Mr. RANKIN. Why you didn't put it in your February--in your statement
before the February 18 one?
Mr. DEAN. Yes, sir; I believe he did, and I explained to him this
wasn't the subject--the subject of that November 26 report was my
assignment. I didn't put any of the conversation as to what Mr. Sorrels
and I talked to Mr. Ruby about. I did put at the closing paragraph, I
think, and I have a copy of it here, that my main concern was how he
got into the basement and how long he had been there because I was in
charge of the security of the basement.
Mr. RANKIN. So you didn't put it in your prior reports?
Mr. DEAN. No, sir; this was later on. Chief Curry--I think probably it
was February 18--and I think I probably wrote it that day, called me
to his office and asked me had I heard all the interview of Ruby and
Sorrels, and I told him that I did, and he asked me could I remember
it pretty well, and I said, "Yes, I believe I can remember most all of
it," and that is when Chief Curry told me that, he said, "Well, you are
going to have to testify to it because Mr. Sorrels can't because he
says he didn't warn Mr. Ruby when he was questioning him.
Well, this was fine with me. I wrote the report. This was February 18.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you tell Mr. Griffin at that time that you thought it
was unimportant or had some other reason for not including it?
Mr. DEAN. I believe that I told him that the investigation, the focal
point, was as to how he got into the basement. There was an officer,
and I knew who the officer was, I assigned him there myself, and I
felt this was more of a part of the investigation in which it was
investigated--Officer R. E. Vaughan was investigated as to whether or
not he let Ruby into the basement or saw him in the basement, and, of
course, he was cleared of this. I know of no--the only information
I passed on about that was when Jack Ruby told me how he entered. I
told my superiors and then they carried it on from there as far as the
investigation.
Mr. RANKIN. And about his planning to shoot him prior to the day
that----
Mr. DEAN. Now, this wasn't--the only time that I put that in the report
was February 18.
Mr. RANKIN. Yes; did you explain to Mr. Griffin in your prior testimony
why you didn't put it in?
Mr. DEAN. I believe that I did; I am not sure.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you want to add anything to that, just anything that you
wanted, to the Commission?
The CHAIRMAN. Do you recall whether you were asked that specific
question or not, Sergeant? May I ask, Mr. Rankin, was he asked that
question, and did he answer it?
Mr. RANKIN. I have to look at the record to be sure.
Mr. Chief Justice, in answer to your question, he was asked about what
was the first time that he had given this information and if this was
the date. He was not asked for any explanation as to why he didn't give
it at any earlier time.
The CHAIRMAN. Then we can't blame him if he didn't answer why.
Mr. RANKIN. No; I just wanted to find out if he wanted to add anything
at this time that would complete the record.
The CHAIRMAN. Yes; all right.
Mr. DEAN. Well, my main concern has been in some way this got out to
the papers. The only thing I told the papers was that I can't give any
statement. I said I have no comment, and I feel that the accusation
started with my denial because I haven't had an opportunity to deny it.
The story came out in the papers and it has been on the radio several
times, and, in fact, several times since the original, some weeks or so
after the paper learned of it of the so-called rift, as they put it.
They had the one side of it that he accused me of lying. He didn't use
the word "lie," he just said, "These are false statements, and when
you testified in court you testified falsely." He didn't use the word
"lying," and a lot of papers have since then used the word "lying."
I feel like the accusation is a lot stronger than my denial because
I haven't denied it. I haven't made any statement at all to press or
radio or any news media. I just told them it will have to come from the
Warren Commission or some other source.
Mr. RANKIN. What I was asking, Sergeant, was whether there is anything
that you would like to tell the Commission or add to your testimony
about why it wasn't in the earlier statement prior to February 18 that
you haven't already told us.
Mr. DEAN. Well, I don't think I would like--if I could, I would like
to know why Mr. Griffin had accused me of perjury. Of course, this is
something for you people to know, but I just--he wouldn't discuss it
with me.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, Sergeant, I want to say to you that, of course,
without knowing what your conversation was with Mr. Griffin, I have
never talked to Mr. Griffin about this. I didn't know that you had
this altercation with him, but I want to say this: That so far as
the jurisdiction of this Commission is concerned and its procedures,
no member of our staff has a right to tell any witness that he is
lying or that he is testifying falsely. That is not his business. It
is the business of this Commission to appraise the testimony of all
the witnesses, and, at the time you are talking about, and up to the
present time, this Commission has never appraised your testimony or
fully appraised the testimony of any other witness, and furthermore, I
want to say to you that no member of our staff has any power to help or
injure any witness.
So, so far as that conversation is concerned, there is nothing that
will be binding upon this Commission.
Mr. DEAN. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. But, as I say, I don't know what your conversation was
with Griffin, but I am just telling you as to what the limitations of
the members of our staff are.
Mr. DEAN. Yes, sir; thank you. That is about all I had.
Mr. RANKIN. That is all I have, Mr. Chief Justice.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, thank you, Sergeant, for coming and feeling as you
do, I am glad you had the frankness to come and talk to the Commission,
and offer to testify concerning it.
Mr. DEAN. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity.
The CHAIRMAN. All right, Sergeant.
Mr. DEAN. Thank you. It is nice to have met you.
Mr. RANKIN. Waggoner, do you want to take the stand for a minute about
that conversation?
The CHAIRMAN. You are going to ask the General about it?
Have you been sworn?