Mr. Hosty.

was a little bit reluctant to give me his place of employment at first. She said that Lee Oswald had alleged that the FBI had had him fired from every job he ever had. I told her this was not true, that I had never had anyone fired from any job nor did I know of any other FBI agents that had ever done this.
I reassured her that I wanted to know his place of employment for the Purpose of determining whether or not he was employed in a sensitive industry, and when I found out that he was working in a warehouse as a laborer, I realized this was not a sensitive industry.

Mr. Stern.

You were acting for the New Orleans office at this time?

Mr. Hosty.

At this time; yes, sir.

Mr. Stern.

In trying to locate him?

Mr. Hosty.

Right.

Mr. Stern.

Had they asked you to try to determine what kind of work he was doing and whether he might be in a sensitive position?

Mr. Hosty.

Well, this is automatically considered; yes. They didn't have to ask me. I knew I was to do that.

Mr. Dulles.

Did you clear this with the Dallas or Fort Worth office? How do you work out that liaison?

Mr. Hosty.

How do you mean, sir?

Mr. Dulles.

I mean with the FBI. At this time this was the territory, I assume, of Dallas or Fort Worth.

Mr. Hosty.

Right. Irving, Tex., is in the Dallas territory; yes, sir.

Mr. Dulles.

The Dallas territory?

Mr. Hosty.

Right.

Mr. Dulles.

Did you clear or notify the Dallas office either before or after?

Mr. Hosty.

You mean after I determined this?

Mr. Dulles.

Yes.

Mr. Hosty.

Oh, yes, sir. This occurred on the 1st. This was a Friday. I returned to the Dallas office. I covered a couple of other leads on the way back. I got in shortly after 5 o'clock and all our stenos had gone home. This information has to go registered mail, and it could not go then until Monday morning.
Monday morning---shall I continue?

Mr. Stern.

Yes.

Mr. Hosty.

On Monday morning, I made a pretext telephone call to the Texas School Book Depository, I called up and asked for the personnel department, asked if a Lee Oswald was employed there. They said yes, he was. I said what address does he show? They said 2515 West Fifth Street, Irving, Tex., which I knew not to be his correct address.
I then sent a communication, airmail communication to the New Orleans office advising them--and to the headquarters of the FBI advising them--and then instructing the New Orleans office to make the Dallas office the office of origin. We were now assuming control, because he had now been verified in our division.

Representative Ford.

When you say you made several other checks on the way to the office, did this involve----

Mr. Hosty.

Not in this case; other cases. I run anywhere from 25 to 40 cases any one time. I have to work them all, fit them in as I go.

Representative Ford.

These other checks did not involve this case?

Mr. Hosty.

No; other cases I was working on.

Mr. Stern.

Mr. Hosty, at your interview on November 1 with Mrs. Paine, do you recall whether you asked her whether there was any telephone number that she knew of where Lee Harvey Oswald could be reached?

Mr. Hosty.

No, sir; I didn't ask her about a telephone number; no, sir.

Mr. Stern.

And she didn't tell you?

Mr. Hosty.

She didn't volunteer. She told me she did not know where he lived.

Mr. Stern.

Why don't you continue with the chronological report.

Mr. Hosty.

As I say, then I forwarded this airmail communication.

Mr. Mccloy.

May I ask at this point, did she indicate whether there were any belongings of Lee Oswald in the house?

Mr. Hosty.

She did not indicate, but, of course, she did tell me his wife and