn’t give
you a truthful answer on it.
Mr. Griffin. Why is that that you couldn’t give an answer?
Mr. Senator. Because I couldn’t, because I can’t think for what the man
thinks.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t know that much about him?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. To be able to say that?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I would probably say maybe in certain instances
it may happen. Maybe in others it wouldn’t.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask it this way. Knowing Jack Ruby, would you
say that there are situations where Jack would haul off and hit a guy, not because
he was emotionally concerned but because he felt this was the way to solve the
problem at that particular point.
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I would probably say
that he would have to be beefed up pretty good about something before he hit
somebody. I would probably say that.
Mr. Griffin. Was that the case with the man at the Carousel?
Mr. Senator. Apparently the man, which I never saw, apparently he must
have done something wrong. I don’t know what it was.
Mr. Griffin. But this wasn’t something where he built up a head of steam
on this guy.
Mr. Senator. Maybe this is something that just went off instantaneously.
Maybe the guy said something to him which I didn’t know. Maybe he called
him a curse word, you know. I don’t know what it could have been.
Mr. Hubert. You have indicated along here in your testimony, particularly
in answer to a question of a little while ago, that he had a fast temper. I
think you said he was a man of temper. I think that was your phrase?
Mr. Senator. Agree.
Mr. Hubert. And you snapped your fingers and said he would just go like that.
Mr. Senator. He could have a pretty fast temper.
Mr. Hubert. Now that must be based, that is to say your impression must
be based upon episodes when you witnessed him losing——
Mr. Senator. I witnessed him on me, but not hitting me.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us about——
Mr. Senator. Hollered at me, you know.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us about some of the episodes that you saw concerning
yourself or others which indicated to you that he had a fast temper?
Mr. Senator. Well, if there should have been discussion about something,
whatever it might be, with me he would make wrong and holler at me and
flare up at me.
Mr. Hubert. What do you mean by “make wrong”?
Mr. Senator. I could never be right with the man, see what I mean? I
couldn’t be right. In other words, if I said black was black he would say no
it is white and that is it.
Mr. Hubert. And he would do that in a gruff fashion do you think?
Mr. Senator. With me? Oh my, you have no idea how many times he has
hollered at me but he’d never lay a hand on me. And the funny thing is that
is how fast he got over it, and he’d forget about it.
Mr. Hubert. You snapped your fingers again? You mean that he would——
Mr. Senator. In other words, when I snapped my fingers I meant he would
get over it that fast from me.
Mr. Hubert. So, from your own experience there have been innumerable
occasions where he would react toward you in such a way that you would
describe it as anger, manifested——
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Wait a while.
Mr. Senator. You would think he was going to hit me but I knew he wouldn’t.
Mr. Hubert. This anger being manifested by a loud tone and certain gestures
which would indicate he was going to hit you, but didn’t, and that you have
seen many times, and you also tell us that——
Mr. Senator. I have seen it on myself at certain times. Many times with
others, but whatever the thing might be, I mean I don’t know. Like I told you
before, if somebody come up there and pinched a stripper or something like
that, which has happened, man, this would throw him off. He didn’t like that.
Mr. Hubert. But you say he would calm down right away?
Mr. Senator. He would calm down right away. And he would warn them
“Again, out” and he would put them out. There wouldn’t be any hesitation.
He protected his girls up there, this I’ll tell you, at all times.
Mr. Hubert. I want to explore another aspect of this that you have mentioned,
and that is that as quickly as he flared up he seemed to flare down, if you
want me to put it that way, calm down. Can you give us examples of that?
Mr. Senator. I can give you examples of myself on that.
Mr. Hubert. You mean that following one of these flareups that you have
described?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he would holler at me.
Mr. Hubert. Then it would be all over.
Mr. Senator. He would holler at me and raise the roof at me and then he
would tone down.
Mr. Hubert. How long would it take?
Mr. Senator. A matter of a minute or two.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, he wouldn’t brood over it. Having gotten mad
at you he wouldn’t be a brooder. He would change to another subject and
be quite his normal self again?
Mr. Senator. Yes. See I couldn’t make this man wrong. I can’t make him
wrong, you know. I’m the wrong one. I refer to myself, mind you. Whatever
it might be I can’t be right.
Mr. Hubert. That was the way he treated you?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. To stay in this same general area here, did you know that
Jack owned a pair of knuckles?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember when he bought them?
Mr. Senator. No; I would probably say that he probably had them before
I was ever close to him. I am only guessing. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. How did you learn that he had them?
Mr. Senator. I saw them in a cloth sack once. He carried them in a cloth
sack.
Mr. Griffin. Where did he keep that sack?
Mr. Senator. No particular place. The one time I saw it, it was home.
Mr. Griffin. Did he keep anything else in the sack?
Mr. Senator. Of course, he had a gun which everybody knows. You see,
Jack’s bank account was his pockets, not the bank but his pockets. That is
where his bank was. And he always carried various sums of money, which
could be $1,500, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, whatever it might be, in all different
pockets.
Mr. Hubert. Now before we explore that area further, I want to get a few
generalities concerning Jack. What were his drinking habits? You shake
your head. What does that mean?
Mr. Senator. He is not a drinker.
Mr. Hubert. He didn’t drink at all?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. He didn’t drink at all, or very little?
Mr. Senator. I wouldn’t say at all but I would probably say if he took a half
dozen drinks a year he took a lot.
Mr. Hubert. How about smoking?
Mr. Senator. No smoking whatsoever.
Mr. Hubert. What was his attitude toward women?
Mr. Senator. Like any other man.
Mr. Hubert. That is to say any other normal man?
Mr. Senator. Any other normal man.
Mr. Hubert. Have you ever observed any traits which suggested to you the
possibility of homosexuality?
Mr. Senator. Never.
Mr. Hubert. On his part?
Mr. Senator. Never.
Mr. Hubert. Did he have any peculiar mannerisms which might have suggested
such a thing to other people, even though it was not so?
Mr. Senator. I never noticed it.
Mr. Hubert. Did he lisp?
Mr. Senator. Yes. So do I.
Mr. Hubert. Jack has a lisp?
Mr. Senator. He has a lisp. He has always had it to my knowledge.
Mr. Hubert. In your opinion he was not homosexual at all?
Mr. Senator. No. Just as normal as any human being.
Mr. Hubert. He was single.
Mr. Senator. He has got a brother older than he is and single, never been
married, Hyman.
Mr. Hubert. Did he have any girl friends?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he went out with various girls.
Mr. Hubert. What I am getting at is what you know about his sex relationships.
Mr. Senator. His sex relationship, you know I’m not there to watch wherever
he may be.
Mr. Hubert. Still you may have some knowledge of facts which would throw
light upon that.
Mr. Senator. He likes women.
Mr. Hubert. How do you know that?
Mr. Senator. How do I know he likes women?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I like women.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ever tell you that he liked them?
Mr. Senator. Did he ever tell me? In any normal conversation I’m certain
anybody here, who doesn’t say they don’t like women. I think this is a normal
thing to say.
Mr. Hubert. What I am trying to get at is simply this. Very naturally as
you pointed out a moment ago, it is very rare that there are any eyewitnesses
to acts of sexual intercourse. On the other hand, there are other facts and circumstances
from which one may judge if a man is having sexual intercourse
with a particular woman, and that is what I am trying to get at. Do you know
of any such things?
Mr. Senator. This here I’m never around.
Mr. Hubert. What?
Mr. Senator. You mean when he is having sexual intercourse with a woman?
Mr. Hubert. Yes; of course you wouldn’t be around, but do you have any
opinion as to whether or not he was having any affairs of a sexual nature with
anybody? If you are reticent about naming names, perhaps we can leave that
off.
Mr. Senator. I have no names to name, but I am certain that he likes women.
I know he talks to them like I talk to them or anybody else talks to them.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ever bring any to the apartment that you know of?
Mr. Senator. I am certain he has had them up for coffee when I have been
there, such as that or a drink or talk, conversation. He has had even the help
up there, you know. Once in a while we have a party. This is when I turn out
to be the cook.
Mr. Hubert. But you can’t tell us then of any particular person that you
would think Jack had intimate relationships with?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t know of any at all that you could even suggest in your
own mind?
Mr. Senator. I have seen him talking to many girls but if anything of that
nature I am not around where he don’t want me around.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ever ask you to leave, for example, because he was
having some feminine company, or indicate that he was?
Mr. Senator. On rare occasions he has said he was going to have some company
or somebody over.
Mr. Hubert. And he indicated that he wanted you to leave?
Mr. Senator. On rare occasions.
Mr. Hubert. That is the sort of thing I am talking about that would indicate
some factual situations upon which you can base your opinion. That is what I
was speaking of a moment ago when I asked you for facts and circumstances that
would throw light on your opinion, recognizing fully that normally one never
actually is an eyewitness to such a thing. Do you have any other types of
episodes or evidence of that nature?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. What was his relationship do you think with the girls at his
club, I mean the waitresses?
Mr. Senator. The girls in his club? Strictly business, strictly business.
Mr. Hubert. Would you say that if a person said that Jack was on the make
for every one of the girls that worked for him it would be a wrong statement?
Mr. Senator. I have heard that expressed many a time.
Mr. Hubert. What do you think about that statement?
Mr. Senator. It definitely is a wrong statement.
Mr. Hubert. You never saw it.
Mr. Senator. Now what their conversations may be, you know, after all, he
has talked to all the girls in the club at one time or another. What the conversations
are I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. But you never saw anything that would indicate to you in any
way, or heard anything by him that would lead you to the conclusion that his
relationship with any of the girls was of an intimate character?
Mr. Senator. No; if it was, I didn’t know about it.
Mr. Hubert. What about Jack’s attitude about what his girls did in the nature
of sexual intimacies with other people than himself?
Mr. Senator. The girls working in the club?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. You refer to the strippers or the cocktail waitresses?
Mr. Hubert. I refer to both, and if there is a difference between them then
I would ask you to explain the difference.
Mr. Senator. Well, if there was any and he heard about it, I am certain he
would probably yank him out. He didn’t go for that bit.
Mr. Hubert. Something must have happened that leads you to that opinion.
What is it that leads you to that opinion that he would certainly have done
something about it?
Mr. Senator. I have heard him mention that he doesn’t want anybody outside
using any of his girls.
Mr. Hubert. You yourself have heard him say that?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he don’t want any of his girls going out with customers.
He didn’t want the place to have a reputation such as that.
Mr. Hubert. Did he carry that policy to the point of supervising the personal
lives of his strippers and waitresses beyond the area of relations with people
who were in the club?
Mr. Senator. Beyond the area?
Mr. Hubert. In other words, you mentioned a moment ago that he didn’t want
any girls to have any dates or anything with any patrons of the club or
customers.
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Hubert. Now my next question is did he extend that policy of supervision
of what his girls did to their personal relations with people who were not
patrons of the club?
Mr. Senator. That I don’t know. I don’t know about that. I don’t know.
First of all there can never be controllability of that. After all, where they are,
that is their business, wherever they are, whether it is day or night. This I
can’t even answer you.
Mr. Hubert. Was Jack sensitive about his religion?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us how you know that?
Mr. Senator. Well, he didn’t like the M.C.’s having any jokes about the
Jewish race, things of that nature. Now I have heard him say so to a couple of
M.C.’s already.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ever talk to you personally about it, say anything to you?
Mr. Senator. No; not particularly. I mean it has always been in the open.
I have even heard him say it right in the club. He don’t want any Jewish jokes.
He was sensitive this way.
Mr. Hubert. Do you think he was overly sensitive on the subject?
Mr. Senator. Well, I don’t know, overly sensitive, but he was sensitive.
Mr. Hubert. Is he more sensitive than other Jews that you have known?
Mr. Senator. I would say he is; yes.
Mr. Hubert. With reference to his religion, did he practice it actively?
Mr. Senator. As far as going to church, synagogue?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. He went to church; he went to synagogue on holidays.
Mr. Hubert. That is, Jewish holidays?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; always.
Mr. Hubert. He wasn’t one who went regularly then to synagogue?
Mr. Senator. This I don’t know. I would have to leave this question because
I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Well, you lived with him.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. During the time that you lived with him did he ever indicate
or did you gather that he was a regular churchgoer?
Mr. Senator. They go on Friday nights.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever see any pattern of his going on Friday nights
regularly?
Mr. Senator. No, I have never seen a pattern of it. Now I don’t say that
he has or hasn’t been. Maybe he has at certain times and probably not on other
times. I don’t say this is every Friday night that he goes, no. I wouldn’t say
that. But he does make, you know, the important holidays.
Mr. Hubert. Do you consider him to be a religious man?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know how, to tell you the truth, I don’t know how to break
it down for you, how religious he is. Now we never went into an aspect to talk
about just how religious he is. All I can say is that he observes as to holidays.
Mr. Hubert. He never told you anything which would indicate that he was
either religious or not religious.
Mr. Senator. No. Well, I think he fasts on a certain type holiday. He fasts,
for this kind of fast it is really something, but he does observe those things.
Mr. Hubert. You mean not the regular Saturday fast?
Mr. Senator. No. This is the one time of the year you fast. You don’t
eat anything for 24 hours. I know he does that.
Mr. Hubert. I think it is a good time for recess.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask one question here. Does he belong to any lay organizations
connected with any of the synagogues in town?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if he belonged to them or not. This I can’t know.
But I think he went—it was Temple Emanuel. I don’t know which one he went
to. I think it was Temple Emanuel.
Mr. Griffin. To your knowledge, do you have any knowledge of his ever
participating in any activities, Jewish activities?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. B’nai B’rith?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say maybe in donations or something like
that.
Mr. Griffin. Other than giving money he didn’t belong to the synagogue’s
men’s clubs?
Mr. Senator. No, not to my knowledge.
Mr. Hubert. Supposing we take a recess now until 2 o’clock.
(Whereupon, at 12:35 p.m., the proceeding recessed.)
(The proceeding reconvened at 2 p.m.)
Mr. Hubert. Mr. Senator, we are now continuing the deposition which we
began this morning. I am sure you understand and I want the record to show
that this deposition is being continued under the same authority and under the
same conditions as it began this morning, and also that you are under the same
oath. Now there are a few more general areas that I would like to talk to
you about concerning the character of Jack Ruby and the type of man he was.
Let me direct your attention to the political beliefs and thinking of Jack Ruby,
and ask you what comment you have to make about that.
Mr. Senator. None whatsoever on his beliefs on political issues.
Mr. Hubert. Do you mean by that that you don’t know?
Mr. Senator. Break down when you say political issues.
Mr. Hubert. I mean do you know anything about what his thinking was from
what he told you concerning his beliefs about politics in general?
Mr. Senator. No; he was not of the nature, he never went into anything of
that nature.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever hear him discuss international politics?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Did he seem to show any interest in international affairs as they
were developing?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. I mean would he be the type of person that would read the
newspapers at all? Did he read newspapers at all?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure; he read newspapers religiously every day.
Mr. Hubert. Did he read all of them, I mean every part of it?
Mr. Senator. I will tell you, when you ask me that, I tell you where his reading
is. On the toilet bowl. That is where all his reading is—is on the toilet bowl.
It may sound funny, but it is true.
Mr. Hubert. Can you give us any idea from what you know, of what his
reaction to international events was, such as, for instance, the Cuban crisis in
1962?
Mr. Senator. He never discussed these.
Mr. Hubert. You are familiar with what I am talking about? I think it was
in the fall of 1962 when we discovered that Cuba had some possible atomic
weapons over there, a subject of national interest.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I have read that.
Mr. Hubert. And the Berlin crisis of the year before?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. That is the sort of thing I mean. Did he comment about that?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t.
Mr. Hubert. Is it your thought that he just had no interest in that sort of
thing at all?
Mr. Senator. Well, if he did or not, he never discussed it too much. He would
read a paper. He would read his ad. He reads these—of course, I am certain
he reads all parts of the paper, but especially the entertainment part, he was
very anxious in reading.
Mr. Hubert. Normally when two people share space such as you do, and are
in each other’s company and have any conversation at all, the conversation
normally relates to the topics of the day, as it were, as reflected by newspapers
and other news media.
I wonder if you can throw any light on what his attitude was or his interest
was towards topics of the day of international import.
Mr. Senator. I just don’t recall. All I know is that he reads the—of course,
I am certain he reads all of the paper, you know, or various parts, but he would
talk about show business a lot with me, see.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever hear him discuss at all any international incident?
Mr. Senator. I just can’t think offhand. I don’t say he did or didn’t. I just
can’t think offhand if he did or didn’t.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever seek to engage him in small talk, shall we say,
about subjects of that nature?
Mr. Senator. Well, he talked about the President. I remember once we were
watching a picture of President Kennedy’s kid going between the desk. He
thought that was so wonderful, you know, enjoyed over that. I remember that
distinctly.
Mr. Hubert. You mean he saw that on TV?
Mr. Senator. Yes; this he marveled over. But the discussion, we never
went into papers too much. He was mainly, I know when he grabbed the paper
the first thing he would go to is the show part of it, his competitors, the show
part of it, the night life, Tony Zoppi, with a nightclub. He is like, I don’t
know how to compare him, to somebody who writes a column in New York.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t recall in all of the years you have known Jack of his
being interested in international affairs to the point that you can remember
any discussion with him?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. At all?
Mr. Senator. I really can’t think offhand. I don’t say that he probably
hadn’t, but I just don’t think offhand.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t remember any such discussions?
Mr. Senator. I don’t; no.
Mr. Hubert. Now what would be your impression, knowing Jack as a whole,
of his interest in international affairs?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. The reason I asked you that, although I realize it is an opinion
question, is because you have been able to give us your opinion on other aspects
of his life and character, for instance, that he was a man who was not a homosexual,
and so forth, and you based your opinions upon your experience with
him, and this is just another aspect of his character, that is all.
Now I am simply asking you what is your opinion about his interest in communism
or rightism or leftism or middle-of-the-roadism or any kind of ism.
Mr. Senator. The only way I can refer to anything of that nature is the time
we saw the billboards.
Mr. Hubert. You mean that was——
Mr. Senator. The impeachment of——
Mr. Hubert. After the President was——
Mr. Senator. Right; this was the time that I saw——
Mr. Hubert. We will get to that, but are you willing to say now, as far as you
can remember, that that is the only time you ever saw him interested in a
matter of that nature?
Mr. Senator. You see, when he gets home at night, the first thing he heads
for is the bathroom, and the paper goes with him, and from there on he sits
there, I don’t know, 45 minutes reading the paper.
Mr. Hubert. I appreciate your comment because it throws some light on it,
but I would like to have an answer if you can give it to me to that question. I
don’t know if I can rephrase it.
(The previous question was read by the reporter.)
Mr. Hubert. Can you answer that question?
Mr. Senator. I didn’t get that.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s see if I can rephrase it. You mentioned that you saw him
interested in a matter that concerned an ism. I had previously asked you
whether or not he had, to your knowledge, any interest in rightism, communism,
leftism, middle-of-the-roadism, and you mentioned that one incident.
Mr. Senator. Those, none whatsoever, because he is a lover of the country he
lives in. He was never——
Mr. Hubert. I suppose that would be called Americanism.
Mr. Senator. Americanism. He loves the nation he is in.
Mr. Hubert. You formed that opinion, of course, on certain events or things
that he told you. Can you refer to what those things would have been?
Mr. Senator. No; I can’t, but I know that he has never belonged to any
organizations. He has never attended any meetings to my knowledge, and
this is the only way that I can in all reality base it.
Mr. Hubert. You say that he is a lover of his country. Now, did he say
so or did he act in certain ways regarding certain instances that caused you to
form that opinion?
You see what I mean, any impression that you have about anybody is based
upon your reactions to things said or done, and that is all I am asking you
to say.
Now you say he is a man who loves his country. I ask you, did you hear
him say so or did you get that impression from things he did, or attitudes?
Mr. Senator. I just take this for granted that he does, the same way as I
take it that I know that I do.
Mr. Hubert. Of course, you know you do from your own experience, but on
the other hand you don’t know about somebody else.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know how to base it with him. I know he is very fond
of the city he lived in.
Mr. Hubert. And how do you know that?
Mr. Senator. Because he has told me he likes Dallas. He likes Dallas, he
likes everything about it. He liked living there. He liked it because there
wasn’t any hustle and bustle like any large, big city like New York or Chicago
or California.
Mr. Hubert. Have you similar facts or experiences upon which to base
your opinion that he is a lover of the United States as such?
Mr. Senator. I can’t base it on anything. It is only what I think. And, of
course, to my way of thinking I think everybody does.
Mr. Hubert. I think I am beginning to see what you mean. You assume
that everybody loves their country.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Unless there is something to the contrary.
Mr. Senator. Sure.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Griffin. I want to ask some questions along that line.
Mr. Hubert. Go ahead and do it now unless you prefer to wait.
Mr. Griffin. No; I would just as soon, when you finish with an area, pick
up from notes I have been making.
Did Jack Ruby, George, to your knowledge show any interest in any political
candidates for local office in Texas?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know on that. I will tell you, as far as I know of him,
he has never spoken of or never messed around with anything like that, political-wise
or anything of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever see him with any campaign literature for anybody?
Mr. Senator. No; I haven’t.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever see him with any literature of any political sort
that would be other than newspaper literature?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You know in Texas and elsewhere there are all sorts of organizations
that are putting out literature, the John Birch Society and Civil
Liberties Union.
Mr. Senator. He never messed around with that. The only first showing
I ever seen of any nature was that night he woke me up.
Mr. Griffin. You mentioned that Jack read newspapers, and you thought
every day. Did you have a newspaper delivered to your apartment?
Mr. Senator. No; he bought it on the way home.
Mr. Griffin. Did he read newspapers from outside of Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No; he bought the morning paper and the evening paper.
Mr. Griffin. Did he buy the Fort Worth papers?
Mr. Senator. Yes; and Fort Worth, come to think of it.
Mr. Griffin. Any particular reason why he should buy a Fort Worth paper
rather than a Dallas paper?
Mr. Senator. No; because he bought them both. No particular reason, but
he would buy them both for news or see what is going on in Fort Worth, I
assume.
Mr. Griffin. He would buy a Fort Worth paper at a Dallas newsstand or
would he only buy the Fort Worth newspaper when he went to Fort Worth?
Mr. Senator. No; he would buy a Fort Worth paper, I will tell you where he
bought it, he bought it at the Adolphus Hotel. He always picked his paper
up at the stand in front of the Adolphus. He would buy the morning news.
As a matter of fact, he would buy any paper that was laying around there that
the man had in front of the stand there.
Mr. Griffin. Did he read the Wall Street Journal?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t even think he could understand it.
Mr. Griffin. How about magazines? Did he subscribe to any magazines?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Time magazine, Newsweek?
Mr. Senator. I never seen any magazines come in.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have any magazines around the house?
Mr. Senator. No; the only magazines I ever bought was Reader’s Digest.
Mr. Griffin. Did you people have a television set at your apartment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And did you have a radio?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Was Jack accustomed to being at home and watching the TV
or listening to the radio?
Mr. Senator. On the TV part; yes, he would put that on. He would have
that on, and, of course, there is two things I know interested him on TV.
Mr. Griffin. What were those?
Mr. Senator. Those were Westerns and the stories, you know, whatever
stories there might be.
Mr. Griffin. You mean the movies?
Mr. Senator. Yes; the movies, and he liked the Westerns, you know, the
half-hour or hour programs, whatever they were.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have a radio in his car?
Mr. Senator. He had, what do you call those little things?
Mr. Griffin. Transistor?
Mr. Senator. Yes; transistor.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have one that was installed in the car itself?
Mr. Senator. You mean put in?
Mr. Griffin. You know.
Mr. Senator. He had it put in?
Mr. Griffin. A car radio.
Mr. Senator. Oh yes; installed with the car?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Was this any sort of special kind of radio?
Mr. Senator. No; just a radio that came with the car.
Mr. Griffin. It wasn’t equipped to receive any kind of frequencies?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. FM or anything like that?
Mr. Senator. No. As a matter of fact, the last car he bought he bought
second-hand, which he thought he had a good buy on, and he bought it, and, of
course, the thing had a radio in it, you know, whatever make it was. Nothing
special about, just the ordinary car radio.
Mr. Griffin. How about your radio at home? Could that pick up FM?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Or shortwave?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if it could or not.
Mr. Griffin. What kind of a radio was it?
Mr. Senator. I don’t even know the make or the brand. One side there was
a clock and the other side was a radio.
Mr. Griffin. I take it then your conclusion about Jack Ruby would be that
he didn’t have any particular political feelings one way or another, and he
wasn’t a great patriot and he wasn’t disloyal. As far as you knew he was just
an ordinary American citizen.
Mr. Senator. He was a good, sound American citizen, and politics, he never
messed around with that. He never messed around politically at all. The
majority was connected with the music industry, the night life, you know, his
club, his competitors, what they were doing.
Mr. Hubert. Coming back to the automobile and the radio——
Mr. Senator. Pardon me.
Mr. Hubert. Concerning the radio in the automobile, what was his custom
about putting it on when he was riding? Was it his custom to put it on or not?
Mr. Senator. No, not. He normally didn’t put it on.
Mr. Hubert. Normally he would not put it on?
Mr. Senator. Normally he wouldn’t have it on. He also had one of the little
transistors, one of these transistors that he had. The reason he had this transistor,
of course he had it before I was around, the car he had before then, the
radio didn’t work, so he had the transistor.
Mr. Hubert. Where did he keep it, in the automobile?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he laid it on the seat.
Mr. Hubert. Did he play it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he put on the music.
Mr. Hubert. So that was his custom when he was driving around, instead of
turning on the radio in the automobile?
Mr. Senator. I wouldn’t say at all times. Certain times he would put it on
and play the music.
Mr. Hubert. He would play the transistor?
Mr. Senator. Yes. That was on the car he had when the radio, the car
radio was not working.
Mr. Hubert. What was Ruby’s habit so far as you know concerning his
finances, and his banking and so forth?
Mr. Senator. As far as I know about it, his bank was his pockets. Now, if
he had any banking, I don’t know what he had in it.
Mr. Hubert. Did you observe then that he carried large sums of money?
Mr. Senator. Oh yes; always. Everybody knew that.
Mr. Hubert. Now, how did he carry it?
Mr. Senator. In ready cash.
Mr. Hubert. But I mean did he roll it up and put it in his pocket?
Mr. Senator. Rolled it up or have a string around it, not a string, you know,
one of these rubber bands around it. He would carry some here and he would
carry some here, and some here, and some in his back pocket. I don’t think
he knew where he had it half the time.
Mr. Hubert. Let the record show that when the witness was saying “here,
here and here,” he was pointing to various pockets.
Mr. Senator. This is the way. As a matter of fact, he used to say to me
“George, where is my money,” because he can’t remember where he put his
money.
Mr. Hubert. Now you were with him frequently when he closed up the Carousel
at night and you would go home?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. How was the money handled then, that is the receipts of that
night?
Mr. Senator. In his pocket.
Mr. Hubert. We have heard something about a canvas bag, a money bag.
Did you ever see that?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t know what he would have in the bag. You know
when it comes to money, that is his business. It doesn’t get that close to me.
Mr. Hubert. No; we are just asking you what you observed, that is all, about
his handling of it.
Mr. Senator. He has had money in the bag, and he has had it in his pockets.
Now I don’t know what the separation could be unless he has got a certain
amount of money for bills or what it is I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. When he had money in the bag where did he leave the bag?
Mr. Senator. The bag? In the trunk.
Mr. Hubert. In the trunk of the car?
Mr. Senator. While going home.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, when you would come out of the Carousel he
would take his bag up, and it had money in it, and bring it and throw it in the
trunk of the car?
Mr. Senator. Right. He would get home, open the trunk, take the bag up.
Mr. Hubert. Now, do you know anything about a gun that he had, a pistol?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us what you know about it.
Mr. Senator. I know he had a pistol, one of the small ones. In the nature of
his type business, carrying all this money, this cash with him, this is why he
always had the gun with him.
Mr. Hubert. Did he keep the gun on his body?
Mr. Senator. At times he had it on his body and at times he had it in his
pocket.
Mr. Hubert. Did he own a holster for the gun?
Mr. Senator. No; not that I know of.
Mr. Hubert. Either a shoulder holster or a hip holster?
Mr. Senator. No; I have never seen it.
Mr. Hubert. So when he carried a gun on his person where would he keep it?
Mr. Senator. It would be in his pants pocket or sometimes it may be in the bag.
Mr. Hubert. Did you know anything, from talking to him or otherwise, about
the ownership of the Vegas Club? Who owned the Vegas, in other words, as
far as you know?
Mr. Senator. As far as I know Jack Ruby owned it.
Mr. Hubert. Am I correct in assuming that your opinion on that point is from
what he told you, or did he say anything else?
Mr. Senator. I always understood that he owned it, I mean as far as I know.
Of course, there is a lot of things that I don’t know that he never told me, you
know. He doesn’t expose everything.
Mr. Hubert. Eva Grant was actually the operator of it, wasn’t she?
Mr. Senator. Yes; but Eva always felt like she was the owner. This is a
sister. Of course, she had it and managed it for quite a while. I don’t know
how long she managed it, has been at the Vegas Club, because it was before me
even, you know.
Mr. Hubert. On what do you base that opinion that she thought that she
really was the owner?
Mr. Senator. Because I assumed that Jack was a brother and she felt it was
like hers.
Mr. Hubert. You see what I am trying to get at is whether or not there are any
statements or incidents that occurred which led you to the opinion that she
thought she owned the Vegas. Do you see what I mean?
Mr. Senator. The only way I could express that is Jack used to say to me that
“Eva thinks she owns the club,” because she has been staying there so long.
Mr. Hubert. How do they get along?
Mr. Senator. They are both of the same nature, like cats and dogs.
Mr. Hubert. I take it from that you mean they used to fight a lot.
Mr. Senator. Yes; because as well as Jack would holler, let me assure you
she can holler too.
Mr. Hubert. And you have been a witness to some of those instances?
Mr. Senator. As a matter of fact, the further away the better.
Mr. Hubert. I don’t quite understand.
Mr. Senator. For me the further away the better. In other words, I shied
away from all that. I didn’t want to listen to that kind of stuff.
Mr. Hubert. What you are saying is——
Mr. Senator. I am not happy over the fights.
Mr. Hubert. My question is how frequently it happened.
Mr. Senator. How frequent I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. But you were a witness to some, I take it, and when it began you
would want to get away, is that the idea?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I tell you where I heard most of it, I mean what I can
recollect is when around the telephone. Of course, I can’t hear her, but I can
hear him shouting, so apparently I know there is something that is flickering.
He is hollering at her about something, or she is hollering at him about something.
See, she is hard to get along with, with the employees of the Vegas Club.
She is just hard to work for. All I know is I never want to work for her.
Mr. Hubert. What about the ownership of the Sovereign and the Carousel?
Do you know anything about that, who owned that?
Mr. Senator. The Sovereign, he has some partner. I don’t remember who his
partner was. Of course, this is all before I got that close, but he had a partner
in the Sovereign Club.
Mr. Hubert. Joe Slayton was it?
Mr. Senator. That is it, Joe Slayton.
Mr. Hubert. Of course, Slayton ultimately got out of it, didn’t he?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Is it your impression that Jack owned the Sovereign entirely?
Mr. Senator. No; Joe Slayton was a part owner.
Mr. Hubert. I mean after Slayton left.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know about that. That is a little before me.
Mr. Hubert. What about Ralph Paul? Did he have any part in it?
Mr. Senator. Ralph Paul had a part in it. I don’t know what the breakdown
was, but I know Ralph Paul was connected with it.
Mr. Hubert. Connected by way of ownership?
Mr. Senator. I believe he was connected by ownership. I mean if he owned
half or what it was I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. On what facts do you base that?
Mr. Senator. On guesswork. I know he had something to do with it. What
part he owned I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. What facts make you state that you know he had something
to do with it? There must be something that occurred again.
Mr. Senator. Nothing occurred because I mean I have seen Ralph, I know
Ralph, and I know there is the association of him having a part of that club
somehow.
Mr. Hubert. Let me put it to you this way. Did Jack ever tell you that
Ralph Paul owned part of it?
Mr. Senator. Not directly, but I knew. You know as well as I know Jack,
there was an awful lot of things he didn’t tell me circularwise. You can say
moneywise where he kept his money, if he had a bank account, I know he had a
connection with Ralph Paul. How much Ralph owned I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Did Paul ever tell you anything about his interest or ownership?
Mr. Senator. Yes; the first time he mentioned it to me, and, of course, this is
after this whole deal happened.
Mr. Hubert. The shooting?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What did he tell you?
Mr. Senator. He said once that he had a part of that place there. He was
part owner of that place.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember when he told you that, and where?
Mr. Senator. He told me at the Carousel, but I don’t remember when.
I mean I can’t specifically remember.
Mr. Hubert. Isn’t it a fact that he took over the management right away, as
soon as Jack was in jail?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he did. Now, I don’t know how much he owned or how
much Jack owned.
Mr. Hubert. Did he indicate to you that it was an ownership interest?
Mr. Senator. Yes, there was, but how much I don’t know. In other words, I
don’t know who owned the bigger piece or if it was equal.
Mr. Hubert. Do you think that only the two of them had an interest in it?
Mr. Senator. To my knowledge. I don’t know of anybody else.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever hear of his brother Earl having a possible interest
in it?
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know Earl?
Mr. Senator. Sure. The first time I met Earl is, of course, when all this
happened.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t know him before that?
Mr. Senator. Never seen him before in my life.
Mr. Hubert. What about Sam?
Mr. Senator. Sam? I knew Sam. I have never seen him that often. Of
course, I met Sam at the Vegas Club. Sam at one time worked there with Eva,
and they couldn’t get along, so Sam was out, fighting like cats and dogs. Eva is
just a hard girl to work for.
Mr. Hubert. What was Jack Ruby’s attitude toward the police as a group?
Mr. Senator. Well, all I know is apparently he must like them. They always
used to come to see him.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us about those who came to see him. Do you know who
they were?
Mr. Senator. I knew a lot of them by face. I didn’t know them all by name.
Mr. Hubert. Did they come frequently?
Mr. Senator. Various ones, yes, every day. I don’t say it is the same ones,
whoever was coming in, but they would either be plain clothes or police in
uniforms.
Mr. Hubert. Did they come to inspect or to enjoy the club as a place of
entertainment?
Mr. Senator. Well, they came to inspect, to my knowledge I would say they
came to inspect, but Jack always offered them a coffee, asked them if they
wanted coffee, a Seven-Up or a Coke.
Mr. Hubert. Wasn’t it a rule in fact that they could get such little items as
coffee and Cokes and Seven-Ups and soft drinks without cost? He gave them
that?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that was the nature of it.
Mr. Hubert. What was the arrangement about the entrance fee? They didn’t
pay that, if they came socially?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. You have been on the door yourself?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you have any instructions on that?
Mr. Senator. No, they didn’t pay entry.
Mr. Hubert. Did they pay for drinks?
Mr. Senator. They had a special rate.
Mr. Hubert. What was it?
Mr. Senator. I think 40 cents, or anybody that was a friend of his—in other
words, for an example, your taxi drivers, the taxi drivers used to bring customers.
In other words, an out-of-towner would say “where can you go,” they would
say the Carousel or the Colony or wherever they may bring them.
So they brought them up there, in other words, if they were off duty and
wanted to come up, they were guests of Jack’s, and they paid a special price
for drinks.
Mr. Hubert. And they didn’t pay the admission charge?
Mr. Senator. No. Now the fellows who worked downstairs in the garage,
they were allowed in, but at a special price. The special price was no different
for anybody. It was all one price, the special.
In other words, they gave them a discount on beer or the setups, whichever
they were having, and your hotel bellcaps and things in that area, he always
let them in free.
I mean he was good to these type people, you know, and, of course, these weren’t
people of tremendous means or of that nature, and everyone had a cut price,
he always gave them a discount on the drinks.
Mr. Griffin. I want to go back a bit. Talking about the ownership of the
Vegas Club and the Carousel Club, did Jack rent the premises of the Vegas
Club or did he own part of that building?
Mr. Senator. No, I think he rented it.
Mr. Griffin. He rented it, so when you talk about ownership of that operation
out there——
Mr. Senator. Not owning the building.
Mr. Griffin. You are not talking about any real estate.
Mr. Senator. No, no.
Mr. Griffin. He did have some physical assets out there I suppose? He had
tables and chairs?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And a piano maybe?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. So, that is what you are talking about when you talk about
ownership?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Right?
Mr. Senator. Yes. In other words, ownership, I refer to the merchandise or
the things in the place, not only the building.
Mr. Griffin. How about the right to get the profits if there were any? Did
he get the profits off the Vegas Club or did Eva Grant get the profits, or did they
share it in some way?
Mr. Senator. This part I don’t know. All I know is the money was handled
by Eva, and which way the money ever swung was left out of my—wasn’t any
of my business.
Mr. Griffin. Jack had a practice at the Carousel, and correct me if I am
wrong about this, that at the end of every night, he would take that night’s
receipts and he would take them down to his car, right?
Mr. Senator. Either that or put them in his pocket.
Mr. Griffin. Or put them in his pocket?
Mr. Senator. Yes, whichever he saw fit.
Mr. Griffin. Now what would he do once he got that money in his pocket
or in the car? What would he do with it, take it back to the apartment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. What would he do with it in the apartment?
Mr. Senator. Just leave it in his pants or whatever it was.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have a safe back in the apartment?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have a safe at the Carousel Club?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did he visit the Vegas Club every night?
Mr. Senator. No. He would probably say he would visit the Vegas Club—you
know, for a while they were running this amateur hour every Friday, and
Jack would go after he closed the Carousel, he would go over to the Vegas
because the Vegas would stay open one hour later.
I don’t know how to describe it. They were able to stay open until 3 o’clock
in the morning, and they would have a little bit of entertainment from 2 to 3,
and Jack would sort of MC it.
Mr. Griffin. But you say Jack wouldn’t go there every night?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. About how many nights a week would he go to the Vegas Club?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say, of course, I can’t always say, I don’t
always see him all the time, you know, and I am not with him all the time, but
I would probably say it was more so weekends. Now, during the week I don’t
say that he probably hasn’t jumped over there, because if he has I don’t even
know, because when he does go out he doesn’t tell me his moves where he
is going.
Mr. Griffin. When you were living with Jack at the Carousel Club in that
period of time, how long was that that you lived at the Carousel Club?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know how long he lived there before me. I don’t know
how long he lived there previous to when I came, but I wasn’t there too long.
Mr. Griffin. Were you there a week or 2 weeks?
Mr. Senator. It might be. I just don’t remember how long it could be. It
might have been 2 weeks. It might have been 3 weeks, I don’t know. It
might be that long. Mind you, I want you to know this is guesswork. I am
only guessing.
Mr. Griffin. Is it your impression that during the week on 5-day weeks
that maybe 3 or 4 nights out of a week he would not go to the Vegas Club?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so.
Mr. Griffin. I am saying that he wouldn’t go to the Vegas Club. There
would be 3 or 4 nights out of the week that he would not go to the Vegas Club?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; I would probably say that, yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now, what was done with the money over at the Vegas Club
every night?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know, that part I don’t know. I am not familiar with
that part.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever see Jack take any money from the Vegas Club
and bring it back to the apartment or put it in his car or in his pockets?
Mr. Senator. No; not out of the Vegas. I don’t know if it has been done, but
I haven’t witnessed it. The money is handled, at the Vegas the money is
handled by Eva. Now, how she disburses it or banks it I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of any bank accounts that Jack maintained?
Mr. Senator. He had one bank. What he had in it I don’t know. I am
trying to think of the name of the bank. Do you have a listing of the banks
he has? Can you refresh my memory on it?
Mr. Griffin. I can give you a list of banks and read off some names. Tell
me if any of these are familiar to you. How about the Park Cities Bank and
Trust Company?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. How about the National Bank of Commerce?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. The American Bank and Trust Company?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. The Mercantile National Bank?
Mr. Senator. No; see, if you can find one on—continue.
Mr. Griffin. All right, the Industrial National Bank.
Mr. Senator. Merchants. Have you got Merchants? That is the one I am
thinking of. I think he had a bank account at the Merchants.
Mr. Griffin. But not the Mercantile National Bank?
Mr. Senator. If he did I didn’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Are there two different banks, one the Merchants and the other
the Mercantile?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes.
Mr. Griffin. How about the South Oak Cliff State Bank?
Mr. Senator. If he did I didn’t know.
Mr. Griffin. But you only heard of one?
Mr. Senator. I heard of the Merchants.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever hear him discuss what was done with the receipts
from the Vegas Club?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever hear Eva Grant mention that?
Mr. Senator. No; but I will tell you what I assumed. I assumed the money
was paid, what money was taken in, I assumed that the employees were paid
off, the band was paid off, the gas and electric and the rent would come out of
that. This is what I assumed, or whatever incidentals there might be. Now,
the disposal otherwise I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Then the fact is that you don’t really know how the funds at
the Vegas were handled?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Or what part Jack got of it?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Now let’s move to the period of the week of the assassination of
the President Can you tell us first of all where you were when you heard
of the assassination?
Mr. Senator. I was in a bar having a liquid lunch. I was uptown. I was
in a bar and had a couple of beers for lunch instead of eating lunch, and some
chap walked in, who I don’t know, and he drove up with his car and he had
the radio on, and as he walked in he said, “The President was shot.” And I
hollered “You’re kidding.” He says, “No; I am not kidding.” So we got outside,
and this is all going on on this car radio we listened to.
Mr. Hubert. That was in downtown Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No; I was uptown.
Mr. Hubert. Had you seen the Presidential parade?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t see it at all.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know whether Jack planned to see the parade?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t.
Mr. Hubert. Did he comment about the President’s visit?
Mr. Senator. You see, let me jump a little ahead of that. That morning, you
see, of course, which is a working day for me, I am up much earlier than he is,
and he was sleeping when I left that morning.
Mr. Hubert. Did you see him the night before?
Mr. Senator. Yes; the night before.
Mr. Hubert. Had you discussed the visit of the President, his coming the
next day?
Mr. Senator. We talked about that. We talked about the President was
coming in, you know.
Mr. Hubert. What was the nature of his comment concerning this?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember what he said.
Mr. Hubert. I don’t mean the words, but the ideas.
Mr. Senator. Well, we were happy that he was coming.
Mr. Hubert. Jack was too?
Mr. Senator. Yes; coming into Dallas.
Mr. Hubert. Did Jack tell you why he felt happy about it?
Mr. Senator. No: I just don’t remember if he did relate that or not, but we
thought it was a great honor for him to come to Dallas.
Mr. Hubert. Did he think his coming would help business in Dallas generally,
and his business in particular?
Mr. Senator. No; there was no comment on that.
Mr. Hubert. Did he state whether or not he was going to try to see the parade?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t mention that.
Mr. Hubert. I think you have previously said in a statement that you saw
him sometime that night, and he went out or something, and then, you went
to bed?
Mr. Senator. No. The next time that I saw him was the following morning
when he woke me up.
Mr. Hubert. I am talking about the night now of the 21st, before the President
was shot, Thursday night, you all talked about the President’s coming. Did
he go out or stay at home, do you recall?
Mr. Senator. No; he is at the club. He goes to the club.
Mr. Hubert. He is at the club?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You went to bed, and when he came in I assume you were
sleeping.
Mr. Senator. You are talking about Thursday?
Mr. Hubert. Yes, I am talking about Thursday night and Friday morning.
Mr. Senator. Thursday night—the President came in Friday.
Mr. Hubert. Yes; but Thursday night did Jack follow his usual routine?
Mr. Senator. Yes; his usual routine.
Mr. Hubert. You were asleep I guess when he got back?
Mr. Senator. Thursday night I don’t remember if I was or not.
Mr. Hubert. Anyhow, Friday morning when you got up he was asleep.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you didn’t talk to him until you heard of the death of the
President?
Mr. Senator. No; the next time that I talked to him was Saturday morning.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t speak to him at all on Friday afternoon after the
death?
Mr. Senator. No; I never saw him at all. I was out. I was out all day.
Mr. Hubert. Did you go home on Friday night at all?
Mr. Senator. Sure.
Mr. Hubert. What time?
Mr. Senator. Friday night I must have went home around somewheres between
10 and 11. Of course, I bought the paper at the Adolphus before I went home.
I always buy a paper, too.
Mr. Hubert. Was Jack home then?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. He had not attempted to contact you from the time of the
President’s death at all?
Mr. Senator. No. He couldn’t contact me because I was around.
Mr. Hubert. Did you try to contact him?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you bring out where it was that he was around?
Mr. Senator. When I said “around”?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where?
Mr. Senator. Around town, no particular place.
Mr. Griffin. Were you going from bar to bar?
Mr. Senator. No, not bar to bar. I had been at a couple of bars. I was
with a friend of mine that night, and we went out, we had a couple of beers
and we were so disgusted, if you can picture the overall picture of Friday
night in the city of Dallas after the occurrence, what happened that afternoon
or late that morning, the city was, I don’t know how to describe it, morguelike.
They were brooding. Everybody was brooding, a sad affair.
Mr. Hubert. Of course you don’t know whether Jack went to the apartment
on Friday night before you got there?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t.
Mr. Hubert. So you went home and went to bed.
Mr. Senator. I read the paper in bed, and that is when I saw the why’s
about the President. They had a list, “Why, Mr. President?”
Mr. Hubert. A full-page ad?
Mr. Senator. Yes; “Why, Mr. President,” so and so, “Why are you here?”
Mr. Hubert. The one signed by Bernard Weissman? W-e-i-s-s-m-a-n.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You saw that before you saw Jack?
