Dallas could take the responsibility for.
Mr. HUBERT. What was his attitude toward that position?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. His attitude toward that--he was very incoherent. He
was agreeing with me and he was disagreeing with me.
Mr. HUBERT. Was he under the influence of liquor?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No.
Mr. HUBERT. Was he drinking at all?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; not to my knowledge.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he have any drink in front of him?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; he did not.
Mr. HUBERT. Did this place sell alcoholic liquor?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Pardon?
Mr. HUBERT. Did this place sell liquor?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes; it did. The reason I say he was very incoherent,
I remember while I was feeling very, very bad about it, I told Jack
Ruby I felt like letting my business go and moving from Dallas, and I
remember Ruby telling me not to get excited, that there were a lot of
good citizens in Dallas and not to hold everybody responsible.
Mr. HUBERT. In other words, he was calming you down?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He was calming me down--yes, but at the same time,
rather, I showed him an advertisement that appeared in the Dallas
Morning News.
Mr. HUBERT. That’s the Weissman ad?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. The Weissman ad.
Mr. HUBERT. You had cut it out?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I had cut it out.
Mr. HUBERT. What was his reaction when you showed him that?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. His reaction to this was that this was perhaps the work
of a group of individuals trying to stir up trouble here in Dallas,
racial trouble here in Dallas.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he seem to know about the ad?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He said that he had been down to the newspaper and I
believe that part of the ad had been paid in cash.
Mr. HUBERT. In other words, he did know about the advertisement?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He did know--yes, he definitely did know about the ad.
Mr. HUBERT. But his attitude toward the Weissman ad at that time, in
response to your reaction, was that it was probably a group trying to
stir up racial difficulties?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Racial--yes.
Mr. HUBERT. What sort of racial difficulties?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I assumed he meant an anti-Jewish feeling.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he use those words specifically?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; he did not say those specific words.
Mr. HUBERT. You gathered that from the fact that the name Weissman
normally is taken to be a Jewish name?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes; and he seemed to be very upset because the name
was Weissman.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you know that Jack Ruby was Jewish?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes; I assumed he was Jewish.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he seem to think that the Jewish people in Dallas might
be blamed for the assassination of the President on account of this ad?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He didn’t say so but he inferred this.
Mr. HUBERT. Well, I take it from what you tell me that you were more
excited about the ad and about the assassination than he was?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Well, I was excited--I was.
Mr. HUBERT. In any case, he was calming you down, I believe you said?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He was in a sense trying to pacify me.
Mr. HUBERT. At least to the extent that when you were inclined to blame
Dallas, he defended Dallas, is that right?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. That’s correct, but by the same token, he turned
around and produced a Polaroid film of a sign, a photograph, that said
“Impeach Earl Warren.”
Mr. HUBERT. Did he tell you how he obtained those pictures?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I don’t believe so, or, he said that he had taken them
with a camera.
Mr. HUBERT. What was his statement concerning those Polaroid pictures?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. This upset him greatly, and at this point he seemed to
be verifying my supposition that Dallas was responsible. As I said, he
seemed to be taking two sides--he wasn’t coherent.
Mr. HUBERT. He seemed to be vacillating between the two?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Between the two, and this is how Tom Apple got into the
discussion.
Mr. HUBERT. All this had occurred prior to Tom Apple’s getting into it?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. How did Tom Apple get into it? Did you all go to him or did
he come to you?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; when I saw the pictures “Impeach Earl Warren,” this
again supported my argument that Dallas in a sense was responsible.
Mr. HUBERT. So what did you do?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I asked Ruby if I could have one of the pictures. He
said, “No.” I said, “Well, would you come over and show them to a
friend of mine?” and we went over and showed Tom Apple the photographs.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you introduce Ruby to Apple and vice versa, or did they
know each other?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. They didn’t know each other and I don’t believe I
introduced them formally.
Mr. HUBERT. Is it your impression that they did not know each other
then, is that right?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. That’s correct.
Mr. HUBERT. What is this part about Ruby’s making some comment about
having a squabble with respect to the taking of that picture?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I asked him a number of times if I could have one of
the photographs.
Mr. HUBERT. What did you want them for?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Again, this was verifying my position that Dallas was
responsible, in a city that would allow signs like this to be exhibited.
Mr. HUBERT. In other words, you wanted to use it later on in your
arguments or discussions with friends as to your position?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. That’s right.
Mr. HUBERT. And you say he would not let you have them?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He would not let me have them.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he state why?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I believe he said he had some sort of a scoop and
wanted to see that the right persons would get the photographs. I’m not
at all sure, but I believe he said that.
