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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VIII - Page 79« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Philip Eugene Vinson)

Mr. Liebeler.
Well, for whatever it is worth, what did Mrs. Murphy tell you that Mrs. Barnes had told her, that Bill Barnes had told his mother about Oswald?
Mr. Vinson.
Well, this really apparently has no bearing on the thing, but it just goes along with the whole business. Barnes said that he remembered Oswald, and he remembered that the boy used to always ask him why he was so big and strong and he replied in the manner of Popeye, "I eat me spinach".
That I do remember, although as far as Oswald speaking is concerned I recall that I thought his dialect was a little unusual, and he would say things like "Give me dat," or "dis," for this, and I took somehow I took, or associated this with New England or New York or Brooklyn or something, and I think this sort of substantiated my opinion of him as a tough guy, because at that time all the gangster movies, all the gangsters were always from Brooklyn and talked with a Brooklyn or sort of dialect and somehow I thought this made him tough.
But I later found out, of course, that he had lived in New Orleans and possibly this had something to do with it, or possibly there was a speech impediment. I don't know, but I do remember that was what--was one thing that I do recall about him was the way he spoke.
Mr. Liebeler.
Apparently from what you have told us, he didn't have any particular difficulty getting along with the other boys?
Mr. Vinson.
Not that I recall at all. Now, I don't know what he did after--outside of school. Like I say, to my knowledge, I knew a good many of the boys in the class, and to my knowledge, none of them ever played with him or went to his house for anything after school. They could have, but I don't know.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did that seem strange to you at all, in view of the fact that Oswald was referred to as a leader on the school ground?
Mr. Vinson.
It didn't at the time. However, it did later, it seemed strange now. I don't recall that I thought anything at all about it at the time.
Mr. Liebeler.
But you knew of none of the boys who ever went to Oswald's house or associated with him outside of the classroom or outside of the playground, at that time?
Mr. Vinson.
I knew of none, that is right.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you know where Oswald lived?
Mr. Vinson.
I didn't, but I somehow had the notion perhaps I had seen him walking home, but I had an idea about where he lived, about where I thought he live, however, I don't know. I never went to his house or I never knew anyone who did, or anything like that.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you know whether Oswald had any brothers or sisters?
Mr. Vinson.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ever see Oswald after you left the second grade at Lily B. Clayton School and moved away to another section at Fort Worth?
Mr. Vinson.
If I did, I don't recall. It is possible, because I do recall that I ran across several of the kids that I had gone to school with over there after I moved away, but I don't know whether he was one of them. I just don't remember.
Mr. Liebeler.
What school did you go to? What school after you left Lily B. Clayton?
Mr. Vinson.
G. E. Talldy Elementary School.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you go to high school from elementary school?
Mr. Vinson.
No. I went to that school from the third grade to the sixth grade, and then to junior high for 3 years.
Mr. Liebeler.
What junior high?
Mr. Vinson.
Meadowbrook Junior High.
Mr. Liebeler.
Is that in Fort Worth, also?
Mr. Vinson.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
And from there you went to high school?
Mr. Vinson.
Polytechnic High School.
Mr. Liebeler.
Also in Fort Worth?
Mr. Vinson.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Have you gone to college?
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