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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 297« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Harry D. Holmes)

Mr. Holmes.
Captain Fritz motioned to me and said, "We are getting ready to have a last interrogation with Oswald before we transfer him to the county jail. Would you like to join us?"
I said, "I would."
We went into his private room and closed the door, and those present were Captain Will Fritz, of the Dallas Police Department, Forrest V. Sorrels, local agent in charge of Secret Service, and Thomas J. Kelley, inspector, Secret Service, from Washington, and also about three detectives who were not identified to me, but simply were guarding Oswald who was handcuffed and seated at Will Fritz' desk.
Mr. Belin.
All right, now. Will you state if you remember--do you have a written memorandum there of that interview?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Belin.
I wonder if you would just let me ask you: When did you make your written memorandum?
Mr. Holmes.
On December 17, 1963.
Mr. Belin.
I wonder if, using your memorandum to refresh your recollection, you would just say what was said by any of the people there and just cover the whole thing? I will take it up section by section. Just start out. This started around 9:30, is that it, on Sunday morning?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes, sir. Now, this is my impression, not what he said.
Mr. Belin.
I notice the first paragraph, you have an impression on that? I wonder perhaps what we might do is, I am going to see if I have a copy of this, and if I can, to attach just as a--is this an extra copy that you have here?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes; I guess you can. Let me tear that top off.
Mr. Belin.
I am going to mark this as "Holmes Deposition Exhibit No. 4." This is a memorandum of your interview?
Mr. Holmes.
That I dictated on December 17, 1963.
Mr. Belin.
That is about 4 weeks after the interview took place; is that correct?
Mr. Holmes.
That's correct.
Mr. Belin.
Do you have any notes from which you dictated this interview?
Mr. Holmes.
I had a few notes. I had no reason for such a statement except that about that time the FBI asked me they learned that I had been in on this interrogation, and asked me if I would object to giving them a statement as to what went on in that room, and this is my statement. Part of it was from notes and part of it was from memory.
Mr. Belin.
Now, I notice--well, you might just, without even looking at the memorandum, first just give us your general impression of what went on there.
Mr. Holmes.
There was no formality, to the interrogation. One man would question Oswald. Another would interrupt with a different trend of thought, or something in connection, and it was sort of an informal questioning or interrogation.
Oswald was quite composed. He answered readily those questions that he wanted to answer. He could cut off just like with a knife anything that he didn't want to answer.
And those particular things that he didn't want to answer were anything that pertained with the assassination of the President or the shooting of Officer Tippit. He flatly denied any knowledge of either.
He was not particularly obnoxious. He seemed to be intelligent. He seemed to be clearminded. He seemed to have a good memory, because in questioning him about the boxes, which I had original applications in front of me, he was pretty accurate. He knew box numbers and he answered these questions readily and answered them truthfully, as verified by the box rental applications that I had in front of me.
Mr. Belin.
What was Oswald wearing at the time you saw him?
Mr. Holmes.
He was bareheaded. He had a sport shirt on and slacks, pair of trousers.
Mr. Belin.
What color trousers?
Mr. Holmes.
Sort of a medium. On the light side I would say.
Mr. Belin.
What color shirt?
Mr. Holmes.
I don't recall. It was not a loud shirt. It was not outstanding.
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