Mr. HUBERT. Was he worried about his own business or seem to be or
indicate that he was?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; he didn’t mention his own business.
Mr. HUBERT. How long was the conversation between you, Apple, and Ruby?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Perhaps 3 minutes, 4 minutes.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, how did the whole matter end? That is to say, you
discussed the matter with Apple and you asked him again for the picture
and he told you or indicated something about wanting a scoop or
thinking he had a scoop, and what happened next? Did he leave you, you
leave him, or what happened?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. It was almost as if he--I spoke to Tom and said a few
more words to Tom, and Ruby was gone--never said “Goodbye” or “I’ll he
seeing you”.
Mr. HUBERT. You don’t recollect his leaving?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I don’t recollect his leaving.
Mr. HUBERT. You don’t know whether he left the bar at that time?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; I don’t.
Mr. HUBERT. You did not see him leave the bar?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I did not see him leave the bar.
Mr. HUBERT. How long after that did you stay?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Perhaps 45 minutes.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you see him during those 45 minutes?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No.
Mr. HUBERT. So, he may have been there or he may not have?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. He may have been there.
Mr. HUBERT. Have you seen him since?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. On television.
Mr. HUBERT. No; I mean in person?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I saw him at the trial.
Mr. HUBERT. Were you called as a witness?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes; I was.
Mr. HUBERT. By the defense or the prosecution?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. By the defense.
Mr. HUBERT. But you haven’t communicated with him otherwise?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No; I haven’t.
Mr. HUBERT. Who communicated with you to get you to be a witness at the
trial?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. One of the private detectives working for the defense
counsel.
Mr. HUBERT. I suppose you were interviewed by the defense counsel also?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. By Mr. Belli?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No.
Mr. HUBERT. Mr. Tonahill?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. On the stand.
Mr. HUBERT. I beg your pardon?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. On the stand only. I was never interviewed prior to
then by them.
Mr. HUBERT. You were never interviewed prior to that?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No.
Mr. HUBERT. But you were interviewed by the private detective?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Yes; I was.
Mr. HUBERT. And you told him in effect what, what you told us today?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. In effect the same thing I have just given to you. They
were more interested in his emotional condition, whether he seemed to
be stable and so forth, at the time I spoke to him.
Mr. HUBERT. During any part of this conversation you had with Ruby on
the 23d, did he make any remarks seeming to connect up the shooting of
the President with the Weissman ad and the Earl Warren signs?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. I don’t believe so--no; and looking back at my
conversation with him, he seemed to be very incoherent. He didn’t seem
to be thinking along any straight or any clear line. He would take one
side and then he would jump and take the other side. He said Dallas
was not responsible, and then he produced the photographs which said,
“Impeach Earl Warren,” and at this point he seemed to be holding Dallas
responsible. He seemed to be taking both sides of the issue.
Mr. HUBERT. All right; do you have any other comment to make?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. No, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, Mr. Bellocchio, I don’t think there have been any
conversations between us at all since I first met you a few moments ago
that have not been recorded, is that correct?
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. That’s correct.
Mr. HUBERT. Thank you very much for coming, Mr. Bellocchio, and I
appreciate your help.
Mr. BELLOCCHIO. Thank you.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN HENRY BRANCH
The testimony of John Henry Branch was taken at 1:30 p.m. on June 26,
1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building,
Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Leon D. Hubert, Jr.,
assistant counsel of the President’s Commission.
Mr. HUBERT. This is the deposition of John Henry Branch.
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; that’s right.
Mr. HUBERT. Mr. Branch, my name is Leon D. Hubert. I am a member of the
advisory staff of the general counsel on the President’s Commission.
Under the provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated November 29,
1963, and the joint resolution of Congress No. 137, and the rules of
procedure adopted by President Johnson’s Commission in conformance with
the Executive order and the joint resolution, I have been authorized
to take a sworn deposition from you. I state to you now that the
general nature of the Commission’s inquiry is to ascertain, evaluate,
and report upon the facts relative to the assassination of President
Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald.
In particular as to you, Mr. Branch, the nature of the inquiry today
is to determine what facts you know about the death of Oswald and any
other pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry, and about
Jack Ruby and his operations and associates and movements on the dates
in question.
I think you have appeared here by virtue of a letter written to you
by Mr. J. Lee Rankin, general counsel of the staff of the President’s
Commission, asking you to be present, is that correct?
