Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Appendix XI: Oswald Interrogation Reports

Appendix XI compiles reports relating to the interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald at the Dallas Police Department. Oswald was interrogated for approximately 12 hours between 2:30 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 1963, and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, November 24, 1963. There were no stenographic or tape recordings of these interviews. Several investigators present at the interrogations prepared memoranda of their recollections prior to testifying before the Commission. The appendix presents the most important of these reports, beginning with Capt. J.W. Fritz’s report.

Capt. J.W. Fritz Interrogation Report

Capt. J.W. Fritz of the Dallas Police Department submitted a detailed report titled “Interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald.” The report describes the investigation at the Texas Book Depository Building on November 22, 1963, including the discovery of three empty cartridge cases, the rifle found partially hidden under boxes, and the notification from Mr. Roy S. Truly that Oswald had left the building. Fritz then traveled to City Hall with Dets. R.K. Sims and E.L. Boyd, where he learned of Officer J.D. Tippit’s shooting in Oak Cliff and that Oswald had been brought in as a suspect. Fritz instructed officers to bring Oswald to his office, and during the interview he was joined by FBI agents Jim Bookhout and James P. Hosty, who had been requested by Gordon Shanklin, Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas office. The report covers multiple interrogation sessions over November 22-23, 1963, including showups, complaints signed before the District Attorney’s office, and Oswald’s arraignments before Judge David Johnston.

Initial Post-Assassination Interrogation

During the initial interrogation, Fritz asked Oswald basic identifying questions about his employment at the Texas School Book Depository, his usual work location (second floor), and his location at the time of the shooting. Oswald claimed to be having lunch on the first floor, then later said he was on the second floor drinking a Coca-Cola when stopped by a police officer. Oswald explained leaving the building early by stating there was too much excitement for more work to be done that day. When asked about a rifle, Oswald denied ownership, claiming he had only seen one at the building a few days earlier being examined by Mr. Truly and employees. Oswald stated he went to his room at 1026 North Beckley, changed his trousers, got his pistol, and went to a picture show, carrying the pistol “like boys do when they have a gun.” Fritz also noted that Oswald asked for an attorney and was told he could have any attorney he liked and use the telephone, with Oswald expressing a desire to talk to Mr. Abt, an attorney in New York. [References showups at 4:35 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:55 pm]

Oswald Rifle Ownership Statements

Throughout the interrogations, Oswald consistently denied owning a rifle. He admitted to seeing a rifle at the building a few days before the assassination and claimed Mr. Truly and some employees were looking at it. When asked if he owned a rifle in Russia, Oswald responded that one cannot buy a rifle in Russia, only shotguns, and stated he had owned a shotgun in Russia. Marina Oswald had informed Fritz that she thought the rifle might have been brought from New Orleans, which Oswald denied. She also said the rifle looked like her husband’s and that he had been keeping it in the garage at Mrs. Paine’s home in Irving. Marina could not positively identify the rifle but said it looked like her husband’s. Fritz instructed officers to conduct thorough searches of both the Paine garage and Oswald’s room on Beckley.

Oswald Travel and Belongings Statements

Oswald provided various statements about his movements and belongings. He stated he left the building by bus, rode to a stop near home, and walked to his house, with a bus transfer found in his pocket at the time of arrest. When questioned about a cab driver (William Wayne Whaley) who thought he recognized him, Oswald admitted riding a cab, explaining the bus was traveling too slowly in heavy traffic, and recounted an incident where a lady also wanted a cab. Oswald said he reached home by cab, changed both his shirt and trousers before going to the show, and that his cab fare was 85 cents. He claimed to have put the changed clothing in the dirty clothes. Regarding the long package, Oswald denied bringing it to work, claiming he had only brought a cheese sandwich and some fruit for lunch. Oswald explained living in a room while his wife lived in Irving by stating that Mrs. Paine was learning Russian, his wife needed help with the baby, and it was a convenient arrangement. He stated he owned no car but that the Paines had two cars, and that he had left sea bags with personal belongings at the Paine garage after returning from New Orleans in September. Oswald also denied telling Buell Wesley Frazier why he had gone home a different night or anything about bringing back curtain rods.