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. IV - Page 152« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Jesse Edward Curry)

Mr. Rankin.
Could you describe to the Commission the difference this time as compared with the ordinary case that you have handled?
Mr. Curry.
Well, the ordinary case, perhaps we have two or three or maybe a half dozen reporters, we have a room for them on the third floor where they normally on assignment at city hall they stay in this room.
As prisoners are brought to and from the interrogation offices, it is necessary to bring them down the man corridor, and they usually are waiting there where they take pictures of them as they enter and as they leave and they sometimes try to ask them questions.
Mr. Rankin.
Now, how was this different?
Mr. Curry.
That there was such total confusion here. We had to post men on the door to keep them actually from going into the office where they were interrogating. We had some men, police reserves and a sergeant, I noticed on the third floor when I come off the elevator.
They were stationed there, and they were screening people to see whether or not they had business on the third floor because we did have to carry on our other normal business, the burglary and theft and the juvenile bureau and the auto theft bureau, the forgery bureau all of these are on the third floor in this wing.
The Chairman.
Chief, is this building just a police building or a municipal building, general purposes?
Mr. Curry.
It is a section of the municipal building.
The Chairman.
A section of it. Is it isolated from the rest of it?
Mr. Curry.
No; it is connected.
The Chairman.
Connected?
Mr. Curry.
Yes. And on the first floor we have the courts and the traffic violations bureau.
In the basement it is principally police offices. On the second floor we have the city planning commission, and we have part of our traffic division and special service bureau on the second floor.
Then on the third floor we have the criminal investigation division. We have the police dispatcher's office, and we have the administrative offices and we have the personnel offices.
The Chairman.
I see.
Mr. Curry.
But all these are connected with the municipal building, each floor is.
The Chairman.
Yes.
Mr. Rankin.
Did you have anything to do with the interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald?
Mr. Curry.
No, sir; I did not. I was in the office once or twice while he was being interrogated but I never asked him any question myself.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you know who did?
Mr. Curry.
Captain Fritz principally interrogated him, I believe.
Mr. Rankin.
Was that his responsibility?
Mr. Curry.
Yes; it was. There were several people in the office. It seems to me we were violating every principle of interrogation, the method by which we had to interrogate.
Mr. Rankin.
Will you explain to the Commission what you mean by that?
Mr. Curry.
Ordinarily an interrogator in interrogating a suspect will have him in a quiet room alone or perhaps with one person there.
Mr. Rankin.
Is that your regular practice?
Mr. Curry.
That is the regular practice.
Mr. Rankin.
Tell us how this was done?
Mr. Curry.
This we had representatives from the Secret Service, we had representatives from the FBI, we had representatives from the Ranger Force, and they were--and then one or two detectives from the homicide bureau. This was, well, it was just against all principles of good interrogation practice.
Mr. Rankin.
By representatives can you tell us how many were from each of these agencies that you describe?
Mr. Curry.
I can't be sure. I recall I believe two from the FBI, one or two, Inspector Kelley was there from Secret Service, and I believe another one
« Previous | Next »

Found a Typo?

Click here
Copyright by www.jfk-assassination.comLast Update: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 21:56:36 CET