Mr. Senator. Yes. As a matter of fact, I read the paper in bed.
Mr. Hubert. You went to sleep, I take it?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What happened next?
Mr. Senator. The next thing I know somebody was hollering at me, and
shaking me up. This was around 3 o’clock in the morning.
Mr. Hubert. That was who?
Mr. Senator. Jack Ruby.
Mr. Hubert. Now describe him to us at that time. What was his condition?
Mr. Senator. He was excited. He was moody; and the first thing come out
of his mouth is the incident. Of course, the incident what happened to President
Kennedy, and he said, “Gee, his poor children and Mrs. Kennedy, what a
terrible thing to happen.”
Mr. Hubert. Had he been drinking?
Mr. Senator. Jack don’t drink.
Mr. Hubert. He wasn’t drinking on this occasion?
Mr. Senator. No; he don’t drink, no.
Mr. Hubert. And his remarks were concerning the children?
Mr. Senator. The children and Mrs. Kennedy and how sorry he felt for them.
Mr. Hubert. What other comments did he make?
Mr. Senator. Then he brought up the situation where he saw this poster of
Justice of the Peace Earl Warren, impeach him. Earl Warren.
Mr. Hubert. He said he had seen that poster?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he had saw that poster.
Mr. Hubert. Did he say when he had noticed it?
Mr. Senator. No; I think he noticed it that day or sometime that day, I
assume. I am not sure, but I think it was that day, and I assume that when
something goes into his brain he wants to follow it up and find out why, why
that poster was up there.
Mr. Griffin. Had you had some experiences like that before?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. But I mean you said some experiences where he got something
in his mind and he wanted to find out why, and he followed it up.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I can’t relate any, but I assume these things
could happen.
Mr. Griffin. But you had never had any experience of that sort?
Mr. Senator. No; I haven’t had any experience.
Mr. Griffin. So, this was a new experience for you.
Mr. Senator. Yes; and he made me get dressed.
Mr. Hubert. What did he tell you when he made you get dressed?
Mr. Senator. He was telling me about this sign here.
Mr. Hubert. Why did he want you to get dressed?
Mr. Senator. He wanted me to go down to see the sign, and meanwhile he
had called. He had a kid sleeping in the club who helps around, and he has
got a Polaroid camera. So he calls the kid up, wakes him up.
Mr. Hubert. Did you hear that call?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Hubert. Did you hear that call?
Mr. Senator. Yeah, he calls him up and says, “Larry, get up, get dressed,”
something of that nature, “and get that Polaroid with the flashbulbs and meet
me downstairs. I’ll be right downtown.”
Mr. Hubert. That was after he told you to get dressed?
Mr. Senator. Yes; after he told me first.
Mr. Hubert. Did he at that time comment upon or notice the Weissman ad
that you had been reading the night before, the big ad that you commented upon,
“Why, Mr. President,” I think it was called?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember he noticed it there or he noticed it after the
incident. Now, if he seen it before I just don’t remember, but I know after we
got through this incident, which I will relate to you, we were looking at this ad.
Mr. Hubert. And that was at the house?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; this was—I saw it myself originally.
Mr. Hubert. In the newspapers?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You had the newspaper on your bed. You had gone to sleep
reading?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I probably threw it on the floor. I think I threw it on
the floor before I went to bed.
Mr. Hubert. In any case you have no recollection that you discussed the ad
prior to leaving the house?
Mr. Senator. I just don’t remember if I did or not, but I do know that we
did look at that ad that night at another place.
Mr. Hubert. We will get to that. What happened next then?
Mr. Senator. Well, I got dressed, went downstairs, got in the car. I got
dressed. We went downtown. We picked up Larry. He drove over to where
this billboard was.
Mr. Hubert. Had he told you where it was beforehand?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he told me it was on the corner of Hall and the expressway.
Mr. Hubert. Which expressway?
Mr. Senator. North Central Expressway. I had an indication because I
sort of knew the location of the area. I know where Hall Street is and I know
where the expressway is.
Mr. Hubert. Go ahead. Just pick up as to what happened.
Mr. Senator. So we went downtown and picked up Larry. From there we
drove over to where this billboard was, and he had the kid take three Polaroid
shots of this billboard. Now, what his intentions were with these I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. He didn’t express any?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t say what he was going to do with them but he
wanted three shots.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ask him or did anyone else ask him why he wanted to
take pictures of this?
Mr. Senator. No; all he said to me, “I can’t understand why they want to
impeach Earl Warren.” He said, “This must be the work of the John Birch
Society or the Communist Party.” And he wanted to know why.
Mr. Hubert. Did he say how taking a picture would help him to find out?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t. He didn’t say how that would help him to find
out. So from there we went down to the post office.
Mr. Hubert. Did Larry go with you?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. To the post office, I mean.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What did you do at the post office?
Mr. Senator. Wait now, we went down to the post area. This sort of slips
away from me when the time gets by on the ad. We must have discussed it
or seen it at the house. I just remember now, but I think we probably did.
We must have seen it. So anyhow we went up to the post office.
Mr. Hubert. When you say “the ad”——
Mr. Senator. The paper ad.
Mr. Hubert. The Bernard Weissman ad?
Mr. Senator. Yes; the Bernard Weissman ad.
Mr. Hubert. So you now think, and let me get it straight, you previously
stated that you weren’t sure?
Mr. Senator. I wasn’t sure.
Mr. Hubert. That Ruby had noticed the Bernard Weissman ad after he had
wakened you at the house, and you were dressing, and before you left, but you
think now you must have?
Mr. Senator. We must have because we went to the post office.
Mr. Hubert. When he did see the ad, was there a comment about that?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he wanted to know why on this.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, there were two things he wanted to know why on.
Mr. Senator. Right.
Mr. Hubert. Why the Earl Warren poster and why the Bernard Weissman ad?
Mr. Senator. Right; yes.
Mr. Hubert. So then he had you take Polaroid pictures of the poster concerning
Chief Justice Warren, and then you went to the post office.
Mr. Senator. We went to the post office.
Mr. Hubert. What was the purpose of going there, and in connection with
what?
Mr. Senator. Well, that was in connection—going to the post office was in
connection with the paper ad now.
Mr. Hubert. How was it connected to the paper ad?
Mr. Senator. Well, there was a post office box on this ad. I just don’t recall
the number of the post office box. But he wanted to see if there was such a box.
Mr. Hubert. So did you go into the post office with him?
Mr. Senator. We went into the post office. We saw a box with that number
on it. There was a lot of mail in there.
Now, of course, who it belonged to—we don’t know if it belonged to him or
not, but he did press the night buzzer. There was a little hole there where
you get the night clerk, and he asked the night clerk who—I think it was 1762
or something like that. I just don’t remember the number.
He asked him who it is. The night man says, “I can’t give you any information.
Any information you want there is only one man can give it to you and
that is the postmaster of Dallas.”
Mr. Hubert. Did Ruby make a reply to that?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge. You mean to him?
Mr. Hubert. Yes; to the clerk. Did he say anything more?
Mr. Senator. No; if I am not mistaken, I think he said “How do you get to
the postmaster” or something of that nature. I am not sure now.
Mr. Hubert. Was he annoyed with the clerk?
Mr. Senator. No; he wasn’t annoyed with the clerk, but he was deeply annoyed
with the ad, with both ads.
Mr. Hubert. Did he indicate to you how checking the box at the post office
would assist him in whatever he had in mind?
Mr. Senator. He wanted to know; he had also said that he had checked the
telephone directory and couldn’t find this Bernard Weissman, who supposedly
put an ad like this here, and couldn’t have been local because he looked to see
if there was a Bernard Weissman in the Dallas telephone book.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t see him look it up. He merely told you that?
Mr. Senator. He merely told me that. I didn’t see him look it up.
Mr. Hubert. Did Larry Crafard go with you to the post office?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did he stay in the automobile, or come to the post office with
you?
Mr. Senator. I believe he came into the post office. I have to guess on this.
I am not sure, but I think he came into the post office.
Mr. Hubert. All right.
Mr. Senator. Then from there we went to the Southland Hotel coffeeshop.
Mr. Hubert. Where is that located?
Mr. Senator. That is on the corner, on Commerce, and I don’t know what the
little side street is, but it is just below the Adolphus Hotel on Commerce Street.
I don’t know what the side street is.
Mr. Hubert. Who went?
Mr. Senator. Jack, Larry, and myself.
Mr. Hubert. How long did you stay there?
Mr. Senator. I would assume we stayed there—maybe about 15 minutes would
be a rough guess.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall the nature of the discussion between you at that
time?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He reread this paper ad of the why’s of the President.
Mr. Hubert. Where did he get the paper from?
Mr. Senator. It happened to be it was lying on the counter. The news was
lying on the counter, and, of course, he ruffled through it.
Mr. Hubert. And you say he reread it; so now you are quite certain that he
had read it before?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he must have read it before. See, now, I can’t tell you if
he read it before that or I showed it to him or what. I just don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. In any case when he saw it at the coffeeshop, it was obviously the
second time.
Mr. Senator. He was very disturbed.
Mr. Hubert. Or the third time.
Mr. Senator. He was very, very disturbed over both of these.
Mr. Hubert. Explain what actions of his lead you now to the conclusion that
you describe as a disturbed condition.
Mr. Senator. His voice of speech; the way he looked at you.
Mr. Hubert. His voice was loud or low or different or what?
Mr. Senator. Yes; it was different. It was different; the way he looked at
you. It just don’t look like the normal procedure.
Mr. Hubert. Had you ever seen him in that condition before?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say—I don’t know how to put these conditions
together, but I have seen him hollering, things like I told you in the past, but
this here, he had sort of a stare look in his eye. I don’t know how to describe it.
I don’t know how to put it together.
Mr. Griffin. I didn’t catch that. What kind of a look?
Mr. Senator. A stare look; I don’t know. I can’t express it. I don’t know
how to put it in words.
Mr. Hubert. But it was different from anything you had ever seen on Jack
Ruby before?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And it was noticeably so?
Mr. Senator. Oh yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you notice it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I could notice it.
Mr. Hubert. Did it disturb you any?
Mr. Senator. I wouldn’t say exactly I was disturbed, but I could notice it.
Mr. Hubert. Did he seem to be concerned about the President’s death or the
ad or what?
Mr. Senator. To me, I would probably say it must have been a combination of
the entire thing. I know he was deeply hurt about the President, terribly.
Mr. Hubert. You say you know that. How do you know that?
Mr. Senator. What? By his feelings; by the way he talked about the family
and the children; by tears in his eyes, which I have seen, and I am not the only
one who has seen it.
Mr. Hubert. Do you think that he was more disturbed than the average person
that you know was disturbed about the President’s death?
Mr. Senator. All I know, while I can’t say about the average because all I
know, he was really deeply disturbed, but I can’t describe an average because
there might be another individual of his nature, too, who knows. Who knows
the affections of each and every individual?
Mr. Hubert. In any case his reaction was such——
Mr. Senator. It was pretty well—you know, disturbed as I was and as disturbed
as I have seen many friends of mine, it was worse with him than it was
with the others who I have seen.
Mr. Hubert. That is exactly what I was getting at. So he got hold of this
newspaper ad and read it again—is that it—that is, in the coffeeshop?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he looked it over again.
Mr. Hubert. What comment did he make, while reading it or after?
Mr. Senator. While reading it?
Mr. Hubert. I don’t mean his words, you understand, his exact words, but the
meaning, the thoughts expressed.
Mr. Senator. Yes; the thoughts. He can’t understand it. It is so penetrated
in his mind he can’t understand why somebody would want to do something
like this.
Mr. Hubert. The ad had nothing to do with killing the President?
Mr. Senator. No; but he couldn’t understand why an ad like this should break
out, about this ad. Another thing he couldn’t understand why in the world
would they want to impeach Justice Earl Warren. Incidentally, that sign come
out of Massachusetts, that billboard.
Mr. Hubert. Was it your impression that Ruby was putting the three instances
together as being connected in some way; to wit: the death of the
President, the impeach Earl Warren sign, and the Weissman ad? Was he seeming
to do that?
Mr. Senator. He was seeming to do at that time—he was seeming to do with
the impeachment of Earl Warren, and the Weissman sign; he couldn’t understand
why these things were of a nature—I don’t know how long this billboard
has been out. I don’t know if it has been a day, two, or what it was, and then
the ad break out the same day that President Kennedy was coming in. He
wanted to know the whys.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, as I understand you, you gathered that was
running through his mind, was why the ad, and the poster, appeared at the same
time as the visit of the President; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say it is something of that nature, I guess.
Mr. Hubert. I want to distinguish that, if possible, from another situation,
and that is whether or not you gathered that he was disposed to place the killing
of the President together with the poster and the ad.
Mr. Senator. Run that again.
Mr. Hubert. From what you could gather from his attitude, from what he
said and how he acted, do you think it was running through his mind that there
was a connection between the Earl Warren poster, the Weissman ad, and the
killing of the President rather than the President’s visit?
Mr. Senator. No; I would say the subject at that time, when he was looking
at the sign and taking pictures of it, and the newspaper ad, that this is where
he really wanted to know the whys or why these things had to be out. He is
trying to combine these two together, which I did hear him say, “This is the work
of the John Birch Society or the Communist Party or maybe a combination of
both.”
Mr. Hubert. What is the work of those two; the death of the President?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no, no, no.
Mr. Hubert. The publication of these signs?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. He did not indicate what his impressions were as to who was
behind the death of the President?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t indicate that.
Mr. Hubert. Nor did he seem to associate the ads and the poster with the
President’s death?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know about that part.
Mr. Hubert. But you do know that he was wondering why these two things,
the poster and ad, should come out at the same time?
Mr. Senator. Now, mind you, I don’t know if they come out at the same time,
because the billboard, I don’t know if that thing was there a day or a week.
Mr. Hubert. But he was associating the two of those together?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Or trying to find out if there was any connection between those
two?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he wanted to know why.
Mr. Hubert. And it was the fact that the ad was published and the sign was
posted that he attributed to the Communists or the Birch Society.
Mr. Senator. Yes; and he couldn’t understand why the Dallas Morning News
would ever print such a thing like that, say that in their paper.
Mr. Hubert. You see what I am trying to get at is whether he manifested in
any way that his thinking associated the assassination of the President with the
posting of the Warren poster and publication of the ad, or rather whether he
was simply associating the fact of the publication of the ad and the posting of
the poster with communism, and so forth.
Mr. Senator. To my belief I think he was trying to associate the ad and the
poster with the Communist Party or the John Birch Society.
Mr. Hubert. You did not gather from what he said that he associated the
death of the President to the Birch Society or the Communists or any other
group?
Mr. Senator. Not at the time that we were talking; rather, he was talking
about the signs.
Mr. Hubert. That is, the poster and the ad?
Mr. Senator. The poster and the ad.
Mr. Hubert. Had you all talked to anybody else in the coffeehouse, in the
coffeeshop?
Mr. Senator. No. I don’t think there was anybody in there at that time outside
of, I think, a cashier and probably a waitress.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall whether he made any comment to the cashier or
the waitress?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t.
Mr. Hubert. Did Larry have any comment to make that you recall?
Mr. Senator. I just don’t remember if he had any or not.
Mr. Hubert. Well, now, when Ruby stated what you said he stated concerning
the poster, and so forth, did you have any comment to make about it?
Mr. Senator. Well, nothing compared to him. Of course, after I heard him
mention it, then I sort of wondered also why an ad like that would be put in
the paper, or why anybody would want to impeach Justice Earl Warren. What
did it mean?
Mr. Hubert. Jack had taken the pictures and he had gone to the post office
to check on the box. Did he state what he intended to do further?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Then you tried to calm him down?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Was it your impression that his state was that he should be
spoken to by a friend and calmed down?
Mr. Senator. Well, I don’t know. It is hard for me to say these things. Who
would really know?
Mr. Hubert. But in any case you didn’t argue with him about his view?
Mr. Senator. No. I don’t argue with him at any time.
Mr. Hubert. You did not state a concurring view, I take it?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Or an opposing view?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Nor did Larry?
Mr. Senator. Larry I can’t speak for because I just don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. And you don’t remember whether Ruby spoke to anybody else
or anyone else spoke to him?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Hubert. Then what did you all do next?
Mr. Griffin. Before you go on, did Jack indicate what he was going
to do with the photographs that he took?
Mr. Senator. No. He just took them and he never said what he was going
to do with them. Of course, I know what the windup was with them later on.
Mr. Griffin. What was that?
Mr. Senator. Well, I believe the local policemen got them after the shooting
when they searched him, took his money and his papers, and all of that, and I
believe those pictures were with it.
Mr. Griffin. When you——
Mr. Senator. At least I assumed the pictures were with him.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall where this sign was located? When you rode out
there in the car, do you recall any conversation you had with him, out to the
sign?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. That was covered.
Mr. Senator. You see, when I have to jump 5 months back, it is hard to
remember little things. It is not holding back. It is hard to remember.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you all go then?
Mr. Senator. From there he dropped Larry off, and Larry went back up and
went to bed, up at the club. Then we went home.
Mr. Hubert. Was there any further discussion at all between you and Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Let’s see; I think we put on the TV for awhile that morning.
Mr. Hubert. It was about what time of the morning when you got back?
Mr. Senator. I would say somewhere between 5 and 6. Of course, I am guessing
the time.
Mr. Hubert. It was still dark, wasn’t it?
Mr. Senator. Yes, but I think it was sort of a break already; you know, sort
of lighting up a little bit.
Mr. Hubert. Go on.
Mr. Senator. And if I remember right, I think it was a rerun of the episodes
of the day, if I remember.
Mr. Hubert. Did you go to bed before Jack?
Mr. Senator. You mean when we came back to the apartment?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. The same time. We went at the same time.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, you all looked at TV for a period. How long a
period?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know; maybe 10 or 15 minutes.
Mr. Hubert. And you all went to bed?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You went to sleep?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know whether he did or not?
Mr. Senator. Well, he went to bed. I assumed——
Mr. Hubert. You were in a different room from him?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I assumed he did, because when I woke up he was still
asleep; you know, later on.
Mr. Hubert. What time was that?
Mr. Senator. I would say I must have woke up around, I don’t know, 10
o’clock, something like that.
Mr. Hubert. That is Saturday morning?
Mr. Senator. Saturday morning. I would say something like that.
Mr. Hubert. He was still asleep?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he was still asleep, but through the normal shuffling, you
know, going to the bathroom and such and such, it woke him up.
Mr. Hubert. Where was the telephone in that apartment?
Mr. Senator. In the living room, but it had a long wire.
Mr. Hubert. But the ringing sound came from the actual machine itself?
The ring would be where the phone was located?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where was the phone located that night, do you know, in the
living room?
Mr. Senator. I think it was in the living room.
Mr. Hubert. How far from your bedroom was it?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t——
Mr. Hubert. As close as his?
Mr. Senator. Let me tell you. In the living room, of course, he had one of
these extension wires that would probably run, what, 13 feet or something like
that, 12 feet, I don’t know what the extension is, but where it was at that
moment I don’t know. I assumed that it was on the table. I just don’t
remember.
Mr. Hubert. Would he normally take it in his room?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think he could get it all the way in his room. You see,
he had the far bedroom and my bedroom was closer. I could take it in mine,
but I don’t think I could take it in his, or he might be able to take it just
partially a little bit, but I don’t think it would extend that far.
Mr. Hubert. If the phone machine was in the living room where it normally
was, you would be closer to it, right, than he would?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. I take it you did not hear a phone call for him that morning?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Have you ever had occasion where the ringing of the phone
wakened you?
Mr. Senator. I would have to say “No” on that because I am always up
before he is.
Mr. Hubert. Tell us whether or not if Jack had received a phone call about
8:30 Saturday morning you would have heard it and it would have wakened
you?
Mr. Senator. If he did I just don’t recollect. I wouldn’t say he did or
didn’t have one because I just don’t remember if he did have one.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t remember if he had one?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. That I understand. But what I am asking you is whether or
not the ringing of that phone in the position it was as you have explained it
that is closer to you than to him, would have awakened you.
Mr. Senator. Oh sure, sure. I could have heard it.
Mr. Hubert. Are you willing to go so far as to state that since it did not
awaken you, that there was no phone call?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t quote because I don’t know if there was a phone
call.
Mr. Hubert. That is not what I asked you. I am asking you whether you
are willing to state that if there had been a phone call, it would have awakened
you?
Mr. Senator. I would assume so.
Mr. Griffin. Let me go back a bit here. Up until the time you went to
bed early Saturday morning, had Jack told you what he had done since the
President was shot?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I know of some of them. I know that he went to the
synagogue.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you did he tell you that night? I am not asking
you what you know now, but before you went to bed Saturday morning had
Jack told you what he had done that night, rather what he had done since
the President had been shot?
Mr. Senator. I think he went to the—wait, I don’t remember if he told me
that night or it was the next day. This is the thing I don’t remember.
Mr. Griffin. That is what I am trying to get at is whether you have any
recollection.
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember, but I do know that he had told me that he
went to a synagogue and that he brought sandwiches around to the police
station, these are things I knew that he did. But I don’t remember if he
told me that night or the next morning. I don’t remember which time it
was.
Mr. Griffin. When you got up the next morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Was Jack up?
Mr. Senator. No; he was sleeping.
Mr. Griffin. And did you see Jack before you left the house Saturday
morning?
Mr. Senator. Oh yes. He was still home when I left.
Mr. Griffin. Was he awake?
Mr. Senator. Oh sure.
Mr. Griffin. So you talked with him?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. That is where I had left off.
Mr. Griffin. That is right. That is why I stopped.
Mr. Hubert. I think you said as a matter of fact here that the process of
your waking up and moving around the house and so forth wakened him.
How long did you stay around the house?
Mr. Senator. Saturday morning you are referring to?
Mr. Hubert. Yes; after awakening.
Mr. Senator. Saturday morning I must have left, as a guess, mind you, somewhere
around, maybe somewheres between 11:30 and 12:30. Of course, I am
only guessing. I could be a half hour off or I might be an hour off.
Mr. Hubert. That is to say that you stayed around the house anywhere from
1 hour to 2 hours after you awakened?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I would probably say that.
Mr. Hubert. And during most of that time Jack was awake and up, too?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He awoke after.
Mr. Hubert. Can you recall the substance of the conversations between you
during that period of either 1 hour or 2 hours or something in between?
Mr. Senator. Well, we watched TV a bit, and he had mentioned—of course,
he wasn’t feeling good when he woke up—he had mentioned the fact, he sort
of rehashed the President and the kids all the time, how sorry he felt for them
and how a great man like President Kennedy could have been shot. He thought
this was a terrible thing to happen. Many a time he went through this how
sorry he felt for the kids and Mrs. Kennedy, a poor tragic thing like this to
happen to them.
Mr. Hubert. Did he tell you that he had decided to close the clubs?
Mr. Senator. No. I wasn’t with him. That was Friday night.
Mr. Hubert. I understand that, but I mean by Saturday morning, we are
speaking of the conversations of Saturday morning.
Mr. Senator. No; this I already knew.
Mr. Hubert. You already knew?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. When did you find that out?
Mr. Senator. Friday night.
Mr. Hubert. Who told you?
Mr. Senator. The ad in the paper.
Mr. Hubert. That is how you first saw it?
Mr. Senator. That is how I knew. That was an ad at the same time——
Mr. Hubert. Did you discuss with him at any time, either on Friday night
or Saturday morning, the fact that he had closed the clubs, and the reason
therefor?
Mr. Senator. He told me why he closed the club. He put this in heavy black, in
heavy black block, that the Carousel will be closed Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, because he thought it was a terrible thing for anybody to be dancing
and entertaining or drinking of that nature there at a time such as this.
Mr. Hubert. You say that he put an ad In the paper Friday night that the club
would be closed for 3 days?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know what time because I assume he put it in sometime
Friday afternoon.
Mr. Hubert. But the first time you saw the notice about the closing of the
clubs, there was an announcement that the club would be closed for 3 days?
Mr. Senator. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I mean Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday. That is the way the ad ran.
Mr. Hubert. And you saw that on Friday night before going to sleep?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you ever talk to him about it?
Mr. Senator. About the ad?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Being closed?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I told him that I read it.
Mr. Hubert. And what was his comment, or query?
Mr. Senator. He was hoping that everybody else would close. He was hoping
that the two other strip joints would close when they read his ad, because he
didn’t feel they should be open on account of the simple reason of the tragedy
that happened, where they should be having entertainment, dancing, and drinking.
He didn’t think it was the right thing to do at this time.
Mr. Hubert. Did he indicate to you that he thought it would hurt them if they
did not close also?
Mr. Senator. That it would hurt their business?
Mr. Hubert. The other business, his competitors?
Mr. Senator. Well, I don’t know about that, but I assumed, of course, I am
assuming only what I think, that I believe a lot of stores also closed that day.
I think Neiman Marcus closed. I believe in that downtown area there was quite
a few stores that did close.
Mr. Hubert. Did it come to your attention that he was attempting to keep
his competitors from knowing that he proposed to close?
Mr. Senator. How could he when he ran an ad?
Mr. Hubert. I mean for the Friday night.
Mr. Senator. To keep them from knowing?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ever indicate to you——
Mr. Senator. As a matter of fact, I would think he would want them to close.
Mr. Hubert. Why?
Mr. Senator. And I assumed that the way he put that ad in there. He thought
everybody should observe something, such as what happened.
Mr. Hubert. Were you aware that he had told Larry Crafard not to put a
little sign that was posted in front of the Carousel, not to tack it up announcing
the closing of the Carousel until after the time for the opening of the other
competitors?
Mr. Senator. No; because I never saw him that day.
Mr. Hubert. But he didn’t indicate to you as a matter of fact that he would
like to see them open while he was closed?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. In grief over the President?
Mr. Senator. I was sort of inclined with my own thoughts in mind that he
would probably want to see them closed. This was my own thought of mind.
Mr. Hubert. Did Jack give you any of his reflections on how this tragedy
of the death of the President would affect the community of Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No; not that I can recall.
Mr. Hubert. I am talking about either Friday night or Saturday or at any
other time.
Mr. Senator. You are referring to the individuals in the city of Dallas, right,
the people of the city of Dallas?
Mr. Hubert. The business principally.
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think so.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall his making any comment to the effect that this
tragedy would hurt the convention business of Dallas?
Mr. Senator. If he said it I just don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. Did he make any comment to you that you recall or heard to the
effect that the tragedy and the hurting of the convention business would hurt
his own Carousel and Vegas business?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. He did not comment upon that at all?
Mr. Senator. If he did, I just don’t remember. I really don’t.
Mr. Hubert. What was his general condition on Saturday morning during
the hour or 2 hours that you had occasion to observe him as opposed to the condition
that you have already described on Friday night?
Mr. Senator. He still had that hurt feeling within him of what happened, and
apparently this had never left his mind.
Mr. Hubert. Did he talk about the poster and the pictures he had obtained
of it, or the Bernard Weissman ad?
Mr. Senator. He was now referring to the tragedy of the President, and of
the family, what would happen to the family.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, on Saturday morning the events of earlier that
morning, that is his agitation over the poster and his agitation over the advertisement
seemed to have passed away?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if it did or not.
Mr. Hubert. But he didn’t comment on it?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember him commenting on it.
Mr. Hubert. And his attitude at least was different in that regard than what
it was the night before?
Mr. Senator. What he thought I still don’t know about that.
Mr. Hubert. You have given us a description of what his reaction was to the
poster and to the ad.
Mr. Senator. Yes; now what happened——
Mr. Hubert. That Friday night. All I am trying to do is get a comparison of
his attitude in those areas between the two times. Do you see what I mean?
I gather from what you tell me, let me see if I can rephrase it, that on Saturday
morning the stress, if it could be called that, or the most important aspect of his
reaction that you observed was his feeling of sorrow as to the President’s family.
Mr. Senator. Saturday morning?
Mr. Hubert. Saturday morning.
Mr. Senator. Yes; which was working on him pretty good.
Mr. Hubert. Now you say that it was working on him pretty good, and that is
a mental impression that must have been created by the happening of events or by
statements being made. How was it working on him pretty good? What did
he say or do to convey to you that it was working on him pretty good?
Mr. Senator. He kept on repeating these things, numerous times he repeated
that.
Mr. Hubert. Was that extraordinary for him?
Mr. Senator. I would think it would be. To me it would be.
Mr. Hubert. And what else was he doing that indicated to you——
Mr. Senator. And I had seen him cry, because I guess who hasn’t you know.
Mr. Hubert. And what else?
Mr. Senator. And I had seen him cry, and he just got that funny look in
his eyes. I don’t know how to describe it. You call it a far-away look or a
look of something. I don’t now how to tear it down. But it wasn’t a natural
look.
Mr. Hubert. Did you have that impression that morning or have you reconstructed
all this in your mind after all the events had happened?
Mr. Senator. About his looks?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No; you could see it. After all, I have been around him enough
to know the difference.
Mr. Hubert. You noticed the difference. And, of course, he shot Oswald.
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Hubert. You noticed this difference, and you now have a recollection of
noticing that difference about the events of the next day; is that right?
Let me show you what I mean. I want you to try to remember whether you
had a distinct impression, which you now recollect, on Saturday about his
worsening condition. Do you have that recollection now, Mr. Senator?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I could tell by facial expressions, facial look.
Mr. Hubert. What I am getting at is whether or not in thinking over this
thing as you must have done, of course, that you reconstructed all of this,
and that your recollection is of the reconstruction rather than of the fact
itself. Do you understand what I mean?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know what you mean when you ask me if I am
reconstructing it.
Mr. Hubert. What I mean is this. When after all this whole thing came
to a climax with the shooting of Oswald by Ruby, you must have put all of
your thoughts together concerning those last days, and as a matter of fact you
have been questioned a number of times by a number of people.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Including Government agents?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And including his lawyer. What I want to know is whether
what you are telling us now is a recollection of the reconstruction of this whole
period, or is it now a distinct recollection independent of any reconstruction
that you made in telling the story to anybody else. Do you remember now,
today, that on that Saturday morning you had the feeling that man is getting
worse on this subject?
Mr. Senator. That is the way he appeared to me.
Mr. Hubert. And you remember that now, that that thought turned over in
your mind on Saturday morning.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I do.
Mr. Hubert. Did it alarm you in any way?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know how to describe myself with it, but I know it
didn’t look good.
Mr. Hubert. What was your fear?
Mr. Senator. I wasn’t fearing anything. I just didn’t like the way he
looked.
Mr. Hubert. When you say it didn’t look good, in what way do you mean?
Mr. Senator. It didn’t look like the normal look as I have known him.
Mr. Hubert. Was your concern, if not your fear, that he might go off his
normal method of thinking or that he would do himself harm? I mean were
you concerned or was it just simply an observation which you passed on?
Mr. Senator. I am observing all this. You know I can tell. But I didn’t
know what to think. I didn’t know how to think.
Mr. Hubert. I think you have already said that you didn’t have any fears
of anything.
Mr. Senator. No; I wasn’t afraid of him.
Mr. Hubert. No; but I mean were you concerned that something might happen
to him, that he might do something?
Mr. Senator. No; not particularly; no.
Mr. Hubert. Did you think that——
Mr. Senator. The thing is I never asked him the thoughts within him or
what he was thinking about.
Mr. Hubert. Did it occur to you that maybe somebody ought to talk to him
about it, that his grief was going to the point, or his condition of being upset
was going to the point that somebody ought to talk to him about it?
Mr. Senator. I know he visited his sister, and, of course, both were in grief
together, and I don’t know if he contacted his rabbi or not.
Mr. Hubert. I think you mentioned a little while ago that he told you he
had been to the——
Mr. Senator. To the synagogue.
Mr. Hubert. To the synagogue?
Mr. Senator. If he talked to the rabbi, I don’t know. Now, I know that he
went to the synagogue that Friday night to pray for the President. Now, if
he had personal contact with the rabbi I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know whether he went to the synagogue on Saturday?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I really don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. You left him at the house when you left?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you left at approximately 12:30?
Mr. Senator. I would say something around that nature.
Mr. Hubert. He would certainly not have gone to the rabbi then, to the
synagogue, on Saturday morning.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I mean I couldn’t answer that. I wouldn’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Maybe you can, or at least you can give us some facts. He was
asleep when you awoke at 10:30, isn’t that right?
Mr. Senator. Yes; but he was up. He Was up when I left.
Mr. Hubert. And you left at 12:30?
Mr. Senator. I am only assuming within an hour.
Mr. Hubert. So it could have been 11:30?
Mr. Senator. 11:30, 12, 12:30. I can’t say because actually, you know,
when this period is going on, I am not watching clocks. I don’t own one. I
can’t go by a timetable because I didn’t have the time.
Mr. Hubert. Certainly, he didn’t leave the house from the time he got up until
you left.
Mr. Senator. No; I left first.
Mr. Hubert. That is correct.
Mr. Senator. Now, what time he left I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. But he didn’t leave the house from the time you got up until the
time you left?
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Hubert. Now, perhaps we can fix the time when you left a little better
by going on and seeing where you went. I ask you where you went?
Mr. Senator. Saturday where did I go? Saturday I think I stopped down,
I think my first stop was down at the coffee shop. I think I went down for
coffee, and my whereabouts, I don’t even know where I went that day because
I don’t work on Saturdays. I guess I probably just as well stood around. Just
where I went, I remember where I went Saturday evening, but I don’t remember
where I went Saturday afternoon. Just no particular place or anything
unusual.
Mr. Hubert. You do recall that your first stop in any case was the coffeeshop?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Which one was that?
Mr. Senator. I think it was Eatwell Coffee Shop that I went to.
Mr. Hubert. You had sort of breakfast and coffee?
Mr. Senator. Coffee and. Maybe coffee and a doughnut or coffee and a bun
or something like that.
Mr. Hubert. You were driving the Volkswagen?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You were not on business?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And you say you have a distinct recollection of some event that
night?
Mr. Senator. Of where I was?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Oh yes; because when I came home that night, I think it was
around somewheres between 7 and 7:30, I think I come home that night, and
I come home with some groceries that I wanted to make. So I made some
groceries and——
Mr. Hubert. Was Jack home at that time?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he was gone.
Mr. Hubert. He was not there?
Mr. Senator. No; he wasn’t there.
Mr. Hubert. That was about 7:30?
Mr. Senator. I would say I think it was around 7:30. So I made the groceries
and then I left some for him, and I ate and I was assuming that maybe he
would be home by the time I was making the groceries. But he wasn’t home,
so after I ate I went out again.
Mr. Hubert. Had you been drinking that afternoon?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. Possibly I may have had a beer or two.
I just don’t remember. I am not a heavy drinker. I am not a drunkard, mind
you.
Mr. Hubert. No; I didn’t mean to infer that at all, but I was wondering why
it was that you couldn’t give us any indication of where you went, whether it
was one or several places between noon or 12:30 until 7:30 that night. I think
you can remember some of the things, some of the places.
Mr. Senator. Well, let me see.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t come home until 7:30?
Mr. Senator. No. I was out.
Mr. Hubert. Did you follow any usual Saturday afternoon routine?
Mr. Senator. No. There is nothing. There is no routine. Saturday, there
is no routine.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t call on any customers?
Mr. Senator. No; nothing. Just out, that is all.
Mr. Hubert. Were you riding around for 7½ hours?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you go?
Mr. Senator. This is what I am trying to think, where did I go. I don’t
remember if I called my lawyer friend or met my lawyer friend or not that day.
Mr. Hubert. Who is your lawyer friend?
Mr. Senator. I have got—Jim Martin. I don’t remember if I called him.
Once in a while I’d have a beer with him.
Mr. Hubert. But you don’t know whether you had a beer with him, I suppose?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. I just don’t remember the routine of the
day. There was nothing that I did in general.
Mr. Hubert. You did go to some grocery store to pick up the groceries?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember which one that was?
Mr. Senator. Sir?
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember which grocery store it was?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I think I went to Safeway.
Mr. Hubert. Safeway?
Mr. Senator. Safeway.
Mr. Hubert. On what street?
Mr. Senator. That is on Jefferson.
Mr. Hubert. Well now, does the recollection of that fact, which must have
been what you did almost immediately before going home—let me put it this way.
Was your trip to Safeway to pick up the groceries the thing that you did immediately
before you went home?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. So it would be safe to say, wouldn’t it, that you went to Safeway
around a half hour to an hour before you went home?
Mr. Senator. I probably had gone maybe around 6:30 or 7, something like
that.
Mr. Hubert. Does that help to refresh your memory as to where you had been
just before you went to the grocery?
Mr. Senator. Is it possible to forget?
Mr. Hubert. Why yes, of course, it is.
Mr. Senator. Mind you this is 5 months.
Mr. Hubert. But it is my duty to explore the possibilities.
Mr. Senator. I know that. If I could think and help you out I would be
happy to, if I knew. I just can’t place, place to place, where I have been. I
may have been out having a beer or I may have been out chewing the fat with
some friend of mine. I just don’t remember what I was doing that day.
Mr. Hubert. It may be that if you think about it a bit more you can help us
a little later on.
Mr. Senator. I could if I wanted to, I could have made up a fictitious story
to you and say that I sat in the bar for 3 hours or I was out with some girl or
something like that. He is writing all this down. But I am telling you the
truth.
Mr. Hubert. I don’t want you to tell us something that is fictitious. If it is
a fact that you do not remember, then that is the fact and that is all we want to
know. I think that sometimes one’s memory is refreshed, as it were, by events.
If you can’t remember it now, we will come back to it a little later and see if you
can recollect what happened in this period of about 6 hours on that Saturday
afternoon.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Hubert, unless you want to pursue this further, let me ask
him a question.
Mr. Hubert. All right, go ahead.
Mr. Griffin. You indicated that you might have visited with Jim Martin.
Is this someone that you see regularly?
Mr. Senator. Yes. Jim is an attorney down in Dallas, a very good friend of
mine, who on occasions I will have a beer with. Now, possibly I may have had
it and I just don’t remember. I go to see him often, or I meet him.
Mr. Griffin. Is Jim single?
Mr. Senator. Pardon me?
Mr. Griffin. Is he a married man?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he is a married man. He is the one who also was on the
Ruby case for a while.
Mr. Griffin. Where are his offices located?
Mr. Senator. On Main Street. As a matter of fact he just moved recently.
He was on Main Street, and he is still on Main Street, but the lower part of
town in what they call the Lawyers’ Building.
Mr. Griffin. Are you accustomed to visiting at his home?
Mr. Senator. I go to his home once in a while, yes. I have eaten dinner at
his home or I have went up there and cooked for him once in a while.
Mr. Griffin. How long have you known Mr. Martin?
Mr. Senator. I would say roughly around 2 or 3 years I guess, something
like that.
Mr. Griffin. How did you happen to meet him?
Mr. Senator. I think I met him through a friend of mine one day, if I remember
right. I think we were having a cocktail one day in the Burgundy Room.
I think this is how I met him. I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Has he represented you in any legal matters?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Is he a friend of Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. He knows Jack. I believe all the lawyers in Dallas know Jack.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall if you visited in the area where the President was
shot, on Saturday?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall if you visited in the area where the President was
shot?
Mr. Senator. Was I down there?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No. I drove by. I mean I didn’t stop. I drove by there.
Mr. Griffin. Are there any errands or chores or anything that you customarily
do on Saturday?
Mr. Senator. No, nothing in particular, no. I will tell you Saturday I just
don’t like to work. I just don’t like to do anything particular, you know. Of
course, I would say that, of course, Saturday is a wash day. It is not that I wash
every Saturday, you know, or launderette day. I do my own.
Mr. Griffin. Do you do Jack’s also?
Mr. Senator. No. Jack doesn’t even do his own. He sends them out, but I
do my own.
Mr. Griffin. Where do you do your laundry?
Mr. Senator. Downstairs in the apartment. There is a couple of washers,
two or three washers, and a couple dryers right in the apartment. It is like
these machines similar to the store like.
Mr. Griffin. Does Jack use those? Did Jack use those?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have some particular place he sent his laundry?
Mr. Senator. He takes it out and has somebody do it for him.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know where that was?
Mr. Senator. I was there one time with him when he was picking up his
laundry. If I am not mistaken, I think it was on the McKinney or Fitzhugh,
Fitzhugh or McKinney. I think it was somewhere up in that neighborhood. But
Jack, he takes his laundry and sends it to this place. He takes it over. But
instead of him doing it, he has a girl do it for him, and they straighten it out for
him when it dries up and all that there. Then he will come back and pick it up.
If he don’t pick it up one day he will pick it up the next.
Mr. Griffin. He takes it over to this laundry?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. The girl does it for him at the laundry?
Mr. Senator. She does it with the soap and powder and all that. They have
girls over there, a couple colored girls.
Mr. Griffin. This would ordinarily be a self-service laundromat?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. But there are people there so that if you don’t want to serve
yourself they will do it for you?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is the nature of this place.
Mr. Griffin. His brother Sam, wasn’t he in the laundry business?
Mr. Senator. Sam fixes those machines. I think Sam was employed by somebody.
I don’t know who he was employed by, but he fixes these washers.
Mr. Griffin. But he doesn’t have washaterias?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge; no. I think he is an employee.
Mr. Griffin. This area that you are describing, is that in the general Oak
Cliff area that you people lived in?
Mr. Senator. No, no. This is in town.
Mr. Griffin. Downtown?
Mr. Senator. Not downtown but you have to go through downtown to go
uptown.
Mr. Griffin. What section would you call this section?
Mr. Senator. That area would be I would say sort of north—northwest part of
town I think.
Mr. Hubert. While you are on the laundry subject, wasn’t there some equipment
in the basement of the building you were in?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I said I did mine but he don’t do his.
Mr. Hubert. When you came home, as I understand it, it was about 7:30, and
you fixed a meal for yourself. Before I pass for the moment from this period
on Saturday afternoon, let me ask you this. You were interviewed I think by the
FBI and by Elmer Moore of the Secret Service very shortly after these events, by
the FBI, I believe, on Sunday the 24th?
Mr. Senator. Yes. No; first the police had me, the local had me.
Mr. Hubert. The local police?
Mr. Senator. Then from the local they put me into the FBI.
Mr. Hubert. Did they question you at that time as to your activities during
this period of 6 hours on Saturday afternoon between roughly 12 and 6 or 12:30
and 6:30?
Mr. Senator. No; they questioned me, I believe they questioned me from
Friday.
Mr. Hubert. Did you tell them at that time that you had no recollection of
what you had done during this 6-hour period?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember what I told them. I don’t know if I was asked
that, if I can remember right. I believe the questions they asked me, if I
remember right, is when was the next time I saw Jack that day, if I remember
right, that when I left, what time did I leave that Saturday, and I believe when
was the next time I saw him, if I am not mistaken, if that is the way it ran.
Mr. Griffin. Did you give the police a written statement?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. You signed a written statement for the police?
Mr. Senator. Yes; they made me sign a written statement.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember what time it was that the police questioned you
on Sunday?
Mr. Senator. No; I’ll tell you why I don’t remember. When they grabbed me,
they took me and shoved me into some little room all by myself, and I don’t wear
a watch because I am allergic to watchbands. I can’t wear a watch. And I
don’t know how long I was in this little room.
Mr. Griffin. Was that in the evening or the afternoon on Sunday?
Mr. Senator. That was the afternoon.
Mr. Griffin. And had you talked with Jack Ruby up to that time, between the
time of the shooting and the time that you were questioned by the police?
Mr. Senator. The last time that I saw Jack Ruby is when he left Sunday
morning. That is the last time.
Mr. Griffin. And you didn’t see him again on Sunday?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I saw him when they waltzed me by. When the police got
through with me they waltzed me by to the FBI, that is when I saw him through
a glass.
Mr. Griffin. But never talked to him?
Mr. Senator. No; couldn’t get near him.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk with his sister or with——
Mr. Senator. That day?
Mr. Griffin. Or with anybody else who had seen Jack?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Before you were questioned?
Mr. Senator. No. I’ll tell you why. When I got out, when I got through with
this whole thing that night, it was already dark outside, and I for one had never
seen the shooting on TV, and I still have never seen it to this day, the shooting
on TV, and I never saw the runs because they had me there that late. I don’t
remember what time I got out that night, but I assume it was dark. It may have
been around 7 o’clock.
Mr. Griffin. So between the time you left Jack Ruby back at the apartment
on Sunday, and the time that the police first started to question you later on
Sunday afternoon, you didn’t see Jack Ruby in that interval?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. At least to talk to?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you see Eva Grant?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you see Tom Howard?
Mr. Senator. Tom Howard?
Mr. Hubert. Let’s take a little recess at this point.
(Short recess.)
Mr. Hubert. We will convene again after recess, with the same conditions
and same understanding about the oath and so on.
Now I think you said you came back home at 7:30 on Saturday night and
you had bought some groceries and Ruby was not there.
Mr. Senator. Right.
Mr. Hubert. You fixed yourself something to eat, and I believe you said
that you left.
Mr. Senator. No; first of all I was thinking that he might show up while
I was——
Mr. Hubert. You fixed enough I think you said for two people.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did he come home before you left?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. What time did you leave?
Mr. Senator. I left about maybe around 8, 8:30. As I say, I got to——
Mr. Hubert. Did he have any phone calls prior to your leaving?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Did you have any?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you go?
Mr. Senator. From there I went downtown. I think I went to the Burgundy
Room, if I am not mistaken, that night.
Mr. Hubert. That is in the Adolphus Hotel?
Mr. Senator. Yes; and I met a friend of mine there, and we were feeling
low. I was feeling low.
Mr. Hubert. What is the name of the friend?
Mr. Senator. Bill Downey.
Mr. Hubert. What is his occupation?
