class="tdl in2">5334

371 5335 371 5336 371 Watson Exhibit No.: 5102 373 5103 373 5104 374 5105 374 Wiggins Exhibit No.: 5074 393 5075 394 5076 392 Worley Exhibit No.: 5047 379 5048 380 5049 381 5050 388

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Hearings Before the President's Commission
on the
Assassination of President Kennedy

TESTIMONY OF ASSISTANT CHIEF CHARLES BATCHELOR

The testimony of Assistant Chief Charles Batchelor was taken at 8:30 p.m., on March 23, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Burt W. Griffin, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. Griffin. My name is Burt Griffin. I am a member of the advisory staff of the general counsel of the President's Commission. Under the provisions of Executive Order 11130, dated November 29, 1963, and the rules of procedure adopted by the Commission in conformance with the Executive order and the joint resolution, I have been authorized to take a sworn deposition from you, Chief Batchelor.

I state to you now that 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 the subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald. In particular as to you, Chief Batchelor, the nature of the inquiry today is to determine what facts you know about the security surrounding the protection of Lee Harvey Oswald and any other pertinent facts that you may know about the general inquiry having to do with the death of President Kennedy.

Chief Batchelor, you have appeared here today by virtue of a general request made by the general counsel of the staff of the President's Commission. Under the rules adopted by the Commission, you are entitled to a 3-day written notice prior to the taking of this deposition. But the rules adopted by the Commission also provide that any witness may waive this notice. Do you now waive this notice?

Chief Batchelor. Yes.

Mr. Griffin. Would you raise your right hand and be sworn?

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Chief Batchelor. I do.

Mr. Griffin. Will you state your name for the record?

Chief Batchelor. Charles Batchelor.

Mr. Griffin. What is your age?

Chief Batchelor. Fifty-eight.

Mr. Griffin. Where do you live, Mr. Batchelor?

Chief Batchelor. 1022 Franklin Avenue, Dallas, Tex.

Mr. Griffin. What is your occupation?

Chief Batchelor. I am assistant chief of police of the Dallas Police Department.

Mr. Griffin. How long have you been with the Dallas Police Department?

Chief Batchelor. Since May 1, 1936.

Mr. Griffin. How long have you been assistant chief?

Chief Batchelor. Since January 20, 1960.

Mr. Griffin. Of course you and I have spoken at some length earlier this afternoon. In that conversation, we discussed your activities from the time that you learned that President Kennedy was shot on November 22 until Saturday, November 23, when you first heard something about the movement of Lee Harvey Oswald from the Dallas City Jail to the Dallas County Jail. I believe you told me that sometime on Saturday night you were confronted by some newspaper reporters with respect to the movement of Lee Harvey Oswald?

Chief Batchelor. Yes, sir.

Mr. Griffin. Would you tell us, Chief Batchelor, about what time of the night these reporters approached you?

Chief Batchelor. This must have been somewhere around 7:30 or 8 o'clock at night.

Mr. Griffin. Where were you?

Chief Batchelor. I was in the administrative offices of the police department at headquarters.

Mr. Griffin. That is on the third floor? On the third floor of the police and——

Chief Batchelor. Yes, sir.

Mr. Griffin. Were you inside your own office?

Chief Batchelor. No; I was out in the outer office of the administrative offices where the secretaries are.

Mr. Griffin. Do you recall how many reporters confronted you?

Chief Batchelor. There were two of them.

Mr. Griffin. Do