Testimony of Marjorie R. Richey

The testimony of Marjorie R. Richey was taken at 2:44) p.m., on July 21, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NW. Washington, D.C., by Mr. Burt W. Griffin, assistant counsel of the President's Commission. Mr. Harold Richey also was present.

Mr. Griffin.

It is customary in starting these depositions for the interrogator to introduce himself. My name is Burt Griffin. I am a member of the staff of the general counsel's office of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. The Commission has been authorized as a result of an Executive order issued by President Johnson November 29 and as a result of a joint resolution of Congress to investigate into and to report back to the President on all the facts surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy and the death of Lee Harvey Oswald. We have a set of procedures which have been set up by the Commission acting under the authority of the EXecutive order and the joint resolution, and under the procedures I have been given authority to take your deposition.
Now the general area of inquiry that we are going to be dealing with in particular this afternoon has to do with the death of Lee Harvey Oswald and most particularly what you, Mrs. Richey, know about Jack Ruby and any contacts you had with him in particular in the few days just before Oswald was killed. However, if you have any information that might be of use to the Commission in any other area that we are investigating, why of course, we would like very much to hear about it.
Did you receive a letter from the Commission requesting you to come here?

Would you state for the record when you received that letter?

Mrs. Richey.

I got two.

Mr. Griffin.

When was the most recent?

Mrs. Richey.

The first one was sent to Dallas. This was before Harold and I were married. You had better stop because I am wrong. Hal and I were married in December and I talked to the FBI before this, and they had my name Ethier, that was before I was married. They had my address in Dallas.So Hal and I moved up here. They sent the letter to my home in Texas and my sister signed for the letter, and then she called me and she sent it to me airmail special delivery. So I could read it myself, and it took 3 days.

Mr. Griffin.

What we are concerned about, of course, is the most recent letter that you got in connection with this appearance.

Mrs. Richey.

This is it, and I got it yesterday.

Mr. Griffin.

You are entitled under the rules of the Commission to have written notice 3 days in advance of your appearing here.

Mrs. Richey.

I wished I had known that.

Mr. Griffin.

I will ask you if, nonetheless, you are willing to go ahead.

Mrs. Richey.

Oh; let's go ahead.

Mr. Griffin.

And give us the testimony. Do you have any questions before we start about the nature of the investigation?

Mrs. Richey.

No; I don't think so.

Mr. Griffin.

I don't know if there is anything that I could clarify for you. I think it fairly obvious from what I have said the general areas we are going to cover. Let me ask you to raise your right hand then and I will administer the oath to you. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; so help you God?

Mrs. Richey.

I do.

Mr. Griffin.

Would you give us your full name, please?

Mrs. Richey.

Marjorie Ruth Richey.

Mr. Griffin.

How do you spell your last name?

Mrs. Richey.

R-i-c-h-e-y.

Mr. Griffin.

Where are you presently living, Mrs. Richey?

Mrs. Richey.

In Mentor, Ohio.

Mr. Griffin.

When were you born?

Mrs. Richey.

1944.

Mr. Griffin.

How long have you lived in Mentor, Ohio?