The testimony of Adrian Thomas Alba was taken on April 6, 1964, at
the Old Civil Courts Building, Royal and Conti Streets, New Orleans,
La., by Mr. Wesley J. Liebeler, assistant counsel of the President's
Commission.
A witness, having been duly sworn by Mr. Wesley J. Liebeler to testify
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God,
testified as follows:
Mr. LIEBELER. Mr. Alba, my name is Wesley J. Liebeler. I am a member
of the legal staff of the President's Commission investigating the
assassination of President Kennedy. The Commission has authorized
staff members to take the testimony of witnesses pursuant to authority
granted to it by Executive Order 11130, dated November 29, 1963, and
Joint Resolution of Congress No. 137.
I understand that Mr. Rankin wrote to you last week and told you that
I would be in touch with you concerning the taking of your testimony,
and that he enclosed with his letter a copy of the Executive order and
the resolution referred to, together with a copy of the Commission's
rules of procedure governing the taking of the testimony by the
Commission?
Mr. ALBA. That is correct.
Mr. LIEBELER. We want to inquire of you concerning any knowledge you
might have of Lee Harvey Oswald which you might have gained as a result
of, as we understand it, his habit or practice of coming into your
garage, which is, we understand, located right next door to the Reily
Company on Magazine Street, is that correct?
Mr. ALBA. That is correct.
Mr. LIEBELER. Before we go into detail, will you state your full name
for the record?
Mr. ALBA. Adrian Thomas Alba.
Mr. LIEBELER. Where were you born?
Mr. ALBA. In New Orleans.
Mr. LIEBELER. When?
Mr. ALBA. January 20, 1931.
Mr. LIEBELER. What is your employment at the present time?
Mr. ALBA. Crescent City Garage, auto garage.
Mr. LIEBELER. Are you owner of the garage?
Mr. ALBA. Yes, part owner.
Mr. LIEBELER. I beg your pardon?
Mr. ALBA. I am an officer in the garage.
Mr. LIEBELER. Are you regularly located at the garage itself? Do you
work out of the garage?
Mr. ALBA. No, right there.
Mr. LIEBELER. Right there?
Mr. ALBA. Yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. What is the nature of the garage?
Mr. ALBA. Auto storage garage primarily.
Mr. LIEBELER. The address of the garage is 618 Magazine Street?
Mr. ALBA. That is correct.
Mr. LIEBELER. It is right next door to the William B. Reily Coffee Co.?
Mr. ALBA. That is correct.
Mr. LIEBELER. Did you ever become acquainted with or observe in your
garage Lee Harvey Oswald?
Mr. ALBA. Through conversations and Outdoor Life magazines in the
office--I have a coffee pot there, and a coffee table, and some chairs,
and a magazine rack, where he frequented the magazines quite often and
drank coffee. And I have a coke machine there.
Mr. LIEBELER. Did this fellow, did you tell us what his name was?