(Testimony of Stanley M. Kaufman)
Mr. Kaufman.
and I'll say this, without in any way I think violating any client or attorney relationship, the three times that I saw Jack he never mentioned the name Oswald. He referred to him but never referred to him by name. He called him "the deceased" when I talked to him in his cell. I say "cell," but I've never been in his cell. I saw him in a little visitation or conference room, but he didn't even mention him by "deceased" when I talked to him. I mean, of course, he wasn't deceased at that time--- when we talked on the phone the name "Oswald" was never used by Jack.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he seem to think that the Weissman ad and its possible relationship to the assassination would hurt the Jewish community or the Jewish people?
Mr. Kaufman.
No, sir. No; this wasn't even discussed. There was no mention even of whether this Weissman may or may not have been Jewish. We didn't even discuss this. Actually, the Jewish subject did not come up at any time in our conversation.
Mr. Hubert.
In any aspect?
Mr. Kaufman.
No, sir.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he indicate that he was concerned about the death of the President, because of the effect it might have on business in general in Dallas and in particular with reference to his operations?
Mr. Kaufman.
No; this wasn't discussed. Incidentally, I forgot one thing that he did also point out and that was that he had taken some pictures of this sign "Impeach Earl Warren." He also mentioned that.
Mr. Hubert.
Did he say what he proposed to do with those pictures?
Mr. Kaufman.
No; he did not say. He just asked me if I had seen the sign. I drive by that place every day and never noticed it, but he had asked me whether I had seen the sign and told me he had taken some pictures but did not indicate what he was going to do with them.
Mr. Hubert.
All right; will you go on then?
Mr. Kaufman.
Now, as far as the rest--"Kaufman stated that Ruby wanted to know who Weissman was and how he could get in touch with him"--as I say, he did want to know the means or methods of how a person could locate him. As I say, I did indicate that he might consider looking at the city directory.
Mr. Hubert.
All right.
Mr. Kaufman.
Now, they go on, "and if Mr. Freedman of the Anti-Defamation League could furnish him any information as to the whereabouts of Bernard Weissman." Now, this is, I think, an inaccurate statement. Now, during the course of our conversation with the agents, we told them----
Mr. Hubert.
When you say "we," who is that?
Mr,. KAUFMAN. Me I should say--I told them that I had been active with B'nai B'rith and that one of our children, so to speak, is the Anti-Defamation League, and that I had been called, when my name was mentioned, by people all over the country who knew me I had calls from Peoria, Ill. and from New York--regarding the Rubenstein being invoked into this and whether it was a matter of antisemitism. I had been called by Mr. Ted Freedman of the Houston, Tex., Anti-Defamation League, who came to see me to see whether or not antisemitism had been invoked into this and whether I personally felt that the name Rubenstein had been injected here for prejudicial purposes, and I think that someone is confused in the reporting of this.
I don't even recall Jack and I talking about the Anti-Defamation League. I know that Jack was not a member of B'nai B'rith, not that .he didn't want to be or not that they wouldn't have had him, I don't think he had the money to join. I'm sure he would have liked to have belonged to a lot of things that he was not able to afford, and it's not that expensive an operation, but notwithstanding that, I think that there is some confusion in this report as to conversations going on between Jack. and myself. Actually, when I was on the witness stand, Mr. Alexander interrogated me about this very point and I just couldn't imagine what the report said and he had the report in his hand, and he asked me whether or not Jack didn't want to know or ask me how to get in touch .with the Anti-Defamation League. I don't remember the exact question, but this is not correct.
|
