(Testimony of Mrs. Earlene Roberts)
Mr. Ball.
Why to your sorrows?
Mrs. Roberts.
Well, he was registered as O. H. Lee and I come to find out he was Oswald and I wish I had never known it.
Mr. Ball.
Why?
Mrs. Roberts.
Well, they put me through the third degree.
Mr. Ball.
Who did?
Mrs. Roberts.
The FBI, Secret Service, Mr. Will Fritz' men and Bill Decker's.
Mr. Ball.
They did?
Mrs. ROBERTS. Every time I would walk out on the front perch somebody was standing with a camera on me they had me scared to death.
Mr. Ball.
When is the first time you ever saw Lee Oswald?
Mrs. Roberts.
The day he came in and rented the room--the 14th of October.
Mr. Ball.
Had you ever heard of the man before?
Mrs. ROBERTS. No, and he didn't register as Oswald---he registered as O. H. Lee.
Mr. Ball.
Did he sign his name?
Mrs. Roberts.
O. H. Lee.
Mr. Ball.
Did he sign his own name that way ?
Mrs. Roberts.
O. H. Lee---that's what he was registered as.
Mr. Ball.
Did you rent it to him, or did Mrs. Johnson?
Mrs. Roberts.
I rented the room to him.
Mr. Ball.
You did?
Mrs. ROBERTS. She talked to him, and she had to go back to the work and that was what I was supposed to do---I rented the rooms---she didn't know what vacancies she had.
Mr. Ball.
Did you have "room for rent" sign out in the front?
Mrs. Roberts.
Yes.
Mr. Ball.
What time of day did he come in there?
Mrs. ROBERTS. Oh, it was in the early afternoon---I imagine between 1 and 2 o'clock when he came in and looked at the room; and he rented it and paid for it; and then left, and went and got his things and I don't know---it must have been around 5 or 6 o'clock when he come back in.
Mr. BALL. You say he went and got his things---what did he have with him at first when he came there?
Mrs. Roberts.
Just a little satchel bag and some clothes on a hanger.
Mr. Ball.
What kind of a satchel bag?
Mrs. Roberts.
One of them little zip kinds.
Mr. Ball.
What color was it?
Mrs. Roberts.
It was just---don't ask me that for I can't answer that. It was just a dark bag is all I know.
Mr. Ball.
How long did he stay that first time?
Mrs. Roberts.
Oswald?
Mr. BALL. I mean before he went away to get his clothes, when he first came in-you say he rented a room?
Mrs. ROBERTS. He rented the room and paid me $8 for it and he said, "I'll go get my things and I will be back."
Mr. Ball.
Did he say where he was going to get them?
Mrs. Roberts.
No, he didn't.
Mr. Ball.
, Did he leave?
Mrs. Roberts.
Yes; he left.
Mr. Ball.
Did he have a car he was riding in ?
Mrs. Roberts.
I don't know---I didn't see it.
Mr. Ball.
Did he take a bus?
Mrs. Roberts.
I don't know.
Mr. Ball.
You don't know?
Mrs. Roberts.
No, I don't. I don't remember---you know in a place like that---when you rent a room---I didn't pay no attention.
Mr. Ball.
And he came back about what time?
Mrs. Roberts.
Oh, I imagine around 5 o'clock, maybe.
Mr. Ball.
What did he have with him at that time?
Mrs. Roberts.
That little zipper satchel bag and some clothes on a hanger.
Mr. Ball.
The first time he came to see you he had a zipper satchel bag?
|
