Mr. LAWSON. He was brought in through the crowd and through a side door
there, through the corridors, brought in, and I believe the chief and
the district attorney each gave statements, and Oswald was asked a few
questions then by the press, but I don't recall of it except that he
was whisked out again fairly rapidly after that.
Mr. STERN. Do you remember what any of the questions were and his
responses?
Mr. LAWSON. No, I don't.
Mr. STERN. How many people were in this room?
Mr. LAWSON. It was overflowing. You could hardly hear because everyone
was shouting questions. That is why I don't remember what the specific
questions were and what his responses were.
Mr. STERN. Do you have any impression why this interview was conducted?
Mr. LAWSON. No; I do not.
Mr. STERN. Do you recall anything else that was said by the eyewitness
that Mr. Sorrels had arranged to be brought in for the showup, anything
else that he said while he was standing talking to you or Mr. Sorrels
or while Oswald and others were on the----
Mr. LAWSON. No; I don't.
Mr. STERN. Then shortly after this showup, or shortly after this
interview in the showup room, you left for Washington, I take it?
Mr. LAWSON. Yes; there had been quite a bit of discussion during the
evening as to what evidence they had up to this time, the rifle,
clothing, et cetera, would be brought to Washington to the FBI lab to
be worked on, or whether the police would keep it in their custody for
a little while longer for their investigation, and there was quite a
bit of discussion by various people all evening long.
And when it was finally decided it would be released by the Dallas
police, the rifle and other evidence to return to Washington, Inspector
Kelley told me to return on the special plane that was flying the
evidence and the accompanying FBI agent back to Washington.
Mr. DULLES. Was the evidence turned over to you or the FBI?
Mr. LAWSON. To the FBI, sir. I just returned on the plane.
Mr. STERN. Was there at one point a reluctance on the part of the
Dallas police to release the evidence?
Mr. LAWSON. Yes, sir. They felt, from what I overheard, they felt they
might be able to get an identification of the rifle from one of the
local gunshops. There were various leads that they wanted to follow out
on that rifle that evening and the next day. I believe there was some
talk that they couldn't locate some of the gunshop owners, and some of
the other things they wanted to do. So they wished to keep this rifle
for a day or so and then release it.
Mr. STERN. I am told this has been covered with other witnesses, so
there is no need to pursue it. I have nothing further.
Representative FORD. How long was this interview where Oswald was
present?
Mr. LAWSON. The press interview, sir?
Representative FORD. How long was he before the press?
Mr. LAWSON. I would say 5 minutes at the most.
Representative FORD. I have no other questions.
Mr. DULLES. I have no other questions.
Representative FORD. Is that all, Mr. Stern?
Mr. STERN. Yes, sir.
Representative FORD. Thank you very much, Mr. Lawson, you have been
very helpful.
Mr. DULLES. We appreciate it very much.
(Whereupon, at 5:35 p.m., the President's Commission recessed.)
_Thursday, April 30, 1964_