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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. IX - Page 295« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Jeanne De Mohrenschildt)

Mr. Jenner.
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Style Garments. They are out of business now. The owners were interested in real estate. And they went into real estate. So the firm closed up.
Mr. Jenner.
How long did you remain in California?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Actually living in one spot--that was 1954. I think it was 1955, spring, I received an offer from Dallas, to fly just for 2 or 3 weeks, and design a collection of suits. It was for I. Clark. That was wonderful.
Mr. Jenner.
That took you back to Dallas?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. On and off. I just went for a few weeks. You see, I designed a suit collection, and I went back. And then they asked me to come over and do some more dresses. So I started to go there back and forth. And also, at the same time, going to New York to buy fabrics for the firm, and at the same time I decided, well, if I do that, I might do the same type of work in New York. If I can fly to New York to buy fabrics, I can design in a few weeks, and make a few thousand dollars.
I designed a collection for Handmacher. I designed a collection for Leeds. One week I got $1,100. So you can see what can happen.
But that really was getting me. Because it went on until 1956 fall. I was on the plane more than off the plane. And it wasn't very good for my daughter. She was already 14, 15.
Mr. Jenner.
You had custody of your daughter?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. In the divorce?
Mr. Jenner.
Were you taking your daughter on these trips?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Oh, no; how could I? She was going to school all the time.
Mr. Jenner.
Was she going to school in California?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes; going to high school.
Mr. Jenner.
Eventually, did you take up permanent residence in Dallas?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I took up permanent residence at the time when I told my husband I am going to divorce him, and that was early fall of 1956.
Mr. Jenner.
And you went to Dallas?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I went to Dallas.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you take your daughter with you?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. No; I did not.
Mr. Jenner.
She was then what age?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. She was 15. And I have a reason for doing that, because I just couldn't do it to her father. He would be completely killed. The only thing left--he doesn't have any relatives at all. He doesn't have a single soul in this world. In fact, I tell you--in the divorce case, I insisted that he will have custody, so by giving her money, he will have money to live on, too.
If I took the daughter, I could not give him money to live on--he wouldn't take it. But if he had custody of the child then she will be provided for, and he could still keep on going with that.
So that was the thing. But it worked out the other way--when he completely turned in rage. He even, when I flew, to California he wouldn't let me see her. I had to get a sheriff to see her. Now, I understand.
Mr. Jenner.
He is in a mental institution in California now?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes. He was, on and off, and finally he is there. He seems to be incurable.
Mr. Jenner.
Now, when did you meet your present husband?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. 1956.
Mr. Jenner.
When you came back to Dallas?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. To design a collection. I was working there.
Mr. Jenner.
And did his daughter as well as your daughter join you?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. She did, but later on.
Mr. Jenner.
When was that?
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. She joined us in, I think, the spring of 1959.
Mr. Jenner.
Now----
Mrs. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I had both girls for a while. You know, she eloped, his little girl.
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