She spoke English.
Mr. RANKIN. What I would like to find out for the Commission, if we
can, in regard to speaking English, did you think she was able to talk
English fluently, or did you think she was in the process of learning
it?
Mrs. OSWALD. She was in the process of learning. But she understood
more than she could talk.
And I have a letter from Lee stating that Marina also speaks and
understands French, that she had learned at grammar school.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you know French?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir.
Mr. RANKIN. So you could not tell?
Mrs. OSWALD. I could not tell.
And I didn't think a thing of it.
And, of course. Marina and Lee spoke Russian all the time, even in
front of me.
And you asked about this time--it was a very happy time. They would sit
at the table. They were playing a game, and I said to Lee, "What is it
you are doing?"
Because they were always talking in Russian.
"Mother, we are playing a game which is similar to American
tic-tac-toe."
And they also taught each other. They had books. They are both
children--very intelligent and studious. Lee was teaching Marina
English, and Marina was teaching him some things that he wanted to know
about Russia, in my home.
Mr. RANKIN. Now, you were saying that he got this job at the Leslie
Manufacturing Co.
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, sir.
And then his first pay--he kept his first pay. And then the second pay,
he rented the home on Mercedes Street, which is the south side, and
approximately 10 blocks from where I lived at the Rotary Apartment, and
approximately 10 blocks from where he was to work.
Lee had no car, and Lee walked to and back from work, which helped to
save money.
Now, you must understand that this couple had no money, and had
nothing. I gave them some dishes, and some silverware, and just a few
little things that I could help out with.
But Lee did have the first week's pay.
And then the second week's pay. And he rented this home which was
$59.50 a month. It was a nice little one-bedroom furnished duplex, in a
nice neighborhood, convenient to his work.
But then that leaves the boy broke.
I brought food into the house. I never like to talk about the other
members of the family, because to me that is speculation. But I know
that Robert brought food, also, in the house. And they were not in
want. Marina nursed June.
Now, it has been stated in the paper that the Russian friends have gone
into the home and they are talking about this home, and found that they
were in desperate straits, that there was no food in the house, and no
milk for the baby.