Mr. Jenner.

You think that's what happened to Lee, do you?

Mrs. Murret.

I think that's what might have happened to him. I don't know though.

Mr. Jenner.

Was he a competitive person?

Mrs. Murret.

Was he what?

Mr. Jenner.

Was he competitive?

Mrs. Murret.

No; I don't think so. Like I said, at school his only remark about that was that he didn't think he had to go to school to learn these subjects, because he knew all of them. He said he wasn't learning anything, and it was just a waste of time.
I told him, I said, "Lee, that's not the idea. It's not a waste of time. You have got to go through school in order to graduate, because you need to graduate to get anywhere in this world." I told him, "You are going to have to go on to college and make something out of yourself, even if you think you know all the subjects." I think that's one of the things that Marguerite got a little put out with me about. She always wanted to let Lee have his way about everything.
Even after he came back from Russia, I talked to him about that, but he answered me the same way. He said he didn't see any use in going to school, that he knew all the subjects.

Mr. Jenner.

Did your children discuss Lee in your presence?

Mrs. Murret.

Did they discuss Lee?

Mr. Jenner.

Yes. What did your children think of Lee?

Mrs. Murret.

They loved Lee, I think. He was in my home, and he acted like any other boy would act, no different, as far as that goes. I didn't have television then, so he would eat dinner and then listen to the radio and go to bed, and get up the next morning and do the same things. Actually, the children didn't have much contact with him, because he wouldn't go out and play at all. They really loved him a lot, though. They have always loved him.

Mr. Jenner.

Then eventually they went to Texas; is that right?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, was that in the fall of 1956?

Mrs. Murret.

I think so; yes.

Mr. Jenner.

They left New Orleans and went to Texas in 1956; right?

Mrs. Murret.

That's right. That's when he joined the Marines. I don't know what that date is, but I know he joined the Marines after they left.

Mr. Jenner.

Your sister didn't tell you and Lee didn't tell you that they were about to move to Texas?

Mrs. Murret.

Well, I think that's about the time that Robert came in, because the next thing she said was that Robert didn't want to stay here. He didn't want to make his home here, he said. He said New Orleans was not his home, but that his friends were in Texas, so I don't know if Robert left first, or if they all left together. In fact, I didn't know she was leaving until she rang up one day--she had a sewing machine that belonged to us, a portable sewing machine that we had loaned her, and she called one day and said she was already packed and ready to go to the train station, or whatever it was the way she was going, and all she said was, "We're leaving; come get your machine." We never did get the machine. When we went up there, the place was locked up, and we never did get it back.

Mr. Jenner.

This was a portable electric sewing machine?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes; she told us she was leaving right then, and to come and get it. She said she would leave it there in the house or something like that, or it's in the house or something, and that was it. Like I said, when we got over there the place was locked up and we didn't get the machine back. She had some furniture that belonged to her there, I think, so I don't know whether she took anything with her besides her clothing or not; but she left.

Mr. Jenner.

And where was this she called you from, do you know?

Mrs. Murret.

Well, they were over on Exchange Place at that time.

Mr. Jenner.

Exchange?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

Did you go right over there to get the machine?

Mrs. Murret.

No; I didn't. When we did go over the place was all locked up.