The testimony of G. E. Worley was taken at 9:30 p.m., on March 26,
1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building,
Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Burt W. Griffin,
assistant counsel of the President's Commission.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Let me explain to you the procedure and then I will give
you an opportunity to ask questions and so forth. I want to introduce
myself. I am Burt Griffin, and I am a member of the advisory staff
of the general counsel's office of the President's Commission on the
Assassination of President Kennedy.
Mr. WORLEY. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, this Commission was set up under the Executive Order
11130, which is an order issued by President Johnson on November 29,
1963, and also pursuant to a joint resolution of Congress, No. 137.
Pursuant to this resolution and Executive order, the Commission has
promulgated a set of rules, and in accordance with those rules I have
been authorized to take your sworn deposition, Mr. Worley.
I want to explain a little bit to you about the general nature of
what we are doing here. Now, I think as you probably understand,
the Commission has been set up for the purpose of ascertaining and
evaluating and reporting back to President Johnson upon the facts and
all the facts that might relate to the assassination of President
Kennedy, and the subsequent murder of Lee Harvey Oswald.
We are particularly interested in taking your deposition today,
Mr. Worley, because we want to talk to you about what you know in
connection with the events that may have led up to and followed the
death of Lee Harvey Oswald.
However, that does not preclude any information that you may have
concerning any other people. I mean concerning the death of President
Kennedy.
I want to explain this to you, also, that you have been asked to appear
here today by virtue of a general request which is made by our general
counsel, Mr. J. Lee Rankin, and this request was made in the form of a
letter to Chief Curry.
Now, actually, under the rules adopted by the Commission, you are
entitled to have a 3-day written notice prior to having your deposition
taken. However, the rules also provide that you can waive this notice,
and I want to ask now whether you would like us to issue the notice or
whether it is acceptable to you to waive the notice?
Mr. WORLEY. It is.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I also want to explain to you that you are entitled to
have counsel before this Commission at this deposition, and I see
that you don't appear here with counsel this evening, and I presume
it is because you don't desire one. But feel free to tell us, because
there are many people that have appeared here with counsel, and it is
perfectly acceptable to us.
Mr. WORLEY. I don't think I need one.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, let me ask you if you have any particular questions
that you want to ask me?
Mr. WORLEY. No; I would have to say, after reading that report now,
that report from the FBI is not very good.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Let me tell you this. Then I would like to administer the
oath to you so that I can start to take your testimony. I will first
hand you the report. I will mark it for identification and hand you the
report and ask you to make any corrections. Actually, that is going to
be about the first thing. I want to get your name and so forth. Would
you raise your right hand?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give is the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. WORLEY. I do.
Mr. GRIFFIN. All right, sir, would you state for the court reporter
what your full name is?
Mr. WORLEY. Gano E. Worley.
Mr. GRIFFIN. When were you born, Mr. Worley?
Mr. WORLEY. February the 3d, 1926.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Where do you live right now?
Mr. WORLEY. 835 N. Ewing, Apt. D.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Is that in Dallas?
Mr. WORLEY. In Dallas, Tex.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Are you employed?
Mr. WORLEY. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. What is your occupation?
Mr. WORLEY. I work for Lone Star Gas Co.
Mr. GRIFFIN. What do you do for them?
Mr. WORLEY. I am building operator.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How long have you worked for Lone Star Gas Co.?
Mr. WORLEY. Eleven years.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you also have some connection with the Dallas Police
Department?
Mr. WORLEY. Dallas Police Reserve.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How long have you been in the police reserve?
Mr. WORLEY. Four years.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, I am going to mark for identification three documents
which I have in front of me. I am going to mark for identification
Exhibit No. 5047, and I have also written on there, "Dallas, Tex., Mr.
Worley, 3-26-64." This document which I have marked purports to be a
report of an interview that you had with FBI Agents Leo L. Robertson
and Paul S. Scott on December 3, 1963. Let me ask you if you have had
an opportunity to read this over before coming in here?
Mr. WORLEY. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, are there any additions or corrections or changes
that you think ought to be made in this?
Mr. WORLEY. Yes; I do. If you will read this one right here [pointing].
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, you are referring to a letter which I also have in my
hand?
Mr. WORLEY. Right. To Chief Curry from me.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Any particular part, if you will tell me what you have in
mind?
Incidentally, I have marked this exhibit which you are referring to,
a letter to Chief Curry, dated November 26, 1963, purporting to be
prepared by you.
Actually, this is a Xerox copy of what would appear to be another copy
of an actual letter which purports to bear your signature?
Mr. WORLEY. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I have marked this, "Dallas, Tex., Mr. Worley, 3-26-64,
Exhibit 5048." Now, is there some correction or addition or change that
you would make in what has been marked Exhibit 5047, the FBI interview?