Mr. Smith.

I do.

Mr. Liebeler.

Please sit down. My name is Wesley J. Liebeler. I am an attorney on the staff of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. I have been authorized to take your testimony by the Commission, pursuant to authority granted to it by Executive Order No. 11130 dated November 29, 1963, and joint resolution of Congress No. 137. Under the rules of procedure, you are entitled to have an attorney present, and you are entitled to 3 days' notice of your hearing. I know you didn't get that, because I just called you this morning, but I assume that since you are here, you are prepared to go ahead without an attorney, is that correct?

Mr. Smith.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you state your full name for the record?

Mr. Smith.

Joe Marshall Smith.

Mr. Liebeler.

What is your address?

Mr. Smith.

12015 Androck. That is in Mesquite.

Mr. Liebeler.

When were you born?

Mr. Smith.

May 1, 1932.

Mr. Liebeler.

Where?

Mr. Smith.

Kleburg, Tex.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you outline briefly for us your educational background?

Mr. Smith.

Yes, sir. I went to grade school in Seagoville up to the second grade. Then I went to Houston, Tex., and finished elementary school there, and then to junior high school, and through high school in Houston, Tex. Then I went into the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Liebeler.

You are presently a uniformed officer of the Dallas Police Department?

Mr. Smith.

That's right.

Mr. Liebeler.

How long have you been with the Dallas Police Department?

Mr. Smith.

Oh, nearly 8 years, in September it will be.

Mr. Liebeler.

During that time, you have been working basically as a uniformed officer, patrolman?

Mr. Smith.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

Have you been working in any specific type of assignment, or just what has been the nature of your work?

Mr. Smith.

Well, I was in radio patrol 3 1/2 years. Then I went to traffic division point control, and that is what I am doing presently.

Mr. Liebeler.

I understand that you were assigned to work in the vicinity of Elm and Houston on November 22, 1963, is that correct?

Mr. Smith.

Correct.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you tell us when you first got that assignment and what you were told.

Mr. Smith.

At approximately 8:45 or 9 o'clock that morning, November 22, we made detail, and Capt. P. W. Lawrence gave us the instructions that we were to, of course, hold the traffic up when the motorcade came through, and to assist in the crowd control, and be specifically on the lookout for anyone throwing anything from the crowd. That is about all I remember.

Mr. Liebeler.

How many officers were with you as you were instructed at the detail at 8:45? That means, there was a formation of something in the office?

Mr. Smith.

There was quite a few there. I don't know how many were there, but nearly the whole traffic department was there.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did they all receive instructions from Captain Lawrence at the same time, or were they different specific instructions broken down?

Mr. Smith.

There were some broken down instructions that some of the men had to stay over to get different detail aimed to them, but that was my instructions.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did you receive those instructions in writing, or delivered orally?

Mr. Smith.

Delivered orally.

Mr. Liebeler.

In other words, the captain or someone working with the captain would have a list and he assigned certain men to certain places and gave them general instructions as to what they were to do; is that correct?

Mr. Smith.

That's correct.