Well, that may be a vocation a little bit. You know, before I got into the program, I thought maybe it was just a group of people that were just trying to---they were just eager, I would say, in other words. I thought they were, how should I say it, I just felt like they were kind of overeager, or just nosy, so to speak, and they just wanted to see around. But after I got into the program, I was amazed to find the caliber of men. I have only been in 7 years. I went in 1957. It was begun in 1952. And the man that had it then has since made a promotion to inspector, and I was assigned out there.

Mr. Hubert.

In other words, you have satisfied yourself, I gather, that the motivation of these people for getting in the reserves is that they consider it a civic duty?

Mr. Solomon.

A civic duty, yes, sir; civic minded.

Mr. Hubert.

It is not just that they want the authority of the uniform?

Mr. Solomon.

Yes, sir. Of course, we have applicants like that. It is the duty of the staff, in a drawn-out process of training, which is really drawn out 8 months, and long enough to observe them, to eliminate the ones they don't feel are suitable. I nearly always start off with a class of 50 men and I rarely ever graduate over 30--27 to 30. During that period of time some naturally drop out and some I ask to leave, or just wash out, one way or another, as quickly as I can. After all, it is a public relations program, and if I understand somebody is in there that I know will get us in trouble, I find some excuse for him to leave.

Mr. Hubert.

So, actually, about 60 percent of the people who start ultimately get into the program?

Mr. Solomon.

That's right.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you watch their conduct very carefully? On duty, of course I know, but off duty too ?

Mr. Solomon.

Well, yes. We have had a few occasions where a few got into some trouble. I guess just drinking or some did get into some bad debts and embarrass us, but we counseled with them. And I have had to let some go. Percentagewise this hasn't been much greater than in our regular department.

Mr. Hubert.

All right. Now, I want to get to the matter of the interview you had with Harold Holly, who I think is a reserve officer?

Mr. Solomon.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Can you state in your own words just what that was all about?

Mr. Solomon.

Well, Holly was with us a long time. He was in the organization, I have forgotten how many years, but I don't guess that is important. But frankly, Holly was--he is confused. I am not exactly satisfied that he is sure about what he is saying. His statements were so general, such a general nature, and when I showed him the pictures he was unable to positively identify them.
This man that he did pick out and said that he looked most like the man that was in the basement was W. J. Newman. He was in the basement, but he wasn't out at Parkland Hospital where he told them he saw him, and I just got the impression that Holly was--he just wasn't too reliable a witness.

Mr. Hubert.

What did he say to you? Of course, we will get his testimony, but what do you remember that Holly said to you ?

Mr. Solomon.

Well, he first approached me you see, I was at the courthouse down in the area when Oswald was shot, so I knew immediately from the previous slaying that one of our big headaches was going to be at the Parkland Hospital, and I rushed on out there to try to set up a little security out there. And Holly showed up out there after awhile, and he made the statement to me that he thinks he knew a man--that is the way he put it, that he thought he saw one of the men out there that was in the basement of the city hall who knew something about that. And I said, "Who was it," and he said, "I couldn't tell you, but I would know him if I saw him."

Mr. Hubert.

Did he say the man was in uniform ?

Mr. Solomon.

Yes; he said he saw him out there at Parkland Hospital, so I tried to check.

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