Warren Commission (13 of 26): Hearings Vol. XIII (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (13 of 26): Hearings Vol. XIII (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
The testimony of Forrest V. Sorrels was taken at 1 p.m., on May 6,
1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C., by Messrs. Burt W.
Griffin, Leon D. Hubert, Jr., and Samuel A. Stern, assistant counsel of
the President’s Commission. Fred B. Smith, Deputy General Counsel, U.S.
Treasury Department was present.
Mr. HUBERT. Mr. Sorrels, my name is Leon Hubert. I will be taking your
deposition this afternoon, and so will Mr. Samuel Stern. We are both
members of the advisory staff of the General Counsel of the President’s
Commission, that is to say Mr. Rankin.
Under the provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated November 29, 1963,
the Joint Resolution of Congress, No. 137, and rules of procedure
adopted by the Commission in conformance with that Executive order
and that joint resolution, both Mr. Stern and I have been authorized
to take a sworn deposition from you, Mr. Sorrels. Of course you will
take an oath a little later on. Is it understood between us that this
statement of my authority and of Mr. Stern’s authority is sufficient
to carry for both depositions--in other words, it will be really a
continuation of the deposition by Mr. Stern on another area. Is that
understood?
Mr. SORRELS. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Is it understood also that the oath you are going to take
will be applicable to the testimony elicited from you by me, as well as
that elicited from you by Mr. Stern?
Mr. SORRELS. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. I state to you now that the general nature of the
Commission’s inquiry is to ascertain, evaluate and report upon the
facts relating to the assassination of President Kennedy and the
subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald. In particular as to you,
Mr. Sorrels, the nature of the inquiry today is to determine what facts
you know about the death of Oswald and other pertinent facts which you
may know about the general inquiry.
Mr. Sorrels, you have appeared today by virtue of a verbal request made
by us at the direction of the General Counsel. Under the rules adopted
by the Commission, all witnesses are entitled to a 3-day written
notice prior to the taking of their deposition. But the rules also
provide that a witness may waive this notice. I ask you now if you are
willing to waive the 3-day written notice provided for by the rules of
the Commission.
Mr. SORRELS. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. All right. Then I will ask you to stand and be sworn. Do
you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in this
matter will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
Mr. SORRELS. I do.
Mr. HUBERT. Will you state your full name.
Mr. SORRELS. Forrest V. Sorrels.
Mr. HUBERT. How old are you, Mr. Sorrels?
Mr. SORRELS. Sixty-three.
Mr. HUBERT. Where do you reside now?
Mr. SORRELS. 3319 Hanover, Dallas, Tex.
Mr. HUBERT. What is your occupation?
Mr. SORRELS. Special agent in charge of the Dallas district of the
United States Secret Service.
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