Mr. Senator. He is a traveling salesman who sells musical equipment and all
the other stuff that goes with it.
Mr. Hubert. All right.
Mr. Senator. Let’s see now, and Mike Barclay. He is an attorney.
Mr. Hubert. The three of you were together?
Mr. Senator. Went out.
Mr. Hubert. The three of you were together you say?
Mr. Senator. Yes. We went out to a bar and we had a beer or two, and
everybody was low down and got disgusted, and they all wanted to go home
including myself.
Mr. Hubert. So you all did so?
Mr. Senator. So we all went home, and I think I got home about 10:30.
Mr. Hubert. Was Jack there then?
Mr. Senator. Yes. Jack was there. He had eaten, and he said he was going
out. Now, where he went I don’t know, but he said he was going out.
Mr. Hubert. Would you describe his condition then?
Mr. Senator. His condition was in the same thing it was in the past.
Mr. Hubert. Was it like it was in the morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He was in that same kind of condition.
Mr. Hubert. He was no worse?
Mr. Senator. Well, it is hard to say how much worse it was. He didn’t look
good.
Mr. Hubert. The reason I asked that question is because——
Mr. Senator. You know when you say “worse,” I don’t know how to put
words together, you know, in expressions, the expression of an individual’s face.
Mr. Hubert. Let me show you what I mean. Perhaps you can help me when
I tell you what I have in mind. You have told us earlier that you thought that
his condition on Saturday morning was worse than it was on Friday night and
early Saturday morning.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. I think the expression you used, “the thing was getting at him,”
so that you formed the impression that the condition was worsening, isn’t that
correct? Is that a fair statement?
Mr. Senator. That is the way it looked; yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now I ask you if you will give us a comparison.
Mr. Senator. I know what you are talking about, but I don’t know how to
compare these things, you know.
Mr. Hubert. Was it worsening? Was it getting to him more? Did it seem
to be getting to him more Saturday night as opposed to 12 hours earlier roughly
Saturday morning?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say it was of the same nature or something
like that. It wasn’t good, because for me to try to express, and I don’t know
how to express a facial nature. It is just hard for me to put in words. If
you take the complete facial expression and the eyes and all that, I am not a
connoisseur at just being able to express these things, you know.
Mr. Hubert. No; I am just asking you for another comparison because you
had given us a previous one, and I thought that another comparison between
another period, two others periods, would be useful if you could give it to us,
and that is all. I gather from you that your general impression was that there
had not been much change in his condition over what it was on Saturday morning.
Mr. Senator. I will say something in the same nature.
Mr. Hubert. That it was of the same nature?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall what the nature of the conversation was between
you two that night?
Mr. Senator. No; because when I walked in, he was just about on his way
out. I asked him if he ate. I told him I bought groceries. He said, “Well, I
ate already.” He ate.
Mr. Hubert. How long after you arrived did he leave?
Mr. Senator. Oh, God, within 5 minutes. It was just that short, that fast,
and out he went. Now, I don’t know where his visitation was. I don’t know
if he went to see his sister.
Mr. Hubert. He didn’t tell you where he was going?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Then or ever?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t tell me at all where he was going.
Mr. Hubert. He never did tell you later?
Mr. Senator. No; and I didn’t ask him.
Mr. Hubert. Then you don’t know where?
Mr. Senator. No; because when I went home, you know, when I got home I
went to bed. I was going to bed.
Mr. Hubert. And you went to bed about 10:30?
Mr. Senator. I would say about half an hour later, maybe around 11.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know what time he came in?
Mr. Senator. No; because I wasn’t awake.
Mr. Hubert. The next time you saw him?
Mr. Senator. Was Sunday morning.
Mr. Hubert. What time did you awaken on Sunday morning?
Mr. Senator. Sunday morning I assume it was somewhere around between
8 or 9, somewheres in that time. Just something in that time.
Mr. Hubert. Have you any way to fix it at all?
Mr. Senator. No; you see, when I was on the witness stand with Mr. Bill
Alexander, now he tried to make me pinpoint it right down to the minute. It
is highly impossible. If you are not watching a clock and don’t have one, how
can you pinpoint these things? How can you really do it? How is it possible?
How can you pinpoint time when you are not watching it?
Mr. Hubert. In any case what you are saying, your best estimate is that
it was——
Mr. Senator. I have to estimate it. Now, as I say when I estimate it, I can
be 15 minutes, a half hour or maybe an hour off on time.
Mr. Hubert. I think you told us earlier that when you went to bed as early
as 11 o’clock you usually woke up quite early.
Mr. Senator. Yes; this is why I say I probably woke up maybe around
8 or 9 that morning.
Mr. Hubert. Was Ruby——
Mr. Senator. Of course, I read in bed, you know. I read in bed.
Mr. Hubert. Was Ruby there when you woke up, or not?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he was sleeping.
Mr. Hubert. When did he waken?
Mr. Senator. Ruby must have woke up I assume it probably would have been
maybe—of course, I have to guess again—I would assume somewheres around
between 9 and 9:30.
Mr. Hubert. Why don’t we put it in terms of how much after you did Ruby
wake up. In other words, no matter what time you awoke, can you tell us
how long after he awakened?
Mr. Senator. It could be maybe three-quarters of an hour or an hour. I am
not sure.
Mr. Hubert. What is your first distinct recollection of him that morning?
Mr. Senator. Well, the moment he got up he went to the bathroom, which is
normal for him.
Mr. Hubert. Did you speak to him then?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I did. Of course, we turned on the TV. He had the TV
going. He turned it on to see what the latest news was. Then he went to the
bathroom. Of course, then he washed, and he went in and made his own breakfast.
I only had coffee. He made himself a couple of scrambled eggs and
coffee for himself, and he still had this look which didn’t look good.
Mr. Hubert. Again I want to ask you, can you give us a comparison between
the look that he had that morning, which you just described, as opposed to
what it was on other occasions in the sense of whether it was growing worse
or not?
Mr. Senator. He looked a little worse this day here. But if you ask me how
to break it down, how he looks worse, how can I express it? The look in his
eyes?
Mr. Hubert. Well, is that one of the things?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is the way it seems.
Mr. Hubert. The way he talked or what he said?
Mr. Senator. The way he talked. He was even mumbling, which I didn’t
understand. And right after breakfast he got dressed. Then after he got
dressed he was pacing the floor from the living room to the bedroom, from the
bedroom to the living room, and his lips were going. What he was jabbering I
don’t know. But he was really pacing. What he was thinking about——
Mr. Hubert. That was after he was dressed?
Mr. Senator. Yes; now, what he was thinking about, I don’t know what he
was thinking about. But he did, which I forgot to tell you, he did get that call
from this Little Lynn from Western Union.
Mr. Hubert. You remember the call?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did you answer the phone?
Mr. Senator. No; he had already been up.
Mr. Hubert. How did you know it was Little Lynn?
Mr. Senator. I could hear him say. I heard him say Lynn, Western Union.
I heard him mention Western Union. I heard about the money and that he was
sending it to Fort Worth. She needed $25 for rent.
Mr. Hubert. Did he tell you that?
Mr. Senator. I heard him mention $25 over the phone.
Mr. Hubert. How did he mention it, that he would send $25?
Mr. Senator. He would send $25 to her by Western Union.
Mr. Hubert. Did he mention that it was for rent?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he told me after it was for rent.
Mr. Hubert. He told you?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t hear Little Lynn ask for it?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t hear it.
Mr. Hubert. Of course not.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Therefore he must have told you.
Mr. Senator. He said she called, and, of course, I knew it was Lynn because
I knew——
Mr. Hubert. You knew who she was?
Mr. Senator. Sure.
Mr. Hubert. But after he hung up, he told you that she needed $25 for rent?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did he mention that she had called the night before?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. You did not know that at the time?
Mr. Senator. If she did I don’t know. This I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know what time that call was?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. It could have been anywheres between 9:30, I am
not sure, maybe 10. I am not sure what time it was. See now——
Mr. Hubert. Let’s get at it this way.
Mr. Senator. Now you are placing me from the time I woke up to the time
Jack woke up, but I say with all these things I still have to guess the times.
Mr. Hubert. That is why I am going to put it to you this way. The time of
the call is known, and that is why I would like you to relate events backwards
from that time, you see.
Mr. Senator. I know that I was off on the time because——
Mr. Hubert. No; I am not trying to get you off. I am trying to get the facts,
so let’s approach it this way. How long before the Little Lynn call would you
estimate it was that Jack woke up?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t estimate the time, but I don’t think he was up too long.
Mr. Hubert. You say he had gone to the bathroom and that he had cooked his
breakfast and that he had gotten dressed?
Mr. Senator. No; he wasn’t dressed at the time Little Lynn called.
Mr. Hubert. He was not dressed at the time?
Mr. Senator. No; he was still in his shorts. I think he was still in his shorts.
Mr. Hubert. If you could help us on this it would be valuable for us to know
about how long prior to the Little Lynn call did Jack actually get up. If you
want to break that into segments as to how long it was before he started breakfast,
and so forth, well, do that too. It may be helpful to you and it would be
to us. I can help you if you want along these lines. Did the Little Lynn call
come after he had finished his breakfast?
Mr. Senator. No; I think that call came in before he had breakfast. I think
it did. I think it was before breakfast. I am not sure.
Mr. Hubert. He answered the phone as I understand it?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. When he got up he went to the bathroom?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did the call come while he was in the bathroom?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so.
Mr. Hubert. After he left the bathroom he went to fix breakfast as I understand
it.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if the call came in before or after he went to the
bathroom. It was one of the two. I don’t know which. As I say, I would have
to twist it.
Mr. Hubert. I don’t want you to twist it or to guess.
Mr. Senator. I have to guess. I have got to guess.
Mr. Hubert. You have got to give your best estimation.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. If I don’t know I can’t answer it because I have
got to guess on this. You put me to guesswork.
Mr. Hubert. No; we don’t want to have you guess. We want your best estimation
of the passage of time. If you don’t know, we certainly don’t want
you to guess. But you were there and we weren’t. Therefore, we would like
to know if you know. We don’t want you to guess.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I don’t know the times.
Mr. Hubert. Let me give you another approach to assist you on this. You
said that you might have awakened anywhere from 8 to 9 yourself, is that
correct?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you think that it was as long as 1 hour after you awoke
that the call came from Little Lynn?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. You know this is very complicated when
you try to make a timepiece out of this. It really is. I mean especially if you
are not watching the time and don’t know the time. It is just a complicated
thing trying to place a time together.
Mr. Hubert. That is true, but on the other hand when we have a fixed time,
sometimes we can relate events to that time in terms of hours and half hours
and so forth. That is what I am asking you to do now.
Mr. Senator. You see when you are relating all three there, in the relation
of all three here from the time I got up to the time Jack got up to the time he
had his breakfast, from the time that Little Lynn called I would be jamming
all these things into maybe a half hour to an hour in differences, and they
would all almost clog together because I would have to guess at all these, because,
mind you, this wasn’t a great expanse of hours. This is why I say I will be
guessing and have to be wrong. Mind you from the time that I wake up at
8 o’clock in the morning, supposedly around 8 or maybe it was 8:30 or 9, I have
to have the answers, supposed to have the answers for what time I woke up,
what time Jack got up, Little Lynn in the short span of hours, and it is hard
to break these things down and be accurate.
Mr. Hubert. We understand that, and the purpose is to find out if it is possible
to know, and if your answer to us is that you can’t tell us, we don’t want
you to guess.
Mr. Senator. I can’t tell you. The reason it is hard to tell you, because I
would have to guess at all these and I have no hours. It was such a short span
of hours, I would probably assume this whole thing would consummate maybe
in what, approximately 2 hours, whatever it may be, maybe 2½ hours, I don’t
know. Now, you know you have got to jam hours in for these three things to
fit, and I can’t jam them together to make them fit.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s see if we can’t fix sequence of events instead of trying to
fix hours. You got up first.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And Jack got up next.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Then another fixed event is the time that he went to the toilet.
That came next, didn’t it? He went to the bathroom?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Then he fixed himself some breakfast.
Mr. Senator. Now you have asked me if he fixed breakfast first or the telephone
call, I mean her call.
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember which came first. Now I am guessing that
the call came first. I am not sure. I can’t relate to be sure right now.
Mr. Hubert. As to the sequence of those two events, we now know what your
recollection is, and that is that it could have been before or it could have been
after.
Mr. Senator. I just don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. But in any event, he certainly dressed after he got the call, is
that correct?
Mr. Senator. And after breakfast.
Mr. Hubert. And after breakfast?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Then after he dressed he paced about some?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now, at least we have the sequence of events so far as we are
able to put them together.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. We also know, you see, Mr. Senator, that as to one sequence,
you don’t know. I am not critical of you because you don’t know, but we weren’t
aware that you didn’t know until right now.
Mr. Senator. As I say, I mean when you take these four incidents and try to,
you know, try to jam them all into this short span of hours, I just can’t break
it down and be right.
Mr. Hubert. Now let’s get to this. Was Jack normally a fast dresser or
would you care to estimate whether it took him——
Mr. Senator. No; Jack was never a fast dresser or never a fast washer. He
took his time. In other words, if I wanted to compare us, I could dress five
times as fast as he could or shave or anything else that much quicker than he
could.
Mr. Hubert. Would you say that normally it took him a half hour to get
dressed and shaved?
Mr. Senator. A half hour to get dressed and shaved? I would probably assume
it would take something like that.
Mr. Hubert. And do you think it took him that long on this morning?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if it took him that long.
Mr. Hubert. But in any case he did dress and you would think that that took
him a half an hour?
Mr. Senator. I would only have to guess. I can’t say.
Mr. Hubert. Normally it would have?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t assume the time.
Mr. Hubert. Normally it would take him a half hour?
Mr. Senator. I would so surmise that it would.
Mr. Hubert. How long did this pacing go on after he got dressed? It may
have been a matter of only a couple of minutes, but if it was more than that,
I think you would know it. I think if it was a half hour you would know it.
Mr. Senator. I would say that he paced back and forth 5 or 10 minutes. I
don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. All right. Was it at that point that he left?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Did he say anything upon leaving?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What did he say?
Mr. Senator. He said, “George, I am taking the dog down to the club.”
Mr. Hubert. Anything else?
Mr. Senator. That was it, and out he went.
Mr. Hubert. He was fully dressed?
Mr. Senator. He was fully dressed.
Mr. Hubert. Could you describe how he was dressed?
Mr. Senator. Well, he wore a hat, wore a suit and a shirt and tie.
Mr. Hubert. Did he say when he was coming back?
Mr. Senator. No; that is the only words he said when he walked out.
Mr. Hubert. Did you hear him speak to Elnora Pitts on Sunday morning over
the telephone?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know who Elnora Pitts is?
Mr. Senator. It is a colored maid. No; I have heard that incident before, but
I don’t remember this at all. I just don’t remember if he did or not. I can’t, in
other words, I can’t refresh my mind whatsoever that Elnora called. Now, I
could be wrong on this, but my mind is not fresh for that long.
Mr. Hubert. Would it have been possible that you were in a part of the house
or outside the house maybe?
Mr. Senator. No; I wasn’t out.
Mr. Hubert. You never left the house?
Mr. Senator. I was in my shorts all the while, unless I—no, I don’t even know.
Maybe I could have been in the bathroom. I am not even sure.
Mr. Hubert. But in any case you have no recollection of Elnora calling?
Mr. Senator. I do not remember at all.
Mr. Hubert. Was it her custom to call when she was coming out there?
Mr. Senator. I think he—I don’t know, but I know that he has driven by to
tell her to come up and clean the apartment sometimes or something of that
nature. Now, I know he did that one time, but I don’t know if it is his custom
to have her call or not. Maybe it had been, maybe it hadn’t been. I don’t
know on that.
Mr. Hubert. I know I am asking you for another estimate, but I would like
to know what your view of it is. That is how long after Karen Bennett called
did Jack leave the house?
Mr. Senator. Who? Oh, Little Lynn?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Well, Jack was still in his shorts then when she called.
Mr. Hubert. Yes?
Mr. Senator. This I do remember.
Mr. Hubert. He had to dress?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. But you are not sure whether he had fixed breakfast or not?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know which came first, if she called or he fixed breakfast
first.
Mr. Hubert. Leaving those aside, all I was asking was whether or not you
could give us an estimate of the time from when Little Lynn called until he
told you “I am leaving and I am going out and take this dog to the club.”
Have you any idea at all? If you don’t, tell us.
Mr. Senator. Wait, wait, what time she called?
Mr. Hubert. No; the time interval between when she called and when he
left.
Mr. Senator. I will make a wild guess. I would say it was at least three
quarters, it must have been about three quarters of an hour.
Mr. Hubert. On what do you base it?
Mr. Senator. I am just guessing. I can’t base it on anything. I am only
guessing.
Mr. Hubert. Is it quite guessing? You knew he had to dress.
Mr. Senator. Sure you have got to dress.
Mr. Hubert. So that took up some time.
Mr. Senator. Yes; had to wash.
Mr. Hubert. And you also say that he paced up and down for some little
interval of time.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. So when you characterize it as a wild guess——
Mr. Senator. I have got to guess.
Mr. Hubert. I wonder if it is a guess so much as it is a putting together of
these little segments of time and estimating what each would take.
Mr. Senator. I am saying I would have to guess. I would have to guess all
this.
Mr. Hubert. When you said three quarters of an hour, wasn’t it really the
result of your thinking of how much time would be occupied to do these little
segments of activity such as dressing and pacing up and down and so forth,
and you added them up and came to about three quarters of an hour; wasn’t
that your mental processes rather than a wild guess?
Mr. Senator. No, no, no. You asked me a question and I said I would have
to guess it. You know it is really amazing to put hours together. Mind you,
5 months have elapsed already, and to try to put these hours together you have
got to fluctuate. How can you be sure?
Mr. Hubert. That is true, but——
Mr. Senator. You have got to fluctuate. It is strictly all guess work.
Mr. Hubert. That is true, but your attention was directed specifically to these
time lapses, not 5 months ago, but on that very day.
Mr. Senator. They were all guess work, they were all supposedly. I had to
give guess works.
Mr. Hubert. What you are saying now is that the times that you estimated
then were guess works even on that very day as to the times on that very
day? You were examined, weren’t you?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. About 3, 4, or 5 o’clock in the evening?
Mr. Senator. And I have always said I would have to guess the time.
Mr. Hubert. Even as to that day you would have to guess the time?
Mr. Senator. That Sunday?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I always have to guess.
Mr. Hubert. On Sunday you said you had to guess the time as to the earlier
part of the day?
Mr. Senator. I had to guess the time Saturday, I had to guess the time Sunday
when he woke me up. I was only guessing it was around 3 o’clock in the
morning.
Mr. Hubert. You see the reason why I am bringing that to your attention
is that you stated a moment ago that it is difficult for you to recall these things
after 5 months. But I was inviting your attention to the fact that your memory
had been directed to these intervals of time for the first time not today, but on
that very day, and your answer to me is that even on that day you were
guessing as to the intervals of the earlier part of the day; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Of times?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Of times.
Mr. Hubert. Is that a fair statement?
Mr. Senator. If a man doesn’t see a clock, or doesn’t see a watch, what else
can he do? What else can you go by?
Mr. Hubert. All I am saying is that even on the 24th when the police and the
FBI asked you about these segments of time on that same day, your statement to
us is that even then you were largely guessing?
Mr. Senator. I would have to guess the approximate times. If you can tell
me if you don’t see a clock or a watch, how do you tell?
Mr. Hubert. You might be able to tell by remembering what TV program was
going on at the time. Do you, at any particular time?
Mr. Senator. At that time I believe it was something about the late President,
but I don’t just recall what it was, but I believe it was——
Mr. Hubert. Practically everything that day was. You don’t remember any
specific part?
Mr. Senator. I don’t; no. I don’t remember any specific part.
Mr. Hubert. Did Jack look at it, too? I think you said he did. Did he make
a particular comment as to a particular part then being shown?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And that was the last time you saw Jack?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Let me get this straight. Were you awake, did you wake up
on Sunday morning before Jack?
Mr. Senator. Sunday morning? Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Do you have an actual recollection of that, or are you stating
this because it was almost always your practice that you did wake up before
Jack?
Mr. Senator. I always—I would say 95 percent of the time I was up before
him.
Mr. Griffin. But on this day do you have any recollection?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I know. He was asleep because when I got up he was
still in bed.
Mr. Griffin. When you got up, as I understand; you made some breakfast for
yourself?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t.
Mr. Griffin. You did not?
Mr. Senator. No. I had coffee. I made coffee.
Mr. Griffin. Coffee?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. In this period between the time you got up and the time that
Jack left the apartment, did you remain in the apartment the entire period?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I was still in my shorts when he left the apartment.
Mr. Griffin. And were you visited by anybody?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. That day?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Or that morning?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know which are the neighbors in that apartment? Let
me start over again? You lived at that South Ewing address on that very
same floor right next to Jack for 11 months, approximately?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Before this Sunday we are talking about. Now, did you know
any of the other people who lived in the apartment?
Mr. Senator. Just to say hello, but that is about as far as it went.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know Sidney Evans?
Mr. Senator. Sidney Evans?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. If I did, I don’t know them by name.
Mr. Griffin. How about a man named Malcolm Slaughter?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. They work for the Red Ball Freight Company or Motor Express,
truck drivers apparently.
Mr. Senator. Did they live there?
Mr. Griffin. They were supposed to; yes.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. If I did, I don’t know them by name.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know the people who lived across the hall from you?
Mr. Senator. When you say across the hall, it was a U. That was just by the
U shape.
Mr. Griffin. A balcony sort of a situation?
Mr. Senator. A balcony, but it was a U. In other words, when I walked out
of my door, if I kept walking and went over the bannister I would hit the
ground. There was nobody facing me.
Mr. Griffin. How about on either side?
Mr. Senator. Jack was on one side. Then there were some girls on the other
side. The next apartment over there were three girls, something like that.
Mr. Griffin. That U that you are talking about, is it sort of a stairwell, is
that it? The U is on one floor of the stairwell?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And there were three suites on the landing that you people were
on? There was the old suite that you occupied, Jack’s suite which you were
living in on the 24th, and the suite occupied by some girls?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; then it went down further. That wasn’t the end of the
strip.
Mr. Griffin. There was a hallway, wasn’t there?
Mr. Senator. No; there was a balcony.
Mr. Griffin. A balcony?
Mr. Senator. A railing—I mean you are outdoors. There is nothing concealed.
It was just a railing and you are looking outdoors.
Mr. Griffin. And you opened out onto this balcony?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Along this balcony, how many other suites were there along
that balcony?
Mr. Senator. Running our way, you have got to transplant in your mind—in
other words, say that I am facing my door right now.
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. And the balcony goes U-shaped like this. Do you follow me?
In other words, this is all space out here.
Mr. Griffin. Everything in front of you is space?
Mr. Senator. Space. Now right past mine, if you turn to the right of mine,
then you walk down another balcony. See, there are balconies on this side plus
balconies this way.
Mr. Griffin. Well, now along this same level that you were on, and following
the whole set of balconies around on the same level, how many different——
Mr. Senator. The entire level.
Mr. Griffin. Yes. How many different?
Mr. Senator. This is another guesswork. I would say, I would sort of
estimate around a dozen places, a dozen apartments.
Mr. Griffin. Now these dozen different apartments, was there a single stairway
that led up to that level, or was there more than one stairway?
Mr. Senator. No; there was two stairways. There was one from the front,
there was one level that come up South Ewing. In other words, you drive
around through the back where you park your cars and come up this way.
Mr. Griffin. Another stairway?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now on this level how many of those dozen suites there perhaps—how
many of those people did you know?
Mr. Senator. I didn’t know any. I never had a conversation with any of
them. Now I said hello to the girls next door, but I never talked to them,
never had a conversation with them. Of course, they were young girls, not
of my category. And the people on the sides, I didn’t know any of them. In other
words, anybody who walked in, you know, you would say hello whether you
knew them or not. But there wasn’t a conversation.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Hubert, I want to carry this on a little bit from what happened
after Jack left the apartment.
Mr. Hubert. I promised him that we would stop at 5 because he expressed
the fact that he was somewhat fatigued. He has been up since 2:30. I think
rather than get into another segment we might adjourn for the day. You
were turning to another subject?
Mr. Griffin. I was going to take him up to the time when he left the
apartment.
Mr. Hubert. That I think would be another subject.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, the interval between when Jack left and——
Mr. Hubert. We have it now to the point where Jack has left the apartment,
and I think that is a good stopping point. It is a quarter past 5 and I had
promised we would stop at 5.
Mr. Senator. I am not mad at you.
The testimony of George Senator was taken at 8:35 a.m., on April 22, 1964,
at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C., by Messrs. Burt W. Griffin and
Leon D. Hubert, Jr., assistant counsel of the President’s Commission.
Mr. Hubert. Mr. Senator, you will understand that this is a continuation
of the deposition which was begun yesterday, and that Mr. Griffin and I, who are
examining you, are doing so under the same authority and under the same
conditions as were indicated to you at the beginning of the deposition yesterday.
Likewise, I take it that you understand, unless I hear to the contrary that
you are still under the same oath which you took at the commencement of the
testimony on yesterday; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now, at the end of the session on yesterday we reached the point
where on Sunday, November 24, you had left your apartment or you were leaving
your apartment, as I recall it. Your testimony was that Mr. Ruby had already
left. I think you fixed, but just for the purpose of continuity at the moment,
would you now try to fix the approximate time at which he left?
Mr. Senator. You mean when I left?
Mr. Hubert. No; when he left.
Mr. Senator. To me, I thought it was somewheres between 10:15 and 10:30.
Of course, I found out hereafter in the courtroom that I was wrong, but this
at that time was the approximate figure that I had that he left.
Mr. Hubert. You told us yesterday that whatever time it was, your thought
was that it was approximately three-quarters of an hour after he received the
call from Little Lynn?
Mr. Senator. No. At the time he left—in my courtroom statement there I
fixed the time at approximately 10:15 or 10:30. That is where I thought he had
left around that time.
Mr. Hubert. I ask you now to fix it not in point of clock time but in point of
how many hours or minutes it was, or parts of hours it was, after the long
distance call from Little Lynn in which you understood that she asked for $25.
Mr. Senator. I would have to say it would probably be approximately somewhere,
I imagine somewhere between three-quarters to an hour. Now this is
about as close as I can think of it.
Mr. Hubert. I think you base that upon two considerations, at least that you
stated to us yesterday. That he was not yet dressed.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. When Little Lynn called?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And that he got dressed and cleaned up, washed up?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And then spent some short, relatively short period of time pacing
around, as you said?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Before leaving. And that you estimated yesterday I think it was
about three-quarters of an hour.
Mr. Senator. Three-quarters of an hour. I mean this is just an estimation.
Mr. Hubert. Now, when he left he told you he was taking the dog Sheba down
to the club?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And he made no other comment?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Did he say what time he was coming back?
Mr. Senator. No; there was no mention of anything at that time.
Mr. Hubert. Now, what did you do next? How long did you stay in the
apartment?
Mr. Senator. After he left I’m still sitting around in my shorts yet. I’m not
dressed or not washed or anything outside of having a cup of coffee. I had coffee.
Mr. Hubert. Did you have TV on?
Mr. Senator. No; I’ll tell you, after he left I was reading the Sunday paper.
Mr. Hubert. And you cut off the TV?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I didn’t have the TV going. I was just reading. I read
the paper, and from there I washed, shaved, got dressed, and took a ride downtown,
and as I say, this place, the Eatwell——
Mr. Hubert. How long after Ruby left did you leave?
Mr. Senator. I would say it was about three-quarters of an hour, I guess,
something like that.
Mr. Hubert. Then you went directly to the Eatwell?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You used your Volkswagen, I think you said?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you park, do you remember?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I parked right by the Eatwell.
Mr. Hubert. There is a parking lot there?
Mr. Senator. No; it is right on the street. You know Sunday there is no
difficulty.
Mr. Hubert. All right, then take it from there. Tell us what happened.
Mr. Senator. So I went in there. I sat down there. Now, this is the place
that I go every morning, you know, rather Sunday or Monday because I don’t
like to sit indoors. So I went there and had a cup of coffee. Then the first
thing—then I had another cup of coffee. Now, on my second cup of coffee I
heard the girl, the waitress—now where she got her information from I don’t
know. It had to be either telephone or radio, I don’t know which. Maybe they
had the radio on.
Mr. Hubert. Did you notice any kind of a radio of any type in the restaurant?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Did they usually have any?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Hubert. All right, what happened?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge. The first time she said she heard that
somebody shot Oswald.
Mr. Hubert. Was she speaking to you?
Mr. Senator. No, no, it was loud; but it happened to be she was near me.
Mr. Hubert. There were other people in the place?
Mr. Senator. Not a lot. There were others you know, the usual morning
Sunday business in the restaurant is sort of minute. So what I did when I heard
that, I called up the lawyer. I was going to give him the news. I figured he
would probably be sitting home, you know, Jim Martin, who happens to be a
friend of mine. But when I called him. I spoke to his daughter and she told
me her dad and mother were in church. Dad would be home in half an hour. I
said all right, maybe I’ll call him back.
A short while later, the same girl, the same waitress hollered out that the
man—she wasn’t pronouncing the name right, the Carousel Club, but I sort of
got the drift of the name and she hollered Jack Ruby killed Oswald. This is
what she come up with later.
Mr. Hubert. How much later?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say about 5 minutes.
Mr. Hubert. But it was after you had called Martin?
Mr. Senator. Yes; after I called Martin.
Mr. Hubert. You called Martin right away?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I was going to tell him that. I didn’t think he would be—of
course, I didn’t know he was going to church or anything.
Mr. Hubert. He is a close friend of yours?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He is an attorney there; yes.
Mr. Hubert. All right, then?
Mr. Senator. Then when I heard that again, then I went up to see him. Of
course, I froze in that chair there. I said my God, I didn’t know what in the
world to think. Then I went up there and I no sooner got there, he had just got
there, I don’t know, I think a moment or two before me. His wife and daughter
had just come out of church.
Mr. Hubert. You went to his home, you mean?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I went to his house. I told Jim and he said, “I heard
already. I saw it on TV.”
Mr. Hubert. He was already at his house, you said?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he was home already.
Mr. Hubert. How long after your phone call to him do you suppose you got
to his house?
Mr. Senator. Well, he lived quite a ways. I would probably say it was about
a 20-minute ride.
Mr. Hubert. You left the Eatwell just as soon as the girl announced that the
man who had shot Oswald was Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. I finished my coffee. I had about a half a cup left, something
like that.
Mr. Hubert. You did not attempt to call Martin again?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t call him. I just went direct. I figured if he
wasn’t home I’d wait for him.
Mr. Hubert. What was your reason for wanting to see Martin?
Mr. Senator. Well, after all, this was my roommate. No particular reason. I
happened to know he was a lawyer.
Mr. Hubert. Did you go to him as a lawyer or as a friend?
Mr. Senator. As a friend, as a friend. So I went up there and said, “Jim,
what in the world are we going to do?”
Mr. Hubert. I take it from what you said a moment ago, “After all, he was
my roommate”, that you felt some concern for yourself.
Mr. Senator. I’ll tell you how I felt. I knew after this had happened, I
thought it was best that I volunteered than somebody come after me.
Mr. Hubert. You thought that somebody would be coming after you?
Mr. Senator. Oh, eventually they would have to. Eventually somebody would
have to be coming after me. After all, I was his roommate.
Mr. Hubert. I assume you were going to see Martin really to seek his advice
as a lawyer as well as a friend?
Mr. Senator. Yes; what to do. What should I do.
Mr. Hubert. Was that true of the phone call as well?
Mr. Senator. Sir?
Mr. Hubert. Was that motivation true of the phone call to Martin as well?
Mr. Senator. No. The first call, I was just going to tell him that I heard
that Oswald was shot, which the girl told me. But on the second time—I
didn’t——
Mr. Hubert. You realized your position at that time as being his roommate
and that gave you concern because you thought that the police might be picking
you up?
Mr. Senator. Sure.
Mr. Hubert. And you thought you had better have the advice of a lawyer?
Mr. Senator. To ask him what to do. Should I go down there or what?
Mr. Hubert. What did you do in fact?
Mr. Senator. Well, we went down there. We went down there and, of course,
we had a tough time getting in. When we got down the place was just jammed.
Mr. Hubert. How long were you at Martin’s house, speaking to him?
Mr. Senator. I would say maybe 5 minutes, maybe 10 minutes something
like that.
Mr. Hubert. And did you in effect ask him what you should do?
Mr. Senator. I asked him what I should do and I thought it would be best
to go down. He thought so, too.
Mr. Hubert. It was your suggestion that it would be best to go down, or
his.
Mr. Senator. I think it was a combination of both.
Mr. Hubert. But in any case, within about 5 minutes the decision had been
made?
Mr. Senator. 5 or 10, something like that. I’m not sure of the exact time.
Mr. Hubert. The decision had been made to go down to the police department.
Now, what was the purpose of going down there?
Mr. Senator. I went down there, I thought it would be best if I go down there
than to be picked up, because after all, I’m his roommate and I know they are
going to eventually pick me up, because I was living with him.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, the idea was that you were going to go down
there and say, “Now look, I’m George Senator. I was a roommate of Jack
Ruby’s and do you have anything to ask of me?” That was it?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say it was in the nature of that; yes.
Mr. Hubert. Incidentally, a moment ago you said that you were sleeping
with Jack Ruby, and in some circles sleeping with someone is——
Mr. Senator. I said I was what?
Mr. Hubert. You were sleeping with Jack Ruby.
Mr. Senator. I was sleeping with him?
Mr. Hubert. I think you said that.
Mr. Senator. I never said that, never.
Mr. Hubert. I misunderstood you then.
Mr. Senator. You sure did.
Mr. Hubert. You did not mean——
Mr. Senator. You sure did.
Mr. Hubert. Did I hear that right?
Mr. Griffin. I did not catch it.
Mr. Senator. You sure did.
Mr. Hubert. In any case, if I did hear that I was wrong about that?
Mr. Senator. You definitely were wrong. You definitely were wrong. I don’t
even remember this incident being said.
Mr. Hubert. That is all right. I just wanted to get it clear, because some
people might misunderstand the phrase, and I would not want that to be misunderstood
if it were not true.
Mr. Senator. It definitely isn’t.
Mr. Hubert. All right. So when you got there, what happened?
Mr. Senator. The place was mobbed, and, of course, I believe there were a
couple of police attendants by the elevator as we got off.
Mr. Hubert. Where did you go, in fact?
Mr. Senator. Actually, I didn’t know where to go. We went upstairs.
Mr. Hubert. What entrance, do you remember?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I guess the front entrance, we went up.
Mr. Hubert. You went to the Chief of Police office, or what office?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know what office I was at.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know whom you reported to or whom you were with?
Mr. Senator. First we were mobbed. I told these people, these two policemen,
whoever they were I don’t know, I told them who I was.
Mr. Hubert. Where were they stationed?
Mr. Senator. They were right by the elevator as you got off.
Mr. Hubert. As you got off on one of the upper floors?
Mr. Senator. One of the floors. I don’t remember what floor it was on.
Mr. Hubert. In other words, you were not mobbed, as you put it, or you did
not speak to anybody as you came into the building?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. On the ground floor?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. But as you got off, whatever floor it was, two policemen stopped
you; is that the idea?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I was with Jim Martin.
Mr. Hubert. And when they stopped you, they asked your name I suppose?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you told them?
Mr. Senator. Told them who I was. And then, you know, the place was
mobbed and there was a bunch, whoever these people were, reporters or whatever,
there were some of them there. They happened to overhear it, and they
mobbed me. They mobbed me.
Then eventually two great big policemen came over and one grabbed me on
one side of the arm, you know, they looked like giants to me, and one on the
other side and they took me into this room. Remember I told you they put me
into a little sort of solitary room.
Mr. Hubert. That is on the same floor?
Mr. Senator. Yes. And I don’t remember how long. I mean I had no way
of knowing time that I was in there in this room there waiting for somebody
who was going to—they said to wait there, I don’t know. They kept me in this
room. Then somebody finally approached me. They wanted a statement.
Mr. Hubert. You got there, I suppose, about 20 or 30 minutes after leaving
Martin’s house?
Mr. Senator. I would say something like that, between 20 and 30 minutes.
Mr. Hubert. And you were, almost immediately after getting off on one of the
upper floors of the building, mobbed by the press group and taken by these two
policemen?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And put into a room on the same floor?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And then was Mr. Martin with you?
Mr. Senator. He was with me, but he never, you know, when they took me to
this room they wouldn’t let him in.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ask to go in or to remain with you?
Mr. Senator. He says “I’m his lawyer”; he was my lawyer. But we still were
separated.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ask that he be allowed to remain with you?
Mr. Senator. He wanted to get in.
Mr. Hubert. Can you remember whether he actually asked to get in with
you?
Mr. Senator. It seemed like he wanted to get in. I mean I don’t remember
the exact words that he said, because they wouldn’t let him in, so apparently he
was trying to get in too.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember whether you were placed under arrest?
Mr. Senator. No, never placed under arrest.
Mr. Hubert. When you were escorted to this room and sat down, was the
door locked?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Were you told to remain there?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Were there any guards on the door?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge. I don’t think so.
Mr. Hubert. Were you handcuffed?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And you say you don’t know how long you remained there?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t tell. This was a little tiny room. It looked like
where they keep some inventory books—not books, probably paper goods or
something like that. It was a very small room.
Mr. Hubert. Could you hear what was going on outside the room?
Mr. Senator. No, couldn’t hear a thing.
Mr. Hubert. Did the room have any windows in it?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Was the light on?
Mr. Senator. Yes. It was very small. It was a very small room. As I say,
it must be a room like they keep paper goods, things of that nature, or something
like that in there.
Mr. Hubert. Did the police search you or frisk you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. They did not take anything away from you?
Mr. Senator. No. I wasn’t under arrest at all.
Mr. Hubert. And what was the next thing that happened?
Mr. Senator. Well, finally, I don’t remember this man’s name, you may have
a note of it, I assume he was a detective. He was in plain clothes. He questioned
me.
Mr. Hubert. Did he question you in that same room, or take you outside?
Mr. Senator. No, he questioned me in that room.
Mr. Hubert. Just one man?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t remember his name?
Mr. Senator. No, I don’t.
Mr. Hubert. Was he connected with the Federal Government or the State
government?
Mr. Senator. I assumed he was local.
Mr. Hubert. Have you found out since who he was?
Mr. Senator. No, I didn’t. I think he must have been a detective of some
nature. I mean I don’t know what his classification was, because all I know is,
he was in plain clothes.
Mr. Hubert. What was the nature of his inquiry?
Mr. Senator. It was, you know, what happened from the time of the shooting
up until the present time. That was the inquiry.
Mr. Hubert. The time of the President’s shooting?
Mr. Senator. Yes, from the President to——
Mr. Hubert. Did he more or less ask you to go over and to account for your
time during that period?
Mr. Senator. You mean where I was?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Yes, yes.
Mr. Hubert. Am I right then in saying that his inquiry was to ask you what
you had been doing since the President had been shot and what Ruby had been
doing too, I suppose?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Both of you?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. He asked you concerning the events in your life during the
afternoon of Friday, November 22?
Mr. Senator. I believe that is how it started.
Mr. Hubert. And on the night of the 22d and the early morning of the 23d?
Mr. Senator. There is only one thing that slipped my mind to tell him, and
that was the paper issue, the newspaper issue and the billboard, “Impeach Earl
Warren”. That was the only thing I forgot to tell him that slipped my mind.
Mr. Hubert. Did you tell him that you had gotten up, that Jack had wakened
you early in the morning and had asked you to go out with him?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if he questioned me on that or not. I don’t remember
if he did or not on that. I don’t remember if he did on that.
Mr. Hubert. But if he did——
Mr. Senator. But I had been in a pretty shaky mood that day, most naturally
nervous.
Mr. Hubert. But your point is that if he did ask you about whether you
had gone out with Ruby in the early hours of the morning, you did not tell him
about the concern of Ruby over the Bernard Weissman ad, nor did you tell him
about taking the pictures of the Earl Warren poster?
Mr. Senator. No, I didn’t tell him that.
Mr. Hubert. Now, what was your reason for not?
Mr. Senator. No particular reason.
As a matter of fact, I’m sorry that I—I should have told him. If I thought
about it I should have told him that because I think this was a benefactor
for Jack Ruby.
Mr. Hubert. And you say that the reason why you did not mention these two
episodes was forgetfulness?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
I was a pretty shaken boy. I’m not used to something like this. This is something
that will shake you up.
Mr. Hubert. Is it that you were shaken up and thought it best not to mention
anything about it, or that you actually forgot?
Mr. Senator. Just forgot.
Mr. Hubert. And I assume that that officer then carried you through the
events of Saturday morning after you got up and Saturday afternoon and
Saturday night and Sunday morning, is that not so?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And at that time did you tell him what you had done on Saturday
afternoon?
Mr. Senator. No, because I didn’t—I don’t think I did because I don’t know
if I was questioned on that. As a matter of fact, to the best of my knowledge
I don’t think I was questioned at any time what I did on Saturday afternoon,
to the best of my knowledge that I can think of.
Mr. Hubert. You mean they questioned you about what you did on Friday
night and Saturday morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And Sunday morning, but they omitted Saturday afternoon?
Mr. Senator. The best that I can recollect, it was more important of the
events of when I had seen Jack, and the times that he got home and when I got
home.
Mr. Hubert. Did you tell him concerning all of those matters approximately
as you have told us to date?
Mr. Senator. You mean from the events of Saturday?
Mr. Hubert. Friday, Saturday and Sunday up to the point we have reached
in this deposition.
Mr. Senator. Yes, but you are more thorough than they are.
Mr. Hubert. How long do you suppose that interview with the police officer
lasted?
Mr. Senator. I have no idea.
Mr. Hubert. What happened next?
Mr. Senator. From there he took me to the FBI on the same floor in another
room, and his story was about the same.
Of course, if I remember right, I think he goes back like you started, you know,
my name——
Mr. Hubert. That is to say, the FBI examination of you?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember his name. Yes, the FBI man. And if I recall
right, I think he asked me, you know, my name, how old I was, you know, like
you started off.
Mr. Hubert. He went into details as it were?
Mr. Senator. Pardon me?
Mr. Hubert. He went into more detail?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; because the details—in other words, he started from
where I came from, my name and how old I was and things of that nature, like
you did.
Mr. Hubert. And I think you said that his examination was thorough as it
were.
Mr. Senator. Well, there was more to it.
Mr. Hubert. In what way? Did he ask you for more details?
Mr. Senator. Well, he went into my personal life, you know, like you started
off.
Mr. Hubert. Would you say that his examination of you was along the same
lines as mine has been?
Mr. Senator. No; because—well, in certain parts I would say, but I think
yours are more meticulous—is that the proper word—than his. In other words,
yours are more thorough.
Mr. Hubert. But he asked you to account for your time?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you told him about going out in the morning with Jack,
having been awakened by Jack and going out, and so forth?
Mr. Senator. No; I forgot that. In other words, when they shoved me from
one to the other, it was the same way.
Mr. Hubert. You mean you do not have any recollection of having told the
FBI that Jack had awakened you in the morning and that you had gone out
with him?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember if I did or not. I may have. I don’t remember
if I did or not, now, on that.
Mr. Hubert. Do you have any distinct recollections as to whether or not you
mentioned the Earl Warren poster or the concern of Ruby about the Bernard
Weissman advertisement?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember if I did or not. Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.
I don’t remember that.
Mr. Hubert. Did he ask you about accounting for your time on Saturday
afternoon?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember that, either.
Mr. Hubert. How long did this interrogation by the FBI man take?
Mr. Senator. Of course, it’s guesswork again. I would say maybe it took a
couple hours.
Mr. Hubert. Was it one man or more?
Mr. Senator. One. I would say now——
Mr. Hubert. Did you tell either the State officer who interrogated you or the
FBI man who interrogated you that you had a lawyer and that his name was
Martin?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think I did.
Mr. Hubert. You did not ask that your lawyer be present?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t.
Mr. Hubert. What occurred then after the interview with the FBI man was
over? What happened?
Mr. Senator. Then they let me go. They released me.
Mr. Hubert. Who did that, in fact, the FBI man or a State officer?
Mr. Senator. The FBI man. If I remember right, I think the FBI man said,
“That is all there is.” That is all there was of the interview.
Mr. Hubert. And you were permitted to leave?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember what time you left?
Mr. Senator. I would say it was between 6 and 7 at night because I know
when I got outside again it was dark.
Mr. Hubert. Was anybody waiting for you?
Mr. Senator. No; there was nobody waiting for me. Somebody gave me a
message, or handed me a message, I don’t remember who it was, that Jim Martin
would meet me, the fellow who brought me down, the attorney who brought me
down.
Mr. Hubert. Was that a police officer?
Mr. Senator. No, no; you mean who handed me the message?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember.
Mr. Hubert. Was it a written message? I asked that because you said you
did not remember who handed you——
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember who it was.
Mr. Hubert. Which would indicate it was written, you see?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember who it was. All he said, he would meet me
there. In other words, he was going to meet me across the street from the——
Mr. Hubert. Was it a verbal message?
Mr. Senator. I think it was a written message. I don’t remember who gave
it to me.
Mr. Hubert. You just put it in your pocket or something?
Mr. Senator. No; I read it.
Mr. Hubert. You read it and threw it away?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I knew I would meet him. So I met him. As a matter
of fact, I was with three attorneys when we met, either two or three attorneys.
