go back to school. Lee answered, "Yes, sir." And he said to me, "Mrs. Oswald, I understand that you and your daughter-in-law do not get along." I said, "That is correct." And he suggested that Lee would be much better off back in the open wide spaces that he was used to instead of in New York, where we had no family then, because the daughter-in-law and son were not friendly with us.
And this judge suggested that. And the judge gave me my son, right then and there, gentlemen.
I left the courtroom with my boy. He was given to me in my custody.
Now, that is all I know of the case. The particular case.
From there, we went into an office where there was a probation officer, Mr. John Carro. Mr. Carro talked with Lee and asked Lee if he was going to go back to school.
"Yes, sir."
He reprimanded him a little bit--maybe not that, but gave him a little talk. And he said, "Lee, you are to report to me once a week for probation."
I am going to stress this.
I have been in this Commission 3 days. And you know I am very definite. So I was very definite with Mr. Carro. I did not mince my words. I said, "Mr. Carro, my son is not reporting to you once a week. This is not a criminal offense. He was picked up for truancy, he has assured the judge, promised the judge that he would be back to school. He has promised you he would be back to school. Let's give this boy a chance, and let's see if he will go to school."
"And then, Mr. Carro, if he doesn't go to school, then you can have him report to you."
Mr. Carro didn't take that graciously, which is true. When you don't agree with anyone over you, then you are in the minority, and you just as well make up your mind right then and there, that is it.
So from that time on Mr. Carro pestered me and Lee. Mr. Carro would call me at work, sir, and say that he had gone by the school, and that they were having trouble with Lee. And I went to the school and talked to the principal and she said, "Mrs. Oswald, what happened while the probation officer was here Lee moved the chair back, and it made a little noise."
And that is what Mr. Carro reported.
In plain words, gentlemen, Mr. Carro was indignant at my attitude, because he was an official.

Mr. Rankin.

What school was that?

Mrs. Oswald.

This was the first school, sir.
Then I moved. I am a little confused. Just a minute.
I took Lee out of the first school because the children knew that he had been in the home, and I thought he didn't stand a chance.
So I moved to help my child again.
And I personally went with Lee to the principal and told the principal--not in front of Lee had a talk with her--that Lee had been in this home, and that if she could help him in any way, and knew of any friends, children his age that lived in the neighborhood where we lived, I would appreciate it. And she did help. There was a young lady in this building that we lived, in the Bronx--now we are living near the Bronx Zoo.

Mr. Rankin.

Is this the new school?

Mrs. Oswald.

This is the new school. And we are living near the Bronx Zoo, which is 100 and something street.

Mr. Rankin.

And this is Public School 44?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, sir--Public School 44. So I talked to the principal and told her about the trouble and asked if she could not help us.

Mr. Rankin.

Now, the place that he was committed to was--do you recall that was Berkshire Farms?

Mrs. Oswald.

No, because he was not committed to a farm, as far as I knew, sir. All I knew was that he was in this home in Brooklyn. He was never committed to a farm, as far as I know, sir. He was in this home all this time. And this is where I am assuming, because I knew nothing about this--the psychiatric treatment took place, and naturally that is why they would have him in this home to observe him.
And, by the way, I was called one day to go to the home and a young lady

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