(Testimony of Earle V. Brown)
Mr. Ball.
Did you keep the underpass free of people?
Mr. Brown.
Underneath?
Mr. Ball.
No; up above.
Mr. Brown.
Up above; yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
What about underneath?
Mr. Brown.
Well, that was roadway there; people wouldn't be able to walk.
Mr. Ball.
On the top of the overpass you kept that free of people?
Mr. Brown.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
Did you have the railroad yards in sight?
Mr. Brown.
Yes, sir:
Mr. Ball.
They would be what direction from where you were standing?
Mr. Brown.
That would be east; that would be east of us.
Mr. Ball.
East, maybe a little north?
Mr. Brown.
Yes, the whole thing kind of in that general direction, you know.
Mr. Ball.
Did you see any people over in the railroad yards?
Mr. Brown.
Not that I recall; now they were moving trains in and out.
Mr. Ball.
But you did not see people standing?
Mr. Brown.
No, .sir; sure didn't.
Mr. Ball.
Everything was in clear view?
Mr. Brown.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
I withdraw the question. Was there any obstruction of your vision to the railroad yards?
Mr. Ball.
Yes.
Mr. Ball.
What?
Mr. Brown.
Not the direction of the railroad yard, but at ground level we didn't have very good view. Mr. Lomax and I remarked that we didn't have a very good view.
Mr. Ball.
Was that because of the moving trains?
Mr. Brown.
Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL. Did you see the President's motorcade come on to Houston Street from Elm; were you able to see that?
Mr. Brown.
Now they came down Main, didn't they to Houston?
Mr. Ball.
Yes.
Mr. Brown.
No, sir; actually, the first I noticed the car was when it stopped.
Mr. Ball.
Where?
Mr. Brown.
After it made the turn and when the shots were fired, it stopped.
Mr. Ball.
Did it come to a complete stop?
Mr. Brown.
That, I couldn't swear to.
Mr. Ball.
It appeared to be slowed down some?
Mr. Brown.
Yes; slowed down.
Mr. Ball.
Did you hear the shots?
Mr. Brown.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
How many?
Mr. Brown.
Three.
Mr. Ball.
Where did they seem to come from?
Mr. BROWN. Well, they seemed high to me, actually; if you .want, would you like me to tell you?
Mr. Ball.
Sure, tell it in your own words.
Mr. BROWN. Well, down in that river bottom there, there's a whole lot of pigeons this particular day, and they heard the shots before we did because I saw them flying up--must have been 50, 75 of them.
Mr. Ball.
Where was the river bottom?
Mr. BROWN. You know, actually off to the---between us and the, this overpass you are talking about there's kind of a levee along there. It's really a grade of the railroad, is what it is; that's where they were and then I heard these shots and then I smelled this gun powder.
Mr. Ball.
You did?
Mr. BROWN. It come on it would be maybe a couple minutes later so---at least it smelled like it to me.
Mr. Ball.
What direction did the sound seem to come from?
Mr. Brown.
It came it seemed the direction of that building, that Texas---
Mr. Ball.
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