Mr. Hubert. Mr. Griffin, do you want to ask any questions on this segment
that I have covered this morning up to this point?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; I want to go back a little bit. When Jack Ruby left
the house Sunday morning, you were dressed, were you not?
Mr. Senator. I?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You were not dressed?
Mr. Senator. No; I was in my underwear.
Mr. Griffin. When you got down to the Eatwell Restaurant, can you tell
us which of the waitresses, management people, were on duty?
Mr. Senator. Which of the waitresses?
Mr. Griffin. And management people were on duty.
Mr. Senator. I would say there were probably two or—no; not glancing
around or anything of that nature, I would probably say there were 2 or 3
waitresses.
Mr. Griffin. You eat there regularly?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I stop there every day.
Mr. Griffin. You say you know these waitresses?
Mir. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. So what I am asking you is to tell us which of the waitresses
were on duty.
Mr. Senator. I could recollect the one who said it when I heard her say it.
Mr. Griffin. Which one was that?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know her name. I know her.
Mr. Griffin. Do you not know the names of any of the people who work
in there?
Mr. Senator. This girl here, I mean I know them all, but I don’t know them
by name.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know any of them by name?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know any of them by name.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know the names of the owners?
Mr. Senator. I know the owner. I know his first name. I don’t know his
last name.
Mr. Griffin. What is that?
Mr. Senator. His first name is Jim. There is a father and son. Jim is the
father and Charles is the son.
Mr. Griffin. How old would you say they are?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say Charles must be—of course, they weren’t
there that day. Charles I would probably say is in—could be in I guess his
late thirties, I’m not sure, and the father I would probably say is maybe in his
late sixties or early seventies.
Mr. Griffin. Can you describe the waitress that was on duty?
Mr. Senator. She was a woman about, I would probably say in her late
forties or maybe early fifties, dark haired if I remember rightly, and I believe
brown eyes. I don’t know how to describe her.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know a waitress there by the name of Helen?
Mr. Senator. Helen? A little short girl.
Mr. Griffin. I don’t know what she looks like.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I know one. The other is a little short girl I think by
the name of Helen. I think it is Helen. See, now once in a while they wear
badges but I can’t remember one from the other, outside of their faces. I
always say hello to them. On the other hand, I never take that much notice of
who’s who.
Mr. Griffin. Of course, the waitress who was on duty knew that you were
Jack Ruby’s roommate, did she not?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. I don’t think she did.
Mr. Griffin. The people at the Eatwell knew——
Mr. Senator. Some know me but I don’t think this one knew me.
Mr. Griffin. They know Jack as well as they know you, don’t they?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know if they know him. See, Jack and I never
went in there, I mean together.
Mr. Griffin. Jack eats there regularly?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Or ate there regularly, did he not?
Mr. Senator. No; Jack don’t eat there because he don’t like their type cooking.
No; Jack don’t eat there. Now I go there every day. I go there every day, I
go there every morning. I have coffee, I would say, probably 7 days a week.
Mr. Griffin. Was there any recognition by anyone at the Eatwell while you
were in there?
Mr. Senator. There was very few people in there that morning.
Mr. Griffin. But of the people who were there, did any of them appear to
recognize that you were connected with Jack Ruby when they learned over the
television set that Jack Ruby had——
Mr. Senator. I would probably say to the best of my knowledge, no.
Mr. Griffin. Now, that would indicate that nobody said anything to you
about it. You did not have anything to——
Mr. Senator. No, they didn’t say a word to me about it. Now, if they did
or not, as I say, to the best of my knowledge, no. Now I can’t quote myself, if
I am that correct or not.
Mr. Griffin. I am curious as to any other people that you thought of contacting
after you heard that Jack had shot——
Mr. Senator. No; that was it.
Mr. Griffin. Of course, you——
Mr. Senator. I called up Jim because I happened to know Jim and Jim was an
attorney.
Mr. Griffin. You thought about calling Jim before you knew who it was that
had shot Lee Oswald?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know at the time that you tried to call Martin that it
was somebody associated with the Carousel Club that had done it?
Mr. Senator. You mean Jack Ruby, my roommate?
Mr. Griffin. Yes. Now, you say it was after you called Martin that you
learned that it was Jack Ruby who had shot Oswald, but you said as I understand
it somewhere between the time you learned Oswald was shot and you
learned Ruby had done it, you heard something about it being someone from the
Carousel Club.
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t.
Mr. Griffin. You did not?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. So that at the time you called Mr. Martin, you had no idea who
shot——
Mr. Senator. I called him because it was local news. That is why I called
Jim.
Mr. Griffin. Did you think of calling anybody else?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you think of trying to get ahold of Jack Ruby to tell him
about it?
Mr. Senator. No; because Jack left home shortly before that.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have some idea where he was?
Mr. Senator. No; none whatsoever.
Mr. Griffin. Now, when you walked into the police station, I understand you
to say that you were mobbed by members of the press? Did you say anything to
those members of the press?
Mr. Senator. Well, they ganged me so and everybody was throwing questions
at me, and I don’t even remember the things that I answered because they
asked me so many things and so many people were mobbing me.
Mr. Griffin. But you were answering their questions?
Mr. Senator. I was answering some of them, whatever they were asking me.
Mr. Griffin. How long would you say it was that you answered questions?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. Maybe about 5 minutes I guess before two
policemen nabbed me.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember any of the questions they asked?
Mr. Senator. No; God, they was throwing them left and right. I couldn’t
keep up with them. I just couldn’t keep up with them, what they were talking
about. I was just in circles, you know. Now how can I answer these questions
there.
Mr. Griffin. Did you see reports in the newspaper the next day or that
evening about what you had said down at the police station?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t. I didn’t see no papers that evening. As a matter
of fact, I never even saw the run, I—still to this day—I’ve never seen the TV
of the shooting. I have never seen that.
Mr. Griffin. When you went out to Martin’s house, did you have any fear for
yourself?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have any fear or thought that the police or someone might
try to implicate you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. When you describe yourself as being shaken up when you were
at the police station——
Mr. Senator. Something like this, I would say the normal person it would
make him nervous. Here I have gone through a half a century already and I
have never had any incidents in my life, and I would say the normal person
would be shaken up.
Mr. Griffin. I don’t have any more. Wait a second. Let me ask this. When
you came downtown with Mr. Martin, did you come down in his car or your car?
Mr. Senator. I think I came down in my truck. No, I think I came down in
his car. I’m not sure but I think I came down in his car.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall where you parked, whose car it was where you
parked downtown?
Mr. Senator. Either parked on Commerce or Main Street, one of the two.
I’m not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Near Harwood or near Pearl, or were you right in front of the
police station?
Mr. Senator. No, no; we were down further, just to grab a parking space.
I just don’t remember how far down it was, but I would assume, I think we
walked, I don’t know, maybe two or three blocks to my knowledge, something
like that.
Mr. Griffin. Did you come by the Western Union station?
Mr. Senator. Going up with Mr. Martin?
Mr. Griffin. Either way, either going downtown or walking back to the
police station.
Mr. Senator. I think we come up Commerce. I’m not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Let me then be more direct about this. Do you have any recollection
that day of seeing Jack Ruby’s car downtown?
Mr. Senator. No; that I have never seen, no.
Mr. Griffin. I don’t think I have anything more, Mr. Hubert.
Mr. Hubert. Before I pass on to another aspect, I think there is one point that
needs a bit of clarification. Mr. Griffin asked you whether or not you considered
calling Ruby when you heard that Oswald had been shot, to convey the news
to him as you conveyed it to your other friend, Mr. Martin. You said that you
had not because you didn’t know where he was; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Well, I knew he left the house, you know, before I did.
Mr. Hubert. You have also testified that he had told you that he was going
to take the dog to the club.
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Hubert. Therefore, you knew he was at the club or at least you had some
indication?
Mr. Senator. He could have been there. Now he told me he was going to
the club.
Mr. Hubert. And the club was just about a block away?
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Hubert. So when you didn’t get Mr. Martin, you didn’t try Ruby at the
club?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. You knew the number of the club?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Have you any comment to make as to why you didn’t call Ruby?
Mr. Senator. No particular reason. I didn’t think of it, because when he
left the house he said he was going to take the dog to the club and most naturally
I heard the conversation he was going to the Western Union, so who
knew where his whereabouts would be.
Mr. Hubert. Well, of course, you didn’t know his whereabouts after you
called Martin?
Mr. Senator. That is right, there was no particular reason. It just happened
to be that I thought of Jim Martin.
Mr. Hubert. All I want to do is to give you an opportunity to state for the
record why it was that you did not next think of calling your friend and roommate
whose approximate location you knew?
Mr. Senator. It just didn’t enter my mind, that is all. I just didn’t think
about it. There was no particular reason why.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you this, Mr. Senator. Was it your practice to spend
time socially with Jack Ruby other than when you saw him at the apartment?
Did you and he do things together?
Mr. Senator. No; first of all I’m out most of the time. When I get up in
the morning, I mean he is still sleeping when I got up, and I don’t see him in
the daytime. Maybe on rare occasions something will happen, but the overall
picture, no.
Mr. Griffin. And you say you are out most of the time. Is this in
connection with your business?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Do you have a set of calls that you make every day?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I make calls.
Mr. Griffin. Regular customers that you call on?
Mr. Senator. Customers, or at times probably get new ones.
Mr. Griffin. Now on Saturdays or Sundays you do not work?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. With whom do you spend your time on Saturdays and Sundays
normally?
Mr. Senator. Nothing in general. Once in a while I would meet Jim downtown
because Jim Martin comes downtown on a Saturday, like a lot of lawyers do.
They come down about 10, 10:30, 11 o’clock and they check their mail or any
messages come in, such as that. Incidentally Jim Martin’s office is right across
the street; of course, he just moved recently. It was at the Davis Building which
is across the street from the Adolphus Hotel on Main. He has been there for
quite a number of years to my knowledge.
Mr. Griffin. Who would you list as your friends in Dallas outside of Jim
Martin and Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Well, the people I stayed with who were friends of mine.
Mr. Griffin. Can you give us their names?
Mr. Senator. Yes; Jean and Lindy Lauve, a fellow by the name of Bill Downey,
Tom Howard, the attorney. I don’t say I associated with him but he is a
friend of mine. Another lawyer by the name of Mike Barclay: he is a friend
of mine. Not that these are complete associations that you are with them every
day or so, or things of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. But are there other people whom you see more often and you
are closer to than Barclay and Howard?
Mr. Senator. No; not particularly. Of course, every now and then an out-of-town
friend of mine would come in, a traveling man; if he happened to be in
Dallas I would see him, or he may call me. In other words, I’ll put it this
way—I had a particular hangout.
Mr. Griffin. Where was that?
Mr. Senator. That was the Burgundy Room. I used to go there quite often.
Mr. Griffin. That is in the Adolphus Hotel?
Mr. Senator. That is in the lobby of the Adolphus Hotel. When I used to
go in, you know, the latter part of the afternoon, around 5, used to always run
across friends that you know and we would always have a talk session or something
of that nature there. Of course, I had many friends that came in there.
Mr. Griffin. But you would say that you saw Barclay and Howard and Martin
more often than you saw the other people?
Mr. Senator. Martin more so than the others. But the others, I’d see them
every now and then. Like the trial I’d seen them down at the courthouse
and things of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Now what about the Lauves?
Mr. Senator. The Lauves, those are people who I stayed with, who kept me up
when I didn’t have a place to stay.
Mr. Griffin. But did you see them more often than you saw Howard and
Barclay?
Mr. Senator. I stayed there every day. I was living there.
Mr. Griffin. I mean prior to the shooting.
Mr. Senator. Prior to that on rare occasions, on rare occasions. One time
I used to see them quite often. Of course, that is when I was traveling.
Mr. Griffin. But at the time that Jack Ruby shot Lee Oswald, of all the
people you have mentioned, Jim Martin was the person you felt the closest to?
Mr. Senator. He was a close friend of mine. I used to see him almost every
day, especially more so during the trial.
Mr. Griffin. But what I am trying to get at is was there anybody else to
whom you felt equally as close?
Mr. Senator. I had—let me put it this way—I had a lot of good friends.
I don’t know how you want to classify what you call close. Many friends
I had, good friends.
Mr. Griffin. Apparently of all the people you knew in Dallas, the one that
you felt most inclined to call when you heard that Oswald had been shot was
Jim Martin.
Mr. Senator. It happened to be I thought of Jim Martin, yes, and I called
him.
Mr. Griffin. And if you had reached him at that time, I suppose you would
have gone out to his house or you would have carried this on further. You
have had some conversation with him about it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I imagine so. I would imagine so.
Mr. Griffin. What I am getting at is you didn’t really have to convey the
news to Jim Martin or anybody else.
Mr. Senator. No; it just happened to be it was local news, you know. It
is like probably a thousand other people did, called their friends “Did you hear
this, did you hear that.” It could be anywheres in the country.
Mr. Griffin. When the President was shot did you call anybody?
Mr. Senator. No; because I didn’t know. I was told.
Mr. Griffin. But when you were told did you call anybody?
Mr. Senator. No, no; because the reason I didn’t call anybody, it was a
weekday. Now this is only guesswork. It was a weekday, and, of course, I
assumed that everybody knew it as fast as I knew it or probably faster than I
knew it, with the many thousands of people who were in that locale, they knew
it before I did.
Mr. Hubert. All right, let’s continue from the point that you left the jail.
Did you meet anyone?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Who?
Mr. Senator. I was with Jim, I met Jim Martin and another attorney who
I had only met for the first time and I don’t remember his name.
Mr. Hubert. They were waiting for you or you met them outside?
Mr. Senator. They told me they would meet me somewheres.
Mr. Hubert. Where was that?
Mr. Senator. We met at a bar across the street from the courthouse.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know the name of the bar?
Mr. Senator. I think it was the TV Bar.
Mr. Hubert. The message you had was that they would meet you there, is
that right?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. And you did go there and talked to Martin and the other lawyer?
Mr. Senator. Yes; the other attorney.
Mr. Hubert. How long were you with them?
Mr. Senator. If I recall right, I would say we sat in that bar and had two
or three beers, if I remember right. I think I said to Jim “I don’t have a place
to sleep or a place to go” because I was afraid to go home.
Mr. Hubert. You told that to Jim Martin?
Mr. Senator. I told that to Jim, and I believe—wait a minute now—I believe,
I am not sure but I think I went to his house and he said he would put me up
on the couch if I was afraid to go anywheres, which I was. From there on in
I was afraid to go home.
Mr. Hubert. Why?
Mr. Senator. Why was I afraid to go home? Well, I was just scared, that
is all.
Mr. Hubert. Of what?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know of what, but I was scared.
Mr. Hubert. Obviously you were scared that somebody might try to hurt you?
Mr. Senator. Very possibly, yes; on something like this. Now who or what
I don’t know but that was the instinct I had. As a matter of fact I was scared
for about 10 days after that.
Mr. Hubert. You mean you were scared for 10 days after being——
Mr. Senator. In other words, for about 10 days I was afraid to sleep in the
same place twice. Who I was to fear I don’t know, but just the normal thing,
I was afraid.
Mr. Hubert. And you say you slept at different places every night?
Mr. Senator. Yes; until I finally moved in with Jean.
Mr. Hubert. What were some of the places you slept in?
Mr. Senator. I slept at Jim’s a few times. I checked into an inexpensive
hotel one time. I slept at another fellow’s apartment one time and then I
finally went to Jean’s and stayed there, Jean Lauve. She said she would put
me up because she and everybody else knew I was scared. You asked me what
I feared. I don’t know who I feared or what I feared but I just——
Mr. Hubert. You honestly feared that somebody——
Mr. Senator. I was just in fear that is all which is a natural instinct in a
situation such as this.
Mr. Hubert. I am not saying it is not natural.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. But I am trying to see if you had any idea in your own mind
what you were afraid of. Now obviously you were afraid of being hurt.
Mr. Senator. Certainly I was afraid.
Mr. Hubert. Possibly being killed?
Mr. Senator. Yes; now of who or what I don’t know. It could be a crackpot.
I don’t know what it could be.
Mr. Hubert. Did you give some consideration to the thought that whoever
had been involved with the killing of the President might want to kill you?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I didn’t know who to fear. It was just a natural
instinct. I would imagine anybody in the same situation would probably
fear something. It was just a natural thing for a human being to do.
Mr. Hubert. I am not criticizing you, Mr. Senator; at all. I am just trying to
find out the reason.
Mr. Senator. No; I had no reason or any particular thing. There was no
reason for it.
Mr. Hubert. You mentioned one, that a crank might try to hurt you.
Mr. Senator. A crank might. Yes; I can’t measure what or who. It was
just a fear.
Mr. Hubert. Isn’t it your thought that there might be some group of people
who might want to hurt you?
Mr. Senator. I can’t say it was a group or what it is or who it may be.
Mr. Hubert. I understand that you don’t know of any group?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. But didn’t it cross your mind that there might be a group who
would want to get rid of you for some reason or other?
Mr. Senator. This didn’t enter my mind that it was any group or anything
of this nature here. All I knew is I had a fear. I don’t know who, but something.
I was just afraid, that is all.
Mr. Hubert. Did you arm yourself in anyway?
Mr. Senator. No; I never armed myself in my life. The only gun I ever had is
when they had me overseas. That is the only time I ever had a gun. I never
carried a knife or a gun in my life.
Mr. Hubert. What did you do during these several days when you were in
effect afraid? Did you move out in the open or did you stay——
Mr. Senator. I was afraid of the nighttime, not the daytime. In other words,
I wanted—I didn’t want to be in an isolated place anywhere. It is not that I
wasn’t out at night or daytime, which I was, but I didn’t want to be in an isolated
place. In other words, I wouldn’t want to be walking down a lonely street
or something like that because that would scare the life out of me. But around
groups or something like that, I didn’t fear it that much. Now what I feared
I don’t know, but it was just a natural thing I feel any individual would fear.
Mr. Hubert. Did you communicate that fear to Jim Martin?
Mr. Senator. Not only to him but to many of my friends. I said, “I’m just
afraid.”
Mr. Hubert. It was for that reason that several of them put you up?
Mr. Senator. That is right. I told them I was afraid. They said “What are
you afraid of?” You know people say, “What are you afraid of?” I said, “I’m
just scared, that is all”—and who wouldn’t be?
Mr. Hubert. So your friends also were asking you as I have been as to what
would you be afraid of. That is a fact isn’t it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; they asked me, “What are you afraid of?” I said, “I don’t
know, I’m just afraid, that is all.” I can’t say who I am afraid of. I don’t
know who I am afraid of.
Mr. Hubert. I know that you wouldn’t know necessarily individuals, but you
must have done something——
Mr. Senator. Or groups, individuals or groups as you mentioned. I can’t
place my finger on it.
Mr. Hubert. But what I am suggesting to you is that your fear came from
the thought that any individual or group that had anything to do with either
the slaying of the President or the slaying of Oswald may have you in mind
next?
Mr. Senator. No; my thoughts didn’t run that way. My thoughts were nothing
but fear, and I didn’t have my mind on any groups or anything like that. I
just didn’t know. It might be an individual crackpot walking the streets, who
knows, he doesn’t know.
Mr. Hubert. Yes; I think that is a very understandable reason that you gave
us as to the crackpot.
Mr. Senator. It could be. I don’t know what it could be.
Mr. Hubert. It went beyond that though, didn’t it?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Just your fear of a crackpot?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. That is all it was?
Mr. Senator. When you say “beyond that,” what do you mean “beyond that”?
Mr. Hubert. That your fear went beyond the mere fear that a crackpot would
hurt you, your fear and your thought about the matter went to the point that
some people other than a crackpot might——
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t think that way.
Mr. Hubert. Then are you willing to say that it was only your fear of a
crackpot?
Mr. Senator. I use “crackpot” as one but I don’t know how to describe it.
Who knows what it could be. It could be an individual walking the street,
I don’t know. When I was scared I had no particular thing in mind. It was
just I was scared, that is all.
Mr. Hubert. Did it ever occur to you during this period when you were
frightened that Jack Ruby might have been set up by someone to kill Oswald?
Mr. Senator. Run that back again. Let me understand it.
Mr. Hubert. Did it ever occur to you at anytime after the shooting and
when your fears began to develop that Jack Ruby might have been part of a
plot to kill Oswald, and that there were others involved in the matter?
Mr. Senator. None whatsoever.
Mr. Hubert. That never occurred to you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. And that was not any part of the basis of your fear?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. As I understand you then, you considered right from the start
that this was an individual act on the part of Ruby, unconnected with anyone
else?
Mr. Senator. Run your words again. I’ve got to follow you.
Mr. Hubert. I say as I understand it then your thoughts from the very
beginning were that Ruby’s action was his own and that no one else was
connected with it?
Mr. Senator. Did you say his actions was his own when this thing
happened?
Mr. Hubert. Yes; and that you never considered that anyone else was in
it at all but Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. No; definitely not. I never thought of anything such as that.
Mr. Hubert. I don’t understand your answer. Pardon me. You wouldn’t
think of anything such as what?
Mr. Senator. To me he wasn’t connected with anybody whatsoever of any
nature.
Mr. Hubert. You think that now and you have always thought that, is that
correct?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he wasn’t connected with anyone.
Mr. Hubert. Therefore, your fears could not have been based upon the
thought that anyone that he was connected with would want to hurt you,
obviously, since you never thought that he had any connections?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t have any. Let me put it this way. Even today
I still have a certain fear. Now you ask me what I fear today, I don’t know.
This is something you just don’t erase out of your mind, that is all. This is
not a little thing; this is a big thing.
Mr. Hubert. After that Sunday night, when you talked to the lawyers for
awhile, you went home I understand to Jim Martin’s?
Mr. Senator. If I remember right, I’m not sure but I think Jim put me up
because I was afraid to go home and I didn’t have a place to go to. If I
remember right I think he did. I think I went to his apartment, his home rather.
Mr. Hubert. I am moving to the next few days, Mr. Griffin.
Mr. Griffin. Have you ever given any consideration to the thought or to the
possibility that someone else might have been associated with Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. In the killing of Oswald?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. I am not asking you whether you ever believed such a thing
but whether you ever explored that possibility in your own mind?
Mr. Senator. No; never could think of anything such as that. Jack was a
true American. He loved his country. This is for sure. He loved the land
that he lived in as I have told you.
Mr. Griffin. You indicated before that there were a lot of things Jack didn’t
talk to you about.
Mr. Senator. That Jack would talk to me about?
Mr. Griffin. That he did not, Jack didn’t talk to you about everything he did?
Mr. Senator. Jack lived in the show business type. This is his life. He
lived in the glamour of the show business.
Mr. Griffin. Do you feel that Jack talked to you about everything that he
was doing?
Mr. Senator. Who can answer that? How could I answer that? How could
I really answer that and know?
Mr. Griffin. Well, sometimes you associate with a person and you know he
is the kind of person who doesn’t go out and talk about everything he is
doing, in fact that he is the kind of person who is reticent to talk about some
of the things he is doing.
Mr. Senator. I would say Jack was the type that would not hold back
to my knowledge, that would hide anything. I don’t think he would hide
anything from me. I can’t say positive but I don’t think he would.
Mr. Griffin. Well, he didn’t discuss his relationships in the Vegas Club
or in the Carousel Club with you.
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Griffin. To any extent, did he?
Mr. Senator. Look, his money parts he isn’t going to detail to me how much
he is taking in and things of that nature or who he owes or what he don’t
owe. I mean I wasn’t confided in that.
Mr. Griffin. Did he talk to you about any of the problems he was having at
the club?
Mr. Senator. He had problems, you know, he had problems with his sister
because they were of the same nature. They were cat and dog fighters.
Mr. Griffin. Was he having any problems with the Federal Government?
Mr. Senator. Well, I assume he was. What they were I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Then it is——
Mr. Senator. What I mean to say, the Federal Government, you mean tax
problems?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I am certain he did.
Mr. Griffin. But I take it these were not things that he discussed with
you?
Mr. Senator. No; you could be friendly, friendly and all that there, but you
don’t know. I mean they don’t tell you everything.
Mr. Griffin. So what I am suggesting again or asking you again is if Jack was
not the kind of person who about certain matters which he considered personal
or important to himself wouldn’t talk about it.
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think he would discuss everything; as a matter
of fact I don’t think there is any individual who will tell you everything. I
don’t care who they are. I am certain, I know there are people, every little
thing, I mean there are certain things they keep to themselves. I would probably
say like you, you, or anybody else. They are not going to tell you everything
about their whereabouts, their notes, what they owe or what they don’t
owe or things of that nature. Everybody has a little secret or two.
Mr. Griffin. To put it another way, you wouldn’t describe Jack Ruby as
the kind of person who as a matter of his constitutional and emotional makeup
had to tell you everything he was doing? There are some people like that.
Mr. Senator. You mean would he tell me everything he was doing?
Mr. Griffin. No; there are some people who are the kind of people who
just somehow have to unload almost everything they are doing to other people.
Now Jack Ruby wasn’t that kind of person, was he?
Mr. Senator. Of what he thought you mean or his thinking?
Mr. Griffin. Or his problems and so forth.
Mr. Senator. I don’t think he would; no. I don’t think he would unload
everything. I am certain there are things that he may have owed or certain
discussions he may have had that I am certain he wouldn’t discuss with me.
I am certain he didn’t want me to know everything there was to know, you
know, like anybody else would. There are certain things that an individual
keeps to themselves, you know.
Mr. Griffin. Go ahead, Mr. Hubert.
Mr. Hubert. I want to pass to the next day, which is to say Monday, the
25th, unless you can advise me now that there was nothing of significance
that occurred on the night of the 24th after you had met with Mr. Martin
and Mr. Barclay.
Mr. Senator. You mean Sunday night?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Barclay wasn’t with me Sunday night.
Mr. Hubert. There was another attorney.
Mr. Senator. Yes; I didn’t say Barclay. I don’t remember his name.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t remember his name?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t see Tom Howard that night?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if I did or not. I don’t remember if I saw him or
not that night.
Mr. Hubert. Did you go to bed early?
Mr. Senator. You see I can’t quote if I did or didn’t. I just don’t remember
if I did.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember what time you went to bed at Jim Martin’s
house?
Mr. Senator. No; it could have been 11, 12, I don’t know.
Mr. Hubert. As I remember it, you said you met them at about 6 or 7. It
was dark in any case?
Mr. Senator. Yes; something like that.
Mr. Hubert. You stayed about a half hour and you left?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Hubert. You stayed about a half hour in the beer place?
Mr. Senator. It may have been a half hour, it may have been an hour, I don’t
know.
Mr. Hubert. And you left and went to Jim Martin’s?
Mr. Senator. I believe we went to Jim Martin’s house. I think that I slept
there that first night.
Mr. Hubert. Did you meet anyone else that first night or speak to anyone else
that first night, that is November the 24th, 1963?
Mr. Senator. November 24?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Are you talking about Friday?
Mr. Hubert. No; November 24 was a Sunday.
Mr. Senator. No; because I was wrapped up. I was wrapped up in the
courthouse all that day.
Mr. Hubert. No; I mean to say after you left the beer parlor, which I think
you said was the TV Bar?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. You said you think you went to Jim Martin’s house?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember if I met Tom Howard. I just don’t remember
the incident but I am almost certain that I went there to sleep.
Mr. Hubert. You went to Jim Martin’s house?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What I am asking you is that prior to the time——
Mr. Senator. Did we meet anybody else?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. I don’t remember but I don’t think so.
Mr. Hubert. Let’s come then to Monday morning.
What happened then?
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Hubert, if you can let me interrupt you here before you get
to Monday morning.
When you met with Martin at the TV Bar, did you all talk about Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Yes; there was discussion of it, that there and the events. Of
course, he asked me what happened after I got in there. I told him. This detective,
I guess, I just don’t remember who the man was, they interrogated me
and I told them the FBI interrogated me.
Mr. Griffin. Did Martin say anything to you about Jack?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. I don’t remember. I don’t think so.
Mr. Griffin. Did he indicate whether or not he had seen Jack while you were
being interrogated by the police?
Mr. Senator. If I remember right, I think he said he seen him at a glance
behind us, I think it was the same window that I saw. They had him in this
room there and I think there were three or four men there, something like that,
but there was this glass partition. In other words, you could see in. I think he
saw him. I am not sure but I think he saw him.
Mr. Griffin. Was Tom Howard at the TV Bar at that time?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. I remember there was Jim, there was this
other attorney, but I don’t remember if Tom was or not. In other words, I don’t
want to quote and say he was or wasn’t because I just don’t remember. He may
have been now. He may have been there. I just can’t think if he was or not
that night. He may have been.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember what your conversation was about at the TV
Bar?
Mr. Senator. No; of course, I told him—he asked me what happened, you
know. I told him I was interrogated by the local police and the FBI.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk about Jack’s defense?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Now Saturday night, the 23d, you spent some time with Bill
Downey and Mike Barclay?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Where did you see them?
Mr. Senator. We were sitting at a bar.
Mr. Griffin. Which bar was that?
Mr. Senator. I think we were in the Burgundy Room and then we went to
another one there and had I think either one or two beers and then we went
home. At least I went home anyhow.
Mr. Griffin. What was the other bar that you were in?
Mr. Senator. It was very seldom I ever went there. I’m trying to think of
the name of it. It is a short name too, and I can’t even put my finger on it.
Mr. Griffin. What street was it on?
Mr. Senator. On Fitzhugh.
Mr. Griffin. Where is that located?
Mr. Senator. It was on Fitzhugh. It runs off of, I think—down where Travis
is?
Mr. Griffin. No.
Mr. Senator. Fitzhugh and Travis. I should know the name of it but I can’t
get it off my tongue. It is a short name too.
Mr. Griffin. Is that anywhere near Hall Street?
Mr. Senator. No; this is uptown about I would probably say from the downtown
area I would imagine it would probably take you 10 minutes to get up there.
Mr. Griffin. Do you mean the time you spent with Downey and Barclay—what
did you talk about with them that night, Saturday night?
Mr. Senator. We talked about the occurrence of the shooting of the President,
that there. It was just a gloomy night. That is why I didn’t want to stay long.
I said I wanted to get home and they said they wanted to get home.
Mr. Griffin. Had you had a date to meet them at the Burgundy Room?
Mr. Senator. No; I think I met them both by chance there. Now I am not
sure if I had a date to meet Bill or not, I don’t remember, but I think Mike just
walked in casually. I mean just happened to walk in.
Mr. Griffin. Is Bill married?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. And how about Mike?
Mr. Senator. Mike; yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did they know Jack?
Mr. Senator. Who don’t know Jack in Dallas? They all knew him.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk about Jack that night?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. About how much time would you say you spent with them
Saturday?
Mr. Senator. We went to that bar, I would roughly say maybe a half hour
to three quarters of an hour, I would guess around that time.
Mr. Griffin. That was at the Burgundy Room?
Mr. Senator. No; that is when we went to this other place and had a beer.
Mr. Griffin. All together, the time you spent at the Burgundy Room and the
other place on Fitzhugh how much time did you spend with them?
Mr. Senator. Maybe an hour and a half.
Mr. Griffin. And then when you went home what did you do?
Mr. Senator. I went home and went to bed. I think I took a newspaper with
me, if I am not mistaken and went home and went to bed.
Mr. Griffin. Did you get to bed at what you would consider an early hour
Saturday night?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I would say it was somewhere around 11.
Mr. Griffin. How much sleep do you normally get, when you go to bed, how
much sleep do you normally put in in a night?
Mr. Senator. Well, of course, that would go according to what time you went
to bed, you know. It could be 4, 5, 6, 7 hours. I doubt if I ever stay in bed more
than 8 hours the most, if it ever happens that long, which is rare.
Mr. Griffin. So would it be your estimate that on Sunday morning you arose
by 7 o’clock?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think I got up that early.
Mr. Griffin. If you didn’t get up that early, then would it have been because
you got to bed late that night after 11 or after midnight?
Mr. Senator. No; I must have been home about 11 o’clock that night. I think
I read a little bit but I know I was in bed before 12. I think I was in the
apartment around 11. I got home around 11.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t think you got more than 8 hours sleep that night or
do you?
Mr. Senator. I doubt if I got more than 8 hours sleep.
Mr. Griffin. Then I suggest to you that in all probability you got up on
Sunday morning before 8 o’clock.
Mr. Senator. I would say around 8. Now mind you I got home 11 o’clock; so
I assume I got in bed maybe around 12. Now mind you it is not necessarily
that you fall asleep right away. Look, there is many a night that I toss and
turn for 4 or 5 hours and didn’t fall asleep, which is rare, but it has happened.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have trouble sleeping that night?
Mr. Senator. No; I mean when I went to sleep, when I fell asleep I slept
well.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Hubert.
Mr. Hubert. Now let’s see. I think we were at the point of Monday morning,
and I should like you to tell us what happened on Monday beginning with the
time you got up on Monday morning. I think you said you slept at Jim Martin’s
house.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. What did you do the next day?
Mr. Senator. Well, I got up and I drove him to his office and I think from
there I went——
Mr. Hubert. In your car?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I drove him down, and I dropped him off, and then I went
and had coffee. I don’t remember if it was around 9 or something like that. He
gets down about 9 in the morning.
Mr. Hubert. Did anything happen at the coffee shop?
Mr. Senator. No; nothing particular, no.
Mr. Hubert. Did the people there talk about Ruby and your connection with
him?
Mr. Senator. Talk to me about him? No; they didn’t say anything, but they
knew, you know. The people who knew me knew.
Mr. Hubert. But nobody said anything to you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. But the fact that you had been his roommate.
Mr. Senator. No; it was pretty silent. It was pretty silent.
Mr. Hubert. What happened the rest of the day? What did you do that day?
Mr. Senator. I think I just roamed around in a fog that day, nothing in
particular.
Mr. Hubert. You didn’t attempt to do your normal business?
Mr. Senator. No; I wasn’t in any condition for business. I didn’t feel that
good.
Mr. Hubert. You don’t remember seeing anybody that day at all.
Mr. Senator. I am certain—who I saw I don’t remember but I am certain that
I seen people; yes.
Mr. Hubert. You mentioned that sometime you saw Howard and you don’t
know whether you saw Howard the night before.
Mr. Senator. It is very possible that I may have seen Howard the next day.
I may have seen him. Now where or when I don’t know, you know.
Mr. Hubert. What did you see him about? Can you tell us what the nature
of the conversation was?
Mr. Senator. Well, I heard that Howard was getting the case, the Jack Ruby
case.
Mr. Hubert. So you went to see him about what? Put it this way, did he
call for you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. Or did you just decide to go and see him?
Mr. Senator. No; he didn’t call for me.
Mr. Hubert. You went to see him?
Mr. Senator. I saw him sometime during that day.
Mr. Hubert. Will you tell us what it was about, what you talked about?
Mr. Senator. I don’t believe it was anything particular that we talked about
except I heard that he was getting the Jack Ruby case.
I don’t remember the particular conversation at all.
Mr. Hubert. Perhaps you can tell us this then. Since he didn’t call upon
you, you called upon him, what was the purpose of your visiting him? To
find out the status of it?
Mr. Senator. Of me?
Mr. Hubert. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Hubert. To find out the status of Ruby’s defense, to see if you could
help, to see if you could throw light upon it, to find out what was going on?
Mr. Senator. Everything in general was going on, you know. The photographers
were around and the newspapers were around, and I believe he was
down at the jailhouse. It is a conglomeration of things going on.
Mr. Hubert. But you went to see him, and I suppose that was the purpose
of the visit, that was the purpose in mind.
Mr. Senator. No; there was no purpose in mind. It was just going to see
him. When you say the purpose in mind—I was so mixed up myself I didn’t
know what was going on.
Mr. Hubert. I am not trying to confuse you.
Mr. Senator. There was no general purpose in mind.
Mr. Hubert. What you are saying to us is then that you just went to see him,
Mr. Howard, and that there was no purpose in mind.
Mr. Senator. No particular purpose in mind. I saw him. I saw Jim Martin
later on that day.
Mr. Hubert. Will you excuse me a minute. Will you take over.
(Short recess taken.)
Mr. Griffin. I will simply ask you to remember everything that Mr. Hubert
has been in the practice of repeating before we proceed.
Mr. Senator. If I can remember it.
Mr. Griffin. To the effect that you are still under oath and we are continuing
under the same circumstances that we began.
I believe we were talking about Monday, and you had indicated that on
Monday you went to see Tom Howard.
Mr. Senator. I saw him. I just don’t remember where. Monday there was
so much excitement going that when I say excitement, of the occurrence of
the day before, and with your photographers around town and your pressmen
and whatnot, you know, and the incoming of the FBI and things of that nature
there, you know, it was a crazy cycle, you know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk to any members of the Ruby family that day?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think I saw them that day. I can’t quote every instance.
Mr. Griffin. How about his employees?
Mr. Senator. I think I went up—let’s see, the club was closed Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, and I think they did open Monday, and I think I was up there
Monday night, if I am not mistaken, and, of course, going up there you had
all your photographers, especially the ones from Europe and various parts were
coming around. Of course, everybody wanted to see what the Carousel Club was.
You know, it was just a mixed-up thing, so many things were going on there,
and you were just roaming here and there, and, of course, people were questioning.
A lot of people wanted to take pictures of me and this thing here. It was
just a jammed-up, mixed-up day.
I know I saw Tom Howard that day. I don’t remember where I saw him,
if I called on him or what it was because so many things were going on there
and my mind was in a muddle even with that.
Mr. Griffin. The questioning that took place on Monday, did it have to do
with what you had done on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. What Jack had done on Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
Mr. Senator. No; there was nothing in general. I mean there was nothing
particular. I mean all my questionings—I mean all my questionings—I had
that Sunday you know, with the local detective or whoever the gentlemen
was, and the FBI man.
But Monday, when they wanted to know about Jack Ruby, they wanted to
see pictures of him. They wanted to see the club of his. They wanted to see
whatever they could get their hands on to see. They wanted to know this
about him and that about him.
Mr. Griffin. Did they want to know if he was involved with anybody else,
whether there could have been a plot or a conspiracy to kill Oswald?
Mr. Senator. I am certain that probably would run through the minds of
everybody.
Mr. Griffin. Were they asking questions about that?
Mr. Senator. They have asked me so many questions that I can’t even remember
to think of them, you know, because there were so many questions thrown at
you. And when they are throwing them at you, the general questions, they
wanted to see the club, they wanted to see pictures, who were the strippers,
this, that and whatnot. There was nothing precise except the curiosity of
the things they wanted to see.
Mr. Griffin. Now when you talked with Howard, of course, Howard indicated
to you that you probably would be a witness for Jack, did he not?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember the incident at that time. I don’t remember if
he said it or not because I would probably say it was a little too soon at that
time, the happenings, and I assume that Howard was kept pretty busy at the
beginning, probably going to see Jack Ruby and this. You see, people were
grabbing everybody.
Mr. Griffin. When is the first time that you recall talking with anyone about
being a witness for Jack?
Mr. Senator. At that time it didn’t even enter my head. I wasn’t thinking
about that even. But as time went by, and I can’t specify just how much time
went by, I believe it was when Mr. Belli came into the case. See, I don’t remember
just how long it was from there until they got this Belli.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you this: After you heard that Jack had killed
Oswald, did you have any idea, did you think, why did he do it?
Mr. Senator. I hadn’t the slightest idea. I couldn’t imagine why. I’ll tell
you why I say that. Because he never at any time ever gave me any indication
of anything.
Mr. Griffin. Have you since then——
Mr. Senator. I just couldn’t picture this man doing it.
Mr. Griffin. Why was that?
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t picture him being of this nature.
Mr. Griffin. And there was nothing that he had done that you had seen up
to that point that would indicate that he had any thought about it?
Mr. Senator. No, none whatsoever. As a matter of fact, he had never even
mentioned this Oswald to me during this occurrence even, but he had talked
about the President, and he had talked about Mrs. Kennedy and the children,
I don’t know how many times.
Mr. Griffin. But did you think he was any more disturbed than what you——
Mr. Senator. He was plenty disturbed. He was plenty disturbed. The man
was crying. People have seen him, not only I, people have seen him crying.
As a matter of fact, one of the kids in the club one night when we sat in a
corner related he was crying and very, very disturbed. I believe it was one
afternoon he was in there, if I remember right, I think it was the colored boy,
Andrews, if I am not mistaken, I think said he saw him in a solemn condition
or whatever condition you want to call it.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember when you were interviewed by Elmer Moore?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Where were you living at that time? Who were you staying
with at that time?
Mr. Senator. I don’t want to be quoted, but I think I was staying with Jean
Lauve then. I am not sure, but I think I was there at that time.
Mr. Griffin. Where did the interview take place?
Mr. Senator. At the FBI building. I can’t think of the name of the building,
but the FBI people.
Mr. Griffin. The office of the Secret Service? Moore is with the Secret
Service.
Mr. Senator. Yes, the Secret Service. I meant to say the Secret Service.
Mr. Griffin. Did he call you and ask you to come down?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He had left a message at the Carousel or he may have
been up there. As a matter of fact, I can even show you his card if you would
like to see it. I’ve still got that.
Mr. Griffin. What makes you think you were staying with the Lauves at that
point?
Mr. Senator. I think I was there. I’m not sure. I don’t remember just
where, but I think I was there at that time, because when Elmer Moore called
me, I just don’t remember how many days have elapsed by when he called me,
see. I think it was a few days that were elapsed by when he called me and I
think I may have been at the Lauves at that time.
Mr. Griffin. Did you return to work at any time before Moore——
Mr. Senator. Return to work?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; before Moore called you.
Mr. Senator. I hadn’t worked at all from this thing here up until I told you
I went to work the other day. If you want to classify me, I was just existing
here and there, that is all.
Mr. Griffin. Your employment up until the time that the President was
killed was with the Texas Postcard & Novelty Co.?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Was that your own company?
Mr. Senator. I was classified as sales manager and partner, but with no say.
In other words, I had no money.
Mr. Griffin. Who were the people, the backers?
Mr. Senator. The backers?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. The people? A fellow by the name of Mort Seder and Ernest
St. Charles.
Mr. Griffin. How did you happen to get involved in that?
Mr. Senator. In the postcard business?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; with them?
Mr. Senator. Well, Ernest St. Charles found out—see, he had a card rack
like a lot of drug stores do or gift shops or things of that nature. He had found
out that this fellow wanted to sell his business because this was a minute business
with him because, he had another one, you know, which was much larger
or whatever, the household goods or something of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. As I understand it, the Texas Postcard & Novelty Co. was a going
business.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Before Seder and St. Charles got involved in it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; it was going. It was a going business. And he wanted
to get rid of this business, because I just don’t remember if he couldn’t handle
it or he couldn’t handle both of them, I think it was. And this business here,
he had to get rid of because it was deteriorating a bit because it wasn’t getting
the service. It wasn’t being handled for the service. In other words, his business
had slipped a certain amount.
Mr. Griffin. Did Seder and St. Charles put up some money to acquire this
business?
Mr. Senator. Yes, they put up the money; yes.
Mr. Griffin. About how much money did they put up?
Mr. Senator. I think they put up somewheres around $1,500 apiece, and I
think they took a note for $1,500. I think the business went for $3,000, if I can
remember right.
Mr. Griffin. What assets, what kind of assets did they acquire?
Mr. Senator. The cards.
Mr. Griffin. No office space?
Mr. Senator. No, no. See, he is in business in a little sort of a garage like in
the back of his house. In the back of his house he has got this sort of garage-like
thing.
Mr. Griffin. Who are you talking about?
Mr. Senator. The fellow that had it.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember what his name was?
Mr. Senator. I should remember his name. I can’t even think of his name
right now.
Mr. Griffin. All right, maybe you will think of it later. Did Seder and St.
Charles have another business which they operated while they——
Mr. Senator. Yes; this business was a small little thing.
Mr. Griffin. This was a sideline with them?
Mr. Senator. Just a little thing. It wasn’t even, you know—it was a small
little business.
Mr. Griffin. What was Seder’s main business?
Mr. Senator. Seder was a traveling man who sold men’s apparel.
Mr. Griffin. What was St. Charles’ main business?
Mr. Senator. St. Charles, a drugstore.
Mr. Griffin. Where did you acquire the postcards and novelties from?
Mr. Senator. The novelties, you see, there was a few novelties that he had
left over in this thing here, in this business here, which weren’t that good, and
I got rid of them at a loss, you know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you buy any——
Mr. Senator. There wasn’t that much.
Mr. Griffin. Did you buy any more novelties to supplant those?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Where did you buy those?
Mr. Senator. Some I bought locally and some were bought out of town.
Mr. Griffin. And I take it the postcards, you had some source supplying the
postcards too?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did you see Seder and St. Charles between the time that Jack
Ruby killed Oswald and the time that Elmer Moore talked with you?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. I don’t think so.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk to him by telephone?
Mr. Senator. Who?
Mr. Griffin. Seder and St. Charles.
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Griffin. I take it then that you did not feel any obligation to report back
to them and tell them that you were not going to be——
Mr. Senator. I was obligated, but the condition I felt, it was just a no-care
attitude any more.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have any sort of a draw from this postcard and novelty
company?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. What was your draw?
Mr. Senator. It was $75 a week, but I was drawing $61.45.
Mr. Griffin. Did you continue with your draw after Jack——
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You didn’t continue after Jack killed Oswald?
Mr. Senator. Nothing. I didn’t do anything.
Mr. Griffin. Now, after Elmer Moore talked with you, you were then interviewed
some time later by two FBI agents, Mr. Rawlings and Glonek?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is correct.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember where you were staying at that time?
Mr. Senator. I think I was staying with Lauve. The first approximately 10
days you know, I was just jumping around. But from there on in I was with
Lauve.
Mr. Griffin. How long did you stay with the Lauves?
