Mr. Hubert.

I state to you that the general nature of the Commission's inquiry is to ascertain, evaluate, and report upon the facts relative to the assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald. In particular as to you, Mr. Norton, the nature of the inquiry today is to determine what facts you know about the death of Oswald and any other pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry and about Jack Ruby and his operations and movements and associates and so forth. I think you appeared here today by virtue of a letter addressed to you by Mr. J. Lee Rankin, general counsel of the staff of the President's Commission, asking you to come here; isn't that correct?

Mr. Norton.

Right.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you remember the date of that letter ?

Mr. Norton.

No.

Mr. Hubert.

Perhaps you can tell us when you received it?

Mr. Norton.

' Let's see---it must have been Wednesday, I believe. I'm not for sure. It was this week--right in the middle of the week.

Mr. Hubert.

The rules of the Commission provide that every witness is entitled to a 3-day written notice prior to the taking of their deposition, but those rules also provide that you may waive that requirement. I ask you now that in the event you have not been given the full 3-days' notice, are you willing to waive that right in order to testify now?

Mr. Norton.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

All right, will you stand and raise your right hand?

Mr. Norton.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in this matter will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the

truth, so help you God?

Mr. Norton.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

State your name for the record, please?

Mr. Norton.

Robert L. Norton.

Mr. Hubert.

What is your residence address, Mr. Norton ?

Mr. Norton.

3414 Manaria [spelling] M-a-n-a-n-a.

Mr. Hubert.

That's in. Dallas?

Mr. Norton.

In Dallas.

Mr. Hubert.

What is your occupation, sir ?

Mr. Norton.

I'm in the entertainment business.

Mr. Hubert.

How long have you been in that business?

Mr. Norton.

About 7 years now.

Mr. Hubert.

What business did you have prior to that time?

Mr. Norton.

I Was a salesman for Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Mr. Hubert.

What aspect of the entertainment business have you been in?

Mr. Norton.

I have been primarily in, for the last 7 years, a private club
business, which is a rather new business here in Texas.

Mr. Hubert.

Have you had one or more clubs?

Mr. Norton.

Well, I have one and I'm associated with two others.

Mr. Hubert.

What others have you had, say, in the last 7 years? I think

you are the entire owner or associated in the ownership of the Pago Club ?

Mr. Norton.

Right.

Mr. Hubert.

You are the entire owner?

Mr. Norton.

Well, actually, I own the equipment and fixtures and due to our State liquor laws, it has been--it has to be leased to the club, and the club actually is owned by its members.

Mr. Hubert.

You are the operating manager?

Mr. Norton.

Yes; I am the operating manager.

Mr. Hubert.

That's located at 4611 Cole Street, I believe ?

Mr. Norton.

No; that's my office, sir. The Pago Club is located at 2822 McKinney.

Mr. Hubert.

How long have you been connected with the Pago Club?

Mr. Norton.

Oh, that's been about 5 years since it was started.

Mr. Hubert.

Back last November, that is to say, November 1963, you had the same connection with the Pago Club as you have now and have had ?

Mr. Norton.

Yes.