ENTERTAINMENT for MEN FEBRUARY 1967 • 75 CENTS YB Playboy: Feb

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ENTERTAINMENT FOR MEN FEBRUARY 1967 • 75 CENTS YB Playboy: Feb. 1907 p. 41 — Playboy interview: (no byline)

1' 110s! RUSH TO JUDGMENT AL1113 0.-i- - MARK LANE REVEALS NEW FACTSJ ''...,v. ON THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION_ IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -FICTION BY LEN IJEIGHTON. iIRWIN SHAW AND JEROME WEIOMAN 011Ik PLUS U S. CONGRESSMAN THOMAS • ' CURTIS ON ENDING THE DRAFT PLAYBOY INTERVIEW: MARK LANE a candid conversation with the fiery attorney and author of "rush to judgment," the documented, best-selling indictment of the warren report

News of the assassination of John and racist circles, by those who cannot prestigious Presidential Commission, Fitzgerald Kennedy had hardly reached a stomach any step aimed at the easing of headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, to stunned world when the inevitable ques- international tensions and the improve- investigate the assassination. Serving un- tion was asked; Is this part of a conspir- ment of Soviet-American relations." der Warren were former CIA Director acy? When Lee Harvey Oswald, charged In other countries, too, rumors of con- Allen Dulles; John McCloy, former As- with the assassination, was in turn assassi- spiracy abounded. The London Daily sistant Secretory of War; Senators Rich- nated, the whispers of doubt swelled to a Telegraph's Dallas correspondent re- ard Russell and John Sherman Cooper; chorus. Scripps-Howard columnist Rich- ported on November 26 that "World and Representatives Gerald Ford and ard Starnes summed up the feelings of opinion as much as American is not fully Hale Boggs. - J. Lee Rankin, former Solici- many Americans when he wrote: "Our satisfied about this terrible affair. This tor General of the United States, was credentials as a civilized people stand has resulted in an elephantine attempt appointed as the Commission's Chief suspect before the world . . but the real on the part of the local authorities con- Counsel, directing a staff of 14 lawyers. depth of the disaster that has befallen us cerned to cover up for one another." The very appointment of such a blue- cannot yet be imagined. In its 188th On November 27, the conservative Lon- ribbon investigative body allayed many year, the Republic has fallen upon don Daily Mail declared editorially that fears, at least in America. Ten months unspeakably evil days, and great mischief "facts can be produced that a right-wing after the assassination, when the IVarren is afoot in the land. It remains to be plot against the President had caused his Commission released its findings, Ameri- seen whether more convulsions will rack death." French press opinion was even less cans heaved a national sigh of relief. us before it is over . . ." restrained. Paris Jour carried a front-page There had been no conspiracy, the Com- Starnes' jeremiad was echoed abroad, article entitled "Oswald Cannot Have mission concluded. Lee Harvey Oswald, where it was generally assumed that Been Alone in the Shooting," while acting alone and irrationally, had mur- the murders of Kennedy, Oswald and Liberation wrote that "There is no doubt dered the President. Jack Ruby had killed Officer J. D. Tippit were all pieces in that President Kennedy fell into a trap. Oswald on his own and without premedi- monstrous, conspiratorial jigsaw puzzle. He was the victim of a plot. And in this tation. The verdict was in, and it was The Communist nations were quick to plot it is evident that the Dallas police, almost unanimously accepted—in the allege that the President had been mur- protectors of gangsters like Ruby, played United States. Two months later, when dered by a plot originating within his a role one can only describe as question- the Commission released its 26 vol- own Government, and that Oswald had able. They created a defendant, then umes of supporting evidence—a massive been silenced before he could incriminate allowed one of their stool pigeons to 17,815 pages—the case appeared for- other members of the cabal. Tess cabled kill him." ever closed. A grateful public hailed the from Washington to Moscow on Novem- In hasty pursuit of a scapegoat, con- Commission for settling its gnawing ber 25, 1963, just three days after the servatives and reactionaries—at home as doubts and clearing the air of poisonous assassination, that "All circumstances of well as abroad—were eager to blame liber- rumors. Harrison Salisbury, assistant President Kennedy's death allow one to als and leftists, who returned the charges. managing editor of The New York assume that this murder was planned and To dispel such divisive speculation, Times, echoed popular sentiment when carried out by the ultra-right-wing, fascist President Johnson appointed an ultra- he wrote in the Times: "No material

IIIk* mon "History may come to know the Warren "There were 90 witnesses to the assassina- "There were at least two assassins. The Report as the 'Warren Whitewash'; it tion who were questioned and were able evidence is conclusive on that score. But may be ranked with Teapot Dome as a to give an assessment of the origin of the the Commission wanted to disprove a synonym for political cover-up and cyni- shots. Of those, SS said they came from conspiracy, and this desire defeated its cal manipulation of the truth." behind the fence on the grassy knoll." investigative function." 41 question now remains unsolved so far as This barrage of books prompted The them should prove to be significant, then the death of President Kennedy is con- New York Times to comment editorially the work of the Warren Commission will cerned. The evidence of Osseold's single- on September 1, 1966, that "Debate on be judged by history to be a scandal handed guilt is overwhelming." the accuracy and adequacy of the Warren worse than Teapot Dame." But historians know that often enough, Commission's work is now approaching The hub of all this the more they study a complex event, controversy. the the dimensions of a lively small industry Mark Lane, was born 39 years ago in less they know about it. For each ques- in this country." The original band of New York City, where he has lived most tion answered, seven MOM' spring up to lonely doublers had multiplied to a small of his life. Currently, however, he travels take its place. The Warren investigation, army. So drastically had the climate through Europe and America lecturing with an unlimited budget, a full-time changed that The New York Times' on the assassination, frequently appear- staff of 26 and complete access to the White House correspondent, Tom Wick- ing on TV massive investigative apparatus of the and radio talk shows, and er, commented on September 25, 1966: stopping off occasionally in Denmark United States Government, was the larg- "A public discussion group in New York with his young wife, whom he met while est historical inquiry ever undertaken. sought to hold a round-table session in Copenhagen three years ago. They Inevitably, it would produce a paper about the Warren Report. . . . The ma- plan to settle in California shortly. mountain of conflicting reports, contra- jor difficulty for the group was in finding After serving in Army Intelligence dictory testimony, expert disagreement anyone of stature who was willing to during World War Two, Lane attended and unanswered questions. By publishing defend the Warren Report and its Long Island University and received his the 26 volumes of hearings and exhibits riaiFir t,gs." Wicker went on to demand law degree from Brooklyn Law School. —containing considerable evidence con- appointment of a new Commission to For 12 years he practiced law from a tradicting its own findings—the Warren investigate the assassination. On Septem- storefront in East Harlem; then, in 1958, Commission implicitly acknowledged the ber 28, New York Congressman Theo- he gained local prominence when he inscrutability of fact. Doubts were to be dore R. Kupferman, citing the slew of charged that young people confined in expected; it's surprising only that they critical books on the Report, asked the New York State homes for the mentally took so long to surface. Discussions of House of Representatives to establish a defective were being brutally treated by their validity may occupy scholars for Senate-Howe Committee to conduct its attendants. Governor Rockefeller opened generations—or even centuries. own investigation of the Warren Report. hearings on the issue, and a number of The ripples preceding the wave of Shortly thereafter, Life also called for a guards were dismissed. In 1960, Lane criticism came first from England. The reopening of the investigation. In the was elected to the New York State Assem- day the Report was issued, Lord November 1966 issue of The