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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 344« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Forrest V. Sorrels)

Mr. Stern.
Now, as you turned left from Houston onto Elm and looked again at the building, did you have as long a look this time as you had before?
Mr. Sorrels.
No; because he was making a left-hand turn, and, of course, getting in front of the building, I just glanced out-- just as we made the turn, just in a general way, you are looking at the crowd and the building, just a glance at it at that time.
Mr. Stern.
And at this point you are traveling directly in front of the building?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
I imagine it would have been difficult to look up and see the whole building.
Mr. Sorrels.
No; I don't mean to say that after we made the turn I looked up and saw the whole building. But just as we made the turn I looked towards the building and saw people in front, and just glanced up--I would not say that I saw the entire building at all at that time.
Mr. Stern.
And it is your testimony that you saw nothing unusual, that you observed no one there with a weapon?
Mr. Sorrels.
No, sir.
Mr. Stern.
Or any other implement?
Mr. Sorrels.
No, sir.
Mr. Stern.
That several windows were open on the side of the building at different places?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
And that the only people you observed were at one particular location?
Mr. Sorrels.
I recall distinctly about two floors down seeing two colored men there at the windows. I do not recall seeing--specifically seeing anyone else. There may have been some one other person over there. But I do not recall specifically seeing anyone on the right-hand side of the building, where the window was open. I do not recall that.
Mr. Stern.
And the location of the two Negro men that you observed was in what part of the building?
Mr. Sorrels.
I would say that it was about, oh, maybe a third of the distance from the right to the left, maybe not quite that far.
Mr. Stern.
And about two stories down?
Mr. Sorrels.
From the top; yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
And when did you observe these Negro men, when you first turned into Houston, or when you turned from Houston onto Elm?
Mr. Sorrels.
I observed them first, when I first looked at the building I saw them, and I don't recall that I actually saw them again after that. When we were making the turn I glanced, and as you say, I would not have been able to see, I don't think all the way to the top of the building, unless I put my head almost out the window.
But I saw people out in front, and I would not say that I saw the people as I was making the turn or subsequent to that time.
Mr. Stern.
When you looked at the crowd along Houston and Elm, did you notice anything unusual?
Mr. Sorrels.
No, sir; I did not.
Mr. Stern.
You have turned now onto Elm, Mr. Sorrels.
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
Why don't you tell us now in your own words and in as much detail as you remember exactly what you recall transpired next.
Mr. Sorrels.
The crowd had begun to thin out after we made the turn on Elm Street there. As a matter of explanation, Elm Street goes at a downgrade--in other words, as I said a moment ago, it makes more than a left-hand--oblique left-hand turn. It curves back--I mean it is more of a sharp angle than a right angle. And then it swings down a little curve to go into the underpass.
There is a sidewalk and terrace that goes up to the right, increasing in height as you approach the underpass from the corner at Elm and Houston Streets.
We were running late, because the President arrived at Love Field late.
Mr. Lawson was particularly concerned, as we all are, in keeping the schedule.
I looked back to see how close the President's car was in making the turn, because we had begun to pick up speed after we made the left-hand turn.
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