(Testimony of Harry D. Holmes)
Mr. Belin.
Would you please state your name for the record?
Mr. Holmes.
Harry D. Holmes.
Mr. Belin.
Where do you live, Mr. Holmes?
Mr. Holmes.
1711 McManus, Dallas, Tex.
Mr. Belin.
What is your occupation?
Mr. Holmes.
Postal inspector.
Mr. Belin.
For the U.S. Post Office Department?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Belin.
How old are you?
Mr. Holmes.
I am 57.
Mr. Belin.
What is your educational background? Did you go to high school here?
Mr. Holmes.
I graduated from high school in Kansas City, and went 2 years to William Jewell College at Liberty, Mo. and went almost through my third rear in Kansas City. Went to dental college in Kansas City.
Mr. Belin.
Then what did you do?
Mr. Holmes.
Well, all that time I was working in the post office as a clerk, and about that time the war broke out and I went into the Postal Inspection Service in April 1942, and have been a postal inspector ever since.
Mr. Belin.
Have you been in Dallas ever since then?
Mr. Holmes.
No; I came here July 1, 1948. I have been here ever since.
Mr. Belin.
Where were you on November 22, 1963, around noon or so. That in the day of the assassination?
Mr. Holmes.
I was in my office on the fifth floor of the terminal annex building. located at the corner of Houston and Commerce Streets, Dallas, Tex.
Mr. Belin.
Houston and Commerce Streets in Dallas. Now, where is Commerce with relation to Elm?
Mr. Holmes.
Commerce, Main, Elm--two blocks.
Mr. Belin.
So Commerce would be two blocks south of Elm?
Mr. Holmes.
That's right.
Mr. Belin.
On what corner is your building?
Mr. Holmes.
It is on the northeast corner.
Mr. Belin.
The northeast corner?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes; well, now, wait a minute.
Mr. Belin.
I mean the building itself.
Mr. Holmes.
This is the reflecting pool, and here is the underpass, comes down like this, and this is Elm, and this is Main, and this is Commerce, and my building is right here. Right here is the School Book.
Mr. Belin.
This is north?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes; that is "cattywampus." This would be the southwest corner.
Mr. Belin.
All right. You have now corrected your testimony by drawing a diagram. What corner is this?
Mr. Holmes.
Southwest.
Mr. Belin.
On what side of the building is your office where you were sitting?
Mr. Holmes.
On the north side.
Mr. Belin.
From your office looking north, what building would you see?
Mr. Holmes.
The Texas School Book Depository Building. And I am on the fifth floor of my building.
Mr. Belin.
Were you on the fifth floor about the time the motorcade was coming down Main Street?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Belin.
Did you see the motorcade turn from Main onto Houston?
Mr. Holmes.
Yes; I did.
Mr. Belin.
What direction did it turn on Houston?
Mr. Holmes.
It turned north on Houston to Elm, and then turned left on Elm.
Mr. Belin.
To go down to the triple underpass?
Mr. Holmes.
That's right.
Mr. Belin.
About how fast was the motorcade going when you saw it, if you have any estimate on it?
Mr. Holmes.
I would say 15 miles an hour.
Mr. Belin.
Would you describe what you saw and heard then?
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