Mr. Bookhout.

second or two. By "office," I mean the immediate office that the interview was being conducted in, but still within the homicide and robbery office.

Mr. Stern.

Did the interviewing continue when he was out of the room, or did you wait for his return?

Mr. Bookhout.

No; it would continue.

Mr. Stern.

By whom was the interview conducted?

Mr. Bookhout.

Primarily it was conducted by Captain Fritz and then before he would leave from one point to another he would ask if there was anything we wanted to ask him particularly on that point.

Mr. Stern.

By "we," you mean Agent Hosty and yourself?

Mr. Bookhout.

Right.

Mr. Stern.

What was Oswald's demeanor in the course of this interview? Did he seem in control of himself, excited, or calm? Can you describe his conduct?

Mr. Bookhout.

He was very arrogant and argumentative. That is about the extent of the comment on that.

Mr. Stern.

Is this as to you and Hosty, or also Captain Fritz? Did he differentiate in his conduct between Captain Fritz and the two of you?

Mr. Bookhout.

Now--no; that would apply to everyone present.

Mr. Stern.

Did he answer all questions put to him or did he refuse to answer the questions?

Mr. Bookhout.

No; there would be certain questions that he refused to comment about.

Mr. Stern.

When this happened was the question pressed, or another question asked?

Mr. Bookhout.

Anyone asking the another question would be asked.

Mr. Stern.

What sort of question would he refuse to answer? Was there any pattern to his refusing?

Mr. Bookhout.

Well, now, I am not certain whether this would apply then to this particular interview, the first interview or not, in answering this, but I recall specifically one of the interviews asking him about the Selective Service card which he had in the name of Hidell, and he admitted that he was carrying the card, but that he would not admit that he wrote the signature of Hidell on the card, and at that point stated that he refused to discuss the matter further. I think generally you might say anytime that you asked a question that would be pertinent to the investigation, that would be the type of question he would refuse to discuss.

Mr. Stern.

Would you say he had a pretty good idea of what might be incriminating and what not incriminating?

Mr. Bookhout.

Well, I think that would call for an opinion, and I can only report the facts to you, and based on the example of the type of questions that I had commented on that he refused to answer, you will have to draw your own conclusion on that.

Mr. Stern.

Fine. I am just trying to get at whether he seemed in command of himself and alert, and whether he handled himself responsibly from his own viewpoint, but if you don't want to venture an opinion, that's fine.
When you first joined the interview, did you advise him that you were an agent of the FBI, and did you say anything about warning him that evidence--that anything he said might be used?

Mr. Bookhout.

Yes; that was done by Agent Hosty.

Mr. Stern.

Did he, at that point, or later say anything specifically regarding the FBI?

Mr. Bookhout.

Yes.

Mr. Stern.

Tell us what that was.

Mr. Bookhout.

He accused the FBI of, generally, unfair tactics in inter viewing his wife on some previous occasion.

Mr. Stern.

Was this directed specifically at either you or Hosty, or to the general----

Mr. Bookhout.

It was directed against Hosty.

Mr. Stern.

He did not, Oswald did not indicate that he knew Hosty himself, did he?

Mr. Bookhout.

No.