Navigation
Volumes
|
(Testimony of Kenneth Lawry Dowe)
Mr. Hansen.
I have seen Ruby, oh, I would say, three or four times, maybe five that I can recall, give money to a woman. I mean some woman or destitute woman he would see coming down the street. One time I recall vividly, it hasn't been too long before this happened, maybe 2 or 3 months, I recall we were standing beside the Florsheim Shoe Store, talking, and he stopped and spoke to me, and there was a woman coming down the street, and I believe she had three or four children. Anyway, they were just bang, bang, bang, one right after another one, and looked worse than the wrath of God, and a milk bottle and Ruby said, "That is a shame." And I said, "Yes; it is, Jack."
And he walked across the street over there and stopped her, and I don't know what he said to her, I didn't hear him, but in the meantime, after he stopped her, I walked across over by there and he handed her a bill folded up and I couldn't swear whether it was a 10 or 20. I know it had to be one of the two, because it had a zero, and I could see that on the corner. He handed her that money and he parted her on the back and walked back.
I have seen him several times previous to that give people that are destitute and in need, give money, and I know he is bighearted. I witnessed that, I know that. And I have heard a lot of people say that he helped a lot of people. That is hearsay, but this other, I know for a fact.
This one occasion--I have seen him several other occasions---one time at the bus station he was in the bus station and this woman down there had a whole slew of kids, about the same kind, and a bunch of us passed a hat and got that gal $40 to get her on out to California, and Jack kicked in on that, too.
Mr. Griffin.
Did you see him ever, or did you ever hear of his bestowing particular kindnesses on his employees?
Mr. Hansen.
I have never seen this. Now I have heard that several times employees would have hard luck of one type or another and he would send them money. And he would put a jar or a can up on the bar and people that knew about it, that knew the people, would maybe put in. There is not a doubt in my mind that if they put anything in the jar, that it went where it was supposed to go.
Mr. Griffin.
Did you ever have occasion to talk with Jack or observe him under any circumstances which would indicate how he felt about being sensitive to being a Jewish person?
Mr. Hansen.
Jack was what I would say was a sensitive type of man. He is an emotional man. He is for the underdog always. And since all this happened. I have heard a lot of talk. In fact, he told me one time when he was 7 years old he sold newspapers and he had a fight to stay on the corner everyday. I believe he said in Chicago. He told me that out of his own mouth. I know it was some eastern city. I am not certain about the city. I am sure it was some eastern city. We have discussed politics together. He has brought up--we have had coffee together and he has talked about President Kennedy and about President Roosevelt, and he thought they were both great men in American history.
Mr. Griffin.
How did he happen--would he bring this up on his own?
Mr. Hansen.
He would bring it up about what they had done for the poor people and the underprivileged, and he thought very highly of both parties, both Roosevelt and President Kennedy.
Mr. Griffin.
Did you have occasion-to talk with him at any time after the Stevenson episode that took place here in Dallas?
Mr. Hansen.
I believe we did. Now, I am not positive. I believe we did. I don't remember too much about it, but I believe we did, something was said or something about the discourtesy that was shown him.
Mr. Griffin.
I started to ask you before about Ruby's sensitivity to being Jewish. Do you recall any incidents or conversations with him about that?
Mr. Hansen.
No. I wouldn't say he was sensitive to it. Now, you asked me that---we used to tell a lot of jokes to one another. I liked to kid around and joke. If I had a good Jewish Joke, I would tell it as quickly to Ruby as anyone or anybody else, and Ruby would laugh at it. If he was sensitive in regard to it, he never let it show. And I would never say anything to anybody that deliberately, with the intention of hurting them due to race or anything.
I have had jokes told on policemen to me, and I figure if a fellow can't laugh at himself, there is something wrong with him. But I have never seen him take
|
Found a Typo?
Click here
|
