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

Oswald Moves to New Orleans and Stays with Aunt Lillian Murret

Oswald Moves to New Orleans and Stays with Aunt Lillian Murret On April 24, Ruth Paine visited the Oswalds at their Neely Street apartment in Irving, Texas, and was surprised to find Oswald already packed and ready to depart for New Orleans by bus. He explained that he had been unable to find employment in the Dallas area and that Marina had suggested he go to New Orleans, his birthplace. Marina later testified that her real motivation was to get Oswald out of Dallas because of the Walker incident. Mrs. Paine offered to drive Marina to New Orleans later and to have Marina and June stay at her home in the meantime. Upon arriving in New Orleans, Oswald telephoned his aunt, Lillian Murret, at 757 French Street. She had not known he had returned from Russia or that he was married with a child, but she agreed to let him stay. Once in New Orleans, Oswald visited his father’s gravesite and telephoned every “Oswald” listed in the phone book, locating his father’s brother’s widow, Hazel Oswald of Metairie, Louisiana, who provided him with a photograph of his father.

Job Search and Unemployment Benefits in New Orleans

Job Search and Unemployment Benefits in New Orleans On April 26, Oswald registered with the Louisiana Department of Labor employment office, identifying himself as a qualified commercial photographer, shipping clerk, or “darkroom man.” His interviewer noted that he would travel on a limited basis, would relocate, and would accept a minimum wage of $1.25 per hour, describing him as “Neat. Suit. Tie. Polite.” Although the commission made some referrals, Oswald relied chiefly on newspaper advertisements. On April 29, he filed a request for reconsideration of the employment commission’s prior disapproval of his unemployment compensation claim; his complaint that he had not been credited for his work at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall in Dallas was ruled valid on May 8, granting him maximum benefits of $369 at $33 per week. He filed interstate claims on May 7 and 15, receiving $33 from the latter, but listed fictitious employers on his claim forms. In letters to Marina, Oswald described staying with Aunt Lillian and said that Uncle “Dyuz” (Charles Murret) had offered him a $200 loan if needed.