Progressive, bly, representing the black-and-white Bertrand Russell denounced it as a white- Harrison Salisbury, who had earlier felt ghettos of East Harlem and Yorkville. wash and subsequently formed a "Who that "no material question remained un- He ran with the strong endorsement Killed Kennedy?' committee to pursue solved," reversed his field and wrote that of Eleanor Roosevelt and Senator Her- its own investigation of the assassination. he was convinced "there are questions— bert Lehman, with whom he had And late in 1964, Hugh Trevor-Roper, some of them of major importance— earlier-helped establish a reform move- Regius Professor of History at Oxford which must be answered." ment within the New York Democratic University, published a scathing attack The one man most responsible for Party. He also had the endorsement on the Commission in the pages of Eng- these doubts and demands is New York of Senator John F. Kennedy, who land's establishmentarian London Sun- attorney Mark Lane. He has been inves- moved into the White House at the same day Times. According to Trevor-Roper, tigating the assassination since early time Lane attended his first legislative the Report was not only inaccurate but December 1963, and since the publica- session in Albany. In 1961, Lane became "slovenly." In America, less prone to con- tion of "Rush to Judgment," he has been the first legislator to be arrested on a spiratorial views of history than intrigue- called everything from a liar to a nation- Freedom Ride—in Jackson, Mississippi. rife Europe, criticism was slower in al hero. In a lead review for the Chicago After two stormy years in the state as- coming. The first two books attacking the Tribune, Jon Waltz of the Northwestern sembly, he found himself ostracized as Commission, Thomas Buchanan's "Who University Law School faculty wrote: a troublemaker by a bipartisan pre- Killed Kennedy?" and Joachim Joesten's "This latest critique of the Warren Com- ponderance of his fellow assemblymen, "Oswald: Assassin or Fall Guy?," con- mission Report is truly horrible. [It] and did not run for re-election. tained wild speculations that generally paves beyond the merely superficial, When President Kennedy was assassi- discredited them as serious criticism. being frequently dishonest as well. Lane's nated, Lane initiated what his supporters But the flood was only beginning. In fevered arguments have no semblance have termed "his lonely crusade." His October 1965, Pulitzer Prize–winning of logic or even of organization. He involvement began in December, when newsman Sylvan Fox, then–city editor presents a phantasmagoric hodgepodge Mrs. Marguerite Oswald appointed him of the New York World-Telegram and of unrelated and often wholly irrelevant —at no fee—to represent her dead son's Sun, published a paperback entitled second-guessing. If, in assembling his interests at the Warren Commission hear- "Unanswered Questions About President collection of quibbles, Lane had any ul- ings. The Commission refused to accept Kennedy's Assassination." On May 9, timate purpose other than confusion and Lane as a defense attorney, but it did 1966, Harold Weisberg, a former Senate profit, it goes unstated . . the catalog permit him to testify. Thus began his investigator, privately published "White- of this book's distortions and apparent three-year investigation—independent, wash: A Report on the Warren Report." fabrications, large and small, is a long if not impartial—into the circumstances Seven weeks later, Viking Press published and sorry one . . . no one will thank surrounding President Kennedy's assas- "Inquest," by Edward Jay Epstein, a 31- Lane for his book." But many people did sination. Lane traveled to Dallas eight year-old Cornell graduate student. Origi- --including Norman Mailer, who con- times, interviewing scores of witnesses, nally Epstein's master's thesis, the book cluded his review in Book Week with a assisted by a group of amateur investiga- sold moderately well. Then, on August hurrah: "Three cheers for Mark Lane. tors who called themselves the "Citizens' 15, Holt, Rinehart 25- Winston published His work is not without a trace of that Committee of Inquiry." The fruits of his Mark Lane's "Rush to Judgment," which stature we call heroic. . . . Lane's book researches and his conclusions comprise has since forged its way to the top of the proves once and forever that the assassi- his book "Rush to Judgment"—and best-seller list. And on September 8, a nation of President Kennedy is more of a film of the same title to be released this World published "The Oswald Affair," mystery today than when it occurred." month. by Leo Sauvage, American correspond. He called Lane's 900 pages of evidence PLAYBOY interviewed Lane in his two- 42 ent for Le Figaro of Paris. "staggering facts. . . . If one tenth of and-a-half-room walk-up apartment in Lower Manhattan. We began by asking conspiracy. and this desire defeated its ment on November 22. I have not been for his thoughts an the integrity of the investigative function. Remember, a able to find her. She's no longer in ll'arreit Commission. Gallup poll taken shortly after the assas- Dallas. PLAYBOY: lit your book, you wrote that sination revealed that the majority of PLAYBOY: But this is just one woman's Americans believed there was no lone the Warren (:ommissicm—composed of testimony. some of the most distinguished figures assassin, but an organized plot to kill the LANE Yes, we begin with just one wom- in American life—"covered itself with President. It was this public fear of a an's testimony, but let me show how it shame." Are you accusing the Commis- conspiracy, and all it implied, that the fits into a pattern of evidence proving sion of lying to the American people? Commission was determined to allay. that at least one of the shots was fired at One of the Commission's members. John LANE: I would not care to say that the the President from the grassy knoll. A J. McCoy, said it was vital for the Com- Commission lied, but—however distin- railroad man named Lee Bowers was in mission to "show the world that America guished its members may be—it a railroad tower overlooking the knoll, did isis not a banana republic, where a gov- MAC a false report. I know this because I and he testified that he saw two men ernment can be changed by conspiracy." carefully compared the one-volume Re- standing behind the wooden fence just And another member. Senator John port with the 26 volumes of 'evidence before the shots were fired. Bowers did Sherman Cooper, that "supports" it and, in many cases. I said right at the outset appear before the Commission and he that one of the Commission's major tasks found no relationship whatever between testified that the moment firing broke was "to lift the cloud of doubts that had the Commission's conclusions out something attracted his attention to and the been cast over American institutions." Commission's evidence. The most inno- the fence. He described it as "something PLAYBOY: What was so wrong about the cent interpretation of its shortcomings, . which was out of the ordinary. Commission's trying to dispel false con- as Hugh Trevor-Roper expresses it in his which attracted my eye for some reason, spiracy rumors? introduction to my book, is that the Com- which I could not identify." When asked LANE Nothing, if the rumors mission members did what some poor were false. for details, he said he had seen "nothing The trouble was that from the very be- historians do: They start with a precon- that I could pinpoint as having hap- ginning the Commission operated on the ceived theory—in this case, that Oswald pened that—" Here he was inter- assumption that Oswald did it and did it was the lone assassin of President Ken- rupted by a Commission lawyer. When I nedy—and sort out all the evidence alone, and relegated all facts to the con- subsequently conducted a filmed and trary into this "false rumor" category. In supporting that theory, in the process un- tape-recorded interview with Mr. Bowers other words, the Commission had con- consciously rejecting any contradictory in Dallas, I told him that for a year and cluded who killed Kennedy before they fact or interpretation. I don't know if a half I'd wondered what the end of that even began their investigation. that's what happened here, but it's one sentence was about to be. He told me, explanation and, compared with some PLAYBOY: Let's get down to the facts of "Yes, I was interrupted by the Commis- of the other theories that have been ad- the assassination. One of the main points sion lawyers. Evidently they didn't want vanced to account for the Commission's of your book is that the fatal shot was to get the facts. I was just going to tell behavior, a relatively comforting one. not fired from the sixth-floor window of that at- the time the shots were fired, I the Book Depository, as