Mr. Griffin.

I am Burt Griffin, and I am a member of the advisory staff of the general counsel's office for the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. The Commission itself was set up under an Executive order issued by President Johnson and congressional resolution passed by Congress.

Pursuant to these official acts, the Commission itself has promulgated a set of rules of procedure, and under these rules of procedure I have been authorized to come here and take your sworn deposition. Captain Arnett, I want to explain to you ,a little bit of the general nature of our inquiry here. We are concerned with the assassination of President Kennedy and the final death of Lee Harvey Oswald, and we have been empowered and requested by the President to investigate all the facts and evaluate and then report this back to the President.
We have asked you to come here because we believe that you may have some facts that might be pertinent, particularly to the death of Lee Oswald. However, we are also concerned with the entire picture in the examination, and if there is anything that you think would be helpful to us, why, of course, we want to take that. Mr. Hubert and myself are not working on an intensive basis on the other aspects of things, outside of Ruby. So what I will do is ask you a few general things which might have some bearing upon the death of the President that would enable other people to look at it and see if you were somebody that might have information, and then we will get into the other problems.
Now, the mechanics by which we asked you to come here by, the general counsel of the Commission sent a letter to Chief Curry indicating that we would like to talk to you and certain other police officers. Actually, under the rules of the Commission you are entitled to have a written letter from the Commission, 3 days in advance of your testimony here, but the rules also provide that you can waive this notice. Before I swear you in, I would like to ask you if you are willing to waive the notice provision ?

Mr. Arnett.

Oh, sure.

Mr. Griffin.

Now, you are also entitled to have an attorney, and I see that you don't have an attorney, and I take it that you don't want one.

Mr. Arnett.

No, sir.

Mr. Griffin.

Well, do you have any questions you would like to ask me about the thing before I swear you

Mr. Arnett.

No.

Mr. Griffin.

Will you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Mr. Arnett.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Griffin.

Would you give the court reporter your full name?

Mr. Arnett.

Charles Oliver Arnett.

Mr. Griffin.

And when were you born, Mr. Arnett?

Mr. Arnett.

September 6, 1911.

Mr. Griffin.

And where do you live now?

Mr. Arnett.

1223 South Waverly Drive, Dallas, Tex.

Mr. Griffin.

And you are employed with the Dallas Police Department, is that right?

Mr. Arnett.

No. I am a captain on the reserve.

Mr. Griffin.

Now, will you explain what the difference is between the reserve and the police department?

Mr. Arnett.

Yes sir. Reserves were established about 10 or 11 years ago, to assist in, say, tornadoes or, you know, something that came up that they needed more help in to be trained on that. We don't draw any pay from the Dallas Police Department at all.

Mr. Griffin.

Who does pay you?
Mr. . ARNETT. Nobody.

Mr. Griffin.

This is a completely voluntary thing on your part?

Mr. Arnett.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Griffin.

I take it you have a regular occupation on the side?

Mr. Arnett.

Yes, sir; I drive a truck.