Mr. Martin.

Yes, she said she had a one-room apartment, and had a balcony on it, and that as soon as the baby was born they were going to move to a larger one. I questioned her about that because I understand it is quite difficult to get more than a one-room apartment in Russia and she said, well, Lee was an American and he could get things the Russians couldn't get.

Mr. Redlich.

Did Mrs. Oswald give you the impression that in general she and Lee Oswald had better treatment than other Russians?

Mr. Martin.

Yes, and actually her past life even before she met Lee seemed a little bit strange to me, going to the opera, taking vacations and holidays as she says. I understand it is quite expensive to go to the opera, and she was making, what did she say, 45 rubles a month, and she would take a girl friend with her when she went to the opera.
Now, how much that cost, I don't know.

Mr. Redlich.

Did you ever question her about her financial Situation in Russia?

Mr. Martin.

I asked her how she could afford it and she said she got by.
She was living at home or with her aunt and uncle. So I imagine their expenses there weren't high.

Mr. Redlich.

Did she mention any extra income which Lee Harvey Oswald may have had apart from his job?

Mr. Martin.

No; I asked her about that specifically because I had heard an account that he was supposed to be getting Western Union money orders, and asked her about that. She didn't know what a Western Union money order was, for one thing, so I reworded the question and asked if he was getting money from anyone else other than where he was working, and she said no.

Mr. Redlich.

This was true of this life in the Soviet Union?

Mr. Martin.

Yes, apparently.

Mr. Redlich.

Did Marina ever discuss with you the uncle with whom she lived who was apparently a lieutenant colonel in the Soviet army?

Mr. Martin.

No; except she didn't like him.

Mr. Redlich.

Did she say why?

Mr. Martin.

No. She preferred her aunt, who has the husband on the pension.

Mr. Redlich.

Can you search your memory at this point and tell this Commission anything that you have not yet told us about Marina's conversations with you concerning her life in the Soviet Union?

Mr. Martin.

Her aunt used to bring food and liquor home after parties had at the government building where she was working. Other than talking about--she pulled one tooth out before she came to the United States. A tooth was either crooked or broken and she pulled the tooth out. That caused the other one to twist. I don't know what that was.
Representative FORD. Did Marina ever indicate to you while she was in the Soviet Union that she drank beer, wine, liquor?

Mr. Martin.

Vodka.

Representative Ford.

When she came to the United States, you could observe it, did she drink beer, wine, liquor of any kind?

Mr. Martin.

She drank, I guess she drank a bottle of beer every day, and occasionally she would drink some vodka.

Representative Ford.

But not a heavy drinker?

Mr. Martin.

No.
(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Redlich.

Mr. Martin, have you ever been curious about how Mrs. Oswald was ever able to leave the Soviet Union?

Mr. Martin.

Well, I wasn't, until Don Levine brought up the subject. Of course, I have no idea what it entails to get into Russia or out of it as far as that is concerned.
But according to Mr. Levine, it is extremely difficult for people to get out of Russia, especially when they have had the training that Marina has had.

Mr. Redlich.

By training you mean what?

Mr. Martin.

Pharmacy. He said they spent quite a bit of money on her training, and he doesn't understand how she got out of Russia on such short notice.

Mr. Redlich.

Did you ever ask this question of Marina Oswald?