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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIV - Page 391« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Earl Ruby)

Mr. Ruby.
Oh, yes; he was very enthused. He was going to get started.
Mr. Griffin.
Were you able to dissuade him at all from his enthusiasm?
Mr. Ruby.
I think so, I think so. I really don't know. As far as I know, I think I did. I told him it just doesn't pay to get into it, because the one that was being marketed, if I recall he told me was selling for $3. So he said if he could sell his for $2, it would be tremendous. But I figured out the cost to him about 80 cents and if you sell the jobbers, you have got to give them 50 and 10 off. By the way, I have gone all through this with him but I just want to make it clear. So that means he is going to get 90 cents. In addition they want 2 percent, so you get 88 cents, approximately, and it costs you 80 cents, so you can't be in business on 8 cents gross profit on an item that you are selling for 88 cents. It is just impossible.
Mr. Griffin.
And in which telephone conversation did you have this discussion?
Mr. Ruby.
In one of them, not the first one, because I didn't have all the information then. But after I got all the information, I called him or he called me.
Mr. Griffin.
Do you remember Jack calling you after the telephone call, a few days after the telephone call that was made in connection with Triangle? Do you remember that telephone call?
Mr. Ruby.
Well, I think so, and that is when I told him I think they wanted 45 cents, and that is when I broke down the price structure, that it just didn't seem feasible to consider manufacturing it if you had to sell it at $2 and I probably told him at that time, I checked into it and it was a flop in Detroit, so it was my opinion it wasn't good.
Mr. Griffin.
Did Jack call you in November about anything other than the twistboard?
Mr. Ruby.
I don't think so. I think the only thing we discussed other than--maybe how is the family, you know, how are your kids, which is the general conversation when two brothers talk.
Mr. Griffin.
Did he ever call you in connection with Eva's illness?
Mr. Ruby.
Yes, yes; he did mention that, that she was going to have an operation, she was going to have an operation, she had an operation, and he said, "I think you should call her or write her" or something. I don't know, I may have even called her in the hospital, I really don't remember, but he said she was feeling very bad, and for me to either write her, send her a card or call her, and I don't know what I did. I did something but I don't remember exactly.
Mr. Griffin.
While Jack was living in Dallas, had you talked with him about other business ventures that he had, outside of his clubs?
Mr. Ruby.
Well, a few years ago I talked to him about, he had a vitamin called Miniron, or something like that. In fact, I tried to discourage him about that, but I couldn't, and in fact I think if I remember correctly, I sent him some money to try it, but it just didn't go. It was a vitamin, a liquid vitamin of some kind that he thought was terrific. He was always taking diet pills and stuff like that. He was whatever the name for that is. Anyhow, he went for all kinds of diet remedies that came on the market. But it never seemed to help him much because he liked to eat.
Mr. Griffin.
Do you have any recollection of when he was selling these diet pills or these vitamin pills?
Mr. Ruby.
Oh, it is a few years back. It had to be----it was a liquid. I don't think it was a pill. It was a bottle of some kind. In fact, he sent me some. It is several years back, I mean 4, 5 or 6 or 7. I don't remember exactly. It was several years ago I know.
Mr. Griffin.
Can you recall your activities of the weekend of November 22, 23, and 24?
Mr. Ruby.
The 22d, Friday, right?
Mr. Griffin.
Yes.
Mr. Ruby.
I was at work drycleaning when we heard the news on the radio.
Mr. Griffin.
That the President had been shot?
Mr. Ruby.
Yes; first shot. Then we were waiting for additional news, and then finally it came through that he was dead.
Mr. Griffin.
How long did you remain at the drycleaning plant that day?
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