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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XI - Page 361« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Orest Pena Resumed)

Mr. Liebeler.
Have any other Federal agencies besides the FBI interviewed you?
Mr. Pena.
You see, before, they used to go there and say, "We are from the Federal Bureau," and would just talk to them. I didn't know what agency. I never took no one's name or anything until later my lawyer told me, "Every time you talk to one of these men, get their name, where they come from." That was very, very much later. Before, they would just come around and tell me that they are asking me many things about people that was for Castro. When you got a barroom, especially in Spanish like I got--most of my customers are Spanish seamen, foreign seamen--you hear the way they talk, and before, as I was against Batista--most of the people here for Castro, really for Castro--they was going to my place. So when I joined the organization against Castro in New Orleans, one of the agents of the FBI, De Brueys, started going to my place very, very often asking me about many different people, Spanish people, what I knew, what I thought. I told him what I knew; that some people was for Castro and some people was against. I told him what I saw. I never did ask him what he found out about those people.
Mr. Liebeler.
Sometimes you would call the FBI and give them information, too; is that correct?
Mr. Pena.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Information that you picked up from conversations that took place at your bar and listening to those seamen?
Mr. Pena.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now I have been provided with what are supposed to be all of the FBI reports about their conversations relating to the Oswald case, and as far as I can tell, the only time the FBI has spoken to you about that was back in December 1963, shortly after the assassination, and then again in June 1964, just a short time ago; when they came to question you again at my request after I had--
Mr. Pena.
Just those two times?
Mr. Liebeler.
Yes; just twice.
Mr. Pena.
I believe it's very many more times than that.
Mr. Liebeler.
You think it is more times than that?
Mr. Pena.
Oh, yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
You are sure these were FBI men?
Mr. Pena.
I don't know because, as I told you before, I didn't used to get the names until my lawyer told me, "Look! Every time you talk to one of those people, you better get the name and write it down so you know who you are talking about."
Mr. Liebeler.
You wanted to tell me something about the FBI in New Orleans. Why don't you do that now.
Mr. Pena.
You see, I started--like I told you, when that organization moved in New Orleans--
Mr. Liebeler.
This is the anti-Castro organization?
Mr. Pena.
Yes. So I went down there and joined the organization. In 1959 when I went to Cuba, my mother told me how everything was going; so she says, "He is even worse than Batista." So when I came back, I joined the organization a little bit after that, the organization here in New Orleans. So I went and Joined them and started working for the organization collecting money at my place of business and giving my own money for many things to the organization, you know, a dollar, two dollars. Then De Brueys came to the organization. Maybe I don't know if sent by the Government or how, but he went to the organization.
Mr. Liebeler.
He joined it?
Mr. Pena.
No; he didn't join it, but he was sticking with the organization very, very close.
Mr. Liebeler.
They knew he was an FBI agent?
Mr. Pena.
Yes; we knew he was an FBI agent. So from time to time he called me at my place. He went to my place and was asking me about this guy and that guy, different people here in New Orleans. So I told him what I thought about the men. I tell you that and then you find out if I am right or if I am wrong. I never did ask if I was right or wrong. I told him about
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