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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIV - Page 151« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Ralph Paul)

Mr. Paul.
If he had trouble with any of the girls, he would call me.
Mr. Hubert.
If he had trouble with the one with the Weinsteins, he would call you?
Mr. Paul.
Yes; and the AGVA people--you see, they've got a board of directors and each one takes a part, and if this one doesn't do right--that was almost consistently--he called on that.
Mr. Hubert.
When did you first hear that the President had been shot?
Mr. Paul.
On Friday--I was working. It was the lunch hour, you know, and lunch hour is our busiest hour. I'm always there on the lunch hour, and my landlord's son called me on the telephone and told me the President was shot--they got it on the radio, and so I turned on the radio and then we all listened, everybody in the place naturally, because there was some excite- merit--people hollered and cried all over the place, and then everybody was listening to the radio to see what the result would be, and at 2 o'clock I went home, or a little after 2---generally I stayed until 2 o'clock on Friday. A little after 2--and when I got home Jack called me and he said, "Did you hear what happened?" I said, "Yes; I heard it on the air." He says, "Isn't that a terrible thing?" I said, "Yes; Jack." He said, "I made up my mind. I'm going to close it down." I said, "Well, I can't close down, I've got an eating place."
Mr. Hubert.
And did he suggest to you that you should close down your place?
Mr. Paul.
That's what he said, "Ain't you going to close?" I said, "No; I've got an eating place." I says, "You can do whatever you want."
Mr. Hubert.
Did he discuss with you whether he should close down?
Mr. Paul.
No; he didn't discuss it. He told me he was going to close down.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he tell you for how long?
Mr. Paul.
Three days.
Mr. Hubert.
That was at 2 o'clock?
Mr. Paul.
Friday at 2---Friday night and Saturday night and Sunday night.
Mr. Hubert.
He was going to close up?
Mr. Paul.
Friday night and Saturday and Sunday nights.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he tell you why he had chosen those 3 nights?
Mr. Paul.
Yes; in honor of the President being shot--he was heartbroken.
Mr. Hubert.
I mean, why 3 nights instead of 2 or 4?
Mr. Paul.
That's what I told him. I said to him, "Are the other clubs going to close?" He said, "I don't care about the other clubs."
Mr. Hubert.
Where was he calling you from, do you know?
Mr. Paul.
I don't know--he didn't say where he was calling me from. He generally called me from a telephone booth or the club--not so much from his home.
Mr. Hubert.
What would seem to be his condition when you were talking to him, emotionally and otherwise?
Mr. Paul.
Very bad emotionally--he said, "I can't believe it."
Mr. Hubert.
What was it based upon, do you know?
Mr. Paul.
I don't know--if you don't see the person, you can't tell the person on a telephone how he reacts or----
Mr. Hubert.
I mean, you have known him for a good many years.
Mr. Paul.
Oh, yes; I've known Jack for so many years and he has always been that way, you know, reaction--fast-- punch line got to do this right away [indicating]. With him it wasn't--he thought and did. It wasn't a second thought.
Mr. Hubert.
But you are quite clear that when he called you about 2 o'clock----
Mr. Paul.
That's about a lit fie after the time I got home was a quarter to 3.
Mr. Hubert.
And that's the first time you had heard from him?
Mr. Paul.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
The President was already dead?
Mr. Paul.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
And it was known he was dead?
Mr. Paul.
Yes.
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