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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. IX - Page 55« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Samuel B. Ballen)

Mr. Ballen.
person who would stand out as being suspicious or strange would be Lee Harvey Oswald, but I was very surprised when Oswald was arrested.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you have any further conversations along that line with your wife?
Mr. Ballen.
Well, as this story developed day by day, we would naturally discuss it.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you still have the same view that you expressed to your wife when you first learned of the assassination?
Mr. Ballen.
I want to read the report that I assume the Warren Commission will ultimately publish. The circumstantial evidence as reported in the press is overwhelming, to say the least, but there remains a shadow of skepticism in my mind, and I am looking forward to seeing the published report.
Mr. Liebeler.
It would certainly be fair to say, however, would it not, Mr. Ballen, that you at no time prior to the assassination had any reason to believe that Oswald was capable or would be inclined to commit an act of this sort, is that correct?
Mr. Ballen.
That is correct.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you know of any contact between Oswald and Jack Ruby?
Mr. Ballen.
None whatsoever.
Mr. Liebeler.
When did you first meet George De Mohrenschildt?
Mr. Ballen.
Approximately 1955, maybe 1954.
Mr. Liebeler.
Have you had any conversation with De Mohrenschildt since this assassination?
Mr. Ballen.
only through the mails.
Mr. Liebeler.
You have corresponded with him since the assassination?
Mr. Ballen.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you write about the assassination?
Mr. Ballen.
Only in a very guarded way, because I understood that mails in Haiti are subject to scrutiny, and I didn't know what his environment was down there, so I only corresponded with him in a very guarded way.
Mr. Liebeler.
Can you tell me in general what you wrote to him?
Mr. Ballen.
I made no reference to the assassination directly. I said in one letter that I wanted to hear from him. I was--I wanted to know that he was okay. I didn't use those words in the letter, but he understood what I was asking him.
And I said it was a shame that he had to leave Dallas, that if he and Jeanne had remained here, that possibly this never would have happened, because they were the only people who were trying to bring this closed mind out into the open air.
And I received one reply back from George's wife, and she thanked me for what she thought were kind sentiments.
Subsequently he chided me a little bit, and I again wrote to him and let him know I wondered how he was getting along.
And he wrote back and said, "I am fearful about you, all kinds of race riots and assassinations in Dallas, but how are you getting along. Let us hear from you."
Subsequently, as you know, his wife's daughter and son-in-law were guests in my house for 2 weeks, and so I learned from them about George and his wife, and I am about due another letter in the next week or so.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you keep copies of the letters you wrote to him?
Mr. Ballen.
No, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
. Do you still have the letters he wrote to you?
Mr. Ballen.
No; I first started to save his letters when he and his wife walked through Central America, and this was a collection of letters, but I am not a letter saver. But I did save them, saved them until he returned from his trip and gave them all to him, and those are the only letters that I have ever saved.
Mr. Liebeler.
You mentioned De Mohrenschildt's daughter-in-law?
Mr. Ballen.
Well, his wife's daughter.
Mr. Liebeler.
His wife's daughter?
Mr. Ballen.
That's right.
Mr. Liebeler.
What are their names?
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