The testimony of Roy Eugene Vaughn was taken at 9:10 a.m., on April 17,
1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building,
Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Leon D. Hubert, Jr.,
assistant counsel of the President's Commission.
Mr. HUBERT. Mr. Vaughn, my name is Leon Hubert. I'm a member of the
advisory staff of the general counsel of the President's Commission.
Under the provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated November 29,
1963, and the joint resolution of Congress No. 137, and the rules of
procedure adopted by the Commission in conformance with the Executive
order and joint resolution, I have been authorized to take a sworn
statement from you.
I state to you now that the general nature of the Commission's inquiry
is to ascertain, evaluate, and report upon facts relating to the
assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of
Lee Harvey Oswald.
In particular to you, Mr. Vaughn, the nature of the inquiry today is
to determine what facts you know about the death of Oswald and any
other pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry, and
more particularly about the entry or possible entry of Ruby into the
basement through the Main Street ramp. Did you get a letter directed to
you?
Mr. VAUGHN. To appear here?
Mr. HUBERT. Yes.
Mr. VAUGHN. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. That letter was a written request, written by Mr. J. Lee
Rankin, General Counsel of the Commission, to you asking you to appear;
is that correct?
Mr. VAUGHN. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Was that letter received by you more than 3 days from this
day?
Mr. VAUGHN. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Will you rise and take the oath?
Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. VAUGHN. I do.
Mr. HUBERT. Will you state your name?
Mr. VAUGHN. Roy Eugene Vaughn.
Mr. HUBERT. How old are you, sir?
Mr. VAUGHN. I am 29.
Mr. HUBERT. Where do you live?
Mr. VAUGHN. 3231 Loganwood Drive, Dallas, Tex.
Mr. HUBERT. What is your occupation?
Mr. VAUGHN. Police officer.
Mr. HUBERT. How long have you been on the police force?
Mr. VAUGHN. Almost 6 years.
Mr. HUBERT. What rank or rating do you hold now?
Mr. VAUGHN. Patrolman.
Mr. HUBERT. You were on duty at the police department on Sunday,
November 24?
Mr. VAUGHN. That's correct.
Mr. HUBERT. What time did you report for duty?
Mr. VAUGHN. I'd say at approximately 9 a.m. we got a call to call the
patrol office.
Mr. HUBERT. You mean your normal station was not at headquarters?
Mr. VAUGHN. Oh, no, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Where was your normal station?
Mr. VAUGHN. At this particular month, being the month we worked days,
and I work relief--I don't work any certain district--and I work just
more or less wherever I am needed.
Mr. HUBERT. So, they let you know at your home in some way?
Mr. VAUGHN. No, sir; I had already reported for work. I was working
with squad 105 that particular morning, which is in the downtown area.
Mr. HUBERT. That's a patrol car?
Mr. VAUGHN. Yes--district 105, and approximately at 9 a.m. I got a call
to call 511, which is patrol headquarters. Officer L. C. Taylor, who
answered the phone, advised me to report to the city hall and park my
car and report to 511.
Mr. HUBERT. What is 511?
Mr. VAUGHN. Which would be the patrol office--that's the extension
number which is commonly referred to as such.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you do so?
Mr. VAUGHN. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you have a partner?
Mr. VAUGHN. No, sir; I didn't.
Mr. HUBERT. About what time did you report?
Mr. VAUGHN. I would say approximately 9:15, Mr. Hubert.
Mr. HUBERT. And when you got there what happened?
Mr. VAUGHN. I walked in the--there was a little small assembly room
off of the main office, and I walked in there--there was several men,
officers in there--there was Officer Patterson, Officer Brock, and I
think R. C. Nelson, I believe, came in a little later, and they had the
coffee pot on and so we, I think most of us got a cup of coffee and was
just sitting there talking.
Mr. HUBERT. What happened then?
Mr. VAUGHN. Then Lieutenant Pierce walked in and told me and Officer
Nelson and Officer Brock and Officer Patterson to report to Sergeant
Dean in the basement, and he told me to tell Sergeant Dean when this
was secured, when the basement was secured, to leave two men in the
basement and secure the others.
Mr. HUBERT. To leave two men in the basement and to what?
Mr. VAUGHN. Well, he said after this was all completed, this
transferring was completed, to leave two men--that means to leave two
men in the basement area and to secure the other two.
Mr. HUBERT. And to secure the other two what?
Mr. VAUGHN. Two men--you see, there were four of us that went down and
he said to leave two in the basement and to secure the other two.