Neely St Questions

[Thomas Graves]

[...]

It's WCE 1409, a 5/15/64 memo written by Dallas patrolman W.R. Finigan described an event that happened the previous year

during "late spring or early summer":

"I was on the northeast corner of Main and Ervay Streets and observed an unidentified white male on the northwest corner of

Main and Ervay Streets. This white male was passing out some sort of literature, and had a sign on his back which read "Viva

Castro. I went to the phone in Dreyfus & Son and called for Sergeant D.V. Harkness to meet me on the corner.

"While I was waiting for Sergeant Harkness, US Commissioner W. Maden Hill came across the street and said, "Something should be done about that guy passing out literature.

"About this time, Sergeant Harkness drove up on his 3-wheel motorcycle and stopped on the northeast corner where I was

standing. As we started to discuss the situation, the white male removed the "Viva Castro" sign and ran into the H.L. Green

Company. A pedestrian standing close to the young man heard him say, "Oh, hell, here come the cops," and watched him duck into the

H.L. Green Company."

http://www.maryferre...bsPageId=171626

(emphasis added by T. Graves)

[...]

That's W(illiam) Madden Hill.

FWIW, his son, Robert Madden Hill was born in Dallas 1928, University of Texas Law, in private practice in The Big "D" from 1950 until 1970 at which time he was appointed to a United States Federal District judgeship by President Nixon. He presided at the 1979 mail fraud and tax evasion trial of Billy Sol Estes and gave him the maximum sentence of ten years in prison. President Reagan appointed him to the appellate court in 1984. Robert Madden Hill died of an asthma attack in 1987 at the age of 59.

--Tommy

Edited December 15, 2011 by Thomas Graves

[Ed LeDoux]

Could it be this placard that was "found" in the Neely St apt?

From what I've found the Dallas one supposedly said "VIVA CASTRO" yet Lee's letter claimed it said VIVA FIDEL.

The N.O. one said "VIVA FIDEL" or at least that is in the claims.

From Quigley interview:

About one p .m . on August 9, 1963, OSWALD said

that he wont down on Canal Street by himself and started

distributing committee literature . He said he had made

up a placard which he hung around his neck with a piece

of string . The placard was made up of brown cardboard .

On the placard were several pieces of literature which

expressed the aims and purposes of the committee . At

the bottom of the cardboard placard he said he had printed

'in black capital letters the words "Viva FIDEL." From

this time until around four p .m . he said he distributed

a throwaway which was prepared on yellow paper, 6" x 9"

In size, which contained the following : "Hands Off Cuba!

Join The Fair Play For Cuba Committee, Now Orleans, Charter

Member Branch, Free Literature, Lectures, Location : A . J .

HIDELL, P. 0 . Box 30016, Now Orleans, Louisiana, Everybody

Welcome!"

AND

Around 4 p .m . while standing in the immediate

vicinity of Walgreen's Drug Store at Canal and Baronne

Streets, OSWALD said three Cubans approached him, and he

gave each one of the above-described throwaways . These

individuals became very angry, tore up the throwaways,

threw them down on the sidewalk and began arguing with him.

This created quite a disturbance and shortly thereafter the

police arrived, and he, as well as the other individuals

whom he understood to be Cuban exiles, was arrested .

The handouts were torn up not a placard.

http://www.aarclibrary.org/publib/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh17/pdf/WH17_CE_826.pdf

This has the placard being placed into evidence in NO against LHO:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:fqxlI8GaGPcJ:jfk.hood.edu/Collection/Weisberg%2520Subject%2520Index%2520Files/O%2520Disk/Oswald%2520Lee%2520Harvey/Arrest%2520New%2520Orleans/Item%252001.pdf+lee+oswald+placard&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShh08keVvhAmGQAwXrPlm0gmuRvxRJ-Il1DZBVH9IdYUwBiHdzAaCSEFwwAq61k_7how8D6qBw5tkV_TTHiR2uSvd42QmAtxNQk8sHDmKecDtlxqy_ZAg4V-4d8EZ8QAFeWlzUI&sig=AHIEtbQBG-GNw7HM6QWSkvXL-x8A6bMV4Q

