(Testimony of Elmer L. Boyd)
Mr. Boyd.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
I want the exact words, not your version---give me the exact words.
Mr. Boyd.
I'll tell you---I asked him how he got this place on his eye, and he I struck an officer and the officer struck me back, which he should have done."
Mr. Ball.
Those were the exact words?
Mr. Boyd.
Those were the exact words.
Mr. Ball.
Was there anything else said about that?
Mr. Boyd.
No, sir; he didn't seem too much upset about it.
Mr. Ball.
Did he ever complain to you that he had been abused by the officers at the time of the arrest?
Mr. Boyd.
No, sir.
Mr. Ball.
Did he ever use the term that "police brutality"---did he ever use that term to you?
Mr. Boyd.
I don't remember him ever using the term "police brutality".
Mr. Ball.
Did he ever ask you to get him a lawyer?
Mr. Boyd.
No, sir; he didn't ask me to get him one.
Mr. Ball.
Were you present at any time when a lawyer visited Oswald?
Mr. Boyd.
No, sir; I wasn't present--we asked him, did he want a lawyer here Captain Fritz the next morning had asked him, and he said he didn't want a lawyer, he wanted Mr. Abt.
Mr. Ball.
Do you have some questions?
Mr. Stern.
What was your impression of Oswald--the way he handled himself, what kind of a man did he seem to you?
Mr. Boyd.
I'll tell you, I've never saw another man just exactly like him.
Mr. Stern.
In what way?
Mr. Boyd.
Well, you know, he acted like he was intelligent; just as soon as you would ask him a question, he would just give you the answer right back---he didn't hesitate about his answers. I mean, as soon as you would pop him a question, he would shoot you an answer right back and, like I said, I never saw a man that could answer questions like he did.
Mr. Stern.
Did he seem to be under stress or calm in those terms?
Mr. Boyd.
Well, at times he was Just as calm as could be, then once in a while he would--I don't know just how to tell you, but every now and then he would be talking and he would be just as calm and the next minute he would just liable to be--I mean his attitude, you know, would change, you know, rather frequently, but most of the time when he would be talking to you he was rather calm.
Mr. Stern.
When it changed, was it for any noticeable reason or did it change apparently?
Mr. Boyd.
Well, most of the time, you know, it was just when somebody would say something---some little something he didn't like, and he would---he didn't become mad, but the worst thing he did was when he jumped up and slapped the desk.
Mr. Stern.
During the Hosty interrogation?
Mr. Boyd.
Yes, air.
Mr. Stern.
He seemed to you to understand generally his rights?
Mr. Boyd.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
And do you know that he wasn't required to answer?
Mr. Boyd.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
Of course, this was a long day for everybody---did he seem by the end of the day still to be in command of himself, or did he appear tired or particularly worn out?
Mr. Boyd.
Well, he didn't appear to be as fired as I felt---he didn't appear to be, because I imagine he could have been tired---he didn't show it.
Mr. Stern.
This is quite unnatural--really rather exceptional; this is, of course, why you say somewhat unusual, a man accused of killing two people, one of them the President of the United States, and at the end of the day, he is pretty well in command?
Can you tell us in any other respect about the kind of person he seemed to you---anything else that you observed about him, as you now recall?
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