Testimony of Joe R. Molina

The testimony of Joe R. Molina was taken at 4:50 p.m., on April 7, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Messrs. Joseph A. Ball and Samuel A. Stern, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. Ball.

Would you rise and raise your right hand, Mr. Molina?
(Witness complying.)

Mr. Ball.

Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Molina.

I do.

Mr. Ball.

Will you state your name, please?

Mr. Molina.

Joe R. Molina.

Mr. Ball.

What is your address?

Mr. Molina.

4306 Brown.

Mr. Ball.

Tell me something about yourself; where were you born?

Mr. Molina.

I was born here in Dallas.

Mr. Ball.

What was your education?

Mr. MOLINA. Well, I went to Crozier Tech High School and I finished after I came back from the service and at that time my intention was to go to college but I got married and instead went to business college. Then later on after attending about 5 months business college, I had to find a Job because my wife was expecting a baby, consequently, I started working on-the-Job training at the Texas School Book Depository.

Mr. Ball.

About what date?

Mr. Molina.

I started working in February of 1947.

Mr. Ball.

How long have you been working there?

Mr. Molina.

16 years.

Mr. Ball.

16 years?

Mr. Molina.

Yes, sir.
Mr. BALL.. Now, you wrote the Commission a letter asking to testify, didn't you?

Mr. Molina.

Yes.

Mr. Ball.

How did you happen to do that?

Mr. MOLINA. Well, I called in. I didn't know whether I was going to be called or not and they told me, you know, that I should write a letter and ask the Commission, you know. (Letter marked Molina Exhibit A.)

Mr. Ball.

You wanted to be heard, is that right, before the Commission?

Mr. Molina.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Ball.

Did you have something particularly you wanted to tell us?

Mr. Molina.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Ball.

What is that?

Mr. MOLINA. Well, on November 23d following the assassination, I was paid a visit by the local police department at 1:30 in the morning and they sort of wanted to tie me up with this case in some way or another and they thought that I was implicated.

Mr. Ball.

What makes you think they thought you were implicated?

Mr. Molina.

Well, they were looking for something. I don't know what it was they were looking for in the house.

Mr. Ball.

They came to your house here in Dallas?

Mr. MOLINA. That's right, woke up my wife and children; scared my wife half to death.

Mr. Ball.

Did they search the house?

Mr. Molina.

Yes.

Mr. Ball.

Did they have a search warrant?

Mr. Molina.

I don't know whether they did or not.

Mr. Ball.

. Did they tell you what they were looking for?

Mr. Molina.

No.

Mr. Ball.

Then what happened?

Mr. MOLINA. Well, they asked me questions whether I knew different persons that belong to the G.I. Forum-----
Mr. BALL. To what?