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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. V - Page 201« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Mr. Jack Ruby)

Mr. Ruby.
Can I ask one thing? Did you all talk to Mr. McWillie? I am sure you have.
VOICE. Yes.
Mr. Ruby.
He always wanted me to come down to Havana, Cuba; invited me down there, and I didn't want to leave my business because I had to watch over it.
He was a key man over the Tropicana down there. That was during our good times. Was in harmony with our enemy of our present time.
Chief Justice WARREN. Yes?
Mr. Ruby.
I refused. I couldn't make it. Finally he sent me tickets to come down, airplane tickets.
I made the trip down there via New Orleans, and so I stayed at the Volk's Apartments, and I was with him constantly.
And I was bored with the gambling, because I don't gamble, and there is nothing exciting unless you can speak their language, which is Spanish, I believe.
And that was the only environment. That was in August of 1959.
Any thought of ever being close to Havana, Cuba, I called him frequently because he was down there, and he was the last person to leave, if I recall, when they had to leave, when he left the casino.
As a matter of fact, on the plane, if I recall, I had an article he sent me, and I wanted to get it published because I idolized McWillie. He is a pretty nice boy, and I happened to be idolizing him.
When the plane left Havana and landed in the United States, some schoolteacher remarked that the United States is not treating Castro right. When they landed in the United States, this Mr. Louis McWillie slugged this guy for making that comment.
So I want you to know, as far as him having any subversive thoughts, and I wanted Tony to put it in the paper here. That is how much I thought of Mr. McWillie. And that is my only association.
The only other association with him was, there was a gentleman here that sells guns. He has a hardware store on Singleton Avenue.
Have I told this to you gentlemen? It is Ray's Hardware. His name is Ray Brantley.
This was--I don't recall when he called me, but he was a little worried of the new regime coming in, and evidently he wanted some protection.
He called me or sent me a letter that I should call Ray Brantley. He wanted some four little Cobra guns--big shipment.
So me, I should say myself rather, feeling no harm, I didn't realize, because he wasn't sending them to me, and I thought there was no crime, the man wanted protection, he is earning a livelihood.
I called Ray Brantley and I said, "Ray, McWillie called me." I don't remember if he sent me a letter or he called. He said he wants four little Cobras, or something like that.
He said "I know Mac. I have been doing business with him for a long time." Meaning with reference to when he was living in Texas. He did a lot of hunting and things like that.
Chief Justice WARREN. Yes?
Mr. Ruby.
That was the only relationship I had of any mention, outside of phone calls, to Mr. McWillie, or any person from Havana, Cuba.
Chief Justice WARREN. When was that?
Mr. Ruby.
Now the guns--am I correct? Did you ever go to check on it? On Ray Brantley?
Mr. Moore.
No.
Mr. Ruby.
He denies I ever called. Evidently he feels, maybe he feels it would be illegal to send guns out of the country. I don't know if you gentlemen know the law. I don't know the law.
Chief Justice WARREN. I don't know.
Mr. Ruby.
I kept--did I tell you this, Joe, about this?
Mr. Tonahill.
Yes; you did.
Mr. Ruby.
That I wanted someone to go to Ray Brantley?
Mr. Tonahill.
Yes.
Mr. Ruby.
When Phil Burleson came back with a letter signed, an affidavit
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