Mr. Voebel.

age seemed to do. We would play darts and play pool, and do things like that which didn't cost a lot or anything.

Mr. Jenner.

Well, I mean, did he say anything that would have given you that impression?

Mr. Voebel.

In fact, I am afraid that some of these impressions that I am giving you may have been developed later, since this assassination occurred. I don't mean that I had all of these impressions back when we were in Beauregard together.

Mr. Jenner.

I understand that, but the Commission is interested in the impression you had then of Lee and the impressions you have now as compared to then. We are trying to get the complete background of this man in order to possibly arrive at the motive for this entire tragedy.

Mr. Voebel.

It's hard to get what I was thinking of then, and how I think now and separate the two; that's what I mean, because, of course, at that time nothing like this had happened, and I didn't have in mind trying to analyze Lee's personality or anything. You just don't go out looking for something like that unless you have a reason.

Mr. Jenner.

You heard the rumor, or read about them at any rate, that Lee Oswald was studying communism when he was 14 years of age, did you not?

Mr. Voebel.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

Did you see any evidence of that when you were going around and associating with Lee Oswald?

Mr. Voebel.

No; I didn't.

Mr. Jenner.

Did you put any credence in that?

Mr. Voebel.

No; none whatever. As far as I know, I was the only one that would enter his home, around that age, so I would be the only one to know, and I can say for certain that the only things Lee would be reading when I would be at his home would be comic books and the normal things that kids read.

Mr. Jenner.

Were you a voracious reader in those days?

Mr. Voebel.

No.

Mr. Jenner.

What do you say as to Lee Oswald, if you know?

Mr. Voebel.

I really can't say for sure, but he did impress me, in the time that I knew him and associated with him, that he wasn't a great reader. We liked to fool around more than we liked to go to school, I guess you would say.

Mr. Jenner.

You would not consider that Lee was a good reader?

Mr. Voebel.

No; I wouldn't. I know my studies always came hard to me, even music when I first started with it.

Mr. Jenner.

Are you still interested in music?

Mr. Voebel.

Yes; I still play music.

Mr. Jenner.

Would you say, in looking back to your acquaintance with Lee, that he had a normal curiosity about things, the normal curiosity of a young man of 13, 14, 15, or 16 years old?

Mr. Voebel.

I would say that he had a normal curiosity, if I understand then what you mean by that. It's just that he didn't seem to be able to mix with people; that's all.

Mr. Jenner.

Do you think that's a basic personality characteristic that has remained in your mind all these years?

Mr. Voebel.

Right. It seems to me like he did like things and wanted to do things, but he just couldn't get himself to get with people, you see, and you just can't do too much by yourself. To me, I think that maybe his whole downfall was maybe a lack of communication with people. Of course, I don't know the reason. I am not a psychologist. I can't tell you why, but somehow I have that feeling because I knew Lee, and I knew how he didn't like to mix with people.

Mr. Jenner.

I gather from this discussion with you that, up until this horrible tragedy happened, you had at least a favorable impression of Lee, and even though your opinion of his personality and attitude and behavior might have changed since you learned of this tragedy and since his death, you at least, up until that time, had a good opinion of him; is that right?

Mr. Voebel.

Right.

Mr. Jenner.

You think he was a normal boy, at least in most respects, and he was not what we have referred to as a roustabout or a member of a gang at school, or anything like that?