the Warren PLAYBOY: Haven't your critics accused looked at the fence and saw a puff of you of committing the same sin you im- Commission concludes. Do you have smoke, or flash of light, just when the pute to the Commission—selecting from any evidence that shots came from shots were fired." Bowers gave me a de- the mass of testimony those facts that somewhere else? scription of the two men on the knoll agree with your preconceptions and dis- LANE The Warren Commission said un- that dovetails with the description Julia equivocally that there was no credible carding the rest? Ann Mercer gave the Dallas sheriff's LANE: Yes. But my book is far more thor- evidence even suggesting that the shots office of the two men in the truck. And oughly documented than the Warren came from anyplace else. This is vital to another witness. J. C. Price, a post office Commission Report, and none of the their whole case, because if the shots did employee, told the Dallas sheriff's office, hundreds of book reviewers across the originate from two locations, Oswald minutes after the assassination, that he country who've examined it has yet been couldn't have been the "lone assassin." was standing on top of the Terminal able to discover a single inaccuracy, dis- Let's look at the evidence. When the Annex Building on Dealey Plaza—over- tortion or out-of-context statement. And President was shot, his limousine had looking the route of the Presidential let me add right here that the statements passed the Book Depository. To the right motorcade—when the shots were fired. I will make in this interview are based and in front of the Presidential limou- Price later told me that when he heard either on the Warren Commission's 26 sine was a grassy knoll topped by gunfire, his attention was instantly drawn a wooden fence. Some time before the volumes of evidence or on filmed inter- to the grassy knoll. In an interview with motorcade reached the area, a young views I conducted in Dallas that will ap- me, he said he saw a man run from be- wotnan named Julia Ann Mercer saw a hind the wooden fence and dash across pear in the documentary film Rush to truck at the base of the grassy knoll, a parking lot, disappearing behind the Judgment that I made with Emile de illegally parked halfway up on the side- Book Depository. Price also said the man Antonio. So I don't expect you to pro- walk, protruding into Elm Street and was carrying something in his hand that ceed with me on faith. partially blocking traffic. Dallas police- could have been a gun. PLAYBOY: You concluded in your book men were standing a short distance away, PLAYBOY: So you have three witnesses that the Warren Commission's "criteria but they didn't move the truck on. Miss who contradict the Commission's conclu- for investigating and accepting evidence Mercer saw a man leave the truck and sion that the shots came only from the were related less to the intrinsic value of climb the grassy knoll. Another man re- Book Depository. Why are you sure the information than to its paramount mained in the truck. She drove off, and these three are right, and all the witness- need to allay Fears of conspiracy." Do the truck was gone before the motorcade es the Warren Commission relied on are you believe there was a conspiracy to kill appeared. In an affidavit for the Dallas wrong? President Kennedy? sheriff's office, she later said that the man LANE: There are many more than three. LANE: Yes, I do. A conspiracy, as defined was carrying "what appeared to be a gun For example. three railroad employees by the law, is simply two or more per- case" about three and a half to four feet were standing on a railroad bridge run- sons acting in concert to secure an illegal long. Miss Mercer was never called as a ning across Elm Street above and in end. There were at least two assassins. witness or even questioned by the Com- front of the Presidential limousine. They The evidence is conclusive on that score. mission. All we hate is her affidavit, all said to me in filmed and taped inter- 44 The Commission wanted to disprove a signed before the Dallas sheriff's depart- views, or to Federal or local authorities, that the moment they heard shots they shots came from there, but it was vague nan would almost certainly have been looked at the grassy knoll, because the and frequently contradictory, so the discredited as a witness. The Commis- shots seemed to originate there. And Commission relied largely on the testi- sion concluded that Brennan was able each one of these three men, independ- mony of Brennan. He told the Commis- to identify a man standing behind a half- ently, said he saw a puff of white smoke sion he was seated on a concrete wall closed window 120 feet away from him. coming from behind the wooden fence. across the street from the Book Deposi- This was the Commission's star witness A Dallas police officer. who was among tory, 107 feet from the building and to support their conclusion that Lee the first to arrive behind the fence just about 120 feet from the sixth-floor win- Harvey Oswald fired at the President after the shooting, said he smelled gun- dow. The Commission concluded that from the sixths-floor window of the Book powder there, and Senator Ralph Yar- this placed him "in an excellent position Depository. borough of Texas stated that when his to observe anyone in the window." Bren- PLAYBOY: Do you think that no shots car passed the grassy knoll after the nan said he heard a noise he at first actually came from the Depository? shooting, he also smelled gunpowder. In thought was a motorcycle backfire—so, LANE: It's not as simple as that. I believe fact, the majority of witnesses to the naturally, he looked up to the sixth floor there is no convincing evidence that Os- assassination who could place the shots of the Depository, and saw a man stand- wald fired a gun from the sixth-floor said—to the Federal or local police, or ing behind the window firing a rifle. window of the Book Depository or any- in their testimony—that the shots came Brennan signed an affidavit to that effect where else on the day of the assassina- from behind the wooden fence. on November 22, swearing that the man tion: but I'm not contending that it was PLAYBOY: The majority? Can you give us in the window "was standing up and impossible for any shots to have come a numerical breakdown? resting against the left window sill." from that window. Certainly some shots LANE: There were 90 witnesses to the However, the Commission concluded were fired from a location somewhere assassination who were questioned and the window was open only at the bot- behind the limousine. All I'm saying is who were able to give an assessment of tom. So if Oswald, or anybody else, fired that shots also came from the grassy the origin of the shots. Of those. 58—or through that window from a standing knoll, and to prove that shots came almost two thirds—said the shots came position, he would have had to fire from the knoll is not to disprove that from behind the wooden fence on the through the glass—which was unbroken. shots may have come from elsewhere as grassy knoll. I think the most significant The Commission slithered out of this well. But this is most inconvenient for fact here was the immediate reaction of one by determining that "although Bren- the Government's case, because it means witnesses to the shots. Twenty-five wit- nan testified that the man in the window there must have been at least two assas- nesses gave statements to the FBI or the was standing when he fired the shots, sins, since Oswald couldn't fire at the Dallas police on November 22 and 23, most probably he was either sitting or President from both the grassy knoll and and of those, 22 said the shots came kneeling." The reason they gave was the Depository Building. So even if he from behind the wooden fence on the that the window ledge was only about a was involved—and there's not sufficient knoll, not from the Book Depository. foot and a half from the floor. thus creat- proof that he was—he must have had an And there were many others who never ing the illusion from the street below accomplice. This means the Commis- made statements but by their own ac- that a person was standing rather than sion's "single assassin" theory flies right tions indicated that the shots came from sitting or kneeling behind the window. out the window—along with, I might the knoll. For example, 17 Dallas deputy But Brennan himself invalidated this add, their conclusion that there is no sheriffs ran right past the Book Deposi- explanation, for he swore he saw the credible evidence that the shots came tory just as the shots were fired, and man both stand up and sit down—and from anywhere but the Book Depository. withdraw from the window rushed behind the wooden fence to be- more than The evidence proves that some shots— once. In any case, here