Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, I have shown you a photograph of the late David W. Ferrie. Have you ever in your life met with this man at a filling station on Veterans Highway?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever met with this man any place?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever conversed with this man?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Mr. Shaw, were you present in court -- I am sure you were, but do you recall the testimony of Vernon Bundy?
A: Yes, I recall that testimony?
Q: Prior to the prelimnary hearing in this case, had you ever in your life seen Vernon Bundy before?
A: I had not.
Q: Have you ever met with anyone on the lake front sea wall in such a manner as was described by Vernon Bundy?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever met with anyone, to your knowledge, on the lake front sea wall at all?
A: Not to my recollection.
Q: More specifically, have you ever met with Lee Harvey Oswald on the lake front sea wall?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, I have shown you a photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald. Have you ever given that man money in your life?
A: No, certainly not.
Q: Have you ever had any reason to want to give him any money?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Mr. Shaw, have you ever been a pro-Castro man?
A: No.
Q: Have you ever engaged in any activities, to your knowledge, which could be construed as pro-Castro?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, I take it you are familiar with Moisant Airport here in New Orleans, are you not, sir?
A: Yes, I am familiar with it.
Q: Are you familiar with a room known as the VIP Room in Moisant Airport?
A: No, I didn't know that room existed until this trial.
MR. DYMOND: May I have the book, please.
(Book handed to Counsel by the Clerk.)
BY MR. DYMOND:
Q: (Exhibiting book to witness) Mr. Shaw, I show you a book which has been marked for
identification "State-55," directing your attention to the signature "Clay Bertrand"
which is written on the bottom page of that book under the date December 14, 1966, and I ask you whether you at any time wrote that name in that book.
A: No.
Q: Is that your signature, sir?
A: No, it is not.
Q: Is that your handwriting, that is, the portion of it which does not constitute a signature?
A: No, it is not.
Q: To your knowledge have you ever signed your name in any way in a book such as this in the VIP Room of the Moisant Airport, of Eastern Airlines?
A: No, I never have.
Q: Mr. Shaw, do you know specifically where you were on December 14, 1966?
A: No, I do not.
Q: At that time were you or were you not aware of the fact that the name Clay Bertrand had become important in connection with the assassination of President Kennedy?
A: No, I did not know it.
Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, do you habitually travel by commercial airline?
A: No, I do not.
Q: How do you ordinarily travel, sir?
A: By train ordinarily.
Q: When is the last time, to your knowledge and recollection, that you used a commercial airline for travel?
A: I would say, and this is -- must be a guess necessarily -- about ten years ago.
Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, you took a trip to Europe in the year 1966, did you not, sir?
A: That is correct.
Q: What means of transportation did you use in connection with this trip?
A: I sailed from New Orleans to Barcelona, from the Port of New Orleans.
Q: Mr. Shaw, have you ever been known as Clay Bertrand?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever been known as Clem Bertrand?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever used any alias or false name at all during your life?
A: No -- with this exception -- I, oh, in the early Fifties, I wrote a play that was produced here, and I used the name, the pen name, Allen White.
Q: Where did you get that name, Allen White?
A: These are the maiden names of my two grandmothers.
Q: I see, I see. Mr. Shaw, have you ever known a person named Clay Bertrand?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever known a person by the name of Clem Bertrand?
A: No.
Q: Have you ever received any mail addressed to a Clem or Clay Bertrand?
A: No.
Q: Mr. Shaw, have you ever been inside the Republican Headquarters at any time, here in New Orleans?
A: Not to my recollection.
Q: Have you ever been a Republican?
A: No, I have not.
Q: What is your voting affiliation, sir?
A: I am Democratic.
Q: Have you ever been other than a Democrat?
A: No, I have not, no.
Q: Mr. Shaw, did you take a trip to the West Coast in November of 1963?
A: Yes, I did.
Q: Would you tell us what precipitated that trip to the West Coast.
A: I was invited in early September to speak to the Columbia Basin World Development Conference in Portland, Oregon on November 26. The Conference agreed they would pay my expenses for the trip, and I accepted the speaking engagement.
Q: Approximately how early in September would you say that this invitation came to you?
A: May I refresh my memory?
Q: Yes.
A: (Referring to file) It came in the form of a telephone call, and I would think the telephone call was on September 8 or 9.
