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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. I - Page 145« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Mrs. Marguerite Oswald)

Mrs. Oswald.
She said, "A normal family man. He plays with his children. Last night he fed June. He watches television and just normal things."
She went on.
So he said, "Mrs. Paine, can you tell me how Lee got the money to"--I am sorry--"can you tell me how Lee was able to return back to the United States financially?"
She said, "Oh, yes, he saved the money to come back to the United States."
Now, while this little episode went on, I was fuming, gentlemen, because I didn't want this type of publicity. I thought it was uncalled for, immediately after the assassination, and the consequent arrest of my son.
But I was in Mrs. Paine's home.
Now I had an opportunity to be gracious. I spoke up and I said-I am ahead of myself.
She answered that he saved the money.
I spoke up and I said, "Now, Mrs. Paine, I am sorry. I am in your home. And I appreciate the fact that I am a guest in your home. But I will not have you making statements that are incorrect. Because I happen to know you have made an incorrect statement. To begin with, I do not approve of this publicity. And if we are going to have the life story with Life magazine"--by that time I knew what it was-"I would like to get paid. Here is my daughter-in-law with two small children, and I, myself, am penniless, and if we are going to give this information, I believe we should get paid for it."
Mr. Rankin.
Did you think Mrs. Paine was trying to get paid for it?
Mrs. Oswald.
Possibly. But I do know this. It was prearranged. That is the point that is important. That after a few hours time, the Life representatives were invited to her home, into her home, because she expected them, you see.
Mr. RANKIN You think she arranged it, then?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir, possibly with Marina's help.
I do not know. It was arranged--I am positive the way they entered the home. She invited them in, without even introducing me. And immediately said she hoped they had color film.
Mr. Rankin.
Were they talking to each other, Marina, and Mrs. Paine, while you were there?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, they talked in Russian. And that is a difficult part. I didn't know Russian.
Then, with that, the Life representative got up and said, "Mrs. Oswald, I will call my office and see what they think about an arrangement of your life story."
So he did call the office. He closed the door and called in private. And nothing was said--in the living room.
When I say nothing was said, it was between myself and the other representative. Mrs. Paine was talking to my daughter-in- law in Russian. I was talking to my daughter-in-law in English. It was a regular general conversation, as far as I knew.
He came out from the telephone conversation and said, no, that the company would not allow him to pay for the story. What they would do--they would pay our expenses while in Dallas, and our food and expenses, hotel accommodation.
So I told him that I would think about it.
Now, they continued to hang around. And they were taking pictures continuously, all the while this was going on-the photographer, Mr. Allen was continuously taking pictures. I was awfully tired and upset. I rolled my stockings down, and the picture is in Life Magazine. And he stopped that. So I got up and said, "I am not having this invasion of privacy. I realize that I am in Mrs. Paine's home. But you are taking my picture without my consent, and a picture that I certainly don't want made public." It is the worst--with me rolling my hose. I wanted to get comfortable.
He followed Marina around in the bedroom. She was undressing June. He took pictures of everything. And Mrs. Paine was in her glory--I will say this. Mrs. Paine was very happy all these pictures were taken. And I had to go behind Marina to see that the photographers were not taking her, and they
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