Mr. Senator. I must have stayed with them, I would probably say approximately
around 5 weeks, I think.
Mr. Griffin. When did you leave Dallas?
Mr. Senator. I left Dallas, I think it was about the end of the first week, if I
remember right.
Mr. Griffin. Of what?
Mr. Senator. January.
Mr. Griffin. And when did you return to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. It was the latter part of February. I think it was the last week
in February.
Mr. Griffin. While you were away from Dallas, where were you?
Mr. Senator. At my sister’s.
Mr. Griffin. That is Freda Weisberg in New York?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. What was your occasion for returning to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. I knew I had to be a witness because I was called on the first
bond hearing.
Mr. Griffin. That was your occasion?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. For returning?
Mr. Senator. I had to come back as a witness.
Mr. Griffin. In the bond hearing?
Mr. Senator. No, no. I was at the bond hearing before I went away. I think
I was at the first bond hearing. I don’t remember the date, but it was in December
sometime.
Mr. Griffin. Was that before or after you talked with Agents Rawlings and
Glonek that you appeared at the bond hearing?
Mr. Senator. That was before because I remember one day that I met one of
the agents. As a matter of fact, I was in the lobby of the Adolphus Hotel and
one of the agents hollered out, “Hi, George” and I turned around to see who it
was. It happened he was talking to some other agents and they were departing,
they were going home.
So I walked over to him and I asked him who would I notify if I wanted to,
who would I notify with the FBI that I was going to leave, that I wanted to go
home but I wanted them to know where I was going, and he mentioned, call Mr.
Clements.
Mr. Griffin. At the time of the first bond hearing, who was representing
Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Mr. Belli, Joe Tannenbaum—not Tannenbaum, Joe Tonahill.
Mr. Griffin. Anyone else?
Mr. Senator. Tom Howard was in it, but at that time he had no say.
Mr. Griffin. What happened that Howard was not given any say?
Mr. Senator. Well, I am not sure how to relate it, but I think that Earl
Ruby, who was in Detroit then, was still in Detroit, spoke to some lawyer I
think in Chicago now. I think it was in Chicago, looking for a lawyer, a big
lawyer for Jack Ruby, and this lawyer to my knowledge, if I understand it right,
was quoted to get Mr. Belli.
Mr. Griffin. And how about Tonahill? How did Tonahill get in?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. Tonahill, it seems, must have been a friend of
Belli. The relationship I don’t know, how they met or something of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Have you talked to Jack Ruby between the time you last saw
him that Sunday morning, the 24th of November, and now?
Mr. Senator. In the jail.
Mr. Griffin. Have you talked to him?
Mr. Senator. In jail, sure.
Mr. Griffin. When did you talk with Jack?
Mr. Senator. Various times, various times that Sheriff Decker would let me
up.
Mr. Griffin. Did you see him before the bond hearing?
Mr. Senator. I think I did, yes. I think so. I think I was up there. I mean
I can’t quote dates. I don’t even remember what the date of the bond hearing
was.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember the first time you went up to see him?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did you go up with anybody?
Mr. Senator. No, I went up alone. The reason for that, the reason I say I
went up alone is because nobody was up there, allowed up there, besides the
family and maybe very, very close friends because Sheriff Decker wouldn’t allow
anybody in.
Mr. Griffin. How long did you spend with Jack that first time?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. You know, they have got a limitation on you.
I don’t remember just how long I talked to him. It wasn’t too long because they
let you know that you have got to go.
Mr. Griffin. Tell us what happened on this occasion.
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember what it was. First of all, I never talked to
him, I would never ask him what happened. I never talked about that. I
talked about anything else, and he was telling me, he said he wanted me to
look up certain people, the locales, tell them where he was and things like that
there, like sisters and Gordon McLendon which he asked me to go, whom I never
saw, never got to.
Mr. Griffin. What was Jack’s relationship with Gordon McLendon?
Mr. Senator. He just knew him. There was no relationship. He mentioned
a lot of names. He mentioned a lot of names to call them for the bond hearing.
I remember this. He was trying to get certain people to come to the bond hearing.
And he was rattling off a lot of big names. He rattled off the manager, I
don’t remember the name, from the Statler Hilton, anybody who was prominent,
such as I think the rabbi too if I am not mistaken.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack appear to want to make bond at that time?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. He didn’t discuss that, but I do know—I can’t
answer unless you want me to surmise something, guess on it.
Mr. Griffin. Unless you have some information which leads you to think how
he felt.
Mr. Senator. I don’t have information on that.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever talk to the lawyers about whether they were really
serious about making bond?
Mr. Senator. I think the lawyers were trying to get bond for him.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever talk with them?
Mr. Senator. No. I will tell you something. The lawyers didn’t discuss anything
with me at no time. They said, “George, we are going to use you as a
witness,” which I knew they wanted me for that.
Mr. Griffin. There came a time when Howard was no longer part of the case?
Mr. Senator. He was part of the case; he was still part of the case when I
left, you know, but how big his say was I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. When you got back for the trial, however, he was not a part of
the case; is that correct?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I think he was out of it before I got back. I am not sure,
but I think he was. I don’t think he was in the case.
Mr. Griffin. When you returned for the trial, did you have occasion to talk
with Howard at all?
Mr. Senator. I saw him on certain occasions.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever learn how he happened to get out of the case?
Mr. Senator. Well, he got out of the case—I mean I really don’t know, but I
feel he got out of the case because he was—there was nothing, practically, to
speak of. I guess that is about the best way to describe him. He had no say.
Mr. Griffin. Was it something he had told you?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Griffin. Was it something he had told you?
Mr. Senator. No, no. But he had no say any more. So I don’t know how
to classify his sitting there, just being there with no say any more, no nothing.
After all, when he originally started, he was the leadman, you know, and then
all the things materialized after that.
Mr. Griffin. How many times would you say you saw Jack Ruby in his jail
cell between the time that he shot Oswald and the time that he was tried, actually
went to trial, in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. How many times?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. A guess?
Mr. Griffin. Yes. Your best estimate. Try to give some thought to it.
Mr. Senator. Let me see now. I would say maybe 10 or 15 times, I would
guess.
Mr. Griffin. Did you notice any change in him over this period of time?
Mr. Senator. Sure.
Mr. Griffin. When did you first notice that he was changing; that there was
some change?
Mr. Senator. I saw him very few times, you know, previous to when I went
away, but his change—when I really noticed the change was after I came
back.
Mr. Griffin. This was in February?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. After the 18th of February?
Mr. Senator. Yes. His voice was getting lower, and his head was hanging
down, and this is the way it was all the way up until the period, even after
the trial. I don’t know—I don’t know how to describe the words; you call
it deterioration or whatever runs through him; I don’t know. I would never
ask him anything like that, you know. I never spoke about anything like
that; anything but that.
Mr. Griffin. Did you notice a change——
Mr. Senator. He had lost weight.
Mr. Griffin. He had lost weight?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. You noticed a change in his voice and something about the way
he carried his head?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Anything else?
Mr. Senator. And he lost weight. Of course, he quoted the Bible to me.
Mr. Griffin. Had he ever done that before?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. I mean to you; had he ever quoted from the Bible to you before?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think so, that I can remember of.
Mr. Griffin. What passages of the Bible was he quoting?
Mr. Senator. He didn’t. He didn’t quote the passages, but he quoted that
he was reading the Bible. He didn’t quote any passages to me.
Mr. Griffin. How about his manner of speech other than the deepness of
his voice? Was there anything about the manner of his speech?
Mr. Senator. What do you mean; the manner of his speech?
Mr. Griffin. Coherence, his ability to carry through on a topic of conversation.
Was he able to discuss topics as lucidly as he had discussed them previously
to you?
Mr. Senator. No. I’ll tell you, it got so that there was a hesitation. The
words were even silent. There was no speaking at times; just, you know, like,
you know. In other words, you know, there is very little of him I could see.
I was looking through this little glass. I couldn’t touch him or nothing. In
other words, instead of his wall being plaster, the thing was steel or iron, whatever
it was; see what I mean?
Mr. Griffin. So you and he would be separated?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes. I couldn’t even touch him. It was impossible.
Mr. Griffin. How much of him could you see? We are going to have to get
this on the record. This is the problem.
Mr. Senator. In other words, I am standing up here and I am looking through
a glass about like this.
Mr. Griffin. You are looking through a little glass door?
Mr. Senator. And like this.
Mr. Griffin. A little glass window?
Mr. Senator. A window something like this.
Mr. Griffin. Maybe 12 inches long and 8 inches high or something?
Mr. Senator. Approximately. This is a guess.
Mr. Griffin. At about eye level?
Mr. Senator. Yes; it’s eye level. And under it are these perforations that
you have to talk to; holes. You know; perforated holes.
Mr. Griffin. Perforations in a door of some sort?
Mr. Senator. No door; no.
Mr. Griffin. Just a wall?
Mr. Senator. Just a wall.
Mr. Griffin. And you could not see Jack other than through that window?
Mr. Senator. No. That is the only thing. It is just a solid——
Mr. Griffin. Steel?
Mr. Senator. A solid steel wall. At one end was a door, but that was solid,
too. In other words, when you looked at the door you might as well say it was
part of the wall.
Mr. Griffin. This was the cell that Jack was kept in?
Mr. Senator. No; this was no cell. I don’t know what cell he was in.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack stay in there?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. He was brought in?
Mr. Senator. This is a hallway. This was a narrow hallway. Apparently
they didn’t let you know the cell he was in. I never saw him in a cell. I have
never seen any cells. They’d bring him down in, and, of course, I can’t see
which way they are coming through. All I can say is they are coming this
way when I walk in, and this is this little hall, this little hallway. I can’t
see every bit of him, you know.
Mr. Griffin. And were these always the conditions under which you talked to
Jack, even before you left Dallas?
Mr. Senator. That is the only way I have ever seen him, from beginning to
end. That is the only way I could ever see him. In other words, there was
no time that I could even touch him to shake his hand; nothing, because
there was nothing but a solid iron or steel, or whatever it was, wall.
Mr. Griffin. You indicated that, of course, you noticed the most marked
change in him when you returned to Dallas, and I take it from that that, up
until the time you left Dallas, you didn’t notice any substantial changes in
him?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say that there may have been a little—you
know, there may have been some change, but how much there was or how much;
I know this; I am certain within the man there would have to be some change,
because when I left already, how long has passed, maybe 5 or 6 weeks have
already passed by. Within the feelings of himself, which I don’t know, there
must have been some change within him, you know, which I sort of surmised.
Now, how much, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Has there ever been any time that you have talked to Jack
where he wasn’t coherent?
Mr. Senator. Take that coherent word and use another phrase.
Mr. Griffin. You use a phrase that is more appropriate to you. I take it you
have some idea of what I am suggesting.
Mr. Senator. Well, when you say “coherent,” break it down to another word
and make it more simplified for me.
Mr. Griffin. Was there anytime that you talked to him where it appeared
that he did not understand what you were saying to him?
Mr. Senator. I never noticed it, or even thought about it that way. I don’t
even know.
Mr. Griffin. Was there ever anytime when you would ask him a question
or say something to him and you would get back a response which did not
make any sense to you?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so; not that I can recall. I don’t think so.
Mr. Griffin. Was there anytime when you would ask Jack questions and he
would not be able to respond at all?
Mr. Senator. No; he was able to respond.
Mr. Griffin. Have you at anytime talked with Jack about the events of
November 22, 23, and 24?
Mr. Senator. Never at anytime have I ever been at that jailhouse where
anything like that ever come up. I have never asked him, and I don’t think
anybody would to my knowledge, would ask him questions like that, because
this would be a hard subject to talk about. I would assume probably in the
condition that he was in and the locale, the placement of where he is in, of
what he is in——
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack ever indicate to you any fear; has he indicated any
fear to you in the times that you have talked to him since he shot Oswald?
Mr. Senator. He didn’t look fearful to me. Now I don’t know, you know.
I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. What I want to do now is go through with you some documents.
I have got a series of photographs and other things here, and I want to ask
you some questions about them. I am going to hand you what has been marked
for identification as “Exhibit 5304-A,” which was used in the deposition of
Andrew Armstrong. That is a photograph, and I am going to hand it to you and
ask you if you recognize where that photograph was taken?
Mr. Senator. I am not familiar with it.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize anybody in that photograph?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t. Where is it supposed to be?
Mr. Griffin. That is what I am asking you.
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Can you look at the man who is tending bar? Do you recognize
him?
Mr. Senator. No; it is a pretty shady picture to see his face.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to hand you what has been marked as Exhibit
5304-B, which was also used in the deposition of Andrew Armstrong. That
is another photograph, and it shows a girl in a western costume standing on a
table. Do you recognize any of the people in that photograph, or do you recognize
where that photograph was taken?
Mr. Senator. No; never seen a place with elkhorns or whatever they are.
Is that a night club or a restaurant, that place?
Mr. Griffin. I was hoping you would be able to tell us.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I’ll tell you with a guess; it looks like a
restaurant, according to the curtains. That is what it looks like to me. I
don’t even know.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to show you what has been marked as “Exhibit 5302,”
and unless I indicate to the contrary, all of these exhibits have been used in
the deposition of Andrew Armstrong. That is a photograph of a man. Do you
recognize that man?
Mr. Senator. No; is he a Dallas man? I don’t know that man.
Mr. Griffin. Then I hand you Exhibit 5303-A, and I would like you to look
over that photograph. It is actually a series of about 12 small photos. Can
you tell me if you recognize anybody in there?
Mr. Senator. Well, I know it is the Carousel. These prints are pretty
small for my eyesight. I have seen him. I don’t know who he is, but I have
seen him.
Mr. Griffin. You are indicating a fat, obese man?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I have seen him.
Mr. Griffin. Where have you seen him?
Mr. Senator. At the Carousel. I believe these occurred, I think, when they
were having—what do you call that now? I think when they were giving prizes
away, if I am not mistaken, on this particular time, and then sometimes they
would have on Friday or Saturday, Saturday night, amateur hour.
Mr. Griffin. This would be amateur strippers?
Mr. Senator. Once in a while—there was one girl who would always bring
up, after she got through she would always bring up one fellow to do the twist.
Now this wasn’t every night; only this one girl when she was on.
Mr. Griffin. Of Jack’s stripteasers?
Mr. Senator. Yes. As a matter of fact, I think I saw him do the twist once.
Mr. Griffin. That big, fat man?
Mr. Senator. Yes. But I can’t see the faces here. But I can’t help but recognize
him.
Mr. Griffin. You can’t make out the faces in looking at those photographs?
Mr. Senator. This is an M.C.
Mr. Griffin. You are indicating the center photograph at the top?
Mr. Senator. Yes; this is an M.C. This looks like Tammi.
Mr. Griffin. Tammi True?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. The left-hand side in the third photograph?
Mr. Senator. Yes. As a matter of fact, are they all Tammi’s? Yes; that is
Tammi. This girl is not clear enough for me to see. I am certain I know her,
but I can’t tell which one that is. That is about all I can see there. The
majority are all customers.
Mr. Griffin. I take it you do not recognize any of the customers.
Mr. Senator. No, because they ain’t looking this way.
Mr. Griffin. Now let me hand you Exhibit 5303-B and ask you if you recognize
any of the people in those photographs.
Mr. Senator. That is Tammi True.
Mr. Griffin. The stripper that is shown in those photographs is Tammi True?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize any of the customers?
Mr. Senator. This you can’t see at all. This you can’t see at all. I can’t tell
from this. This is no way of seeing; this is no way of seeing. This you can’t
see hardly.
Mr. Griffin. I hand you Exhibit 5303-C and ask you if you recognize any of the
people in those photographs?
Mr. Senator. I know the stripper.
Mr. Griffin. Who is that?
Mr. Senator. That is Kathy Kay, but I can’t recognize anybody from the
back.
Mr. Griffin. All right; now, Exhibit 5303-D; do you recognize anybody in
there?
Mr. Senator. Yes; that is Little Lynn.
Mr. Griffin. The stripper is Little Lynn?
Mr. Senator. Yes; as I know her. You called her Karen. What is her last
name?
Mr. Griffin. Bennett.
Mr. Senator. Bennett; yes. I don’t recognize anybody else here though.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know Little Lynn before you began to live with Jack
Ruby the last time?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. All I know—see, I didn’t always come there
every night, you know, but I walked in one night and I saw her there and, of
course, I didn’t know who she was. She had already been there a few days, I
think, or something like that, which I didn’t know. This is the one that, I guess
you probably know, that came in with that gun with no firing pin. I guess you
heard about that.
Mr. Griffin. It was at the trial, was it not?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Or one of the hearings.
Mr. Senator. Yes; she come in with this gun, which I believe didn’t have a
firing pin, and, of course, there was no ammunition, but it was a blank gun. According
to what I have heard around the station there, that she had switched
bags and was in a hurry or something like that, and she didn’t even know the
gun was in there, according to what I have heard.
Mr. Griffin. You haven’t talked to her about it?
Mr. Senator. No, no. When that happened, she was being searched just as
you walk into the courtroom, and that is where they got her.
Mr. Griffin. Now, would you look at Exhibit 5303-E and tell me if you recognize
anybody in there?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I know the stripper.
Mr. Griffin. Who is that?
Mr. Senator. Joy Dale. The people, no. They are all facing the other
way. That is why I can’t recognize anybody.
Mr. Griffin. Now look at Exhibit 5303-F and tell me if you recognize
anybody in there?
Mr. Senator. This is Kathy Kay.
Mr. Griffin. The stripper is Kathy Kay?
Mr. Senator. Kathy Kay, and this is Joy on this side.
Mr. Griffin. Joy Dale on the right-hand side, a stripper?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And Kathy Kay on the left?
Mr. Senator. This is that big heavy-set fellow which I can tell. I don’t
know his name.
Mr. Griffin. The top picture in the center?
Mr. Senator. Yes. And the cocktail waitress.
Mr. Griffin. Who is the cocktail waitress?
Mr. Senator. Bonnie something. I don’t know her last name.
Mr. Griffin. Is she shown in the picture in the lower right-hand side?
Mr. Senator. Bonnie. I don’t know her last name.
Mr. Griffin. But you don’t recognize anybody else?
Mr. Senator. Let me see. No.
Mr. Griffin. Now I hand you Exhibit 5303-G. Do you recognize anybody in
there?
Mr. Senator. This is Kathy Kay, the stripper. Excuse me, not Kathy Kay.
This is Tammi True. That is an error. But I can’t see no faces there.
Mr. Griffin. Let me hand you Exhibit 5303-H. Other than the strippers, do
you recognize any of the other people in those pictures?
Mr. Senator. You don’t want the strippers, right?
Mr. Griffin. That is right.
Mr. Senator. I am looking for the face here but I can’t see it. This one
I can’t see the face well. Whether I know him or not, I don’t think so but I just
can’t see their face well.
Mr. Griffin. Now Exhibit 5303-I, other than the stripper and the fat man
who is shown there, do you recognize any of the people?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t.
Mr. Griffin. All right, Exhibit 5303-J, other than the entertainers, do you
recognize any of the people?
Mr. Senator. I can tell that this is Tammi True from the back. No, no, I
don’t. The M.C. I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Who is the M.C.?
Mr. Senator. I don’t even know his name. He was only there a short while,
this particular one here.
Mr. Griffin. Let me give you Exhibit 5303-K.
Mr. Senator. Where did you get this good picture?
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize any of the people shown there?
Mr. Senator. That is the cocktail waitress. I can’t distinguished who it is.
This sort of looks like Jack, but I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. You are pointing to——
Mr. Senator. But I am not sure. I’ll tell you, I am looking at the head because
it is sort of baldish.
Mr. Griffin. But the people in the foreground in that picture, you don’t
recognize any of them?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. All right, Exhibit 5303-L. Other than Jack Ruby, do you recognize
anybody in there?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Let me hand you Exhibit 5300-A and ask you if you recognize any
of the people in that picture other than Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Kathy Kay.
Mr. Griffin. That is the blonde on Jack Ruby’s right, or left as you look at
the picture?
Mr. Senator. This is a cocktail waitress. Her name is Alice.
Mr. Griffin. The girl on Jack Ruby’s left, Jack’s left but the right side of
the picture?
Mr. Senator. Alice, I don’t remember her last name.
Mr. Griffin. How long had Alice worked for Jack?
Mr. Senator. I would say on and off for maybe a year and a half or two,
but I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack date Alice?
Mr. Senator. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Griffin. Did Alice every solicit up at Jack’s apartment?
Mr. Senator. I think she came there once for I think it was a job interference.
I think for some reason, I don’t know what it was because I didn’t stay, but
she was there once. She came there one afternoon. I don’t know what happened.
Mr. Griffin. Let me hand you Exhibit 5301-D. Do you recognize any of the
girls in that picture?
Mr. Senator. This is Joy Dale on the left and this is Little Lynn.
Mr. Griffin. On the right?
Mr. Senator. Right.
Mr. Griffin. That is on the right of the picture as you look at the picture?
Mr. Senator. Yes: Little Lynn on the right.
Mr. Griffin. What I am going to do, Mr. Senator, I am going to hand you
a set of photographs, 5306-A and 5306-B. These photographs are pictures of
memoranda that were made at one time or another. Let me ask you to look
at those. First, I will ask you a general question about these memoranda.
Do you ever recall Jack Ruby having any memoranda pads similar to those
that are shown in those photographs?
Mr. Senator. No; with him, everything went on a piece of paper, it don’t
matter what type it was. He would keep his papers and notes, everything
else like he kept his money, all over.
Mr. Griffin. Did he keep some of his papers and notes at home?
Mr. Senator. It could be at the office or at home because he wasn’t immaculate
in where he kept things, things of that nature there. It would lay here, lay
there, lay in the office, wherever it laid. That is the way he was.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have any memoranda pads such as this?
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of. I can’t say yes or no, but not to my
knowledge that I know of.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have occasion to take messages for him at home?
Mr. Senator. Very seldom if the phone rang and all I would do is write it on
whatever piece of paper it might be. No particular paper, sometimes even on a
newspaper, whatever it was, whatever is close by. I have seen those go on
pieces of paper this big even, you know. It is just no particular type piece of
paper with him.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know who Nancy Barker might have been?
Mr. Senator. No; it could have been maybe somebody calling for a job.
I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know who Joyce Harvey was?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know who Linda Bumwalt was?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Emma Ship?
Mr. Senator. No; the only thing possibly could happen, I may know somebody
by face maybe but not by name. This could be. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know Jean Bordon?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know Archie Esquavill? Did you ever hear of him?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever hear of a person named T. E. Smith?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Now I am going to hand you a series of photographs which are
marked Exhibits 5305-A to 5305-S. These are photographs of a notebook which
had a cover which said “Aladdin,” and I ask you first of all if you have ever
seen this Aladdin notebook?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think I have. I mean, his things that he kept in his
pocket, I assume that is it.
Mr. Griffin. Would you look through those photographs and look through
all of them, and I am going to ask you a general question whether you recognize
that notebook?
Mr. Senator. So far this stuff I have never seen, though I do know he had
books, you know, notebooks, but I have never seen the insides of them.
Mr. Griffin. Are you able to read what is on those pages?
Mr. Senator. Some yes and some no.
Mr. Griffin. I will ask you the question again: Do you ever recall having
seen this particular notebook?
Mr. Senator. I know he had a book. Now, I don’t know about the cover, but
I know he had a book. As a matter of fact, I think he had two or three of
them. But I am not sure of the cover part of it, but I do know that he had a
notebook of some sort.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to hand you Exhibit 5305-B, which purports to be a
photograph of a page of that notebook. Can you read the names on there?
Mr. Senator. Leonard, isn’t that right? That is Leonard.
Mr. Griffin. I just want to know if you have difficulty reading them.
Mr. Senator. Frank Barber.
Mr. Griffin. I take it you do have some difficulty reading the names.
Mr. Senator. Frank Bourber or Barber.
Mr. Griffin. Let me read the names to you and ask you if you recognize any
of them.
Mr. Hubert. May I make this suggestion?
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Senator. I know some of the names on there.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize the handwriting on that page?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize Jack Ruby’s handwriting?
Mr. Senator. It probably could be Jack’s, I guess.
Mr. Griffin. But would you recognize Jack’s handwriting?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think, offhand, I would, but I assume these probably are
Jack’s handwritings, I guess.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you, did you know Frank Barber?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever hear Jack speak or did you know Milt Jaffe?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know of any friend Jack had named Barney?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. How about Pauline?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know Pauline Hall?
Mr. Senator. Now, you may ask me some names. I may know the face but
I may not recognize the name.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know any people that worked at the Vegas Club?
Mr. Senator. Oh, Pauline Hall; yes, I do. I am glad you mentioned that.
Pauline worked at times at the Vegas Club, if that is her last name. I am not
sure. Now, I know her first name was Pauline, so it might be Pauline Hall,
if that is her last name, but she worked at the Vegas Club.
Mr. Griffin. You say she worked there at times?
Mr. Senator. Yes; not steady. I wouldn’t say she worked there steady.
There were times I walked in there with Jack at night on a weekend I have
seen her working, and then there are other times I haven’t seen her working.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know Billy Brook?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Bobbie Patterson?
Mr. Senator. I think I have heard of that name, but I can’t think who it is.
I think I have heard of that name. I think I have heard of that name Bobbie
Patterson, but I can’t refresh my mind. It seems I have heard that name.
Mr. Griffin. Howard Foster?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Sammy Tucker?
Mr. Senator. No. Would it be easier, you know, what you want to do, would
it be easier if I could pick up the ones I knew?
Mr. Griffin. If you could read them. Could you go through there and pick
out the ones you know, and indicate to me if there are any on there you can’t
read.
Mr. Senator. What is this? Is this Goody?
Mr. Griffin. It looks like Grady to me, but I am not sure.
Mr. Senator. Fred Fillman, I don’t know who he is. You want me to sound
out the names, don’t you?
Mr. Griffin. Just comment on the ones you recognize.
Mr. Senator. What does this say? It looks like Rita.
Mr. Griffin. It looks like Ruth Shay.
Mr. Hubert. You had better make reference to the document you are talking
about. Let the record show the comments of the witness are with reference to
Exhibit 5305-F.
Mr. Senator. Here is one that says Pauline. That may be Pauline Hall, I
don’t know. I have heard that name. I don’t know who she is.
Mr. Griffin. What name are you talking about?
Mr. Senator. Tex DeLacy.
Mr. Griffin. Take a look at 5305-G and tell me if you recognize the name
R. T. Brown on there.
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. Let me hand you 5305-H.
Mr. Senator. There is no other names on there.
Mr. Griffin. That is right. 5305-H, do you recognize any of the names on
there?
Mr. Senator. What is that, Joseph Rossi?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know him. The rest are just figurations here, numbers
or moneys.
Mr. Griffin. Take a look at 5305-I. There is the name Tom Palmer.
Mr. Senator. Tom Palmer, I think he is the booking agent in Dallas. In other
words, he books. Not the booking agent. I have got to find out how to classify
him now.
Mr. Griffin. Tell us what he does.
Mr. Senator. He is with, I think he is with AGVA.
Mr. Griffin. And that is the American Guild of Variety Artists?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I believe he has an office in Dallas. Let me see how he is
classified. How do you classify him? I guess he has something to do with the
acts, you know, the working hours, and the pay.
Mr. Griffin. Of the entertainers?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Have you met Tom Palmer?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Where have you met him?
Mr. Senator. I have seen him in the Carousel, or occasionally on the street,
or something like that.
Mr. Griffin. About how many different occasions would you say you have
met him?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I have seen him maybe a dozen times or so, maybe more.
I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you first meet him through Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. Yes; because when he came up there, he always went to Jack,
you know. I mean, he had no occasion to come to me or anything of that nature,
but he always came to Jack.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of any particular dealings Jack had with him in
the few weeks before Oswald was shot?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Let me hand you Exhibit 5305-J, and I will ask you if you
recognize any of the names on there.
Mr. Senator. What is this, Grace Wilkins, the first one? Is that what that
says? I don’t know her, but is that what it says?
Mr. Griffin. It looks like Grace Wilkins; yes. Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. No. And Woodruff, I don’t know who that is. But, mind you,
I want you to bear in mind I may know these people and don’t know the names.
I may know them if I see their face.
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. J. B. Gruber, I don’t know who he is.
Mr. Griffin. I will hand you Exhibit 5305-K and ask you if you recognize any
of the names on there.
Mr. Senator. KLIF radio station.
Mr. Griffin. KLIF?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I have heard of the name Harrigan. I don’t know if Harrigan
is KLIF, I am not sure. It says diskjockey. I knew he was something
like that.
Mr. Griffin. Have you met him?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think I have ever met him, but I have heard of that name.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack talk to you about him?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know how I heard of it. Very possibly he may have,
but I have heard the name. I know I have heard the name before. I don’t
know who this other is. I believe it says Chuck Dunnaway.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. No; I am not familiar with these. I am not familiar with these.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know Alex Gruber?
Mr. Senator. No. As I say, I may know him by face, but I am not familiar
with the name.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to hand you Exhibit 5305-M and ask you if you
recognize the names on there. I might state for the record that 5305-L is a
duplicate of 5305-K, and that is why I didn’t hand it to the witness.
Mr. Senator. Here it says Nick Turman. The reason I say that, I happen to
know somebody by the name of Buddy Turman.
Mr. Griffin. Who is Buddy Turman?
Mr. Senator. Buddy Turman, I believe, is out on the West Coast. He used
to be the light heavyweight or heavyweight champion of Texas, a real fine fellow.
That is why I say I don’t know Nick.
Mr. Griffin. Now, was he a friend of Jack’s?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he was of Jack’s sure.
Mr. Griffin. Did you meet Turman through Jack?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes.
Mr. Griffin. Through Jack?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if I met Turman through Jack. No, I met him
some other place. I met him some other place. I can’t think where I met him,
but I didn’t meet him through Jack, but I have seen him at Jack’s place. As a
matter of fact, he has helped Jack every now and then. This Nick Turman, I
don’t know if this is related to him or what it is. I am not familiar with the
name Nick. You have got a Norma here, and I know a name Norma, and I
can’t place it; I wonder if this is somebody who ever worked for him, Norma.
Mr. Griffin. Did Buddy Turman have any particular dealings, that you
know of, with Jack Ruby in the last month or so before——
Mr. Senator. Oh, Buddy has been gone quite a while. He went to the West
Coast. As a matter of fact, the last time I saw Buddy he said he was going to
the West Coast to train, because from there—now I don’t know if it ever materialized—from
there he was going to England to fight. I can’t think of that
heavyweight fighter.
Mr. Griffin. Bruce Wilcox?
Mr. Senator. No. Name a couple more. This one fighter didn’t fight too long
ago. You may have seen him on TV. He is the type that fights very awkward,
and sort of a slap, like. Do you remember who that is?
Mr. Griffin. No, I don’t. Now, did Jack Ruby have an interest in prizefighting?
Mr. Senator. No. I would say that he liked the fights. He liked to watch
them.
Mr. Griffin. But he never expressed any particular interest to you?
Mr. Senator. No, but he liked to watch the fights.
Mr. Griffin. Did he ever tell you about any interest he had in the fight game
when he was a younger man?
Mr. Senator. I know that he used to carry Barney Ross’ bag around. How
young he was or what age, in Chicago, I don’t remember. But I know it was as
a youngster.
I assume this first name, Tammi, is Tammi True, and I assume the other one
is Little Lynn; right? These are only first names. This says Tammi, so I
assume that must be Tammi True, and Lynn, that might be Little Lynn.
Wait; I haven’t gone through the rest. There is a Dick Lenard there, and
I think this man is a booking agency. I think he is.
Mr. Griffin. For entertainers?
Mr. Senator. Yes, if it is the same Dick Lenard. I don’t know the rest of
them.
Mr. Griffin. I will hand you what has been marked as Exhibit 5305-N, and
ask you to look at the names on there and tell us if you recognize any of them.
Mr. Senator. Yes; this is a Murray Wynn, who owns, I assume, because it
says The Smoker’s Lounge, and I know the place, but I never knew his last
name. I assume it is the right one. He owns a tobacco and pipe store.
Mr. Griffin. What dealings did Jack have with him?
Mr. Senator. None that I know of.
Mr. Griffin. Jack didn’t smoke, did he?
Mr. Senator. No. He probably just met him like he meets a lot of people,
I assume. I have heard of this Grant Koch. I have heard of the name, but
I don’t know who he is. It is a name I remember hearing at one time or another;
and I don’t know who this Kierney Aikens is. I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. A-i-k-e-n-s?
Mr. Senator. A-i-k-e-n. I don’t who he is. What does this say here? This
is pretty hard to read. Do you see this one right here?
Mr. Griffin. It looks like Donald Wiley. Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. I will read you the other names on here. Pauline Foch.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Etheridge?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Ray Hawkins?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Sue Blake?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know her.
Mr. Griffin. I am not going to hand you the next exhibit, which is 5305-O,
because there are no names written on there of any persons. And I am not
going to hand you Exhibit 5305-P. I will take that back. I will hand you that.
There is a name “Bishop” written there. Does that name mean anything to you?
Mr. Senator. I think I have heard of the name, but I don’t know who it is. I
don’t know what that is. I believe I have somewheres heard of that name.
Mr. Griffin. Now, I am going to read to you from Exhibit 5305-Q, and tell
me if you recognize any of these names. Monte?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Mike Shore?
Mr. Senator. Mike Shore? Is there an address or something that goes with it?
Mr. Griffin. No.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Dr. Uhlevitch?
Mr. Senator. Does it say what he is?
Mr. Griffin. No.
Mr. Senator. Is he local, Dallas?
Mr. Griffin. I presume so.
Mr. Senator. What is the exchange?
Mr. Griffin. It doesn’t give an exchange, just the name.
Mr. Senator. Uhlevitch?
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Stanley Kaufman?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he is a lawyer.
Mr. Griffin. Had you met him?
Mr. Senator. No; I have never met him, but I know who he is.
Mr. Griffin. Have you talked to Jack about him or has Jack talked to you
about him?
Mr. Senator. No; he is, I believe, a civil attorney, and I know that Jack has
always called him for conferences of some nature or another, whatever it may
be, but I wasn’t——
Mr. Griffin. Was he a personal friend of Jack’s?
Mr. Senator. I assume that he has known Jack for some time. Now, how
personal, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Do you have any idea whether Jack was as close to Kaufman
as you were to Jim Martin, for example?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know, but I know that—as a matter of fact, even now
during the trial, trying to get the new trial now, I know that they keep in contact
with Kaufman. So I don’t know what you want to actually call close, you
know. I can’t tell you what close is.
Mr. Griffin. How about John Hilt?
Mr. Senator. I never heard of that name.
Mr. Griffin. Dick Shepard?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know that, either.
Mr. Griffin. Abe Klinman?
Mr. Senator. Abe Klinman is a CPA. I know him.
Mr. Griffin. Did he do work for Jack?
Mr. Senator. He has done some work for Jack.
Mr. Griffin. Jerry Wilson?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know that name.
Mr. Griffin. Mike Riaf?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Tom Palmer’s name is on here, but you have talked about that.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Ed Pullman?
Mr. Senator. Ed Pullman; yes. Ed Pullman; his wife had worked for Jack
for a short spell as a cocktail waitress. She is an elderly woman. Ed Pullman,
he is a man who thinks up gadgets, you know. I don’t know how to describe it.
He is an idea man.
Mr. Griffin. A promoter?
Mr. Senator. Things that he makes.
Mr. Griffin. An inventor?
Mr. Senator. Yes; in that classification.
Mr. Griffin. And did Jack have any business dealings with Ed Pullman?
Mr. Senator. The only thing is—no; no business dealings. The only thing
is he had a show once, Ed Pullman, like a market show—you know what I mean,
sort of an exhibit like where people come to look—exhibits.
Mr. Griffin. What kind of things did he exhibit?
Mr. Senator. Things that he had made, to show and see what he could do
with them. In other words, he wasn’t manufacturing them, but he had already
made these things.
Mr. Griffin. Where was he exhibiting these items?
Mr. Senator. At a place called Market Hall.
Mr. Griffin. Did Ed Pullman——
Mr. Senator. Ed Pullman exhibited a thing for him that Jack was trying to
promote.
Mr. Griffin. What was that?
Mr. Senator. This is what they call—what do they call the little thing? It
is a little twistaboard. It is a little square twistaboard, and you get on it and
it moves around like this.
Mr. Griffin. It is a weight reducer, like?
Mr. Senator. Yes; a twister.
Mr. Griffin. Now, how long had Jack Ruby been promoting this twistboard?
Mr. Senator. It never came to the promotion part. I would assume that he
fooled around with it for about a month, I guess, something like that, as a rough
guess. In other words, he was going to buy them. I think somebody was going
to make them for him, and he was going to try and sell them.
Mr. Griffin. And for a month, what would this month cover, from the 1st
of November to the time that he shot Oswald, or before the 1st of November?
Mr. Senator. No; it was either September or October, somewheres in there.
I will have to take it to the extension of these 2 months.
Mr. Griffin. Did it fall through somewhere along the line? Did he lose
interest in it, or something?
Mr. Senator. It never materialized. In other words, look, he had competition
because there was one already out.
Mr. Griffin. Who designed this twistboard?
Mr. Senator. I think it was manufactured by somebody in, I don’t know
the name of the place, in Fort Worth.
Mr. Griffin. Who else was associated with Jack in the twistboard project?
Mr. Senator. Nobody. This is something that never really got off the ground.
See, I think Jack had—what was it—maybe four or five or six dozen of the
things. I just don’t remember. But it never got off the ground.
Mr. Griffin. He bought these, and then what was he going to do with them?
Mr. Senator. He was going to have them manufactured to resell.
Mr. Griffin. Did he buy them from some place other than Fort Worth, or
from Fort Worth?
Mr. Senator. I am not sure whether he bought them from Fort Worth or
some place else. I don’t know just where he got them from.
Mr. Griffin. What kind of material were they made out of?
Mr. Senator. It was a compressed—I don’t know what you would call it—it
was a compressed thing. In other words, let me say that it was about this
size here.
Mr. Griffin. You are indicating about a foot long?
Mr. Senator. Approximately about a foot square.
Mr. Griffin. A foot square?
Mr. Senator. Approximately about a foot square, and on the bottom of it—this
is a compressed thing. I don’t know if you call it a compressed board,
or what you call it. There was a compression. Then on the bottom of it
it had, I believe, a steel roller with ballbearings in it, on the bottom, so the
thing could revolve. Under that was another piece of staple, where it was
staple. In other words, it had to hold the weight of an individual.
Mr. Griffin. This was something that you would lean up against?
Mr. Senator. No, no. It was on the floor, and you just got on it like that,
and you go—I am not a good exhibit for a twister.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, you would stand on this board?
Mr. Senator. Yes, you would stand on it.
Mr. Griffin. You wouldn’t put it up against your back, or anything?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You would stand on it?
Mr. Senator. Strictly stand on it, and it was a novelty.
Mr. Griffin. And the bottom part would remain stationary?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And the other part would swivel as you moved on it?
Mr. Senator. That is right. In other words, instead of going in the twist,
this thing did it for you. In other words, you revolved and, of course, this
was classified as an exerciser, or something of that nature. As I say, it never
got off the ground.
Mr. Griffin. To your knowledge, nobody else was involved in the promotion
of it with Jack?
Mr. Senator. No; definitely not; no.
Mr. Griffin. How about John Newman? Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. John Newman works for the Herald or the Times, the Herald or
the News. He works for either the Dallas Morning News—I forgot now—or
the Herald.
Mr. Griffin. How do you happen to know him?
Mr. Senator. I met him on occasion when Jack used to go up there to place
an ad once in a while, when I was living with him in 1962, you know, I went
up there with him.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever see Newman at the Carousel Club?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if I have or not. I just don’t remember. I
couldn’t say yes or couldn’t say no. I just don’t remember.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to read to you the names that are on Exhibit 5305-R.
Bill Petty. Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. I think I have heard of that name, but don’t know who it is.
Mr. Griffin. Bill Cantrell?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Gladys?
Mr. Senator. Gladys who?
Mr. Griffin. That is all it says.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. J. B. Herred?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Mrs. Oscar Newman?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know her.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to read to you the names that are on Exhibit 5305-S.
Gloria Rettig?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know her.
Mr. Griffin. Little Lynn you have mentioned.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Vicky Williams?
Mr. Senator. Vicky Williams; I don’t know that name.
Mr. Griffin. That concludes the photographs that pertain to the Aladdin
notebook. I am going to hand you what has been marked for identification as
Exhibit 5309-A, and this is a Xeroxed copy of another notebook that has on
the front cover, “This is a Robinson reminder. Jot it down. Do It. Tear it.
Live notes only.”
I am going to hand you this and ask you to tell me, first of all, go through it
and tell me if you remember ever seeing that notebook.
Mr. Senator. I think I have seen the cover of this. These are little tear
things out, aren’t they, you tear them out?
Mr. Griffin. You are referring to what appears to be perforated segments.
Mr. Senator. Isn’t that what it is? That is what it looks like.
Mr. Griffin. On the front page. I believe that is right.
Mr. Senator. I have heard of the name Sue Pepper.
Mr. Griffin. Now, you are looking at the first page of that notebook?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And you are going to identify the names?
Mr. Senator. I have heard of the name. I don’t know who it is. A lot of
the names I heard, but I just don’t know who they are. Does this say Jack
Hanover? This is a little hard to read.
Mr. Griffin. Yanover, I think.
Mr. Senator. Carroll Walker I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know a Jack Hanover?
Mr. Senator. No. I don’t know the balance of these in here.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize the handwriting on that page?
Mr. Senator. I think it is Jack’s. I assume it is. I am not sure, but I assume
it is. It all looks like the same. I have seen the cover of a book like this. Now,
the insides of it I have never seen, but I think I have seen it on him.
Mr. Griffin. Now, you are turning to the next page. Does that have a small
numeral down at the bottom of that page? It has numeral 3. It is actually the
second page on which there is any writing.
Mr. Senator. Wally what?
Mr. Griffin. Is that Rack—R-a-c-k? Do you know a Wally Rack?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know anything about the Doctors Club?
Mr. Senator. The Doctors Club?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I never knew there was a Doctors Club in Dallas. What is
Linda’s last name?
Mr. Griffin. It looks like——
Mr. Senator. Kuhox?
Mr. Griffin. Kuhox.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Does anything like that ring a bell?
Mr. Senator. No. I don’t know anybody here. He has some first names here.
I don’t know what they mean. Brenda and Angie.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize any of those first names?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Let’s turn to the page that is numbered 4.
Mr. Senator. I know Bill Willis. Bill Willis was the drummer in the band
at the Carousel Club. Tom Palmer is here again.
Mr. Griffin. You talked about him.
Mr. Senator. Yes. Kathy Kay is a stripper. Andy is the boy. I assume that
is Andy.
Mr. Griffin. Andy Armstrong?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I assume the first name Kathy is Kathy Kay; right?
Mr. Griffin. I don’t know.
Mr. Senator. That is what I think it is anyhow. I don’t know. This girl, I
never knew her last name, but this could have been a former stripper of some
time back, this Lauri.
Mr. Griffin. Lauri?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Does Lauri have a last name?
Mr. Senator. There is a last name here, but I don’t know who.
Mr. Griffin. What is the last name?
Mr. Senator. Womack, W-o-m-a-c-k. I knew a Lauri, I think, that was a
stripper for him for a while. I think it was last summer if I am not mistaken,
or something like that. Russ Knight.
Mr. Griffin. K-n-i-g-h-t?
Mr. Senator. He is with a radio station, but I can’t think which one.
Mr. Griffin. Have you met him?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I knew Russ.
Mr. Griffin. Where have you met him?
Mr. Senator. I have met him—I have seen him at the bowling alley when we
used to go up there at night. I have seen him on rare occasions when he would
come down to the Carousel. He was, I guess you would call him, a disc jockey.
Mr. Griffin. Who did you bowl with?
Mr. Senator. Sometimes people—very seldom, mind you, very seldom—but
sometimes people from the club which was very seldom. As a matter of fact,
I only bowled one time, I believe. It wears me out particularly. But very seldom.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack bowl frequently?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did he bowl more than you did?
Mr. Senator. Maybe a little more. I’ll tell you, this particular alley is a tremendous
place in Dallas, but we always went up there to eat, on occasions, when
we did go. It was always we would go up there to eat. They had a big
restaurant there.
Mr. Griffin. What eating places did Jack frequent?
Mr. Senator. A lot of times when he went out, the majority of the times when
he went out I wasn’t with him when he went out to eat. But he has been to—of
course, it probably pertains to the time of day or night, you know, but he ate in the
waffle shops, he ate at—wait; it will come to me in a minute. There is a couple
on Commerce just above the Adolphus Hotel. What in the world is the name of
it?
Mr. Griffin. The Egyptian Lounge?
Mr. Senator. He has ate at the Egyptian Lounge, but there is a couple in the
downtown area.
Mr. Griffin. That he ate at regularly, I take it?
Mr. Senator. It is not, particularly. I can’t say regularly. I don’t know.
Let me say he just varies the place. He may want to try certain foods, I don’t
know.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack visit the Dallas Cabana?
Mr. Senator. Dallas Cabana? What in the world is the Dallas Cabana?
Mr. Griffin. The Cabana Motel.
Mr. Senator. The Cabana?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Yes; Jack has been down there.
Mr. Griffin. Does he have friends there?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if he has friends there or not. He certainly probably
does know some people there. Yes; there is one chap he knew there that
I know for sure, and I think he was the assistant, if he is still there, was the
assistant manager. There is Ralph Paul. Of course, I am certain you have
heard of his name before, Ralph Paul.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; Ralph we talked about earlier. How often would Jack
see Ralph?