But no such Placard is listed in the evidence.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=lee+harvey+oswald+viva+fidel&hl=en&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=nBQgvHZLRQmO6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.cubaforum.nl/viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D5209&docid=LSl4hiU4aewYeM&imgurl=http://www.aguadadepasajeros.bravepages.com/cubahistoria/leeharveyoswald1.JPG&w=514&h=402&ei=3QnqTvzQB-aviQK0oYj4Aw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=374&vpy=296&dur=466&hovh=120&hovw=153&tx=161&ty=97&sig=102926174183376059607&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=153&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0&biw=1018&bih=599

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/136/dsc00106o.jpg/sr=1

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/7095/oswaldpatsy.gif

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/6707/leeoswaldpart34.jpg

I've searched through most of DPD archives and no luck with a reference to Attic or a Placard.

CD 5, p. 135, says FBI searched 214 W. Neely on 11/24/63 - was it found then? If so nothing lists it.

A DPD inventory list showed zerex and photos were made of box top and pay stub. They even copied and had pics of his Po Box key...but nothing exists for the stub and box top.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth49672/

Did Lee receive the flyers and pamphlets from NY sent on the 18th of April as Lee moved the 24th to NO. Did he take these handouts to NO.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth49783/m1/1/med_res/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Pizzo_Exh_B-Oswald_leaflets_FPFC-WH_Vol21_139.jpg/220px-Pizzo_Exh_B-Oswald_leaflets_FPFC-WH_Vol21_139.jpg

No sign seen:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=35V8OePDTjI

Mrs. Joyce O'Brien, 1615 Fairway, Beaumont, Texas, was interviewed on

November 30, 1963. She stated she was a cousin of Lee Harvey Oswald

inasmuch as her mother, Mrs. Charles Murret, 757 French Street, New

Orleans, Louisiana, is a sister of Oswald's mother. Mrs. O'Brien stated

that while visiting her mother in August, 1963, she received a telephone

call from Lee Harvey Oswald who was in jail in New Orleans. Oswald asked

her to post $25 for his bond. Mrs. O'Brien went to the New Orleans Police

Department and was informed Oswald was charged with "disturbing the peace"

for carrying posters. She said that, after she saw a poster bearing the

words "VIVA CASTRO" and other pamphlets, she decided against putting up

bond for him. She subsequently received a second call from Oswald, who

instructed her to contact his wife. However, Mrs. O'Brien telephoned Mr.

Emile Bruneau, a friend of her father, and Bruneau made the arrangements

through which Oswald was released.

http://www.acorn.net/jfkplace/03/JA/DR/.dr19.html

I believe the Poster she saw was the flyer or handout and not a Placard.

Harkness and Finigan statements to Curry and Curry to Rankin.

http://www.aarclibrary.org/publib/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh22/pdf/WH22_CE_1409.pdf

Church Committee references a Dallas memo to HQ:

On April 21, 1963, the New York Field Office learned that Oswald

had written a letter to the Fair Play for Cuban Committee. This was

the first indication in Bureau files that Oswald had a relationship

with this pro-Castro organization.23a Oswald’s letter stated that he

had passed out FPCC literature in Dallas with a placard around

his neck reading “Hands Off Cuba-Viva Fidel.” This information was

not reported to Dallas until June 2’7, 1963,24 and not reported to Headquarters

until September 10, 1963. 25 Once again, Oswald’s activities

contradicted his interview statements.

23a Memorandum from Dallas Field Office to FBI Headquarters, 9/10/63.

http://www.aarclibrary.org/publib/church/reports/book5/pdf/ChurchB5_6_Appendices.pdf

Nothing I've seen points me to an attic find...nothing contemporaneous points to any reports by individuals to DPD about the Dallas incident. Yet the claims include a one VERY ANGRY soon to be Dallas magistrate and current United States Commissioner W Madden Hill.