Q: What leads you to beileve that, Mr. Shaw?
A: I base that on a letter received, dated September 11, from the man who called me in Portland confirming the conversation and expressing his pleasure that I would be able to be there.
Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, would you tell us the route of your trip that you took to Portand.
A: Yes. I left -- I went from here to Los Angeles where I stayed several days.
Q: With whom did you stay there, sir?
A: I stayed at a hotel. From Los Angeles I went to San Francisco where I stayed several days. I then proceeded to Portland. It was decided to cancel the Conference because of the assassination of the President. However, I did speak to the Rotary Club there on Tuesday, November 26. I went there to Chicago, where I visited friends, and returned, to the best of my knowledge, to New Orleans on December 2.
Q: Mr. Shaw, was the trip a cover up for any assassination plot?
A: No, certainly not.
Q: Did you ever engage in any assassination plot or assassination plan?
A: No.
Q: Mr. Shaw, have you ever even jokingly or casually talked about killing a president of the United States?
A: No, I most certainly have not.
Q: Have you ever owned a maroon sport coat?
A: No, to the best of my recollection I have never owned a maroon sport coat.
Q: Have you ever owned a black and white striped coat?
A: To the best of my recollection, no, I have never owned a black and white striped coat.
Q: Now, Mr. Shaw, would you tell us what arrangements, if any, you made pertaining to your mail when you took your trip to Europe in 1966.
A: Again this must be to my best recollection. Some of my mail came ordinarily to Mr. Biddison's office, he handled some matters, business matters, for me. I arranged with him and with the tenant who occupied my house -- to be exact, he arranged with the tenant, if they would bring him every few days any mail that had accumulated at 1313 Dauphine Street, and he would forward this, together with the mail that came directly to his office. I also advised several people with whom I corresponded with some frequency, that if they wished to write me while I was in Europe they could write directly to Jeff Biddison's house and he would forward this mail as well.
Q: Mr. Shaw, have you ever worked for the Central Intelligence Agency?
A: No, I have not.
Q: Have you ever worked for any other Government agency, other than your being in the United States Army during the War?
A: My Army service is the only Government service I have ever done.
Q: Mr. Shaw, did you conspire with Dave Ferrie and Lee Harvey Oswald to murder John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States?
A: No, I did ont!
Q: Did you ever at any time want President Kennedy to die?
A: Certainly not.
MR. DYMOND: We tender the witness.
THE COURT: Just a minute, Mr. Alcock.
Take the Jury upstairs. We are going to take a ten-minute recess.
(Whereupon, a recess was taken.)
AFTER THE RECESS:
THE COURT: The Jury has returned. Are the State and the Defense ready to proceed?
MR. DYMOND: We are ready.
MR. ALCOCK: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Hold up for just a few seconds. Sheriff, if there are some persons outside that want to come in, tell them not to create any racket at all, please.
All right, Mr. Alcock.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. ALCOCK:
Q: Mr. Shaw, is it your testimony that your arrangements for yoru spaking engagement on the West Coast of the United States were completed as early as the 8th or 9th of September of 1963?
A: It is my testimony that I accepted an engagement on the telephone on either September 8 or the 9th, yes.
Q: You feel that would be the latest date that you could have accepted?
A: I would say so. Since the only document I have is a confirmation on September 11th, this is my --
Q: So you presume it was prior?
A: It was a few days prior.
Q: Therefore, in mid-September, 1963, you knew you were going to the West Coast of the United States in November of 1963? Is that correct?
A: That is correct.
Q: Is there any particular reason why you left on November 15?
A: I had decided that I would take a two-week vacation in connection with this speaking engagement in Oregon.
Q: Did you have any other speaking engagements on the West Coast?
A: I spoke on -- I was scheduled to speak -- and this was arranged much later -- I was scheduled to speak on November 22nd to the San Francisco World Trade Center, a small meeting arranged by the Director of the Center. Needless to say, at noon of November 22nd no actual speech was given. I did have lunch with a few of the people who had turned up on this occasion.
Q: Now, how did the arrangements for that speech come about?
A: All by a telehone call.
Q: By a telephone call from whom, if you recall?
A: A Mr. Monroe Sullivan. May I refresh my memory, please?
Q: Certainly.
