Mr. HUBERT. You did not hear that discussed?
Captain TALBERT. I had--I never heard any rumors to that effect. Didn't
hear it discussed and I never heard any rumor.
Mr. HUBERT. Is there anything else that you would like to say
concerning any of the matters that we have discussed, Captain Talbert?
Captain TALBERT. Only say that with the explanation of how the basement
has been secured, and my personal examination of the basement, I was of
the opinion that no unauthorized person could enter that basement.
Mr. HUBERT. To what did you attribute the failure of the security?
Captain TALBERT. The final reason, or the official investigation is
one that I can't refute, and I am sure you are familiar with it, that
Officer Vaughn on the Main Street entrance stepped out to the curb as
Lieutenant Pierce pulled the plain car out to put it in front of the
armored car just prior to the shooting, and that is the route that Ruby
said he took into the station, and it--as far as any investigation has
been, that is the route he took. I can't----
Mr. HUBERT. There is no positive evidence indicating any other route?
Captain TALBERT. No, sir; and the only--hold it a minute. I want--there
was an extra police officer standing--still wanted in?
Mr. HUBERT. Well, all right.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. HUBERT. Is there anything else you would like to add other than
what we have talked about?
Captain TALBERT. My primary concern that morning was with the crowd
control, the mob control. Our warning had been against a possible
larger group of people taking Ruby away from the officers. They had
told the----
Mr. HUBERT. You mean Oswald?
Captain TALBERT. I'm sorry. Taking Oswald away from the officers. They
had been told, the person who answered the phone in the FBI office,
that he wanted the information transmitted to the police department
that no police officers would be injured, and, of course, that was
discounted as no police officer being injured by it, but nevertheless,
the crowd action was highly probable, and our primary objective was to
prevent, or control, crowd action. I had a total of three gas grenade
kits and projectile kits in the basement, that is my own, and the
officer's riot guns, if that becomes necessary, although, the crowd can
be controlled by gas if we couldn't do it with brute force, we could do
it with gas. But the event that did occur, where one person dashed out
of a crowd and shot a person and literally laid down, said, "Here I am.
I did it," in pride was rather stunning.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, captain, have you been interviewed by any member of
the Commission other than the interview that you have had with me?
Captain TALBERT. No, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. As to the interview with me, now, there was one yesterday,
I think that is about it, is that right?
Captain TALBERT. That's right.
Mr. HUBERT. They--the one with you yesterday and this one has been the
only interview?
Captain TALBERT. The only interview has been with you yesterday.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, is there anything that you can think of between the
deposition you have given today and the interview we had, which is
inconsistent with one another?
Captain TALBERT. No, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Have you, or did you provide any material or facts in any
of the interviews which haven't been developed on the record?
Captain TALBERT. No, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. All right. Then one final thing; is there anything else you
wish to say?
Captain TALBERT. I don't think there is anything else I could say that
would add materially to your investigation, sir. It is--if there were,
I'd be delighted to do so.
Mr. HUBERT. If something should occur to you which has not been covered
here or in any other report, I want you to feel free to contact us and
tell us that you want to add what should be added.
Captain TALBERT. I would do so immediately. There is no one more
concerned with finding out how Ruby got in the basement to shoot Oswald
than myself, so, I am with you. I would love to find out how he got
there.
Mr. HUBERT. I certainly thank you, and on behalf of the Commission, I
want to thank you for your cooperation and time.