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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VIII - Page 11« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Edward Voebel)

Mr. Voebel.
course she was always around, and I think she tried to take good care of him, but it was hard with a person like Lee to know what he was thinking or doing all the time.
I think Lee loved his mother and was concerned about her, but there was something lacking there that you usually see between a mother and her children, as far as I am concerned, but with the type man Lee was, I guess a lot of that is understandable. You just couldn't get through to him. He just wasn't communicative. He just didn't talk too much about anything.
Mr. Jenner.
Was he curt as to his mother, that you observed? I mean, did he cut her off short in any way?
Mr. Voebel.
Well, I noticed the normal resentment going on in him at that time, but I was the same way, and I remember seeing that in other kids at that time. Your mother might be telling you things that are normally good for you, but I think every child resents discipline to a certain extent. I know I did at that time, but as to Lee and his mother, I don't think there was anything violent between them, if you know what I mean but at the same time he wasn't what you would call a mamma's boy.
Mr. Jenner.
What do you mean by that expression, "mamma's boy"?
Mr. Voebel.
Well, that's just an expression that was used at that time.
Mr. Jenner.
Was it used with respect to Lee and his mother?
Mr. Voebel.
No; never. He was no mamma's boy.
Mr. Jenner.
Well, did you have the impression that his mother was often indulgent toward him?
Mr. Voebel.
In one way; yes.
Mr. Jenner.
In which way was that?
Mr. Voebel.
Well, if he wanted something, no matter what it was, she would always seem willing to go out of her way to get it for him. Even if she couldn't afford it, she would try to get it for him. Of course, if there was something he wanted and she didn't think it was good for him, I don't know about that; I don't have any recollection of anything like that, but I know she did everything she could for Lee, and maybe he didn't always show his appreciation the way other kids would, but that's just the way he was.
Mr. Jenner.
What sort of impression did you have of Lee's attitude as to his lot in life, in other words, whether he felt that since his father died so young, and he had, I mean Lee, had received a bad deal in life. What was his attitude about that, if any?
Mr. Voebel.
Well, I think he was impressed with the fact that his father had died at a young age, and that he never got to know his father. I think that left a mark on him, but I don't think that's unusual in itself. I think there were times when you could see he felt bad because he didn't have a father, but he never actually talked about that. Lee didn't talk too much, even when we were at Beauregard together.
Mr. Jenner.
Did Lee ever come over to your house?
Mr. Voebel.
I don't think so; no; he never did. Now, I can't say for sure, but I don't think he did.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you boys ever have any common athletic interest?
Mr. Voebel.
Not that I know of.
Mr. Jenner.
Were you active in sports?
Mr. Voebel.
Just in intramurals.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he play any intramurals?
Mr. Voebel.
I don't know. I wasn't in the same gym class with him, so I can't say for certain on that. I don't know. He must have. I think everybody had to play some intramural sports.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you have any impression as to whether he had a feeling that there were things that should have been accorded him by way of possession or attainment of worldly goods, of which he had been deprived because his father had predeceased him?
Mr. Voebel.
Did he have a feeling of that at that time?
Mr. Jenner.
Yes.
Mr. Voebel.
You see, he was 14 years old, and I just don't think those thoughts would have occurred to him at such a young age, any more than it would have to me. We were just boys, and we were having a fairly good time, as all boys our
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