Mr. BRANCH. That’s correct.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you know the date of the letter, do you remember the
date?
Mr. BRANCH. I have it here--it’s the 22d.
Mr. HUBERT. When did you receive it?
Mr. BRANCH. Yesterday.
Mr. HUBERT. Yesterday?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, under the rules of the Commission every witness is
entitled to a 3-day written notice, dating actually from the date of
the letter, but in any case the rules of the Commission provide that a
witness may waive that 3-day notice and testify, and I ask you now if
you are willing to testify and if you are willing to waive the 3-day
notice?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; that’s all I can do.
Mr. HUBERT. You have no objection to testifying now?
Mr. BRANCH. No, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Would you stand then and let me administer the oath to you?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in this
matter will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth; so help you
God?
Mr. BRANCH. I do.
Mr. HUBERT. Will you state your name, please?
Mr. BRANCH. John Henry Branch.
Mr. HUBERT. Where do you live, Mr. Branch?
Mr. BRANCH. 3722 Greenleaf.
Mr. HUBERT. That’s in Dallas?
Mr. BRANCH. Dallas, Tex.
Mr. HUBERT. How old are you?
Mr. BRANCH. Fifty-three.
Mr. HUBERT. What is your occupation, sir?
Mr. BRANCH. I am manager of the Empire Room and agent for American
Federation of Musicians.
Mr. HUBERT. What is the Empire Room?
Mr. BRANCH. That’s a nightclub.
Mr. HUBERT. Where is it located?
Mr. BRANCH. 1710 Hall Street, Dallas.
Mr. HUBERT. Is it a part of a hotel?
Mr. BRANCH. No, sir; it’s only a nightclub.
Mr. HUBERT. 1710 Hall Street?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you operate a business known as the Branch Agency?
Mr. BRANCH. Correct.
Mr. HUBERT. What sort of a business is that?
Mr. BRANCH. I’m a licensed agent for the American Federation of
Musicians--they employ musicians.
Mr. HUBERT. And you also manage the Empire Room?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; a nightclub.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, I think that you have on a previous date, to wit,
December 9, 1963, been interviewed by FBI Agents Hardin and Wilkinson?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. I have previously shown you just before beginning this
deposition a report of the interview of you by them, and I asked you to
read it?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. It begins at about the middle of a page which bears at
the bottom, No. 206, and goes over to about a quarter on the top of
page numbered at the bottom 207. I have marked it for identification
as follows; “Dallas, Texas, June 26, 1964, Exhibit Number 1 of the
deposition of John H. Branch” under which I have signed my name on the
first page, and on the second page I have put my initials in the lower
right-hand corner.
Now, have you read the report concerning the interview of you to which
I have just referred?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Is that a correct and accurate statement of what occurred
during that interview and what you told them and so forth?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Are the facts that you told them true?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you see Ruby on the night of the 23d of November?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Let me fix that date in your mind--the 23d was a Saturday?
Mr. BRANCH. Saturday--that’s right--Saturday night.
Mr. HUBERT. The President of the United States had been shot and killed
on Friday, the 22d, so that when we are speaking of the night of the
23d, we are speaking of the next night?
Mr. BRANCH. That’s right.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you see Ruby then?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Where?
Mr. BRANCH. At the Empire Room.
Mr. HUBERT. That’s the place you operate?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. What time was it?
Mr. BRANCH. I’m speaking of between 9 and 10.
Mr. HUBERT. What makes you fix that time?
Mr. BRANCH. Because the band just had kicked off. The band hadn’t been
playing over 15 minutes, and they go from 9 to 1 on Saturday, and they
hadn’t played--oh, I guess--three or four numbers.
Mr. HUBERT. In other words, they began at 9 o’clock?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Was it a rather strict time that they began?
Mr. BRANCH. Every Saturday night at 9--to 1. They kick off at 9.
Mr. HUBERT. They start playing at 9 or should have--is it exactly 9 or
sometimes a little later?
Mr. BRANCH. Sometimes it’s 5 minutes after or 5 minutes till.
Mr. HUBERT. But it wouldn’t vary more than 5 minutes?
Mr. BRANCH. It wouldn’t vary more than 5 minutes.
Mr. HUBERT. You said that they had played about three or four numbers
when you saw Ruby?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; about three or four numbers.
Mr. HUBERT. How long does a number usually last?
Mr. BRANCH. About 3 minutes--with the singing, it would maybe run 5.
