Mr. Griffin.

I want to tell you a little bit about the Commission and what we expect to do here today before I administer the oath and ask you to testify. The Commission was set up pursuant to an Executive order issued by President Johnson on November 29, 1963, and also pursuant to a joint resolution of Congress. Under these two official acts, the Commission has been directed to inquire into, evaluate, and report back to President Johnson on all the facts that relate to the assassination of President Kennedy and the death of Lee Harvey Oswald. We have asked you to come here today, Mr. Palmer, particularly because you have had some past dealings with Jack Ruby, and we are hopeful that you can shed some light on the kind of person that Jack Ruby was.
Now, under the rules and regulations of the Commission, I have been designated to take your deposition here today. Before we ask anybody to be sworn, the rules of the Commission provide that you are entitled to a 3- day written notice of your presence here, and I will ask you first of all if you have received a letter from the Commission 3 days before?

Mr. Palmer.

I have.

Mr. Griffin.

Do you have any questions about the testimony that is about to be taken?

Mr. Palmer.

None.

Mr. Griffin.

If you will raise your right hand, I will administer the oath.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Palmer.

I do.

Mr. Griffin.

Would you state for the record your full name?

Mr. Palmer.

Thomas Stewart Palmer.

Mr. Griffin.

Where do you now live?

Mr. Palmer.

2728 West Davis.

Mr. Griffin.

How are you employed?

Mr. Palmer.

I am self-employed, an entertainer.

Mr. Griffin.

What sort of entertaining do you do?

Mr. Palmer.

Magician and comedian.

Mr. Griffin.

In the Dallas area?

Mr. Palmer.

Primarily.

Mr. Griffin.

Are you employed in any particular place?

Mr. Palmer.

Not at the present time.

Mr. Griffin.

Were you formerly an official of the AGVA?

Mr. Palmer.

I was branch manager.

Mr. Griffin.

Where was that?

Mr. Palmer.

Here in Dallas.

Mr. Griffin.

How long were you branch manager for AGVA?

Mr. Palmer.

About a year and a half.

Mr. Griffin.

When did your employment begin and when did it end?

Mr. Palmer.

It ended in February of this year and began--when would it be, a year and a haft prior to that?

Mr. Griffin.

Sometime in 1963?

Mr. Palmer.

yes.

Mr. Griffin.

Now, during the period that you were branch manager of AGVA, did you have occasion to have some dealings with Jack Ruby?

Mr. Palmer.

Frequently.

Mr. Griffin.

Had you known Ruby before you became branch manager?

Mr. Palmer.

Slightly.

Mr. Griffin.

How had you happened to know him?

Mr. Palmer.

Well, he had employed me as a fill-in entertainer on, I believe, about two occasions. Other than that, I had never met him before.

Mr. Griffin.

In what clubs did you work for him?

Mr. Palmer.

At the Carousel.

Mr. Griffin.

At the time you were working for him, what was your relationship with him as an employee, how did you find him as an employer?

Mr. Palmer.

No different than most. Perhaps he felt he was doing a lot for the entertainers, but this is not uncommon. Most entrepreneurs feel they are impresarios or something.