Mr. GRAVES. I don’t know exactly when they started that, but, they
started trying to find out what happened, and I am sure, immediately.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you ever talk with Officer Dean, as far as you can
remember?
Mr. GRAVES. I didn’t discuss it with Officer Dean at all.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you ever talk with Officer McMillon?
Mr. GRAVES. No.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Or Officer Clardy?
Mr. GRAVES. Can we go off the record?
Mr. GRIFFIN. Yes.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. GRIFFIN. On the record for this. Is there anything that we haven’t
covered in connection with the murder of Lee Oswald, including how Ruby
got into the basement, or things that might shed some light upon Ruby’s
motive or possible associates that he might have had that you could
tell the Commission?
Mr. GRAVES. No, and I wish that there was. Listen, as I said, we have
heard a lot of things but we have never been able to prove anything,
so, again, what I have heard is just speculation, and just talk. I have
heard that he was connected with any number of people. Trying to prove
that--telling us--but there is nothing concrete in terms of evidence
to prove that he was connected with them in any way, so far as I know.
Somebody may know something that I don’t know.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you know anything of your own knowledge that you think
might bear light one way or the other?
Mr. GRAVES. No, I don’t; again, like I say, I wish that there was
something, but, of course, I am sure that everybody is like me and
listen to everybody and everything and try to make sense out of this
thing to the best of their ability by checking everything.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I’m going to mark for identification here--we are going to
call this, “Dallas, Tex., Detective Graves, March 24, 1904. Exhibit No.
5003.” And I’m going to mark these pages 5003-A and 5003-B and 5003-C.
Now, these are copies of FBI reports which purport to be interviews
that were had by the FBI agents, with you. Exhibit 5003-A is a report
of an interview on November 24, taken by Special Agent Bookhout and
Agent Rabidoux. Do you remember approximately when these gentlemen
talked with you?
Mr. GRAVES. To the best of my recollection, it was in the evening part
of the day, but just exactly when, I don’t know.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, Exhibit 5003-B, and Exhibit 5003-C, consists of one
interview with you by Special Agent Bookhout, Jim Bookhout.
Mr. GRAVES. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. And that was dated on November 24. Do you remember
approximately what time of day that was?
Mr. GRAVES. That was pretty soon after this thing happened, after I
got back from the hospital, so, you can say roughly, I guess, around 3
o’clock, 3 or 4 o’clock. That is just--that is an approximate time. He
was the first one I talked to. There was something in there that I want
to call your attention to, though.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Let me hand these to you and let you examine Exhibits
5003-A, 5003-B and C, and tell us if there is anything in there that
you would want to amplify or correct or change in any manner?
Mr. GRAVES. Let me see. I will have to find it now.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Just take your time.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. GRAVES. This right here says, “Captain Fritz was in the lead and
was standing at the edge of the ramp waiting to get into the front seat
of the car,” actually, he was at the rear of that car door, fixing to
open it, if he didn’t already have it open.
Mr. GRIFFIN. What exhibit number are you referring to, sir?
Mr. GRAVES. 5003-B. No; that’s right here. “Graves and Leavelle stopped
momentarily for the car to back up,” that is a bad choice of phrasing
in that situation. We, actually can’t say that we were stopped, we were
still in motion when this thing happened. It was a momentary glance to
the right and a slight turn in that direction, but we were still in
motion.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you make this correction as a result of having viewed
the movies, or something that you remember independently of the movies?
Mr. GRAVES. I remembered that later. Of course, I saw it also on the
movies later which verified it, but after I had gotten this thing and
read it over then, I realized that we actually hadn’t stopped.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I recall that I have neglected to administer an oath to
you in the course of this deposition, Mr. Graves. I wonder if you would
raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that everything that you
have said here today is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth?
Mr. GRAVES. I do.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Is there anything more that you have to tell us?
Mr. GRAVES. I can’t think of anything at this time. Except for those
little things, I believe those are basically true and correct.
Mr. GRIFFIN. We certainly appreciate your coming here today.