No report of this was filed. No handouts collected. Nothing but after the fact statement of Finigan and Harkness. Belin does not ask Harkness about this. Curry is not asked either.

Curious?

Without the actual FBI archive insert I'm unsure about it being found in the Neely Street Attic. Hopefully someone will be able to re-find it and post it and solve another Neely Street mystery.

Ed

[Guest Tom Scully]

Neely St. "find" isn't looking good...If a placard found at Neely St. was in the possession of, or known to the DPD or the FBI, it should have been introduced during the questioning of Hosty...unless it was suppressed....

Greg/Ray,

I find this subject very interesing and somewhat supportive of my position when taken in total.

Jim, I'm afraid it's not as it may seem...

"the incident seems to have really occurred. Why would Finigan make it up? How did Oswald know about it to take credit in his letter of April 16?"[/b]

1st "Patrolman Finigan noticed a white male with a Viva Castro sign passing out literature on the corner of Main and Ervay. He was eventually chased by Finigan, but got away."

If Oswald "got away" he could not have been identified by Finigan, correct?

2nd In the testimony of James Patrick Hosty we find this information:

Mr. HOSTY. It says, "On April 21, 1963, Dallas confidential informant T-2 advised that Lee H. Oswald of Dallas, Tex, was in contact with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee in New York City at which time he advised that he passed out pamphlets for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. According to T-2, Oswald had a placard around his neck reading, 'Hands Off Cuba, Viva Fidel.'"

T-2 XX XXX. The letter was photographed during an April black bag job on FPCC HQ. (Source: Deep Politics p 261)

Mr. STERN. Did you attempt to verify that information?

Mr. HOSTY. When I got it, it was approximately 6 or 7 weeks old, past the date it allegedly took place, and we had received no information to the effect that anyone had been in the downtown streets of Dallas or anywhere in Dallas with a sign around their neck saying "Hands Off Cuba, Viva Fidel." It appeared highly unlikely to me that such an occurrence could have happened in Dallas without having been brought to our attention. So by the time I got it, it was, you might say, stale information and we did not attempt to verify it.

BSometer going off here. In his letter to FPCC, Oswald stated the incident occurred "yesterday" - the letter was sent either Apr 16 or Apr 19. It was therefore only 3 to 6 days old by the time Hosty got to hear about it - not 6 or 7 weeks. (see Lee Ex #1 which says Apr 19 - but other sources say Apr 16).

Mr. STERN. When you record this as something that an informant advised about on April 21, that doesn't mean he advised you or the Dallas office on April 21?

Mr. HOSTY. That is right.

Mr. STERN. Did this information come from another part of the FBI?

Mr. HOSTY. Yes, sir; it came from the New York office of the FBI. They were advised on the 21st of April.

Mr. STERN. But the information didn't get to you until some time after?

Mr. HOSTY. In June, I believe.

Mr. STERN. Did you have any information apart from this that there was an organization active in the Dallas area called, "The Fair Play for Cuba Committee"?

Mr. HOSTY. No, sir; we had no information of any organization by that name.

According to Finigan, Oswald was not identified because he "got away." How then did the FBI get the information to inform Agent Hosty that the event did occur and that Oswald was involved unless the Oswald letter was read in New York. If Oswald's mail was being read and he was writting to the FPCC on a regular basis, all of his movements (that we know that he was reporting to the FPCC) were being reporte by Oswald himself and if his name was on the mail opening watch list then all of his movements were being monitored by both the FBI agents and those doing the mail opening (see post above on mail opening program conducted by the CIA). Not only Oswald's movements but his thoughts were being monitored as well

Does this prove or just suggest that Oswald was on the CIA mail opening watch list? If so, when could we suppose that Oswald's name got added to this watch list. Since we know for a fact that the CIA was reading mail sent to organizations in New York and it appears that Oswald's mail was being read around April 21, 1963 would it be so far off the mark to suggest that Oswald's name may have made it to the watch list in 1957?

