(Testimony of Mrs. Frank H. (Valentina) Ray)
Mrs. Ray.
I am trying to remember. It really wasn't anything. We just sort of talked about the children, small talk as I remember but be did get into with my husband which was more on economics. lie could not understand how he have to work for somebody and man made all the money and gave so little in return. Anyhow it was something about workers and capitalists. As I can imagine my husband said some things because, well, he worked hard all his life and had men work for him. That was said at the house, then they had another conversation in the car when he took to apartment. I was not present so I do not know what they talking about. It was still on economics and my husband just came in huffing, puffing, said he never met anybody dumber in his life, doesn't understand simple economics or how anything works in this country. He considered him a complete idiot. He didn't know how in the world I got tied up with stupid people like that but I had very little to say to Lee Oswald that evening he was at the house.
Mr. Liebeler.
When you spoke to Marina did you speak to her in Russian or in English?
Mrs. Ray.
In Russian at the time.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you know whether Marina could understand English?
Mrs. Ray.
At the time she could not understand but maybe few words like simple words like if I say bread or--I would say she did not understand maybe more than 2 dozen words and that would be simple things you use every day in the kitchen, not any English at all.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did. you discuss with Oswald the question of why he did not try to teach Marina English?
Mrs. Ray.
No; but who did I ask about that? I believe I asked Marina why she didn't speak English with Oswald all the time. No; I did ask Oswald that, I'm sorry, but that was not that evening. I asked him that when I went to Elsbeth Street; I asked how come he didn't speak English to her so she would learn. He said so he wouldn't forget his Russian.
Mr. Liebeler.
What did you say in response to that?
Mrs. Ray.
I said after she learns English they could speak Russian all time.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did Oswald make any response to that?
Mrs. Ray.
None whatsoever. It was very hard to talk to him. He was absolutely--you could ask him question, if you lucky, you might get answer. He did not say one word.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you know whether Oswald drank at all?
Mrs. Ray.
When he came over my husband and I sit down and had a drink. I asked him .if he would like to have something. He said "Thank you, I don't drink," so I don't know whether it was just that day or period but from the way he said it, I got the impression he did not drink because he would have said I don't care for any today or something.
Mr. Liebeler.
Can you remember anything more about the conversation that occurred that first Sunday when Oswald came over?
Mrs. Ray.
No; I don't think so; all was smalltalk. We talked about my cat, how children behaved, things that had no meaning, just to keeping the conversation going and he was so hard to talk to, why, I could not find anything he was interested in and I did not know him well enough to discuss anything else.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did Marina tell you anything about her background in Russia, where she was born, where she was raised?
Mrs. Ray.
Sir, I don't know who told me that; it is so hard to remember where I got the information from. I understand that she was raised by her mother until mother die and she lived either with grandmother or aunt, I am not sure.
I think it is an aunt she said that raised her and the first time---like I said, information was from everybody; it gets to so and so and by that time, it got to me---first I heard about was she was only child and later on I found out she has sister and brother in Russia.
Mr. Liebeler.
She told you that?
Mrs. Ray.
Yes; she did; she has sister in Russia.
Mr. Liebeler.
When did Marina tell you that?
Mrs. Ray.
This was about 2 weeks ago when I visited her but from what I understood before, she was only child. After her mother died she lived with
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