we have the gin their search. One Dallas policeman, including the fatal one—came from be- J. M. Smith, ran to the parking lot be- Commission contradicting its own star hind the wooden fence on the grassy hind the knoll and there encountered a witness on a slut point of his testimony knoll. stranger who produced credentials to —the position of the assassin at the time PLAYBOY: Is there any physical evidence show he was a Secret Service agent. of the crime. to back up this assertion? Smith couldn't subsequently recall the PLAYBOY: Important as it may be, this is man's name, but Isis account is more or just one point, on which anyone could be LANE: Yes: the effect of the fatal shot on less corroborated by two other Dallas mistaken. Was Brennan's testimony in- the President himself. The spectator per- officers. However, Sylvia Meagher, an consistent in other respects? haps closest to the President when the independent investigator, found after LANE: Yes, it was. When Brennan was fatal bullet struck was Charles Brehm, a painstaking research that there were no taken to the police line-up on November Dallas salesman. He was standing about Secret Service agents around the knoll or 22, to pick out the man he claimed to 20 feet away, to the left of the limousine, parking lot at that time and suggested have seer, in the window, Oswald was in facing the grassy knoll. Brehm was inter- that an assassin may have escaped using the line-up, but Brennan failed to make viewed on television in Dallas, and I fake Secret Service credentials. Certainly a positive identification. When Brennan spoke with him later. He told me in a something was going on in that area. later testified before the Commission, he filmed interview that a portion of the The Dallas police even established a said he had known it was Oswald all President's skull was driven back and command post behind the fence on the along—but didn't select him from the sharply to the left, over the rear of the knoll, and they maintained it for more police line-up because of his fear that President's car. Unless the laws of phys- than two and a half hours. So there is the assassination was a Communist plot ics were temporarily suspended, this overwhelming evidence that at least one and "if it got to be a known fact that I offers impressive corroboration for those shot came from the knoll. was an eyewitness, my family or I, either who say the shot came from the right PLAYBOY: But didn't the Commission have one, might not be safe." In other words, front of the car—in substantially the op- eyewitness evidence that shots did come Brennan admitted to the Commission posite direction from the Depository. from the sixth-floor window of the Book that he had deliberately lied to the Dal- PLAYBOY: Did the Commission call Brelun Depository? las police on November 22 when he told as a witness? LANE The Commission had one "star" them he could not definitely identify Os- LANE; No, he was never called as a wit- Wit liCS5 who testified that a man fired wald in the line-up. And yet the Com- ness, and no Commission lawyer ever from that window. He was Howard L. mission chose to believe his subsequent questioned him. Brennan, a 45-year-old steamfitter. identification of Oswald as the man in PLAYBOY: Is there any photographic evi- There was some other evidence that the window. In any court of law, Bren- dence to support your contention that 45

the fatal shot came from the right front of the Presidential limousine? LANE Yes, there is. There's an eight- ca there's a BIG man millimeter motion picture taken by a Dallas amateur photographer, Abraham Zapruder. some frames of which were in your life... published in Lift'. It was taken while the ri shots were being fired. Frame 313 of the HE LOOKS AHEAD. Particularly at life insurance rates. 0. film—which appears in Volume 18 of Now, for the first time, you can have a life policy with BIG's the Commission's evidence—shows the President just as the fatal shot struck Guaranteed Rate Reducer... a guarantee that you will always his head. An examination of the two sub- pay the lowest rate for your class of policy. Your premium sequent frames-314 and 315—would reveal whether he was driven backward can go down...it can never increase. That's real control. or forward by the impact of the bullet. No pills. Just good planning. So for rate security for life, see As the frames are presented in the 26 volumes, they seem to support the Cont- your BIG man. ( But frankly, with rabbits he's not so good.) mission's contention that the shots came from the rear—that the President was suddenly driven forward. But the Com- mission created that illusion by trans- posing frames 314 and 315. and by mislabeling them. Actually, the original film shows that the President was driven back and to the left. One of our investigators analyzed die Commission frames and wrote to J. Edgar Hoover pointing out the deception. Mr. Hoover replied— well, here's the letter. Read it yourself. PLAYBOY: The letter, on FBI stationery and signed "John Edgar Hoover, Direc- tor," reads, in part: "You are correct in the observation that frames labeled 314 and 515 of Commission Exhibit 885 are transposed in Volume 18 as noted in RABBIT your letter." LANE: There's another interesting aspect FARM of the Zapruder film: The Commission published most of the frames, but they So0 failed to publish frames 208 to 211. A street sign visible in frame 207 is only partially visible in frame 212, because Zapruder panned his camera to photograph the moving Presidential limousine. In frame 212, sharp lines of stress suddenly appear on the back of the sign —which stood in a direct line of sight between the grassy knoll and the Presidential limousine—and the lines lengthiest and deepest in succeeding frames. They appear to radiate from a spot in the lower left portion of the sign, but that portion is no longer visible by BENEFICIAL Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company the time frame 212 was photographed. Fidelity Interstate Life Insurance Company TItese stress lines appear to be the result British Pacific Life Insurance Company Beneficial National Life Insurance Company of the impact of a bullet. Thus, what the Beneficial Fire & Casualty Insurance Company Commission failed to publish—frames Selective Insurance Company 208 to 211—could well be photographs Transit Casualty Company of a portion of the sign struck by a bullet Vermont Accident Insurance Company fired from the grassy knoll: This sign was removed from Dealey Plaza just AT BENEFICIAL—there are BIG life insurance career openings now and after the assassination and has since more coming every day. Interested ? Mail coupon today! disappeared. The question of these miss- r Chief Executive Officer, BIG iDepartment Al ing frames was brought before one of 756 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, Conformal 50014 the Commission's lawyers last year by David Liftott, a graduate engineering N•M[ student and an associate of the Citizens' Committee of Inquiry. The lawyer was so concerned that he wrote to Lee Rankin ain't and Norman Redlich, two other Com- mission attorneys, admitting that Lifton's 46 evaluation of the stress signs as a result of bullet impact "seemed plausible to President, a Polaroid photograph was from the Book Depository. me." This Commission attorney com- taken of the Presidential !limousine. It LANE: Sure they Jul. But just saying it's mented: "I have tics recollection that any- was developed on the scene, and shows so doesn't make it so, even when it's body considered what happened to the the sixth-floor window of the Book De- said by—as I think you called them— sign, or that anybody was aware of the pository moments before the shots were "some of the most distinguished figures fact that the frames were omitted, or fired. The picture was taken by a Dallas in American life." The fact is, the Com- that there were peculiar marks on the resident named Mary Moorman. The 26 mission's conclusions that the wound was back of the sign." kle understood the sig- volumes contain a report from a Dallas an exit wound was as questionable as the nificance of the stress marks quite clear- deputy sheriff. John Wiseman, who rest of their findings. They reached it ly, for lie added: "Since Oswald could requisitioned the picture from Miss because they bad to otherwise their not have fired fast enough to have hit Moorman. On November 23, Wiseman whole case against Oswald as the lone the sign with one shot at frame 208 and reported to the Dallas sheriff's depart- assassin would fall apart. And to make the President with another shot before ment that he had looked at the picture— their exit-wound conclusion stick, they frame 225, when the President came out hut he was never asked what it showed. conveniently disposed of—or ignored—all from behind the sign, the notion is that I-Tis affidavit does state that the photo the embarrassing contradictory evidence. someone else must have been firing at shows the window where the gunman PLAYBOY: If the throat wound was art en- the President, too:' Mr. Redlich's reply was alleged to have been firing, but it trance wound, what happened to the was typical: "All of the evidence which doesn't mention whether anyone is in bullet? None was found in the Presi- we have indicates quite conclusively that the window, This picture was turned dent's body.