(Testimony of M.n. Mcdonald)
Mr. Mcdonald.
He was cruising alone.
Mr. Ball.
Do you know what his area--the area assigned to him on that day?
Mr. Mcdonald.
The southern part of Oak Cliff, nearing the city limits.
Mr. Ball.
Was that farther out from the center of town than you?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir; approximately 10 to 12 miles.
Mr. Ball.
Did Tippit usually cruise alone, or did he ever have a partner sometimes?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Well, working in the daylight hours, which we were assigned that month, it is a custom to work alone unless he had a trainee, such as I. I don't believe he was a trainer.
Mr. Ball.
In other words, you had a trainee with you, and that is the reason you were not alone?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
Did you hear an order over the radio for cars in the outlying district near the city limits, what they were to do?
Mr. Mcdonald.
They were to move in closer to the downtown area, but not directly to the area.
Mr. Ball.
You were ordered to move into the downtown area?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
And the cars that were cruising farther out were ordered to move closer to the downtown area?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
Did you hear any other specific orders over the radio that day--that morning, or about 12:30, 1 o'clock?
Mr. Mcdonald.
No, sir.
Mr. Ball.
What did you do after you received those orders?
Mr. Mcdonald.
I applied my red lights and sirens, and went code 32, Elm and Houston Streets.
Mr. Ball.
About what time did you get there?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Approximately 10 minutes later.
Mr. Ball.
What time would that be?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Approximately 12:40.
Mr. Ball.
Where did you park your car?
Mr. Mcdonald.
On the right curb, Elm Street, before you enter the triple underpass.
Mr. Ball.
And how long did you stay there?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Approximately 35 minutes.
Mr. Ball.
What were you doing there?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Well, after I left the car, my partner and I reported to a supervisor, and he directed us to patrol the crowd and move the crowd around Elm Street, and rope off the area.
Mr. Ball.
Now, was your radio on?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir. There were several police units around the intersection, and all the radios were on. And after I had moved the crowd around, went back to the entrance of the Texas School Book Depository, I heard this over the police radio, of--the first thing I heard was that President Kennedy had expired at Parkland Hospital.
And the next thing I heard was a voice over the radio that was not familiar to police procedure. He was saying that an officer had been shot, and that he was using car No. 10 radio. Of my own knowledge, I knew that car was driven by Officer Tippit, and that that car was assigned to his district.
Mr. Ball.
Did he give you a location?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir; 400 block of East 10th Street.
Mr. Ball.
What did you do?
Mr. Mcdonald.
I told my partner we were not doing much good here, to go to Oak Cliff, and see if we could help out over there, try to apprehend the person that shot Tippit.
Mr. Ball.
Did you?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ball.
Where did you go in Oak Cliff?
Mr. Mcdonald.
Well, we got in the car and went underneath the triple under-pass and got on the Stemmons Expressway, which leads into the R. L. Thornton
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