Mr. Hodge.

the third floor, and this FBI agent and I want to say his name is Wilson, but I'm not positive, who I had called that day and he had been down to the store and checked the books with me---he was on the elevator too and I spoke to him.

Mr. Hubert.

This was when you were going down to go home?

Mr. Hodge.

That's right.

Mr. Hubert.

What time was it when you left the police station?

Mr. Hodge.

Well, I didn't go home I went to my store.

Mr. Hubert.

What time was it when you left the police station?

Mr. Hodge.

Well, I think I got to the store approximately 12:15. There was two FBI agents waiting there for me when I got there, and so they told me they wanted to see me, and we walked on into the bar, I mean, into the gun-shop and they said, "Mr. Hodge," and they showed me their badges and all that about themselves--identified themselves, and they said, "there's an operator in Fort Smith, Arkansas that got an anonymous call this afternoon stating If you want to know who killed the President, check with the manager of the Buckhorn Bar.'" I said, "That could be one of my bartenders or it could be he probably throwed some drunk out and he just wanted to be important and wanted to get back at the bartender," and they said, "Well, don't think nothin' about it." They said, "We got one call this afternoon, Mr. Hodge, from a woman that told us that her husband just confessed to killing the President," and so that was that.

Mr. Hubert.

What was the purpose of the FBI visit to you--to check out this call, you say?

Mr. Hodge.

Yes; yes, that was their purpose, I guess. That's what they said.

Mr. Hubert.

Did they ask you Whether you knew Oswald?

Mr. Hodge.

Oh, yes; they did.

Mr. Hubert.

Had you ever in fact seen Oswald?

Mr. Hodge.

I have never seen him in my life that I know of.

Mr. Hubert.

Had you sold a gun to Ruby?

Mr. Hodge.

No.

Mr. Hubert.

You never sold a gun to Ruby?

Mr. Hodge.

I think Ray's Hardware sold that gun, so I've been told.

Mr. Hubert.

What time was it, when you saw Ruby on the elevator?

Mr. Hodge.

It was right within 10 minutes, I'd say 10 minutes till 12 or 12 minutes to 12.

Mr. Hubert.

And he got off on the main floor?

Mr. Hodge.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

And you went down one level further?

Mr. Hodge.

Yes; we went on to the basement.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you know anything about an assembly room meeting where Oswald was first shown' to all the press who congregated in the , assembly room of the police department?

Mr. Hodge.

That's the first time I had been up there and the last time to Captain Fritz' office--and I don't know when I have ever been up to Captain Fritz' office.

Mr. Hubert.

You don't know anything about this showing of Oswald to the newsmen assembled in the assembly room downstairs about this time?

Mr. Hodge.

No, sir.

Mr. Hubert.

Did the police seem to know Ruby; that is, the ones who were escorting you?

Mr. Hodge.

They just laughed that's all that was said. They never answered him.

Mr. Hubert.

In other words, he asked them, "Is it true that you've got him under arrest?"

Mr. Hodge.

He Said, "You fellows don't have Hodge under arrest, do your' and they just laughed.

Mr. Hubert.

Did he seem to catch the joke or understand or did he seem to believe that you were under arrest?

Mr. Hodge.

Well, he was standing to my side and I didn't turn around and look at him. I didn't notice the expression on his face. When he looked across over to these detectives, they was over on the right-hand side and I was in the