Mr. Griffin.

is to learn how we can prevent the kind of things that have happened, well, since November 22, from recurring again, but it goes much further than that, because there are matters that transcend simply the protection of the President, there are problems, real problems of national security that are involved in this, and there are worries about it that are involved, too, because whenever you have the President murdered, you can't exclude the possibility that there is some political group or even nonpolitical group interested in killing the President of the United States, and it is compounded when you find that the man that is charged with the murder of the President himself dies.
So it becomes very important for us to learn what the truth is, and we want to do this in a way that will encourage people to come forward and tell us the truth, and if there are problems in connection with this, nobody can be close to this without having some personal problems or personal involvement in this thing, we want to try to do what we can to minimize these kinds of prob lems for you and to encourage you to come forward with whatever you know that may be of value to us.
Now, you in particular are appearing here as a result of a general request which the General Counsel of the Commission made to Chief Curry. Under the rules adopted by the Commission, you are actually entitled to a 3-day written notice before any deposition is taken; however, the rules also provide that you can waive the notice, and I will ask you now if you want us to provide you with a written notice or if you are willing to waive that notice and go forward with the deposition?

Mr. Eberhardt.

It is fine to go on.

Mr. Griffin.

Okay. You are also entitled to have an attorney here before the Commission, and we do have many witnesses who come here with attorneys, and you are not here now, I see, with counsel, but if you would like to have an attorney, consult with one beforehand, we would be happy to adjourn at this point and let you come back whenever you feel like it.

Mr. Eberhardt.

I don't need any counsel.

Mr. Griffin.

I will ask you, then, if you will raise your right hand and be sworn. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Eberhardt.

I do.

Mr. Griffin.

Would you state your full name for the record?

Mr. Eberhardt.

A. M. Eberhardt.

Mr. Griffin.

Do you just have a first initial?

Mr. Eberhardt.

No. August Michael.

Mr. Griffin.

Where do you live?

Mr. Eberhardt.

706 East Farmers Road, Seagoville, Tex.

Mr. Griffin.

That is Seagoville [spelling] S-e-a----

Mr. Eberhardt.

That is right.

Mr. Griffin.

When were you born?

Mr. Eberhardt.

September 13, 1933.

Mr. Griffin.

What is your occupation?

Mr. Eberhardt.

I am a detective of police.

Mr. Griffin.

How long have you been with the police department?

Mr. Eberhardt.

Eight years.

Mr. Griffin.

Are you assigned to any particular unit?

Mr. Eberhardt.

Assigned to burglary and theft.

Mr. Griffin.

How long have you been with burglary and theft?

Mr. Eberhardt.

About 2 years.

Mr. Griffin.

Now, you and I talked for some time just prior to taking this deposition, is that right?

Mr. Eberhardt.

That is right.

Mr. Griffin.

Now, prior to my talking with you, has anybody else from the Commission staff, as opposed to the Secret Service, one of the investigatory agencies, has anybody from the Commission staff spoken with you?

Mr. Eberhardt.

No.

Mr. Griffin.

I made some notes during our interview I want to dictate these for the record. I wish you would listen to them carefully, and if there are