Mr. Johnston. In this particular incident, the complaint—the affidavit—was read to the defendant, Lee Harvey Oswald, at which time I advised him that this was merely to appraise him of his constitutional rights and what he was charged with.
Mr. Hubert. This was not a court proceeding?
Mr. Johnston. This was not the examining trial; no, sir. It was not the examining trial.
Mr. Hubert. It did not call for a plea?
Mr. Johnston. It required no pleadings whatsoever; no, sir. This was merely to appraise him of what he was charged with and to advise him of his constitutional rights.
Mr. Hubert. Did he make any comment upon that at all?
Mr. Johnston. Yes, sir; but I can’t recall what it was. At this particular time he made some remark. Also at the second arraignment for the murder of President Kennedy, when he was brought through the door at this time, he said, “Well, I guess this is the trial,” was the statement that he made then, but I don’t remember what he said at the arraignment regarding Officer Tippit.
Mr. Hubert. Now, let’s pass to the arraignment concerning President Kennedy, and I wish you would dictate into the record the same information you did as to the first one.
Mr. Johnston. All right, sir. This was the arraignment of Lee Harvey Oswald for the murder with malice of John F. Kennedy, cause No. F-154, The State of Texas versus Lee Harvey Oswald. The complaint was filed at 11:25 p.m., was accepted by me at 11:26 p.m. It was filed at approximately 11:25 p.m. by Capt. J. W. Fritz, homicide bureau of the Dallas Police Department, and was accepted by Henry Wade, criminal district attorney, Dallas County, Tex., and was docketed as cause No. 154, F-154 at 11:26 p.m.
Shortly after this is when the defendant was taken to the detail room or the assembly room.