FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date 3/19/64

JAMES L. SIMMONS, 1325 Rosemont Street, Mesquite Texas, was interviewed at the Union Terminal Company, 500 South Houston Street, Dallas, Texas. SIMMONS advised that he is a car inspector and on November 22, 1963, he was standing on the Elm Street viaduct with some fellow employees waiting for President JOHN F. KENNEDY's motorcade to come into view. SIMMONS stated when the President's car started down Elm Street he heard three shots ring out. President KENNEDY slumped forward in his seat and appeared to have been hit by a bullet.

SIMMONS said that he recalled that a motorcycle policeman drove up the grassy slope toward the Texas School Book Depository Building, jumped off his motorcycle and then ran up the hill toward the Memorial Arches. SIMMONS said he thought he saw exhaust fumes of smoke near the embankment in front of the Texas School Book Depository Building. SIMMONS then ran toward the Texas School Book Depository Buildidg with a policeman. He stopped at a fence near the Memorial Arches and could not find anyone.

SIMMONS advised that it was his opinion the shots came from the direction of the Texas School Book Depository Building. He stated that immediately after the shots were fired, people were running in every direction through the whole area and there was a sense of mass confusion.

on 3/17/64 at Dallas, Texas File # DL 100-10461

By Special Agent THOMAS T. TRETTIS JR. and E.J. ROBERTSON Date Dictated 3/17/64