(Testimony of Mark Lane Resumed)
Mr. Lane.
I have a specific direction from Mrs. Oswald, who retained me in this peripheral matter just yesterday, not to discuss this matter sir. She is presently herself involved in investigating this matter, and told me specifically that any publicity in reference to this matter would be harmful to her investigation. I would otherwise be very happy to discuss the matter with you, as I have discussed everything else quite publicly.
Mr. Rankin.
And that is your reason for not disclosing it at this time?
Mr. Lane.
Yes; coupled with the fact that the Commission has this information, because I assume that Mrs. Oswald did speak with you yesterday. She told me that she did, and she gave you all the information she had in this regard. I believe she gave you more information than she gave to me, as a matter of fact, judging from what she said to me.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you claim to be acting for Mrs. Oswald on any other matter than that in connection with her son? That is Helen Markham's son?
Mr. Lane.
At the present time?
Mr. Rankin.
At the present time.
Mr. Lane.
No; I am not.
Mr. Rankin.
When did that relationship terminate?
Mr. Lane.
I don't recall the exact date, but it was sometime after my testimony here, which was, I believe, on the 4th of March of this year.
Mr. Rankin.
Can you fix it more precisely?
Mr. Lane.
I believe it was within 2 weeks after that date. I did not bring with me the letter that I wrote to Mrs. Oswald explaining that I could not function before the Commission as counsel because the Commission would not permit me to function as counsel, and that I agreed to serve on a citizen's committee which would conduct an independent inquiry. And, therefore, since it seemed that there was nothing further I could do on behalf of the original purpose of our retainer, that we should probably conclude our professional relationship as of that time had ended. I believe that is the substance of the letter that I sent to Mrs. Oswald. And that is within 2 weeks of March 4.
Representative Ford.
Mr. Rankin, may I raise a question about the language which Mr. Lane uses to the effect that the Commission declined to permit Mr. Lane to represent Mrs. Oswald?
I think the record before the Commission on this matter will speak for itself. I think to have the record clear, we ought to have that part of the Commission proceedings inserted in the record at this point.
Mr. Lane.
I would like to correct a mistake that you made, Congressman. I did not say that I was not permitted to serve as counsel for Mrs. Oswald before the Commission. I said, I thought quite precisely, that I had not been permitted by the Commission to serve as counsel to represent the interests of Lee Harvey Oswald at the request of his mother, Marguerite Oswald.
Representative Ford.
I think we should let the record speak for itself at the time that this matter was raised before the Commission.
The Chairman.
That portion of the record may be incorporated in this record at this particular time.
Mr. Lane.
I would just like to conclude on this note.
I hope the Commission will give consideration to my request, which the Commission has answered, but which again I would like at this time to renew. That is, that I be permitted, at the request of Mrs. Oswald, the mother of the accused defendant, really, before this Commission's hearing, to represent his interests here, to have access to the material which you have access to, and the right to present witnesses.
It is not usual for an attorney representing a party to be given an opportunity to testify, which is quite unusual--but rather to be given the opportunity to present witnesses and to cross-examine them. It has generally been my role in criminal cases. Never before have I testified in behalf of a client.
If it is the Commissioners' position that this is not a trial in any respect, and therefore Oswald is not entitled to counsel, that is the position with which I would like to respectfully offer a dissent.
The fact that Oswald is not going to have a real trial flows only from
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