Captain Talbert. No, sir; that was the first information I had is the fact that the prisoner would not be in the armored car. Up until that point, I assumed he would be in the armored car.
Mr. Hubert. But, at that point, it became apparent that he was not going to be in the armored car?
Captain Talbert. Right.
Mr. Hubert. You had already set up a traffic-control system by having assigned men at various intervals on Elm?
Captain Talbert. Elm; yes, sir.
Mr. Hubert. But, if they were going to use Main Street, what control would be used for cross traffic, crossing Main Street?
Captain Talbert. I have no knowledge, sir. Probably normal transportation, more than likely. That is strictly my idea.
Mr. Hubert. Now, you said that you wanted to say something about the armored car.
Captain Talbert. Yes, sir; I had previously been instructed about the armored car by Chief Stevenson and Chief Lumpkin, that was at the time they asked that the officers be placed on Main, and later transferred in to Elm Street, and at the instruction I had, was to have a man be observant, to make sure that the armored car didn't hit—didn't jam it into the overhead of the rampworks.
When the armored car arrived they did back it into the Commerce Street side, and the driver left it up near the front of the ramp because of its weight, rather than height. Although, due to its height, it couldn't have backed much farther down the ramp, but he was afraid that due to the weight of the car the—it wouldn't pull it out. The engine wouldn't have enough power to pull it out of the ramp, and so it was left in that position until after Lieutenant Pierce pulled the plain car that was his normal assignment car, I think equipment 239, although, that is irrelevant, attempted to pull it up the ramp. He couldn't get through the news media, which I would like to add to a little later. I previously had the news media in the jail office. Now, during one of my inspection trips I inspected the first floor of the Police and Courts Building from the doors for Harwood and Main Street to see that there was no congestion, and also, to look the crowds over on Commerce, and during one of my trips, or perhaps I was contacting the dispatcher—I was still conducting my regular patrol duties—the news media was moving from the jail office to the ramps to clear the jail office of them.