Mr. HUBERT. So, it would be about no more than 20 to 25 minutes after
the beginning time, which could have been 5 minutes before 9 or 5
minutes after, so that in any case, it was no later than 9:30 and it
could have been as early perhaps as 9:20, is that right?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, under what circumstances did you see him? Did he just
walk into the club?
Mr. BRANCH. Well, he came in and asked me about a pianoplayer.
Mr. HUBERT. Was he driving an automobile, or do you know?
Mr. BRANCH. Well, the car was up the street there.
Mr. HUBERT. You saw it--did you see him outside of the club?
Mr. BRANCH. I walked outside with him.
Mr. HUBERT. But the first time you saw him, he walked into the club?
Mr. BRANCH. He came in.
Mr. HUBERT. You knew him, of course, and had known him for years?
Mr. BRANCH. I had been knowing him for about 14 years--I’ve been doing
business with him that long.
Mr. HUBERT. Supplying talent to him?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes, to his sister or him.
Mr. HUBERT. And what did he want to talk about?
Mr. BRANCH. He needed another pianoplayer because the pianoplayer she
had out there couldn’t make it.
Mr. HUBERT. That was at the Vegas Club?
Mr. BRANCH. That was at the Vegas Club.
Mr. HUBERT. When did he want that pianoplayer for?
Mr. BRANCH. Starting that Tuesday, beginning that next Tuesday, because
they was letting that one go that Saturday night--yes--he was letting
him go that Saturday night, but they were supposed to close on Sunday,
and he wanted him that Monday night.
Mr. HUBERT. He wanted him Monday night?
Mr. BRANCH. He wanted him to start to playing that Monday night.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you make arrangements for him?
Mr. BRANCH. I was that Sunday--I was going to get a new pianoplayer
that Sunday.
Mr. HUBERT. What was your conversation with him that night?
Mr. BRANCH. I told him I would get him another pianoplayer.
Mr. HUBERT. You didn’t know who you would get?
Mr. BRANCH. No; I didn’t know which one, you see, you’ve got to try two
or three.
Mr. HUBERT. But he told you to go ahead and get one?
Mr. BRANCH. To go ahead and get one.
Mr. HUBERT. And to report on Monday night?
Mr. BRANCH. To his sister.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you arrange the price?
Mr. BRANCH. No; she does that. I let them talk with her about the
price, but when I sell him something, I talk with him about it--the
price.
Mr. HUBERT. How long did that conversation last?
Mr. BRANCH. It didn’t last long. He drank a Coca-Cola and said he had
to go down to the Carousel--to his other Club.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you walk out with him?
Mr. BRANCH. I walked out with him to the Hall Diner.
Mr. HUBERT. To his car?
Mr. BRANCH. To the next door there--to the Hall Diner--where his car
was.
Mr. HUBERT. There’s a Hall Diner there?
Mr. BRANCH. Next door to us.
Mr. HUBERT. His car was parked there?
Mr. BRANCH. His car was parked just below the driveway there.
Mr. HUBERT. You walked with him to the car?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he stop at the diner?
Mr. BRANCH. No, no; he walked on to his car--it was right at the edge
there.
Mr. HUBERT. And he left?
Mr. BRANCH. He left.
Mr. HUBERT. How much time do you think elapsed between the time he
first came into the club and he drove off?
Mr. BRANCH. Maybe about 30 or 40 minutes, because he talks a whole
lot--you know how fast he talks. He drank a Coca-Cola when he first got
there.
Mr. HUBERT. And you discussed these various things?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. He left then about somewhere a little after 10?
Mr. BRANCH. It might not have been quite 10, because he kept saying he
was in a hurry because he had to go down to the Carousel Club, because
he had one new act.
Mr. HUBERT. It was somewhere about that time?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; it was close to 10.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he talk at all about the death of the President?
Mr. BRANCH. He didn’t discuss it. He didn’t discuss it at all.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he say he was going to fire the pianoplayer he had?
Mr. BRANCH. He had already gave him his notice. He had his notice--she
gave him his notice already.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he tell you whether he was closed or open?
Mr. BRANCH. He didn’t say.
Mr. HUBERT. He just said he was going to go down to the Carousel for
the new act?
Mr. BRANCH. Go down to the club.
Mr. HUBERT. He told you he had to leave, he was in a hurry, and he had
to go to the Carousel Club?
Mr. BRANCH. He was in a hurry and he wanted to go to the Carousel Club
and he wanted to be sure that I got him another pianoplayer.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he say what he was going to the Carousel Club for?
Mr. BRANCH. No, sir--that’s his other club.
Mr. HUBERT. Yes. I know, but you said something about he wanted to see
a new act?
