Miss Oliver. How do you do, Mr. Ruby?
Mr. Specter. And I guess you know Dr. Beavers, and this is Mr. Wood. He is one of the polygraph operators with the FBI, and this is Mr. Herndon, one of the operators and with the FBI also. This is Mr. Alexander, and your name, sir?
The Jailer. Mr. Holman, E. L.
Mr. Specter. This is Mr. Holman.
Mr. Ruby. Can Fowler remain here after I start with the interrogation?
Mr. Specter. Yes; Mr. Ruby. The procedure which we’ve discussed is this and this is subject to agreement of all sides, and we’ve been through it, but let me go through it with you. We are going to conduct the polygraph examination in a standard way, which involves a series of questions, about eight or nine in duration. Before we start with the series, the questions will be explained to you in advance so that you will know exactly what the questions are to be and you will know what the operator means by the questions. He will explain them so that there is no possibility of any confusion in terms of what the questions mean so they won’t surprise you. You will have full awareness of what is going to be asked.
At that time, everybody who is present in this room will be present when the questions are discussed in a general way. So that the record may be complete, let it show that Mr. Fowler is here and Mr. Tonahill is here, and Mr. Alexander is here, and Mr. Herndon and Mr. Wood are here. Dr. Beavers is here, and Chief Jailer E. L. Holman is here, Odell Oliver is here, and of course, I am here. Those are the only people who are here now and they are the only people who will be present when we explain each series of questions to you, so that you understand what is happening and what questions are going to be asked.
Now, scientifically, it’s preferable to have as few people possible at the time the examination is administered as we can, so for that purpose, we are trying to cut down the number as much as we can. We had originally thought that the only people present would be the two operators, the court reporter and I. Now we have Mr. Holman here on the custody question, and then your counsel requested especially that Dr. Beavers be present at the time of the administration of the tests. It is our desire to have only those people present, which would mean Mr. Alexander wouldn’t be here and Mr. Tonahill wouldn’t be here and Mr. Fowler wouldn’t be here at the time the test is administered.
Mr. Ruby. I would like to have Mr. Fowler here in preference of Dr. Beavers. May I request that?
Mr. Specter. Yes; you may request that.