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(Testimony of Mrs. Marguerite Oswald)
Mr. Rankin.
Who told you that there was--they had found another suspect?
Mrs. Oswald.
One of the officers. That, sir, I don't know. He just walked in real fast while we were sitting down and said they had picked up another suspect, and it was in the paper that they had picked up another suspect at that particular time, which would have been approximately 1 o'clock that day.
Mr. Rankin.
But you don't remember the officer's name?
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir, that is all he said and he left. He was just relaying why we would be delayed. But it was also published. I do not have the paper or the information. But I do know from the reporters, when I told my story, that part to them-- they said that substantiates the newspaper story that they did pick up a suspect at that time.
Mr. Rankin.
About how long did you and Marina spend there with your son?
Mrs. Oswald.
I would say I spent about 3 or 4 minutes on the telephone, and then Marina came back to the telephone and talked with Lee. So we left. Marina started crying. Marina says, "Mamma, I tell Lee I love Lee and Lee says he love me very much. And Lee tell me to make sure I buy shoes for June."
Now, here is a man that is accused of the murder of a President. This is the next day, or let's say about 24 hours that he has been questioned. His composure is good. And he is thinking about his young daughter needing shoes.
Now, June was wearing shoes belonging to Mrs. Paine's little girl, Marina told me they were little red tennis shoes, and the top was worn. They were clean, and the canvas was showing by the toe part, like children wear out their toes.
I ask you this, gentlemen. If Marina had a hundred and some odd dollars in the house, why is it necessary that my son has to tell her at the jailhouse, remind her to buy shoes for his baby, for their child? Just a few dollars out of that hundred and some odd dollars would have bought shoes for this particular child.
Another way to look at this, as I stated previously--that the boy is concerned about shoes for his baby, and he is in this awful predicament. So he must feel innocent, or sure that everything is going to be all right, as he told me.
Mr. Rankin.
Now, in this telephone conversation, when you talked to your son, can you explain a little bit to the Commission how that is? Was your son on the other side of a wall or something?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir. My son was on the other side of the wall, and then back of the wall was a door with a peephole, where an officer was.
Now, we are going to come from the door, with the peephole and the officer, to my son. Then a glass partition and then glass partitions like telephone booths. But not really inclosed--just a little separation.
Mr. Rankin.
So you could not reach in there and take your son's hand?
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir. We talked by telephone.
Mr. Rankin.
And he had a telephone on his side, and----
Mrs. Oswald.
And he had a telephone.
Mr. Rankin.
And you talked back and forth?
Mrs. Oswald.
Back and forth, that is right. That is the way we talked. And the boy was badly beat up. I have proof in the papers--his face, black eyes, all scratched up, his neck was scratched. He was badly beat up. But he assured me they were not mistreating him, that he got some of the bruises in the scuffle. As I say, the boy, if he was being mistreated, would not tell his mother that.
Mr. Rankin.
And whatever Marina said to him was in Russian, and you didn't understand it?
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir, I did not understand. But I would say this, it seemed to be just an ordinary pleasant conversation. He was smiling. And she told me he said he loved her very much, she said she loved him, and told about buying the shoes for the baby. That is all she said. She did not tell me any other part of the conversation. And they talked quite a while. She talked with him twice. She talked with him the first time. I got on the phone. Then she talked to him again.
Mr. Rankin.
Did it sound like there was any dispute or argument?
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