(Testimony of James Patrick , Jr. Hosty)
Representative Ford.
Had this been the attitude that existed prior to you and Bookhout coming into the----
Mr. Hosty.
Apparently not; apparently not. I couldn't say because I wasn't in the room. We walked into the room. I immediately identified myself, told him I was with the FBI, and was a law-enforcement officer, and anything he said to me could be used against him. He did not have to talk to us.
Senator COOPER Can you describe the tone of his voice and his manner?
Mr. Hosty.
I beg your pardon, sir?
Senator COOPER. Can you describe the tone of his voice?
Mr. Hosty.
He was highly excited. He was very surly, I think would be about the best way to describe him, very surly; and he was curt in his answers to us, snarled at us. That would be his general attitude.
Representative Ford.
Did he use profanity?
Mr. Hosty.
Yes, sir. I can't recall any specific statements he made, however.
Mr. Mccloy.
Did he complain that you had been abusing or harassing his wife in anyway?
Mr. Hosty.
He made the statement, "If you want to talk to me don't bother my wife. Come and see me." He didn't say that I had abused his wife in any manner, and I hadn't. He did criticize me for talking to her. He said, "Come talk to me if you want to talk to me."
Representative Ford.
Is that why he knew your name, because of your conversations with her?
Mr. Hosty.
Yes; apparently.
Mr. Stern.
Had you ever seen Oswald before?
Mr. Hosty.
Not until that time. That was the first time I had seen him.
Senator COOPER. Can you remember what he said about the FBI specifically?
Mr. Hosty.
He called us gestapo, secret police, we were harassing people. It was along that line. I don't recall the exact wording.
Mr. Stern.
Was he handcuffed at this time?
Mr. Hosty.
He was handcuffed behind him. After he calmed down he asked Captain Fritz if they could remove the handcuffs. Captain Fritz ordered one of his detectives to remove them from the rear, and they handcuffed him in front.
Mr. Stern.
This happened right after you came into the room?
Mr. Hosty.
Shortly after we came in the room.
Mr. Stern.
Before or after his outburst?
Mr. Hosty.
After his outburst; after he had calmed down.
Mr. Stern.
Please continue.
Mr. Hosty.
Captain Fritz actually conducted the interview. Agent Bookhout and myself sat back in the corner and observed. Captain Fritz asked Oswald if he had ever owned the rifle. He denied he had ever owned a rifle. He said that he had seen the superintendent of the School Book Depository with a rifle in his office a couple of days before the assassination, but that he had never had a rifle in the building. He then told Captain Fritz that he had been to the Soviet Union and resided there for 3 years, and he had many friends in the Soviet Union. Captain Fritz then showed him a piece of paper which had "Fair Play for Cuba" on it, and Oswald admitted to Captain Fritz that he was secretary for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee in New Orleans a few months ago.
He told Captain Fritz that the Fair Play for Cuba Committee had its headquarters in New York City. Captain Fritz then showed Oswald a marksman's medal from the Marine Corps, and Oswald admitted that this was his medal, that he had received a sharpshooter's medal while in the Marine Corps.
Mr. Mccloy.
Was it a sharpshooter's or a marksman's? There are two different types, you know.
Mr. Hosty.
I believe it was a sharpshooter, sir. He then told Captain Fritz that he had been living at 1026 North Beckley, that is in Dallas, Tex., at 1026 North Beckley under the name O. H. Lee and not under his true name.
Oswald admitted that he was present in the Texas School Book Depository Building on the 22d of November 1963, where he had been employed since the 15th of October. Oswald told Captain Fritz that he was a laborer in this building and had access to the entire building. It had offices on the first and second floors with storage on third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors.
Oswald told Captain Fritz that he went to lunch at approximately noon on
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