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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. IX - Page 149« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Paul Roderick Gregory)

Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ever hear of him making any such remarks in the presence of anyone else?
Mr. Gregory.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did he ever mention Governor Connally?
Mr. Gregory.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ever hear through any other source that he made any remarks about Governor Connally?
Mr. Gregory.
No, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
As far as Marina was concerned, you indicated that she too expressed a kindly feeling or a good feeling toward President Kennedy?
Mr. Gregory.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Would that indicate to you that Oswald had probably indicated such feelings to her, since she was not able to read English or understand English?
Mr. Gregory.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Or didn't you think about that?
Mr. Gregory.
I didn't think about it, and would not think that would be true. I couldn't answer the question.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you form any opinion of Marina's ability to speak English during the time you knew her?
Mr. Gregory.
Very poor. She knew two or three words.
Mr. Liebeler.
Was that true throughout the entire time you knew her?
Mr. Gregory.
Yes; the very last time I ever saw her was at Robert Oswald's house and all she could say was "excuse me," because she would go sit in the corner while everyone else ate.
Mr. Liebeler.
While everybody else what?
Mr. Gregory.
Ate.
Mr. Liebeler.
She didn't eat with you when she was sitting in the corner and all the other relatives were sitting around the dinner table?
Mr. Gregory.
Yes; evidently she had eaten before I got there, just in time to take them by, but every time I would go over I would ask, "What have you learned in English," and she would always say, "I haven't learned a thing." I personally gave her some vocabulary which I had used to study Russian, which she could use in the reverse manner to study English words and I assumed that would help her. I don't know if she used them.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ever think that Marina was deceptive as to the extent to which she could understand English?
Mr. Gregory.
No; I don't believe so. Well, she never spoke English with me, or never attempted to speak English. She would say, "How do you do," something like that.
Mr. Liebeler.
What about Oswald's proficiency in Russian?
Mr. Gregory.
He spoke a very ungrammatical Russian with a very strong accent.
Mr. Liebeler.
What kind of accent?
Mr. Gregory.
Well, I can't tell you, because I am not that much of a judge. You would have to ask an expert about that. It was this poorly spoken Russian, but he was completely fluent. He understood more than I did and he could express any idea, I believe, that he wanted to in Russian. But it was heavily pronounced and he made all kinds of grammatical errors, and Marina would correct him, and he would get peered at her for doing this. She would say you are supposed to say like this, and he would wave his hand and say, "Don't bother me."
Mr. Liebeler.
He indicated that he didn't care to have Marina correct him as far as his use of the Russian language was concerned?
Mr. Gregory.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ever have any discussion with them as to why Marina did not learn English?
Mr. Gregory.
I said I thought it was kind of strange that she was not picking up anything, but her expression was that she had to stay home and she had no opportunity to speak. I did not observe any obvious attempts on Lee's part to hold back her English, but I guess there was an attempt since he would not help her himself. Evidently he didn't help her.
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