See thread Communist Propaganda & Oswald . I believe he deliberately got himself on the watch list in early Jan '63 - just in time for his pistol postal epistle

Jim Root

[Ed LeDoux]

Neely St. "find" isn't looking good...If a placard found at Neely St. was in the possession of, or known to the DPD or the FBI, it should have been introduced during the questioning of Hosty...unless it was suppressed....

Exactly what Bill was saying, they should have rubbed it in the commissions face.

Yes I feel they danced around this so they could go either way.

Harkness not asked.

Curry not asked.

Not pictured.

Not listed in evidence.

Not in a report.

Not looking good.

Ed

[Ed LeDoux]

James Jackson was surprised that they "found" an attic!

Talked to him again to see what he kept up there.

He said he didn't , as he never knew the roof had any space above it.

Does not recall any way into it if there was an "attic". No cubby hole in the closet, etc.

He said it was just an old rickety building and roof was the ceiling. Maybe some wooden boards across at the peak but no way into it.

Ed

[Guest Tom Scully]

I've been a skeptic, bolstered by the tiny amount of electricity the Oswalds were alleged to have consumed in their only full month in alleged residence. In N.O., a few months later in the month of July, the combined billing at their residence for electricity and city gas was $10.00. I've been unable to nail down rate figures or monthly service charges, but the difference in the combined dollar amounts of Dallas gas and electric billings for April was much lower than July's bill for the same services in N.O.

I just found this documentation from the water co. in Dallas. There could have been leaky pipes, or someone was using water in Oswald's name, in April.:

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=1317&relPageId=142

[Ed LeDoux]

I've been a skeptic, bolstered by the tiny amount of electricity the Oswalds were alleged to have consumed in their only full month in alleged residence. In N.O., a few months later in the month of July, the combined billing at their residence for electricity and city gas was $10.00. I've been unable to nail down rate figures or monthly service charges, but the difference in the combined dollar amounts of Dallas gas and electric billings for April was much lower than July's bill for the same services in N.O.

I just found this documentation from the water co. in Dallas. There could have been leaky pipes, or someone was using water in Oswald's name, in April.:

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=1317&relPageId=142

Or flapper would leak and the toilet kept running.

The electric is the odd part never a deposit and strange usage.

I asked James if he ever went back to Neely after moving and he said he never went back.

In this doc Marina talks about the beginning of January at Neely,

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?mode=searchResult&absPageId=171027

(and the rifle)

Then she is convinced the rifle didn't exist till the end of March at Neely.

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?mode=searchResult&absPageId=171615

Tom, James mentioned his sister Nancy Jackson (he can't remember whom she married) worked at the Copa Room and Ruby had sent her messages and wanted her to work for him. She didn't like that idea, and turned down offers from him.

and

Also mentioned was a Victor Antonio Solez(?)

He was a mob guy who could 'fix' things for you, like ID's, fake names, et cetera.

Any info on them would be of interest.

Thanks,

Ed

[Thomas Graves]

James Jackson was surprised that they "found" an attic!

Talked to him again to see what he kept up there.

He said he didn't , as he never knew the roof had any space above it.

Does not recall any way into it if there was an "attic". No cubby hole in the closet, etc.

He said it was just an old rickety building and roof was the ceiling. Maybe some wooden boards across at the peak but no way into it. (emphasis added by T. Graves)

Ed

Ed,

The roof, or the ceiling? Hmmmm? Oh, I got it. The roof was the ceiling.

--Tommy

Edited December 16, 2011 by Thomas Graves

[Ed LeDoux]

James Jackson was surprised that they "found" an attic!

Talked to him again to see what he kept up there.

He said he didn't , as he never knew the roof had any space above it.

Does not recall any way into it if there was an "attic". No cubby hole in the closet, etc.

He said it was just an old rickety building and roof was the ceiling. Maybe some wooden boards across at the peak but no way into it. (emphasis added by T. Graves)

Ed

Ed,

The roof, or the ceiling? Hmmmm? Oh, I got it. The roof was the ceiling.

--Tommy

I just quote em' Tommy, and as accurately and as closely as possibly.

