Mr. Hubert. After the death of the President, when you say that this atmosphere and this condition developed with the press where there were mobs of people and so forth, was there any effort made by anyone to clear out the place, as it were, and then readmit only those who were known to be accredited or definitely identified?
Captain King. There were officers assigned to the area there—primarily the third floor where the homicide office is located and where most of the newsmen were, and they did screen the newsmen and other people who came in there. I was not the person who assigned them out there and I don’t actually know what instructions they were given and I don’t know actually the procedures by which they screened them. I was inside of my office most of the time with telephones ringing.
Mr. Hubert. Would it normally have been your duty to screen them or to see that they had identification?
Captain King. No, actually it wouldn’t—I think normally it would be the duty of the officer who was working the incident to check the identification.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know if anyone suggested that something should be done to correct the conditions which you have described?
Captain King. I understand that Chief Batchelor on his arrival at the station ordered some more men assigned up there and tightened up to a certain extent the security that was up there, but I was not present when this was done.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know if anyone suggested that the whole place be cleared out completely and then readmit only those definitely accredited individuals?
Captain King. I don’t know of anything like that.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know of anyone who suggested that at all?
Captain King. I don’t recall anyone having suggested that—no, sir.