The testimony of Frank E. Reilly was taken at 2 p.m., on April 8, 1964,
in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and
Ervay Streets, Dallas. Tex., by Mr. Joseph A. Ball, assistant counsel
of the President's Commission.
Mr. BALL. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give
before the Commission will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. REILLY. Yes; I do.
Mr. BALL. Will you state your name, please?
Mr. REILLY. Frank E. Reilly.
Mr. BALL. What is your address?
Mr. REILLY. 3309 Thibet, T-h-i-b-e-t [spelling].
Mr. BALL. What is your occupation?
Mr. REILLY. Electrician, Union Terminal.
Mr. BALL. You received a letter from the Commission, didn't you?
Mr. REILLY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL. Advising you that your deposition was to be taken?
Mr. REILLY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL. Where were you born and raised?
Mr. REILLY. I was born in Fort Worth.
Mr. BALL. How many years ago?
Mr. REILLY. I left over there when I was 17 and I am 70 now.
Mr. BALL. What kind of education do you have?
Mr. REILLY. Not too good--I went through the ninth grade.
Mr. BALL. What have you done since then, generally, just in a general
way--you don't need to go into great detail?
Mr. REILLY. I've been with the Terminal Co. since 1916.
Mr. BALL. You have been a railroad man all of your life, then?
Mr. REILLY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL. On November 22, 1963, were you working for the Union Terminal
Co.?
Mr. REILLY. Yes.
Mr. BALL. What were you doing that day?
Mr. REILLY. We had been working on the mail conveyor up close to the
other end.
Mr. BALL. What was that?
Mr. REILLY. Mail conveyor.
Mr. BALL. Who were you working with?
Mr. REILLY. I was by myself--it was on a Friday.
Mr. BALL. About noon did you go down to someplace near Elm Street?
Mr. REILLY. I went over to Mr. Holland's shop and then we went up there
together to see the parade.
Mr. BALL. You went over to Mr. Holland's office?
Mr. REILLY. Mr. Holland's shop.
Mr. BALL. What is Mr. Holland's occupation?
Mr. REILLY. He is a signal supervisor.
Mr. BALL. For the Union Terminal Co.?
Mr. REILLY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL. Then, where did you go?
Mr. REILLY. We taken a walk up through the overpass right there.
Mr. BALL. Where did you stand on the overpass?
Mr. REILLY. Well, we went over to the railing and stood there.
Mr. BALL. And with reference to what streets--were you standing over
Elm, over Main, or over Commerce?
Mr. REILLY. Well, you mean when this parade came down?
Mr. BALL. Yes.
Mr. REILLY. We were between them.
Mr. BALL. Between what streets?
Mr. REILLY. Elm and Main.
Mr. BALL. I have a map here which has been used in the deposition of
another witness, but it gives some idea of the location there--this is
north--this shows the corner of Elm and Houston Streets.
Mr. REILLY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL. And it shows where Elm turns and goes under the railroad, the
overpass.
Mr. REILLY. We were between the two.
Mr. BALL. Will you take this pen and this is Elm and here is Main, and
make a mark and show me where you were standing?
Mr. REILLY. This is the overpass right there?
Mr. BALL. Yes; this is the overpass.
Mr. REILLY. We was between these two streets--there was big banisters
up there and it was about like that, I guess.
Mr. BALL. We will put a mark there.
Mr. REILLY. (The witness Reilly marked the instrument as requested by
Counsel Ball.)
Mr. BALL. And I will put on that position "7"--you were standing there
when the motorcade came along?
Mr. REILLY. Yes.
Mr. BALL. Who was standing there with you?
Mr. REILLY. I believe it was Mr. Dodd and Skinney.
Mr. BALL. And what are his initials?
Mr. REILLY. Dick Dodd.
Mr. BALL. That's R. C. Dodd, isn't it?
Mr. REILLY. I think so.
Mr. BALL. And what is his position with the Union Terminal Co.?
Mr. REILLY. Foreman of the laborers.
Mr. BALL. Who else was with him?
Mr. REILLY. These two fellows here--were standing out there, but I
don't know their names?
Mr. BALL. What are their names?
Mr. REILLY. I don't know their names--I don't even associate with them.
Mr. BALL. What about Mr. Holland?
Mr. REILLY. We were together.
Mr. BALL. S. M. Holland was there?
Mr. REILLY. We were together.
Mr. BALL. Holland and Dodd and you?
Mr. REILLY. And me.
Mr. BALL. Then, there were how many other men?
Mr. REILLY. Well, there were three or four--but I don't know who they
were.
Mr. BALL. You have seen two of them here, haven't you?
Mr. REILLY. Yes; two of them out there.