(Testimony of Jesse Edward Curry)
Mr. Curry.
see us that night, and they said they were concerned with whether or not he was being permitted legal counsel.
Mr. Rankin.
Did they talk to you?
Mr. Curry.
No; they didn't talk to me. They talked to Professor Webster.
Mr. Rankin.
How did this come to you, attention?
Mr. Curry.
He told me.
Mr. Rankin.
I see. Now, tell us what he said.
Mr. Curry.
He said that they had come down to see whether or not he was being permitted legal counsel, and Professor Webster is in the law school out at Southern Methodist University and he told them he thought he was being given an opportunity to get in touch with legal counsel, and they seemed satisfied then about it. We also got Mr. Nichols.
Mr. Rankin.
Who is he?
Mr. Curry.
He was president of the Dallas Bar Association or criminal bar. I don't know which, Louis Nichols, and----
Mr. Rankin.
What did he do?
Mr. Curry.
He came down, he said he had heard that he was not being allowed the right to counsel, and they wanted to see and so I took him myself up to Lee Harvey Oswald's cell and let him go in the cell and talk to Lee Harvey Oswald.
The Chairman.
Who was Mr. Nichols, did you say?
Mr. Curry.
Louis Nichols. He was president either of the Dallas----
Dean STOREY. Pardon me, it is Dallas Bar Association.
Mr. Curry.
Dallas Bar Association.
The Chairman.
Yes.
Mr. Curry.
He went in to talk to him and to see whether or not he was getting an opportunity to receive counsel and he seemed pleased, I mean he had no complaints. He told him if he didn't get John Abt then he wanted someone from the Civil Liberties Union to come up and talk to him. Then Mr. Nichols then went out in front of the television cameras, I believe and made a statement to the effect that he had talked to him and he was satisfied that he was being given the opportunity for legal counsel.
The Chairman.
On what day was this?
Mr. Curry.
That was on the same day we arrested him?
The Chairman.
That was Friday?
Mr. Curry.
Yes.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you know whether Mr. Oswald ever did obtain counsel?
Mr. Curry.
I don't believe he did. But I do know he made some telephone contacts.
Mr. Rankin.
Did the police department so far as you know interfere in any way with his obtaining counsel?
Mr. Curry.
No, sir.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you know when Lee Harvey Oswald was arraigned?
Mr. Curry.
It was about 1:30 in the morning. That would be on the morning of the 23d, I believe.
Mr. Rankin.
How long did he how long had he been in your custody then?
Mr. Curry.
About 11 hours. That was on the Tippit; yes, sir.
Mr. Rankin.
When you say that he was arraigned the following day early in the morning, did you mean for the Tippit murder or for the assassination?
Mr. Curry.
No; that was for the assassination of the President.
Mr. Rankin.
All right, will you tell us when he was arraigned for the Tippit murder?
Mr. Curry.
I was not present but I believe it was about 7:30.
Mr. Rankin.
That same evening?
Mr. Curry.
Yes; that would be about 5 hours afterwards.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you recall whether he was arrested first for the assassination or for the Tippit murder?
Mr. Curry.
For the Tippit murder. There were some witnesses to this murder and they had observed him as he left the scene, and this was what he was arrested for.
The Chairman.
May I interrupt Just to ask the chief a question?
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