Testimony of Mrs. Lillian Murret

The testimony of Mrs. Lillian Murret was taken on April 6, 1964, at the Old Civil Courts Building, Royal and Conti Streets, New Orleans, La. by Mr. Albert E. Jennet, Jr., assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mrs. Lillian Murret, 757 French Street, New Orleans, La., after first being sworn by Mr. Albert E. Jenner, testified as follows:

Mr. Jenner.

Mrs. Murret, you received, did you not, a letter from Mr. Rankin, general counsel of the President's Commission?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

Asking you voluntarily to appear here for the taking of your deposition.

Mrs. Murret.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

And there was enclosed with that letter, was there not, three documents.

Mrs. Murret.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

One was Senate Joint Resolution No. 137, which is the legislation authorizing the creation of the Presidential Commission to investigate the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, our President; another was the Executive order of President Johnson appointing the Commission and empowering it to proceed, the Executive Order being No. 11130, and a copy of the rules and regulations for the taking of testimony, adopted by the Commission itself. Did you receive those?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, if you can remember, Mrs. Murret--and don't feel offended by this--but ordinarily witnesses do nod or shake their heads and that doesn't get into the record, so if you will answer right out, then it will be in the record. Do you understand that?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Experienced court reporters like this gentleman do catch head nodding and head wagging, but technically they are not supposed to interpret the intent of the witness. Do you understand that, Mrs. Murret?

Mrs. Murret.

I understand.

Mr. Jenner.

All right. I assume that you gathered from these documents that the Commission was created and appointed to investigate all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the tragic event of November 22, 1963, did you not?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Mr. Liebeler and myself, we are attorneys on the legal staff of the Commission. It is our task to investigate the life of Lee Harvey Oswald from the time of his birth until his demise on the 24th of November, which was on a Sunday, 1963, which gives our Commission a pretty broad area of investigation, so to speak, and one of our purposes in particular is to take the depositions of people such as you who in any way touched the life of Lee Harvey Oswald or those with whom he was acquainted perhaps, either directly or collaterally. We understand from the FBI reports and otherwise, from FBI interviews with you, that you will be able to help us.

Mrs. Murret.

Well, I will if I can.

Mr. Jenner.

All right. Now, just sit back and relax. There's nothing going to happen to you. We just want to ask you what you know about Oswald, his mother, and others with whom he came in contact, to your knowledge.

Mrs. Murret.

Do you just want me to tell you what I know about his life?

Mr. Jenner.

Yes; as far as you know. I will just ask you questions, and I believe it will help us if you just answer them to the best of your knowledge. I wonder if we might get the lady a glass of water.
(Glass of water given to witness.)
Mrs. Murret, let me orient you for a moment. You are the sister of Lee Harvey Oswald's mother, are you not?

Mrs. Murret.

Yes; I am.

Mr. Jenner.

First, what was your maiden name, Mrs. Muttet?

Mrs. Murret.

Claverie.