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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XII - Page 355« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Don Francis Steele)

Mr. Hubert.
On what street?
Sergeant. STEELE. On Main Street, and I just helped Sergeant Dean make the assignments. I don't recall whether I specifically assigned a man to Main and Pearl, but then the captain came along a few minutes later and said it had been changed, that we were going to run the armored car down Elm Street, so, whatever men we may have assigned to Main and Pearl, that is where he would have been, and he was taken off the assignment. They never went to it.
Mr. Hubert.
Okay. So, as far as you know there were no police officers of any sort, reserve or regular directing traffic or controlling it in any way on the corner of Main and Pearl?
Sergeant STEELE. To the best of 'my knowledge, there was no regular officer.
Mr. Hubert.
What about a reserve officer?
Sergeant STEELE. I couldn't say that.
Mr. Hubert.
In any case, the original plan to assign one to Pearl and Main, wasn't carried out because of the change in plans, and that man, whoever he was, went to Pearl and Elm?
Sergeant STEELE. Yes. I think that it was--let's see. I believe it was one of my men from Oak Cliff, but I'm not sure, but he never did get to it.
Mr. Hubert.
Yes.
Sergeant STEELE. We didn't even leave the basement
Mr. Hubert.
Where were you when the shot was fired?
Sergeant STEELE. I was at the county Jail.
Mr. Hubert.
I mean in the basement?
Sergeant STEELE. No; I- had left.
Mr. Hubert.
Oh, you had left, so, you weren't in this building at all?
Sergeant STEELE. I left about 15 minutes before it occurred. See, we didn't have enough officers, enough radio patrolmen to fill all the corners to put a man at each intersection on Elm Street, so, I went to the county to contact the traffic people and see if I could get three men from them, that is how many we needed.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you know a man by the name of Ralph Paul that lives in Arlington ?
Sergeant STEELE. No.
Mr. Hubert.
Are you familiar with a place called "The Bull Pen" there?
Sergeant STEELE. Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
What is "The Bull Pen"?
Sergeant STEELE. It is a barbecue place, sell beer.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you know the manager of it?
Sergeant STEELE. No, no; I can't recall being in that place more than once or twice.
Mr. Hubert.
And the name Ralph Paul doesn't mean anything to you?
Sergeant STEELS. No, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you know Ruby?
Sergeant STEELE. Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
How well do you know him?
Sergeant STEELE. Through contacts, various contacts when I was a patrolman.
Mr. Hubert.
How long had you known him?
Sergeant STEELE. Well, I had actually first met him, or heard of, or saw Jack Ruby, I guess, in 1955, about 8 years.
Mr. Hubert.
Would you recognize him by sight, do you think, if you saw him?
Sergeant STEELE. Yes; I feel like I would, although, it has been several years since I have seen him in person.

Mr. HUBERT. Did you have occasion to observe the number of people who were standing in the Main Street ramp part of the basement just at the entrance of the jail corridor? Do you know what I mean? In other words, as you were standing in the basement looking toward Main Street where the jail corridor intersects the ramp
Sergeant STEELE. Right at the corner
Mr. Hubert.
Right at the corner, and looking toward Main Street, did you have occasion to observe how many people were in that area just shortly before the shooting?
Sergeant STEELE. Well, 15 minutes would be as close as I could go, and at
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