(Testimony of Ruth Hyde Paine)
Mrs. Paine.
Right.
Mr. Jenner.
Now was there, then, at that time, a feeling or expectation that Marina would remain with you possibly for some considerable period of time?
Mrs. Paine.
I had not that feeling, as is shown by what is written in the above sentence, that he will send for his family as soon as possible. However, I had made it clear that I was willing for her to stay if that was necessary.
Mr. Jenner.
So that the text of that letter was not intended by you to convey the impression that you then expected at least at that time and that Lee also might have expected and Marina, also, that she would be at your home for any considerable period of time?
Mrs. Paine.
I did not expect that.
Mr. Jenner.
As to your expectation--was that dependent on his employment and sending for her, and at that time both of you, meaning Marina and yourself, expected that when he obtained work he would, send for Marina and they would be together again?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
Now, the second letter, which is dated October 15, 1963, and apparently at your home, it says 2575, it is 2515, isn't it?
Mrs. Paine.
That is right.
Mr. Jenner.
West 5th Street--and it is also a "Dear Mom" letter. Would you look at that and see if you did dispatch that letter to your mother?
For the record, Mr. Reporter, this present letter commences in the middle of page 15 of this document.
Do you recall the letter?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
Now, you report the fact the big news as of that day, that Lee had obtained a position.
Mrs. Paine.
That is right.
Mr. Jenner.
Was that his position with the Texas School Book Depository?
Mrs. Paine.
That is right.
Mr. Jenner.
You don't mention the place of work in your letter.
Mrs. Paine.
No; I don't.
Mr. Jenner.
You go on to say in the second paragraph of the letter:
"It is likely that Marina will stay on here for some time, perhaps through Christmas or New Year's anyway, with Lee coming weekends as he has the past two."
Had there been some change now that even though he had a position with the Texas School Book Depository, that Marina's joining him was being deferred?
Mrs. Paine.
I think that is clear in the next sentence.
Mr. Jenner.
All right; read the next sentence.
Mrs. Paine.
"He has a room in Dallas at $8 a week currently, that he'd like to save a bit before getting an apartment, I think, and, of course, Marina should be here until she has rested some from childbirth."
We talked for some time of her being there both up to the birth of the baby and then for a time after so that I could help her with the care of the house, and with June.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you have an expectation that that stay might be on into the following year?
Mr. Jenner.
I notice you say in the last paragraph of this particular letter: "I have mentioned to Marina that I'd like to have you here in February and that I have given up the idea of a trailer."
Mrs. Paine.
That is right.
Mr. Jenner.
Now, to me that is an indication that you expected that Marina might be with you as late as February 1964. Do I misinterpret? In other words, Mrs. Paine, you were considering the possible difficulties that might arise from the fact that you were expecting your mother.
Mrs. Paine.
Yes.
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