Mrs. Ford.

she keeps it very clean and her children are always neat. But she wasn't right for domestic help and I told her to stay with Lee, that is what I told her myself, and wait until she could be able to take care of herself other than working in a house.

Mr. Liebeler.

What did she say about that?

Mrs. Ford.

She didn't say, she was really just listening, I think, and she didn't say anything.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did Marina say anything to you at this time about wanting to go back to Russia?

Mrs. Ford.

No, no; she didn't want to.
In fact, she told me that Lee soon after he came to the United States, he was telling her that he would want to go back because he couldn't find a job here and he was, of course, seeing a lot of difficulties for himself, and Marina said, "If you want to go back, you can go but I am not going," that is what she told me.

Mr. Liebeler.

Marina told Lee if he wanted to go back he could but she wasn't going to go back to Russia.

Mrs. Ford.

That is right.

Mr. Liebeler.

Is that all the conversation that you had with her about going back to Russia at that time?

Mrs. Ford.

That is right. That is about all.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did you know where the Oswalds lived at this time when Marina came to the Meller's house and then to your house?

Mrs. Ford.

No; I have never been at their apartment, and she couldn't tell me. I know she lived in Oak Cliff, the Dallas section about southwest, I believe.

Mr. Liebeler.

In Dallas?

Mrs. Ford.

Yes.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did you know whether Marina had lived with a lady in Fort Worth before they came to Dallas?

Mrs. Ford.

Yes; I know they stayed there but I didn't talk to her during the time and I didn't visit her. I know she stayed at Elena Hall's house and I think Elena had an accident just before that and she was--she stayed in bed most of the time. Marina was helping her out.

Mr. Liebeler.

Now, you had only seen Lee Oswald, up to this week that Marina came to live with you, one time, is that correct?

Mrs. Ford.

That is correct.

Mr. Liebeler.

That was the Meller's luncheon party?

Mrs. Ford.

That is correct.

Mr. Liebeler.

Were you surprised on the basis of any judgment you might have made of Lee Oswald to learn that he had beaten his wife?

Mrs. Ford.

Just from seeing him once I would not have made--no; that he has beaten his wife; no, I didn't think at that time. I did, when she came in after I learned that he has beaten her, I was rather--I remember the bruises on her face and that rather made signs to me that he did.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did it surprise you that he would have done this?

Mrs. Ford.

No; it did not surprise me. I just felt that young man as he was, if he was--decided to go to Russia after living in a country like the United States, I didn't feel he was very, what shall I say, how would you say, a person's mind won't work at this time--

The Chairman.

Unstable?

Mrs. Ford.

Unstable, that is how I felt. I felt a person like that, I felt frankly could do anything.

Representative Ford.

Did she ever tell you that Lee Oswald was the cause of these bruises on her face?

Mrs. Ford.

Well, she did tell me after she came to the house to stay with me.

Representative Ford.

That is what I mean?

Mrs. Ford.

That is right.

Representative Ford.

The bruises you saw on her face at the house she told you Lee Oswald was the cause?

Mrs. Ford.

Yes, that is right.

Mr. Liebeler.

Let's clarify that a little. Did Marina Oswald have any bruises at the time she came to live in your house in November 1962?