Afternoon Session TESTIMONY OF JOHN LESTER QUIGLEY RESUMED

The President's Commission reconvened at 2:20 p.m.

The Chairman. The Commission will be in order. Mr. Stern, you may continue.

Mr. Stern. Before the luncheon recess, Mr. Chief Justice, the witness, Mr. Quigley, had identified Commission Exhibit No. 826 and afforded the Commission this one-page document which has been marked Commission Exhibit No. 827. He identified it as a copy furnished him by Lieutenant Martello of the New Orleans Police Department of Lieutenant Martello's own handwritten copy of a document in the wallet of Lee Harvey Oswald at the time of his arrest. I think it should be admitted, if it may be, in this form.

The Chairman. It may be.

(The documents heretofore marked for identification as Commission Exhibits Nos. 826 and 827, were received in evidence.)

Mr. Stern. Also, this morning a question was raised concerning the two membership cards which are mentioned at page 7 of the report.

Mr. Quigley. I show you an envelope marked Commission Exhibit 828 for identification. There is a card inside which, unfortunately, has been badly discolored by fingerprint testing. Would you look at it and I think if you turn it in different directions of light you may be able to make out the typing and writing on the card.

Mr. Quigley. Yes; I can see this.

Mr. Stern. Can you identify the card?

Mr. Quigley. I am in no position to identify this particular exhibit.

Mr. Stern. Can you tell us anything about the information that appears on the card? Does it compare with any other information you have about another card?

Mr. Quigley. At the time that I interviewed Oswald in New Orleans on August 10, 1963, I observed two Fair Play for Cuba Committee cards. One of them was signed V. L. Lee and was dated May 28, 1963, and it purported to be a Fair Play for Cuba Committee card showing the address of 799 Broadway, New York 3, N. Y. In looking at this exhibit, I see that this is a similar card as described in my report.

Mr. Stern. Similar in what respects?

Mr. Quigley. Similar in that the identification I have just described appears on the card in the Exhibit 828. However, I am not able to identify the signature of any person other than V. L. Lee, and the date I am unable to determine, although I do believe I see 5-28-63 typewritten on the card.

Mr. Stern. What about the color of the card? There is a portion on the back, Mr. Quigley, which has not been discolored by the fingerprint treatment.

Mr. Quigley. I notice this is gray in color and it is similar to a card that was in Oswald's possession at that time which was also gray in color.

Mr. Stern. Mr. Chairman, may this be admitted?

The Chairman. It may be admitted.

(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 828 for identification, and received in evidence.)

The Chairman. It has been identified and has a number, has it?

Mr. Stern. Yes; No. 828.

The Chairman. 828 will be admitted under that number.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Stern. Mr. Quigley, will you look, please, at Commission Exhibit No. 825 for identification, at the fourth page from the end of that exhibit? Can you identify that page for us?

Mr. Quigley. Yes; I can. This is an affidavit that was prepared at the FBI office, Dallas, Tex., on February 17, 1964, which bears my signature as well as the signature of Miss Matty Havens, the notary public.

Mr. Stern. What was the occasion for your making this affidavit, Mr. Quigley?

Mr. Quigley. I was instructed to proceed to our Dallas office to prepare such a document. This document relates to informant material. This is the general context of it. Did you care for me to read the document?

Mr. Stern. No; we have it. Does informant mean to you only a person who gives information in return for money or some other valuable consideration, or does it have a broader meaning as far as you are concerned?

Mr. Quigley. It would have a broader meaning as far as I was concerned.

Mr. Stern. What would that mean when you used the word in this affidavit? What did you mean by "informant"?

Mr. Quigley. One who furnishes information.

Mr. Stern. For whatever reason?

Mr. Quigley. Whatever may be the reason; yes.

Mr. Stern. And you did not, according to your affidavit, ask Mr. Oswald——

Mr. Quigley. I did not ask or suggest that Mr. Oswald become an informant of the FBI nor did I offer him any money or any other inducements to become an informant.

Mr. Stern. Did you say anything to him at all about getting in touch with you or the FBI again about any matter?

Mr. Quigley. I did not.

The Chairman. Mr. Quigley, if you will, we will recall you if a document comes just for your identification. It will only take a few moments, I am sure.

Thank you very much for your coming and helping us.

Mr. Quigley. Thank you very much, sir.