Mr. Senator. Ralph would come up, I would probably say he would probably
come up maybe two or three times a week, about like that.
Mr. Griffin. Would they telephone each other during the week also?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say they have. I mean, not that I was always
around when he did, if he did telephone him, but I am certain there were
telephone calls.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever have any occasion to telephone Ralph Paul?
Mr. Senator. Did I ever have occasion?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I called him, yes; I called him a couple of times. The reason
I called him, I had no car, I had to go down and see him once in a while, a free
lunch. He has got this place in Arlington, if you know where Arlington is,
called the Bullpen. It is one of these barbecue places.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk to Ralph Paul on the weekend of the 22d, 23d, and
24th of November?
Mr. Senator. By phone?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of.
Mr. Griffin. How about in person?
Mr. Senator. It may have been possible that I may have seen him. I just
don’t recall if I have seen him on that weekend. I can’t say yes or no, but it may
have been possible that I may have seen him at the club. Oh, no; the club
wasn’t even open.
Mr. Griffin. This was after the President was killed?
Mr. Senator. Yes; no, I don’t think I did. I don’t think I have seen him.
Mr. Griffin. You seem to have some recollection, though, that you might
have.
Mr. Senator. No; let’s see. No; I saw him, I think the first time I saw him
was, it may have been, I would say within the week. I can’t name a date or a
day. But I will say within the week after the Ruby shooting up at the Carousel.
That is about the best that I can recollect on that.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall talking to Little Lynn at any time on Friday,
Saturday, or Sunday, November 22, 23, or 24?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t even see her.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know her husband?
Mr. Senator. No; but I have seen him—if it is her husband—sort of a blond.
I will tell you where I have seen him. I saw him the day of that trial when
she was carrying that gun, he come up with her, if it is her husband or if it is
her boy friend, I don’t know what.
The reason I say that, because to the best of my knowledge I don’t even know
if she wore a marriage band. But I have seen him. I think he is sort of a
blondish-haired fellow. I don’t even know his name. I am through with this.
Do you want the next page, page 6?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; go ahead.
Mr. Senator. There is a Joe Slayton here. Of course, Joe Slayton—this Joe
Slayton, I know him by sight but I don’t know him by conversation. Wally
Weston, he was an MC of his. I know this guy only by reading about him, Earl
Wilson, the New York Post. I don’t know him. I believe this Tony Turner
here, this name is a stripper.
Mr. Griffin. T-o-n-i?
Mr. Senator. T-o-n-y it says here.
Mr. Griffin. You think that is a stripper?
Mr. Senator. Tony Turner is T-o-n-i. I think that is how she spells her name.
This says Tony, T-o-n-y, Turner. It could be a man. I don’t know. I am only
guessing at this one here. Tammi True. I know her. This is a stripper. Then
there is Kay here. I don’t know if that is Kathy Kay, or what it is. That is all
I know on this one. One here says Porter. I don’t know what that is. I don’t
know what that means, if that is a porter, or what it is.
Mr. Griffin. I don’t know, either. How about page 7? Let me just read
off the names and see if you recognize them. Phil Olian?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Wendy Knight?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Wanda?
Mr. Senator. Just a girl’s name?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I think, I am not sure now; I think he had a cocktail waitress
by the name of Wanda, if I am not mistaken, at one time. I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Janice Anderson
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Ann Petta?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. L. H. McIntyre?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Jim Brown?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Carlos Camorgo?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know of any acquaintances Jack had in Mexico City?
Mr. Senator. Where?
Mr. Griffin. In Mexico City. Did you know of any acquaintances he had
in Mexico City?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of any trips that Jack took?
Mr. Senator. To Mexico City?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Not while I knew him.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of any foreign trips that he has taken?
Mr. Senator. No, but I have heard at some time that he went to Cuba. Now,
that is before my relation with him.
Mr. Griffin. Did you hear this from Jack?
Mr. Senator. No. I have heard it, I don’t know if I read it in the newspapers
or where I read it, but I know I heard it at one time.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack ever talk to you about Cuba at all?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. How about someone named Billie?
Mr. Senator. B-i-l-l-i-e?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Is that a man or a woman?
Mr. Griffin. I don’t know.
Mr. Senator. Is there a telephone number?
Mr. Griffin. FE 9-7914? Toni Rebel?
Mr. Senator. I think that is a stripper.
Mr. Griffin. Bill Towney? Bill Towney, WH 2-8129?
Mr. Senator. Bill Towney?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Shirley Nole?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Margo?
Mr. Senator. Let me place this Margo. This is a cocktail waitress that he
had, if it is here. It is a cocktail waitress that he had at one time.
Mr. Griffin. Kitty Keel?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Mary Martin?
Mr. Senator. It sounds like the one from Hollywood. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Ethel A. Piersol?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Gail Thompson?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Sam George?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Margie?
Mr. Senator. Margie was a cocktail waitress that he had, if it is the same one.
Mr. Griffin. Peggy Steel?
Mr. Senator. Peggy Steel was a stripper that he had at one time.
Mr. Griffin. John M. Crawford?
Mr. Senator. Don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. This man has an address, Huntsville State Penitentiary.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever hear of any friends Jack had there?
Mr. Senator. No, and I don’t want to hear of them.
Mr. Griffin. Linda?
Mr. Senator. I think Linda could have been a cocktail waitress.
Mr. Griffin. Avrum?
Mr. Senator. Never heard of that name.
Mr. Griffin. Sherry?
Mr. Senator. I am trying to figure if Sherry was a stripper. I am not sure.
I can’t make it.
Mr. Griffin. Henry Segel? This man is from Chicago.
Mr. Senator. I wouldn’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Roy Pike?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Mickey Ryan?
Mr. Senator. Mickey Ryan, I know Mickey Ryan. Of course, Mickey Ryan
lives in California. He is in California. Mickey Ryan used to sell cars, and
he worked, the last job I think he worked at, he worked at a club for a while.
Mr. Griffin. In Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes, a private club.
Mr. Griffin. You say he is in California or from California?
Mr. Senator. From California, and back there. He is back in California.
Mr. Griffin. But he was in Dallas at the time that the President was shot?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if he was, before or after. No, I don’t really
know. He may have been, now. I think he was after.
Mr. Griffin. How did he happen to return to California?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. He said he was going back to California. I
met him one day, and he said he was going back to California. Now, why, I
don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you meet him before you went to New York to live with
your sister?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure; yes. I never same him after I come back. I saw him
last year. It could have been, it may have been November or December. I
think it may have been December.
Mr. Griffin. So some time after——
Mr. Senator. I think the last time I saw him was after the incident, if I
remember right.
Mr. Griffin. And at that time, and this was before you left New York to live
with your sister?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Or left Dallas to live with your sister?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I think it was in December the last time I saw him.
Mr. Griffin. He told you at that time he was moving to California?
Mr. Senator. He said he was going back to California.
Mr. Griffin. Did he tell you why?
Mr. Senator. No; no particular reason why.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know what acquaintanceship or relationship he had with
Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. As a friend.
Mr. Griffin. Did they have any business dealings?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Did he ever work for Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. He may have helped him a little bit. Now, I am not sure. I
think he helped him for a very short while in the Carousel, if I remember, but
it was a very short while. Now, how long it was, I don’t know. It was just a
short while, though, I think he helped him.
Mr. Griffin. Lisa Starling?
Mr. Senator. I knew a girl by the name of Lisa, and I can’t place it. I am not
familiar with the last name. I am trying to figure who, a Lisa I knew. Now, I
knew a Lisa Lynn. Lisa Land I think it was.
Mr. Griffin. But Gail Hall, Monroe, La.?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know her.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack ever talk about any friends he had in Louisiana?
Mr. Senator. Gail Hall?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Is there a city?
Mr. Griffin. Monroe, La.
Mr. Senator. I have heard him mention Monroe, La.
Mr. Griffin. In what connection have you heard him mention Monroe?
Mr. Senator. I think he met a girl once in Dallas that came from Monroe.
Now, if this is the girl or not, I am not sure. I think he met a girl. I am not
sure if he met her at the club, or where it was.
Mr. Griffin. What about H. G. Tiger?
Mr. Senator. Tiger?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. E. Fletcher, F-l-e-t-c-h-e-r?
Mr. Senator. E. Fletcher?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Is there an address or something?
Mr. Griffin. 40 Central Park, something or other.
Mr. Senator. 40 Central Park?
Mr. Griffin. Central Park, and I don’t know what.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. There is a fellow I knew by the name of Ernie
Fletcher. I don’t know E. Fletcher.
Mr. Griffin. Is that a friend of Jack Ruby? Does he know Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I mean, I have never seen him with Jack.
Mr. Griffin. Did you know him in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. I knew him in Dallas, yes. I have seen him in Dallas.
Mr. Griffin. What did he do?
Mr. Senator. I haven’t seen him in a long, long time, because the last I heard,
I think he was living in New York.
Mr. Griffin. What did he do?
Mr. Senator. I never knew what he did. He was a promoter, but what, I
don’t know. I think he was an oil promoter or something like that.
Mr. Griffin. Darrell Williams?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Now, on page 9 of this particular notebook that we have been
looking at, there is the name Vivian, Statler Barbershop.
Mr. Senator. Yes; there is a manicurist there by the name of Vivian.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack frequent the Statler Barbershop?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. The barbershop he frequented the most was a
place in another section of town.
Mr. Griffin. Where was that?
Mr. Senator. Loma Alto.
Mr. Griffin. It may have been called the Loma Alto?
Mr. Senator. Yes; it is two words, the Loma Alto section.
Mr. Griffin. What general part of Dallas is that, northeast, southwest, Love
Field?
Mr. Senator. Let me say it was on the way up to that way, Love Field.
Mr. Griffin. Towards Love Field from downtown Dallas?
Mr. Senator. From downtown. I tell you, the best way I can describe it to
you is it ran off of—I have got a good memory, haven’t I? You are writing that
down, too? I can’t think of the name of the street. I’ll tell you why he went
to this barbershop, which I never knew.
Mr. Griffin. All right.
Mr. Senator. When the barber cuts his hair, he doesn’t like clippers. He won’t
let them use a clipper. He wants everything by hand, and he could probably
drive a barber crazy the way he wants his hair cut. To my knowledge, I don’t
think he lets a barber shave. You know how the barber shaves you back here?
Mr. Griffin. He won’t let him shave the back of his neck?
Mr. Senator. You know why? I’ll tell you why. Because he grows hair too
fast.
Mr. Griffin. This is what Jack told you, that your hair grows too fast when
it is shaved off?
Mr. Senator. Yes; you know how some of the hairs will grow in the rear
of a person, like mine, I have got a few, the barber will shave them off. He
wants them clipped off.
Mr. Griffin. So he requires the back of his neck to be clipped rather than
shaved?
Mr. Senator. Yes; now, he has got a barber, he has got this barber who
knows just what to do with him.
Mr. Griffin. Was Jack concerned about baldness?
Mr. Senator. Oh, you should only know.
Mr. Griffin. Tell us.
Mr. Senator. He used to drive me crazy.
Mr. Griffin. Tell us about that.
Mr. Senator. Well, he would have these treatments. I don’t know the name
of the place where he got these treatments, and he had the stuff, you know,
they’d rub into his head, whatever this medication. I don’t know what the stuff
was, you know.
I have always seen him use it, whatever it was, and he would rub it into
his head. He spent 45 minutes under a shower when he was really working
with the stuff, and he would rub it into his head. He was always combing
his hair all the time, what little was left, but he couldn’t stand being bald.
He used to comment, “How does my hair look; how does my hair look?”.
And it was really funny. I used to laugh, but he would get mad when I
laughed at him. But he was very, very particular about his hair.
Mr. Griffin. Had he been this way all the time that you knew him, or was
this something that had come on?
Mr. Senator. No; this is, of course, as long as, you knew, as long as I have
known him. Actually, I can’t say as long as I have known him, but as long as
I have been around him. Oh, man.
Mr. Griffin. And he actually had some treatments for his hair, didn’t he?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure, sure.
Mr. Griffin. Were these called trichology treatments, or something like that?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know the nature of the word they used.
Mr. Griffin. Did he go to some practitioner?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Who worked on his head?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he went to somebody, he actually went. And I believe
he picked up all his medication from him, too. They came in plastic tubes, a
little vial like. I would probably say these tubes would hold approximately
maybe about half a pint. He had two different types whatever they were;
one was wash and one was rinse, or what it was.
Mr. Griffin. And he would use these on his head?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And was this a daily thing that he did?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have any particular ritual, any period of time of the
day that he would do this?
Mr. Senator. No; it was just whatever time, not particularly. It could
be in the morning, but I would say it was about every day, once a day some time,
you know.
Mr. Griffin. So when you told us yesterday, I believe it was, that Jack would
spend 45 minutes in the bathroom, or something like that, he was very slow
getting up in the morning, was this part of the procedure?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if he did it that day or not. I don’t remember
if he did it that way, but I tell you, when he gets in the bathroom when he is
going through the entire ritual, he takes longer than a woman.
Mr. Griffin. Part of this ritual would involve this scalp treatment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Hair treatment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. What else was involved in the ritual?
Mr. Senator. Well, of course, the door was closed, you know. I am not
actually watching him. Of course, the shave and the shower.
Mr. Griffin. Did he shower every day?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; sure. I will tell you when he really did his big cleaning
up was at night, before going to work. That was when the big ritual was,
he spent a big time in there. But it was really something.
Mr. Griffin. The next one I am going to hand you is Exhibit 5204. This
was used in the deposition of C. L. Crafard. I don’t believe there are any
other marks on here. I am going to ask you to look at this notebook, or rather,
the Xerox pages of a notebook, and ask you, first of all, generally if you
recognize that notebook?
Let me say that the notebook, if you will turn to the first page of all those
papers that are put together, and look at that first page carefully, you will
see that the notebook had written on the cover just the word “Addresses,” and,
of course, we can’t tell from what color the notebook was or what material it
was made out of, how it was bound, although it appears to be not a looseleaf
kind of notebook but one that was perhaps stitched at the back or something.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Do you ever recall anything like that?
Mr. Senator. I know he had two or three of those little things. Like I told
you before, I knew he had two or three of them.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize the handwriting in this particular notebook?
Mr. Senator. I assume it is Jack’s.
Mr. Griffin. But you don’t actually recognize it as Jack’s?
Mr. Senator. I am not sure, but I assume it is Jack’s. To me they sort of
all look like the same handwriting, so I assume they are his.
Mr. Griffin. Now, look at the first page that has writing on it, which actually
in this exhibit is numbered page 2, and tell us, do you recognize any of the
names there?
Mr. Senator. There is one here, and the reason I recognize this name here,
Patricia Stevens, because Patricia Stevens I think is a modeling school.
Mr. Griffin. In Dallas?
Mr. Senator. In Dallas?
Mr. Griffin. And did Jack deal with that modeling school?
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t recognize that name through any association you
had with Jack Ruby?
Mr. Senator. No. That is the only way I would recognize the name.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize any other names on that page?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Turn to the next page, which is page 3, and tell us if you recognize
any of the names there.
Mr. Senator. There is a name here I am not sure of, but it says Thelma
Brown. This could be a singer. I am not sure. Or Bertha Brown. I know
there is a girl by the name of Brown who was a colored girl, who was a singer,
and she has come pretty well up the line. Now, if this is the girl or not, I don’t
know.
Mr. Griffin. Did she sing for Jack?
Mr. Senator. A long, long time ago when she was smaller. Now she is big-time.
Now, where she is singing I don’t know. I don’t know if that is her first
name, but I know there was a girl by the name of Brown. I don’t know if it was
Thelma Brown, Bertha Brown, or whatever it is. I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize any other names on page 3?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Turn to page 4 and tell us if you recognize any of the names
there.
Mr. Senator. Ed Bernet. I have heard that name, but I don’t know what
it is. I can’t make out what it is. It sounds like an entertainer, but I am not
sure. The others I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t recognize any other names on that page?
Mr. Senator. No. There is only one other name there.
Mr. Griffin. Turn to the next page. Is that page 5?
Mr. Senator. Yes; and I don’t know who that is. It is just one name.
Mr. Griffin. What name is that?
Mr. Senator. Bill Capehart. I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. Do you want to turn to page 6?
Mr. Senator. Bob Eisman.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know who he is. There is nothing else but the
name.
Mr. Griffin. All right. Do you want to turn to the next page, page 7. Do
you recognize that name, Ham Faust?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Page 8; do you recognize the name there?
Mr. Senator. This boy here, he is resting in peace.
Mr. Griffin. Martin Gimpel?
Mr. Senator. He died of a heart attack.
Mr. Griffin. When did he die?
Mr. Senator. He died, I would say, I would probably say a year and a half
ago, which tore Jack apart because they were kids together all their life.
Mr. Griffin. From Chicago?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He has been gone now about a year and a half, maybe 2
years, I am not sure, something like that. Now, the other name I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Ann Gibson. What was Jack’s relationship in Dallas with Mr. Gimpel?
Mr. Senator. He was a tool salesman. He traveled. He sold tools. Now,
I have never seen him sell them.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know what kind of tools, household tools or industrial
tools?
Mr. Senator. No. I think they were industrial tools. To my knowledge, I
think that is what it was.
Mr. Griffin. Did Mr. Gimpel have a family in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Was he single?
Mr. Senator. When he came here, he didn’t always stay here. I mean, I
haven’t known him that long, when I met him, but when he was here, I don’t
know how long he stayed. He stayed, and traveled. But in this area, or
rather in the Dallas area, or wherever he was traveling, I don’t know if it was
in the State of Texas or out of it, or just where he traveled. Of course, he
stayed with Jack because he didn’t pay no rent.
Mr. Griffin. Jack supported him?
Mr. Senator. Jack, you know.
Mr. Griffin. Page 9.
Mr. Senator. There is a name here that I think is an entertainer. I am not
sure, Trinidad, Colo. Wait a minute; that is Trinidad, Colo., but I knew somebody
by the name of Trinidad. There was an entertainer. Cecil Hamlin.
Mr. Griffin. Who is he?
Mr. Senator. He is with the union. Now, what capacity or what, I don’t
know.
Mr. Griffin. Which union?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know which union.
Mr. Griffin. Was he friendly with Jack?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know, because I have only seen the man one time in
my life, and the time that I saw him I was introduced to him, not knowing
who he was, down at the courthouse, at the courthouse.
Mr. Griffin. Was that at the trial or the bail bond hearing, or something
like that?
Mr. Senator. It was at this trial here, in the lobby.
Mr. Griffin. The Ruby trial?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I saw him in the lobby once. That is the only time I
ever seen the man.
Mr. Griffin. But you had never seen him before?
Mr. Senator. No; I had never seen him.
Mr. Griffin. And you had never heard Jack speak of him?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I have heard the name.
Mr. Griffin. How had you heard Jack speak of him?
Mr. Senator. Jack has asked me to call him.
Mr. Griffin. In what connection?
Mr. Senator. There was somebody, there were a couple of people owed
Jack some money, and he asked me to ask Cecil to see if Cecil would call them
to get the money or pick up the money. He had a couple of hundred dollars
out, and he wanted to ask him if he would be kind enough to collect it for
him or try to collect it for him, or call them up, or something of that nature.
I don’t know the rest of them. Page 10.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize any of the names on page 10?
Mr. Senator. I think he had a stripper, a part-time stripper, at one time,
I am not sure. Of course, I don’t know if this is, but this says Grapevine.
Mr. Griffin. Grapevine, Tex.?
Mr. Senator. Yes; but I don’t know. A girl by the name of Linda, but I
never knew her last name, so I don’t know if this is her or not.
Mr. Griffin. Page 11.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know who this is. I have seen this name before on
other pages, Jeanie. I don’t know what that is.
Mr. Griffin. Page 12.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. Page 13.
Mr. Senator. Latin Band, is that what that says?
Mr. Griffin. It looks like that.
Mr. Senator. I am thinking of Larry, the kid who works at the club, but what
would the Latin Band be? I don’t know who that is. I don’t know who this is.
Mr. Griffin. Page 14.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Page 15.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. This doesn’t have a page number.
Mr. Senator. This is a repeat of the other.
Mr. Griffin. A duplicate of the previous page?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t say it is a duplicate of the page, but the name.
Mr. Griffin. Let’s read the name so that the record is complete. Pat
Sancipian, Patricia Stevens. Xavier Cugat?
Mr. Senator. I know the name. Who don’t know it?
Mr. Griffin. Jack never talked to you about him?
Mr. Senator. No; where he got it, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Turning to another page, which doesn’t have a number on it,
Sam Schwartz.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. Robyn Hoy Smith, Tom Teel?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. And turning to the last page, which is numbered 20, it simply
says Elizabeth. You don’t recognize that name?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to hand you another book that is marked Exhibit
5202, which was used in the deposition of C. L. Crafard, and it is a blue spiral
notebook with the word “Penway” written on the front. It is called a “Penway
Memo Book.” Look through that.
Mr. Senator. Is this Jack Ruby’s book? I can’t picture him writing like
that. This is terrible handwriting.
Mr. Griffin. You are looking now at the Crafard Exhibit No. 5202. Do you
recognize the handwriting in that book?
Mr. Senator. There is only one person who I think possibly could write like
this.
Mr. Griffin. Who is that?
Mr. Senator. I would have to guess, and say probably Andrew, maybe. I
am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. But you don’t recognize it as Jack Ruby’s handwriting?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think it is. I don’t think this is Jack Ruby’s handwriting.
Jack don’t write this bad. This is terrible writing. I don’t think
that is Jack’s handwriting.
Mr. Griffin. You have had a chance to go through this notebook. You mentioned,
looking at page 1 of Exhibit 5202, in which there is written some words
such as “Save, Vegas Club, Jack’s home,” and so forth. And there is the name
Buddy, with the words “Fort Worth” written after it, and a telephone number
underneath. Do you recognize that?
Mr. Senator. This could be probably this guy that he was going to have, I
imagine, I am not sure, probably made those twistboards.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize the name Buddy?
Mr. Senator. No; I have never seen him; no.
Mr. Griffin. You mentioned the name St. Charles.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And St. Charles is written on this first page, with a telephone
number under it. Do you recognize that?
Mr. Senator. That probably is his home number.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember St. Charles’ number?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember the number offhand; no.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack Ruby ever have anything to do with Mr. St. Charles?
Mr. Senator. No; nothing whatsoever. He knew him. He used to go through
and buy some medicine, or whatever it might be, a toothbrush, and things of
that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. St. Charles ran a drugstore?
Mr. Senator. Yes, he has a drugstore in the Statler Hilton Hotel.
Mr. Griffin. Did Mr. St. Charles have any connection with Jack Ruby’s
twistboards?
Mr. Senator. No; nothing. Never knew he had a twistboard. I would venture
to say that this book here, this is only one person I think who has a handwriting
like that, that would write this here. This probably, this could be, though I
have never seen this book, the handwriting looks like Andrew’s, Andrew Armstrong,
the colored boy. This is what I think it is. I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you this. You made the remark that you know that
St. Charles didn’t know anything about the twistboards.
Mr. Senator. No; not to my knowledge.
Mr. Griffin. But have you talked with St. Charles since Ruby shot Oswald,
and have you learned from St. Charles that he was unaware of the twistboards?
Mr. Senator. I have seen St. Charles exactly one time since then.
Mr. Griffin. What prompted you to make the statement that St. Charles
didn’t know anything about the twistboard?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say, to the best of my knowledge, he didn’t
know anything about the twistboard.
Mr. Griffin. You would be surprised if he did?
Mr. Senator. If he did, I can’t say. It is possible that he did, but I would
say, to the best of my knowledge. I can’t say positively. I don’t think he did.
Now, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Turning over page 1, look at the names there. There are two
names at the bottom of the page. You testified about Abe Klinman.
Mr. Senator. Yes, the attorney. That is Earl Ruby, and Ed Pullman, which
I mentioned before to you.
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I can’t even read the first name. It looks like Leona or Lena.
Mr. Griffin. Leona?
Mr. Senator. Miller; is that who it is?
Mr. Griffin. It might be.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know who that is.
Mr. Griffin. Clark Dotty?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Turning over to page 2, do you recognize any of the names on
that page?
Mr. Senator. This says Mar-Din?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. This is another name, Henry Denture. I wouldn’t know who
that is. Earl Products.
Mr. Griffin. I will skip over the back of page 2 because there is nothing on
there that you haven’t talked about. Look at page 3.
Mr. Senator. I can’t even understand what that last name is.
Mr. Griffin. You are referring to the first name on there.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know what it is anyhow, but I can’t even read the last
name.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t recognize any of those names there?
Mr. Senator. No; that is Shay, I believe, isn’t it?
Mr. Griffin. Yes, Ruth Shay.
Mr. Senator. No. I think we talked about this one before.
Mr. Griffin. All right. Now on the back of page 3 you have mentioned
Stanley Kaufman.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. But there is a Riky Kasada.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Scotty Milles or Mills?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t recognize that?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. All right. On page 4, Norma Bennett?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Judy Armstrong?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Burt Nelson?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Floyd Turman you mentioned previously.
Mr. Senator. Buddy Turman.
Mr. Griffin. Is that the name?
Mr. Senator. No; his name is Buddy. Wait; he comes from Tyler, Tex.
Yes, here it is. This says Buddy. I didn’t know him by his first name.
Mr. Griffin. Floyd Turman is——
Mr. Senator. Buddy Turman.
Mr. Griffin. The other Turman we talked about is Nick Turman?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t know who that is. Now, see, he is known by his
fighting name, is Buddy Turman and, of course, that is all I recall. I never
knew it was Floyd, but he is billed, and everything else, as Buddy Turman.
Mr. Griffin. On the back of page 4 there is the name Buddy Heard. Did
you know Buddy Heard?
Mr. Senator. Buddy Heard, yes. He is an entertainer who worked for Jack
once, I would probably say about two years ago was the last time he was in
Dallas.
Mr. Griffin. Has Jack maintained a relationship with him recently?
Mr. Senator. No. I would say it was approximately, it must have been approximately
two years ago. He worked for him, I think, one time.
Mr. Griffin. When you say “no” to my question about Jack maintaining a
relationship with him recently?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know of any.
Mr. Griffin. How about any of the other names that you see there on the
back of page 4? Do you recognize any of those?
Mr. Senator. What does this say? Is this Burt?
Mr. Griffin. Burt. Did you know a Burt?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. I am not going to direct your attention to page 5 because page 5
doesn’t have anything on it. I believe it has nothing on it that we haven’t already
talked about. The back of page 5 has the name “Jerry Lindsay”. Do you recognize
that name?
Mr. Senator. No. Floorman, that is the man that worked on the floor or did
some work for him, or something, but I don’t recognize the name.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize the name of Leo? Do you know anybody
named Leo?
Mr. Senator. Leo Tardi? He worked for Jack.
Mr. Griffin. What was his name?
Mr. Senator. I think it is Tardi. I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. When did he work for Jack?
Mr. Senator. The last time he worked for Jack, he had worked both clubs,
you know, the Vegas and that one there.
Mr. Griffin. What kind of work did he do?
Mr. Senator. After the shooting he worked up at the club at nights and, of
course, he was a salesman in the daytime.
Mr. Griffin. But what kind of work?
Mr. Senator. He took the tickets in, you know, the $2 admission fees.
Mr. Griffin. What did he sell during the daytime?
Mr. Senator. I think clothing in a store.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know what department store he worked for?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Or what store?
Mr. Senator. No. It was in one of the downtown stores there. I don’t know
which one it was.
Mr. Griffin. I am going to pass over the front half of page 6 because there
is nothing written on there that appears to be a name, and I will direct your
attention to the back of page 6. Do you recognize any of the names there?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know him, at the radio station.
Mr. Griffin. Dick Gifford?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recognize anything else on there?
Mr. Senator. What is this supposed to say?
Mr. Griffin. S-c-h-r-o-l-l.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Now look at the front of page 7. Do you recognize any of those
names?
Mr. Senator. This particular Leonard I have mentioned to you before, the
booking agent. The thing is to read these things. Who can read them?
Mr. Griffin. Let me help you, if I can.
Mr. Senator. What does the top one say?
Mr. Griffin. Joe Roskydall.
Mr. Senator. Never heard of him.
Mr. Griffin. Dick Lenard you mentioned. E. J. Evans?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. What is this?
Mr. Griffin. W. E. Groveland?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Stevens Park Beauty Salon?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Maisl Brothers?
Mr. Senator. Boy, I tell you, you do all right with them.
Mr. Griffin. The back of page 7, I will read these off to you. Ed McMulmore.
Does that mean anything to you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. McKinney?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. All right. The front of page 8; Leonard Wood?
Mr. Senator. Don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. Milton Thomas?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Clarence McInnis?
Mr. Senator. Don’t know him.
Mr. Griffin. James Dotson?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. James T. Aycox?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Nothing on the back of page 8 or the front of page 9. Page 9,
the back is blank. Page 10 is blank on both sides. Page 11 is a half sheet which
is blank on both sides. Page 12 I won’t direct your attention to because there
are no names on there. The back of page 12, the only name that appears on here
is Bill Remike. Does that mean anything to you?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Here is the name, Bobby Patterson.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. On page 13. I will turn over to the back of page 13. There is
the name, Tex Lacy, which we talked about before.
Mr. Senator. I have heard about that name, but I don’t know what capacity
Tex Lacy is.
Mr. Griffin. Now, I said the back of page 13. Now on page 14, which is about
a third of a sheet of paper, there is the name Frank Fisher. Did you know
Frank Fisher?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Who is Frank Fisher?
Mr. Senator. Frank Fisher was a trumpet player and the leader of his band
at one time.
Mr. Griffin. Of a band?
Mr. Senator. In the Carousel.
Mr. Griffin. And what else did he do besides performance as a musician?
Mr. Senator. That is all.
Mr. Griffin. Was he an interior decorator?
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of. If he was, that is news to me.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack talk to you or did you know in the week or so before
the President was shot whether Jack was considering opening up any new
night club?
Mr. Senator. He had talked about one. I have never seen it. But he was
talking about a location that he had mentioned on McKinney Avenue. I think
this was a house type place and, as far as I know, nothing ever materialized or
whatever it was going to be. This is the only thing I knew about it. He never
took me over there. I have never seen it.
Mr. Griffin. How was Jack going to finance it?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. That I didn’t know. Possibly he may have been
looking for a partner. I don’t know, or how or what I don’t know. You’ve got
me there.
Mr. Griffin. I won’t mention the back of page 14 because there is nothing
there. Clark Boland, does that mean anything to you?
Mr. Senator. No; it seems that is a radio station there.
Mr. Griffin. Herman Flowers?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. K. Hamilton. That is the front of page 16.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Miller, Collins Radio?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Cody City Hall; do you now anybody by that name?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Jimmie Rhodes, do you know him?
Mr. Senator. The name sounds like I heard of it, but I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Mr. Wooldridge?
Mr. Senator. Never heard of him.
Mr. Griffin. Bob Litchfield?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Mrs. Moddy?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know that either.
Mr. Griffin. On the back cover is written the name Newton.
Mr. Senator. The only name I know of a Newton would be John Newton of the
newspaper. If that is him or not, I don’t know, because this is a telephone
number, I assume, isn’t it, but there is no prefix to it. Maybe this is it now. I
don’t even know if that is him.
Mr. Griffin. When you went out to look at the Earl Warren sign, “Impeach
Earl Warren” sign, on Friday, or was it Saturday morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack write anything down?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t recall?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. I didn’t see him write anything down. I
can’t quote if he did or didn’t, but I didn’t see him. I will put it that way.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack have any newspapers in the car with him?
Mr. Senator. That day?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. I really don’t know. I just don’t refresh my mind if he did
have any newspapers.
Mr. Griffin. Did you drive Jack’s car?
Mr. Senator. No; he drove it.
Mr. Griffin. I suggest now we probably ought to break to two-thirty.
(Whereupon, at 12:50 p.m. the proceeding recessed.)
The proceeding reconvened at 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Griffin. I will repeat what we say at the beginning of each session. We
are taking this deposition under the same conditions that we started out with,
and you are under the same oath that you have been under at the outset.
Just before we took a break for lunch we had been through a number of
notebooks which had many, many names in them. Let me ask you about some
other names.
Did you know or hear Jack mention a Lawrence Meyers?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. This man would have been from Chicago and he would have
been engaged in a sales capacity in sporting goods.
Mr. Senator. Oh, wait a minute. You mentioned sporting goods. That’s
right. I met someone up there. As a matter of fact, Jack got a pair of pushups
from him.
Mr. Griffin. Barbells?
Mr. Senator. If it is Lawrence Meyers. I think that is the name. I am
not sure. Barbells, yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now you met some man or you heard of some man?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Who you think might be Lawrence Meyers?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I know who you mean. When you mentioned sporting
goods, then it——
Mr. Griffin. How do you happen to know of this man?
Mr. Senator. I met him at the Carousel one night when he was in town.
Mr. Griffin. How long before Oswald was shot would that have been?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I think it was in the summer. I think it was
this past summer. I think it was in the summer of 1963.
Mr. Griffin. Would it have been in the month of November of 1963?
Mr. Senator. No; I think it was much longer, much before that. Well, it
couldn’t have been that. The reason I say that is because I wasn’t living with
Jack then.
Mr. Griffin. In November of 1963 you were.
Mr. Senator. I was living next door to Jack. I wasn’t living with him. When
you mentioned—was it November?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No; because——
Mr. Griffin. At the time you met this man you were not living with Jack?
Mr. Senator. No; I was still living in my same apartment.
Mr. Griffin. You met him——
Mr. Senator. I think this was some time in the summer, or maybe the latter
part of the summer of 1963.
Mr. Griffin. How much time did you spend with this man in the Carousel?
Mr. Senator. Well, he was up at the Carousel. From there we went out and
had a bite to eat, and that was it.
Mr. Griffin. And can you describe him? How old a man was he?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say he was 6 foot tall. I would say he is
around about 6 foot. I don’t remember the color of his eyes, black, brown, or blue.
I don’t remember. Either they are brown or blue. He had a good healthy
build, now, of a normal man of that height.
Mr. Griffin. How old a man was he?
Mr. Senator. I would have to say maybe in the late forties. I am not sure.
I am certain it is in the forties, if anything, you know. It could jump up a
little more. I would probably say he was in the——
Mr. Griffin. How did Jack happen to know this fellow?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. That was the one time I saw him in Dallas.
Mr. Griffin. What did you learn about him?
Mr. Senator. I didn’t learn anything about him. I knew he was selling these
things, sporting goods, I guess, of various natures. As a matter of fact, I
heard him mention once that they had a plant or something like that in, I think,
Bonham, Tex., or a plant or something out there too, which is maybe about 75
miles from Dallas, or an office there or a plant or something out there I know.
I don’t know what it is. Maybe it is a manufacturing plant they had there
now. That was the only one time I saw him in Dallas.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t have any idea how Jack came to meet this fellow?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t.
Mr. Griffin. I mentioned the name Alex Gruber.
Mr. Senator. Who?
Mr. Griffin. Alex Gruber.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. When you were going through the notebooks?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And I believe you indicated you didn’t recognize that name.
Mr. Senator. Not the name; no.
Mr. Griffin. Let me see if I can put this to you. Did you know of any
friend Jack had in California who might have been at one time a truck driver?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t. A truck driver?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. And do you remember anybody that Jack was going to send a
dog to in California?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t. I have heard that mentioned before. I have
heard it mentioned. I don’t remember now if I read it in the newspaper or
from mouth to ear or what it was, but I have heard that, that he was going
to send it to somebody in California. Who it was, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. How about L. J. McWillie?
Mr. Senator. I have heard of the name McWillie, but I don’t know him. Is
it McWillie?
Mr. Griffin. M-c-W-i-l-l-i-e.
Mr. Senator. All I know is the name McWillie.
Mr. Griffin. What do you know about that name?
Mr. Senator. I don’t even know him. Never met him.
Mr. Griffin. Where have you heard the name?
Mr. Senator. I have heard Jack mention the name in the club. He was an
old friend of Jack’s at one time or another. From where, what or how, I don’t
know.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of any friends of Jack——
Mr. Senator. As a matter of fact, I thought McWillie was two names. I
thought his first name was Mac and his last name was Willie. But, of course,
I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of any friends of Jack who are in jail presently,
in the penitentiary?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you know of a friend, a fellow who Jack had a business
association with, who is now in the penitentiary on a sodomy charge?
Mr. Senator. I have heard that there is somebody. It might be Huntsville.
It might be. I am not sure. I heard that somebody is down there. Now who
the man is, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack talk about him?
Mr. Senator. I have heard it mentioned quite some time ago, but who he is,
I don’t know. I don’t know the man. As a matter of fact I don’t even know
the name.
Mr. Griffin. Are you familiar with the name H. L. Hunt?
Mr. Senator. I think everybody is. He is one of the very wealthy men.
Mr. Griffin. In Dallas?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack ever mention having met him?
Mr. Senator. Not to me.
Mr. Griffin. You know H. L. Hunt is politically active, he has a radio
program.
Mr. Senator. He is in everything. He is in many, many things, I understand;
oh, well, I didn’t know what all his activities are, but the name is like, when
you hear the name, it is like listening to the name of the President—I mean that
well known, I would say.
Mr. Griffin. Have you ever seen Jack with any literature that was put out by
H. L. Hunt?
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of offhand.
Mr. Griffin. Have you ever heard Jack mention Lamar Hunt?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. That is his son, I think. I don’t think so.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you, George, have you ever belonged to any political
organizations?
Mr. Senator. Never, never.
Mr. Griffin. I don’t simply mean by that the Democratic Party or the
Republican Party, but any kind of organization which was interested in some
public issue, or something.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. What was your practice with respect to using Jack’s telephone?
Mr. Senator. What was what?
Mr. Griffin. Your practice with respect to using Jack Ruby’s telephone at
home. I take it you used it to make local calls.
Mr. Senator. Once in a while; yes. I am not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Did you make long-distance calls, telephone calls, from Jack’s
home?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think I have.
Mr. Griffin. By long distance I mean any toll call, even to Fort Worth.
Mr. Senator. Not that I know of. I don’t think I ever have.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever have occasion to call Ralph Paul from Jack’s
telephone?
Mr. Senator. I have called him, but I don’t think I have ever called him from
the house that I can remember, mind you. Now I don’t know if I have ever or
not. I can’t quote and say “Yes, I did,” or “Yes, I didn’t.”
Mr. Griffin. Are you able to state whether or not on Friday, November 22,
you made any long-distance phone calls from Jack’s telephone?
Mr. Senator. On November 22?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; Friday, November 22.
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. I don’t think I did.
Mr. Griffin. How about the next day, on Saturday?
Mr. Senator. On Saturday?
Mr. Griffin. Did you make any toll calls on that day?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think so. When I say I don’t think so, I don’t remember
if I did or not, but I don’t think so. I don’t want to say “No” positively or “Yes”
positive, because I am not sure. I just don’t think so.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember Saturday morning, November 23, do you
remember whether Jack received any telephone calls that morning?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember.
Mr. Griffin. Would you recall, for example, whether Larry Crafard called
that morning?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember if he did or not. As I say, I can’t be quoted,
because I ain’t positive. I can’t say yes or no because I don’t remember on that.
Mr. Griffin. When did you first become aware that Larry Crafard was no
longer in Dallas?
Mr. Senator. The following Tuesday.
Mr. Griffin. How did you find out about that?
Mr. Senator. When I went up there I asked Andrew one night, and I happened
to remember that it was Tuesday, one of the things I do remember, and
I said to Andrew, I said, “Andrew, where is Larry?” I said, “I didn’t see
him yesterday either,” or something like that, to that effect, and he said he
had left, and I said, “When did he leave?” He said he had left Saturday.
Mr. Griffin. How did Andrew know that?
Mr. Senator. He said—I think now he said he took $8 from the till, or something
to that effect, and I think he left a note that he was leaving, something
like that. These are not positive words, but I think this is what he said.
Something to that effect. And that is the first time I ever knew.
Mr. Griffin. Did Andrew have any explanation as to why Larry left?
Mr. Senator. No; not that I know of. Incidentally, Andrew was back at
the trial, you know.
Mr. Griffin. Larry?
Mr. Senator. I mean Larry, because Andrew lives in Dallas.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; he was at the trial?
Mr. Senator. Yes; they said he hitchhiked in from Wisconsin or some place
out there. I don’t know where it is. They said he hitchhiked all the way back
for the trial. That is what I heard.
Mr. Griffin. Did you talk to him?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I talked to him when I was sitting on the witness bench one
day.
Mr. Griffin. Did he tell you why he came back to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No; but he said, he mentioned that he hitchhiked back, but
he didn’t say why he came back or anything of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Did he say anything to you about why he left?
Mr. Senator. No: he didn’t. I never asked him. As a matter of fact, I wanted
to ask him, but I didn’t. I couldn’t imagine why he left. I believe he was
on the witness stand. What happened, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. You know we were talking about what you did on Saturday.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. During the afternoon.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. I have here in front of me a copy of a statement that you provided
the Dallas Police Department. I notice in here that you say that you
left the house around noon on Saturday.
Mr. Senator. Something like that; yes.
Mr. Griffin. And that you had some things to do. Now try to think back
to when you talked with the police department. What things did you have
to do on Saturday?
Mr. Senator. I can’t imagine. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have anything to do in connection with your business?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t work that day.
Mr. Griffin. Did you have any shopping to do other than for the groceries
you bought?
Mr. Senator. Well, I did that. I don’t remember if I did that. I just wonder
if I did the laundry. I normally do the laundry on Saturday or something. But
I don’t even recollect if I did that that day or not. I don’t remember. I think
I saw Jim Martin, but to the best of my recollection anything I did was only
minute, just the passing of an afternoon, or something like that.
Mr. Griffin. Do you have some recollection of having seen Jim Martin on
Saturday?
Mr. Senator. I think I had a cocktail. I am not sure, but I think I had
a cocktail with him, at the Burgundy Room. I think I did.
Mr. Griffin. Would that have been in the afternoon?
Mr. Senator. Yes; because he is around his office between somewhere between
12 and 1. I mean that is when he will leave, he won’t leave before
that, and if I remember right—I am not sure on that—but if I remember I
think we may have had a cocktail at the Burgundy Room.
Mr. Griffin. I take it you do begin to have some recollection of having spent
some time at the Burgundy Room?
Mr. Senator. I know I was there that day, you know.
Mr. Griffin. But I mean Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Senator. I think I may have been there for a while, because I know later
on that I met who I mentioned yesterday, Bill Downey, that I was there, and
that we went some other place.
Mr. Griffin. Did you see Downey before——
Mr. Senator. I think I saw Downey the latter part of the afternoon, or something
like that, or the early part of the evening. I don’t know if I met him in
the latter part of the afternoon or when it was.
Mr. Griffin. And were you——
Mr. Senator. It might have been in the early part of the afternoon. I am
not sure. But I also met him later. It must have been around 8 or 8:30
when we went out together. I was at the Burgundy Room. Then we went to
this other place.
Mr. Griffin. It is your recollection that you saw Downey then both in the
afternoon and the evening?
Mr. Senator. I think I saw him in the afternoon, but the evening for sure.
I think I saw him in the afternoon. I am not sure. I think I made an appointment
to meet him later, and then we would go out for a beer or two. This is
what I think. I think now I am not sure on that.
Mr. Griffin. Were you troubled on Saturday over your having gone with
Jack out to photograph this impeach Earl Warren sign?
Mr. Senator. Was I troubled when I went with him?
Mr. Griffin. On Saturday did this trouble you in any way?
Mr. Senator. You mean Saturday afternoon?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. You mean did I think about it?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Oh, I imagine that I would probably say that I had thought
about it; yes. As a matter of fact, I thought about that thing many a time;
I don’t know why; I don’t know why he wanted to go out that night and take
these pictures. He never mentioned why he wanted to see it or why he wanted
to snap the pictures.
Mr. Griffin. You didn’t mention this to the Dallas Police Department?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You did mention, however, that you went out with Jack and
had coffee with him that morning?
Mr. Senator. Yes; at the Southland Hotel.
Mr. Griffin. Of course, this was all in sequence with having gone out to see
that Earl Warren sign?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. But what was it that made you omit to tell the police that?
Mr. Senator. Nothing particularly. I don’t know why. Just it was a shaken-up
day for me.
Mr. Griffin. Were you worried that this might hurt Jack to talk about that
particular episode?
Mr. Senator. No. As a matter of fact, it would do him justice.
Mr. Griffin. How do you feel that way?
Mr. Senator. I think if a man is exploring somebody who put out a sign,
whoever it may be, who would want to impeach Earl Warren, our Supreme
Court Justice, or somebody who would put out these whys about the President
the day he is coming here, which weren’t good, the whys, I would say that this
would be in favor of him of wanting to know these things, why should they be.
Mr. Griffin. How would that——
Mr. Senator. Why would somebody want to impeach Earl Warren? For what
reason? I don’t know. I mean I don’t have the answer to it. But why would
a sign be put up there? Why did they want to impeach Earl Warren? Impeach
him about what? I have asked myself this many times, but I don’t know the
answer.
Mr. Griffin. You see, it seems strange that you should have mentioned your
going to the Southland Hotel and having coffee and that occurred immediately
after you had gone out to see the Earl Warren sign and had also gone to the
post office—then I say I wonder how you could have forgotten it, once you had
your mind on having one to the Southland Hotel. You know you didn’t go right
from your apartment to the Southland Hotel to have coffee.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I don’t know why. I know I explained that to
Elmer Moore one day, and I said, “Elmer,” or “Mr. Moore,” rather, when he was
questioning me, I said, “Elmer, of course, the first day I had been shaken up,”
and I had mentioned to Mr. Moore when he took my text of the whole thing
how going about the sign, the two signs, how these had bypassed my mind.
