The John F. Kennedy Assassination Homepage

Navigation

  » Introduction
  » The Report
  » The Hearings

Volumes

  » Testimony Index
 
  » Volume I
  » Volume II
  » Volume III
  » Volume IV
  » Volume V
  » Volume VI
  » Volume VII
  » Volume VIII
  » Volume IX
  » Volume X
  » Volume XI
  » Volume XII
  » Volume XIII
  » Volume XIV
  » Volume XV
Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 312« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of James W. Bookhout)

Mr. Bookhout.
and his first name was Lee and she just had gotten it in her head that he was Mr. Lee. He never did explain about the initials O. H.
Mr. Stern.
Was he asked whether he had shot the President, or Officer Tippit?
Mr. Bookhout.
Yes; he was asked that, and denied shooting either one of them, or knowing anything about it.
Mr. Stern.
Was he asked whether he was carrying a pistol at the time he was in the Texas Theatre?
Mr. Bookhout.
Yes; that was brought up. He admitted that he was carrying a pistol at the time he was arrested. He claimed that he had bought this some time ago in Fort Worth.
Mr. Stern.
He said he had gotten it in Fort Worth?
Mr. Bookhout.
That is my recollection, and there again, in trying to follow through on that line of thought, he refused to answer any further questions as to whereabouts in Fort Worth he had bought it.
Mr. Stern.
Did he talk about his arrest and his resistance of arrest at the Texas Theatre?
Mr. Bookhout.
He admitted fighting with the officer at the time of the arrest, but I don't recall any explanation as to why he was doing it.
Mr. Stern.
Did he admit that he might have been wrong in doing that, or say anything to that effect?
Mr. Bookhout.
Seemed to me like he made the comment that the only thing he was guilty of, or the only thing he could be charged with would be the carrying of a concealed weapon, and of resisting the arrest.
Mr. Stern.
When he was asked about involvement in the assassination of President Kennedy, or the shooting of Officer Tippit, how would you describe his denials?
Mr. Bookhout.
Well, I don't know exactly how to describe it, but as I recall, he spoke very loudly. In other words, he was--he gave an emphatic denial, that is about all I can recall on it.
Mr. Stern.
I believe that in the report you filed on this first interview, you or Agent Hosty, who joined in the report with you, used the adverb "frantically" to describe his denial of an involvement. Does that refresh your recollection as to that? Would you use that word now, or was that your word?
Mr. Bookhout.
No; that was written by Hosty, and that would be his expression of describing it.
Mr. Stern.
Do you think "emphatically," is perhaps the more descriptive word now?
Mr. Bookhout.
Well, that would be the way I would describe it. As I said, he spoke----
Mr. Stern.
I am not trying to put words into your mouth.
Mr. Bookhout.
He spoke loudly.
Mr. Stern.
I am most interested in getting the tone of this interrogation and his state, the way he conducted himself, and that is why I ask this question, and there is something of a difference between saying a man is acting frantically as opposed to his acting emphatically.
Mr. Bookhout.
Well, I suppose the word, "frantically," would probably describe it. In other words, I said that he spoke loudly. There just wasn't a normal type of denial. He was--it was more than that. That is the reason I say that probably "frantically," might be a descriptive word.
Mr. Stern.
Did that occur only in connection with questions about whether he had shot the President, or was the general tone of this interrogation, as far as he was concerned, at that level?
Mr. Bookhout.
No; he wouldn't use the same expression of speech in answering all questions. He would have certain kinds there, and certain types of questions that he would apparently have stronger feelings on.
Mr. Stern.
Do you recall at any time his pounding on the desk, or making any other physical gestures of that kind?
Mr. Bookhout.
I don't recall him pounding on the desk; no, sir.
Mr. Stern.
Now, this interview, as I understand, took approximately an hour?
Mr. Bookhout.
That's correct.
« Previous | Next »

Found a Typo?

Click here
Copyright by www.jfk-assassination.comLast Update: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 21:56:35 CET