• no shots were fired from the front." In over by the Dallas deputy sheriff to LANE: Whether or not a bullet remained other words, since we start with the im- agents of the Secret Service. It has never in the President's body can best, perhaps mutable presumption that Oswald was been published. No one will say where only, be determined by an examination the lone assassin. firing from the rear, it is. It is not available in the National of the autopsy X rays. But that evidence all contrary evidence must be dismissed. Archives. Presumably, the Government —constituting at law "the best evidence" PLAYBOY: Is there any evidence that some has it somewhere, but nobody is talking. —has been suppressed, and we are left shots could have come from other loca- 1 think it's safe to assume that if this with the opinions of military physicians. tions, such as the railroad overpass? photo. taken a few seconds before the The medical authorities who conducted LANE: Some shots may have originated shots were fired, showed Lee Oswald or the autopsy at the Bethesda, Maryland. from other locations. My only point is anyone else shooting at the President Naval Hospital took one roll of 120 film, that it's impossible to conclude there was from die Depository window, it would 22 color photographs, 18 black-and- a lone assassin, Oswald or anyone else, probably have been published on the white prints, and 11 X rays of the Presi- after we determine that even one shot cover of the Warren Commission Report. dent's body. Those photographs and X originated elsewhere. But I don't see how Certainly it would have been published rays could answer the question of where shots could have been fired from the rail- somewhere as irrefutable proof of Os- the bullets came from. Naval Command- road overpass without attracting the at- wald's guilt—and the origin of at least er J. J. Humes, the doctor at the Naval tention of the numerous witnesses there. some of the shots. In light of the picture's Hospital who had the photos taken to They would have seen and heard some- suppression, you can draw your own assist him in determining the path of one firing a rifle, since there is no easy conclusions as to what it did or did not the bullet through the President's body. place to hide on the overpass. But I do show. testified they were taken from him by believe shots came from both the front PLAYBOY: Did the nature of President agents of the Secret Service before they and the rear. It's possible that some shots Kennedy's wounds shed any light on the were even developed. The X rays and from the rear originated in the building origin of the shots? photographs have never been seen by housing the Dallas sheriff's department LANE: That's a key question. Remember any member of the Warren Commission, —as at least one eyewitness, Charles at the moment the first shot was fired, nor by any of its attorneys. This in- Brehm, told me lie thought at the time. President Kennedy was facing to his credible fact is reluctantly corroborated But Iet me make clear that to say shots ?front and to his right—toward the grassy by former Commission Counsel Arlen might have come from that building is knoll. Evert the Commission concedes Specter, in an interview in the October not to imply a sheriff or policeman fired this. Now, if the bullet that struck his 10, 1966, issue of U. S. News & World them—any more than the Commission's throat came from the knoll, then the Report. You'll recall that the where- conclusion that shots came from the wound would have to be an entrance abouts of the photos was unknown until Book Depository Building implicates wound. On the other hand, if the bullet early last November, when, according any publishing firms with offices there. came from the Book Depository Build- to The New York Times of November Let's just say that Dallas law-enforce- ing, behind the Presidential limousine, 2, the Justice Department "disclosed ment officers would hardly be eager to then it would have to be an exit wound. that photographs and X rays taken of investigate the possibility that the Presi- Every doctor at Dallas' Parkland Hos- President Kennedy's body at the autopsy dent of the United States was shot from pital who examined the wound in after his assassination were turned over one of their own buildings. President Kennedy's throat and made a to the National Archives . . . by the PLAYBOY: Are you charging, in effect, that statement to the press on the day of the Kennedy family." It's comforting to the Warren Commission lied—by ignor- assassination said the throat wound was learn that the photos haven't dis- ing all evidence to the contrary—when it an entrance wound. That means the appeared, but no non-Government in- concluded that the President was shot bullet entered from the front. As I said, vestigator will be able to examine the only from the sixth-floor window of the the Commission itself concedes that the material for at least five years. Anyway, Book Depository? President was looking in the general the main point is not what the photos LANE "Lied" is not my word. After all, direction of the knoll at that moment. and X rays show, but why the Warren as news media have assured us for three Thus, the medical evidence supports the Commission never tried to secure them years now, the members of the Warren eyewitness testimony of people in Dealey in the first place. The Commission's Commission are all honorable men. But Plaza that some shots—at least this shot failure to examine them epitomizes their concerning Oswald's presence in that —came from the grassy knoll. inadequate investigation. If they had window, there is one piece of crucial evi- PLAYBOY: But the Warren Commission done everything else perfectly, this one dence that could prove fairly conclu- later concluded that the throat wound vital omission would still he enough to sively whether he was there or not. A was, in fact, an exit wound, supporting discredit their work. few seconds before the first shot hit the their conclusion that the shots came PLAYBOY: Why didn't the Warren 47 Commission ask to examine the photos LANE: 1 wrote to him but never received is preposterous—and so did several of O and X rays? an answer. the doctors who examined Connally and LANE: I don't know. Perhaps they thought PLAYBOY: is there any physical evidence his X rays at Parkland and Bethesda. that the evidence might confuse them. to support the Commission's conclusion PLAYBOY: Isn't it barely possible that a It might even interfere with their tidy that Oswald was the lone assassin? bullet could do everything the Commis• eg preconceptions. When President John- LANE Only Exhibit number 399. sion says this one did and yet emerge son was asked this at a press conference, PLAYBOY: Which is? unscathed? he replied, "I think every American can LANE: Exhibit 399 of the Warren Com- LANE: Not even barely, I'm afraid. The 0. understand the reasons why we wouldn't mission Report is a bullet that is the Commission's own experts fired other want to have the garments, the records only substantial link between the assassi- bullets from the Carcano into a variety and everything paraded out in every nation and the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle of substances, and in each case the bullet sewing circle in the country to be ex- the Commission claims belonged to Os- came out deformed. And the Com- ploited and used without serving any wald. There are some bullet fragments mission never tried to have one bullet do good or official purpose." Well, no one that the Commission also attempted to everything that they claim number 399 has suggested that the evidence be link to the Mannlicher-Carcano. but the did. One Commission expert, Dr. Alfred utilized in that fashion—merely that the whole body of ballistics literature dem- G. Olivier, a veterinarian, fired a bullet Commission should have seen the evi- onstrates that they are valueless for pur- through a gelatin block supposedly rep- dence before they signed their Report. poses of identification. The significance resenting the President's neck. He wasn't PLAYBOY: What did the doctors who con- of Exhibit 399, however, goes beyond asked about the condition of the bullet ducted the autopsy say about the Presi- the fact that it was used in an effort to when it emerged. He also fired a bullet dent's wounds? tie Oswald