Mr. Mike Howard came out at 1 o'clock. We did some errands. I had to
buy some luggage, and a few little things for the trip. Then we had
supper. And at 5:30 we picked up the papers, because on Friday in Fort
Worth, Tex., the bank opens from 4 to 6--on Friday evening. So we
picked up the papers before 6 o'clock.
Now, I thought I had protection that night. I had protection that night
until 12 o'clock. And then I understand that the Fort Worth police were
circling the neighborhood.
Now, that is not complete protection.
I am a government witness, with important papers. And Mr. Rankin had--I
requested protection--suppose someone had come to the door, or just
shot through my home? The police circling three or four blocks away is
not complete protection.
So Saturday morning I wanted to go out to breakfast. I kept opening
the door and looking through the windows. And I never did see any men
circling the neighborhood. There was nobody around. At 10:30 this
morning I was still doing that. And by the way, a police car passed by
and I hailed him and asked him if he could check in the neighborhood
for the Secret Service, if they were circling the neighborhood--because
I want to put my garbage out, and I needed to go out, didn't have
breakfast. He said he didn't know what the Secret Service looked like,
and he offered to come to the back and put the garbage out for me,
which this Fort Worth policeman did.
So at 11 o'clock I called Mr. Mike Howard's home. His wife answered the
phone.
I said, "I am very uneasy. I don't have protection. I have been looking
for Secret Service men all morning."
I was going out on the porch--I was opening the screen door and going
out on the porch. There is a school ground opposite my house. And
nobody ever came. I was not under protection.