W. E. Barnes

The testimony of W. E. Barnes was taken at 9:15 a.m., on April 7, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. David W. Belin, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Would you rise and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Would you please sit down. You can smoke if you want to.

It causes lung cancer.

I don't know if I formally introduced myself. I am David Belin, actually a practicing attorney from Des Moines, Iowa, and about a dozen of us practicing attorneys from across the country have been with the President's Commission on the Assassination for most of the past 3 months as consultants, and that is how I happen to be down here in your city. Would you please state your name for the record.

W. E. Barnes.

Where do you live, Mr. Barnes?

Route 2, Plano, Tex.

Is that a suburb of Dallas?

It is.

What is your occupation?

I am a policeman for the city of Dallas.

Any particular department?

I am a sergeant in the crime scene search section of the identification bureau.

How old are you Sergeant Barnes?

Forty-two years.

Were you born in Texas?

Yes, sir.

Went to school here?

Yes.

Did you go to high school?

Graduate of Plano High School.

Then what did you do after you were graduated from high school?

I worked for an aircraft company in California, and went into the Merchant Marine Service.

That was during World War II?

Yes.

How long were you in the merchant marine?

Little over 3 years.

Then what did you do?

Went to work for Dallas Police Department.