Why did Oswald have the taxi driver drive
past his rooming house? Then once past it he told him to stop. Why not tell the driver to drive up directly in front of it? The rooming house was located at 1026 North Beckley Street. Whaley, the cab driver, testified that Oswald told him to take him to 500 North Beckley Street. That is, I assume, five blocks past his rooming house?
Here is Whaley's account (WC testimony):
WHALEY: "....I asked him where he wanted to go. And he said, '500 North Beckley.'.... But when I got pretty close to 500 block at Neches and North Beckley which is the 500 block, he said, "This will do fine," and I pulled over to the curb right there. He gave me a dollar bill, the trip was 95 cents. He gave me a dollar bill and didn't say anything, just got out and closed the door and walked around the front of the cab over to the other side of the street. Of course, traffic was moving through there and I put it in gear and moved on, that is the last I saw of him.
Mr. BALL. When you parked your car you parked on what street?
Mr. WHALEY. I wasn't parked, I was pulled to the curb on Neches and North Beckley.
Mr. BALL. Neches, corner of Neches and North Beckley?
Mr. WHALEY. Which is the 500 block.
Mr. BALL. What direction was your car?
Mr. WHALEY. South.
Mr. BALL. The cab was headed?
Mr. WHALEY. South.
Mr. BALL. And it would be on the west side of the street?
Mr. WHALEY. Parked, stopped on the west side of the intersection, yes, sir.
Testimony is here:
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/russ/testimony/whaley1.htm