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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 540« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Welcome Eugene Barnett)

Mr. Barnett.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
Would you tell us how you received instructions to go there, when you received them, what you were told, and what happened? Would you tell us what happened on that day, in other words?
Mr. Barnett.
We made detail around 9 o'clock. We were instructed to be at our assignments at 10. We were given our assignments, each one was given an assignment, and I was told to watch the crowd, watch for people throwing stuff from the crowd at the President's party, to keep the traffic clear, and to stop the traffic when the President came by. Then when the President came by, I heard three shots.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now, going back, you got to the area around 10 o'clock; is that right?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
Where did you go when you got there?
Mr. Barnett.
Well, there were three of us assigned to that one corner.
Mr. Liebeler.
Who were the other officers?
Mr. Barnett.
Who were the other officers?
Mr. Liebeler.
Yes.
Mr. Barnett.
J. D. Smith, and another officer named Smith. I don't know his initials. E. L., I believe.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you divide your duties among yourselves when you got there, or had you been specifically instructed as to what each one was supposed to do?
Mr. Barnett.
We divided our duties.
Mr. Liebeler.
How did you do that?
Mr. Barnett.
Well, as best I remember, we each picked a corner and got on the corner. We were advised to stay on our corner, not to cross over to idly talk, but to stay on the corner and keep our eyes open and be ready.
Mr. Liebeler.
Which corner did you station yourself at? I have a picture here of an aerial view--you can sit down---Commission Exhibit No. 354.
Of course, you can recognize the intersection of Elm and Houston here in the left-hand upper portion of the picture; can you not?
Mr. Barnett.
I was right here.
Mr. Liebeler.
At No. 1?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you remain there at all times from 10 o'clock until the motorcade arrived?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes; well, of course, I was here until we got word to stop the traffic, and I stepped out of this position here. I had to stop traffic from Houston here and help the other officers stop it on Elm, and stop this traffic on this small street that goes in front of the Depository Building.
Mr. Liebeler.
When the motorcade actually came, you moved over pretty much into Houston Street?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
To stop the traffic that was coming?
Mr. Barnett.
South on Houston Street.
Mr. Liebeler.
South on Houston Street?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes, sir; Elm Street is so wide, and I helped these officers here stop this traffic here.
Mr. Liebeler.
We have written the No. 4 on here before and it is kind of hard to read. You also helped to stop the traffic that was coming down here in the area of No. 4, which would have been the traffic on Elm Street?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes, sir; I was standing right about this position right here.
Mr. Liebeler.
Right about No. 8?
Mr. Barnett.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now specifically, were you given any instructions when you left that morning when you made detail, to observe and scan the windows of the buildings around that area?
Mr. Barnett.
No, sir; we weren't, but that is just one thing you always do. It is understood that you have the buildings to watch.
Mr. Liebeler.
But there were no specific instructions given to any of the officers, so far as you know, when they left that morning, about watching the windows in the area?
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