Mr. LANE. Time it was actually transmitted here in Dallas.
Mr. HUBERT. Does that work on the same clock system that you were
speaking of before?
Mr. LANE. A different machine, but synchronized, by the same master
clock.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, you mentioned something about a lot of press releases
coming in which delayed the message a little bit. Those press releases
were being handled upstairs, were they?
Mr. LANE. Most of them were.
Mr. HUBERT. Were any being handled downstairs?
Mr. LANE. Well, reporters, running in there with scribbled notes.
Mr. HUBERT. What I am trying to get at, do you recall whether any
reporters came in with any kind of notes, or saying anything during the
time that Jack Ruby was there, which would have indicated to Ruby that
the transfer of Oswald was imminent?
Mr. LANE. Oh, no. There was, as I recall--like I say, I don’t always
notice who comes in that office, because it is a stopping place for
everyone, but as I remember, my previous customer, before Jack Ruby,
turned around and left after the transaction. Ruby came up and was
right there. He just handed me the money order, apparently he had come
in while I was waiting on the other customer, because I believe there
were only the two in the office.
Mr. HUBERT. After the first customer left, there was only you and Ruby
at the counter?
Mr. LANE. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. You don’t remember anybody coming in?
Mr. LANE. Well, there was nobody between that time.
Mr. HUBERT. Well, do you remember anybody coming in while Ruby was
there indicating in any way whatsoever that the transfer of Oswald was
going to happen very shortly?
Mr. LANE. Oh, no, no.
Mr. HUBERT. Were you aware at any time between 10:30 and 11:20 that
an armored car had driven up and been placed in the Commerce Street
entrance of the jail?
Mr. LANE. No, I was not.
Mr. HUBERT. Is it possible for an individual who has a telephone, to
send money by use of a telephone instead of filing an application
personally and paying over the money in cash?
Mr. LANE. Not an individual. Not just the ordinary telephone subscriber
is not.
Mr. HUBERT. I gather from your answer that in certain instances it is
possible.
Mr. LANE. It is possible by prearrangement only.
Mr. HUBERT. Would you explain just what that would mean?
Mr. LANE. Ordinarily a prearrangement is a money deposit--deposit with
Western Union a certain sum of money and they are usually companies. In
fact, most of ours are companies that make these deposits in order that
they can phone that money order to be sent, we have money on deposit,
we send it.
Mr. HUBERT. It is a prepaid money order?
Mr. LANE. A prepaid arrangement.
Mr. HUBERT. All that happens over the telephone is the request that
money already made on deposit be sent to a certain address?
Mr. LANE. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Is it possible to do it that way when no money is placed on
deposit?
Mr. LANE. Only on a prearranged basis. Sometimes we won’t require
deposits if they are legitimate companies and a good credit rating with
us.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you know if Jack Ruby had any such arrangement?
Mr. LANE. No; he did not.
Mr. HUBERT. Is it normal for any individual to have it?
Mr. LANE. No; it is very seldom. In fact, we don’t even have any in
Dallas, individuals.
Mr. HUBERT. Only companies?
Mr. LANE. Only companies.
Mr. HUBERT. Have you any kind of security device to be sure that the
person calling is really authorized to be sending the money either on
deposit or to be charged?
Mr. LANE. Every money order called in is confirmed by telephone with
certain individuals within the firm.
Mr. HUBERT. That is by prearrangement also?
Mr. LANE. That is by prearrangement.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you know what system is used by the Western Union Co.,
from your experience with the company during your tenure of employment
with them in connection with the payment of money to the addressee?
What is the normal system? What usually happens?
Mr. LANE. Well, that depends on whether he comes into the office or
not. In this instance the girl had identification as required. They
have--the paying clerk has to be satisfied within his or her own mind
that the individual they are talking to is the correct person, and like
I say, identification is required.
Mr. HUBERT. Well, how does the Western Union office at the receiving
end get the information about paying money?
Mr. LANE. It is transmitted over the wires to the receiving end,
stating the amounts to be paid, the person to be paid to, the person’s
address if they sent it, and the person it is from.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, when that is received, is a check written out payable
to that person, or how is it handled?
Mr. LANE. If it is to be delivered a Western Union check is written.
If it is to be picked up a cash receipt copy is made out and attached
to the money, and when the person comes in and gives them the
identification required, asks them the required questions, such as,
“How much are you expecting? Who is it from? Where is it from?” They
have to answer those questions.
Mr. HUBERT. And is any identification of the individual required?
Mr. LANE. Yes; it is very definitely personal identification.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, what system is used by way of timing the various
transactions on the receiving end?
Mr. LANE. On the receiving end, whenever the telegram is received in
the receiving office, it is time stamped.
Mr. HUBERT. It is time stamped by use of the same kind of machine that
you have identified before?
Mr. LANE. That we used before.
Mr. HUBERT. Synchronized to the national time?
Mr. LANE. That is correct, and also timed at the time of payment. Time
you actually give the addressee the money.
Mr. HUBERT. Stamped with the same clock?
Mr. LANE. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. By the way, all of this time that we have been speaking of
is central standard time?
Mr. LANE. Central standard time; yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Have you anything else, Mr. Lane, that we have not covered?
Mr. LANE. No; I can’t think of anything that we haven’t covered.
Mr. HUBERT. Have you been interviewed by any member of the Commission’s
staff other than myself prior to the taking of this deposition?
Mr. LANE. No; I have not.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, there was an interview between you and me, was there
not, just before the beginning of this deposition?
Mr. LANE. Well, that is correct, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Have we covered in this deposition everything that we
talked about in the course of the interview?
Mr. LANE. Yes; we have.
Mr. HUBERT. Have you--has there been anything of a material nature
at all covered in the interview which has not been covered in this
deposition?
Mr. LANE. Not a thing that I can think of.
Mr. HUBERT. Thank you very much.