The testimony of Marilyn Dorothea Murret was taken on April 6, 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.
Marilyn Dorothea Murret, a witness, having been duly sworn by Mr.
Wesley J. Liebeler to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help her God, testified as follows:
Mr. LIEBELER. 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. The Commission has authorized staff members to
take the testimony of witnesses pursuant to authority granted to it by
Executive Order 11130, dated November 29, 1963, and Joint Resolution of
Congress number 137.
I understand Mr. Rankin wrote you last week and told you that I would
be in touch with you concerning the taking of your testimony, and I
understand that he enclosed with his letter a copy of the Executive
order to which I have just referred, as well as the copy of the Joint
Resolution of Congress, and the rules of procedure adopted by the
Commission governing the taking of testimony of witnesses, is that
correct?
Miss MURRET. Yes, sir.
Mr. LIEBELER. You are technically entitled to 3-days' notice of this
hearing under the Commission's rules. As I understand it, the Secret
Service contacted you on Friday of last week. This may not actually be
3-days' notice, but you have the right to waive that notice. I presume
that you are willing to do so, since you are here and willing to
testify?
Miss MURRET. Yes, sir.
Mr. LIEBELER. The general nature of the Commission's inquiry is
to ascertain, evaluate, and report upon the facts relating to the
assassination of President Kennedy and to the subsequent death of Lee
Harvey Oswald. We want to inquire of you as to any knowledge that
you may have of the background of Lee Harvey Oswald, and as to any
knowledge that you may have of his activities while he was here in New
Orleans during the spring and summer of 1963.
Miss MURRET. Yes, sir.
Mr. LIEBELER. Before we get into the details of your knowledge on those
questions, would you please state your full name for the record?
Miss MURRET. Marilyn Dorothea Murret.
Mr. LIEBELER. Where do you live?
Miss MURRET. 757 French.
Mr. LIEBELER. Where were you born, Miss Murret?
Miss MURRET. New Orleans.
Mr. LIEBELER. Have you lived all of your life here in New Orleans?
Miss MURRET. Well, except for the time I traveled and I lived 2 years
in St. Louis.
Mr. LIEBELER. Well, would you give us a brief run-down of your
educational background?
Miss MURRET. Well, from elementary on?
Mr. LIEBELER. Yes.
Miss MURRET. I went to John Dibert Elementary School, and John McDonogh
High School.
Mr. LIEBELER. Those are both located here in the city of New Orleans?
Miss MURRET. Yes, sir; and Loyola University, and L.S.U. at Baton
Rouge, and Tulane, and a summer at Duke, and University of California,
the Sorbonne, and University of Madrid, and St. Louis University----
Mr. LIEBELER. What degrees do you hold from these schools which you
have mentioned?
Miss MURRET. I just have a B.A., and the others were educational
courses--instead of going to one school, I just went to various ones.
Mr. LIEBELER. What school gave you your B.A.?
Miss MURRET. Tulane.
Mr. LIEBELER. Tulane University?
Miss MURRET. Yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. I understand that you are a teacher. Is that correct?
Miss MURRET. Yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. Are you presently teaching?
Miss MURRET. Yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. Where?
Miss MURRET. Fortier?
Mr. LIEBELER. Where is that?
Miss MURRET. Fortier.
Mr. LIEBELER. Have you taught at the Junior University of New Orleans?
Miss MURRET. Yes; unfortunately.
Mr. LIEBELER. When did teach there?
Miss MURRET. September through December, but he didn't pay us--he paid
the first check, but he is out of business at the moment, and he didn't
pay the last two. But he recently paid me for the November check, and
he still owes me for December.
Mr. LIEBELER. This is the person who is running the Junior University
of New Orleans?
Miss MURRET. Yes; it is closed down now, but he still has the one
across the river. He had two, one on this side, and----
Mr. LIEBELER. Two so-called universities?
Miss MURRET. Yes, sir. But the one on it St. Charles is closed, and the
one across the river is still operating.