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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIII - Page 65« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Forrest V. Sorrels)

Mr. Sorrels.
called my headquarters office and told Deputy Chief Paterni that Oswald had been shot by a man named Jack Rubin--that is how I understood it at that time who operated a nightclub, and that was all the information I had at that time.
Mr. Hubert.
Now, Mr. Paterni was in Washington?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
That was a long-distance call?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you know what time the call was made, did you use a direct line?
Mr. Sorrels.
No; I called it on the security phone, which we use in connection with matters pertaining to the protection of prisoners. In other words, the Signal Corps----
(Witness provided telephone number.)
Mr. Hubert.
And you can use that on any telephone?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes.
Mr. Hurert.
Is that a security matter?
Mr. Sorrels.
I beg your pardon?
Mr. Hubert.
Is that a security matter, that telephone number?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes--Signal Corps.
Mr. Hubert.
I think the record should show that the witness stated the number that was called, but that we are not going to have it as a part of the record because it is a security matter.
You, Mr. Reporter, will delete the number from the transcript.
What I was trying to get at is have you ascertained at what time that call was made?
Mr. Sorrels.
No; I have not.
Mr. Hubert.
Would it be possible to do so?
Mr. Sorrels.
I could not answer that question, because I do not know what records are kept.
Mr. Hubert.
Does it go as a long-distance call?
Mr. Sorrels.
A long-distance call collect; yes.
Mr. Hubert.
Then the telephone company probably would have a record of it?
Mr. Sorrels.
Possibly so. It is my understanding that at that time they were not actually making any record of calls--they were coming in so fast, the employees of the telephone company told me those calls--they put people through and were not concerned about time.
Mr. Hubert.
Was this done by direct dialing or through the operator?
Mr. Sorrels.
Through the operator.
Mr. Hubert.
And it was a collect call?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
It would have to be charged to the government?
Mr. Sorrels.
If it was recorded; yes, it would be, to that particular phone.
Mr. Hubert.
I wonder if you would be so kind as to undertake to ascertain for us if there exists a record on that point, because, as you know, we are interested in very narrow areas of time here.
Mr. Sorrels.
I would say this-that the time can be established within a matter of a very few minutes, because Oswald was still on the floor and had not been removed to the hospital at the time.
Mr. Hubert.
That is right.
But you see, I have estimates of time from other people, and I want to see how it conforms. And therefore, to tie it in, could you give us your estimate of how many minutes or parts of minutes elapsed between the time you made your call, you initiated it, and the time that Oswald actually moved out?
Mr. Sorrels.
That I cannot tell you, because I was not there when he was moved out. I left then that area as soon as I made that call.
Mr. Hubert.
He was still in the area when you made the call?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes, sir.
The call went through very quickly. And I left that area then and went back to Captain Fritz' office, bees use I was interested in talking to the man who had shot Oswald as quickly as possible.
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