A: (Referring to file) A Mr. Monroe Sullivan, who is the Managing Director of the San Francisco World Trade Center. I have a telegram from him on the 13th confirming that he is reserving a room for me, arriving on the 21st in San Francisco. My recollection is that a day or two before this we had talked on the telephone, I had agreed to speak to the San Francsico World Trade Center and had asked Mr. Sullivan if he would be kind enough to make a hotel reservation for me.
Q: Do you recall when he first contacted you and asked you to speak there?
A: Some several days before the 13th, I would say around November 10, to the best recollection I have.
Q: Do you recall whether or not he precipitated the arrangements for your speaking, or did you request it?
A: I did not request him, I did not tell him I wanted to make a speech, no.
Q: You did not tell him that?
A: No.
Q: Then I take it your testimony is that he solicited you to speak? Is that correct?
A: He telephone me, yes.
Q: Do you know, or did you know at that tiem, a man by the name of Mario Bermudez?
A: Yes, I do.
Q: Do you know whether he had any contact or connection with this particular arrangement?
A: He may well have.
Q: In what regard?
A: He may have talked to Mr. Sullivan, saying that I was going to be on the West Coast. This is possible; I don't know this of my own knowledge or recollection.
Q: Do you know whether or not he solicited this speaking engagement on your behalf?
A: I do not know of my own knowledge.
Q: Had you had much contact with Mr. Bermudez at this time?
A: Indeed yes.
Q: Would you recognize his signature if you saw it?
A: Yes, I would.
MR. ALCOCK: What is my next number?
THE CLERK: 73.
BY MR. ALCOCK:
Q: (Exhibiting document to witness) I am going to show you a document which I have marked for purposes of identification as "S-73," and I ask you if you recognize this document.
A: I do not recall seeing the document, but I am sure it is authentic.
Q: Do you recognize the signature?
A: Yes.
Q: Whose signature is that?
A: This is Mr. Bermudez' way of signing letters.
(Whereupon, the document referred to by Counsel was duly marked for identification as "Exhibit State 73.")
BY MR. ALCOCK:
Q: Have you read the document in its entirety?
A: Yes, I have read it.
Q: Does this document not reflect that Mr. Bermudez solicited this speaking engagement on your behalf?
MR. DYMOND: Object, Your Honor. I think the document speaks for itself, and we have no objection to the Jury examining it.
MR. ALCOCK: Your Honor, may I offer this in evidence?
MR. DYMOND: No objection.
THE COURT: No objection?
MR. DYMOND: No.
THE COURT: With no objection, you may. It is received in evidence. You may read it to the Jury if you wish.
MR. ALCOCK: This is a document on the letterhead of the City of New Orleans, Office of International Relations, International Trade Mart, New Orleans, Louisiana, Telephone 529-3349. It is dated November 11, 1963, bearing the title "Victor H. Schiro, Mayor" and also "Mario Bermudez, Director." This letter is directed to Mr. J.M. Sullivan, Executive Director, World Trade Center, Ferry Building, San Francsico, California.
"Dear Mr. Sullivan:
"I tried to get in touch with you by telephone today. Pending completion of the call I am writing you on the same subject I would like to discuss with you.
THE COURT: Mr. Alcock, with the completion you have (referring to noise in the courtroom) may I suggest that you use the mike?
MR. ALCOCK: Do you want me to sit down and read it?
THE COURT: You can if you wish. I wish you would start it over.
MR. ALCOCK: Very well. I will start with the body of the letter rather than rereading the heading. This letter is addressed to Mr. J. M. Sullivan, Executive Director, World Trade Center, Ferry Building, San Francisco, California.
"Dear Mr. Sullivan:
"I tried to get in touch with you by telephone today, but pending completion of the call I am writing you on the same subject I would like to discuss with you by telephone.
"Mr. Clay Shaw, Managing Director of the International Trade Mart here in New Orleans, is going to be in San Francisco from November 21 to November 23, and if you consider some local business groups there would be interested, he would be willing to address them on the subject of our International Trade Mart and his experience in founding the present one and promoting new trade for the new building which is just starting construction, and the effect of the Mart on international trade for the Port of New Orleans.
"I look forward to hearing from you in this regard, or, if you wish, you could contact Mr. Shaw directly, International Trade Mart, New Orleans, Louisiana, Telephone Number 523-6137.
"Meanwhile, with kindest regards, I am,
"Sincerely yours,
"Mario Bermudez."