But yes he recalled his ceiling had no attic space as it was also the roof. It has been a while but I doubt the ceiling has been lowered in the intervening years. A visit to Neely may be in order to flesh this one out completely to everyone's satisfaction.

This photo shows the Attic dormer.

http://www.onthisveryspot.com/pics/spot_1684_760.jpg

Ed

[Ed LeDoux]

Another showing the roof design, with the peak and attic dormer.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/141433.jpg

Now question is was this space accessible from the apartment in '63 or would it require climbing up on the roof and removing the vents to gain entry?

A possible hiding location indeed.

Ed

Edited December 16, 2011 by Ed LeDoux

[Thomas Graves]

James Jackson was surprised that they "found" an attic!

Talked to him again to see what he kept up there.

He said he didn't , as he never knew the roof had any space above it.

Does not recall any way into it if there was an "attic". No cubby hole in the closet, etc.

He said it was just an old rickety building and roof was the ceiling. Maybe some wooden boards across at the peak but no way into it. (emphasis added by T. Graves)

Ed

Ed,

The roof, or the ceiling? Hmmmm? Oh, I got it. The roof was the ceiling.

--Tommy

I just quote em' Tommy, and as accurately and as closely as possibly.

But yes he recalled his ceiling had no attic space as it was also the roof. It has been a while but I doubt the ceiling has been lowered in the intervening years. A visit to Neely may be in order to flesh this one out completely to everyone's satisfaction.

This photo shows the Attic dormer.

http://www.onthisveryspot.com/pics/spot_1684_760.jpg

Ed

Excellent!

--Tommy

[Greg Parker]

Another showing the roof design, with the peak and attic dormer.

http://static.panora...inal/141433.jpg

Now question is was this space accessible from the apartment in '63 or would it require climbing up on the roof and removing the vents to gain entry?

A possible hiding location indeed.

Ed

Ed, terrific stuff.

According to Marina, he had a little room in which he kept stuff (rifle, Walker photos etc) away from prying eyes, even banning her from going in there. Not that that stopped her, of course.

But as with a lot of her testimony, it conflicts with other evidence. They kept pressing her for example, as to whether the rifle was kept in a closet - presumably because they knew George & Jeanne claimed (and would so testify) that Jeanne had seen it in a closet. But not only did Marina insist the room was indeed a room and not a closet, she also insisted there was no closet inside the room and moreover, "he would hang a coat or something to mask its presence in the room."

But according to Jeanne, "it wasn't hidden or anything."

So I guess we need to check out whether there was a small ante-room or similar off the living area and what closets were in the apartment and where they were located?

In any case, if Marina's testimony is accurate (!) , he didn't need no steenkin' attic or crawl space to hide his secret stuff secretly. He had his room/closet/tardis for that.

[Ed LeDoux]

Ed, terrific stuff.

According to Marina, he had a little room in which he kept stuff (rifle, Walker photos etc) away from prying eyes, even banning her from going in there. Not that that stopped her, of course.

But as with a lot of her testimony, it conflicts with other evidence. They kept pressing her for example, as to whether the rifle was kept in a closet - presumably because they knew George & Jeanne claimed (and would so testify) that Jeanne had seen it in a closet. But not only did Marina insist the room was indeed a room and not a closet, she also insisted there was no closet inside the room and moreover, "he would hang a coat or something to mask its presence in the room."

But according to Jeanne, "it wasn't hidden or anything."

So I guess we need to check out whether there was a small ante-room or similar off the living area and what closets were in the apartment and where they were located?

In any case, if Marina's testimony is accurate (!) , he didn't need no steenkin' attic or crawl space to hide his secret stuff secretly. He had his room/closet/tardis for that.

Thanks Greg!

Yes a diagram would be very useful in understanding the layout. Pictures from interior would help greatly too.

If the "closet" was good enough for Lee to keep a rifle and or pistol he supposedly kept there, then why go to all the trouble to climb up into/onto the attic/roof dormer to hide a sign/placard?

Why not take the placard to New Orleans?

Again I ask did Lee take the handouts sent from NY to his Po box in Dallas with him?

