The testimony of W. E. Barnes was taken at 9:15 a.m., on April 7, 1964,
in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and
Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. David W. Belin, assistant counsel
of the President's Commission.
Mr. BELIN. Would you rise and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly
swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. BARNES. I do.
Mr. BELIN. Would you please sit down. You can smoke if you want to.
Mr. BARNES. It causes lung cancer.
Mr. BELIN. I don't know if I formally introduced myself. I am David
Belin, actually a practicing attorney from Des Moines, Iowa, and about
a dozen of us practicing attorneys from across the country have been
with the President's Commission on the Assassination for most of the
past 3 months as consultants, and that is how I happen to be down here
in your city.
Would you please state your name for the record.
Mr. BARNES. W. E. Barnes.
Mr. BELIN. Where do you live, Mr. Barnes?
Mr. BARNES. Route 2, Plano, Tex.
Mr. BELIN. Is that a suburb of Dallas?
Mr. BARNES. It is.
Mr. BELIN. What is your occupation?
Mr. BARNES. I am a policeman for the city of Dallas.
Mr. BELIN. Any particular department?
Mr. BARNES. I am a sergeant in the crime scene search section of the
identification bureau.
Mr. BELIN. How old are you Sergeant Barnes?
Mr. BARNES. Forty-two years.
Mr. BELIN. Were you born in Texas?
Mr. BARNES. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Went to school here?
Mr. BARNES. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. Did you go to high school?
Mr. BARNES. Graduate of Plano High School.
Mr. BELIN. Then what did you do after you were graduated from high
school?
Mr. BARNES. I worked for an aircraft company in California, and went
into the Merchant Marine Service.
Mr. BELIN. That was during World War II?
Mr. BARNES. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. How long were you in the merchant marine?
Mr. BARNES. Little over 3 years.
Mr. BELIN. Then what did you do?
Mr. BARNES. Went to work for Dallas Police Department.
Mr. BELIN. That would be in 1947 or 1946?
Mr. BARNES. 1947.
Mr. BELIN. Have you been with them ever since?
Mr. BARNES. I have been.
Mr. BELIN. Pardon?
Mr. BARNES. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. Family?
Mr. BARNES. Two children, boy and a girl.
Mr. BELIN. Sergeant, were you on duty on November 22, 1963?
Mr. BARNES. Yes; I was.
Mr. BELIN. What time did you go on duty?
Mr. BARNES. I came at 7 a.m.