to the murder. The Commis- through the carcass of a goat. supposed- LANE At first, nothing—for the simple sion's whole single-assassin theory rests ly simulating Governor Connally's back reason that the Government silenced on the fact that this bullet hit both Presi- and chest. That bullet was "quite flat- them. Humes, who conducted the autop- dent Kennedy and Governor Connally. tened," he testified. Then he fired a sy, told a New York Times reporter he PLAYBOY: Why? bullet into the wrist of a corpse, and had been forbidden to talk" by agents LANE: Because the Zapruder film shows testified with pride that he had created a of the FBI. Doctors at Parkland Hospital that the maximum time that could have fracture in the cadaver almost identical who originally said the throat wound separated the wounding of the President with the fracture suffered by Governor was an entrance wound were similarly and of the governor was 1.8 seconds. Connally. He also testified, however, that visited by the FBI and told to make no The expert who tested the alleged assas- the spent bullet from the cadaver was more public statements. In fact, if you sination weapon for the Government said not like number 399 at all. He said, turn to Volume 17 of the Warren Com- it required a minimum of 2.3 seconds "Commission Exhibit 399 is not flattened mission testimony, you'll find a most ex- simply to work the bolt of the Carcano on the end. This one is very severely traordinary certificate written by Dr. rifle. This was the minimum interval be- flattened on the end." Flumes, It reads: "1, James J. Humes, tween the two shots, not including the PLAYBOY: Did the bullet fragments found certify that I have destroyed by burning time necessary to aim; thus Oswald could in the governor's wrist, rib and thigh certain preliminary draft notes relating not have fired twice in less than 2.3 sec- match Exhibit 399? to Naval Medical School Autopsy Re- onds. But the Warren Commission was LANE: Of course not. How do you put a port A63.272 . . ." Think about this faced with the demonstrable fact that, at jigsaw puzzle together if someone throws for a moment. Here we have a com- most, only 1.8 seconds elapsed between in a few extra pieces? Dr. Shaw, who mander in the United States Navy, who the time President Kennedy was shot and examined Connally. testified that there is also a doctor, assigned to perform the the time the governor, who was sitting on seemed to be more than three grains of autopsy on the assassinated President of a jump-seat in front of Kennedy, was hit. metal from the bullet lodged in the the United States, burning his draft notes This meant the shot that wounded Gov- governor's wrist wound, and still more on the autopsy—really, our notes— ernor Connally was fired by somebody fragments were found in his thighbone. and being silenced by the FBI. And we else. As the Commission's own counsel, But according to FBI tests, less than have crucial evidence, the X rays and J. Lee Rankin, put it: "To say that they three grains of metal all told are missing photographs, never examined by the were hit by separate bullets is synony- from Exhibit 399. Time magazine, on Commission. If Oswald was the lone assas- mous with saying that there were two as September 16, 1966, summed it up this sin, if all the shots came from the Book The Commission resolved this way: "The bullet offered sufficient Depository, if everything is as cut and dilemma with an imaginative invention: grounds to make the single-bullet theory dried as the Commission assures us it is, that one bullet struck the President in suspect. . . . Medical men testified that then why the mystery? Why the official the back of his neck, exited through the it could not have done so much damage front of his throat, and then struck suppression? Are we really 17 years from to Connally and emerged in such good the governor, whose reaction to being 1984? If you wonder why Dr. Humes shape." wounded was delayed. The bullet passed burned his notes, I refer you to the state- PLAYBOY: The bullet in question, accord- into the governor's back, shattering his ment of one of the most inventive of the ing to the Warren Report, was found on fifth rib into multiple fragments. exited Governor Connally's stretcher at Park- Warren Commission lawyers. Arlen through his chest, and passed through land Hospital. If it didn't fall out of his Specter, in that interview with U.S. his right wrist, smashing the wristbone, body, where did it come from? News 6- World Report. Here Specter struck his thighbone and lodged in his LANE: Who knows? First of all, the War- explains that Humes "had never per- left thigh. The bullet that did all this, ren Commission artfully distorted the formed an autopsy on a President" be- Exhibit 399, is an almost pure, pristine, testimony of the senior engineer at the fore. No doubt he was out on a house undamaged bullet. If you look at its hospital, Darrell C. Tomlinson, to con- call when Roosevelt died, and therefore photograph in the Warren Report, you'll clude that the bullet was in fact discov- lacked the prerequisite experience that see that it isn't even dented! ered on Connally's stretcher. However, would have taught him that valuable PLAYBOY: You mean this bullet made sev- if you read Tomlinson's testimony for Government documents are not to be en wounds in two men, breaking three yourself, you'll find all he would ever say destroyed. different bones, and wasn't materially was that he saw it roll from a stretcher PLAYBOY: Have you tried to reads Humes damaged in the process? that was left in the hospital corridor. He yourself to find out why he burned his LANE: I don't mean it—the Warren Com- didn't know if it was Governor Connally's 48 notes? mission means itl I think the suggestion stretcher, President Kennedy's stretcher or even the stretcher of some totally unrelated patient. Remember. many people had tigress to the hospital that day; even Jack Ruby was there, according to two reliable witnesses, including Scripps- Looking for winners? Howard newsman Seth Kantor, who testified that he talked to Ruby there. The Commission, of course, disregarded his Verve has 'em' testimony. PLAYBOY: no you think Ruby—or someone else—planted this bullet on the ELLA FITZGERALD/ STAN GETZ JIMMY SMITH/ stretcher to incriminate Oswald? DUKE ELLINGTON With Guest Artist WES MONTGOMERY LANE: That certainly is a possibility Ella & Duke At The Laurindo Almeida The Dynamic Duo that should be examined, since it would Cate d'Azur V/V6-8665* V/V6-8678' account for a tot of baffling things about V/ V6-4072-2* Getz/Gilberto #2 RAY BROWN/ Exhibit 399—including the pristine con- Ella At Duke's Place V/V6-8623" MILT JACKSON dition of the bullet after supposedly V/ V6-4070" OSCAR PETERSON V/V6-8615 smashing the bodies and bones of two COUNT BASIE Something Warm JIMMY SMITH men. Basie's Beatle Bag V/ V6-8681* Peter and the Wolf PLAYBOY: Couldn't there be a more in- V/ V6.8659* Put On A Happy Face V/ V6-8652' nocent explanation for the contradic- Prysockl Basie V/V6.8660* Hoochle Cooche Man tions surrounding this bullet than that V/ V6-8646• ELLA FITZGERALD V/ V6-8667' it was as part of a deliberately planted WES MONTGOMERY Whisper Not Verve Records conspiracy to frame Oswald? California Dreaming V/ V6-4071' LANE: Perhaps. But none seems appar- Meatrejor-veorwyOnf -Mayer Inc. V/ V6-8672* J. J. JOHNSON 'Also Available on ent. The more rye studied the whole Tequila J. J.'s Broadway Ampex Tape question of Exhibit 399, the more fan- V/V6-86535 V/ V6-8530 tastic it becomes. For example, two GERRY MULLIGAN declassified FB1 autopsy reports, dated The Essential Gerry December 9, 1963, and January 13, 1964, Mulligan were recently discovered in the National V/ V6-8567 Archives in Washington. They state flatly that the bullet in question entered PM!. dent Kennedy's back—not his neck, mind you as the Commission claims— and did not continue through his body. The FBI agents who attended the autopsy reported that Commander Humes said then—whatever he may have since claimed to the contrary—that there was "no point of exit"; that the bullet pene- trated the President's back a very short distance. The two FBI agents, James W. Sibert and Francis X. O'Neill, who were present during the autopsy at Bethesda Naval Hospital, said that Dr. Humes probed the back wound with his finger and determined that the bullet had traveled "a short distance, inasmuch as the end of the opening could be felt with the finger." Since no bullet was in the President's back and "there was no point of exit," the agents said Humes was puzzled as to the whereabouts of the bullet. After being informed that a bullet was "found on a stretcher" at Parkland Hospital—presumably the President's siretcher—and that the President had been subjected to external cardiac massage there, "Dr. Humes stated that the pattern was clear