James W. Bookhout

The testimony of James W. Bookhout was taken at 11:15 a.m., on April 8, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Samuel A. Stern, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.


Will you please rise.
Do you swear that the testimony you are about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Sit down, please.

State your name, please.

James W. Bookhout. Do you want my home address?

Yes.

7048 Cornelia Lane, Dallas, Tex.

What is your occupation, Mr. Bookhout?

Special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

How long have you been with the Federal Bureau of Investigation?

Little over 22 years.

How long have you been assigned to the Dallas office?

Since about 1945.

Were you on duty on November 22?

Actually, I was on leave on that particular date. However, I had been requested to come to the office to handle some expedited dictation in a particular case. Having completed that, I left the office and proceeded to the Mercantile National Bank, where I transacted some personal business. Upon leaving the bank, it was momentarily expected that the President's motorcade would pass that area. I stood there for a few minutes, and as the motorcade passed I was actually unable to personally observe the President, due to the crowd on the sidewalk. While waiting for the crowd to thin, in order to cross the street, several separate sirens on the police squad cars were heard proceeding in the direction of the county courthouse. While crossing the street, some citizen with a transistor radio stated that it had just been announced that shots had been fired at the President's motorcade.
I immediately proceeded toward the office and observed two agents coming from the direction of the office, who advised that the office was trying to contact me and I was to proceed to the homicide and robbery bureau of the Dallas Police Department.
I immediately proceeded to the homicide and robbery bureau and contacted my office and was advised that I was to maintain liaison with the homicide and robbery bureau.

Did you then go to the police headquarters?