On April 6, Oswald was dropped by Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall because, in his supervisor’s opinion, he could not do the work, although he was trying; in addition, he did not get along with his fellow employees.[A13-1023] The fact that he brought a Russian newspaper to work may also have been of some significance.[A13-1024] Marina testified that her husband, who had always worried about his job security at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall,[A13-1025] was quite upset by the loss of his job since he had liked the work.[A13-1026]
Oswald again resorted to the Texas Employment Commission.[A13-1027] On April 8, he informed the Commission that he was seeking employment but was referred to no employers. He stated that he had been laid off at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall due to lack of work.[A13-1028] On April 12, he made a claim for unemployment benefits; 4 days later the commission mailed him a determination disapproving his claim because of insufficient wage credits.[A13-1029]
For a while after the Oswalds moved into the Neely Street apartment they got along well,[A13-1030] but they soon began to quarrel.[A13-1031] Oswald was apparently still preventing Marina from learning English,[A13-1032] and there is some indication that he continued to beat her.[A13-1033] Since February, he had been urging her to return to Russia.[A13-1034] Marina wrote several letters to the Russian Embassy requesting a visa to return to Russia;[A13-1035] she testified, however, that Oswald forced her to write them, and that she never wanted to return to Russia.[A13-1036]
When Ruth Paine visited the Oswalds at their apartment on April 24, she was surprised to learn that Oswald was packed and ready to leave for New Orleans by bus. He explained that he had been unable to find employment in or around Dallas, and that Marina had suggested that he go to New Orleans since he had been born there.[A13-1037] Marina has testified that the real reason behind her suggestion was that she wanted to get him out of town because of the Walker incident.[A13-1038] Mrs. Paine offered to drive Marina to New Orleans at a later date, and also to have Marina and June stay with her rather than at the apartment in the meantime. Oswald helped the women pack Mrs. Paine’s car, and the two women moved everything from the Neely Street apartment to the Paine house in Irving.[A13-1039]
When he arrived at the bus station in New Orleans, Oswald telephoned his aunt, Lillian Murret, to ask if he could stay at her home at 757 French Street while he looked for employment. She had been unaware that he had returned from Russia or that he was married and had a child and was surprised to hear from him. She said that she did not have room to accommodate three guests, but that since he was alone he was welcome.[A13-1040]
Oswald had been born in New Orleans, and on his return showed great interest in finding out what had happened to the other members of his father’s family. He visited the cemetery where his father was buried and called all the Oswalds in the telephone book. By this method he located one relative, Mrs. Hazel Oswald of Metairie, La., the widow of William Stout Oswald, his father’s brother. He visited her at her home; she gave him a picture of his father and told him that as far as she knew the rest of the family was dead.[A13-1041]
On April 26, Oswald began his search for employment. He went to the employment office of the Louisiana Department of Labor and stated that he was qualified as a commercial photographer, shipping clerk, or “darkroom man.” The interviewer noted on Oswald’s application card: “Will travel on limited basis. Will relocate. Min. $1.25 hr. Neat. Suit. Tie. Polite.”[A13-1042] Although the employment commission made a few referrals, Oswald relied primarily upon newspaper advertisements, and applied for a number of positions.[A13-1043] Mrs. Murret testified that he would spend the day job hunting, return to her home for supper, watch television, and go to bed.[A13-1044]
On April 29, he filed a request for reconsideration of the employment commission’s disapproval of his unemployment compensation claim. His complaint that he had not been credited for his employment at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall was ruled valid on May 8, and he was granted maximum benefits of $369, payable at the rate of $33 per week. He filed interstate claims on May 7 and 15, and received $33 in response to the latter; the former claim was filed before the expiration of the prescribed waiting period.[A13-1045] Not only had Oswald in fact been working since May 10, but he included on his claim sheet, as concerns with which he had sought work, fictitious employers and employers whom he apparently had not contacted.[A13-1046]
Oswald wrote to Marina: “All is well. I am living with Aunt Lillian. She has very kindly taken us in. I am now looking for work. When I find it I will write you.”[A13-1047] And on May 3, he wrote to Marina and Ruth Paine: “Girls, I still have not found work, but I receive money from the unemployment office in the amount 15 to 20 dollars. They were mistaken in the Dallas office when they refused, but I straightened everything out. Uncle ‘Dyuz’ offered me a loan of $200.00 if needed. Great, eh?!”[A13-1048]
On May 9, responding to a newspaper advertisement, Oswald completed an application for employment with William B. Reily Co., Inc., at 640 Magazine Street, an enterprise engaged in the roasting, grinding, canning, bagging, and sale of coffee. On his application form, Oswald listed as references in addition to John Murret, “Sgt. Robert Hidell” and “Lieut. J. Evans,” both apparently fictitious names.[A13-1049] His application was approved and he began work on May 10, at the rate of $1.50 per hour. His task was the lubrication of the company’s machinery.[A13-1050] Oswald did not enjoy this work,[A13-1051] and told his wife and Mrs. Paine that he was working in commercial photography.[A13-1052]