From the Baton Rouge MORNING ADVOCATE, 3/15/67. ---------------------------------------- RUSSO SAYS ON TV Didn't Know Oswald Before Assassination NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Perry Russo, the "confidential informant" in Dist. Atty. Jim Garrison's probe of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, told a television interviewer he had never heard of Lee Harvey Oswald until he was linked with the presidential assassination. WDSU-TV of New Orleans broadcast on Tuesday night an interview it made with Russo shortly after the death of David Ferrie two weeks ago. Garrison described Ferrie as a central figure in the assassination probe. "I never heard of Oswald until on television (after) the assassination," Russo said in the interview. He said Ferrie never mentioned Oswald's name. Russo, 25, an insurance salesman now living in Baton Rouge, told a three-judge state court earlier Tuesday that he heard Oswald, Clay Shaw and Ferrie plotting to assassinate Kennedy. Russo also said in the interview that "Ferrie was obsessed with Kennedy and the idea of what he was doing to Cuba or Castro." "Quite frequently he (Ferrie) talked in general terms and not specifically about Kennedy though about how easy it would be to assassinate a president of the United States because of the fact that he was in the public view so much and unprotected more or less and there was so many people -- the availability of exit and the fact that he (Ferrie) could fly a plane to get out of the country. And he (Ferrie) jokingly posed the question that if he and I could do it, it could be done," Russo said in the interview. His testimony came at a preliminary hearing where Garrison must show probable cause why he should be allowed to proceed with a trial against Shaw, 54, a retired International Trade Mart executive. -------------------------------- From the Baton Rouge STATE-TIMES, February 24, 1967 ----------------------------------------- Local Man Reports Ferrie Threat on Life of Kennedy By Bill Bankston A Baton Rouge man today reported to the State-Times that David W. Ferrie told him about a month before the assassination of President Kennedy: "We will get him, and it won't be long." Perry Raymond Russo, 25, 311 East State St., said he has also sent a letter to Orleans Dist. Atty. Jim Garrison about his contacts with Ferrie in the summer and early fall of 1963. Russo described Ferrie as "screwy but sharp in a brainy way." Russo said he had known Ferrie about 18 months when the statement was made. On another occasion about the same time, Russo said Ferrie told him, "you know we can get Kennedy if we want him." The ease with which a president could be assassinated was discussed several times previous to the statements but with no mention of Kennedy. "It was just general conversation," Russo said. On two occasions, Russo said, he saw Ferrie in the company of Spanish speaking individuals dressed in green fatigue uniforms. They wore helmets, Russo said. The salesman with Equitable Life Assurance Co. here said two of them came to his home (at that time in New Orleans) with Ferrie. On the other occasion he met the third at Ferrie's home. Russo said he was not aware that the Ferrie involved in Garrison's probe of the Kennedy assassination and the Ferrie he knew were the same until he saw Ferrie's picture this week in the newspaper. Ferrie was found dead at his home. The former New Orleans resident said he became acquainted with Ferrie through a friend, who was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. View of Castro Ferrie told him, Russo said, that Castro was "not a bad guy and that he could be an ally of the United States." The friend told Russo, that he was training with Ferrie in jungle warfare "to help bring about more democratic government." Russo said Ferrie never mentioned Castro in connection with the training. The friend's family had contacted him, Russo said, in an attempt to break "Ferrie's hold on their son." Ferrie experimented with hypnotism, and on one occasion he brought a concoction to Russo's with which he wanted to experiment. The reason for discussing presidential assassinations, Russo said, was his interest in politics. At that time Russo said he was a political science major at Loyola University. Russo also said he is a Republican and it was because of this that Ferrie mentioned the assassination of Kennedy. Russo said he always initiated the discussions of politics but never mentioned a dislike for Kennedy. He said he just agreed with Ferrie during the discussions. Ferrie never used the word assassination, it was always "kill," Russo said. Russo said he did not take any of Ferrie's statements seriously until he saw Ferrie's picture in connection with Garrison's probe. Russo said at the time he was living at 4607 Elysian Fields. He received a degree in political science in 1964 from Loyola, and then attended Loyola's Law School. Confirms Fund for Probe Earlier today Joseph M. Rault, president of Rault Petroleum Corp. of New Orleans, confirmed the existence of the fund to finance the assassination probe. "We are prepared to back Jim Garrison all the way," Rault said. "It can be a year -- or five years if necessary. And we'll provide whatever he needs. No questions asked." Another of the principal businessmen involved in the fund is Willard Robertson, wealthy New Orleans automobile distributor and a close friend and supporter of Gov. McKeithen. Garrison had claimed since the story on his investigation broke that he was determined to see it through and that arrests would be made. Ferrie died from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage, according to Dr. Roland A. Welsh, professor of pathology at LSU School of Medicine. Dr. Welsh performed the autopsy on Ferrie, whom Garrison had identified as a central figure in the probe. Ferrie's death apparently frightened other persons whose names have figured in the probe. David Lewis, a bus station baggage clerk who claims he had knowledge of a possible conspiracy to kill Kennedy, went to Garrison's office yesterday and again expressed fear for his life. Miguel Torres, a Cuban exile who was returned from the state penitentiary at Angola to face questioning by Garrison, reportedly received a call threatening his life. ------------------------------------------- From the Baton Rouge MORNING ADVOCATE, Feb. 25, 1967 ----------------------------------- Local Man Says He Recalls Remark By David Ferrie About Getting JFK A man who claims he knew David W. Ferrie in 1963 said here Friday Ferrie had told him about a month before President Kennedy's death "We will get him and it won't be long." Perry Raymond Russo, 25, an insurance salesman, said he had known Ferrie about 18 months when the statement was made. He said he had written New Orleans Dist. Atty. Jim Garrison about his contacts with Ferrie in the summer and early fall of 1963. Once Ferrie told him that "You know we can get Kennedy if we want him," Russo said. Leaves for New Orleans The salesman made his statements in an interview with the State-Times and then announced he was leaving for New Orleans. He was not available Friday night for clarification of his comments. The assassination of a President was discussed several times with Ferrie before the statements, Russo said. "It was just general conversation," he said. Russo said he twice saw Ferrie in the company of Spanish- speaking persons dressed in green fatigue uniforms and helmets. He said two of them came to his house -- at that time in New Orleans -- and on the second occasion he met the third at Ferrie's home. Ferrie, a central figure in Garrison's probe into the Kennedy assassination, was found dead this week. Authorities have ruled out suicide or murder. Russo said he did not take any of Ferrie's statements seriously until he saw Ferrie's photograph in the newspaper this week. The salesman said he was a political science student at Loyola University at the time. He said he met Ferrie through a friend who was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Ferrie was a pilot. The friend told Russo that he was training with Ferrie in jungle warfare "to help bring about more democratic government," Russo said. The friend's family had contacted him in an effort to break "Ferrie's hold on their son," Russo said. Russo said the reason for discussing Presidential assassinations was his interest in politics. He said at the time he knew Ferrie he was living at 4607 Elysian Fields in New Orleans. -----------------------------------