(Testimony of Breck Wall (Billy Wilson) Ray)
Mr. Wall.
was, I'm sure you have it in your records, he was the partner of Jack in the club who tried to run it after Jack had shot Oswald. I can't think of the man's name.
Mr. Specter.
Do you recall the first name of either of those men?
Mr. Wall.
No, sir; I don't. I know them by face.
Mr. Specter.
Was there anyone else present besides the four of you?
Mr. Wall.
No, sir; except for the two policemen that were inside the tank where Jack was. He was inside the tank.
Mr. Specter.
What conversation ensued while you were present with Mr. Ruby?
Mr. Wall.
Well, the main thing Jack brought out was he thought himself correct in shooting Oswald.
Mr. Specter.
For what reason?
Mr. Wall.
A far as I can remember he didn't give a reason. He just said, you know, "I was right in doing it."
Mr. Specter.
Did any one disagree with him?
Mr. Wall.
No.
Mr. Specter.
Why not?
Mr. Wall.
Well, they just didn't say anything against him. I can't remember the incident too well. I do know that Jack was very upset and the two men, on the outside, didn't argue with him at all in anything that he said, and they said they wouldn't. I remember them making the comment to each other they weren't going to upset him, and whatever he said they would just nod yes to and would agree with; they weren't going to get him upset.
Mr. Specter.
What did you say to Jack, if anything?
Mr. Wall.
I talked to him about Phil.
Mr. Specter.
Phil Who?
Mr. Wall.
Burleson. "I was wondering if Phil came up to see you," and, "I asked him to come up," and "If you can get him to represent you as one of the attorneys," and everything, "I think it would be very good for you since he was at one time the assistant district attorney." I said, "I think he would do a good job for you. He is very honest, very aboveboard," and Jack said, "Yes, he came to see me and I think he would do well and I would like to use him if I can." Then I asked him how they were treating him in jail and he said how nice they were to him and he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was watching the football game and Sheriff Decker said I could come down and see him. Then he asked me specifically did I want to get involved in the case in any way, or something like that, and I told him under the circumstances please don't ever use our name or anything. It's not that I didn't like him. It was just that it might ruin our careers that we worked very hard for. He gave me his word he would never use us, say anything about us in any publication or anything. This was very true. While we were in Houston he needed money and wrote an article for a series of newspapers and he stated in the article, toward the end he made a call to Joe Feder and Beck Wald, which I thought was very nice of him and all the other circumstances in the article that I could see he used the names of the people.
Mr. Specter.
Joe Feder was really Joe Peterson?
Mr. Wall.
Yes.
Mr. Specter.
And Beck Wald was really you?
Mr. Wall.
Me; yes.
Mr. Specter.
Can you recollect anything more about the conversation that you had at the Jail on the Saturday you refer to?
Mr. Wall.
No, sir. It was the first time I had seen him since the assassination and it was just, you know, kind of strange meeting. There wasn't any fun in it at all, you know, like laughs. Sheriff Decker told me he wanted to be cheered up. It was not like that at all. It was a very sad thing.
Mr. Specter.
Have you ever seen Jack Ruby since?
Mr. Wall.
No, sir; I have gotten a few letters from Jack.
Mr. Specter.
How many?
Mr. Wall.
I would say about three.
Mr. Specter.
Where did he write to you?
Mr. Wall.
From the jail.
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