VOICE. Excuse me.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Off the record.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. GRIFFIN. Nelson was interviewed by the Bureau--Federal Bureau of
Investigation on December 4, and the Bureau indicates that he told
them, and this is the Bureau's language and not his, talking about
his post, he said the other officer assigned there with him was a
reserve officer whose name he does not know. He was there for just 3
or 4 minutes, when Sergeant Putnam told them to station themselves
just behind the first jail office window, for people were coming in,
in regard to jail office business, such as seeing prisoners. They were
instructed not to let any unauthorized persons through the door or ramp
leading into the basement.
Okay, when I read that I was mistaken as to where I thought he was
standing, so that I was under the impression he was pulled off of his
post, but that would be entirely consistent. Apparently all they did
was to move him a few feet. Well, the jail office window, you have
three here. One, two, and three windows--so [indicating]. Well now, did
you talk with Bobby Patterson at all?
Mr. DEAN. Yes, sir; I asked him could he say for sure that this man
didn't come in his post.
Mr. GRIFFIN. And when did you talk with him?
Mr. DEAN. Some time before I went to the hospital.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you talk with a reserve officer by the name of Newman?
Mr. DEAN. I don't recall the name.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you talk with this reserve officer who was stationed
over in this area here, as you have indicated on the map [indicating]?
Mr. DEAN. I asked Sergeant Putnam--in fact, we had talked during the
day about this man, whether to keep him or not, and I said definitely
keep him there, tell him to remain there. Now, I don't recall talking
to this man specifically about seeing if anyone had come through here.
I was fairly certain that they hadn't. The main thing I was thinking
about was that Ruby told me he came in here. I had no reason to doubt
him, but I didn't know how he had gotten in, other than what he had
said, just walking down, and I knew that this was putting R. E. Vaughn
in dereliction of his duty.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Well, now; it's my understanding you talked with Patterson
before you went to Parkland Hospital?
Mr. DEAN. Yes, sir.
Mr. GRIFFIN. And you talked with Vaughn and Nelson after you went to
Parkland?
Mr. DEAN. Well, I probably asked all of them the question, "Did you see
this man come in here; do you know him?" And, of course, Vaughn said
he knew him. Patterson said he knew him. I don't recall whether Nelson
said he knew him or not, but that Patterson and Vaughn both stated, and
along with Nelson, that he did not come through their post.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, did you talk with any of the other men who were
stationed down there in the basement?
Mr. DEAN. No, sir; these were the men that I assigned and gave my
instructions, and those were the ones that I could talk to.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you remember, on November 24, talking at all with
"Blackie" Harrison?
Mr. DEAN. No, sir.
Mr. GRIFFIN. About this?
Mr. DEAN. No, sir.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How about L. D. Miller?
Mr. DEAN. No, sir.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How about McMillon?
Mr. DEAN. No, sir.