Warren Commission (07 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (07 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. LEAVELLE. I can only remember one question Mr. Kelley asked him
and that was whether or not he thought the attitude of the U.S.
Government toward Cuba would be changed since the President has been
assassinated. To my knowledge, that is the only one I can recall.
Mr. BALL. What did Oswald say?
Mr. LEAVELLE. Oswald turned and asked Captain Fritz, said "I am filed
on for the President's murder, is that right?" And, Captain Fritz told
him yes, and he told Mr. Kelley, he said "Under the circumstances, I
don't believe that it would be proper." That might not be the words he
used, but wouldn't be right, anyway, for him to answer that question
because whatever he said might be construed in a different light than
what he actually meant it to be, but he went on to say he felt like
when the head of any government died or was killed, whatever, there
was always a second in command who would take over and he said in
this particular instance it would he Johnson. He said "So far as I
know, Johnson's views and President Kennedy's views are the same",
so, he would see no particular difference in the attitude of the
U.S. Government toward Cuba. That's about the main--the only one,
because he went into such detail on it, the only one I thought was a
little elaborate for him to go into that type of answer, the reason I
remembered it.
Mr. BALL. Do you remember any question Captain Fritz asked him?
Mr. LEAVELLE. I remember that the captain asked him about the shooting
of the President and the shooting of the officer; I know he did ask him
that and I know Oswald did deny it, both times.
Mr. BALL. That he had shot President Kennedy and Tippit?
Mr. LEAVELLE. Yes; he denied shooting either one. He did say this "If
you want me to 'cop' out to hitting or pleading guilty to hitting a
cop in the mouth when I was arrested", he said "Yeah, I plead guilty
to that" but he--I do know that he denied the shooting of both the
President and Tippit.
Mr. BALL. In that meeting did he ask for a lawyer?
Mr. LEAVELLE. No; I know Captain Fritz asked him if at one time, if--he
handed him a telegram--in fact. I believe it was sent by some attorney,
if my memory serves me right, and he said he did not particularly want
him but he would take that and if he didn't do any better he would
contact him at a later time. I do not recall what lawyer it was. It
seems like some lawyer in the East sent the telegram volunteering his
services to Oswald.
Mr. BALL. That is there on Sunday morning, the 24th?
Mr. LEAVELLE. Yes.
Mr. BALL. In the course of this meeting which you have been
describing----
Mr. LEAVELLE. Yes.
Mr. BALL. What did Oswald say?
Mr. LEAVELLE. He said that he preferred--he never had gotten in touch
with this lawyer in New York City that represented the American Civil
Liberties Union and he wanted to get in touch with him and said if he
didn't do any better, or could not get him, he would like to talk with
this man about it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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