Mr. ARCHER. Outside the jail office.
Mr. HUBERT. Outside the jail office doors?
Mr. ARCHER. Well, no, sir; it is before you leave the corridor, going
into the basement in front of the jail office, but not into the
basement entrance.
Mr. HUBERT. I see. How long did you stay there?
Mr. ARCHER. It would be hard for me to say the exact time. In general
I'd say about 5, maybe 7 minutes that we stayed there.
Mr. HUBERT. All right, then where did you move to next?
Mr. ARCHER. While standing there in front of the office, Captain Jones
came through with Chief Batchelor, passed in front of us, entered the
basement and, as I recall, they stood there and had some conversation.
I didn't hear the conversation. Couldn't tell you what it consisted
of, but after seeing this talking to Chief Batchelor, Captain Jones
came back and said, "I want this corridor kept clear," and at the same
time he did, the doors opened up. This was the corridor going into
the basement in front of the jail office, "I want the corridors kept
clear," and he didn't necessarily order me. He indicated--just said, "I
want the corridors kept clear," and that is when I took my station on
the north side of the jail door, right where the corridor goes into the
basement, and also where the jail door opens into the basement where
the automobiles are parked.
Mr. HUBERT. Can you tell me about what time it was that you took that
station that you just described last?
Mr. ARCHER. May I--my approximate time--oh, sir, I couldn't give you an
exact time from the time that would elapse, I would say approximately
11:05, or 11:08 a.m. Like I say, that is only an approximate----
Mr. HUBERT. Let's try to get at it another way. About how long before
the shooting did you take that post?
Mr. ARCHER. I would say at least 15 minutes previous. Prior to the
shooting.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you leave that position that you have just described in
any substantial way? I understand you weren't standing stock still, but
substantially, did you remain in that location until the shooting?
Mr. ARCHER. Yes, sir; I did.
Mr. HUBERT. I would like you to have a look at this mockup here and at
the basement chart which is in conformity with it, and I am identifying
this particular basement chart that I am going to ask you to testify
about by marking on it, "Dallas, Texas, March 25, 1964. Exhibit 5091.
Deposition of Don Ray Archer," is that right?
Mr. ARCHER. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, I am signing my name on it, and for the purpose of
identification, I will ask you to put your name below mine.
Mr. ARCHER. All right, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, you--use the mockup first to determine the exact spot
that you were standing in at what we'll call your final position.
Mr. ARCHER. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. In which you were approximately 15 minutes before the
shooting. I say, using this mockup, I want you to place yourself
wherever you were, and relate it to the map or chart, or draw a circle
in the spot at which you were. First of all, show to me on the mockup
where you were.
Mr. ARCHER. I was at this position right here, sir. In other words,
this door--this door here [indicating] had it been open--in fact, it
was open. I was helping to hold it open. Right on the corner of this
particular--it is not exactly a pillar, but just to the corner of
that----
Mr. HUBERT. If I put a circle right here, would that be the spot you
are talking about?
Mr. ARCHER. Yes; it would.
Mr. HUBERT. I am making a circle and drawing a line out, and I am
writing, "Position of Archer for about 15 minutes prior to the
shooting." I am drawing this circle around that legend, and connecting
the circle which marks your position with the circle which describes
it, is that correct?
Mr. ARCHER. Yes; it is as near correct as I can recall.
Mr. HUBERT. When the party came out, then the doors swung in to you, is
that right?
Mr. ARCHER. Sir, as I remember it, when the party came out, now, as
near as I can recall, the doors [were] open.
Mr. HUBERT. Opened which way?
Mr. ARCHER. I just couldn't say. I have thought about that, but I don't
remember exactly. I'd say--as I was showing you here, I was standing
enough to this side to hold this door.