The testimony of Jesse M. Strong was taken at 12:35 p.m., on March 31,
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 J. M. Strong [spelling]
S-t-r-o-n-g.
Mr. Strong, my name is Leon Hubert. I’m a member of the advisory
staff of the General Counsel of the President’s Commission. Under the
provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated November 29, 1963, the Joint
Resolution of Congress No. 137, and rules of procedure adopted by
the Commission in conformance with that Executive order, I have been
authorized to take a sworn deposition from you. I state to you 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 the subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald.
In particular to you, Mr. Strong, the nature of our inquiry is to
determine the facts you know about the death of Oswald and any other
pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry, particularly
in the field of the Western Union telegram that is involved in this
matter. Now, Mr. Strong, I understand that you have appeared here today
by virtue of a request made by a letter addressed to you by J. Lee
Rankin, General Counsel of the President’s Commission.
Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. I think that letter was received by you more than 3 days
ago, is that correct?
Mr. STRONG. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, would you stand so that you may take the oath.
Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. STRONG. I do.
Mr. HUBERT. Would you state your name?
Mr. STRONG. Yes. Jesse M. Strong.
Mr. HUBERT. Your age?
Mr. STRONG. 62.
Mr. HUBERT. Your residence?
Mr. STRONG. 612 Edgewood Terrace, Fort Worth, Tex.
Mr. HUBERT. What is your occupation, sir?
Mr. STRONG. Relief night manager at Western Union.
Mr. HUBERT. How long have you been connected with Western Union Co.
altogether?
Mr. STRONG. Since January 1923.
Mr. HUBERT. Near 40 years?
Mr. STRONG. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Over 40.
Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir; 41, to be exact.
Mr. HUBERT. Were you on duty with the Western Union Co. in Fort Worth
on November 24, 1963?
Mr. STRONG. Yes; I was.
Mr. HUBERT. What office were you then located at?
Mr. STRONG. The Fort Worth office located at Main and Third, Fort Worth.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, I invite your attention to a document which, for
purposes of identification, I am marking “Dallas, Tex., March 31, 1964.
Exhibit 5121, Deposition of J. E. Strong----”
Mr. STRONG. J. M.
Mr. HUBERT. J. M. Strong [spelling] S-t-r-o-n-g.
Mr. STRONG. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. I am placing my name on that document also, and so that the
record may show that both of us are talking about the same document,
I will ask you to put your name below it. I am also marking another
document, “Dallas, Tex., March 31, 1964. Exhibit 5120, Deposition of
J. M. Strong” placing my name on that document and I ask you to place
your name on it so that the record may show that we are both speaking
of the same document. Now, I hand you the document that has been
identified for the record as Exhibit 5121, and ask you to state what
that document is?
Mr. STRONG. It is a copy of the money order as received in Fort Worth
at 12:56 p.m.
Mr. HUBERT. On what date?
Mr. STRONG. On November 24, 1963--1964.
Mr. HUBERT. 1964?
Mr. STRONG. I’m sorry. Yes, certainly, payable to Karen Bennett sent by
Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you have anything to do with that transaction?
Mr. STRONG. I actually paid the $25 to Karen Bennett when she came into
the office, approximately at 3:20 p.m., on the afternoon of November 24.
Mr. HUBERT. In what way do you identify this document? Is there
anything on it?
Mr. STRONG. Yes, I asked her for identification and she presented her
California driver’s license No. 768114, and description, black hair,
blue eyes, height 5 feet 2. Weight 105.
Mr. HUBERT. I notice that those figures that you have just read off
appear on the face of that document, is that correct?
Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. In whose handwriting are those figures written?
Mr. STRONG. Mine. I wrote it.
Mr. HUBERT. What is the significance of a time stamp, apparently,
reading as follows: “1963, November 24th, p.m. 12:54.”
Mr. STRONG. After Karen Bennett had signed the receipt for the money
and I handed her the $25, I put this under the time stamp and stamped
the time the transaction was completed.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, I think there you have reference to the other stamped
time as--reading as follows:
“1963, November 24th, p.m. 3:25”?
Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir.