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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. IV - Page 170« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Jesse Edward Curry)

Mr. Curry.
Lunday. I discussed this some with the Secret Service Agent Sorrels, and Lawson in a staff meeting at city hall.
Mr. Rankin.
What was that discussion?
Mr. Curry.
Well, we, when I say we, I mean my staff and I, we told them what we thought would be the most direct route.
Mr. Rankin.
What did you say that would have been?
Mr. Curry.
It. It would have been to come into Lemmon Avenue, to Central Expressway if they were coming through town and over that route.
Now, if they. were going directly to the Trade Mart it would have been to come in Lemmon to Inwood Road and down Inwood to Hines, and Hines to Industrial and Industrial into--but this would not have taken them through the downtown area.
Mr. Rankin.
Then if they were going to go through the downtown area what did you say about the route that should be taken for that?
Mr. Curry.
This was probably the most direct route that they chose except they could have come in what we term the Central Expressway to Main Street, and then west on Main Street right down the route that was taken.
They chose rather to come in on Lemmon Avenue to Turtle Creek, and here again this is a more scenic route and more people would have an opportunity to see the motorcade. And followed Turtle Creek into Cedar Springs, to Harwood and south on Harwood to Main Street, west on Main to Houston, north on Houston to Elm and west on Elm to Stemmons Expressway.
Mr. Rankin.
Have you described the can in the motorcade? Their positions?
Mr. Curry.
I have them listed here, I couldn't tell you other than the front part of the motorcade but they are in this report.
Mr. Rankin.
Yes. Tell us the front part that you recall.
Mr. Curry.
I had Deputy Chief Lumpkin, and he had two Secret Service men with him, I believe, out of Washington, and a Colonel Wiedemeyer who is the East Texas Section Commander of the Army Reserve in the area, he was with him. They were out about, they were supposed to stay about a quarter of a mile ahead of us and I was in the lead car.
Mr. Rankin.
Who was with you?
Mr. Curry.
Inspector, not inspector, but Sheriff Bill Decker, Sorrels of the Secret Service, and Mr. Lawson, I believe he was out of the Washington office of the Secret Service. And immediately behind us then was the President's car.
Mr. Rankin.
You were driving your car?
Mr. Curry.
I was driving my car.
Mr. Rankin.
You had radio communication in that?
Mr. Curry.
Yes; I had radio communication with my motorcycle officers. with my downtown office, and Secret Service had a portable radio that they had radio contact with their people.
Mr. Rankin.
Yes. Now, what was in the next car.
Mr. Curry.
The President's party was in that car. Then following him was the Secret Service vehicle and then I understand was the Vice President's car, and then behind him was a Secret Service car. And then they had cars lined up as listed in this report here, how they were lined up after that.
Mr. Rankin.
Now, after you turned the corner off of Main going onto Houston, will you describe what happened as you recall it?
Mr. Curry.
Nothing unusual occurred. We were, I would say traveling perhaps 10 miles an hour, would be the ordinary speed to make a turn, and probably was making that speed after we made a turn from north, going north on Houston to west on Elm Street, and----
Mr. Rankin.
Did you slow down for the turn onto Elm?
Mr. Curry.
Perhaps just a little. I would say we were probably going 8 to 10 miles an hour. And as we were moving downward the triple underpass which is about an ordinary block we were beginning to pick up a little speed.
Mr. Rankin.
How much of a descent is there between where the Depository Building is and the place in the underpass?
Mr. Curry.
It is a pretty good little drop. Within the space of a block it drops
down enough to go under an underpass.
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