The testimony of L. C. Graves was taken at 10:30 a.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. Burt W. Griffin,
assistant counsel of the President’s Commission.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I am a member of the advisory staff of the General Counsel
of the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President
Kennedy. The Commission has been given authority under a congressional
resolution to investigate the facts surrounding the death of President
Kennedy and the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald, and, other related events.
We are interested particularly, in calling you, in the events that
surrounded the death of Lee Harvey Oswald. We are also interested in
everything that you may know and so, you can consider relevant any
question having to do with the complete scope of the investigation.
Now, you have the right to receive, by mail, the notice 3 days in
advance before the taking your testimony, and I want to ask you at this
time whether you waive that notice?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes; I waive that notice.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, you also have a right to be present here with an
attorney, and, of course, you are not represented by counsel. If you
would like the opportunity to get an attorney, we’ll afford you that
chance.
Mr. GRAVES. No; I don’t think that is necessary.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Would you state for the record your name?
Mr. GRAVES. My name is L. C. Graves [spelling] G-r-a-v-e-s.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Where do you live, Mr. Graves?
Mr. GRAVES. I live at 7811 Maxwell Avenue, Dallas, Tex.
Mr. GRIFFIN. And where are you employed?
Mr. GRAVES. I am employed with the Dallas Police Department, as a
detective in the homicide and robbery bureau.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How long have you been with the Dallas Police Department?
Mr. GRAVES. 14 years, the 31st day of October last.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Where were you born?
Mr. GRAVES. October 8, 1918, at Camp County.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Texas?
Mr. GRAVES. Texas.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Have you been interviewed by me previous to this
deposition which we are now taking?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Would you state for the record when it was that you and I
talked?
Mr. GRAVES. Oh, approximately 30 minutes ago.
Mr. GRIFFIN. We have been talking almost continuously since that?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. All right, now, I will indicate for the record that we
have been discussing the--your experiences from the time President
Kennedy was shot until you arrived for work on Sunday morning, November
24, and I believe you told me while I was interviewing you that
on Sunday morning you drove to work, and that you parked your car
somewhere along the side of the police department building, and it is
your recollection that you walked from the Commerce Street side through
the basement hall that leads to the records room?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, I asked you in the interview whether you remember
just--remembered just as you walked down from the Commerce Street--down
the steps to the door which leads into the building, whether as you
got inside the building you noticed the placement of TV cables in
relationship to the engineroom, or that door that goes back down into
the subbasement. Do you have any recollection of how the TV cables were
spread out there?
Mr. GRAVES. Vaguely. I think the cables did go through that door. I
couldn’t be sure.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Which door are you talking about?
Mr. GRAVES. Through the engineroom door.
Mr. GRIFFIN. When you got inside the building, where did you go?
Mr. GRAVES. I went to the homicide and robbery bureau on the third
floor, room 317.
Mr. GRIFFIN. When you got up into the hallway on the third floor, can
you describe the condition of the hallway?
Mr. GRAVES. Well, of course, it was cluttered up with camera equipment
and cables and newspeople, cameramen.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you remember when you arrived there on the third floor,
whether the TV cameras were manned?
Mr. GRAVES. Reasonably sure they were. There were men standing around
with earphones on and the light.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, do you recall about what time it was that you got up
there to the third floor?