Mr. Jenner.

Well, we very much appreciate your cooperation and help and in sticking with us now and going into all of this with us, and at the moment, I don't have in mind anything further, but it is possible that while I am still here in Dallas this week or next week, or afterwards, I might wish to get in touch with you and have you further extend your deposition.

Mr. Mamantov.

All right, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

We will close the taking of the deposition of Mr. Mamantov at this point.

Mrs. Dorothy Gravitis

Testimony of Mrs. Dorothy Gravitis

The testimony of Mrs. Dorothy Gravitis was taken at 1 p.m., on April 6, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. David W. Belin, assistant counsel of the President's Commission. Ilya A. Mamantov, interpreter.

Mr. Belin.

I am going to ask you both to stand up. Would you raise your right hand. Mrs. Gravitis and Mr. Ilya Mamantov, do you solemnly swear, Mrs. Gravitis that the testimony you are about to give, and Mr. Mamantov, the translation that you are about to give, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Yes----

Mr. Mamantov.

Yes.

Mr. Belin.

Your name is Mrs. Dorothy Gravitis?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Yes.

Mr. Belin.

Where do you live?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Today?

Mr. Belin.

Now.

Mrs. Gravitis.

Richardson, Tex., 2444 Fairway Circle (AD 5-2873).

Mr. Belin.

Is that a suburb of Dallas?

Mrs. Gravitis.

That's correct.

Mr. Belin.

Mrs. Gravitis, is your daughter married to Mr. Mamantov?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Yes.

Mr. Belin.

Where were you born?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Latvia.

Mr. Belin.

May I ask approximately how old you are?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Seventy-four years old.

Mr. Belin.

Did you live in Latvia all your life before coming to America?

Mrs. Gravitis.

First Latvia was independent. It was part of Russia. I was born in Latvian territory, which was at that time Russia.
I was educated in Russia, in Moscow.
I was teaching in the Russian territory, and after that in Latvian territory, before Latvia became independent, in Ventspils, the name of the city where I was teaching in Latvia.

Mr. Belin.

Latvia became independent in 1918?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Yes.

Mr. Belin.

And remained independent until Russia annexed these three Baltic countries around 1939, or so?

Mrs. Gravitis.

1940. In 1913, I got married.

Mr. Mamantov.

Do you need a very detailed story on her life?

Mr. Belin.

No.

Mrs. Gravitis.

[through interpreter]. I lived until 1950 in Ventspils, and then I and my husband were evacuated to St. Petersburg or Petrograd at that time. This was in 1915.

Mr. Belin.

Now it is Leningrad?

Mrs. Gravitis.

Leningrad.

Mr. Belin.

Let me ask you this. Did you stay in either Russia or Latvia from that time on until after for how long?

Mrs. Gravitis.

From 1915 to 1919, in Petrograd. Then in 1919 I and my