(Testimony of Harold J. Fleming)
Mr. Hubert.
Could you give us an estimate of the time of your conversation with Mr. Hall relative to the time that you first spoke to Batchelor?
Mr. Fleming.
I would estimate between 8 and 10 minutes.
Mr. Hubert.
After you spoke to Batchelor?
Mr. Feming.
After I finished talking with Mr. Batchelor.
Mr. Hubert.
Did you then call anyone else?
Mr. Fleming.
I called Mr. Dietrich. He was not in. I left a message for him to call me as soon as he got into his house.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he call?
Mr. Fleming.
He called me again within about 5 minutes, and I asked him to come directly. Asked him if he had keys, and he said, "Yes," and asked him to come directly to the Armored Motor Service terminal and meet me there.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he indicate that he had already received a call from Mr. Hall go the same effect?
Mr. Fleming.
No; he did not. We didn't discuss it. I assumed that he had not.
Mr. Hubert.
I am not saying that he did.
Mr. Fleming.
He may have received a call after. I think Mr. Hall had called the home, though, because he did indicate that he was not home.
Mr. Hubert.
Then I take it you finished dressing and went about the accomplishment of the job?
Mr. Fleming.
Yes.
Mr. Hubert.
About what time then did you get to the terminal?
Mr. Fleming.
I frankly can't state what time I got there, because in the haste
I forgot my wrist watch and did not know. Judging from the route I took, however, I would estimate it took me at least 20 to 25 minutes to reach there from my house. That could put it 10:25 to 10:30, and this is strictly an estimate.
Mr. Hubert.
In other words, after you had made the several calls that you have talked about, it took you, I gather, another 15 to 20 minutes to finish dressing?
Mr. Fleming.
No. I finished shaving in the meantime, and was gone as soon as I got the call from Mr. Dietrich. It was a matter of 2 or 3 minutes before I left the house.
Mr. Hubert.
When you got to the terminal, was anyone there?
Mr. Fleming.
When I got to the terminal, Mr. Hall and Mr. Goin and Mr. Dietrich all three were there.
Mr. Hubert.
Just relate in narrative form, if you wish, what happened from the time you got there, on forward, if possible, giving us time intervals, because one of the purposes of this deposition is to fix the time.
Mr. Fleming.
Let me just meditate a minute. When I arrived, they were preparing to take a small truck on the mission, because Mr. Dietrich said that he had been in the basement of the city hall before and knew that even a small truck would not clear the overhead pipes in the basement. Based on that, Mr. Hall apparently had made a decision that we would take the small truck rather than the large one.
Mr. Hubert.
Now was it Mr. Coin, you say, or Mr. Hall?
Mr. Fleming.
I said Mr. Hall.
Mr. Hubert.
Mr. Hall didn't indicate to you that he had been to the jail on that morning, but on some previous occasion?
Mr. Fleming.
No; it was Mr. Dietrich in an armored truck. We serviced the city hall and numerous places.
Mr. Hubert.
But it wasn't on this day? It was on a different occasion?
Mr. Fleming.
No; at a time previous.
Mr. Hubert.
Go ahead then.
Mr. Fleming.
But I indicated that the small truck would not be satisfactory, having had a little experience in police work. I said we need the large truck, and suggested they look it over, clean it out, get bottles out of it, and so on. They indicated it would not start, and I suggested that we attempt to start it. Mr. Goin then got a battery and he and I, mostly he, got the thing connected, and we started the motor. In the meantime, I called Chief Batchelor and told him that we were at the terminal and we would be down shortly, and I used that term, because we had not yet got the truck stared. I explained that there
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