Mr. ALEXANDER. That Mr. Fowler got in so late on this thing that he
probably doesn’t know—that he is not as aware of the facts of the case
as I am?
Dr. BEAVERS. I don’t know how I would know that. I know when he came
in, but how aware of the facts he is, I don’t know that. How would I
know that?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Did it appear to you that Ruby was looking to me for aid
in framing some of these questions because of my peculiar knowledge of
the case, in that I was in on it from the moment of the assassination
of the President?
Dr. BEAVERS. I noticed that he did look to you in terms of getting some
sort of support or information or possibly framing questions.
Mr. ALEXANDER. And you see nothing unusual in that, considering the
fact that I am probably the one person that has possession of the most
facts?
Dr. BEAVERS. I think I have already covered what I felt was probable,
as far as what was going on with Mr. Ruby as to how he behaved here.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Did you feel that he wanted me particularly to know the
truth about certain areas or at least the truth as he represented it?
Dr. BEAVERS. Yes, sir.
Mr. ALEXANDER. You did not feel that I took advantage of him in any way
here today, do you?
Dr. BEAVERS. No, I thought you were extremely gentlemanly and
pleasantly helpful.
Mr. TONAHILL. I am not making that comment.
Mr. FOWLER. You have been the most cordial since we have been in this,
Bill.
Let me make one other statement—this is relevant.
Are you through, Bill?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes, sir.
Mr. FOWLER. I wish to make this statement for the record that at
some time during the course of this interrogation and hearing, that
I was called by Mr. Bill Decker, stating that a telephone call, long
distance, had been made to him. I answered the phone and Mr. Earl Ruby
and Mr. Sol Dann were on the phone speaking from Detroit. They wanted
to know what was going on and who had authorized this hearing, and why
I came down and why Mr. Tonahill was here, and why we did not stop the
hearing.
I tried to the best of my ability to explain to him that I had talked
with Jack and has also explained to the Commission that we were of the
opinion that Mr. Ruby had certain rights that might be violated here,
but that this was entirely the wishes and demands of Jack Ruby himself,
and these matters had been set up prior to my entrance into the case
and prior to the entrance of Mr. Dann, and that I could not control
them.
I was informed by Mr. Dann at that time that it was his intention
to immediately contact the Warren Commission in Washington and file
a criminal case, a case of assault and battery, against all parties
conducting this hearing, including myself and Mr. Tonahill. At this
point I was summarily fired, together with Mr. Tonahill, and I feel
that this matter of course is something that Mr. Dann is not aware of,
that all of this that has taken place here today—I think that we have
tried to protect the rights of Jack Ruby, and I put this in to merely
show that the call was made, and if any of you gentlemen have fear of
reprisal or for whatever purpose it might be, and that I am sure that
something further will be made of it.
Again, I wish to state this that in my opinion, whether we are still
employed in the case, and I have not been fired by Jack Ruby, that we
feel absolutely that his rights have been protected.
Mr. ALEXANDER. His brother Earl has not fired you either.
Mr. SPECTER. That concludes the proceedings. Thank you all very much.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Just one more thing.
I myself will make no statement to anybody outside this room about
anything, and let me make the suggestion that whatever statement is
made, is made by Mr. Specter, if you want to agree on that.
Mr. TONAHILL. In fact I think that if Mr. Specter is going to give this
statement, that if he tells them that a polygraph has been taken, I
don’t think any of the questions and answers should be given out.
Mr. FOWLER. No; I very definitely and specifically request that these
matters that have been gone into here today be for the Commission and
the Commission only. It is our wish.
Mr. SPECTER. That will be done. The Commission heretofore has made no
public statement of content to any extent. It has been the practice of
the Commission to announce only what witnesses have been heard, and
a very general statement of the witness’ status. In fact, Mr. Ruby
was insistent that there be a statement made in terms of his request
and his cooperation, and that had been discussed before as being the
appropriate limit of such a statement. It’s my view that that should be
followed up on, but no details of any sort stated as to his responses
or anything else that transpired in this proceeding today.
Mr. TONAHILL. Yes; that he cooperated to the best of his ability.
Dr. BEAVERS. Any questions that are asked me, I will refer to Mr. Arlen
Specter.
Mr. SPECTER. Very fine, Dr. Beavers.
Thank you very much. This will conclude these proceedings.
Proceedings concluded at 10 p.m.