Mr. Decker.

was in the courthouse as a court clerk and prior to that I was elevator operator in the courthouse. Now, that's it--that's my life.

Mr. Hubert.

You started really at the bottom you might say, and went up?

Mr. Decker.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Hubert.

You are married, of course?

Mr. Decker.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

You have a family?

Mr. Decker.

I have one adopted son.

Mr. Hubert.

Now, I--as I understand it, it is your responsibility to operate the State or county jail for those prisoners who are either serving terms that may be served there, or who are awaiting a trial in Dallas County and do not make bond, is that correct, sir?

Mr. Decker.

That is correct. I am keeper of the county security building, of the county jail, which maintains the prisoners.

Mr. Hubert.

That is located where?

Mr. Decker.

505 Main Street, the corner of Main and Houston, and it extends to the corner of Elm and Houston in the rear.

Mr. Hubert.

Now, when prisoners are put in your custody or you take them into your custody who are awaiting trial, where are they placed, in cell blocks or something of that sort?

Mr. Decker.

Oh, yes; we have a jail there with a capacity of 750 prisoners.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you have what might be called maximum security there?

Mr. Decker.

Yes; I do--there are many maximums--I have 450 maximum-security cells that's the latest that can be built. The others are built in the old jail which was built in 1913. Of course, my steel isn't so good in that old jail.

Mr. Hubert.

By maximum security, you mean, of course, maximum security from the standpoint that the prisoner can't get out?

Mr. Decker.

It is tool proof steel, one, and two, it is the modern locks. The man who maintains it--the opening and closing of the doors to it is in a cell block where the prisoners could not get to him unless he did as a couple of my boys did the other day, I'm sorry to say. You don't need to put that in there. They are no longer with me. They opened the door when they had no business to and they lost their jobs and I lost five prisoners.

Mr. Hubert.

Does maximum security as it operates with you include considerations of security to the prisoner himself?

Mr. DECKER. Yes, sir.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you consider it to be your function, not merely to secure the prisoner so that he may be brought to justice or acquitted, but also so that his personal security will be maintained and he will not be injured, either by other prisoners or by outsiders?

Mr. Decker.

Well, I even go further than that.

Mr. Hubert.

Well, will you tell us about that?

Mr. Decker.

A prisoner that is delivered to me when the crime is committed, he is then delivered to me and when he is delivered to me, from then on I am his keeper. I must furnish his food, his clothing, get his medication and all the necessities of life required. I must protect him from a violent prisoner and I also must protect him from a citizen who would desire to do harm to him.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you consider that your physical set up, and by that I mean, bricks and cement and steel as well as personnel is adequate to accomplish the purposes that you have described as maximum security?

Mr. Decker.

We feel that our men are qualified from the training that is given to them, one; that the jail has passed Federal jail inspection on many occasions; and we feel that our jail is so constructed that the prisoner is protected.

Mr. Hubert.

Now, of course, you are aware that a man by the name of Lee Harvey Oswald was in the custody of the Dallas police ?

Mr. Decker.

Yes; I had some officers present when he was arrested.

Mr. Hubert.

From the sheriffs office-- sheriff's officers were present?

Mr. Decker.

Yes; sheriff's officers were present in Oak Cliff at the time. They responded to the assassination of the killing of Tippit, the same as others. You see, I was at the scene of the assassination of the President.