Mr. Griffin. Two signs?
Mr. Senator. Well, when I say the signs, the billboard and the newspaper ad,
when they took my statement.
Mr. Griffin. When you talked to me on the telephone from New York, I guess
it was on Monday——
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. You asked me if I had a copy, or if I had seen the Bernard Weissman
ad.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And I take it that in your mind this is a justification, this somehow
is a justification or some assistance to Jack in his defense, the fact that
he was interested in finding out about that advertisement and about the sign?
Mr. Senator. That’s right. He wanted to know the whys. He wanted to
know why somebody would want to impeach him.
Mr. Griffin. Now is this a thought that has come to you after knowing, or
after having talked with the attorneys and knowing what the strategy of the
trial was going to be?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Talking with people?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Or is this something that you felt almost immediately, that this
would be a justification?
Mr. Senator. I thought definitely in my own thinking that this was a justification,
because when I was put on the witness stand for the bond hearing in early,
I think it was, December, I am not sure just when it was, when I was questioned
about that by Mr. Alexander, I told him that if anything this would be helping
Jack, in wanting to know why something of this nature would want to be put
out in Dallas. Why did the Dallas Daily Morning News want to accept an ad
like this when the President was coming into town that day?
Mr. Griffin. When you went out with Jack, did Jack tell you at all what
he was going to do with this information that he got?
Mr. Senator. No; none whatsoever.
Mr. Griffin. Did he indicate that he might have been working for a newspaper?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Trying to do some freelance work for a newspaper?
Mr. Senator. No; there wasn’t a thing mentioned. I say when Jack gets his
mind set on something, he wants to know why, the information, the why.
Mr. Griffin. When was it that you first learned that Jack had spent sometime
at the police station on Friday night? Did you ever learn it?
Mr. Senator. You mean the Friday when he was bringing the sandwiches
and things of that nature there?
Mr. Griffin. Yes. When did you first learn about that?
Mr. Senator. I think it was after he woke me up that morning. I think
that is when he told me, and I think he mentioned it, yes, and then he mentioned
that he went to the synagogue there Friday and prayed for the President, and
that he saw his sister, and they were both crying, as it was related to me, over
the President.
Mr. Griffin. You didn’t tell any of that to the——
Mr. Senator. To who?
Mr. Griffin. To the police department when you talked to them on the 24th,
did you?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. See, you must understand——
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you take a look—well, go ahead.
Mr. Senator. You must understand when a person is grabbed the way I was
grabbed, or I will say not particularly me, but any human being, wouldn’t it
shake a human being up?
Mr. Griffin. I take it the police department asked you to tell them everything
you knew about what Jack had done.
Mr. Senator. Let me say in the condition that I was in, I was pretty well
shaken up at that time.
Mr. Griffin. Did you feel that his being at the police department might hurt
him?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I didn’t think about that. That didn’t even
enter my mind whether it did or not. All I know is he said he took sandwiches
over there, and that is all I know on that.
Mr. Griffin. Now you also——
Mr. Senator. Now why he took it over there, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. You also didn’t mention——
Mr. Senator. Maybe I forgot a lot of things at that particular time, being
shook up.
Mr. Griffin. You also didn’t mention in this statement that you gave the
police department on the 24th——
Mr. Senator. Didn’t what?
Mr. Griffin. In the statement that you gave to the police department on the
24th.
Mr. Senator. I didn’t mention what?
Mr. Griffin. You did not mention anything about the telephone call from Little
Lynn.
Mr. Senator. Maybe I forgot that, too. Look, I told you. I was in a shookup
state that first day. Maybe I did forget about it.
Mr. Griffin. I am just wondering if these things, if you thought in your own
mind that those events which you omitted——
Mr. Senator. Was I trying to hide something?
Mr. Griffin. Well, could hurt Jack, and you wanted to help Jack.
Mr. Senator. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I definitely was not trying
to hide anything. But you must understand, like I repeated, any individual in
an event like this, now I can’t speak for anybody else, but I would probably say
they would be shaken up like I was, and I want you to know that I was really
shook up, that that would make a lot of people forget a lot of things, and
probably can’t remember things, being grabbed that fast and being talked to
that fast in that instantaneous—I was pretty well shaken up that day, very good.
Mr. Griffin. But you did remember Jack talking about the President and
you mentioned you remembered that you thought you saw tears in his eyes, and
you remember his saying he was going to take his dog Sheba down to the club.
I am just wondering why it is you remembered some of these things, but you
didn’t remember some other things which were just, perhaps should have been
just as graphic, like going out to that impeach Earl Warren sign—that must
have just stood out as a sore thumb to you.
Mr. Senator. There was no particular reason. Now maybe a lot of things that
I mentioned there that I possibly could have forgotten, too. There was no particular
reason for it. There was nothing that I was trying to cover up or hide
because I got nothing to hide.
Mr. Griffin. I am not suggesting that in any sort of invidious sense.
Mr. Senator. It is just a shakeup of a fast brain, that is all, at the moment,
when all these things were happening.
Mr. Griffin. Let me hand you what I have marked as “Washington, D.C., April
23, 1964, George Senator Deposition, Exhibit 5400,” and I will sign my name to it.
This is a copy of an affidavit which appears to bear your signature which was
sworn to before William F. Alexander on November 24, 1963.
Mr. Senator. Is that the man who had me? I don’t remember who it was.
Mr. Griffin. This is apparently the man who is a notary public who took
this statement. Look it over. Read it if you would. I hand it to you now.
Tell me if you remember signing that and if that is true.
Mr. Senator. That is, that is my signature.
Mr. Griffin. Read it through to make sure as best you can remember that
that is a true copy of what you signed. It that a true copy of the statement you
signed?
Mr. Senator. To the best of my knowledge.
Mr. Griffin. I wonder then if you would sign that under my name. I hand
you that pen back. As I understand it, then, immediately after you signed this
statement before Mr. Alexander, you were then interviewed by an agent of the
FBI.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now, were you shaken up in dealing with the FBI agent?
Mr. Senator. Sure.
Mr. Griffin. In this same, or rather in this interview with the FBI, the FBI
reports you as telling them during that interview that you learned of Oswald’s
being shot just as you walked in the door of the Eatwell Restaurant.
Mr. Senator. Just as I walked in? No.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall that?
Mr. Senator. No; I was sitting. I was sitting. I wasn’t walking in the
door. I was down on the seat and already had my first cup of coffee.
Mr. Griffin. Also, one gets the impression from the FBI interview it was your
recollection on November 24 that you called Jim Martin after you learned that
Jack Ruby had shot Oswald.
Mr. Senator. No; before.
Mr. Griffin. It was before you learned that?
Mr. Senator. Right. I called him—wait, wait. No; that is right. I did.
But I wasn’t home. That was it. I called him and spoke to his daughter, one
of his little girls.
Mr. Griffin. And that was before you learned that Ruby——
Mr. Senator. Yes. When I heard that Oswald was shot, but nothing mentioned.
There was no name or no club mentioned, Oswald was shot—that is when I
called him.
Mr. Griffin. Directing your attention to the FBI’s report on November 24,
that you said you learned that Oswald was shot just as you walked in the door.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. What makes you now remember that you were seated and had
a cup of coffee whereas apparently you didn’t remember that on November 24?
Mr. Senator. Because the waitress who waited on me was the one who
said it.
Mr. Griffin. Did she say it to you?
Mr. Senator. No. She was behind the counter. Not specifically to me. It
was pretty loud.
Mr. Griffin. Did they have a TV set on?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think so. I don’t know. She got her information
through either the phone, or they may have had a little radio. I don’t remember
just what it was, because I wasn’t looking directly where she was walking
around, or what she was doing, but she was behind the counter, and I was
sitting.
Mr. Griffin. How much time elapsed between the time you learned that
Oswald had been shot and the time you learned that Ruby had been the person
who shot him?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say within 5 to 10 minutes, something like
that. It was a short while I know. It wasn’t long.
Mr. Griffin. I’m going to mark a document which I have before me in the
following manner: “Washington, D.C., April 23, 1964, George Senator, Deposition
Exhibit 5401,” and I am going to sign my name to it.
This document which I have marked as a copy of an interview report prepared
by Special Agent Kenneth C. Howe of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, of
an interview on November 24, 1963, with you, Mr. Senator. It consists of five
pages, typewritten pages, and they are numbered 296 to 300. I have marked
on page 296, and I have not marked the succeeding pages. I want to hand you
this and ask you now to take the time to read it over, and then I want to know
if that is an accurate report of what you told the FBI at that time.
I am not asking you whether, on further reflection, you would change what
you said in there, but merely whether that accurately reflects what you told them
at that time. If it doesn’t, why, will you point out the parts that are not accurate,
and we will see if we can’t correct it.
Mr. Senator. Shall I make little notations here?
Mr. Griffin. Are there some places you want to change?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Before you mark on it—why don’t you do this——
Mr. Senator. It will only be a dot.
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you just take this paper and make some notes on it
and then we can go back.
Mr. Senator. There is going to be some changes in here. I will point them
out to you.
Mr. Griffin. Have you got some changes to make there?
Mr. Senator. Yes. I had better go over it with you though.
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you read the sentence or sentences that you would
make changes in, and then we will discuss them? What I suggest you do is
read one sentence or a group of sentences that are wrong, and then we will discuss
that sentence or group, and then we will move on to the next one. Go right
ahead and read it.
Mr. Senator. It says here, “He had only casual association with him, mostly
only as a patron to his club, from that time on until approximately 3 years ago.”
Mr. Griffin. That is on page 296 of the FBI report?
Mr. Senator. Yes. Now it wasn’t 3 years ago at the time. This was 2 years
ago.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, your association with Jack was casual up until 2
years ago?
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Griffin. All right.
Mr. Senator. In other words, it was 1962, February, March, or April or somewheres
in there of 1962.
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you change with your pen, strike out the word
“three.”
Mr. Senator. On this?
Mr. Griffin. On that. And write “two.”
Mr. Senator. You mean cross the three off and put a two in there?
Mr. Griffin. Yes. And then initial it and date it.
Mr. Senator. It is going to be hard to squeeze it in between these lines.
Shall I put my initial after it?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. You won’t be able to see it. These writings here don’t coincide.
Mr. Griffin. Let me talk a little bit more about this change in your relationship
with Jack. Up until approximately March or April of 1962 when your
relationship became more than casual, were there other people in Dallas to
whom you felt closer than Jack?
Mr. Senator. No; I think maybe we are both misinterpreting this. When
you say closer, this is when I first started to—you know, when I was down and
out and I first started to work for him, and I was living with him. You see what
I mean?
Mr. Griffin. This is March or April of 1962?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say either February, March, or April, something
like that. I don’t remember that I was living with him, because previous
to that I still didn’t see him any more than I ever did in the past.
Mr. Griffin. And up to this time were there other people in Dallas whom you
saw more frequently than Jack?
Mr. Senator. Oh, the only time I saw Jack is when I ever met him anywheres,
if I should run across him anywheres, or once in a while I would go up to his
club, that was all, and it has never been anything but that up until that time.
Mr. Griffin. Who did you see more frequently or on a more social basis?
Mr. Senator. Actually I couldn’t see him frequently. Before that I was
traveling. See, I was traveling. I wasn’t home every weekend. There were
times when I was traveling, there were times I might miss a week from coming
home. It all depends on the location you are—if you are too far from home.
Then other times I might be gone two or three. It all depends, you know.
Mr. Griffin. What I want to get some idea of is up until this period that you
moved in with Jack in 1962, who were the people that you saw on a social
basis?
Mr. Senator. Well, I have seen Bill Downey. What I want to impress you,
these people I don’t see every day, or like, you know, say I see them today, tomorrow,
the next day, and things like that. On rare occasions I saw Don
Taber. That time on rare occasions I saw Jim Martin. These were all rare, mind
you, then. See, I did more meeting. I met a lot of people at the Burgundy
Room most of the time. In other words, somebody has a favorite hangout.
Mr. Griffin. And that Burgundy Room was yours?
Mr. Senator. This is mine.
Mr. Griffin. For how long has it been your favorite hangout?
Mr. Senator. Ever since I came to Dallas.
Mr. Griffin. This is a place you would go almost every day?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say more so than any other place.
Mr. Griffin. Do you go there almost every day?
Mr. Senator. No, not every day, no.
Mr. Griffin. Two or three times a week?
Mr. Senator. I would say yes, sure, and I always met some friends there—after
they all get out from work a lot of people always gathered, transient or
local, from 5 on.
Mr. Griffin. The Burgundy Room to you is sort of what a private club
would be to a wealthier man?
Mr. Senator. That is of that nature, yes.
Mr. Griffin. And there were certain other people who used to hang around
there?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Was Jack Ruby one of the people?
Mr. Senator. No. I have only seen Jack go in there that I can remember
twice, but he never sat down and had a drink. In and out. Walked in. Jack
is not a drinking man.
Mr. Griffin. So would it be fair to say that for recreation and pastime——
Mr. Senator. Just as one of my hangouts.
Mr. Griffin. You would go to the Burgundy Room and have a few beers,
a few drinks?
Mr. Senator. Yes. Whoever walked in. I had many friends who walked in.
Whoever walked in, there is many girls that I knew, many fellows that I knew.
Mr. Griffin. But you are not a man who spends his spare time——
Mr. Senator. Not particularly, no.
Mr. Griffin. Playing golf or tennis?
Mr. Senator. No. I’ll tell you—the only habit I got is I like to cook, this
is my golf or what somebody else would do, or whatever he may recreate in—I
used to like to piddle around in the kitchen. That is why Jack Ruby didn’t
like me. You are not writing that?
Mr. Griffin. You mean that you like to experiment with food?
Mr. Senator. Yes, I like to putter around. I enjoy puttering around in
kitchens. I done this for a long time.
Mr. Griffin. But you worked in a number of restaurants?
Mr. Senator. But not in that capacity. Of course, I was broken in, you
know. When I say broken in, I worked for my brother you know, years ago,
but I wasn’t classified as any cook or any thing of that nature.
Mr. Griffin. Are there any sort of specialty foods you like to cook?
Mr. Senator. I like to mess around with different concoctions, I mean because
anybody can throw a hamburger on, you know, in the home, or anybody
can throw a steak on, whether it comes out good or bad, that is not a
challenge. But to try to make some concoctions where you mix things——
Mr. Griffin. Salads?
Mr. Senator. They can be salads or any hot dishes, something like that,
or see how good you can make spareribs come out, which a lot of people can’t
make good, and then all the lawyers in Dallas think I am the greatest when
it comes to making spareribs, because I have been invited many times, and I do
put on a good rib plate.
Mr. Griffin. And were you in the habit of inviting people to your place for
dinner?
Mr. Senator. Yes, I have many a time. Nobody particular, but I have. I
mean this—I relished, I have been invited over to people’s homes. Jim Martin
has invited me to his place to cook. There is another lawyer invited me over
to his home to cook. They thought I did a good job in the kitchen. While
they sat down I was sweating in the kitchen, but it was fun.
Mr. Griffin. But Jack didn’t appreciate your cooking?
Mr. Senator. He liked my cooking, but he wouldn’t eat it because he classified
me as one making rich, fatty foods, that would put a pouch on him.
This is the thing, because this is why I mentioned to you that I love to make
this avocado dish, which I mentioned to you before.
Mr. Griffin. This is when we were having lunch.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. I didn’t pull out an avocado salad today as I did yesterday.
Mr. Senator. I love avocadoes. I think they are great. I used to make a
concoction and put on avocado and everybody used to love it. I must have
put about nine different ingredients in it, but it tasted real good, real good.
They used to clean the plate out. That was a good enough answer.
Mr. Griffin. Now there are some other things in that statement or that interview
report that I think you want to change.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. These don’t look like my words. I don’t say
that some of these aren’t factors, you know, but I don’t see, I don’t think
some of these are the direct words that come out of my mouth.
Mr. Griffin. So that you understand, these are not supposed to be actually
the direct words that come out of your mouth, but this is their report of what
they recall your saying. Now if it changes the substance in some way, if they
have used words that change the meaning in some way, or the approach that
you had, I think it is important to bring that out.
Mr. Senator. Let me read this off to you. This is right after the next sentence.
It says, “Thereafter he considers himself to be much closer to Ruby,
but in this regard could not explain why he considered himself closer during
the past 3 years.” Now I don’t even know what that means.
Mr. Griffin. I understand it.
Mr. Senator. I don’t understand it.
Mr. Griffin. I understand it to mean that you felt that you were closer
to Ruby but you couldn’t explain to them why you were closer to Ruby.
Mr. Senator. Let me read this to myself again? This don’t make sense to
me. Maybe I don’t understand what I am reading, what I have read to you.
Do you want to go over it with me?
Mr. Griffin. All right.
Mr. Senator. This part I read to you, start there, “Thereafter.”
Mr. Griffin. “Thereafter he considered himself to have been closer to Ruby,
but in this regard could not explain why he considered himself closer during
the past 3 years than the time before he knew Ruby.”
In other words, they are saying that you couldn’t explain why you felt closer
to Ruby in this recent period.
Mr. Senator. If I had just moved in, how could I really feel that closer, just
moving in? It doesn’t necessarily mean being close to him. I mean, this I don’t
understand. What do they mean when they say—how can you just move in with
somebody and say, say you are that close to him? You are there, that is true,
but what do you mean by being close to him? If you had just gone in and had
always known him casually——
Mr. Griffin. Isn’t part of the reason that you felt closer to him in recent years
than you had long before is that you began to live with him in recent years, and
that automatically made you closer? You saw him more often.
Mr. Senator. Yes; but I mean the way this sort of states to me, unless I
misinterpret it, like I just moved in and I am that close to him already, I am
really like a buddy-buddy, you know.
Mr. Griffin. No; there is no mention in here at this point in the FBI interview
report of your having moved in with Ruby.
Mr. Senator. In so many words, though, doesn’t it sound the same to you?
“... than in the past 3 years”.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; but it doesn’t mention that in the past 3 years you moved
in and began living with him, whereas before then you hadn’t lived with him.
As I understand what you have been saying to us up to this point is that your
closer relationship simply resulted from the fact that you began to see him every
day, whereas before——
Mr. Senator. See the way I interpret this, the moment I moved in I was already
close to him. Of course, I know that I am in the same place, but that is the
way I am interpreting it.
Mr. Griffin. Let’s let it stand for the record, then, that you did not automatically
feel closer to Jack Ruby at the time you moved in with him.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Your moving in with him was not the result of having established
a close relationship, but was a result of Jack’s taking you in when you
didn’t have a place to live and didn’t have any money. Is that it?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I mean the appreciation was there, I want you to know,
of these things.
Mr. Griffin. And how did Jack happen to learn that you needed a place to
live and so he invited you in with him?
Mr. Senator. I identified myself that way.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, you approached him and asked him if you could
move in?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I don’t remember just how it was, but I was not in good
condition, I was hurting.
Mr. Griffin. And had there been something about Jack before that that had
indicated to you that Jack would be the kind of a guy who would respond
like this?
Mr. Senator. Yes; because he has responded to other people like this, and
after that, and I have seen it.
Mr. Griffin. Had you heard before you moved in with Jack that Jack had
taken in other people or done things for other people?
Mr. Senator. The example number one is the chap that I told you is deceased—I
don’t say this man was hurting, but he was still living in Jack’s apartment
for free.
Mr. Griffin. Martin Gimpel?
Mr. Senator. Martin Gimpel. He was still living in Jack’s apartment for
free. I don’t say he was hurting for money, which I don’t know because
I didn’t know his business.
Mr. Griffin. You knew that at the time you approached Jack? You knew
Gimpel had been living with him?
Mr. Senator. I didn’t know Gimpel that way, just from running across him.
Mr. Griffin. But had anybody else suggested to you that Jack might be willing
to take you in?
Mr. Senator. No, no; it was just one of those things that happened by chance.
That is all. Of course, within me I didn’t know what was going to happen, but
he took me in. I have seen other instances like this chap Larry. Now he ran
across him out at the fairgrounds.
I don’t know what it was, but this kid here didn’t have the right time. He was
doing something out there. His apparel was nothing, and Jack bought him a
suit. Of course, mind you, he put him in the club, let him sleep there, but he
made him work, but he gave him a few bucks. He gave him a place to sleep.
He put some clothes on his back.
And one time before he disappeared I even heard him mention once—Larry
didn’t have any front teeth, and I heard Jack mention once, “Larry, we’ll have
to do something about your teeth, to get you some front teeth.” This is a true
fact. As tough as this guy was at times, he was soft too. He had a heart. Many
a buck he shelled out to somebody to grab a bite.
Mr. Griffin. You suggested you found this Ewing Street apartment.
Mr. Senator. The new place.
Mr. Griffin. You made the decision——
Mr. Senator. Somebody told me to take a look at this new place going up.
At the time I looked at it, this place wasn’t even ready.
Mr. Griffin. Did you suggest to Jack that he might also want to move
in there?
Mr. Senator. I mentioned to Jack to take a look at it, see. This is before
either one of us were living there. The thing was still in the working stages.
It was coming round to completion, you know.
Mr. Griffin. As we had discussed before, you moved in with Jack in the early
part of 1962 and lived with him for about 5 months?
Mr. Senator. But not at this place.
Mr. Griffin. No; at another place.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And, of course, during that 5 months you began to know the
man better.
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure.
Mr. Griffin. You came closer to him, but you decided when you got a job you
wanted to move out from him?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now I am curious as to why you decided that you wanted to
move out rather than decide that you would stay there and pay part of the rent.
Mr. Senator. Particularly one. I told you he didn’t keep a very clean place,
but should I classify myself to say a man who is unemployed, a beggar—beggars
can’t be choosers, that is an old saying, right?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. That is part of it. All right, I know the overall picture that
Jack would rather live alone, see. I mean if somebody is out, something like
me, if I needed a place, all right, he would keep me. But in the overall picture
he would rather live alone.
And many a guy has slept at his place whether the Carousel or one of the
apartments he may live in, and I don’t know how many he has lived in previous
to when I knew him where he may put up a guy for a night, 2, 3, 4, or 5,
whatever it might be, and fed him, because he was tapped or something of that
nature. He has done this many a time, and I would probably say even before
I knew him, and I feel this probably could go back to the hardships of his
youth, because he, as I understand it, he had a rough bringing up and growing
up.
Mr. Griffin. Did he talk about that to you?
Mr. Senator. He talked about some of it, but I never heard all of it come out
in the courtroom. Of course, I never knew up until, you know, the recent times
that his mother was in an institution or a crazy house, which I never knew.
And, of course, I didn’t know how drunk his father used to be, but I understand
he was a habitual——
Mr. Griffin. Did he talk about his father when you lived with him?
Mr. Senator. I think he had mentioned his father, but he had never mentioned
his mother, never, which I never knew. Of course, this all come out
after the shooting, you know, everything come out, was brought out either by
the sisters or somebody. And I never knew about how the kids were all separated,
things of that nature, when they were young. One was placed here, one
was placed there, wherever they were placed. A lot of these things I never
even knew.
Mr. Griffin. So this conclusion that you are now drawing——
Mr. Senator. I would probably say this might be why he has done some of
the things he did.
Mr. Griffin. You are drawing this conclusion on the basis of what you have
learned since he shot Oswald, and not on the basis of anything that you knew
beforehand? In other words, these things you have been talking about, his
father and his mother and the separation of the children, this you first learned
after he shot Oswald? You didn’t know about that when you were living with
him?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t know about it. I heard him mention that he had
tough days as a kid, but he never talked about them too much, very, very
little. All these things, the majority of the things that come out, come out
after the trial, I mean after the shooting. There, of course, I think his sisters
come out with the majority of it and probably his brothers, when things had to
be related and had to go back all these years.
Mr. Griffin. Go ahead through there as you have, through that Exhibit 5401,
and if there is anything else in there that you think should be changed or
clarified—keep in mind what I am primarily concerned with is whether this
report you are looking at is an accurate report of what was told to the FBI
at that time.
Mr. Senator. Let me run through this one: “He added he occasionally when
low on funds would be asked by Ruby to come and stay a day or two with
him until he got back on his feet”.
Of course, this is a comma, and then it continues, but I want to stop right
there. Let me run through the whole thing. “He added he occasionally when
low on funds would be asked by Ruby to come and stay a day or two with him
until he got back on his feet, but he claims he actually never lived with him
until about November 1, 1963, when he moved into the apartment of Ruby’s,
apartment 207, 223 South Ewing, Dallas, Tex.”
Mr. Griffin. Yes; well, that is inaccurate?
Mr. Senator. You know that.
Mr. Griffin. Now, my only question to you is when the FBI interviewed
you, and this is on November 24, did you omit to tell them that you had lived
with Ruby on an earlier occasion?
Mr. Senator. To the best of my knowledge. I don’t think I did omit that.
I don’t think I did.
Mr. Griffin. I think the record is sufficiently clear.
Mr. Senator. Now, there are a lot of things I must tell you which I have
told you before. I am not always sure of everything, you know. In other
words, I have to use these words to let you know that I ain’t lying.
Mr. Griffin. I think the record will be clear from this deposition that you
didn’t live with him before November 1st of 1963.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now, unless that you are certain that you did tell the FBI
about living with Ruby before November 1st, I would rather not change it
on there, write it in there, but I would rather simply let the record show that
we are making here, simply let it reflect that that is inaccurate.
Mr. Senator. Let me run back on this one again, part of this again:
“He added he occasionally when low on funds would be asked by Ruby to
come and stay a day or two with him until he got back on his feet,”.
This was never, because the first time I stayed with him was when I stayed
at the club, and then moved with him, because I stayed with him 5 to 6 months,
something like that. Of course, I don’t know how you classify this, how important
it is to you or not, because I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Were there occasions other than the time that you lived with
him for 5 or 6 months that you did come and stay with him for a day or two?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. It never happened?
Mr. Senator. No; I was with him. I mean I wasn’t in and out.
Mr. Griffin. Now is it possible that you could have told them this in the
anxiety and turmoil that you were under at the time this interview took place?
Mr. Senator. I could probably say that anything at that time, that day,
could be possible. Maybe I feel it isn’t, but let me say that I wasn’t in the best
of condition that day. I would say anybody that was in the nature that I was in,
and I don’t care who the individual was, would have been shaken up as well
as I.
Mr. Griffin. I think again here now the record will reflect, and I want to go
through and point these out as you are doing, but I think the record again here
will reflect what is accurate as to what has actually happened.
Let’s let this thing stand, unless you are 100 percent sure that you didn’t say
that, let’s let it stand on there as written. By “on there” I am referring to the
Exhibit 5401.
Mr. Senator. Now here is a point:
“Shortly after Senator first met him, Ruby opened the Sovereign Club on the
second floor of the building on the southeast corner of Field and Commerce in
downtown Dallas.”
Now this was before I got to him.
Mr. Griffin. He was running the Sovereign Club before you met him?
Mr. Senator. He was in the Sovereign Club; yes. I don’t know how long
he was in there, but he was in there before I came that close to him.
Mr. Griffin. But you had known Jack?
Mr. Senator. Oh, I have known him; yes.
Mr. Griffin. Even when he ran the Silver Spur, didn’t you?
Mr. Senator. No; I wasn’t living in Dallas then. That is way before my time.
Mr. Griffin. You knew him before he opened the Sovereign Club when he
only had the Vegas?
Mr. Senator. Oh, sure. This is the Sovereign Club. Wait a minute. It says
shortly after I first met him. My God, this don’t go that far back, and I have
known Ruby, unless he could have meant the Vegas Club, I don’t know. Of course,
I don’t know how important this is to you either.
Mr. Griffin. Again here I am glad you pointed this out. Here I think that
this deposition will clear this up.
Mr. Senator. Now here is one that says I wasn’t able to furnish the individual’s
name, but I know it now.
“Ruby had a partner in the operation of the Sovereign Club, but Senator was
unable to furnish this individual’s name.”
But we have talked about that name today.
Mr. Griffin. Joe Slayton.
Mr. Senator. Joe Slayton; yes, sir. Now I don’t think I knew who it was
then, who his partner was. “Senator can state only that he believes Ruby to be
the sole owner and operator of the present Carousel Club.”
Now there was a backer and I knew him well, but I didn’t know the conditions.
Mr. Griffin. Were you reluctant at the time you talked to the FBI to disclose
this?
Mr. Senator. No. You mean to hold back on them?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. That is the way it sounds when you say that.
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No, no; I wasn’t. As well as I knew him I didn’t know the
formality of what he had to the Carousel as many times as he came there. I
didn’t know what his status was in it. I knew there was a close—I mean he
had a close relationship with Jack. He knew him well.
“Ruby actively managed the Carousel Club although he still as far as Senator
knows owns the Vegas Club,” which we know different now.
Mr. Griffin. Do you want to go on to the next page?
Mr. Senator. I am through with that page.
Mr. Griffin. Look at page 297 of this same report and tell us if there are any
changes or modifications or corrections you want to make there.
Mr. Senator. What is I.E., the initials?
Mr. Griffin. That means in explanation. The sentence you are referring to is,
“Senator was of the opinion Ruby, since he is Jewish, feels somewhat the same
on things of this type as he (Senator) does, i.e., a Jew has no right to express
opinions of any sort, especially when he is in business, since he has enough
strikes against him just being a Jew.”
In other words, this statement about a Jew having no right to express
opinions of any sort is a belief that you have, and the FBI is saying you believe
that, and you think Ruby believes the same thing.
Mr. Senator. I don’t believe I said that. I don’t believe I ever said that. I
know that Ruby is a sensitive man as far as when the word “Jew” comes up,
you know, in something he don’t like. He takes tremendous offense. No; I am
not of the nature of Jack Ruby.
Mr. Griffin. Then do you feel that a Jewish person has no business expressing
political opinions, and so forth?
Mr. Senator. Oh, they certainly have a perfect right to express opinions as
anybody else. I would probably say—let me say I think they are more careful.
I can’t speak for every individual, mind you.
Mr. Griffin. Do you think that Jack felt that a Jewish person has no business
expressing——
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Opinions of any sort, especially when he is in business?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know what he felt. All I know is that he gets pretty
sensitive when somebody is knocking it, or jokes and things, things of that
nature, he don’t go for it nohow.
Mr. Griffin. This language which we have been quoting arises in a paragraph
that starts out:
“Ruby never expressed any special political preferences and never even discussed
political matters.”
Then it goes on to state this view, that “A Jew has no right to express opinions
of any sort,” the suggestion being that Ruby never discussed politics because
he didn’t think a Jew should discuss politics.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know about that. Of course, I can’t quote Ruby’s words.
I can’t think for Ruby like I can’t think for anybody else.
Mr. Griffin. But you would say that now your present opinion is that you
have no information about Ruby which would make you believe that he declined
to be interested in political matters because of his Jewish background,
that is, his Jewish background discouraged him or made him feel that he
shouldn’t have this kind of——
Mr. Senator. I couldn’t even answer that because I don’t even know. I don’t
even know. All I do know is I know that anybody comes out and calls him a
God-damned Jew or something to that effect, he don’t go for this nohow, he just
don’t go for it. He is sensitive that way.
Now somebody could say it to me and I would probably be able to laugh it
off, whether I did or didn’t like it, but I tell you Jack Ruby don’t laugh
these things off.
Mr. Griffin. He is sensitive about being criticized because he is a Jew?
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Griffin. But you don’t feel, I take it, that there is necessarily any connection
between his sensitivity to being a Jew and his apparent lack of interest
in politics?
Mr. Senator. I don’t believe so.
Mr. Griffin. If now in discussing this situation in an atmosphere which I
take it is a little bit more relaxed than it was on November 24th, if you were
to offer a judgment as to why Jack Ruby didn’t appear to be interested in
politics, what would you suggest for the reason?
Mr. Senator. I have no answer for it, but all I can say is these things don’t
interest him. He was not interested in these things.
Mr. Griffin. What is his primary interest?
Mr. Senator. Show business.
Mr. Griffin. How about girls? How about sex? Is that an important interest
to him?
Mr. Senator. It is as natural for him as it is for any other male human being.
Mr. Griffin. Was this a matter, though—was sex something that he discussed
as much as he discussed his business, for example?
Mr. Senator. No, no. I don’t say—I don’t say that he hasn’t discussed it,
but I will say that there isn’t any male that hasn’t discussed it.
Mr. Griffin. Go ahead with that page 297 and point out any other paragraphs
that you would change or correct.
Mr. Senator. In this next column here, the only thing is, “Ruby owned a
revolver which Senator could describe only by saying it was black. This was
kept at the Carousel Club, although occasionally Ruby would carry it back and
forth between the club and his home because he usually carried a fairly large
sum of money.”
Now there is only one little point there I want to bring out, and this is the
point I want to bring out:
“This was kept at the Carousel Club, although occasionally Ruby would carry
it back and forth between the club and his home.”
This was an everyday occurrence.
Mr. Griffin. He carried it back and forth every day?
Mr. Senator. When he left the house to go to the club, bingo, that went with
him. When he left the club to go home, that went with him.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you this. Did he keep the gun in the apartment or
did he keep it in his car?
Mr. Senator. He kept it in his apartment.
Mr. Griffin. He kept it in the apartment?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Now would he keep it on his person or would he keep it in a
moneybag?
Mr. Senator. It has been both ways. It all depends on how he is going home.
I mean, no particular reason. He has kept it both ways.
Now, I can’t quote how many times he has it in his pocket or in his moneybag,
something like that, and I can’t even quote, maybe occasionally he may have
forgotten it and left it in the car. If he did leave it in the car it would be locked
in the trunk.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have the habit of taking the revolver out of the automobile
when he got to the Carousel Club and carrying it up into the Carousel Club,
or don’t you remember?
Mr. Senator. Oh, he takes it up there, sure. He takes it upstairs. Now if
he does it every day, you must understand that I am not watching every move
Jack Ruby made.
Mr. Griffin. How many times did you see it?
Mr. Senator. I don’t even know. I can’t quote the times, but I would probably
say the majority of times it probably went up, and then again it may have went
up all the time. As I say, I am not watching, looking for a bag all the time.
Mr. Griffin. Is it also possible he may have only taken it up occasionally to
the club?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say the majority of the times it went up. If
you are asking me to break it down, I can’t break it down. First of all, I am
not always with him when he is going to the club.
Mr. Griffin. That is right. On the occasions that you saw him carry it
up into the club did he carry it up in his pocket or did he carry it in a bag?
Mr. Senator. The times that I have seen him, I have seen him have it in the
bag.
Mr. Griffin. I would think that if he didn’t have a holster it would be pretty
cumbersome to carry that revolver around the club in his pocket.
Mr. Senator. I have never known him to have a holster. I have never seen
one, never seen a holster on him, or what do you call these things, shoulder?
I have never seen one.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever see a holster in his automobile?
Mr. Senator. No. I don’t even know if he even had one. This is a part
that I have had a lot of trouble with, with a lot of people.
Mr. Griffin. What part is that?
Mr. Senator. This is the part—this is why I think they were probably looking
at me as a fag or a queer: “Senator on some occasions would refer to Ruby as a
boyfriend.” And I have said that to many people.
Mr. Griffin. Why did you happen to use that term?
Mr. Senator. It is a word I have used all my life, when I was even a kid.
There was no particular reason. My boyfriends, some people may say “This
is my acquaintance.” It happens to be I have always used this word, no particular
reason. Maybe I would probably say it was a habit more than anything
else.
Mr. Griffin. Now let me ask you this: You stated to us unequivocally you
are not a homosexual.
Mr. Senator. You can be assured, you can be assured. I will say that
Georgie still loves women yet.
Mr. Griffin. That is not necessarily inconsistent with being a homosexual,
but I am not suggesting——
Mr. Senator. But you heard my words, though, my words they are direct
believe me. And I don’t intend changing it. I may not be that strong, but I
don’t intend changing them. Of course, age is a benefactor.
Mr. Griffin. You are talking about your affection for women?
Mr. Senator. Yes; certainly. I still like the beauty of the female sex. Let
me read the rest of this. Let me quote you something that Mr. Alexander had
me at the first bond hearing—I can’t help but think of it when I read this
“boyfriend” and how many times that has been quoted. It has never been
quoted me direct, but I have heard it hearsay, you know, things like that. At
the bond hearing, the first bond hearing, Mr. Alexander said to me:
“You and Jack Ruby lived together?” And I said, “Yes.”
He says, “How many bedrooms in the apartment you live in?”
I said, “Two.”
He says, “What are the other rooms?”
I says, “There is a bathroom, kitchen, and a living room.”
Then he come out with this live one, which I grasped right away. This is
what I call it.
“Where do you keep the TV?”
I didn’t particularly like it, but I was on the witness stand.
Mr. Griffin. What did you say?
Mr. Senator. I said, “In the living room,” where it is. But I caught the
drift right away. And I wasn’t happy about that because I couldn’t open my
mouth because I was on the witness stand.
Page 298. You got the drift of that, didn’t you?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; very clear.
Mr. Senator. I can’t quote the rest of it because he put it down there.
Mr. Griffin. Go ahead, I am interested.
Mr. Senator. In other words, what this means is Jack Ruby and I are in bed
together, probably holding hands, or whatever it might be, watching TV. Is
that easy?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Isn’t that logical?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. And I was pretty disturbed over this. How does he base something
like this?
Mr. Griffin. I take it he didn’t follow it up in any way?
Mr. Senator. Not the second time.
Mr. Griffin. He didn’t attempt to discredit your statement that it was kept
in the living room?
Mr. Senator. No. And when he didn’t bring that up at all on the witness
stand——
Mr. Griffin. At the trial?
Mr. Senator. At the trial. There is something here; I don’t know what it
means; the difference may be an hour or two, according to what time I came
home that Friday night—he said between 9 and 10.
Mr. Griffin. When do you think it was?
Mr. Senator. I would say between 10 and 11.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you here: What did you do from the time you heard
that the President had been shot on Friday until you came home at, say 10
o’clock? Did you work the rest of that day?
Mr. Senator. That was a black day; man, that was a sad day.
Mr. Griffin. You were at Jack’s?
Mr. Senator. That was a day I will tell you I don’t think a living soul in
Dallas had any ambition to work. You would have to see that town that day
and the feeling of all the individuals in that town. It was really a sad, sad
day. It was a weeping day. I’ll tell you that is what it was; it was a weeping
day for the city.
Mr. Griffin. Did you go to the Burgundy Room? Where did you go from
Jack’s when you first heard this news?
Mr. Senator. I think I went downtown; did a little deskwork again. I am
not sure.
Mr. Griffin. Talk out loud and then we can correct it.
Mr. Senator. I am not sure what it was. I don’t remember anymore. I
think I went to the Burgundy Room. I think I just messed around downtown
in the area. No particular place.
Mr. Griffin. Would it be a place like the Burgundy Room, a tavern?
Mr. Senator. Probably so; probably so.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember any people you saw on Friday?
Mr. Senator. I can’t recollect. It was a very sad day.
Mr. Griffin. I think that is a day that is rather vivid to most of us. I know
it is with me. I am just wondering if you can’t think where you were that
day, and who you talked to.
Mr. Senator. In all probability I probably spoke to many people downtown
that day, or various places, wherever I may have been.
Mr. Griffin. What other places are you accustomed to go to besides the
Burgundy Room?
Mr. Senator. The Burgundy Room; there is another place I used to drop
in, which is called the Smuggler, which is uptown. These are both places
that I went to. Of course, the Burgundy Room is No. 1. The other place I do
go just occasionally, I do go to the place occasionally.
Mr. Griffin. When you say you were hanging around downtown, you were
hanging around someplace where you could have a drink, a bite to eat, or
something of that sort?
Mr. Senator. I would probably say that.
Mr. Griffin. And you wouldn’t have been in a department store or a drugstore,
someplace like that?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t think so. I mean I don’t know. A department
store; definitely I haven’t been in there.
Mr. Griffin. We are talking about someplace where you could get a drink,
watch television, and watch the events on television. Did you spend all day
watching the events on television?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t. I think I was in the downtown area. I think
I was in the downtown area most of that day, if I am not mistaken. I don’t
remember just where I was. I may have floated from downtown uptown. I
don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Do you think you had quite a bit to drink that day?
Mr. Senator. I will probably say I had maybe a fair amount. I mean, to
be drunk or anything of that nature, I don’t think I was drunk that day.
Mr. Griffin. I take it you are pretty well able to hold your liquor, from
what you said before. You feel that you are?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes.
Mr. Griffin. So that I wonder if——
Mr. Senator. In other words, I got to be careful when I’m driving because
if you get nabbed by the Dallas cops, you are in trouble, but good trouble,
and I don’t want to get in that condition.
Mr. Griffin. What I am wondering, from what you are saying here, if it
isn’t a fair impression to draw——
Mr. Senator. If it isn’t what?
Mr. Griffin. If I couldn’t fairly infer that you had been drinking most of
the time after you heard that the President was shot, although you don’t feel
that you had been drinking so much that you weren’t in control of yourself.
Mr. Senator. Oh, I was in control of myself.
Mr. Griffin. But you had been drinking fairly steadily from the time you
heard the President was shot until you went home that night?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Would this have anything to do with your failure to recollect
what you had done that day?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think I was that tight; no. I just don’t remember where
I navigated that day.
Mr. Griffin. Can you suggest again—and I keep throwing the same question
back to you—can you think or suggest someone that you saw that day?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know if I saw—I keep on bringing up this attorney all
the while, Jim Martin. I don’t know if I saw him, called him, or went to
his office that day or not. I used to meet him before all this here was going
on, you know, for cocktail hour before I went home, between 5 to 6, and went
home, but I don’t know if I met him that day or not.
Mr. Griffin. Where did you have dinner that night?
Mr. Senator. I don’t even think I had dinner that night.
Mr. Griffin. Did you attempt to get in touch with Jack Ruby that night?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Why was that?
Mr. Senator. No particular reason why. I just didn’t; that is all. I didn’t
even look for him. There was no special reason. You see, I have never, if
I am out, gotten on the telephone to see if he was home or what he was going
to do or things of that nature. In other words, when I am out I am free.
Mr. Griffin. Jack wasn’t somebody that you did things with; is that fair
to say?
Mr. Senator. No; I didn’t do much with him; no.
Mr. Griffin. And part of the reason was Jack didn’t drink? Wasn’t that
probably part of it?
Mr. Senator. Jack don’t like me drinking and Jack don’t like to see me go into
joints. All right. Now the Burgundy Room; I don’t know if you have ever
been there while you were down there.
Mr. Griffin. No; I haven’t.
Mr. Senator. It is a nice place. It gets fine transient trade and local people,
and it is one of the nicest places, I feel as an open bar that you can go to.
Mr. Griffin. Does Jack somehow have the idea that you drink too much?
Mr. Senator. Not exactly drink too much. You know I can drink one beer
and he will say, “You are drunk, aren’t you?” He will pull this on me. He has
pulled it many a time on me.
Mr. Griffin. Does he feel that way about other people?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I don’t know about other people. But he didn’t
like me drinking. He said it to me many a time.
Mr. Griffin. Why did you put up with a guy who criticized your personal
habits as much as Jack appears to have done?
Mr. Senator. In all reality, it didn’t bother me. I didn’t care what he said.
Mr. Griffin. He sort of treated you like you were his son?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; no. He just didn’t like to have me drink; that is all.
He felt I was wasting—believe it or not, here is a man with a club who felt I
was throwing my money away, and he felt that I couldn’t afford to be throwing
my money away.
Mr. Griffin. He took some sort of a brotherly or fatherly interest in you, or
was this just Jack’s desire to dominate people?
Mr. Senator. Dominate? I don’t know if “dominate” would be the word.
But as a friend he liked me; I will put it that way. He liked me as a friend.
Mr. Griffin. Is that because of anything you had done for him?
Mr. Senator. Well, you know, I did a lot of things for him, and, of course,
he has done things for me, you know. When I was down and out he helped me out.
Mr. Griffin. You showed him a certain amount of loyalty and confidence.
Mr. Senator. Yes; you see, I don’t argue back with him. I don’t know if he
likes this or not, you know. I don’t want to argue with him. So I “Yes” him
to get the argument over with, because when he hollers at me he hollers from
the rooftops. But when you hear enough of it, it didn’t bother me. It may have
bothered a lot of people, but it didn’t bother me because with me I knew there
was no harm that would be done. But the shrill of his voice, you know he was
around. You could hear it.
Mr. Griffin. OK; let’s go on there on page 298 from where we were.
Mr. Senator. It says, “Ruby and Senator arose on November 24, and Senator
noticed Ruby had brought one of four dogs which he ordinarily keeps at the
Carousel home with him.” He brings this same dog home every night. And
when it says, “Ruby and Senator arose,” it is like we woke up at the same time.
That is not so.
Mr. Griffin. This refers to Sunday morning, November 24; is that right?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And the correct statement of this would be that——
Mr. Senator. I woke up before he did.
Mr. Griffin. You woke up before he did, and that Jack always keeps Sheba——
Mr. Senator. Always brings Sheba home every night.
Mr. Griffin. Is it customary also for him to take Sheba down to the club
every day?
Mr. Senator. Both forth and back, forth and back.
Mr. Griffin. Is Sheba with him wherever he goes?
Mr. Senator. Yes; the dog is always with him. This was his pet. This was
his favorite of a few dogs that he had.
Mr. Griffin. OK; I think the record is clear enough on that; that we don’t
have to make any entry on the page.
Mr. Senator. Of course, the other is what we discussed before about the signs
that you have on this page.