that the one bullet had entered the President's back and had worked its way out of the body during external cardiac massage." This explanation appears to be corroborated by Colonel Fin& another physician present at the autopsy, who was quoted by Secret Service agent Roy Kellerman, also present during the autopsy, as having said, "There are no lanes for an outlet of this entry in this man's shoulder." Perhaps this explains why Commander Flumes 49 decided to burn his original notes after ing entered the President's back and did Connally. A fourth bullet missed the the Commission's theory contradicted not exit? 0 limousine and its occupants, striking the what he had written down. Not only is LANE: As I indicated a moment ago, that curb and leaving behind lead traces later this a further indication that the au- may be Exhibit 399. discovered by the FBI. This bullet topsy records were tampered with before PLAYBOY: There seems to be some confu- shattered into fragments when it hit the publication in the Warren Report but sion about the number of bullets fired. curb, and one of the fragments—or per- it also rebuts the Commission's fantasy Would you go over them one at a time? haps a piece of concrete—struck a spec- about Exhibit 399 hitting both President LANE The Commission concluded that tator, James Tague, wounding him It Kennedy and Governor Connally. In three bullets were fired, with two hits. superficially in the face. A fifth bullet addition. Governor Connally himself They say one struck the back of the then struck the President in the head, said on a CBS television show on Sep- President's neck, exited from his throat killing him. This bullet must also have 11 tember 27, 1964: "1 understand there is and then passed on into Governor Con- been fired from in front of the car, from some question in the minds of the ex- nally. shot missed. Another the direction of the grassy knoll, because perts about whether or not we could bullet—the fatal one—then struck the the Zapruder frames—when arranged in both have been hit by the same bullet President in the head. But shooting from the sequence in which they were taken . . the first bullet. I just don't hap- the Depository window, Oswald simply —show the President driven back into pen to believe that. I won't believe it, wouldn't have been able to aim and fire his seat with considerable force under never will believe it, because, again, I three shots at a moving target in the time the impact of the bullet. That could not heard the first shot, I recognized it for he had to shoot. Other evidence further have happened if the bullet had been 2 what I thought it was. I had time to rebuts the Commission's sequence. Roy fired from behind the limousine. And as 2 turn to try to see what had happened. Kellerman, the Secret Service agent rid- I mentioned earlier, a portion of the 2 I was in the process of turning again being in the Presidential limousine, testified President's skull was driven back to the 2 fore I felt the impact of a bullII et." Mrs. that right after the first shot, he distinctly left and rear, landing in the street be- 2 Connally, who was seated next to the heard the President say, "My God, I am hind the car: if the shot had come from 2 governor, also swears President Ken- the rear, that skull fragment would have hit!" Although subjected to intense cross- 2 nedy was hit before her husband and to have been driven forward. So, all told, examination, Kellerman insisted this is 2 by a separate bullet. The Warren Com- what the President said. Now when we have five shots fired—not including mission chose to ignore their testimony could Kennedy have said this in the se- the one that may have hit the maffic sign 2 —and if they weren't dealing with the quence offered us by the Commission? —four of them hitting either the Presi- governor of Texas, the Commission Surely not before he was hit. Surely not dent or Governor Connally, and at least would probably have impeached Con- after a bullet ripped through his throat, two of them, or possibly three, fired from nally's integrity, as they did with less severely damaging his vocal cords. Sure- in Front of the Presidential limousine. prominent nonconforming witnesses. ly not after the fatal shot drove a por- PLAYBOY: Didn't the Commission consider And here's something I just found out: tion of his skull into the street. So the this sequence? I recently spent several hours in the Commission's review of events does not LANE Possibly they considered it, but studios of WHEW-TV here in Manhat- accommodate the President's verbal re- they certainly couldn't accept it, because tan, searching for footage for a docu- action to the first shot, It also contravenes they must have seen at least two things mentary program. and in their library I the testimony of Governor and Mrs. wrong with it from their standpoint. found what may be the sole remaining Connally about the first shot, and the First of all, five shots could not all be video tape of the press conference held report on the autopsy by the two FBI fired by the same man in the available in Dallas' Parkland Hospital on the after- agents, Sibert and O'Neill, who re- time, and that would dispose of the noon of the assassination. This particular ported. you will recall, that one bullet Commission's single-assassin theory. Sec- film was taped by Station WFAA-TV in had entered "a finger's length" into the ondly. shots came from both the front Dallas. an ABC affiliate. WFAA and all President's back and lodged there. and the rear of the car, and this would the other local stations were visited after A more plausible sequence. which— also have canceled out the possibility of the assassination by FBI and Secret Serv- unlike the Warren Commission's version a single assassin. In order not to contra- ice agents and asked to surrender all their —conflicts with none of the above evi- dict its theory, the Warren Commission tapes of the hospital news conference. dence, is this: The first bullet struck the ignored the evidence and invented its 1 But this film segment was flown to New President in the back, causing the non- own convenient three-bullet sequence. York soon after the assassination and fatal. nonpenetrating "finger's length" Yet it flows from the evidence that there It gathered dust in WNEW's files for three wound to which Sibert and O'Neill tes- were, in fact, five shots. 111 years, apparently without the FBI being tified in their FBI report. This wound PLAYBOY: What about the rifle from which Ii aware of its existence. The film shows was not in the back of the neck, but be- the Commission claims all the shots were Dr. Robert Shaw. one of the physicians low the President's shoulder, correspond- fired? You indicate in your book that attending Governor Connally. speaking ing exactly to the holes in the hack of his Oswald's Mannlicher-Carcano couldn't to the press at 4:30 p.m. on November shirt and jacket. I don't see how a bullet have been the sole weapon involved in If E. After Dr. Shaw described the gover- could have entered the back of his neck the assassination. Why? It nor's wounds, he said the bullet that and made a hole in the back of his shirt LANE, For the simple reason that the rifle caused the governor's wounds remained and jacket more than five inches below just couldn't have done what the Warren It at that time in Cortnally's thigh. This is the top of his collar. In any case, after Commission said it did. It was an old, Ii two and a half hours after Exhibit 399— this first, nonlethal bullet struck, the inaccurate weapon. 21 the bullet that the Commission claims President exclaimed, "My God, I am PLAYBOY: The Commission concluded caused all the governor's wounds, includ- hitl" Another bullet—let's call it Bullet that "various tests showed that the Mann- 21 ing the thigh wound—was found by Dar- Number Two, even though it may not licher-Carcano was an accurate rifle and 2: rell Tomlinson, So if anything else was be the second in the sequence—was fired that the use of a four-power scope was 2: needed to discredit Exhibit 399, here it is. from the knoll in front of the car, strik- a substantial aid to rapid, accurate &r- 21 If there was a bullet in the governor's ing the President in the throat and causing ." Do you challenge these tests? thigh two and a half hours after Exhibit ing the entrance wound to which the LANE: I don't challenge the tests: I rely 399 was so conveniently found near the doctors at Parkland Hospital referred in upon them. I challenge the conclusion stretcher, where is it now? their statements to the press on the day the Warren Commission draws from PLAYBOY: For that matter, where is the of the assassination. A third bullet, evi- them. The rifle tests prove the Mannlich- 50 bullet that you quoted the FBI as say- dently from behind, struck Governor er-Carcano could not have Erred the shots.

