The testimony of Mrs. Bennierita Smith was taken on April 7-8, 1964, at
the Old Civil Courts Building, Royal and Conti Streets, New Orleans,
La., by Mr. Wesley J. Liebeler, assistant counsel of the President's
Commission.
Mrs. Bennierita Smith, having been first duly sworn, was examined and
testified as follows:
Mr. LIEBELER. Mrs. Smith, my name is Wesley J. Liebeler. I am a member
of the legal staff of the President's Commission investigating the
assassination of President Kennedy. Staff members have been authorized
to take the testimony of witnesses by the Commission pursuant to the
authority granted to the Commission by Executive Order No. 11130, dated
November 29, 1963, and Joint Resolution of Congress No. 137.
I understand that Mr. Rankin wrote to you last week indicating that I
would be in touch with you concerning your testimony.
Mrs. SMITH. Yes; he did.
Mr. LIEBELER. And that he enclosed with his letter a copy of the
Executive order and of the resolution to which I have just referred,
as well as a copy of the rules of procedure adopted by the Commission
concerning the taking of testimony of witnesses. Did you receive Mr.
Rankin's letter and those documents?
Mrs. SMITH. Yes; I did.
Mr. LIEBELER. One of the areas of inquiry of the Commission relates to
the background and possible motive of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged
assassin of the President. We understand that you knew Lee Oswald at
some point while he was living here in New Orleans. Before we get into
the details of that, however, I would like to have you state your name
for the record, if you will.
Mrs. SMITH. Bennierita Smith.
Mr. LIEBELER. You are married? Is that correct?
Mrs. SMITH. Yes, sir.
Mr. LIEBELER. What was your name before you were married?
Mrs. SMITH. Sparacio. My maiden name?
Mr. LIEBELER. Yes.
Mrs. SMITH. Sparacio, S-p-a-r-a-c-i-o.
Mr. LIEBELER. Where do you live?
Mrs. SMITH. 3522 Delambert in Chalmette.
Mr. LIEBELER. Where and when were you born?
Mrs. SMITH. I was born in New Orleans the 20th of January 1940.
Mr. LIEBELER. Would you outline for us your educational background,
please.
Mrs. SMITH. Starting from kindergarten?
Mr. LIEBELER. Yes.
Mrs. SMITH. Well, I went to St. Dominic's. That is on Harrison Avenue
in Lakeview. Then I went--it was either the third or fourth grade I
transferred to Lakeview School, and then when I finished Lakeview
School I went on to Beauregard, and from there to Warren Easton, and
that is all the schooling I have had.
Mr. LIEBELER. Did you graduate from Warren Easton High School?
Mrs. SMITH. Yes, sir.
Mr. LIEBELER. When did you graduate?
Mrs. SMITH. 1958.
Mr. LIEBELER. Am I correct in understanding that you attended
Beauregard Junior High School at the same time that Lee Oswald did?
Mrs. SMITH. Yes, sir.
Mr. LIEBELER. Did you know Lee Oswald at the time you both attended
Beauregard Junior High School?
Mrs. SMITH. Well, I knew him from seeing him walk around school, and
well, I guess I could remember him so much because he was always
getting in fights with people, but as far as really knowing him well
outside of school, you know, seeing him, I don't.
Mr. LIEBELER. Well, now you mentioned that he was always getting in
fights?
Mrs. SMITH. Yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. Will you tell us what you know about that?
Mrs. SMITH. One fight really impressed me, I guess because there was
this boy--he wasn't going to Beauregard, this boy he had the fight
with, and he was a little guy. I think his name was Robin Riley. He hit
Lee, and his tooth came through his lip.
Mr. LIEBELER. Through the upper part of his lip?