Captain TALBERT. But, of my own knowledge that is the only way he could
be removed to a car unless he went through another floor and out on the
street. That is the way you go in the normal police building area.
Mr. HUBERT. And do you mean that the normal method for handling would
be one where he would be brought to the elevator to the jail office,
and into the basement?
Captain TALBERT. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, would you state just what you did by way of clearing
the basement area?
Captain TALBERT. Lieutenant Pierce gave the assignment to Sergeant
Dean, and in turn to Sergeant Putnam to carry out, and in various
stages of the searching of the basement I think he checked it himself,
at approximately 10 o'clock, and I gave, by the way, the initial
instructions to bring those squads in. I told them to disperse their
cars, park them on the street, but disperse them. Not have them grouped
up, and to report to my office by at least 9:30, and he did have that
accomplished, and he gave the instructions to clear the area and search
it to Sergeant Dean, who got Sergeant Putnam to assist him in it. About
10 o'clock, I went down to check and see how he had progressed at that
time. They had checked the news media, they were set up in the jail
office. The jail office proper. They had cameramen, cameras, reporters
on top of the booking desk, on top of everything available. The news
media was taking over the jail office rather heavily, and insisted the
chief had given them permission to do so. That was about 10. I went
into the basement area and Sergeant Putnam gave me a lengthy rundown,
step by step, on what he had done, or had done--see what I mean
about my English?--and had accomplished in clearing that area, and I
personally checked all the doors to the several rooms that led from the
parking area to see that they were locked.
Mr. HUBERT. Can you specify for the record what doors you did check?
Captain TALBERT. Starting in around on the side of the ramp, janitor's
room. Could you hold it a minute and let me see if I can identify it?
Mr. HUBERT. All right.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. HUBERT. All right. Now, I think we'll get on the record.
Captain TALBERT. Shall we just say "checked the painters' room"?
Mr. HUBERT. No; I want to get more particular points than that. Now,
since you are about to describe your activities with reference to
a definite area, I want to show you a map or chart of the basement
and jail office area, and in order that we may properly use it in
connection with your testimony, it is necessary for me to identify
it. Therefore, I am marking it, "Dallas, Texas, March the 24th, 1964.
Exhibit 5070, deposition of Capt. C. E. Talbert." And I am signing my
name to it, and for the purposes of identification, I'll ask you to
sign your name just below mine. Now, you say that you, yourself made a
personal check of what is shown on this Exhibit 5070, as the parking
area?
Captain TALBERT. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Wait. Where did you begin? Right in here?
Captain TALBERT. Right about here, to here [indicating].
Mr. HUBERT. Now, I am marking with a numeral, "1" in a circle, a point
that you have indicated to me as the starting point of your inspection
tour, and exactly just what did you do there?