PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION
ON THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
_Parish of Orleans, ss_:
Emmett Charles Barbe, Jr. of New Orleans, La., being duly sworn, says:
1. I am employed by William B. Reily Company, Inc., as Maintenance
Foreman. The William B. Reily Company plant is located at 640 Magazine
Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. I have been employed by that Company
for five years. During the year 1963 I was serving as Maintenance
Foreman.
2. William B. Reily Company is engaged in the roasting, grinding,
canning, bagging, and sale of coffee. In its roasting, grinding,
canning, and bagging operations a great deal of machinery consisting
of chains, conveyer belts, motors, blowers, automatic hoppers,
grinders, etc., distributed over some five floors of the premises is
employed in said operations. Said machinery must be kept well greased
and oiled. This work required the full time of one man.
3. Lee Harvey Oswald became employed by William B. Reily Company,
Inc. as a greaser and oiler maintenance man on May 10, 1963. His
employment terminated on July 19, 1963. During the latter portion of
his employment, I served as his immediate supervisor. As his supervisor
I was aware of Oswald's performance or lack thereof of his duties.
4. There were occasions from time to time when I was unable to locate
Oswald in and about the premises and learned that he was in the habit
of absenting himself from the premises without leave and visiting a
service station establishment adjacent to the Reily Coffee Company
known as Alba's Crescent City Garage. Furthermore, Oswald had become
quite indifferent to the performance of his duties. I spoke with him
from time to time about his absences and his indifferences, all to
no avail. Ultimately I recommended to my superiors that Oswald be
discharged. My request was granted and he was discharged on July 19,
1963.
Signed this 15th day of June 1964.
(S) Emmett Charles Barbe, Jr.
EMMETT CHARLES BARBE, Jr.