The testimony of Barnard S. Clardy was taken at 2:45 p.m., on March 24,
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. This is the deposition of Detective Barnard (spelling)
B-a-r-n-a-r-d?
Mr. CLARDY. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Middle initial S. Clardy. Auto Theft Bureau, Criminal
Investigation Division, Police Department of Dallas. Mr. Clardy, my
name is Leon D. Hubert. I am a member of the advisory staff of the
general counsel of the President's Commission on the Assassination
of President Kennedy. Under the provisions of the Executive Order
No. 11130 dated November 29, 1963, the joint resolution of Congress
Number 137, and the rules of procedure adopted by the Commission in
conformance with the Executive order and the joint resolution, I have
been authorized to take a sworn deposition from you, Detective Clardy.
I state to you now that the general nature of the Commission's inquiry
is to ascertain, evaluate and report upon the facts relating to the
assassination of President Kennedy and subsequent violent death of Lee
Harvey Oswald. In particular as to you, Detective Clardy, the nature
of the inquiry is to determine what facts you know about the death
of Oswald and any other pertinent facts that you may know about the
general inquiry. Now, Detective Clardy, you appear here today by virtue
of a general request made by the general counsel of the staff of the
President's Commission, Mr. J. Lee Rankin to Chief Curry. Under the
rules adopted by the Commission, you are entitled to a 3-day written
notice prior to the taking of this deposition, but those rules also
provide that a witness may waive the notice. Now, do you waive this
3-day notice?
Mr. CLARDY. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Very well. Now, will you stand and be sworn, please. Raise
your right hand. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. CLARDY. I do.
Mr. HUBERT. Will you state your full name, please?
Mr. CLARDY. Barnard S. Clardy.
Mr. HUBERT. Your age?
Mr. CLARDY. Thirty-seven.
Mr. HUBERT. Your residence?
Mr. CLARDY. 936 Ferncliff Trail.
Mr. HUBERT. And your occupation?
Mr. CLARDY. Police Detective.
Mr. HUBERT. How long have you been so occupied, sir?
Mr. CLARDY. Since November 5, 1950.
Mr. HUBERT. How long have you been connected with the criminal
investigation bureau?
Mr. CLARDY. Since December the 5th, 1955.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, is--who is head of the auto theft bureau?
Mr. CLARDY. Captain Nichols.
Mr. HUBERT. Captain Nichols, and the entire criminal investigation
division, of which the auto theft division is a part is headed by Chief
Stevenson, is that right, sir?
Mr. CLARDY. Chief Stevenson; yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, Detective Clardy. I'm going to mark three documents
as I will indicate, after which I wish to ask you some questions
concerning those documents. At first, a document consisting of three
pages being, apparently, a copy of a letter dated November 27, 1963,
addressed to Chief Curry, the original of which was apparently signed
by you, B. S. Clardy? I am marking the first page of that document
"Dallas, Tex., March 24, 1964, Exhibit No. 5061. Deposition of
Detective B. S. Clardy."
Under which I am signing my name, and I am placing my initials in the
right-hand lower corner of the second and third pages of that document.
The second document purports to be a report from the FBI concerning an
interview with you on November 25, 1963. I am marking that document in
the lower right-hand corner as follows: "Dallas, Tex., March 24, 1964.
Exhibit No. 5062, Deposition of B. S. Clardy," and I am signing my name
and putting my initials on the second page in the lower right-hand
corner.
The third document consists of three pages, and purports to be a report
of an interview of you on December 3d, by Agents Quigley and Dallman of
the FBI. On the first page I am marking as follows, to wit: "Dallas,
Tex., March 24, 1964. Exhibit No. 5063. Deposition of B. S. Clardy."
Signing my name on the first page, placing my initials on the second
and third pages in the lower right-hand corner on each of those pages.
Now, Detective Clardy, I hand you these three documents and--identified
as 5061 and 5062 and 5063, and ask you if you have had an opportunity
to read those today?
Mr. CLARDY. Yes, sir; I have.
Mr. HUBERT. Do those documents represent substantially the truth of
all you know concerning the matter under inquiry this morning--this
afternoon?
Mr. CLARDY. Yes, sir; they do. The only thing that I find that I erred
on was in the time.