Mr. JENNER. Now the letter of May 25th to you does make reference to
visits to the French Quarter, is that correct?
Mrs. PAINE. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Gentlemen of the Commission, that portion of the letter
reads as follows:
"Now a bit about the impressions I have received this week. Last
Saturday we went to Aunt Lillian's"--Aunt Lillian, Mrs. Paine, is Lee
Oswald's aunt?
Mrs. PAINE. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Mrs. Murret?
Mrs. PAINE. Mrs. Murret.
Mr. JENNER. "And leaving June with her we are at the lake. Lee wanted
to catch crabs but caught nothing. I have a very high opinion of his
relatives."
By the way, what was your opinion of his relatives?
Mrs. PAINE. I met them only once. I thought them to be very nice.
Mr. JENNER. "Straightforward and kind people. To me they are very
attentive. I like them. We have been to the French Quarter in the
evening. It is a shame you didn't manage to get there in the evening.
For me it was especially interesting as it was the first time in my
life I had seen such. There were many night clubs there. Through the
open doors were visible barrel covered dancing girls (so as not to say
entirely unclothed). Most of them had really very pretty, rare figures
and if one doesn't think about too many things then one can like them
very much. There were a great many tourists there. For the most part
very rich. We have been to the near park again."
That is all of that paragraph dealing with the nightclubs. Now, did you
ever know a man or person by the name of Jack Rubinstein or Jack Ruby?
Mrs. PAINE. No.
Mr. JENNER. Prior to November 24, 1963?
Mrs. PAINE. No.
Mr. JENNER. Did you ever hear of any such individual?
Mrs. PAINE. No, I did not.
Mr. JENNER. Had you frequented a nightclub in Irving or in Dallas prior
to November 24, 1963?
Mrs. PAINE. Not at any time. In either town.
Mr. JENNER. You and your husband Michael were not in the habit of
visiting, frequenting nightclubs?
Mrs. PAINE. No.
Mr. JENNER. It is a fact, is it not, Mrs. Paine that neither you nor
Mr. Paine attended nightclubs at all?
Mrs. PAINE. That is correct.
Mr. JENNER. Is this true prior to your moving to Irving?
Mrs. PAINE. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Was there anything that occurred during all these months of
your acquaintance with the Oswalds that did or might have led you to
any opinion as to Lee's frequenting of nightclubs or his acquaintance
with nightclubs or his being intimate with nightclub people?
Mrs. PAINE. During the entire time, is that your question?
Mr. JENNER. Yes. Let us end the day for you for this purpose at
November 22, 1963?
Mrs. PAINE. He was, I would say, actively disinterested in going down
to Bourbon Street in the last weekend in September.
Mr. JENNER. But even prior to that time?
Mrs. PAINE. It was the 21st.
Mr. JENNER. Had anything occurred by way of a remark at all that made
an impression on you in the area of his being acquainted possibly with
any nightclub people, any entertainers?
Mrs. PAINE. There had been no hint of any sort that he was acquainted
with nightclub people?
Mr. McCLOY. Whether in Dallas, New Orleans or Irving?
Mrs. PAINE. That is right. Of course, I had not talked to him a great
deal up to the New Orleans trip. Then after that time there was also no
hint or mention of any nightclub people. After that time in New Orleans
he did refuse table wine at my home, so I got the impression of him as
a person who didn't like to drink.
Mr. JENNER. During all your acquaintance with Lee Harvey Oswald, did
you ever see him take a drink of spirits, intoxicating spirits?
Mrs. PAINE. It is possible he had beer at the initial party on the 22d
of February, that is as far as I can remember.
Mr. JENNER. What impression did you have of him as a man of temperance?
Mrs. PAINE. He teased Marina about liking wine as if it displeased him
mildly.
Mr. JENNER. Excuse me, Mrs. Paine. You are talking in terms of
conclusions which is all right with me if you will give me the
specifics also. Could you give us an example or an occasion of what you
have in mind?
Mrs. PAINE. Well, at the same occasion when he refused the wine, she
had some.
Mr. JENNER. I see. Did he say something that led you to say he was
teasing her?
Mrs. PAINE. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Would you describe what that was?
Mrs. PAINE. Indicating a mild disapproval.
Mr. JENNER. Would you please relate to the Commission your impression
of Marina Oswald as a temperate person?
Mrs. PAINE. She did not like liquors.
Mr. JENNER. What we would call hard liquor?
Mrs. PAINE. Strong spirits.
Mr. JENNER. Strong spirits.
Mrs. PAINE. But she did drink beer at my home, and did occasionally
have wine.
Mr. JENNER. She occasionally had a bit of wine and she occasionally had
some beer?
Mrs. PAINE. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Is that the extent of, as far as your personal knowledge is
concerned, her indulgence in intoxicating spirits?
Mrs. PAINE. That is right.