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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIII - Page 58« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Forrest V. Sorrels)

Mr. Sorrels.
in that particular area at that time. I did not see anyone that I recognized to be other than an officer.
Mr. Hubert.
No news people in the corridor of the third floor?
Mr. Sorrels.
I am talking about inside the office now. In the corridor, that was an entirely different situation because there were cameras set up, tripods, still photographers, photographers with cameras in their hands, and newspapermen in large numbers in the hallways.
Mr. Hubert.
Well, now, for example, when Captain Fritz afforded you an opportunity to speak to Oswald and indicated that you could do so at a little office around the corner, did that mean that you had to pass Oswald out of Fritz' office, and through this third floor corridor, where all the newsmen were gathered?
Mr. Sorrels.
No, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
That was still within Fritz' office?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes, sir; in other words, there was an office there, and Captain Fritz had an office built within that office just merely to take him out of the door and right around the corner of his inside office there.
Mr. Hubert.
Then you did interview Oswald.
Mr. Sorrels.
I talked to him, started asking him questions, and he was belligerent and arrogant in his attitude and he said to me, "I don't know who you fellows are, a bunch of cops."
Mr. Hubert.
How long did you speak to him
Mr. Sorrels.
Not very long.
Mr. Hubert.
In point of time.
Mr. Sorrels.
Not over--I don't think over 10 minutes at the most.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you know what happened to him after that?
Mr. Sorrels.
As far as I know, he was taken back to the jail.
Mr. Hubert.
Now, taking him back to the jail would involve passing him out of Fritz' office, through the corridor, and to the jail elevator, is that correct?
Mr. Soerels.
That is correct; yes, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
Can you tell us what security precautions you observed with reference to his person after he was out of Fritz' office?
Mr. Sorrels.
They of course had him handcuffed when they removed him, and several detectives accompanied him as they left out, in front--someone went ahead. And as I recall it there was at least one on the side, and then some brought up the rear.
Mr. Hubert.
You did not go up to the jail?
Mr. Sorrels.
No, sir; I did not.
Mr. Hubert.
Did you observe any system of identification of the people who were on the third floor?
Mr. Sorrels.
As I recall it, when I first went down there I had no particular difficulty getting in, because most of the officers there know me, from my years of being in that city. But subsequent to that time I would have to identify myself many times. This was to uniformed police officers that were on duty. And I would have to show my commission book in order to get into Captain Fritz' office, or else get into the executive offices there, where the chief of police and the deputy chief offices were located.
Mr. Hubert.
Did you observe any officers posted at the entrances to the area, to the third floor area?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
Where were they?
Mr. Sorrels.
By the elevator, and then there were uniformed officers at Captain Fritz' door.
Mr. Hubert.
Did you observe them requiring identification by other persons? I mean you described how they required you to identify yourself. Did you notice whether they did so with other people, and if so, what did they do?
Mr. Sorrels.
I cannot say that I did, because usually when I get through identifying myself, I either went to the executive suite, where the chief's office was, or right direct to Captain Fritz' office. But on a number of occasions, the officers that were on duty there, before I can get my commission book out, some of the newsmen or photographers there that knew me would
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