Mr. BRANCH. He said he had a new act.
Mr. HUBERT. And he wanted to see it, and that’s why he was in a hurry?
Mr. BRANCH. He was in a hurry to go down there and see it--I guess he
was going to give them an audition. You know, you generally give them
an audition, a new act.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he indicate to you whether his club was open or closed?
Mr. BRANCH. Which club?
Mr. HUBERT. The Carousel?
Mr. BRANCH. He didn’t mention that.
Mr. HUBERT. It was your impression it was open?
Mr. BRANCH. I’m sure--that’s the impression I was under--that it was
open, because I know the other one is open from 9 till 1, and until 2
on Saturday.
Mr. HUBERT. Was it open that Saturday?
Mr. BRANCH. It was open then.
Mr. HUBERT. Are you sure about that?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; I’m sure it was open.
Mr. HUBERT. You mean the day after the President died?
Mr. BRANCH. I’m sure it was open.
Mr. HUBERT. What makes you believe that; were you there?
Mr. BRANCH. No, sir--I don’t go out--very seldom, but I had talked to
her that day about it, and I know they was closed up the day before.
Mr. HUBERT. Friday?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes--after that--they closed that night, I’m sure. I’m sure
they closed that night.
Mr. HUBERT. How did you know that?
Mr. BRANCH. Because the band was off, because we were closed.
Mr. HUBERT. You were closed on Friday night?
Mr. BRANCH. We closed that evening, you know, after it happened.
Mr. HUBERT. Friday?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. But you didn’t close on Saturday?
Mr. BRANCH. We didn’t close on Saturday.
Mr. HUBERT. When Ruby came to your place the band was playing. I think
you said?
Mr. BRANCH. Either the band has just started and played two or three
numbers--it wasn’t long.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he comment to you as to whether or not you should be
open or closed on that night?
Mr. BRANCH. He didn’t mention that.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he seem to object to the music or the dancing?
Mr. BRANCH. No, sir--he just came. There wasn’t too much dancing then
because we didn’t have over seven or eight people in there then.
Mr. HUBERT. In any case he didn’t fuss at you because you had opened
your club on Saturday night?
Mr. BRANCH. No; he didn’t fuss.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you tell him you had closed your club on Friday night?
Mr. BRANCH. I don’t think I discussed that with him.
Mr. HUBERT. It was your impression that his club was open on Saturday
night?
Mr. BRANCH. Saturday night; yes.
Mr. HUBERT. In any case, he told you he was in a hurry because he
wanted to----
Mr. BRANCH. Go and see a new act at the Carousel.
Mr. HUBERT. You don’t know whether that was an audition or whether it
was to be played to an audience?
Mr. BRANCH. No, sir; I don’t. I don’t know.
Mr. HUBERT. What about this rumor of his distributing $5 bills all over
the Empire?
Mr. BRANCH. Well, he do that all the time. You see, everybody knew him,
and they said, “Give me somethin’, Ruby”, and he always do that.
Mr. HUBERT. Did he do it on this occasion?
Mr. BRANCH. He gave away about three that night, going out the door.
You see, everybody know him whenever he comes up there.
Mr. HUBERT. I think you told me that the statements you made in this
document which I have identified as Exhibit No. 1 were correct, and I
would like you to, if you could, see if you can clarify this point: On
the second page of that document, the FBI agents report you as saying
the following: “He said”--that’s you--“that he did not see or hear of
Ruby being in the Empire Room dancehall or any other Negro nightclub
passing out $5 bills on November 23 or on any other occasion.” Is that
correct--he was in your place?
Mr. BRANCH. He was in our place.
Mr. HUBERT. So this statement that he was not in your place is not
correct?
Mr. BRANCH. He was really in our place.
Mr. HUBERT. And he did give out some $5 bills?
Mr. BRANCH. I said he give out one or two--yes.
Mr. HUBERT. You said “three” a while ago?
Mr. BRANCH. When he started out that door, you know, all of them knew
him--everybody in north Dallas knew him.
Mr. HUBERT. Who did he give these $5 bills to?
Mr. BRANCH. Just some of the customers there at the door.
Mr. HUBERT. Really?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; it don’t make him no difference.
Mr. HUBERT. Has he done that on previous occasions?
Mr. BRANCH. Yes; he do that a lot of times.
Mr. HUBERT. How much would he give?
Mr. BRANCH. Sometimes he give away $25 or $30.
Mr. HUBERT. But on this night you said it was two?
Mr. BRANCH. Two or three.