The CHAIRMAN. The session will be in order.
Mr. RANKIN. Will you proceed, Mr. Lane, in executive session now, to
describe the names?
Mr. LANE. The third name that I was informed--the person that I was
informed was there, the third person, is named Jack Ruby. It was my
feeling, of course, while his case was pending it would not be proper
to comment on that in the presence of the press.
Mr. RANKIN. You mean the third person in the group apparently
conferring?
Mr. LANE. Yes. Tippit, Weissman, and Ruby.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made any public statement of this kind before on
this subject--about this meeting?
Mr. LANE. Not about Ruby--about a meeting between Weissman and Tippit,
yes.
The CHAIRMAN. But you never named Ruby publicly?
Mr. LANE. No; I have not. I shall not.
The CHAIRMAN. I see. Do you know any way by which we might corroborate
that meeting--the fact that it was held?
Mr. LANE. I am going this evening to see, or tomorrow--I will try this
evening first--to see if I can secure permission by my informant to
reveal his name, and I hope he will be willing to come forward and
testify as to what took place.
The CHAIRMAN. The Commission would like to know it, if you can do that.
Mr. LANE. Yes; I shall inform you as soon as I discover that. I would
like very much for the Commission to have that information. Can I
indicate to my informant that the matter can be so raised so that his
name will not be known to anyone other than the Commission?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes, sir; you may.
Mr. LANE. That will be extremely helpful.
The CHAIRMAN. If you can think of any way that can be corroborated, it
would be most helpful to us.
Mr. LANE. I understand.
The CHAIRMAN. Congressman, you just got in as we are about to adjourn.
Mr. Lane was telling us of one piece of information that he had
concerning a meeting that was held at the Carousel Nightclub, about a
week, did you say----
Mr. LANE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. About a week before the assassination, at which the man
who financed this full-page article in the paper, Dallas paper, this
morning, concerning President Kennedy, and Officer Tippit, and he told
us in private here--he didn't want to mention it before the press--Jack
Ruby. And he tells us that he will try to find out from his informant
more about that, and if he possibly can deliver the information to us.
Senator COOPER. May I ask one question?
I assume from what you have said you wouldn't be able to answer it, but
was there any reason ascribed for the presence of Tippit?
Mr. LANE. My informant does not know the reason.
Senator COOPER. Or Ruby, with Weissman?
Mr. LANE. My informant does not know that information.
Representative FORD. May I ask a question, Mr. Chief Justice? When did
this information come to your attention, Mr. Lane?
Mr. LANE. Some weeks ago.
Representative FORD. Do you consider the informant a reliable,
responsible person?
Mr. LANE. Yes. I cannot vouch, of course, for the information
personally, but I believe the informant is a reliable and a responsible
person.
Representative FORD. Would your informant be willing, as far as you
know--be willing to testify and give the Commission this information
directly?
Mr. LANE. I am going to try to arrange that this evening. The Chief
Justice has indicated that his name would not be known if he did that,
and that I did not know that I could make that statement to him before
now. I hope that will be decisive.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further, gentlemen?