These are the only examples of Oswald's, that particular aspect of Oswald's character that I recall.
Mr. Jenner. I am stimulated to ask you this question by something you just said. Did he have a good memory?
Mr. Thornley. I think he must have had a good memory; yes. If he wanted to remember something, he could. I think he also had good ability to blot out unpleasant thoughts in his mind.
Mr. Jenner. What about his powers of assimilation of what he read, and his powers of critique?
Mr. Thornley. I certainly think he understood much more than many people in the press have seemed to feel. I don't think he was a man who was grasping onto his particular beliefs because he didn't understand them. I don't think he was just trying to know something over his head, by any means. I think he understood what he was talking about.
Sometimes I think there were gaps in his knowledge. I think there were many things he didn't know, and this came from a haphazard education.
Mr. Jenner. You became acquainted with the fact that he had had a somewhat haphazard education?
Mr. Thornley. It was obvious. I didn't become acquainted with it specifically until recently in the news. But——
Mr. Jenner. You had that impression at the time?
Mr. Thornley. I had that impression; yes, sir.