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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XII - Page 235« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of William J. Harrison)

Mr. Macmaster.
Ted P. MacMaster [spelling] M-a-c-M-a-s-t-e-r, assistant city attorney of the city of Dallas.
Mr. Griffin.
I wanted to provide for you, before we even get into the formal part of it a copy of the rules, and I think this is a complete copy, Mr. MacMaster, and, if you like, let me hand them to you.
Mr. Macmaster.
That is fine. Thank you.
Mr. Griffin.
And let me state, talk a little bit about this, and then maybe, if you feel that you would like to stop and take a look at it a little longer, I would be happy to do that. I will state for the record that my name is Burt Griffin and I am a member of the advisory staff of the general counsel's office of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, and this Commission has been set up pursuant to an Executive Order 11130 by President Johnson issued November 29, 1963, and also pursuant to a joint resolution of Congress No. 137. Pursuant to this Executive order and these resolutions, there have been a set of rules and a procedure prescribed by the Commission, and I believe, Mr. MacMaster, that what I have just handed you is a copy, and I believe a complete copy, of the rules, but if you would like for me to check and make sure that is everything, I will check with one of my colleagues. Would--
Mr. Macmaster.
Yes; I would appreciate that.
Mr. Griffin.
Would you like me to ?
Mr. Macmaster.
Yes.
Mr. Griffin.
I will have to take it. (Recess.)
Mr. Griffin.
For the record, I have checked with my colleague, Mr. Leon Hubert, and he confirms my statement to you that that is a complete copy of the rules of the Commission.
Mr. Macmaster.
I would like to state for the record, Officer William J. Harrison, a member of the police department of the city of Dallas, Tex., is making a voluntary appearance here today and is here for the purpose of voluntarily assisting, in every way possible, in this investigation.
Mr. Griffin.
I certainly appreciate that, and let me take some time here to explain to you what is involved here. This Commission was set up under this resolution and this Executive order, which I have given you a copy of, for the purpose of investigating, evaluating, reporting back to President Johnson upon the facts surrounding the assassination of the President and the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald. Now, we have asked Mr. Harrison to come here today to talk with him in particular about the facts that are attendant to the killing of Oswald. We don't want to preclude any information that you may have that falls any where within the scope of the Commission, so if there is anything, why I would like you on your own to bring it up and we want very much to hear it.
Let me go back and explain where we are procedurally. Officer Harrison is appearing here by virtue of a letter, which is sent by the General Counsel of the Commission to Chief Curry, and the General Counsel, under these resolutions, has the right to determine who shall be deposed and also has the authority to authorize individual members of his staff to take individual depositions, and I have been authorized, pursuant to that letter to Mr. Curry, to take Mr. Harrison's deposition. Now, the witness is entitled to 3 days' written notice before he testifies before the Commission, and some of the witnesses have asked for it, others of them haven't.
Mr. Macmaster.
You don't have any reason for that?
Mr. Harrison.
No.
Mr. Macmaster.
He wants to waive that 3-day notice.
Mr. Harrison.
Just waive it.
Mr. Griffin.
And, also, they have a right to counsel before the Commission. Many of the witnesses have come before the Commission, and Mr. Harrison is here with Mr. MacMaster, who is his attorney - Do you have any questions you want to ask me before I swear the witness in?
Mr. Macmaster.
No; not that I know of at this point.
Mr. Griffin.
Mr. Harrison, do you have any questions that you would like to ask me?
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