If he did then he had plans to pass them out, and would take this "placard" too.

But first things first, lets see where this attic find goes. I'll be interested in what the ceiling of 214 Neely looks like. If there is no scuttle hole or attic hatch then this is a dead red herring. No hole, no access, no sign.

http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/21/2170-001.gif

Results of investigation = 14 photos

http://books.google.com/books?id=fG1XlPHujfgC&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67&dq=i+lived+in+oswalds+apartment+neely&source=bl&ots=bwfYuml-sx&sig=ZfBYFuVryLIwT-PeCu6gX2jUnok&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FPvtTu2pJa_-iQKt-6j3Aw&ved=0CFsQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=i%20lived%20in%20oswalds%20apartment%20neely&f=false

Bringuier supposedly has his own placard he teases Ossie with!

http://books.google.com/books?id=CYwluOC30KAC&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=i+lived+in+oswalds+apartment+neely&source=bl&ots=LzapbIWsrg&sig=OFOgSpEFIqICL2lapPAhh6xHzxY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CwLuTuvLJMGhiQLWgaWOAg&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBjgU#v=onepage&q=placard&f=false

Martello in NO supposedly keeps the handbills, placard, and Ossie's note and a picture but turns over the materials to the Secret Service where he said they still retain it.

He does not specify turning over the placard to them but says "pamphlets, leaflets, booklets".

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=44&relPageId=64

Why does the SS not produce this damning piece of evidence? if it was kept and given to them by Martello? As Martello said it "contained information about the FPCC" so it was of importance since he had conducted investigations into other FPCC literature found near Reissman's house.

Anyways, thanks for the Marina angle on this:

Mr. RANKIN. How did you learn about it? Did you see it some place in the apartment?

Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, Lee had a small room where he spent a great deal of time, where he read---where he kept his things, and that is where the rifle was.

Mr. RANKIN. Was it out in the room at that time, as distinguished from in a closet in the room?

Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, it was open, out in the open. At first I think---I saw some package up on the top shelf, and I think that that was the rifle. But I didn't know. And apparently later he assembled it and had it in the room.

Mr. RANKIN. When you saw the rifle assembled in the room, did it have the scope on it?

Mrs. OSWALD. No, it did not have a scope on it.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you have any discussion with your husband about the rifle when you first saw it?

Mrs. OSWALD. Of course I asked him, "What do you need a rifle for? What do we need that for?"

He said that it would come in handy some time for hunting. And this was not too surprising because in Russia, too, we had a rifle.

Mr. RANKIN. In Russia did you have a rifle or a shotgun?

Mrs. OSWALD. I don't know the difference. One and the other shoots. You men. That is your business.

The CHAIRMAN. My wife wouldn't know the difference, so it is all right.

Mrs. OSWALD. I have never served in the Army.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you discuss what the rifle cost with your husband?

Mrs. OSWALD. No.

Mr. RANKIN. Was the rifle later placed in a closet in the apartment at Neely Street?

Mrs. OSWALD. No, it was always either in a corner, standing up in a corner or on a shelf.

Mr. RANKIN. Do you know what happened to the gun that you had in Russia? Was it brought over to this country?

Mrs. OSWALD. No, he sold it there. I did not say so when I had the first interviews. You must understand this was my husband. I didn't want to say too much.

Mr. RANKIN. Is this rifle at Neely Street the only rifle that you know of that your husband had after you were married to him?

Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you ever show that rifle to the De Mohrenschildts?

Mrs. OSWALD. I know that De Mohrenschildts had said that the rifle had been shown to him, but I don't remember that.

Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall your husband taking the rifle away from the apartment on Neely Street at any time?

Mrs. OSWALD. You must know that the rifle it isn't as if it was out in the open. He would hang a coat or something to mask its presence in the room. And sometimes when he walked out, when he went out in the evening I didn't know, because I didn't go into that room very often. I don't know whether he took it with him or not.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you ever see him clean the rifle?

