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

Marina’s Meeting with Ruth Paine and Developing Friendship

At Glover’s February gathering, Marina met Ruth Paine, who had recently separated from her husband Michael Paine, a Bell Helicopter research engineer, and was studying Russian. Mrs. Paine obtained Marina’s address and wrote to arrange a visit, which Marina accepted. Marina and Mrs. Paine began exchanging visits in March, with Mrs. Paine inviting the Oswalds for dinner and taking them on a picnic on April 20. When Oswald was absent, the women discussed marital problems, and Marina disclosed her pregnancy. Marina wrote warmly of these visits, the companionship for June, and Lee’s enjoyment of fishing.

Oswalds’ Move to Neely Street and Oswald’s Night School Enrollment

The Oswalds moved from Elsbeth Street to an upstairs apartment at 214 West Neely Street on March 3, 1963, after Oswald responded to a “For Rent” sign. The rent was $60 monthly plus utilities. They moved themselves, carrying belongings and using a baby stroller. Marina preferred the new apartment for its porch and suitability for June. On George Bouhe’s earlier advice, Oswald enrolled in a typing course at Crozier Technical High School night school on January 14, beginning attendance on January 28, though he attended irregularly and stopped around March 28.

Oswald’s Weapon Purchases and General Walker Assassination Attempt

Using the alias A. J. Hidell, Oswald ordered a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver from Los Angeles (dated January 27) and a rifle from Klein’s Sporting Goods in Chicago on March 12. He used the name “Alek James Hidell” on identification cards likely produced at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall. Both weapons shipped on March 20. Oswald stored the rifle in a Neely Street storeroom he forbade Marina to enter, telling her it was for hunting. Marina photographed him with the rifle, the Worker and Militant, and the revolver strapped to his belt. Over the weekend of March 9-10, Oswald photographed the alley behind General Edwin Walker’s home. He prepared a notebook outlining a plan to shoot Walker and studied bus schedules. On the evening of April 6 or 7, he hid the rifle nearby, then retrieved it on April 10, firing at Walker but narrowly missing his head. When Marina learned of the attempt, she made him promise never to repeat it, and she kept his written instructions. Oswald compared the act to assassinating Hitler. The De Mohrenschildts later visited and saw the rifle; De Mohrenschildt jokingly intimated Oswald was the shooter, visibly unsettling him.