FIRST DEFENSE WITNESS OSWALD PANEL HEARS MOTHER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000600160103-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 18, 1999
• Sequence Number: 103
• Publication Date: February 13, 1964
• Content Type: NSPR

Sanitized - Approved For Rel
CPYRGHT
IEE HARVEY OSWALD, the man ac-
cused of assassinating President Ken-
nedy, was defended Feb. 10 for the first
time before the Presidential commission
investigating the murder. His mother,
Mrs. Marguerite Oswald, appeared be-
fore the seven-member panel in an ef-
fort to, prove her son was innocent. .
Chief Justice Earl Warren, commission
head, said after the first day that Mrs.
Oswald's testimony was "helpful," but
that it contained "nothing that would
change the picture as I see it." The
picture, presumably, is that drawn by
the FBI fn a still-secret report, though
portions have been leaked' to the press,
alleging that Oswald was the "lone and
unaided gunman" who assassinated the.
President.
Mrs. Oswald, appearing with a court-'
appointed lawyer,. spent the first day
discussing her 'son's history and their
personal relationship. She promised to
return with information that would con-
tradict the official belief that Oswald.
was guilty.
LANE PRESENT: On Feb. 11 Mrs. Os-
wald again presented evidence after dis-
ussing it with the commission counsel
nd attorney Mark Lane..Lane had.flown
Washington from San Francisco, where
e had been on a speaking tour under
uspices of the GUARDIAN . and other
Youps.
Since Mrs. Oswald was represented .by.
ohn F. Doyle of Washington, Lane did
iot appear officially before the commis-
ion, but submitted in writing two ques-<
ions which she answered.
One concerned the nature of her con-
inement at a motel in Texas. At
no point, she said, she sought to leave
he motel and was, escorted back to her
'ooin, with a Secret Service man holding.
er by each arm.;
IIE GUN: The second question con-.
ono
corned her discussion with Marina about
Marina's questioning by the Dallas police
Nov. 22 soon after Lee Oswald's arrest.
She said Marina told her she was asked
whether her husband had a gun. She
answered in the affirmative. Then, when.
shown the alleged murder weapon, she
was asked whether this was her hus-
band's gun. Marina said, according to
Mrs. Oswald: "I do not think that that
is Lee's gun."
After his quick 'trip to Washington,
Lane flew to Los Angeles for a meeting.
He had spoken to 900 persons at a San
Francisco meeting sponsored by the
GUARDIAN Feb. 8 and to 1,000 students
at an assembly at the University of Calif-
ornia at Berkeley Feb. 10. Further speak-
ing arrangements. were scheduled for San
Continued
CPYRGHT
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600160103-8
 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600160103-8
CPYRGHT
Diego, Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee and
Madison, Wis. His speaking tour will, con-
clude with a Town Hall meeting in New
York the night of Feb. 18.
CENSORSHIP HINT: The commission
heard Marina Oswald testify the week
before. If the wife's testimony, as
described . by Warren, provided no
great surprises," statements by the Chief
Justice himself certainly did. Warren's
unexpected declaration that some facts
about the crime ''nay not be released in
your lifetime"-though later qualified-
served to excite the very speculation that
the commission was created to dispel.
Mrs. Oswald's four-day testimony
confirmed earlier reports leaked to the
press by the Secret Service: "She stated
that while she did not like to believe her
husband killed President Kennedy, the
facts presented to her since the assassi-
nation would not permit her to reach
any other conclusion," Warren said Feb.
6. The widow was first said to be con-
vinced of her husband's guilt on Jan. 7,
six weeks during which she was held in-
Commtuiicado by federal agents.
According to Warren, the 22-year-old
widow identified 145 exhibits, Including
the alleged murder rifle, during about
.20 hours of questioning before the com-
mission. She was accompanied by her
lawyer and the Secret Service agents
who have been her constant companions
since Oswald was arrested a few hours
after Kennedy was shot in Dallas Nov.
22.
The commission is charged with eval-
uating evidence submitted by the FBI
and other police agencies indicating that
the 24-year-old ex-Marine was the "lone
and unaided assassin" of President Ken-
nedy, and' allegedly fired three shots at
the Presidential motorcade from the
sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository
where he was employed. Following its
investigation, which probably will last
several more months, the seven-member
panel is to "report its findings and. con-
clusions" to the public. Warren's state-
ment after the second day of Marina Os-
wald's testimony, however, indicates
that certain of the commission's findings
may be withheld if they concern mat-
tdrs of national security. Asked by re-
porters when the testimony would be
made, public, Warren said:
"Yes, there will come a time (when
it Is released). But it might not be In
your lifetime. I am not referring to any-
thing especially, but there may be some
things that would Involve security. This
would be preserved but not, made public,".
FEB 13 1964
MELVIN BELLI
A fair trial in Dallas?
He further emphasized his statement by
adding, "And I mean that seriously."
On Feb. 5, Warren qualified his stand
by. stating he had been a little "face-.
tious." He said his remark applied to
only highly classified Information and
that "nothing of this nature has apps
ed."
LINK TO CIA? it is not known,
course, exactly what aspects of "natio
security" are involved in the Oswald c,
though it Is being Increasingly spe
lated in responsible circles that Osw
was being trained as an undercover
erative for the FBI or Central Intel
gence Agency. If this were true f
made. public, it would generate wi,
spread national distrust of Americ
"security" apparatus.
The trial of Jack Ruby, the nfghtc
operator who killed Oswald in' Dal
two days after Kennedy was shot,
scheduled for Feb. 17. He will plead
sanity.. Defense lawyer Melvin Bc'lli 1
gan calling witnesses Feb. 11 in a. p.
trial hearing In an effort to prove tl
Ruby would not receive a fair trial
Dallas.
In the last of a series of syndical
articles by Ruby, written with the s
sistance of reporter William Read Woc
field, the admitted executioner cox
eluded: "Oswald was a dead man bet(
I shot him." Ruby said he murder
Oswald after Dallas District Attut
Henry Wade stated that Oswald tit
guilty of killing Kennedy, indicati
that he would not have done so h
.Wade not made his accusation.
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600160103-8