The Chairman.

Gentlemen, before you get into a discussion of this diagram with the chief, Mr. Rankin, I must leave now for a session of the Court, and Mr. Dulles, will you preside in my absence?

Mr. Dulles.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman.

I will be back immediately at the conclusion of our session today.
(At this point, the Chief Justice left the hearing room.)

Mr. Rankin.

Chief, have you marked on a yellow sheet of paper a diagram of the third floor of the police headquarters?

Mr. Curry.

Yes; I have, principally the north end of it.

Mr. Rankin.

We will call that Exhibit 701. Will you describe briefly for the Commission just what you have marked on there now?

Mr. Curry.

I have a rough layout of the north end of the third floor of the police and courts building in Dallas, Tex.
Now, this shows the public elevators, the lobby way in front of the elevators, and then a hall that extends the length of the third floor from north to south.
In the extreme north end there is a small press room where ordinarily the news media stay from early morning until late at night to cover police events.
I have also marked off the other bureaus that are located on this floor, the burglary and theft bureau would be on the west side, and in the northwest corner is the Juvenile bureau.
The northeast corner is the auto theft bureau, the next going south would be the forgery bureau, and then would be the homicide office or homicide bureau, which is adjacent to a hallway, the north-south hallway, and also the rear office is adjacent to the hall going over to the municipal building which is immediately east of the police and courts building.
The entrance to the homicide office is approximately 20 or 25 feet to the entrance to this jail elevator, and it is necessary to bring a prisoner down this hall in order to get him into this jail elevator. Each time we that I observed them move Oswald, they were almost overrun by news media.

Mr. Rankin.

By overrun, what do you mean?
Could you describe with a little more definiteness, are you talking about 4 or 5 or 10?

Mr. Curry.

I will say probably a hundred, at least a hundred that were jammed into this hallway.
(At this point, Mr. McCloy entered the hearing room.)

Mr. Rankin.

Were some of them--I will withdraw that question.
Were some of these people from the news media from the press and others from the radio and others from the television?

Mr. Curry.

Yes, sir; that is true, sir.
(At this point, Representative Ford entered the hearing room.)

Mr. Rankin.

Chief Curry, you said that Mr. Nichols came that afternoon. I call to your attention that we have information that he came there on the Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Curry.

Perhaps it was, not the Friday. That perhaps was on Saturday.

Mr. Rankin.

Yes.

Mr. Dulles.

I wonder if you could just summarize briefly where we are.
(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Rankin.

Back on the record.
In regard to Mr. Nichols, did you know whether or not he offered to represent or provide counsel?

Mr. Curry.

Yes; he did.

Mr. Rankin.

What did he say about that?

Mr. Curry.

He said he didn't care to at this time.

Mr. Rankin.

What did Mr. Nichols say about providing counsel?

Mr. Curry.

He said the Dallas Bar would provide counsel if he desired counsel.

Mr. Rankin.

That is to Mr. Oswald?

Mr. Curry.

Oswald.

Mr. Rankin.

What did Mr. Oswald say?

Mr. Curry.

He said, "I don't at this time," he said, "If I can't get Mr. Abt to represent me or someone from Civil Liberties Union I will call on you later."

Representative Ford.

Did Nichols and Oswald talk one to another?