(Testimony of Michael R. Paine)
Mr. Paine.
had shot Officer Tippit. They didn't even mention him as a suspect, but there was another murder coincident in time.
Mr. Liebeler.
So the news broadcast connected Oswald with Officer Tippit?
Mr. Paine.
That is right.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you then consider again whether or not Oswald had been involved in the assassination?
Mr. Paine.
Well, that was too much to have his name mentioned away from his place of work as having killed somebody; the stew was too thick to stay at work, and I was shaken too much, anyway.
Mr. Liebeler.
So your testimony is that you first thought of Oswald after you heard of the Texas School Book Depository Building being involved in the assassination, but you concluded at that time that Oswald was probably not involved in the assassination; is that correct?
Mr. Paine.
That is correct.
Mr. Liebeler.
Is there any other reason other than the fact Oswald was at that building that made you think of him when you heard that building mentioned in connection with the assassination?
Mr. Paine.
Well, yes; Oswald, of course, stands--he is a black sheep in society; I mean he is, if you were to pick out the singular person among the employees there, he is the one, or he is probably the one. I don't happen to know the people who worked there. I gather from him there were about 30 people working there in a fairly large building.
Mr. Liebeler.
What was your state of mind when you heard that the Texas School Book Depository Building was involved in the shooting, did you deeply suspect Oswald had been involved, or was it just a passing thought? Tell us some more about that if you can, recreate your state of mind.
Mr. Paine.
I think I was nervous. I know I was trying to assemble a vibration meter and could not put in the screws or I kept making mistakes. I was preoccupied. Of course, the darn fools, we should have all stopped to mourn the President, but it is kind of a habit, I wasn't accustomed, habit drove us on, very unhappy or unresolved emotional time. I thought, firstly, Frank was quite insistent, he didn't just ask me once, but several times, whether I didn't think I should call the FBI.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did he tell you why he thought you should call the FBI?
Mr. Paine.
Well, he would have, but he is of that nature. At one time he had seen someone taking pictures of Hensley Field, which has signs on the outside "No Photographs Allowed," and I said I believe more in freedom. It seems to me if the field doesn't want the pictures taken, they had better put up a big fence. But he had gone ahead and called up the base commander, and the base commander knew the man. That was his normal mode of behavior, whereas my normal defense is of the individual, and I didn't think--I would not like to, if Lee is falsely accused, I wouldn't want to be jumping on him with the mob. If he is properly, if he is guilty, he will be found. They know he works there, he is connected to us. I couldn't contribute to his capture, so that my withholding information wouldn't harm the search for the right man, and having jumped on him unfairly I might be ashamed of that later on. So that was my feeling in regard to whether I should call the FBI. I think I just kind of felt cold sweats or something like that in regard to the question could he have done that thing. I don't think I went much beyond that, could he, could he.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did Krystinik indicate to you any reason for his desire to call the FBI? Did he suspect Oswald had done this on the basis of his knowledge of Oswald?
Mr. Paine.
It seemed to me very reasonable that he should think so. Of course, I don't think the others were so sharply aware, the others in the lab were so sharply aware that we were wrestling with this problem.
The Chairman.
He didn't say anything to you, he didn't tell you any other reason?
Mr. Paine.
No, he didn't; but his reaction seemed perfectly reasonable to me.
The Chairman.
Yes.
Mr. Paine.
I felt the same one if you were to pick out. somebody in that building, it was a rather singular coincidence we knew this man who was so
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