Mr. Griffin. There is nothing in there about the signs, is there?
Mr. Senator. None. Elmer Moore has the one about the signs. This is page
299. I forgot to tell you. I went to this restaurant, it says, to eat. I just had
that coffee. The morning when I went down to eat on Main Street, it says I
went down to eat. I only had coffee. “He estimated as he arrived there at
approximately 11:30 and as he walked in the door he overheard one of the
waitresses saying Oswald has been shot.” This is not so.
Mr. Griffin. This was after you sat down?
Mr. Senator. I had been sitting already.
Mr. Griffin. Is that on page 300 or page 299?
Mr. Senator. 299. Now he got this twisted.
Mr. Griffin. Would you read the part that is twisted.
Mr. Senator. Yes. “Shortly thereafter the waitress told Senator that Oswald
had been shot by a local tavern operator, and a short while after that he learned
the name of this individual to be Jack Ruby. He said he was dumfounded, and
did not know what to do, but after a short while he went to the telephone and
called Jim Martin on Gladiola Street, Dallas, as an attorney whom he knew.”
We went through that. Do you want to go through that again?
Mr. Griffin. Well, I want to know if you say now, of course, that that is not
what happened. Now, what did you tell the agent? Could you have told the
agent that?
Mr. Senator. No; when the waitress said that she heard Oswald had been
shot, I called Jim Martin, but nobody knew who. The daughter answered the
phone and said her daddy was in church, and that he would be home in a short
while.
Mr. Griffin. It is your recollection that when you called Jim Martin, you
couldn’t get ahold of him, but you talked to his daughter.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. How old is his daughter?
Mr. Senator. He had three of them, and I don’t remember which one answered.
Of course, one is too young. I don’t know which one he went to church with.
One is 15 or 16 and the other is, I think, 10 or 11.
Mr. Griffin. And is there one even younger than 10 or 11?
Mr. Senator. Well, an infant. Maybe she is 2 or 3 years old; something
like that.
Mr. Griffin. Did you tell the daughter who you were; who was calling?
Did you leave word?
Mr. Senator. I am not sure if I told her to tell her daddy that George called.
I am not sure if I did or not. I don’t want to say I did and I don’t want to
say I didn’t, because I don’t remember. No; I didn’t leave right after that.
I still had a cup of coffee yet. It says I left right after this call.
Mr. Griffin. This is incorrect; is that what you are saying?
Mr. Senator. “He said this attorney was not at home, so he got into his car
and drove to the attorney’s house to wait for his return.” This I did not do.
What I did was I still sat there and I had two cups of coffee, when this girl
hollered out again, “the Carousel, Jack Ruby,” which words were sort of mispronounced
the way she said it; this is when I went. Of course, I sat there
for a little bit, not knowing what the hell to do. This was stunning. I sort
of froze right to the seat when I heard that. Page 300. I read too slow,
don’t I?
Mr. Griffin. That is all right. Go ahead.
Mr. Senator. Let me run this through. I don’t catch the last part of this:
“He never heard Ruby say Oswald had ever visited either one of the clubs in
which Ruby was interested.” Does that mean, in other words, the clubs that
Jack owned?
Mr. Griffin. That is right.
Mr. Senator. All right; OK.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you a few questions. You have had a chance to
read that all over. Now on page 298 the FBI reports you in this fashion:
“Senator has no accurate idea as to where Ruby had been all day.” That
refers to Friday.
Mr. Senator. November 24.
Mr. Griffin. November 22.
Mr. Senator. Twenty-second; yes.
Mr. Griffin. “But does know that, because of the shooting of the President,
Ruby has had many businessmen in Dallas close his business. Senator has
some recollection Ruby said he had been at his sister’s home for awhile.”
Is it fair then to draw the conclusion from that statement that, when you
talked with the FBI on November 24, you did know what Ruby had done on
Friday night, on Friday other than that he had closed his business, and that
he had been at his sister’s?
Mr. Senator. Yes. He went to the police station with sandwiches, I heard.
Mr. Griffin. But, you see, you told the FBI on November 24, when this presumably
was as fresh in your mind as it is ever going to be, that you had no
accurate idea where Ruby had been all day, and the only things that you
could remember were that he closed his business and he had some recollection
that he had been at his sister’s home for awhile. You didn’t mention, I take
it, to the FBI on the 24th——
Mr. Senator. As a matter of fact, I probably forgot to mention it now, come
to think of it, the synagogue and things like that.
Mr. Griffin. You didn’t mention the synagogue. You didn’t mention that
he had been to the police station. You didn’t mention——
Mr. Senator. You must understand, like I told you before, you know, when
a man is in a shaken-up condition, it is true that you might say that this should
be fresh in my mind, but when a man is in a shaken condition and nervous—and
you can’t help but be nervous—so I may have slipped up on some of the
things that I probably couldn’t think of momentarily when he was questioning me.
Mr. Griffin. Is it possible that the fact is that on the 24th you really didn’t
know, that it was sometime after the 24th that you learned that Jack had been
to the police station with sandwiches, and that he had been to the synagogue,
that Jack didn’t even tell you this on Friday or Saturday?
Mr. Senator. I didn’t see him Friday.
Mr. Griffin. Saturday morning, that he didn’t tell you Saturday morning
that he had been to those places? Is it possible that Jack never told you that?
Mr. Senator. No, no; he did tell me that. How else would I know? How
else would I have known that?
Mr. Griffin. You might have learned it since November 24, by talking with
somebody or reading something.
Mr. Senator. Why would I want—let me ask you this—why would I want
to leave out that he went to the police station—if I were able to think of it—or
bringing sandwiches? Why would I want to leave out that he went to the
synagogue?
Mr. Griffin. That is why I am suggesting that you didn’t know that on the
24th, that it wasn’t until later.
Mr. Senator. I didn’t know it on the 24th. I didn’t know it. I didn’t see
him. I didn’t know it.
Mr. Griffin. All right, on November 24, up until the time you were interviewed
by the FBI on November 24, you did not know that Jack had been to the police
station, and you did not know that he had been to the synagogue.
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; I did.
Mr. Griffin. You learned about that sometime after the 24th.
Mr. Senator. No; I think I learned it before that.
Mr. Griffin. See; what I am suggesting is that if you did learn it before
the 24th, this would have been something you would have remembered.
Mr. Senator. You asked what makes something slip a man’s mind.
Mr. Griffin. Wouldn’t you be more likely to remember he had been to the
police station than he had been to visit his sister? If a man had told you on
Saturday morning right after the President had been shot that he had been
to the police station, and had said anything about what he had done there,
wouldn’t that have been something that you would have remembered as being
important? You would have been curious, wouldn’t you? You would have
asked the man “What did you see down at the police station? Who did you
talk to down there?” After all, that was right down there where Oswald was,
and where the investigation was going on.
Mr. Senator. It is befuddling. I still think it was Saturday. There is an
incident I just happened to think of.
Mr. Griffin. All right.
Mr. Senator. After he had woken me up on Saturday morning, there was a
bunch of sandwiches still wrapped that hadn’t been distributed, and—I don’t
know—I had no idea how many he bought or how many he had made, but he
still come home with maybe 6, 8, 10, or 12 of those sandwiches.
Mr. Griffin. What kind of sandwiches were they?
Mr. Senator. I think they were corn beef and pastrami on rye, if I remember
right, on rye bread. This I do remember, and they were still on the kitchen
table, and as a matter of fact they were in two bags, if I remember right. They
were in two bags. I think he had some cake too, that he bought in the delicatessen.
Mr. Griffin. You saw that Saturday morning when you got up?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Does that recall anything further to your mind?
Mr. Senator. No; now this here I never even told anybody. I never even
told this to anybody. This is the first time that I have ever exposed this. It
don’t matter who is questioning me, this is the first time. Now why didn’t I
think of this?
Mr. Griffin. This is not so extraordinary.
Mr. Senator. No; you may say it is trivial or it may be trivial to me.
Mr. Griffin. That is the kind of a thing that you might forget and that is
also the kind of thing that as you look back from this period of time——
Mr. Senator. I have been trying to think as much as I could. Now I gather
I can remember this part, this one here.
Mr. Griffin. Do you remember any discussion with Jack about those sandwiches?
Mr. Senator. Yes; he had been to the police station and he had passed out
a lot to various policemen or plainclothesmen. I don’t know who. I don’t know
who he passed them out to.
But it seems like I gather that he must have had an awful lot of these made,
or whatever it might have been. He must have had a slew of them made. Now
why I did it I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Is this possible, that all you would have learned from him, you
asked him “Where did you get these sandwiches” and he said “I got them for
the men at the police station but they didn’t eat them”? Could that have been
the conversation?
Mr. Senator. No; he passed out some; I know. He said he had passed out
some sandwiches. As a matter of fact he even took some to his sister.
Mr. Griffin. He took some sandwiches to his sister? When did he take the
sandwiches to his sister?
Mr. Senator. That was sometime Friday.
Mr. Griffin. Where did you learn that?
Mr. Senator. From Jack.
Mr. Griffin. I suggest again——
Mr. Senator. I didn’t see his sister.
Mr. Griffin. I suggest again that if Jack had told you that he actually got
into the police station and distributed those sandwiches to policemen in the
police station, it would have occurred to you to ask, well, you know, what was
going on in the investigation.
Mr. Senator. I didn’t ask him what was going on. As a matter of fact, I
don’t even know what part of the police station he was in, or any locale of the
police station he was in.
Mr. Griffin. Did he tell you anything about seeing anybody?
Mr. Senator. He mentioned that he had gone to the police station and gave
out sandwiches. That is all I knew about it.
Mr. Griffin. Did he mention seeing anybody else except policemen at the
police station?
Mr. Senator. I think he had a glance at Oswald in one of the rooms, or something
like that, as he was going by or something of that nature. I am not sure
of this.
Mr. Griffin. But you don’t know whether you knew that on the 24th or not,
do you, or whether this is something you read later on?
Mr. Senator. I don’t remember. I just don’t remember. I can’t say “Yes”
or say “No,” or what rooms he was in. I don’t know just where he went at
the police station.
Mr. Griffin. Whatever happened to all those sandwiches? Did you eat
them up?
Mr. Senator. Well, if I didn’t eat but one or two I would be a fool, wouldn’t I?
I mean look, I like corn beef and pastrami. I mean the windup was when he
got around to home, he didn’t have that many left already.
Mr. Griffin. How many did you see in those paper bags? You said you
saw 8 or 10 in the paper bags.
Mr. Senator. Yes; but I can’t eat 8 or 10 sandwiches.
Mr. Griffin. Let’s take a break.
(Short recess taken.)
Mr. Griffin. Let me now state for the record that we had a short break here
for refreshments, and Mr. Senator has had an opportunity to read a document
which is known as Exhibit 5402, which I had previously marked, and in reviewing
the documents which I have marked today, I find that I have dated
them April 23, 1964, when a look at the calendar tells me that the correct date
is April 22, 1964, and I have inked over the date so that it now reads April 22,
1964, on Exhibits 5400, 5401, 5402, and I have marked a further “Exhibit 5403,”
which exhibit is a copy of an FBI report prepared by Mr. Rawlings and Mr.
Glonek, of an interview that they had with Mr. Senator on December 19, 1963.
Now Mr. Senator, you have had an opportunity in this break period to read
over Exhibit 5402, which is a copy of a report prepared by Secret Service
Agent Elmer W. Moore which he had with you on December 3, 1963. Have
you had an opportunity to read that exhibit through?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. I ask you as we did with the previous exhibit to indicate if
there are any changes or corrections or clarifications that you would want
to make in Mr. Moore’s report, and I specifically point out again that what I
am directing my attention to here is whether Mr. Moore’s report is an accurate
report of what you told him on that day. I might also reiterate as we have
at the beginning of every session which has been resumed here that, of course,
we are taking this under the same procedures and formalities that we have
had since the beginning here, and that the oath which you took on Tuesday
morning is still in effect.
Mr. Senator. Now on this here, of course, this goes back many, many years.
This is just the location that is a location and not a name of a person.
Mr. Griffin. Point out what it is.
Mr. Senator. “About 1934 he returned to Gloversville and left there with
neighbors, the Sebring family to go to Florida.” Now, Sebring, it is a city, not
people.
Mr. Griffin. You didn’t leave with the Sebring family?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. You left to go to Sebring, Fla.?
Mr. Senator. Went to Sebring, Fla.
Mr. Griffin. Who did you go to Sebring, Fla. with?
Mr. Senator. The name was Eggens.
Mr. Griffin. They were neighbors from Gloversville?
Mr. Senator. Yes; they were neighbors from Gloversville. They lived for
many, many years in Lake Placid, N.Y., and I went with them and, of course,
today their whereabouts—I know the mother is deceased—and where they are
I don’t know. I haven’t seen them in a zillion years.
“On August 21, 1941, he entered the Army Air Force and was assigned
serial number 12006042.” I probably should comment is off there. It doesn’t
really make any difference. “He served mainly as an aerial armorer with
the Fifth Bomber Command 33d Group in Australia and Pacific Theater during
World War Second.”
There is a correction on that. I was with the 22d Bomber Group 33d Bomb
Squadron. That is the only correction on that, if you want that.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; that is fine because we are happy to have that. In fact
why don’t you take your pen and make that correction right on the piece of
paper?
Mr. Senator. How can I get it on there, they are so close together.
Mr. Griffin. Cross out something and write it in.
Mr. Senator. To go through this whole thing I would have to say I was
with the Fifth Air Force, Fifth Bomber Command. Well, the Fifth Bomber
Command is there. Do you want Fifth Air Force?
Mr. Griffin. Is there something that is inaccurate in there?
Mr. Senator. The only thing is I was with the 22d Bomb Group, 33d Bomb
Squadron.
Mr. Griffin. So what you want to do is write out in the margin.
Mr. Senator. Do you want me to cross this out?
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you just change the 33d Group to 33d Squadron.
Change group to squadron, and then add what the bomber group was.
Mr. Senator. 22d Bomber Group.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; with a little caret or asterisk being there to indicate
where you want it to go.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know how important it is, if you want the Fifth Air
Force before or we can eliminate it.
Mr. Griffin. In order to identify that group that you were in——
Mr. Senator. In other words, it relates this way. You start off Fifth Air
Force, Fifth Bomber Command, if you want this whole thing, 22d Bomb
Group when I was with the 33d Bomb Squadron if you want that.
Mr. Griffin. Write Fifth Air Force in.
Mr. Senator. Do you want that?
Mr. Griffin. Sure.
Mr. Senator. I don’t know where to put it. Do you want me to put it on
top here?
Mr. Griffin. Sure.
Mr. Senator. Fifth Air Force comes first.
Mr. Griffin. So we have edited this to read “He served mainly as an aerial
armorer with the Fifth Air Force, Fifth Bomber Command, 22d Bomb Group,
33d Squadron in Australia and Pacific Theater during World War II.” Why
don’t you initial and date the changes?
Mr. Senator. Is one sufficient for the whole?
Mr. Griffin. Put a set of initials and date by each one and remember it is
April 22.
Mr. Senator. I think there is one I put on the 23d come to think of it somewheres
on something.
Mr. Griffin. We will try to find that. I think you did make that change.
You didn’t date the previous change made on Exhibit 5401.
Mr. Senator. I am writing 4-23 here. It is 4-22. Can I put in here and say
“He was honorably discharged” or just “discharged satisfactory.”
Mr. Griffin. Go ahead, if you want to clarify it to say honorably discharged.
Mr. Senator. There is a difference.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; there is and I can understand why you would want that
in there. Now you have made some other changes on here I notice. You have
added on page 2 of Agent Moore’s report in the first sentence the word
“Honorably” so that that sentence reads “He was honorably.”
Mr. Senator. I should say honorably discharged.
Mr. Griffin. Honorably discharged as a staff sergeant on September 9, 1945.
In the first full paragraph on this page, the last sentence you have changed the
spelling of the name Wexler from W-e-x-l-e-r to W-e-c-h-s-l-e-r, and that is the
name of the man to whom your former wife is now married.
Mr. Senator. I am the one who gave him that other spelling because I didn’t
spell it right.
Mr. Griffin. In the second paragraph on that same page, the last sentence,
you have added the words “Texas Postcards and Novelty, Dallas, Texas” before
the words “Dexter Press, West Nyack, New York” so that that sentence reads:
“He is presently a salesman of colored postcards for Texas Postcard and
Novelty, Dallas, Texas, Dexter Press, West Nyack, New York.” Now let me ask
you this. Are the Texas Postcard and Novelty Company and Dexter Press——
Mr. Senator. Excuse me, they make the cards, they print the cards.
Mr. Griffin. So what you really do is you sell these cards for Dexter Postcard?
Mr. Senator. No: I don’t sell them for Dexter.
Mr. Griffin. You sell them for Texas Postcard and Novelty?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. From Dexter Press?
Mr. Senator. Dexter are the ones who make prints.
Mr. Griffin. Let me add the word “from.” I have added the word “from.”
I will hand you back Mr. Moore’s report. Why don’t you continue on through it
and read whatever it is that you think should be changed and then we will
make the changes.
Mr. Senator. This “He made business calls and stopped for lunch at a place
called Jacques,” now shall I put in front of lunch——
Mr. Griffin. It is understood you didn’t have anything to eat but had something
to drink. A cocktail or something?
Mr. Senator. I think I had two bottles of beer. Do you want that changed?
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you cross out “lunch” and say “two bottles of beer.”
Mr. Senator. Now maybe I said I had lunch. I don’t even remember. I
ain’t going to question this. You know that I just changed that.
Mr. Griffin. You changed lunch to what? What did you write, two bottles
of beer?
Mr. Senator. “Two beers.” Just a misspelling of a street here. Do you want
that corrected?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; if you would.
Mr. Senator. With the same category as the beer place, the name of the street.
Mr. Griffin. Yes, correct the spelling. What is the name? You have changed
the word Carol Street on page 3 from C-a-r-o-l to C-a-r-r-o-l-l. That is fine.
Mr. Senator. Do you want that initialed?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; if you would please.
Mr. Senator. “He returned to the apartment and went to bed approximately
10:30 p.m. He does not recall seeing Ruby again that day.” It is not recall
seeing him, I didn’t see him.
Mr. Griffin. Why don’t you change recall to didn’t.
Mr. Senator. Now I stated here for the point of information before that
“Jack told him” which is me “that he had been at his sister Eva’s place,” said
that he had bought food for her.” In other words, when he bought all this
stuff there he bought her some too.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, it was your understanding when you talked
with Agent Moore that Jack had bought the sandwiches and so forth before he
went to Eva Grant’s house on Friday night?
Mr. Senator. Yes; now let me ask you this. When I am talking to them,
are they taking this word by word or what? Do you know? I don’t even
know myself.
Mr. Griffin. It depends. Of course I wasn’t at this interview.
Mr. Senator. I know that. This is why I asked you.
Mr. Griffin. They are obviously not taking it down word for word as our
court stenographer is here.
Mr. Senator. I know they do it in longhand which is tough. It is not easy.
Mr. Griffin. He is taking notes which hopefully are going to be accurate.
After all, these men are highly trained people.
Mr. Senator. I am certain they are.
Mr. Griffin. They are trained to take notes.
Mr. Senator. I am certain they are.
Mr. Griffin. And to do it as accurately as they can. But there are mistakes
that crop up.
Mr. Senator. Who isn’t fallible somewhere or another. I think there is a
misinterpretation of this word that “he had bought food for her.” Brought
food for her.
Mr. Griffin. Would it make any difference?
Mr. Senator. Not in all reality, I don’t know, because when he bought all
this food, if you asked me how much he bought I don’t know but apparently, I
have been under the impression that he bought quite a bit of things, because if
he took food over to the police station, he couldn’t go there with six or seven
sandwiches I know if he was working of that nature, to bring food over there.
So I assumed there must have been many, many sandwiches and pastries of
some nature that he had brought over there.
Mr. Griffin. I am interested, Mr. Senator, in this. That even in this interview
with Mr. Moore on the 3d of December you don’t make any reference about
Jack telling you that he went to the police station.
Mr. Senator. Maybe I forgot that.
Mr. Griffin. And that is why I ask you again if it is not possible—now
this interview was not under the same kind of pressure?
Mr. Senator. No; that is right. You are right on that. All I can say is
maybe it is just a thing that slipped my mind.
Mr. Griffin. Or is it possible that in fact all you remembered was that Jack
had said that he bought food for Eva, and that he hadn’t mentioned anything
about going to the police station?
Mr. Senator. No; this is the same time when he bought all this stuff, when
he bought these bags. Mind you, when I mentioned about these bags, this is
the first time that I have even thought about this to anybody that I spoke to, see.
Mr. Griffin. Now keep in mind the distinction between what Jack——
Mr. Senator. Even though this thing slipped my mind all the way through
completely.
Mr. Griffin. Yes; but try to focus on this distinction, the difference between
what Jack told you on Friday night or Saturday morning, and what you later
learned some time afterward. I ask you if it isn’t possible that you learned
about Jack’s going to the police station after you talked with Agent Moore, and
that that is the reason that you didn’t tell this to the police and you didn’t tell
it to the FBI and you didn’t tell it to Agent Moore, because you knew about the
sandwiches when you talked with Moore, and when you talked with the FBI,
and you knew about going to Eva’s, but at that point you didn’t know of any
connection between the sandwiches and the police station.
Mr. Senator. The only way that I can really express this, it could be a
probability and then it couldn’t, in other words, I can’t answer the question
truthfully and be sure. I say I am not sure. What else could I say on that?
Mr. Griffin. All right, this is what we are trying to get at.
Mr. Senator. I still ain’t sure if I did or didn’t mind you.
Mr. Griffin. Because the thing that I want to explore here is whether——
Mr. Senator. But I knew about the sandwiches the next day because I saw
them.
Mr. Griffin. You knew about the sandwiches, right?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. But the thing I am trying to direct your attention at is whether
you knew about Jack’s visit to the police station and I am suggesting to you
that if you had known on the 23d or the 24th about Jack’s visit to the police
station, you would have had some further conversation with Jack. If Jack had
said, or if I had said to you, “George, I just was down to the police station and
I took some sandwiches down there” on this particular day, why you would
have said to me, “Did you see Oswald? What was going on? What kind of
investigation?” That visit to the police station would have been a more
important thing than the sandwiches. So that if Jack really told you this on
Saturday, the 23d, I am suggesting that there might be some further conversation
that you and he had, because you would ask him questions about what
he saw, out of curiosity, and you don’t seem to recall any such conversation.
Mr. Senator. It is not fresh in my mind right now. I am inclined to think
that he did, but if I had to say 100 percent I really can’t answer you now. I just
don’t remember now. I was sort of under the impression that I was told. It is
hazy in my mind. I can’t say yes or no. I am not going to say no and I am not
going to say yes that he did or didn’t.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t have any clear recollection?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Of any conversation about his being down at the police station?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t remember, so in other words this is a thing I would
have to leave in question. Here is a question that I am not even sure of.
“Senator said that Ruby was very hot about this article and commented that
Weissman did not spell his name as a Jew but if he were a Jew he should be
ashamed of himself.”
Mr. Griffin. What is your feeling about that now.
Mr. Senator. I don’t ever remember telling him that. Now I don’t say that
I did or didn’t, but I don’t know why I had the reason to say that he didn’t spell
his name as a Jew. Wait a minute “that he did not spell his name as a Jew”
I just can’t figure why I would say that because Bernard Weissman to me
sounds Jewish no matter how I look at the name. This is the part I don’t
understand on this.
Mr. Griffin. Is it your recollection that Jack was hot under the collar about
this ad?
Mr. Senator. Oh, yes; oh, yes. This I remember he was.
Mr. Griffin. You found that ad independently of Jack as I understand it.
Mr. Senator. I found that ad Thursday night when I bought the paper.
Mr. Griffin. Thursday before the President arrived?
Mr. Senator. Or was it Friday? Thursday or Friday. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Something makes you think it was Thursday night?
Mr. Senator. Maybe, I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. What is that that makes you think that?
Mr. Senator. Wait a minute. I may have bought this paper Thursday night
because it come out in the paper the day the President arrived when I read it.
Or did it come out Friday? I don’t remember. Was it Friday?
Mr. Griffin. Of course, I don’t know.
Mr. Senator. It was a Friday’s paper.
Mr. Griffin. And the Friday morning news hits the newsstands on Thursday
night, does it not?
Mr. Senator. That is right.
Mr. Griffin. Now are you in the habit of picking up a morning newspaper
the night before?
Mr. Senator. It all depends the hour. If I am out at that hour and if the paper
is out at that hour.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall what you did the night before the President came
to Dallas?
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know what I did Thursday at all. I don’t know
what I did. Now there is a little twist in the thing right now. After we saw
the paper and the poster, he has just got this twisted around.
Mr. Griffin. Read what he has and then let’s talk about it.
Mr. Senator. “They went to the Southland Hotel Coffee Shop and had coffee,
Ruby drinking grapefruit juice. While there Ruby reread the ad and made
comments about it. They left the coffee shop and went to the main Dallas post
office on Ervay where Ruby rang the night bell.” Then it continues, but the
thing is this is reversed.
Mr. Griffin. What you are saying is that you went to the post office before
you had coffee?
Mr. Senator. Yes. This is reversed. Now does the reversal mean anything?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. There is a bunch that you have to reverse in this.
Mr. Griffin. Let’s get it straight then as to what actually happened there.
Mr. Senator. You want to reread it from here? It sounds all right except
the reversal.
Mr. Griffin. You read everything that is wrong, everything that is reversed
and so forth and then we will try to put it in proper order.
Mr. Senator. The only thing I can do is read the reversal and leave the other
as it is. In other words, when he is doing this he would have to say this was
first and the other was last. I don’t know how to do it.
Mr. Griffin. You read the text that is improper.
Mr. Senator. In other words, take these down in a line, is that what you mean?
Mr. Griffin. From the point that it gets out of order.
Mr. Senator. What I just read where it was out of order?
Mr. Griffin. The only two things out of order, let me understand this, are
that you went to the post office before you went to the Southland Hotel?
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And so the discussion you had at the Southland Hotel about
the Weissman ad occurred after you saw the Earl Warren sign and after
you went to the post office?
Mr. Senator. That is right. Now do you want some change in here?
Mr. Griffin. No; I think that is clear.
Mr. Senator. Let me finish the balance of this. That whole complete thing
is right now.
Mr. Griffin. We have corrected it on the record?
Mr. Senator. Yes. When he is quoting about a certain time, if it is an hour
off or a half hour off, is there any difference?
Mr. Griffin. Well, if you have——
Mr. Senator. He says about which is all right. He has got a time there.
Mr. Griffin. Do you think your recollection now is more accurate.
Mr. Senator. No, no. All I want to know when it says about. In other words,
that means approximately a certain time, in that area, is that right?
Mr. Griffin. That is right.
Mr. Senator. That is all. Let me ask you on something like this. Maybe
I ain’t reading this correct. “He said the fact that Ruby had the dog Sheba
to which he was very attached in the car when he went to the police station
alone would indicate that he intended to return soon.”
Mr. Griffin. Yes. What is unclear about that?
Mr. Senator. It sounds like I was telling him that he went to the police
station. This is the way it sounds to me.
Mr. Griffin. No; it sounds to me like you are saying to Agent Moore that
because Jack had Sheba with him down there at the police station, you draw the
conclusion that Jack just went down there on a casual basis and intended to
come back.
Mr. Senator. All I know is that when he left the house he had Sheba with
him. That I know.
Mr. Griffin. Now do you draw any particular significance about his having
Sheba with him? Does the fact that he had Sheba with him suggest something
to you about Jack planning to kill Oswald and not planning——
Mr. Senator. I’ll tell you how this sounds to me like unless I’m not reading
it. It sounds like I told him that when Jack went to the police office he had
Sheba with him. That is the way it sounds to me.
Mr. Griffin. No; what Agent Moore, I think, is suggesting, at least the way
I read it——
Mr. Senator. You read it. Start with “He said.”
Mr. Griffin. All right, let’s read the sentence before that.
“Senator said there were several things that may not have come to the attention
of the authorities which would indicate to him that Ruby had not planned
to shoot Oswald. He said the fact that Ruby had the dog Sheba to which he was
very attached in the car when he went to the police station alone would indicate
that he intended to return soon. Also, the fact that he had the cash receipts
from the club in the car. Senator said he was convinced that Ruby had emotionally
worked himself up to such a pitch that when he saw Oswald in the
basement of the police station he went out of his head.”
Now as I read those sentences, what you are saying is that if anybody were
to learn of all of the facts that took place they should pay particular attention
to the fact that Ruby had his dog Sheba in the car when he went to the police
station, because that indicates that Ruby intended to come back from the police
station before he went down there.
Do you still feel that way?
Mr. Senator. That he intended to come back?
Mr. Griffin. That Ruby, if Ruby had intended—are you saying that if Ruby
had intended to shoot Oswald before he drove down to the police station, he
wouldn’t have taken Sheba along?
Mr. Senator. That isn’t what I said.
Mr. Griffin. That is not what you said?
Mr. Senator. No. I said I read that like it sounds to me. I must be reading
it wrong but it sounds to me like I said he was going to the police station with
Sheba.
Mr. Griffin. No; we understand that you are not saying that at all. What
I am asking you is if you mean to say that in your mind Jack Ruby would not
have taken Sheba down to the police station with him if Jack Ruby ever intended
to shoot Oswald.
Mr. Senator. I don’t think he would; no.
Mr. Griffin. But do you think he might have anyhow?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know. I couldn’t answer that.
Mr. Griffin. Are you saying now as you think about this further, the fact
that he had the dog with him is not an overriding fact in deciding whether Jack
had any plan to shoot Oswald before he went down there?
Mr. Senator. To my knowledge I would say that he had definitely no plans.
Now the money part——
Mr. Griffin. But would you say this, that if Jack Ruby had planned, let’s
assume for the sake of argument that Jack Ruby planned to kill Oswald before
he went down to the police station. Now if Jack had that plan in his mind, are
you saying he never would have taken Sheba along with him?
Mr. Senator. No; I definitely don’t think he would ever take the dog with him.
Mr. Griffin. What would he have done with the dog?
Mr. Senator. I assume he would have probably, wherever he was going with
the dog, maybe he was going to the club or what it is.
Mr. Griffin. Why do you say that?
Mr. Senator. What?
Mr. Griffin. Why do you say that?
Mr. Senator. Well, all I can say is I know how much he likes that dog, and
the dog is always with him, no matter where he goes.
Mr. Griffin. Is there any reason why Jack——
Mr. Senator. No particular reason.
Mr. Griffin. Jack wouldn’t figure that you or somebody else wouldn’t have
picked that dog up later and taken care of it?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Or isn’t it possible that Jack just at this point forgot about the
consequences to the dog?
Mr. Senator. I can’t even answer that.
Mr. Griffin. Then would you say that the mere fact that Jack had Sheba
with him doesn’t prove one way or another whether he planned to kill Oswald?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think he planned nohow.
Mr. Griffin. I know you don’t think that, but I want to know what significance
we should put on the fact that he had Sheba with him. As I understand what
you have been saying now, one could draw the conclusion that simply because he
had Sheba with him doesn’t prove conclusively one way or another that he
had a plan or didn’t have a plan.
Mr. Senator. I can’t conceive anyhow that this man had any plans, nohow.
Mr. Griffin. If you knew that Jack Ruby had taken Sheba to the club and
locked her in the club and left instructions for somebody to take care of Sheba,
would that affect your attitude as to whether Jack planned to kill Oswald or
not? Would you still say——
Mr. Senator. I would say it would still be of the same nature having the dog.
I don’t think he would do anything like that.
Mr. Griffin. You just don’t think he planned to kill Oswald?
Mr. Senator. No; definitely not. I just never could visualize it. I can’t
visualize anything like this.
Mr. Griffin. You also say in this, Moore also reports in this statement this
language: “Also the fact that he had the cash receipts from the club in the car.”
Now I take it from that language that you are saying that you also think that
Jack would have taken the cash receipts back to the club if he had planned to kill
Oswald?
Mr. Senator. The only thing I can say is that I would have to guess on
my own and say I can only surmise that he wouldn’t have had any cash with
him. That is what I would guess. I don’t know. First of all, he carries
money both ways, see. Now Jack has always been under the impression
wherever he goes, daytime or nighttime, that money, I don’t say all his money
but a certain part of money, what ever he puts in, is safe in the trunk. He
feels it is safe in the trunk.
Mr. Griffin. Let’s suppose Jack Ruby had done this. Let’s suppose he had
taken his dog Sheba to the Carousel Club, left a note for somebody as to how
to take care of Sheba, and had taken all the money out of the back of his car
and locked it in the safe at the Carousel Club.
Mr. Senator. What safe?
Mr. Griffin. Didn’t he have a safe there?
Mr. Senator. He bought a safe but it was never fixed. He bought a safe,
I’ll tell you the kind of a safe he bought. To my knowledge it has never been
put to use. He bought a safe that fits into the ground. Did you ever see these
little round things that fit into the——
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. Well, this thing never materialized because the structure was
never made for the safe, never made into the ground. Now if he ever used
the safe I don’t even know.
Mr. Griffin. And did Jack ever put his money——
Mr. Senator. Excuse me. The reason I say I feel he didn’t, which I really
don’t know, I don’t think he did, because the safe was able to be carried. It
wasn’t that big thing but when you cement it around you can’t get to it.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you this. Was Jack in the habit of putting his
money in the bank?
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, Jack’s safe was his car?
Mr. Senator. Not necessarily. He had it in his car, he had it in his pocket,
and he had it around the house.
Mr. Griffin. But you stated a while ago that Jack felt that if he had the
money locked in the trunk of the car that was as good as being in the safe?
Mr. Senator. Yes; I did, but I didn’t say all the monies. I said a certain
part of the monies. Now what part of it I don’t know, because I know he carried
some in there. I know he carried some in his pocket. I know he leaves some
at home.
Mr. Griffin. Did he leave any at home on the 24th?
Mr. Senator. If he did I don’t know. I’ll tell you why, the reason I say that
is because he has in the living room that has got one of these self-locks. Did you
ever see these little locks on a door that you can lock. You know, you can
sort of snip it off? It comes off, whatever kind of lock you call it?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. He has one of them. He had one of them in the living room.
See, his apartment that night was confiscated. I don’t know if it was the
local police. I don’t know who got in there. Somebody got in there, see.
Mr. Griffin. But it certainly wasn’t unusual, was it, for Jack to carry all
of his money on his person and in his car?
Mr. Senator. No; he has done that many times. But I’ll tell you, when
he is putting the money in his car he very seldom ever left it there for such
a lengthy time like that. But this was his safest place as far as not carrying
it all in his pocket.
Mr. Griffin. And he felt that keeping it in the car was safer than keeping
it in the house.
Mr. Senator. This I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Now you say this was the longest time that you can remember
Jack carrying a lot or that much money around with him?
Mr. Senator. Oh, no; I never said that.
Mr. Griffin. What did you mean to say?
Mr. Senator. I never said that.
Mr. Griffin. In other words, there have been times when Jack, I take it there
have been periods of 3 days or more when Jack has carried $2,000 or $3,000?
Mr. Senator. Or more. No; this is an every day occurrence with him.
This is a thing that materialized 7 days a week.
Mr. Griffin. So there is nothing unusual about Jack Ruby having all that
money in his automobile.
Mr. Senator. No; it is always like that. Now if he has any money in the
bank, I mean I can’t quote that because I don’t see that. See, he carries this
money around 7 days a week. Now what he has in the bank, of course, I
have quoted you that once before, I think that was yesterday, I don’t know
what he has got. Only when you ask what bank he has, when I mentioned the
Merchants State Bank, I don’t know if the guy has got $40 in there or $500, you
know what I mean? I don’t know.
Or whatever he has had in there or how he has had it. See, this is an unusual
man when it comes to this money bit. I don’t know how many times he asked
me, “George, where is my money?” making me feel like I took it but he always
misplaced it and always found it.
Mr. Griffin. Is this a large sum of money that he misplaced?
Mr. Senator. Sometimes it could be missing $200 or $300 or $400, I don’t
know. Whatever the stake is, he has about 4, 5 or 6 different stakes in
different pockets. This man don’t remember where the money is. This may
sound crazy but it is true.
Mr. Griffin. Did Jack own any real estate?
Mr. Senator. No; what is he going to use for money for the real estate?
A lot of people are under the impression that Jack had a lot of money. Jack
didn’t. Jack was, what would you classify him, as a walking bank?
Mr. Griffin. He carried all his money on his person regardless of how much
it was.
Mr. Senator. Yes; this man was making who knows, I don’t know how
much money he has got and I can’t break it down and say he is carrying 10, 5
or whatever. Who knows what he has got or how much it is. But there has
been 2, 3, 4, maybe more.
Mr. Griffin. What, hundred or thousand dollars?
Mr. Senator. Thousands, whatever it is. Of course, as I told you, this all
goes to the rent, the help, the electricity, you know, all the utilities and things.
But he is a walking bank.
Mr. Griffin. Is this common knowledge that he carried all this money
around?
Mr. Senator. That was common knowledge to me. How many other people
knew it I don’t know but I am certain other people knew it. Look, when the
help all got paid off they were all paid off in cash. When they wanted to borrow
money they were all paid off in cash. Just like here I can’t quote how
much money he had at any time.
Mr. Griffin. All right. Now let me ask you to read over what I have marked
as Washington, D.C., April 22, 1964, George Senator Deposition, Exhibit 5403,
and I signed that. It is the report of Agents Rawlings and Glonek. Would you
read that over, and tell me, go through that in the same fashion as we have with
the others.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. Are there any additions, corrections, or explanations that you
feel ought to be made to Exhibit 5403?
Mr. Senator. Let me go through this fast. I think there aren’t but let me
make sure.
Mr. Griffin. Let me ask you before we get into this, was that interview made
at your request?
Mr. Senator. No; I was sent for. Why would I request it?
Mr. Griffin. I don’t know. Some people call the FBI and tell them they have
something more to tell them.
Mr. Senator. No; I was sent for. I have had a pretty good amount of questioning
you know. I, like any other individual of the nature that I am, I don’t
think is too happy about all this. And who would be?
Mr. Griffin. Now that you raise that, we might get on the record the fact that
I believe you have expressed to me at lunch during the last 2 days that you feel
that this is an unfortunate circumstance in your life.
Mr. Senator. Certainly it is. It ain’t going to do my life any good.
Mr. Griffin. Would you explain? Would you want to convey some of the
feelings here on the record that you gave to me?
Mr. Senator. I feel I will always be pointed at, if anybody knows my name
of the nature of the conditions that surrounds me.
Mr. Griffin. You feel a certain amount of shame or disgrace?
Mr. Senator. No; let me say there will probably be a disturbance. They will
always point to Jack Ruby’s roommate, Jack Ruby’s roommate, something of
that nature, you know. What does phonetic mean?
Mr. Griffin. That means that they don’t know whether the spelling is correct,
but without knowing how to correctly spell it that is the way they would write
it, from the sound. Mr. Senator, as you read through that if you come to anything
that you think ought to be modified or changed, why, point it out, because
I assume that the two pages that you have read so far——
Mr. Senator. I am reading it pretty fast. I am a little bit on the punchy
side, you know.
Mr. Griffin. If you want us to walk out and sort of relieve your mind.
Mr. Senator. No; there is one item in here where it states “He carried his
money in a sack.” This is only partial. It was in his pockets, in the sack.
Mr. Griffin. The trunk of the car?
Mr. Senator. The trunk of the car. No, no; mind you if it is in the sack it
goes in the trunk of the car.
Mr. Griffin. Anything else in that interview report that you would want
to——
Mr. Senator. No; I don’t know if this means anything, it is in his pocket, to
you I mean. I don’t know. This says here where he took the revolver and
placed it on the bag on top of the money. This is not always——
Mr. Griffin. What did he place on the bag on top of the money?
Mr. Senator. The gun on top of the moneybag. “Placed it in the bag on top
of the money.” To me it is not important. The gun may be next to it or something
like that, who knows where he put it.
Mr. Griffin. Now let me ask you a couple of closing questions. One thing we
haven’t talked about here. That was, how many sets of keys did Jack Ruby
have?
Mr. Senator. To the clubs?
Mr. Griffin. Did he have more than one key chain?
Mr. Senator. I think he had two small ones. I think one for the car, I’m not
sure now. He had keys but I don’t know what they all fit you know. I think
he had one for the car and I think one for the place.
Mr. Griffin. Did he keep all of his car keys on one ring or did he have them
on two different rings?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t know?
Mr. Senator. I don’t know.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have one billfold or more than one billfold?
Mr. Senator. I have never seen a billfold.
Mr. Griffin. You have never seen his billfold?
Mr. Senator. You mean to carry his paper money in billfolds? No.
Mr. Griffin. Identification and things like that. Did he have a wallet?
Mr. Senator. I don’t think he ever had a wallet. I don’t recall seeing any.
Mr. Griffin. Did you ever see his driver’s license?
Mr. Senator. Did I ever see his driver’s license?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. Or social security.
Mr. Senator. No.
Mr. Griffin. When he got undressed at night did he put his billfold—what
did he do with his——
Mr. Senator. I never seen his billfold. I think he carries them—what he
carried these things in, he had a little thing, you know a little thing that opened
up and you slide it to one side or the other, sort of like what, a little money fold.
Mr. Hubert. Sort of like an accordian?
Mr. Senator. No; it didn’t even open up like that. In other words it opened
up like a covered book or one of these little things.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have identification in that?
Mr. Senator. I never seen into it. It could be.
Mr. Griffin. Was it the type of thing you could put identification in?
Mr. Senator. I am certain he probably could have.
Mr. Griffin. Would you recognize it if you saw it?
Mr. Senator. The thing?
Mr. Griffin. Yes; that you describe.
Mr. Senator. I am not sure. I might. I couldn’t say positive. As a matter
of fact even the coloration, I wouldn’t know if it was green or black.
Mr. Griffin. Did he have any habit of leaving car keys in his automobile that
you know of?
Mr. Senator. I think only at the garage. See, the garage is right downstairs
from the club next door, which they watch his car constantly because he has
rented this place on a monthly basis which he has had for I don’t know how
long.
Mr. Griffin. And where would he leave the keys then, in the ignition?
Mr. Senator. I think the keys were left in the ignition.
Mr. Griffin. Do you recall if you ever had occasion to look in the glove compartment
of Jack’s car?
Mr. Senator. I have looked at it but it is such a jingle-jangle there that it
didn’t mean anything as far as opening it up. There was so much gook in
there, do you know what I mean?
Mr. Griffin. Yes. Did you ever have any occasion to look in the trunk of
his car?
Mr. Senator. I have seen the trunk open; yes, and that is another slop
house, with a bunch of garbage in there. I told him a thousand times “How
can you open your trunk and not clean it up? How can you keep that garbage
in there.”
Mr. Griffin. What sort of things would he keep in there?
Mr. Senator. There would be papers. In other words, things weren’t placed.
You take a tire, you think the tire is in the right place? It could be any
place in that thing there, and all the other garbage that he had in there, and
papers, whatever it is. He kept his car like he kept his apartment.
Mr. Griffin. You don’t have any knowledge, or do you——
Mr. Senator. I have never gone through his trunk.
Mr. Griffin. As to what he had in there?
Mr. Senator. In the trunk?
Mr. Griffin. Yes.
Mr. Senator. No. To me it looked like a bunch of garbage he had in there.
Mr. Griffin. Have you ever had occasion to drive his automobile?
Mr. Senator. Yes; but very seldom because he didn’t want me to handle
it and I’ll tell you why. No insurance. That is why he didn’t want me to
drive his car. Very seldom was I ever allowed to drive that car.
Mr. Griffin. On the occasions when you drove his automobile, from where
did you get the automobile keys?
Mr. Senator. From him.
Mr. Griffin. Off of his person?
Mr. Senator. Yes; from the house, yes, when he was home. And sometimes
I would drive for him when he is tired, like he feels he is going to fall asleep,
and I have done this you know from the club to the apartment where he feels
he maybe fall asleep at the wheel. This is one of the things where he wouldn’t
let me drive because he had no insurance, and I wasn’t anxious to drive the car
on account of that either.
Mr. Griffin. Now you and I have had lunch together.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. And we have had breaks here and on these occasions we have
talked and you have talked with Mr. Hubert also on these occasions. Is
there anything that we talked with you about in these times when we haven’t
had a court reporter present that we haven’t covered here in our deposition?
Mr. Senator. It would be hard for me to think what you have left out, you
know. I have never had a questioning like this in my life before. When
I originally came down here I thought I would only be here—I thought the questioning
would probably be similar to being questioned by the FBI or the Secret
Service. First of all how was I to know? What was I to expect, see? I
just couldn’t believe that I would be here 2 days. I couldn’t think how it was
possible where you could ask me so many questions, both of you.
Mr. Hubert. In any case you don’t recall anything dealing with the case,
an aspect of it that was the subject of a conversation which has not been discussed
on the record?
Mr. Senator. Offhand, I can’t. Offhand, I just can’t think of any because
I think you all know more than I know. If you can remember the Times
Square Cafeteria you know more than I know. You are not going to put that
too, are you?
Mr. Griffin. Let me then ask this one final question.
Mr. Senator. Yes.
Mr. Griffin. If anything should come to your attention in the future, which
pertains to the Ruby case that could be of assistance to us, will you contact
somebody in the Government and let them know so that we can have a complete
record here. He is nodding his head yes.
Mr. Senator. Because he can’t write the nod down there?
Mr. Hubert. Thank you very much indeed for coming.
Mr. Griffin. I want to say to him that it has been a pleasure to talk with
you; we think your cooperation has been most helpful.