Mr. Belin.

You walked into the room and you raised your right hand and we started taking your testimony. Is that correct?

Mr. GIVENS. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Have I ever met you before?

Mr. Givens.

I don't believe so. I don't believe I have.
Mr. BELIN. You have an opportunity to come back here and read this and sign it if you want, or else you can just waive signing and have the court reporter send it directly to Washington. Do you want to come back and read and sign it or do you want to just have the court reporter just send it to Washington?

Mr. Givens.

Would it be necessary to come back?

Mr. Belin.

No, sir; it is not. You can waive it if you desire to do it.
Do you want to waive it?

Testimony of Troy Eugene West

Mr. Givens.

Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. All right, thank you. We will see you.
Troy Eugene West
TESTIMONY OF TROY EUGENE WEST

Mr. Givens.

The testimony of Troy Eugene West was taken at 10:30 a.m., on April 8, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. David W. Belin, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. Belin.

Mr. West, would you raise your right hand, please.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. West.

I do.
Mr. BELIN. You want to sit down now, please. Will you please state your name for the record? Your name is Troy Eugene West?

Mr. West.

Troy Eugene West.
Mr. BELIN. How old are you, Mr. West?

Mr. West.

Well, I was born in 1907. That would be 57, I think.

Mr. Belin.

Were you born in Texas?

Mr. West.

Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. You go to school at all in Texas?

Mr. West.

Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. How far did you get through school?

Mr. West.

Well, I went to the seventh grade.
Mr. BELIN. Then what did you do?
Mr. WEST. Well; I had to come out of school and go to work.

Mr. Belin.

You started working then?

Mr. West.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Belin.

What did you do when you started working? Where did you --

Mr. West.

On the farm.

Mr. Belin.

On the farm?

Mr. WEST. On the farm, yes, sir.

Mr. Belin.

How long did you stay on the farm?
Mr. WEST. Oh, I stayed on the farm until way up after I got grown. way up past--I guess I was about 24.
Mr. BELIN. When you left the the farm, then what did you do when you left the farm?

Mr. West.

Well, I came to town after I left.

Mr. Belin.

You came to Dallas?

Mr. West.

No, sir; little town at Mexia, Tex.

Mr. Belin.

How long did you stay in town there?

Mr. WEST. Well, I lived there for about 7 years, I guess.