Mr. Liebeler.

By whom are you employed?

Mr. Altgens.

The Associated Press, Dallas Bureau.

Mr. Liebeler.

How long have you been employed by the AP?

Mr. Altgens.

Approximately 26 1/2 years.

Mr. Liebeler.

So one might say you are an experienced photographer and have a little experience in the area of photographic work?

Mr. Altgens.

I would assume so.

Mr. Liebeler.

When were you born, sir?

Mr. Altgen.

April 28, 1919.

Mr. Liebeler.

Here in Dallas?

Mr. Altgens.

Here; yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

Have you lived most of your life here in Dallas?

Mr. Altgens.

All except my service connected time.

Mr. Liebeler.

We have been advised that on November 22, 1963, you were assigned to take pictures of the Presidential motorcade; is that correct?

Mr. Altgens.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did you do that?

Mr. Altgens.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you tell us the circumstances surrounding the taking of the picture or pictures that you did take and just what happened, where you were and all that you know about the events of November the 22d?

Mr. Altgens.

Would you like for me to take it from the time that I arrived on the scene up until the time of the shooting?

Mr. Liebeler.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Altgens.

I arrived on the triple overpass at approximately 11:15 a.m.

Mr. Liebeler.

When you say the triple overpass, you mean the railroad tracks that cross over Elm, Commerce, and Main Streets?

Mr. Altgens.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

As they run near the Texas School Book Depository Building?

Mr. Altgens.

As well as in the opposite direction.

Mr. Liebeler.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Altgens.

My original assignment was to make a pictorial scene of the caravan with the Dallas skyline in the background and the triple overpass was selected as the site for making that picture, and when I arrived on the triple overpass there was no one up there but two uniformed policemen and one of the uniformed policemen came over to me and asked me if I was a railroad employee and I told him, "No," and I showed him my press tag and told him I had a Department of Public Safety ID card showing I was connected with the AP--Associated Press, and he said, "Well, I'm sorry, but this is private property. It belongs to the railroad and only railroad employees are permitted on this property." And, I explained to him that this was a public event and I thought I would be privileged to make a picture from that area, and he says, "No. This is private property and no one but railroad personnel are permitted in this area."
This is a little extraneous but I wanted to point this out, and I said, "Well, it looks like you have got it pretty well protected from this area because I see you two uniformed policemen on this overpass and I see you have another uniformed policeman on the overpass on Stemmons," and he said, "Yes, and no one is permitted over on that overpass." So, then, I had to decide on another location for shooting my pictures, so I proceeded on across the triple overpass into the parking lot which is just behind the Book Depository Building and proceeded on down to Elm to the corner of Elm and Houston, crossed Elm going--is that east or south--I guess it is south on Houston. Yes; south on Houston over to Main and Houston. That seemed to me to be the most likely spot to make any pictures. Then I could, by advance planning, get away from that spot after I had made a picture or two and run across the Dealey Plaza and catch the caravan again down on Elm as it proceeded toward the triple overpass and probably get some more pictures, and that was my planning.
Well, I was at that site when the Presidential caravan arrived at that intersection.

Mr. Liebeler.

That intersection being the intersection of Houston and Elm Streets?