Mr. Mamantov.

part of October 1955, when I still was by myself in Dallas. I heard of him being from Estonia, which was mistaken and happened to be a Russian, So I called him up and we met in the restaurant. He came to my house--he came to my room where I rented. I forgot the number--3405, if I remember right, Milton Street, and invited me to eat with him out in the restaurant by name Europa, and there we ate and then somehow we went back, you know, I discovered he is White Russian and I am White Russian and he talked extensively about Mrs. Meller.

Mr. Jenner.

M-e-l-l-e-r [spelling]?

Mr. Mamantov.

Mrs. Meller--right.

Mr. Jenner.

Is she a White Russian?

Mr. Mamantov.

No; she is--she came the same way like Mrs. Ford came from-- was brought by Germans into Germany and came to the States.

Mr. Jenner.

Off the record a moment, please.
(Discussion between Counsel Jenner and the witness Mamantov off the record.)

Mr. Jenner.

On the record, now. Are you acquainted with what Lee Oswald's reputation was in the community in which he resided as to his personality? Now, in this question I seek to distinguish from his political beliefs. What kind of person was he---was he quiet, retiring, avoiding friends, did he have any reputation toward inclination to violence, or did he have a reputation in that connection, and if so, are you acquainted with his reputation in the community?

Mr. Mamantov.

I'll put it this way--the people who wanted to help Marina didn't want to help Oswald because he was holding back--I mean--people tried to start conversations, always he went into political questions and, of course, im- mediately he disagreed.

Mr. Jenner.

Did he have a reputation for being unpleasant, pleasant, was he sociable in the sense that he was at ease among other people, did he seek their company? I'm asking now, only reputation, sir.

Mr. Mamantov.

Again, I can say only in the houses he has been--for one reason or another he was disliked--I'll put it this way.

Mr. Jenner.

All right--by the Russian emigre group as a whole?

Mr. Mamantov.

That's correct.

Mr. Jenner.

They had a low opinion of his reputation in the community, in that community of people--Mr. Mamantov?

Mr. Mamantov.

That's right.

Mr. Jenner.

It was one of reservation, dislike--that they did not think well of his personality?

Mr. Mamantov.

That's correct, he was holding back and he didn't try to make friends or he didn't try, was what I heard--he tried to keep Marina away from those people and appeared a couple of times with her in other Russian houses, but not very willingly and was holding back.

Mr. Jenner.

He was holding back?

Mr. Mamantov.

Right.

Mr. Jenner.

Do you recall anything else with respect to his reputation in the Russian community area? I'm not seeking specific instances, but only general reputation, the reaction of the Russian community group toward Lee Harvey Oswald before November 22?

Mr. Mamantov.

Yes; once he beat up Marina.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, that's a specific instance, and therefore is not reputation. May I explain to you that reputation in a community is what the whole body of the community feels after knowing a person for a while. It is a reaction gained by people in the community from many instances.

Mr. Mamantov.

Not from the one instance.

Mr. Jenner.

But, not from one--one instance is hearsay to us.

Mr. Mamantov.

Well---only, I know that he was undesirable and after people met him a few times, or, we say, met even once in their own houses, he was undesirable to those people.

Mr. Jenner.

Was he regarded as a difficult person?

Mr. Mamantov.

That's correct.

Mr. Jenner.

I think you have said this, but may I ask you--your mother-in- law, Mrs. Gravitis, has served as a tutor for Mrs. Paine?

Mr. Mamantov.

I mean---she get the job through me.