Mr. Hubert. And that was the first time you mentioned to anyone at all what you had heard Ruby say regarding his intent?
Mr. Archer. As far as I recall; yes, sir.
Mr. Hubert. And that was about 3 weeks before the beginning of the trial.
Mr. Archer. I would say very—approximately. That could vary, because I don't remember the date. I wish I could, but I didn't make any particular note of it. Like I say, at the time, I just didn't take note of it.
Mr. Hubert. Well, now, do you mean to say to me that you did not regard those two statements made to you by Ruby as being important in a trial of this man for first-degree murder?
Mr. Archer. No, sir; I didn't say that I didn't regard them as important. I just say at the time that these statements were made it was in my mind that it was not necessarily a gathering of facts to try the man.
Mr. Hubert. Well, I gather from your testimony that you didn't convey this information to anybody at all until you were asked to do so in an interview with Mr. Alexander, which, from your testimony, I judge to be approximately the middle of January or afterwards, which is to say, 2 months after the event.
Now, I ask you if you did not think that that information was extremely valuable information in a pending prosecution for first-degree murder?
Mr. Archer. I didn't, at the time, give it a thought in the way of prosecution, because in my own mind I didn't feel that a lot of the statements would be admissible. I don't know what would be admissible and what wouldn't.
Mr. Hubert. It never occurred to you that it was your duty to tell your superior officer, or somebody that you had heard that this man said, "I meant to kill him"?