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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. III - Page 90« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Ruth Hyde Paine Resumed)

Mr. Jenner.
Then from the 22d of November until he came sometime in December you had no conversation with him and you had not seen him?
Mrs. Paine.
That is right.
Mr. Jenner.
You had no contact at all with him?
Mrs. Paine.
That is my best recollection. Marina called me around noon on Sunday, the 24th. She said she was with the police, and, of course, this was said in Russian; I don't know whether she meant Secret Service or Irving Police or Dallas Police or what sort, but official. Her husband had already been shot at this time, so it was just after. He had been shot and I had the television on and I knew that.
Representative Ford.
Did she know it?
Mrs. Paine.
I am certain she did. What makes me certain I can't recall definitely. I felt that she was confining herself in her conversation to the things she just had to say.
Senator Cooper.
What did she say?
Mrs. Paine.
She was directing me how to find certain things she needed to have. A winter coat, things for the baby, a little purse with some money in it that she left either on top of the dresser or in a drawer in. the bedroom where they had stayed.
Mr. Jenner.
Did she sound less than cordial--
Mrs. Paine.
Oh, no, she sounded, as I recall it, as a call from a woman who was doing her best to simply achieve the things she had to do but was under a tremendous strain.
Mr. Jenner.
Was any mention made of the death of her husband?
Mrs. Paine.
He was not yet dead, he had been shot but he was not yet dead.
Mr. Jenner.
Was any mention made between you in this conversation of the fact that Lee Oswald had been shot?
Mrs. Paine.
I don't recall such.
Mr. Jenner.
You didn't mention it?
Mrs. Paine.
I did not tell her; no.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you--it might be natural that you would express sympathy. Did you mention the subject at all, sympathetical or otherwise?
Mrs. Paine.
I don't recall mentioning the subject and as I say, I have this distinct feeling that she knew, and I knew she knew but what caused that, I can't identify.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you have the feeling, if I may use some vernacular, that she was "under wraps" or rather she was bereft and just seeking to do
Mrs. Paine.
I had no feeling she was restraining herself from saying any particular things.
Mr. Jenner.
Was under restraint?
Mrs. Paine.
No.
Mr. Jenner.
From some outside source?
Mrs. Paine.
I had no such feeling.
Mr. Jenner.
All right.
Mrs. Paine.
I then, well, I should say there were one or two officers from the Irving Police Department there who were waiting to take the things that she directed--
Mr. Jenner.
The police officers had already arrived at your home?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes; I guess I remembered it as virtually simultaneous. I might fill in, whether it is important to your inquiry or not, the moment the television announced that Lee Oswald had been shot, an Irving Police patrol car that had been going by my house and had hesitated in front, stopped and the officer got out carrying a rifle and came into my house, closed the curtains and said he was here to protect me. I later learned that he thought Mrs. Oswald, Marina Oswald, was in the house, and he had been directed by his car radio to come in, and he then closed all the blinds and peered out. And it was in the midst of this time that Marina called, so you see the officers were there already on other business.
Mr. Jenner.
The officer was in your home when you talked with Marina?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes; when Marina made the call.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you say anything to the officers that Marina had called when you finished that conversation?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes.
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