I called Sheriff Owen to verify some of the information provided by Alveeta Treon about the John Hurt phone call.

         Sheriff Owen said he recalled getting some information about Mrs. Treon several years ago. He said a man known to him as Winston Smith told him Mrs. Treon had some information about Oswald, He said he knew of Smith for many years; Smith works as a custodial officer of medical records at the federal penitentiary in Springfield.

         Sheriff Owen said he went out and talked to Mrs. Treon about her information. He said she lived in a modest home and appeared normal.

         It was his information that she was "a woman who thought she had something to offer." Up until that time she had never come to the sheriff's attention and he has heard nothing on her since. As she began to relate the information, Owen said he thought it would be more appropriately handled by federal officers. He therefore contacted the local FBI office. He said Jim Mitchell (now retired) handled the case. He thought the FBI interviewed Treon and did some type of investigation. After turning it over to federal officers, Owen had no further connection with the case. He had asked Treon if he could contact the FBI about her information and she said yes.

         Owen said he did not recall helping her prepare any kind of affidavit about the information.

         He said the resident Springfield office or the Kansas City Office might have files on the case.