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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XV - Page 573« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Billy A. Rea)

Mr. Rea.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
Honorably discharged?
Mr. Rea.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
Mr. Rea, I have previously handed you a document consisting of one page which I have marked for identification on the right-hand margin as follows: Dallas, Tex., June 26, 1964, Exhibit No. 1, Deposition of Billy Rea," and have signed my name, Leon D. Hubert, Jr., and this document purports to be the report of an interview of you by FBI Agents Peden and Garris on December 4, 1963. As I say, I have previously handed it to you so that you could read it and now I ask you if this half-page report is a correct report on the interview had of you by those FBI agents. Is there anything wrong or incorrect?
Mr. Rea.
Well, other than the fact that they misspelled my name, like I told you a minute ago.
Mr. Hubert.
Your name in that report is spelled "Ray," whereas, in fact your name is spelled "Rea."
Mr. Rea.
That's correct.
Mr. Hubert.
And your first name, instead of ending in "ie," ends in "y" [spelling] B-i-l-l-y?
Mr. Rea.
That is correct.
Mr. Hubert.
Other than that, is Exhibit No. 1 correct?
Mr. Rea.
Not exactly. It says here that I recall seeing Jack Ruby sitting in Don Campbell's chair "which chair is directly in front of the desk of Miss Georgia Mayor." That is not correct. He was sitting in Don Campbell's chair all right, but that chair is directly in front of .the desk occupied by John Newnam. I don't know how this got in here. I don't recall anything other than that, except that it's just a technicality, I presume--that is.
Now, also, he was there and I do recall him sitting in the seat directly in front of Georgia Mayor, however, that seat is occupied and assigned to Dick Saunders, who was here previously. He sits right directly in front of Georgia.
Mr. Hubert.
What time did you first see Jack Ruby on that day?
Mr. Rea.
Well you see, I had attended a funeral of a very close friend of mine that day and had gotten into the office late. I had a lot of things to do that I had postponed and I was in quite a bit of a hurry, and consequently that kept me from going to or attending the parade. I had planned to and wanted to. I got into the office just before noon, so I had to go eat to get with my business--I was running far behind, so we went to eat--I went to eat with a friend of mine and we got back into the office about between 12:30 and 12:40, I would say.
I don't recall seeing Jack Ruby at that time. He could have been there but I don't remember seeing him, whether he was in the office at that time or not. About that time we hadn't been in the office over a couple of minutes until these boys, the men I work with, some of them were actually at the scene of the assassination--they ran up there and told us that President Kennedy had been shot.
Mr. Hubert.
Who in particular do you remember telling you that?
Mr. Rea.
Jim Willmon told me---he's the one that told me.
Mr. Hubert.
Had he been to the parade?
Mr. Rea.
Yes; he saw it or heard the shots.
Mr. Hubert.
Was that the first news you got about the President?
Mr. Rea.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you remember what time that was?
Mr. Rea.
Well, I would say it was a quarter of one, I guess. Then, we went up--then, goodness--first of all--I thought--he's the type boy that will kid a little bit, you know, he's sort of an outspoken type individual, you know, and I thought--well, he was kidding, and I guess everybody else did too with the original idea or feeling or reaction to it, but then when I realized that he was serious, then we went upstairs up to the editorial room, thinking that perhaps we could get later information as it comes in, and so we went up there and stayed about 15 minutes or
Mr. Hubert.
Had you seen Jack Ruby then ?.
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