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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. I - Page 156« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Mrs. Marguerite Oswald)

Mrs. Oswald.
Russian lessons at the public library in Fort Worth, Tex., and Mr. Gregory was the teacher.
Mr. Rankin.
You said something about Spanish.
Mrs. Oswald.
Oh, did I? I am sorry. No, sir, the Russian language.
The Chairman.
What days were these?
Mr. Rankin.
What days were these that you talked to Mr. Gregory?
Mrs. Oswald.
You mean the Russian language?
Mr. Rankin.
Yes.
Mrs. Oswald.
I do not have this information. But I can get it for you from the public library, because there was a public notice in the paper.
Mr. Rankin.
Can you tell us approximately?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, it was just right before the assassination. I had taken two lessons. Yes, I had taken two lessons, and then I didn't go for the third lesson, because this was on a Friday--the lessons were on a Tuesday. So I had taken two lessons, the two Tuesdays prior to the assassination.
Mr. Rankin.
I see.
So it would be around a little over 3 weeks before the assassination?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir. Two Tuesdays before, and then my next lesson would, have been the Tuesday after the Friday of the assassination.
Yes, sir, that is the time.
So then I thought of Mr. Gregory.
Now, believe me, gentlemen--and I will swear again, if you want me to--nothing was said about Mr. Gregory and Marina being friends. But I do have a guardian angel. And, as I go along, some of the things I know have been from this guardian angel.
This was just a coincidence.
I thought of calling Mr. Peter Gregory. I have no friends in Fort Worth. I never--I live a very lonely life. I am not lonely. But I live to myself. I am kept very busy. I had my work, 24 hour duty. So really I have no friends. And because of Lee's defection, I didn't make any new friends.
So I am racking my mind who can I call for help. And I think of Mr. Peter Gregory. So I call Mr. Peter Gregory at 6:30 in the morning, Sunday, the 24th--Sunday morning the 24th.
And I didn't want the hotel operator to know who I was. So I gave a fictitious name. He said, "I am sorry,"--I said, "I can't tell you who I am, Mr. Gregory."
I am ahead of my story.
Marina, when I said, "Marina, we need help, honey. I am going to call a Mr. Gregory."
And I told her about me taking Russian lessons.
"Oh, Mama, I know Mr. Gregory, Lee know Mr. Gregory, the man at the library that gives Russian lessons."
So I find that very much of a coincidence.
So I called Mr. Gregory. I said, "Mr. Gregory, I won't say who I am, but you know my son and you know my daughter-in- law, and I am in trouble, sir. I am over here."
He said, "I am sorry, but I won't talk 'to anybody I don't know."
Mr. Rankin.
What name did you give him?
Mrs. Oswald.
I didn't give him any name.
He said, "I am sorry, but I won't talk to anyone I don't know."
And I said again, "Well, you know my son real well."
He said, "Oh, you are Mrs. Oswald."
I said, "Yes sir, this is Mrs. Oswald. We are at the Executive Inn in Dallas, stranded. And do you know of anyone who would give my daughter-in-law and I a home, and put us up for the time that this is going on, so we can be near Lee at the courthouse? I need help. Mr. Gregory."
He said, "Mrs. Oswald, what is your room number? I will help you. Hold still. Help will be coming."
And so that was the end of my conversation with Mr. Gregory.
At 11:30 Sunday, November 23d, my son Robert and Mr. Gregory came to the Executive Inn, all excited. We had diapers strung all over the place. My uniform was washed. I had no clothes with me.
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