(Testimony of Mr. Jack Ruby)
Mr. Ruby.
that Ray Brantley said he never did receive a call from me, and the only gun he sent to McWillie was to the Vegas, but it came back that they didn't pick it up because it was a c.o.d. order.
This definitely would do me more harm, because if I tell my story that I called Ray Brantley, and he denies that he ever got a call from me, definitely that makes it look like I am hiding something.
Haven't I felt that right along, Joe?
Mr. Tonahill.
You sure have, Jack.
Mr. Ruby.
Now, the reason I am telling you these things, I never knew Lee Harvey Oswald. The first time I ever have seen him was the time in the assembly room when they brought him out, when he had some sort of a shiner on his eye.
Chief Justice WARREN. When was that little incident about the Cobras? About what year? That is all I am interested in.
Mr. Ruby.
Could have been prior to the early part of 1959.
Chief Justice WARREN. Yes; all right.
Mr. Ruby.
That is the only call I made. And as a matter of fact, I didn't even follow up to inquire of this Mr. Brantley, whether he received it or what the recourse was. That is why I tell you, Chief Justice Warren--who is this new gentleman, may I ask?
Mr. Rankin.
This is Mr. Storey from your community, a lawyer who is working with the attorney general, and Mr. Jaworski, in connection with watching the work of the Commission so that they will be satisfied as to the quality of the work done insofar as the State of Texas is concerned.
(Pause for reporter to change paper, and Ruby asked about one of the gentlemen, to which Chief Justice Warren replied as follows):
Chief Justice WARREN (referring to Mr. Specter). He has been working with us on the Commission since very close to the beginning now.
Mr. Rankin.
How long did you spend in Cuba on this trip?
Mr. Ruby.
Eight days. A lot of your tourists were there. As a matter of fact, a lot of group tourists were going down, students of schools.
I mean, he had a way of purchasing tickets from Havana that I think he purchased them at a lesser price. He bought them from the travel agent in the Capri Hotel. He bought them--did you meet McWillie?
Mr. Moore.
I didn't.
Mr. Rankin.
He was checked by the Commission in connection with this work.
Chief Justice WARREN. There was some story in one of the papers that you had been interested in shipping jeeps down to Cuba. Was there anything to that at all?
Mr. Ruby.
No; but this was the earlier part, when the first time Castro had ever invaded Cuba. There was even a Government article that they would need jeeps. I don't recall what it was, but I never had the facilities or the capabilities of knowing where to get jeeps.
But probably in conversation with other persons--you see, it is a new land, and they have to have a lot of things. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Government was wanting persons to help them at that particular time when they threw out the dictator, Batista.
And one particular time there was a gentleman that smuggled guns to Castro. I think I told you that, Mr. Moore; I don't remember.
Mr. Moore.
I don't recall that.
Mr. Ruby.
I think his name was Longley out of Bay--something--Texas, on the Bayshore. And somehow he was, I read the article about him, that he was given a jail term for smuggling guns to Castro. This is the early part of their revolution.
Chief Justice WARREN. Before the Batista government fell?
Mr. Ruby.
Yes; I think he had a boat, and he lived somewhere in Bay something, Bayshore, in the center part of Texas. Do you know him, Mr. Storey? Do you know this man?
Mr. Storey.
No; I don't know him.
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