Mr. Jenner.

opinion that she was not as straitened as she appears to report in these letters?

Mr. Pic.

Will you repeat that, please, sir?

Mr. Jenner.

Would you read it, please, .Mr. Reporter. (The question, as recorded, was read by the reporter.)

Mr. Pic.

I am sorry, sir; I don't understand your question.

Mr. Jenner.

Were you of the opinion from time to time that on these occasions when she talked about what appears to be that she was in extremis with respect to finances when in fact she was not, she was overstating this condition or status?

Mr. Pic.

Yes; I believe she overstated it most of the time.

Mr. Jenner.

Because there were purchases of houses, at least on the installment plan, and she seemed to have capital to do that, did she not?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir; she could always buy and sell a house some way or other.

Mr. Jenner.

What was your impression as to why she was doing this; to impress you boys or was that just her fixation or personality trait?

Mr. Pic.

It is .my impression that she did it in order to make a profit on every deal she got involved with.

Mr. Jenner.

I am not thinking of a house sale as such. But that question was more directed to her talking about her financial circumstances.
Was she attempting to impress you boys that she was working herself to the bone to support you and you should be more grateful than you appeared to be, and that sort of thing?

Mr. Pic.

That is practically verbatim. sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Please; you say that is practically verbatim, you mean you have uttered what was in her mind?

Mr. Pic.

No; just about what she says. She said at those times.

Mr. Jenner.

Were you under the impression that she was overstating in that respect?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Was that likewise the feeling of your brother Robert?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, I am sure it was.

Mr. Jenner.

What was your impression as to whether your mother was always sincere and straightforward with respect to that subject matter?

Mr. Pic.

My opinion, sir; at the time was all she cared about was getting hold of and making some money in some form or another. This is her god, so to speak, was to get money. And to get as much out of me as she could and as much out of Robert as she could.

Mr. Jenner.

And as much out of anybody else as she could?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Was there any--you talk about the difficulties with Mr. Ekdahl. Do you recall any discussions between them with respect to any dissatisfaction on your mother's part with funds that were given her by Mr. Ekdahl?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir; she always wanted more money out of him. That was the basis of all the arguments.

Mr. Jenner.

And was she complaining to him that he didn't give her enough money?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Was your mother an extravagant person money-wise?

Mr. Pic.

I don't know what she did with the money, sir. She bought very little as far as clothes and things. We didn't eat steak every day. We didn't eat that good. In fact, when I joined the service in 1950, I was 118 pounds, and my weight prior to that was usually about 130, 140. I think within a month or two after I joined the service I was up to 145 and none of my uniforms fit me. I was--there is a picture of me in the Pasqual High School thing, and I am very thin. People couldn't recognize me from that picture. I lost a lot of weight working, and not eating too good. I would come home and have to fix my own meals.

Mr. Jenner.

Was your mother attentive in that respect? Did she go out of her way to have meals ready for you boys when you returned to home either after work or after school or otherwise?

Mr. Pic.

If there was a majority eating there was usually something set aside for the lesser, which was kept warm in the oven.