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. IX - Page 181« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of George S. De Mohrenschildt)

Mr. Jenner.
get your personality into the record, because many people have described your personality.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Very different, probably.
Mr. Jenner.
I wouldn't say very different. But you would be surprised the kind of things that are said about you. I don't know that you would be surprised.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I know that I have friends, I have enemies.
Mr. Jenner.
Well, everybody has.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I also went to Arizona, I remember, and tried to get a job as--I don't know if it is after this experience with Humble Oil Co.-- probably--over--to get a job as a polo instructor at the Arizona Desert School. Since we played polo in the military academy, I know how to play polo. I am not an expert player, but I do know how to play polo, and I am a good rider, and was a good rider. So I tried to get the job in the Arizona Desert School for Boys. And for some reason I could not get this job. There was a job available. I don't remember what the circumstances were. I never got this job. But I think it is after my experience with Humble Oil Co.
Mr. Jenner.
You worked in the Louisiana oil fields as--what did you call it?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. A roughneck, or roustabout, it is called.
Mr. Jenner.
And you pursued that how long?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I think 3 or 4 months.
Mr. Jenner.
We are still in 1939?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
All right.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Probably in 1939. And I got amoebic dysentery in Louisiana, and got very sick. I had an accident on the rig, was badly cut up-- something fell on my arm, and then I got dysentery. And, frankly, I do not recall whether they fired me or I resigned myself. I do not remember. Maybe both-- resigned and mutual agreement. But I remained very good friends with the chairman of the board of the company, Mr. Blaffer. And he gave me the idea already then to go in the oil business on my own. He says, "George, a man of your background and education, you should be working for yourself," and he explained to me the fundamentals of the oil promotion, if you know what I mean---drill wells, get a lease-- drill a well, find some money to drill that well.
Well, I said, "Mr. Blaffer, frankly it is a little above me to go in so early in my experience in the United States--to go into that type of business. I don't think I am capable enough to do that."
Mr. Jenner.
Well, you didn't have the capital at that time, did you?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I didn't have the capital. But he said you could do it without capital.
Mr. Jenner.
All right. When you left the Louisiana oil fields, what did you do?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Went back to New York, recovered from my amoebic dysentery. And I don't remember whether it is then that I tried insurance or not. It is possible then that I was trying to work at this insurance broker's deal. And then this friend of my sister-in-law's, Margaret Clark Williams, died, and left all of us a certain amount of money. My sister-in-law, Mrs. Edwards, myself--I don't remember what it was, $10,000 I guess, each. And what happened then-- yes, then comes the draft time in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Jenner.
That is right; 1941.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
And you are in New York City.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I am in New York City. I am called to the draft, and they found I have high blood pressure.
Mr. Jenner.
With the advent of the war in Europe, did you---
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes, I forgot to tell you.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you volunteer?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes. I was mobilized by the Polish Army in 1939--since being a candidate officer, I was mobilized by the Polish Army, got the papers in 1939 that I have to return to New York, and I did return to New York in 1939. That was just exactly after my Texas experience with the Humble Oil Co.
« Previous | Next »

Found a Typo?

Click here
Copyright by www.jfk-assassination.comLast Update: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 21:56:34 CET