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.
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