with him on various occasions any of these contracts, but that he was—he would take over the handling of Marina's affairs in case of my disability.
Mr. Leech. Off the record.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Rankin. Was there anything more said than you have related about what Robert would do for his share?
Mr. Martin. No. I think I probably remarked to him that there would probably be plenty for him to do.
Mr. Rankin. Was there any dispute between any of you or with Marina at this time about the percentages?
Mr. Martin. No. The only thing that I recall was the terms of the contract, of my contract.
Mr. Rankin. Was something said about that?
Mr. Martin. Was 10 years.
Mr. Rankin. Yes.
Mr. Martin. And Marina thought that was too long.
Mr. Rankin. What did she say about that?
Mr. Martin. She said she thought 10 years was too long.
Mr. Rankin. What did you say?
Mr. Martin. Let's see, she wanted a 1 year contract and I told her that actually 1 year, there is no telling how this story would develop or anything, and that 1 year might interfere with the sale of the story.
Mr. Rankin. What did she say to that?
Mr. Martin. That they agreed to it.
Mr. Rankin. She agreed then to the 10 years?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Was any interpreter present at that time?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. So whatever Marina understood about was from her understanding of English and communication with you and Robert and Mr. Thorne?
Mr. Martin. Well, Lee Gopadze had discussed it prior to that.
Mr. Rankin. Was that in your presence?
Mr. Martin. No. He just discussed it, the general terms, I assume.
Mr. Rankin. But you don't know.
Mr. Martin. Of course. I couldn't understand what he was saying. We left the contracts with her for several days.
Mr. Rankin. But you don't know what was done with them?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. Because you weren't present.
Do you know whether she understood English enough to read those contracts at that time?
Mr. Martin. No. She couldn't have read the contracts at that time. But she said she understood it sufficiently, and that she would trust Robert's judgment on it.
Mr. Rankin. When did she say that?
Mr. Martin. Just before—I guess the same day she signed it.
Mr. Rankin. I will ask you to look at Exhibit No. 279 and tell us whether you recognize the signatures on that?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Whose signatures are they?
Mr. Martin. Mrs. Marina N. Oswald and James H. Martin.
Mr. Rankin. In the parts that are stricken out——
Mr. Martin. John M. Thorne.
Mr. Rankin. On Exhibit No. 279 were those stricken out before the discussion of the contract?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Was that done when you were there?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Did you observe the signing?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Leech. They were not signed the date it says they were signed.
Mr. Martin. On the 5th.
Mr. Leech. The date it says they were signed that is the date they were drawn up but they were all signed the same time, weren't they, Mr. Martin?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Can you tell us what the facts are in that regard, Mr. Martin?
Mr. Martin. The contracts were drawn—let's see—the contracts were drawn and Robert wanted to go over them, so we held it in abeyance. I think he was there on a Sunday and he came back on a Tuesday, I am not sure about the days, and signed the contracts.
Mr. Rankin. Do you know the signature of Marina Oswald?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Will you tell us whether or not Exhibit No. 279 bears her signature?
Mr. Martin. Yes, it does.
Mr. Rankin. It appears to be witnessed by you, is that your signature?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. And the acceptance at the bottom of Exhibit No. 279, do you know whose signature that is?
Mr. Martin. John Thorne's.
Mr. Rankin. And you say that the exhibit was, the contract, Exhibit No. 279 was executed on the 6th rather than the 5th day of December.
Mr. Martin. Well, I can't recall the dates on it.
Mr. Leech. Excuse me for just a minute.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Leech. Counsel, for what it is worth, Robert's was executed at the same time as the other ones. I believe his is dated the 9th, isn't it? So it would have been the 9th or afterwards. They were all executed at the same time.
Mr. Rankin. Mr. Martin, do you know that?
Mr. Martin. I know they were all executed the same time.
Mr. Rankin. Whether or not it was the 9th or the 6th you don't recall at this time?
Mr. Martin. No. I am fairly certain it was not the 6th.
Mr. Rankin. Are you certain what date it was?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. What is your best recollection in that regard?
Mr. Martin. Well, it was several days after the contracts were drawn that they were executed, and I believe the contracts were drawn, and the date that they were drawn was entered on the contract.
Mr. Rankin. You think that might have
