Mr. HUBERT. Did you supervise that movement?
Captain TALBERT. No, sir; Chief Batchelor arrived and was told of the preparation that had been made in the basement, and I assumed looked at the office. I wasn't present, but I assume he looked in the office and asked that that news media be removed. He was talking to Sergeant Putnam and Sergeant Dean. I wasn't present, nor was Lieutenant Pierce there.
Mr. HUBERT. So, the news media were moved out of the jail area and where did they then go?
Captain TALBERT. I was told--and this by Sergeant Putnam--that they were first placed on each side of the ramp leading from Main and Commerce, and after the chief observed the conflict there, he had those on the Harwood Street side of the ramp moved across the ramp onto the Main Street side to keep--to make more room for vehicular traffic, and that, of course, was from Sergeant Putnam to me. I don't know what instigated----
Mr. HUBERT. Well, did you have occasion to observe the news media in the ramp and parking areas just prior to the shooting of Oswald?
Mr. HUBERT. Well, now, I think I should like to have you describe that, and in order to facilitate that, I am going to draw a general oblong figure which I am marking "Area A," and I'm going to draw another general oblong figure which I am marking "Area B," and I would like you to tell us for the record----
Captain TALBERT. May I inject another----
Mr. HUBERT. Well, then, I will mark another oblong area, which I will call Area C.
Mr. HUBERT. I would like you to describe that for the record--that is, what were the conditions of those areas particularly with reference to congestion of people?
Captain TALBERT. Across from "Area A," there was complete double line and in some instances triple line of men. That was men with cameras and those without. Just the reporters who had no cameras, and in "Area B," in the center of "Area B" I----
Mr. HUBERT. Before you leave "Area A," would you say that the men were shoulder to shoulder?
Captain TALBERT. Oh, more than that. Crammed in there. Jammed----
Mr. HUBERT. And about three ranks back toward Main Street?
Captain TALBERT. That is my impression, yes, sir, about three ranks back.
Captain TALBERT. And "Area B," you had a railing as indicated here by a dotted line. In front of that railing you had at least two or--probably three ranks of people all the way down to the turnoff area, which is the beginning of "Area C." In the center of "Area D," there were two fixed cameras.