The John F. Kennedy Assassination Homepage

Navigation

  » Introduction
  » The Report
  » The Hearings

Volumes

  » Testimony Index
 
  » Volume I
  » Volume II
  » Volume III
  » Volume IV
  » Volume V
  » Volume VI
  » Volume VII
  » Volume VIII
  » Volume IX
  » Volume X
  » Volume XI
  » Volume XII
  » Volume XIII
  » Volume XIV
  » Volume XV
Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIII - Page 6« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of L. C. Graves)

Mr. Graves.
Yes; learned later that the FBI had a call to that effect, but I learned that our office had had similar calls, too.
Mr. Griffin.
What route did you follow when you left Captain Fritz' office with Oswald?
Mr. Graves.
0f course, went out our door and turned left, which would be--south.
Mr. Griffin.
Went into the third floor hallway?
Mr. Graves.
Third floor hallway; yes, sir; and went to a solid door which leads us into the jail elevator.
Mr. Griffin.
As you walked out, were there news people out in the hallway?
Mr. Graves.
Yes, lots of them.
Mr. Griffin.
Were there TV cameras up in the hallway?
Mr. Graves.
Yes; all kinds of cameras.
Mr. Griffin.
Now, how long a period of time lapsead from the time you stopped answering the telephone calls until you got out on the third floor hallway with Oswald?
Mr. Graves.
Ten or 15 minutes, I guess, approximately.
Mr. Griffin.
Now, when you stopped answering the telephone calls to go into Captain Fritz' office, were you aware that you were going in there for the purpose of getting ready to move Oswald out?
Mr. Graves.
Yes.
Mr. Griffin.
How did you become aware of that?
Mr. Graves.
We were told that we were going to move him.
Mr. Griffin.
Who told you that?
Mr. Graves.
Captain Fritz.
Mr. Griffin.
He told you?
Mr. Graves.
Yes; I don't know whether he walked out and told me. You know, in the process, the door was opened and he talked to some of us at the door and so forth.
Mr. Griffin.
Now, prior to the time that you actually went out there in the hallway with Oswald, did you have any information as to whether the people who were members of the press were aware that Oswald was about to be brought out?
Mr. Graves.
I--it was my understanding they knew that he was to be transferred at 10 o'clock.
Mr. Griffin.
Well, I mean----
Mr. Graves.
Well, no, no; we--if you mean if we told them when we were leaving with him, we didn't do that. We just walked out with him.
Mr. Griffin.
But what about a sharp newsman who was keeping his eyes and ears open? Could he see through the door? Could he see the activity?
Mr. Graves.
Could he see the preparation----
Mr. Graves.
For bringing out----
Mr. Graves.
Yes.
Mr. Griffin.
Could one see Oswald putting on his sweater, for example?
Mr. Graves.
Maybe not that, but he could have seen us pass it over to him. I believe those blinds were open there on-- coming out to the secretary's office there. I believe they were. I'm not sure about that, but if they were open they could have seen from the front door standing at the hallway at an angle. They could have seen that sweater or clothes changing hands. I don't believe where Oswald was standing he could see him from that angle, but I--like I said, a good, sharp newsman knowing the activity, he could see and naturally know that something was fixing to happen.
Mr. Griffin.
When you arrived at the elevators on the third floor, was the elevator there waiting for you?
Mr. Graves.
I think it was waiting right there for us.
Mr. Griffin.
Now, which elevator did you come down in?
Mr. Graves.
It is called the inside jail elevator, which is used only for the transfer of prisoners from one floor to the other and basement.
Mr. Griffin.
And who went into the elevator with you?
Mr. Graves.
Well, it was Leavelle, Montgomery, Swain, and Captain Fritz and myself and, of course, Oswald.
« Previous | Next »

Found a Typo?

Click here
Copyright by www.jfk-assassination.comLast Update: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 21:56:35 CET