(Testimony of )
Mr. Hubert.
Where was your mobile unit located?
Mr. Benton.
It was located on Commerce Street, right outside the building, the old municipal building.
Mr. Hubert.
Could you name some of the people who were connected with the mobile unit?
Mr. Benton.
The director was a man by the name of Lee Webb. One of the cameramen's names was English, I believe. Harold English. I'm not sure. These are not CBS employees. They were KRLD employees.
Mr. Hubert.
KRLD is what city?
Mr. Benton.
Dallas; it's owned by the Times Herald.
Mr. Hubert.
Did you see another mobile unit belonging to another TV station along in them?
Mr. Benton.
Yes, sir; I did.
Mr. Hubert.
How far away?
Mr. Benton.
As I recall, it was adjacent to ours.
Mr. Hubert.
Was there a crowd on Commerce Street at that time?
Mr. Benton.
Not a large crowd; no, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
Do you recall seeing a crowd on the opposite side of Commerce Street?
Mr. Benton.
Yes; a small crowd. Less than 100 people.
Mr. Hubert.
They were controlled by police; were they?
Mr. Benton.
There seemed no need for control. I'm sure there were some police out there but
Mr. Hubert.
Well, in the area of your mobile unit, I take it that there were not many people congregated?
Mr. Benton.
That's correct.
Mr. Hubert.
It was fairly clear? There were some police personnel and that was about it?
Mr. Benton.
That's right.
Mr. Hubert.
I understand, too, from what you said, that between the time of your arrival there at 8:30 until the time of the shooting, which was somewhere around 11:20, that you commuted, as it were, from the jail down to your mobile unit?
Mr. Benton.
Not from the jail; no, sir. I was never in the jail itself.
Mr. Hubert.
I mean the jail building.
Mr. Benton.
Right. From the third floor to the mobile unit.
Mr. Hubert.
And how many times do you suppose you commuted in that way?
Mr. Benton.
It's only a guess. I would say at least four or five times.
Mr. Hubert.
Now, at any time that you did so commute, did you see the man that you have subsequently come to know as Jack Ruby in that area?
Mr. Benton.
No, sir; I did not.
Mr. Hubert.
Now, where were you at the time the actual shooting occurred?
Mr. Benton.
I was in the mobile unit.
Mr. Hubert.
How long had you been there?
Mr. Benton.
Less than 10 minutes.
Mr. Hubert.
Where did you come from?
Mr. Benton.
I had come from the third floor of the building.
Mr. Hubert.
Why did you leave the third floor to go to the mobile unit?
Mr. Benton.
I had an indication from someone, and I cannot say who because I just don't recall, that the move was imminent.
Mr. Hubert.
How did that indication come to you?
Mr. Benton.
It could have come from another reporter. It could have come from a police official. I don't know. It may have just come from instinct.
Mr. Hubert.
Did you see any movement that indicated that something like that was imminent?
Mr. Benton.
I guess I saw more lack of movement. There weren't many people on the third floor.
Mr. Hubert.
And theretofore there had been?
Mr. Benton.
So that could have triggered an instinct. I don't know. I had stayed up there because earlier I had asked Huffaker, H-u-f-f-a-k-e-r, who is a reporter for KRLD it had been decided that he would stay at the jail entrance and I would stay in the mobile unit where I could see what all of our cameras
|