Lee got paid on a Friday, from the Leslie Sheetmetal Works.
Monday Lee and Marina packed their belongings and went to Dallas.
The point I am bringing, is that Lee had no idea of quitting his job in Fort Worth, because he was not packed. This was on a Sunday. And this couple offered a job in Dallas. And their father, her grandfather, was a Russian, and Lee went to Dallas on a Monday, and worked for the Arts Graphic. I do not know—but you probably have that information. His very first job there.
Mr. Rankin. Do you know whether he was discharged by the Leslie people?
Mrs. Oswald. No, sir, he was not discharged by the Leslie people. He just didn't show up. He was paid on a Friday, and that Monday he did not show up for work, because he came to Dallas.
The point I am bringing out is this job was also offered to Lee from a Russian father. He had no idea of moving. There was nothing packed.
Now, I understand that my son Robert helped him to move. And the way I know this—I went there on a Tuesday, and the children had gone, because they had left on a Monday. So then I went to Robert's home, and Robert was at work. So I was all upset. They didn't tell me they were leaving.
I said to Veda. "Marina and Lee are no longer there, the house is vacant."
Mr. Rankin. You spoke someone's name.
Mrs. Oswald. Veda, V-e-d-a. Robert's wife is Veda. I said they had to move yesterday.
She said "Robert helped them to move, and they gave us the food in the refrigerator."
I said it came up all of a sudden, and I told the story about the couple being there.
Mr. Rankin. Do you know the name of that couple?
Mrs. Oswald. No, sir. And I have not been able to find out.
I have asked Mrs. Paine recently, and she said she does not remember. And the night I was in Mrs. Paine's home, I asked Marina and Mrs. Paine, and they did say a name. Marina would know the name of the couple. But I do not have that information.
Mr. Rankin. And was he the owner of this business?
Mrs. Oswald. The father was the owner of the business. And this was an American couple. And they did not speak Russian, either one. The father was a Russian, or the grandfather—that owned this place of business.
Mr. Rankin. I think you said the grandfather before.
Mrs. Oswald. I said either the father or the grandfather. I cannot be sure.
It was the girl's father or grandfather, and not the boy.
So I told my daughter-in-law about this, and she knew about it.
So now here is something that I would like to have my daughter-in-law as a witness.
It has been stated in the paper that my son was giving Marina black eyes and possibly had beat her. And this is by the Russian people.
Now, living in this home in Fort Worth, I had gone by several times I had a day off, and Marina was not at home.
I said to her, "Marina, Mama come to see you yesterday. You no home." She didn't answer.
I said, "Marina, Mama come see you. You no home, Marina."
"No. I go to lady's house to take English lessons."
Mr. Rankin. Do you know who she was speaking of?
Mrs. Oswald. I do not know for a fact. But my son Robert will know. And that is why it is important to call him. That is what I am trying to say, Chief Justice Warren. These others will know this part of my story, give you the facts.
I am assuming it is Mr. Peter Gregory's wife that started these lessons. But Marina was taking English lessons.
Now, they lived at a corner house, and there is Carol Street, and opposite Carol Street is a parking lot for Montgomery Ward. They live approximately two blocks from Montgomery Ward. So I had gone by, as I am stating, several times. You have to understand—this is just 6 or 7 weeks that they are in this home.
Mr. Rankin. You say "they." I am sorry to interrupt.
Mrs. Oswald. Marina and Lee, in this home.
Then Marina was not home. I could not understand where so fast that they could have so many friends, that this Russian girl didn't speak English and know her way about, could be gone all day long. That worried me.
So I sat in the car on Montgomery Ward's parking lot, where I could see the house, because I wanted to see who Marina was going to come home with.
The door was open. I went in the house and no one was there.
By this time, I was wondering how she could be gone all the time, being a stranger in town.
I sat in the car all day long. She didn't show up.
Finally, I went home, had my supper, left my apartment, and on the way going back to the house Lee was leaving Montgomery Ward.
Now, they did not have a phone. I am just assuming—this is not a fact—that Lee went to a telephone trying to locate his wife, because I was coming from Montgomery Ward. He got in the car with me, and we had about a block to go. I entered the home with Lee, and I said, "Lee where is Marina?" Of course, I knew that she wasn't home, because I had stayed in the car all day.
He said, "Oh, I guess she is out with some friends."
"Would you like me to fix your supper?"
"No, she will probably be home in time to fix my supper?"
So I left. I am not going to interfere in their married life. But I did offer to fix him supper. And I went back to make sure Marina still wasn't home.
I walked in the home with my son.
So approximately 2 days later—not approximately, but 2 days later I went to the home and my son was reading, he read continuously—in the living room, and Marina was in the bedroom, I could not see Marina. And I said to Lee, "Tell Marina, I am here."
Marina made no appearance.
So I went into the bedroom, and she was nursing June with her head down. And I started to talk. And she still had her head down. And I came around to the front and I saw Marina with a black eye.
Now, gentlemen, I don't think any man should hit his wife, as is stated in the paper, or beat his wife. But I will say this. There may be times that a woman needs to have a black eye. I am not condoning the act. But I strongly am saying that this girl was not home. And this man was working. And I saw, myself, that this man came home and didn't have any food. This couple doesn't have a maid or anyone to give this working man food. And I think it was her duty to be home and have his supper ready.
That is a little thing, maybe. But to me it shows the character of what I am trying to bring out.
And so there may have been reasons that the children fought. And I also know that many, many couples fight, of our finest people, because I made it clear before that I have worked in these very fine homes, and have seen very fine people fight. I have seen a gentleman strike his wife in front of me. We know this happens. It is not a nice thing to do. But it happens in our finest homes. I am not condoning the act. But I am telling you that there probably was reasons, we will say. The woman has a black eye, and he is a louse—he gave her a black eye, but we must consider why did he give her a black eye. We always must consider the second aspect of the case.
Mr. Rankin. Did she take the baby with her when you looked——
Mrs. Oswald. Yes, sir, she took—always the baby was with her.
Mr. Rankin. Did you ask Marina how she got the black eye or anything about it?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes, in the bedroom. I was shocked.
"Mama—Lee." Just like that.
So I went