(Testimony of Mrs. Thomas M. (Natalie) Ray)
Mrs. Ray.
Just glad to meet somebody. Well, we promised that we will come and Friday we go to this party and Mr. and Mrs. Harris and we went to Mr. Ford house. When we coming there, there's lots of people.
Mr. Liebeler.
How many people were there, approximately, would you say?
Mrs. Ray.
Between 25, 30 people; I cannot tell exactly but it's lots of people been there, and, surely, you know, you kind of like to know what's going on in Russia. First things I like to know this girl and this man. Well, they introduced everybody and then they tell that this Marina, she's come back from Russia. Well, I started talk to her and asking how she like it here. She said she liked very well. I said, "Did you have any difficulty to come to America?" She said, "No, she don't have any at all." Very much surprise me because I not been able to do much with my home. I not be able to send them packages or--I said, "Oh, that's very good; I guess now it's change and get better," I said.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you have relatives in Russia now that you know of?
Mrs. Ray.
Yes; I have a niece what I been--she write my mother passed away and I lost my brothers and sisters in war and then mother, when Germans take me from home, my mother and two children, my sisters, stay and I together and then they take me away. My mother and these two children stay. Then this child, one got killed; still war going on and one niece, my sister's girl and that's one is on the road out to my mother.
Mr. Liebeler.
Was she living in Stalingrad?
Mrs. Ray.
No; at this time, no; they moved. At this time she lived in Tchewchankowskiy, Rudnek. That's pretty close to----
Mr. Liebeler.
Kharkov?
Mrs. Ray.
That's lots salt mines there and that's close Kharkov. That's not too far from Kharkov.
Mr. Liebeler.
I interrupted your story about your conversation with Marina. Would you go on with that?
Mrs. Ray.
Yes. After she told that she don't have any difficulty to come here, You know, I, well, everybody interested. I told her, I said, "I am glad; I guess get better because if they let you so easy to get out Russia then that's get little bit better now and I guess they better friends." I said, "Maybe later on"-I let be get contact now with niece. I been trying call her on telephone. I never can get her on phone. I said, "Maybe I can calling her and talk to her now" and I never planned to go back but, you know, just for somebody there you want to get contact with and then another things I found out that her husband is--she introduced me to her husband like she done everybody and he speak just perfect Russian.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did he speak to you in Russian?
Mrs. Ray.
Yes; just perfect; really surprised me and I said "How come you speak so good Russian. How long you been in Russia?" He said well, he don't been there too long. He said he been just 3 year. I said "You just been three----
Mr. Davis.
Excuse me, how long?
Mrs. Ray.
Three year. I said "You speak good Russian." I asked him, I said "Do you like" no; I asked "How you like Russia?" He said "Oh, it's all right." But he don't have much to say, you know, but he always staying close to Marina and every time you asking something he seems to be one to answer it. If someone say where you from, he tell you. Maybe he just plain wanted let you know he speak Russian or something. I don't know reason but seems to me that he all time interfere.
Mr. Liebeler.
When you would ask Marina a question Oswald himself would want to tell you the answer?
Mrs. Ray.
Yes, always; he be very close.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ask him if he had gone to school anywhere to learn Russian?
Mrs. Ray.
No; I don't but I give him credit for speak so well Russian. I said "I been here so long and still don't speak very well English"; I said "You speak fast Russian." He said in Russia he learn to speak Russian. He just came back.
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