Warren Society, the Chief Justice is aware of that phase, and I am sure he would like to hear anything that you have to say if it affects the security.
Chief Justice WARREN. Before you finish the rest of your statement, may I ask you this question, and this is one of the questions we came here to ask you.
Did you know Lee Harvey Oswald prior to this shooting?

Mr. Ruby.

That is why I want to take the lie detector test. Just saying no isn't sufficient.
Chief Justice WARREN. I will afford you that opportunity.

Mr. Ruby.

All right.
Chief Justice WARREN. I will afford you that opportunity. You can't do both of them at one time.

Mr. Ruby.

Gentlemen, my life is in danger here. Not with my guilty plea of execution.
Do I sound sober enough to you as I say this?
Chief Justice WARREN. You do. You sound entirely sober.

Mr. Ruby.

From the moment I started my testimony, have I sounded as though, with the exception of becoming emotional, have I sounded as though I made sense, what I was speaking about?
Chief Justice WARREN. You have indeed. I understood everything you have said. If I haven't, it is my fault.

Mr. Ruby.

Then I follow this up. I may not live tomorrow to give any further testimony. The reason why I add this to this, since you assure me that I have been speaking sense by then, I might be speaking sense by following what I have said, and the only thing I want to get out to the public, and I can't say it here, is with authenticity, with sincerity of the truth of everything and why my act was committed, but it can't be said here.
It can be said, it's got to be said amongst people of the highest authority that would give me the benefit of doubt. And following that, immediately give me the lie detector test after I do make the statement.
Chairman Warren, if you felt that your life was in danger at the moment, how would you feel? Wouldn't you be reluctant to go on speaking, even though you request me to do so?
Chief Justice WARREN. I think I might have some reluctance if I was in your position, yes; I think I would. I think I would figure it out very carefully as to whether it would endanger me or not.
If you think that anything that I am doing or anything that I am asking you is endangering you in any way, shape, or form, I want you to feel absolutely free to say that the interview is over.

Mr. Ruby.

What happens then? I didn't accomplish anything.
Chief Justice WARREN. No; nothing has been accomplished.

Mr. Ruby.

Well, then you won't follow up with anything further?
Chief Justice WARREN. There wouldn't be anything to follow up if you hadn't completed your statement.

Mr. Ruby.

You said you have the power to do what you want to do is that correct?
Chief Justice WARREN. Exactly.

Mr. Ruby.

Without any limitations?
Chief Justice WARREN. Within the purview of the Executive order which established the Commission. We have the right to take testimony of anyone we want in this whole situation, and we have the right, if we so choose to do it, to verify that statement in any way that we wish to do it.

Mr. Ruby.

But you don't have a right to take a prisoner back with you when you want to?
Chief Justice WARREN. No; we have the power to subpena witnesses to Washington if we want to do it, but we have taken the testimony of 200 or 300 people, I would imagine, here in Dallas without going to Washington.

Mr. Ruby.

Yes; but those people aren't Jack Ruby.
Chief Justice WARREN No; they weren't.

Mr. Ruby.

They weren't.
Chief Justice WARREN. Now I want you to feel that we are not here to take any advantage of you, because I know that you are in a delicate position, and unless you had indicated not only through your lawyers but also through your

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