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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 316« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of James W. Bookhout)

Mr. Bookhout.
I don't recall asking any specific questions during this interview.
Mr. Stern.
It was at this interview, was it not, that Oswald was shown photographs of himself holding a rifle and wearing a pistol in a holster?
Mr. Bookhout.
That's correct.
Mr. Stern.
What was his comment about the photograph?
Mr. Bookhout.
His comment, as I recall, he was asked if this was his Photograph, and his comment was that the head of the photograph was his, but that it could have been superimposed over the body of someone else. He Pointed out that he had been apparently photographed by news media numerous times in proceeding from the homicide and robbery bureau to the lineup and back, and that is how they probably got the photograph of his face, and he went into a long discussion of how much he knew about photography, and knew that this--his face could be superimposed over somebody else's body holding the gun and pistol and so forth.
Mr. Stern.
Now, was his appearance and demeanor at this interview----
Mr. Bookhout.
No different than it was during the previous interviews.
Mr. Stern.
Did he have any comment at this interview about counsel?
Mr. Bookhout.
None other than at the outset of being first asked if that was his photograph, he first made the statement that he wouldn't make any comment about it without the advice of counsel, but then subsequently is when he went into the story about his face had been superimposed over somebody else's body.
Mr. Stern.
Did he complain in the course of this interview about the way in which the lineup had been conducted?
Mr. Bookhout.
This is the interview in which he--a previously mentioned comment here was made to the effect that he had not been granted a request to put on a jacket similar to those worn by some of the other individuals in some previous lineups.
Mr. Stern.
In each of these interviews was he generally taken through the same questions or similar questions, or were the interviews addressed to different areas?
Mr. Bookhout.
More or less, they had been to a specific area. For instance, in this last interview we are talking about, that was more or less confined to this photograph.
Mr. Stern.
Yes. Did he ever complain that, "We have been over that ground before," or make any such statement?
Mr. Bookhout.
No; I don't recall anything along that line, but I can recall one subject matter probably in the first interview where he talked about his method of transportation after leaving the Texas Book Depository, having gotten on a bus, and then that subject was taken up again, as I recall, in the second interview, expressed the same answer at that time, and then subsequently to that interview he backed up and said that it wasn't actually true as to how he got home. That he had taken a bus, and due to the traffic jam he had left the bus and got a taxicab, by which means he actually arrived at his residence.
Mr. Stern.
Had he been confronted by the driver of the taxicab, or been told that they had located the driver of the taxicab before he changed his story, or did he volunteer the story of the taxi?
Mr. Bookhout.
I don't recall specifically whether he was confronted with that or not.
Mr. Stern.
All right. Do you recall whether in the course of any of the interrogations any official, anyone present suggested in any way to Oswald that things would be better for him if he told the truth, if he confessed? Was he ever offered any inducement--any suggestion made that he would be better off if he told the full story?
Mr. Bookhout.
I can't recall anything along that line. I don't recall any type of inducement whatsoever.
Mr. Stern.
In each interview in which you participated, did you warn him about the possible use of his statement against him?
Mr. Bookhout.
I personally did not at each interview, but I can say that at
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