The Warren Commission (Complete Edition). President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy - U.S. Government. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy - U.S. Government
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Mr. Tommy Thompson gave you. And he will be in touch with you."

      Well, I didn't think too much of it. He escorted us with a porter up to our room.

      We had two beautiful suites—two, not one—completed rooms and baths, adjoining, at the Executive Inn. And that was the last time I had seen either representative. I was stranded with a Russian girl and two babies. I didn't realize in the beginning. But then it was time for food, and I had to order food. I told Marina to stay aside and that I would let the man in. She stayed in her room. I let this man in with the food, and then I became uneasy, that he might know who we were is what I was uneasy about, because I didn't realize the danger actually Marina and I were in.

      I sensed we were alone. And there I was with a Russian girl. And I didn't want anybody to know who we were, because I knew my son had been picked up.

      So this is where the picture comes in.

      While there, Marina—there is an ashtray on the dressing table. And Marina comes with bits of paper, and puts them in the ashtray and strikes a match to it. And this is the picture of the gun that Marina tore up into bits of paper, and struck a match to it.

      Now, that didn't burn completely, because it was heavy—not cardboard—what is the name for it—a photographic picture. So the match didn't take it completely.

      Mr. Rankin. Had you said anything to her about burning it before that?

      Mrs. Oswald. No, sir. The last time I had seen the picture was in Marina's shoe when she was trying to tell me that the picture was in her shoe. I state here now that Marina meant for me to have that picture, from the very beginning, in Mrs. Paine's home. She said—I testified before—"Mamma, you keep picture."

      And then she showed it to me in the courthouse. And when I refused it, then she decided to get rid of the picture.

      She tore up the picture and struck a match to it. Then I took it and flushed it down the toilet.

      Mr. Rankin. And what time was this?

      Mrs. Oswald. This—now, just a minute, gentlemen, because this I know is very important to me and to you, too.

      We had been in the jail. This was an evening. Well, this, then, would be approximately 5:30 or 6 in the evening.

      Mr. Rankin. What day?

      Mrs. Oswald. On Saturday, November 23. Now, I flushed the torn bits and the half-burned thing down the commode. And nothing was said. There was nothing said.

      Mr. Rankin. That was at the Executive Inn?

      Mrs. Oswald. At the Executive Inn.

      Now, Mr. Hart Odum, the same FBI agent, that insisted upon my daughter-in-law going with him from the Adolphus Hotel, knocked on the door at the Executive Inn. I had had my robe and slippers on, and I pushed the curtain aside when he knocked. He said, "This is Mr. Odum."

      So, I opened the door. This is very important. I would like to not talk about it. I would like to show you what I did. This is so important.

      I opened the door just a little, because I had the robe off and I didn't want anybody to come in. The door is just ajar. I am going to take my shoes off, gentlemen, because I have this worked out. This is my height. He said, "Mrs. Oswald, we would like to see Marina."

      I said, "Mr. Odum, I stated yesterday you are not going to see Marina. We are awful tired."

      "Well, we just want to ask her one question."

      "Mr. Odum, I am not calling my daughter. As a matter of fact, she is taking a bath."

      She wasn't.

      He said, "Mrs. Oswald, I would like to ask you a question."

      I said, "Yes, sir." The door is ajar. This is my height. I wear bifocals, which enlarges things. And in his hand—his hand is bigger than mine—in the cup of his hand, like this, is a picture. And the two corners are torn off the picture. This is a very glossy black and white picture of a man's face and shoulder.

      Now, Mr. Odum wasn't too tall. I need somebody else. Mr. Odum's hand with the picture—what I am trying to say—he is facing this way—showing me. So my eyes are looking straight at the picture. And I have nothing else to see but this hand and the picture, because the door is ajar. And there is nothing on the picture but a face and shoulders. There is no background or anything. So I can identify this picture amongst millions of pictures, I am so sure of it. It was a glossy black and white picture. So I said, "No, sir, believe me. I have never seen this picture in my life."

      With that, he went off.

      There was another man with him.

      About an hour later the telephone rang, and it was Mrs. Paine. She said, "Mrs. Oswald, Lee called and he was very upset because Marina was not with me, and he asked me to get a lawyer for him, a Mr. Abt. I would like to talk to Marina."

      So I put Marina on the telephone, and Marina said about two or three words.

      So when she got off the telephone, I said,—Now, Marina talks in Russian, gentlemen. I said, "Marina, Mrs. Paine told me that Lee called and you were not home at Mrs. Paine, and Lee tells Mrs. Paine to get a lawyer."

      Marina didn't answer.

      And I then sensed—well, now, why isn't she answering me? This is very peculiar.

      And there was no more said about that conversation.

      Mr. Rankin. Did you ask her about this lawyer?

      Mrs. Oswald. Ask Marina?

      Mr. Rankin. Yes.

      Mrs. Oswald. No, sir. There was no more said about this conversation.

      Mr. Rankin. You didn't say anything about Mr. Abt to her then?

      Mrs. Oswald. No, sir. But here is the point to this whole thing.

      The FBI agent would have to know where we were, and Mrs. Paine would have to know where we were, because of these two Life representatives, who, I am assuming, probably went back to Mrs. Paine's home in order to get more information. And she—they would have told her where we were, because no one knew where we were. This girl and I had no protection or anything. We were sent out there with this Mr. Allen Grant, the representative. And no one knew who we were. And Mr. Hart Odum would have to know where we were through Mrs. Paine, which is a normal procedure, let's say. He might have gone to Mrs. Paine's home looking for Marina there, and Mrs. Paine might have told him we were at the Executive Inn. I will grant that.

      But the point I am going to make is that the picture was tried to be shown to Marina before the telephone conversation.

      Now, if there are any questions why I say that, I would be happy to answer.

      Mr. Rankin. Yes—why do you say that?

      Mrs. Oswald. Because they wanted Marina——

      Mr. Dulles. Could we get what picture this is? Is that the picture held in the hand?

      Mrs. Oswald. Yes, sir—the picture that is held in the hand, that the FBI agent, Mr. Hart Odum showed me.

      Mr. Rankin. I understand you didn't recognize who the picture was at all.

      Mrs. Oswald. No. I told Mr. Hart Odum I had never seen the man before, "Believe me, sir," and he left.

      So the picture was shown—was tried—had tried to be shown to my daughter-in-law, but they were not successful.

      So then they received—Marina receives a telephone call.

      Now, I am under the impression, since I know it was Mr. Jack Ruby's picture I saw—at the time I didn't.

      Mr. Rankin. How do you know that?

      Mrs. Oswald. Because I have seen his picture in the paper. Now I know it is Mr. Jack Ruby.

      I am under the impression that Marina was threatened——

      Mr. Rankin. What was the date now?

      Mrs.