Oswald. I told him that I would go to Russia if he would give me a divorce, but he did not want to give me a divorce.
Mr. Rankin. Did he say why?
Mrs. Oswald. He said that if he were to give me a divorce that that would break everything between us, which he didn't want. That he wanted to keep me as his wife, but I told him that if he wants to remain in the United States I want to be free in Russia.
Mr. Rankin. During this period did he appear to be more excited and nervous?
Mrs. Oswald. Not particularly, but the later time he was more excited and more nervous but it was quite a contrast between the way he was in Russia.
Mr. Rankin. By the later time that you just referred to what do you mean? Can you give us some approximate date?
Mrs. Oswald. When we went to Neely Street.
The Chairman. I think this is a good time to take our luncheon recess now. So, we will adjourn until 2 o'clock.
Mrs. Oswald. Thank you.
(Whereupon, at 12:30 p.m., the President's Commission recessed.)
Afternoon Session
TESTIMONY OF MRS. LEE HARVEY OSWALD RESUMED
The President's Commission reconvened at 2 p.m.
The Chairman. All right. Let us proceed.
(The Chairman administered the oath to Alvin I. Mills, Stenotype Reporter.)
Mr. Rankin. Mr. Reporter, do you have the last questions?
In the future, would you do that, so we can refresh the witness about the last couple of questions on her testimony? I think it will make it easier for her, if she doesn't have to try to remember all the time.
Mr. Rankin. Mrs. Oswald, as I recall you were telling us about these developments at Neely Street when you found that your husband was suggesting that you go back to Russia alone and you discussed that matter, and you thought it had something to do with the idea he had, which I understood you have discovered as you looked back or thought back later but didn't know at the time fully. Is that right?
Mrs. Oswald. That is correct.
Mr. Rankin. Could you tell us those things that you observed that caused you to think he had something in mind at that time, and I will ask you later, after you tell us, those that you discovered since or that you have obtained more light on since.
Mrs. Oswald. At that time I did not think anything about it. I had no reasons to think that he had something in mind. I did not understand him at that time.
Mr. Rankin. Do you recall the first time that you observed the rifle?
Mrs. Oswald. That was on Neely Street. I think that was in February.
Mr. Rankin. How did you learn about it? Did you see it some place in the apartment?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes, Lee had a small room where he spent a great deal of time, where he read—where he kept his things, and that is where the rifle was.
Mr. Rankin. Was it out in the room at that time, as distinguished from in a closet in the room?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes, it was open, out in the open. At first I think—I saw some package up on the top shelf, and I think that that was the rifle. But I didn't know. And apparently later he assembled it and had it in the room.
Mr. Rankin. When you saw the rifle assembled in the room, did it have the scope on it?
Mrs. Oswald. No, it did not have a scope on it.
Mr. Rankin. Did you have any discussion with your husband about the rifle when you first saw it?
Mrs. Oswald. Of course I asked him, "What do you need a rifle for? What do we need that for?"
He said that it would come in handy some time for hunting. And this was not too surprising because in Russia, too, we had a rifle.
Mr. Rankin. In Russia did you have a rifle or a shotgun?
Mrs. Oswald. I don't know the difference. One and the other shoots. You men. That is your business.
The Chairman. My wife wouldn't know the difference, so it is all right.
Mrs. Oswald. I have never served in the Army.
Mr. Rankin. Did you discuss what the rifle cost with your husband?
Mrs. Oswald. No.
Mr. Rankin. Was the rifle later placed in a closet in the apartment at Neely Street?
Mrs. Oswald. No, it was always either in a corner, standing up in a corner or on a shelf.
Mr. Rankin. Do you know what happened to the gun that you had in Russia? Was it brought over to this country?
Mrs. Oswald. No, he sold it there. I did not say so when I had the first interviews. You must understand this was my husband. I didn't want to say too much.
Mr. Rankin. Is this rifle at Neely Street the only rifle that you know of that your husband had after you were married to him?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Did you ever show that rifle to the De Mohrenschildts?
Mrs. Oswald. I know that De Mohrenschildts had said that the rifle had been shown to him, but I don't remember that.
Mr. Rankin. Do you recall your husband taking the rifle away from the apartment on Neely Street at any time?
Mrs. Oswald. You must know that the rifle—it isn't as if it was out in the open. He would hang a coat or something to mask its presence in the room. And sometimes when he walked out, when he went out in the evening I didn't know, because I didn't go into that room very often. I don't know whether he took it with him or not.
Mr. Rankin. Did you ever see him clean the rifle?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes. I said before I had never seen it before. But I think you understand. I want to help you, and that is why there is no reason for concealing anything. I will not be charged with anything.
Mr. Gopadze. She says she was not sworn in before. But now inasmuch as she is sworn in, she is going to tell the truth.
Mr. Rankin. Did you see him clean the rifle a number of times?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Could you help us by giving some estimate of the times as you remember it?
Mrs. Oswald. About four times—about four or five times, I think.
Mr. Rankin. Did your husband ever tell you why he was cleaning the—that is, that he had been using it and needed to be cleaned after use?
Mrs.
