Mrs. Oswald.

add to my testimony, I really forgot about it. When Martin and I were talking about it he said, "Well, try not to think about these things too much."

Mr. Rankin.

Did he say anything about why it wasn't necessary to tell about this incident?

Mrs. Oswald.

I don't remember. I don't think he told me why. Maybe he told me and I just didn't understand because I didn't understand English very well.

Mr. Rankin.

When you were telling about the Nixon incident you referred to your husband's sadistic streak. Do you recall that?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes.

Mr. Rankin.

Can you tell us a little more about that, how it showed?

Mrs. Oswald.

Anytime I did something which didn't please him he would make me sit down at a table and write letters to the Russian Embassy stating that I wanted to go back to Russia. He liked to tease me and torment me in this way. He knew that this--he just liked to torment me and upset me and hurt me, and he used to do this especially if I interfered in any of his political affairs, in any of his political discussions. He made me several times write such letters.

Mr. Dulles.

I have just one question: What did you or your husband do with these letters that you wrote? Did any of them get mailed or did they all get destroyed?

Mrs. Oswald.

He kept carbons of these letters but he sent the letters off himself.

Mr. Dulles.

To the Russian Embassy?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes; he didn't give me any money to buy stamps. I never had any pocket money of my own.

Mr. Rankin.

But the letters to the Embassy you are referring to are actual letters and requested requests--they weren't practice letters or anything of that kind to punish you, were they?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes; they were real letters. I mean if my husband didn't want me to live with him any longer and wanted me to go back, I would go back, not because I wanted to go back but I didn't have any choice.

Mr. Rankin.

I misunderstood you then because I thought you were describing the fact that he made you write letters as a part of this sadistic streak that would never be sent but what he actually did was have you prepare the letters and then he proceeded to send them, is that your testimony?

Mrs. Oswald.

He did send them and he really wanted this. He knew that this hurt me.

Mr. Rankin.

Those are the letters to the Russian Embassy we have introduced in evidence in connection with your testimony; is that right?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes; those are the letters.

Representative Ford.

Did he ever show you replies to those letters?

Mrs. Oswald.

At first-yes; there were. At first I didn't believe that he was sending off those letters.

Representative Ford.

But you did see the replies?

Mrs. Oswald.

I received answers from the embassy.

Mr. Rankin.

Now, I will turn to another subject, Mrs. Oswald.

Mr. Dulles.

Would you like to have a 5-minute recess? We will proceed.

Mr. Rankin.

Now, Mrs. Oswald, I would like to ask you about the Irving Gun Shop in Dallas.

Mrs. Oswald.

The what? I don't know anything about this at all.

Mr. Rankin.

Your counsel tells me I should correct that, that Irving is not a part of Dallas. It is the city of Irving. A witness has said that you and your two children and your husband came into a furniture shop asking the location of a gunshop in that area in Irving, and after appearing there that you and your husband, with your husband driving the the car, along with your two children, got in the car and went up the street in the direction of where the gunshop was. Did you recall any incident of that kind?

Mrs. Oswald.

This is just a complete fabrication. Lee never drove a car with me. Only Ruth Paine drove a car with me. And I never took my baby with me.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you ever go into such a furniture store in Irving?