Mrs. OSWALD. Yes. I said before I had never seen it before. But I think you understand. I want to help you, and that is why there is no reason for concealing anything. I will not be charged with anything.

Mr. GOPADZE. She says she was not sworn in before. But now inasmuch as she is sworn in, she is going to tell the truth.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you see him clean the rifle a number of times?

Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.

Mr. RANKIN. Could you help us by giving some estimate of the times as you remember it?

Mrs. OSWALD. About four times---about four or five times, I think.

Mr. RANKIN. Did your husband ever tell you why he was cleaning the--that is, that he had been using it and needed to be cleaned after use?

Mrs. OSWALD. No, I did not ask him, because I thought it was quite normal that when you have a rifle you must clean it from time to time.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you ever observe your husband taking the rifle away from the apartment on Neely Street?

Mrs. OSWALD. Now, I think that he probably did sometimes, but I never did see it. You must understand that sometimes I would be in the kitchen and he would be in his room downstairs, and he would say bye-bye, I will be hack soon, and he may have taken it. He probably did. Perhaps he purely waited for an occasion when he could take it away without my seeing it.

Mr. RANKIN. Did you ever observe that the rifle had been taken out of the apartment at Neely Street---that is, that it was gone?

Mrs. OSWALD. Before the incident with General Walker, I know that Lee was preparing for something. He took photographs of that house and he told me not to enter his room.

So there was a separate room, not a closet. And what about her saying it was downstairs?

Geez she makes things difficult. Maybe they were living in the attic

Ed

[Guest Tom Scully]

I wouldn't get too worked up, in the expectations department. They pretended to be conducting an official, impartial inquiry, she pretended to be an important and reliable witness.:

http://www.jfk-assassination.de/warren/wch/vol5/page389.php

.....Mr. Rankin.

Do you recall the bathroom, how the door closes? Does it close into the bathroom on Neely Street or from the outside in?

Mrs. Oswald.

I don't remember now. I don't remember. I only remember that it was something to do with the bathroom.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you lock him into the bathroom?

Mrs. Oswald.

I can't remember precisely.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you recall how the locks were on the bathroom door there?

Mrs. Oswald.

I can't recall. We had several apartments and I might be confusing one apartment with the other.

Mr. Rankin.

Is it your testimony that you made it impossible for him to get out if he wanted to?

Mrs. Oswald.

I don't remember.

Representative Ford.

Did he try to get out of the bathroom?

Mrs. Oswald.

I remember that I held him. We actually struggled for several minutes and then he quieted down. I remember that I told him that if he goes out it would be better for him to kill me than to go out....

.................... (Next Page)

Mrs. Oswald.

My husband had a small room where he kept all that sort of thing. It is a little larger than a closet. ...

[Ed LeDoux]

In 1994 Marina Oswald told this researcher: "All I can tell you is what he told me when he came home. And people have pointed out how nervous he was after that, and he was cool as cucumber after Kennedy? Are you asking me, did I make this up? No. He came home from work, it was late, I found the note in one of the little closets.

and:

Nonetheless, George DeMohrenschildt claimed he and OSWALD stood in the front room talking, and Marina Oswald opened a closet to show Mrs. DeMohrenschildt the gun; Mrs. DeMohrenschildt called out to her husband in the next room.

http://ajweberman.com/noduleX17-DALLAS%20MARCH%201963%20TO%20APRIL%201963.htm

Which is it Marina!! When is a room not a closet and when is a closet not a room?

Oy vey...

This witness, MRS. J. PAT DOYLE, in NO said the Cubans smashed the placard:

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/marysdb/showRec.do?mode=searchResult&id=3430

Mary's Comments: While visiting New Orleans in August 1963, she witnessed the Cubans smashing LHO's placard and scattering the leaflets on the sidewalk.

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?mode=searchResult&absPageId=671516

This states the Doyle's took pics and that the sign(placard) that was smashed was the one the other guy carried with "Cuba In Chains" and was on a stick.

And it was this that was broken and thrown down by the Cubans not the Viva La Fidel placard.

Ed

Edited December 18, 2011 by Ed LeDoux