Mr. Hubert. Do you remember whether Captain Fritz or anyone else made any inquiry of you or of anyone else, to your knowledge, prior to the movement as to whether things were ready to go in the basement area before starting from the third floor?
Chief Batchelor. I am told that he called Lieutenant Wiggins in the basement and asked him if he was ready. He called him, I think, from the jail floor, not from his office. He called him when Oswald was up in the jail.
Mr. Hubert. Now when the transfer party did appear, you were actually moving toward the armored car, as I recall it, then weren’t you, to close the door?
Chief Batchelor. No; I actually saw Oswald come through the door. Someone shouted “Here he comes.” I looked over and saw him come out the door, and then I turned and started up the ramp. I didn’t see the shooting. I turned before.
Mr. Hubert. Do you recall if Captain Fritz or anyone else called to find out if the situation was all right security wise?
Chief Batchelor. I don’t know, because I wasn’t in the jail office. I was out. I am told that he called down and Lieutenant Wiggins said that almost immediately the elevator came down. And he said, “Is everything all right?” And started walking with the prisoner. And Wiggins said that he doesn’t recall whether he answered him or whether—I mean it just happened so quickly, or whether he went out ahead of him.
Mr. Hubert. Were the armored car people told of the change of plans?
Chief Batchelor. No, sir.
Mr. Hubert. Do you know what was proposed to get the truck out of the way?
Chief Batchelor. The driver was in the truck. I would have shouted to him.