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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIV - Page 543« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Jack L. Ruby)

Mr. Alexander.
That was in 1958.
Mr. Ruby.
All I did was relay the phone message to Ray Brantley, and he said, "Oh, I know Mr. McWillie very well," and following that I never followed up or seen him. Now, this is incriminating for me because all I did--like a tool--got myself involved by relating a message that somebody else wanted. Now, this was during peacetime because he wanted protection from the foreign element coming in.
Mr. Alexander.
Jack relayed the message that McWillie wanted a Smith & Wesson or some kind of a .38.
Mr. Ruby.
Yes. There wasn't no money or anything in the deal. Ray Brantley said, "Oh, I know McWillie. I've done business with him constantly." Following that--I never followed up on it a time, and what he did--and this is incriminating against me very bad, but he had the irony to do this--when I mentioned the fact that I did call Ray Brantley, this man denied that I called him. That makes me a liar to that extent, so I want that question put to me in reference to Ray Brantley and all that and I want about my trip to Cuba and my association with the underworld.
Mr. Specter.
Well, the question of the gun with Ray Brantley was covered in detail when the Chief Justice was here and we shall cover that in the balance of the polygraph examination.
Mr. Ruby.
I also had numerous phone calls, long-distance calls, all over the country and that was with relationship only to my nightclub that I had trouble with the union. There was no conspiracy, but you'll go into that.
Mr. Specter.
You covered that also in your testimony before the Commission.
Mr. Ruby.
Yes; but that doesn't prove anything.
Mr. Alexander.
Let me suggest one question there to ask him?
Mr. Specter.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Alexander.
"Did any telephone call you made have any connection, however remote, with your shooting of Oswald?"
Mr. Ruby.
No.
Mr. Alexander.
That will cover it.
Mr. Tonahill.
How about asking him if he didn't tell the Warren Commission the truth several weeks ago in answering every question they asked him?
Mr. Ruby.
I didn't elaborate enough with them and we didn't go into it enough, because I was telling a complete story. Yes; I'll answer that---certainly I will.
Mr. Specter.
Fine; that will be asked of you.
Mr. Herndon.
That will be somewhat all inclusive.
Mr. Specter.
We'll have that for the very next series.
Mr. Alexander.
"Did you have any telephone conversation which related in any way with the shooting of Oswald?"
Mr. Ruby.
Also, ask me whether the phone calls were in reference to the union trying to get somebody to help me with my club.
Mr. Alexander.
Let's make another question about that. "Did any union or underworld connection have anything to do with the shooting of Oswald?"
Mr. Ruby.
Very good.
Mr. Specter.
Yes; I will add those in and cover them to the maximum extent possible, and I add that reservation because there are a great many additional questions to be asked which we have already mapped out.
Mr. Herndon.
Do you want me to proceed with the usual preliminaries?
Mr. Ruby.
You don't have to proceed with that. Why don't you Just call them to me and I'll answer them. You want to go through a formality--a previous thing.
Mr. Alexander.
Jack, he's got to have a record.
Mr. Herndon.
I want to make sure you understand the question involved.
Mr. Ruby.
I'm sure I do.
Mr. Herndon.
I feel in fairness to both of us, we have to do this.
Mr. Ruby.
Believe me believe me, you don't have to go through that formality, if you want to save yourself a lot of time, and I think you'll like that better.
Mr. Alexander.
Jack, he has to have a written question that's keyed to this tape.
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