The testimony of Ralph Paul was taken at 8:03 p.m., on April 15, 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 Mr. Ralph Paul.
Mr. Paul, my name is Leon Hubert, I am a member of the advisory staff
of the General Counsel of President Johnson’s Commission to investigate
the death of President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of Lee
Harvey Oswald. Under the provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated
November 29, 1963, issued by the President’s Commission, the Joint
Resolution of Congress No. 137, and the rules of procedure adopted by
Congress in conformance with that Executive order and joint resolution,
I have been authorized to take a sworn deposition of you, Mr. Paul. I
state to you now that the general nature of the Commission’s inquiry
is to ascertain, evaluate, and report upon the facts related to the
assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of
Lee Harvey Oswald.
In particular as to you, Mr. Paul, the nature of the inquiry tonight
is to determine what facts you know about the death of Oswald and any
other pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry, and about
Jack Ruby and his associates, and his business and social friends
and so forth. Now, I believe you have appeared here as a result of a
letter written to you by Mr. J. Lee Rankin, the General Counsel of the
Commission, advising that we would be here and requesting that you
appear. Was that letter received by you more than 3 days ago?
Mr. PAUL. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Will you stand up and take the oath, please? Do you
solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. PAUL. Yes; I do.
Mr. HUBERT. Mr. Paul, will you state your name for the record, please?
Mr. PAUL. Ralph Paul.
Mr. HUBERT. And how old are you, Mr. Paul?
Mr. PAUL. I will be 65 this December.
Mr. HUBERT. Where do you reside?
Mr. PAUL. Right now I live with some friends—I’m building a house in
Arlington, 1602 Browning Drive.
Mr. HUBERT. The letter of request to appear was addressed to the
correct place?
Mr. PAUL. Yes; both places.
Mr. HUBERT. I understand that you are the owner or manager, and that is
one of the things we want to clarify, of the Bull Pen?
Mr. PAUL. I am the owner.
Mr. HUBERT. You are the owner?
Mr. PAUL. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. Is that a corporation?
Mr. PAUL. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. What is the name of the corporation?
Mr. PAUL. That is Bappo [spelling] B-a-p-p-o.
Mr. HUBERT. That is Bappo, Inc., isn’t it?
Mr. PAUL. That’s right.
Mr. HUBERT. And that is a closely held corporation, I take it?