PLAYBOY: How? LANE Let's begin at the beginning. The Commission says, as you just quoted, that a telescopic sight is an aid to rapid, accurate firing. As far as rapidity is concerned—and this is the critical factor— that's nonsense. Any rifleman knows it requires more time to Ere with the aid of a telescopic sight than with an ordi- Zogiiish nary iron sight. The Commission also states that the Mannlicher-Carcano was an accurate rifle. Nonsense again. Rifle experts and rifle manuals and ency- clopedias agree that this Italian carbine is an extremely poor. cheap and inaccurate weapon. The price alone is an indication. Oswald was supposed to have after shave... bought it from a Chicago mail-order after shower... fnglishl:eather„ house for $12.78, plus $7.13 for a scope. after hours... In fact, that surplus Italian carbine presently sells [or $3 if you buy it in lots of 25 or more. I don't have to tell ...the ALL-PURPOSE MEWS LOTION. packaged in redwood. $2.00, $3.50, PLAYBOY readers how much a good, MSG, $10.00 accurate rifle with a scope costs; you ALL-PURPOSE Be sure your 'fragrance wardrobe" LOTION can't get one for less than $60. me hide s ENGLISH LEATHERe...il's the PLAYBOY: You wrote in your honk that Os- one ycu'll reach lur again and again. .e wald's ammunition was almost 20 years old, implying it was defective. Was it? LANE Let me quote from the Warren Commission this lime. The Report states flatly that the ammunition for the rifle is A complete line of men's toiletries including... !.P. 1101611 SKIM I klIA the ALL-PURPOSE SKIN BALM, $1.50 currently being manufactured by the Ma. TA. Olin-Mathieson Company. In other GIFT SETS in authentic redwood boxes, 53.00 to $10_00 words. the bullets could have been in brand-new, tiptop shape. Being a suspi- C. MEM COMPANY, INC., NORTHVALE, N.J. dous type, one of my investigators wrote to Olin-Mathieson. and learned that the CINDER FLOORED 11111W WINE WOULD FROM sca RIND DISIRIBUIED BY McKESSON I ROBBINS INC.. N.Y. CMaant , Ill 6.5-mm Mannlicher-Carcano cartridge has not been manufactured since 194-L Since the Commission could discover no Do you know what you can do other sources for this bullet, and since with Crabbie's Ginger Wine? the powder in a bullet deteriorates in time, we must conclude, as Olin-Mathie- You could give some to Aunt Minnie to son did, that "the reliability of such ammunition would be questionable today." nip on cold nights. PLAYBOY: Let's accept your argument that But think twice about it. the rifle was poor and the ammunition Is she hep? It's the international set antiquated. Couldn't Oswald still have that's sold on this robust wine made with managed to deliver three lucky shots? ginger, herbs, fruit, spice and flowers. LANE: It's mathematically possible. If I The skiers swear by it in a Hot Spot: leaned out of this window and squeezed off three shots with my eyes closed, it's 2 measures Crabbie's Ginger Wine, mathematically possible that I could juice of 1/2 lemon. bring down a helicopter heading for the Add 2 cloves and a slick of Pan Am Building_ All I'm saying is it's cinnamon. Make up to 1/2 pint not true, as the Commission states, that with boiling water. Oswald had everything going for him that day, from an "accurate" rifle to Try it. And send for fresh ammunition. Any man using that our free drink recipe rifle, and firing at a moving target with a booklet.* It may telescopic sight from a sixth-floor win- make you decide dow, was operating under a terrible Crabbie's is too good handicap. And the facts show that five to waste on shots or more were fired. Since it takes Aunt Minnie. 2.3 seconds just to work the bolt of the Mannlicher.Carcano—according to the Unless she's your testimony of FBI rifle expert Ronald rich aunt. Simmons—that is not mathematically possible in the 5.6 seconds that the Com- mission concedes is the maximum time Oswald would have had to fire from the *Write: McKesson & Robbins, Inc., Dept. LICL 155 East 44 St, New York. N. Y. 10017. 51 sm Book Depository window. PLAYBOY: Coohitt% the sight have been PLAYBOY: Where is the "lifted" print now? O PLAYBOY: Even if Oswald had pour equip- loosened or damaged after the assassina- LANE I imagine it's still in Dallas_ At one ment to shoot with, didn't the Com- tion? time it was shown to Latona, who mission conclude he wits an excellent shot? LAKE: Perhaps. At any rate. the Commis,- oeitified that he saw it—but lint on the LANE: That conclusion is 011 ft level with sion was gracious enough to permit a rifle. of course. Yet the Warren Commis- the rest of their findings. The fact is that gunsmith to reset the scope by welding sion ignored Latona's expert testimony Oswald was a relatively poor shot. If you two or three metal shims to the rifle be- about the rifle not showing any traces look at Oswald's last rifle score in the fore the N.R.A. riflemen undertook the of a print, and accepted the word of the Marine Corps—also the last time there's test. Also. Oswald had allegedly fired Dallas police, declaring unequivocally proof he ever fired a rifle—you'll find he from 60 feet above the ground—but the that Oswald's palmprint had been on the scored only one point above the lowest Commission's experts were allowed to rifle. But even if the rifle did belong to Marine qualification. One of his buddies fire from a perch 30 feet above the Oswald, there was no reason why either in the Marines. Nelson Delgado. told me ground. Oswald allegedly fired at a mov- his palmprint or fingerprints, or both. that Oswald was such a poor shot he was ing target—but the experts were told to shouldn't be on it. The question is: Was the laughingstock of the squad, because fire at stationary targets. When Oswald that rifle used to fire at President Kett- when Oswald fired, "Maggie's drawers" allegedly fired from the sixth-floor win- nedy, and was Oswald the man who fired often popped up. Maggie's drawers is a dow of the Book Depository:he could it? Merely establishing ownership of a red flag waved whenever a bullet com- see only the head and shoulders of the weapon does not constitute proof of pletely misses the target. And Delgado President—but the experts were provided guilt. particularly since one interpreta- adds, incidentally, that when he told with large body silhouettes for targets. tion of the body of evidence would indi- this to FBI agents, they argued with According to the Commission, the most cate that there was an attempt to frame him for three hours, trying to brow- difficult shot for Oswald was the first one, Oswald well in advance of November beat him into changing his testimony. to because the President was seen reacting 22. And there is good evidence that not state that Oswald was a good shot. Law- to the wound only eight tenths of a sec- only was Oswald's Mannlicher-Carcano yers call this an attempt at subornation ond after he would have become visible not the murder weapon but that a total- of perjury. The Commission also indicat- to Oswald, the car having just passed ly different rifle was discovered in the ed that bad atmospheric conditions at from behind a large tree, So that's the Book Depository. The weapon originally the time of the test could have account- shot that required the greatest skill— found on the sixth floor was firmly and ed for Oswald's bad showing; in the Re- but the expert marksmen were told to repeatedly identified at first as a 7.65 port you'll find the explanation that "ft take all the time they wanted for the German Mauser, and not a 6.5 Italian might well have been a bad day for first shot. Well, these three master rifle. Carcano. firing the rifle—windy, rainy, dark." men shot a total of 18 rounds, and firing PLAYBOY: The Commission explained that Well, I've been a lawyer long enough to from half the height, at large. stationary the rifle "was initially identified as a know that whenever weather is a factor targets with a resighted rifle, spending Mauser 7.65 . . . because a deputy con- in a legal proceeding, all you have to do many seconds lining up on the target for stable who was one of the first to see it is subpoena the records of the U. S. the first shot, not one of them was able thought it looked like a Mauser. He Weather Bureau for the day in question. to hit the head or neck area of the target neither handled the weapon nor saw it So / called the Weather Bureau and they with any of the 18 bullets. What con- at close range." said that the weather in the Los Angeles clusion did the Warren Commission LANE: The Commission didn't explain it: area for the day of Oswald's Marine draw from all of this? That Oswald they explained it away. The deputy Corps rifle test was not "windy, rainy, could easily have done what three of the constable they refer to is Deputy Con- dark." It was sunny. bright and cloud- top marksmen in the country, under in- stable Seymour Weitzman, the first less, with a temperature ranging between finitely better circumstances, could not do. officer to see the weapon on November 72 and 79 degrees. Before indulging PLAYBOY: Still, weren't Oswald's finger- 22. The Commission says he neither in speculation, the Warren Commission prints and palmprints found on the handled the weapon nor saw it at close should have contacted the Weather Mannlicher-Carcano? range, but in the appendix to my book Bureau. Perhaps they did—and ignored LANE: Oswald's fingerprints were not you'll find an affidavit signed by Weitz- the information when it proved incon- found on the Mannlicher-Carcano, but man on November 23 giving a detailed venient for their thesis that their marks- one of the cornerstones of the early case description of the weapon as a "7.65 man, Oswald, had done poorly on his against him was a charge by the Dallas Mauser bolt action equipped with a 4/18 rifle test only because of poor weather police that Oswald's palmprint was scope, a thick leather brownish-black conditions. While this is a relatively mi- found on the rifle. After this charge was sling on it." Weitzman also described the nor point. it indicates how the Commis- made, the supervisor of the FBI latent rifle as "gun metal color . . . blue metal sion operated. fingerprint section. Sebastian F. Latona, .." and said that "the rear portion of PLAYBOY: But after having Oswald's examined the weapon carefully, using the bolt was visibly worn . . ." Does this weapon tested, the Commission conclud- the most modern techniques available, sound like the description of a man who ed that he had "the capability to fire highlighting it, side-lighting it, etc. He had "neither handled the weapon nor three shots, with two hits, within 4.8 and said he could find no trace of Oswald's seen it at dose range"? In the event you 5.6 seconds," palmprint anywhere on the rifle, and assume that Deputy Constable Weitz- LANE: Yes, they did say that. To test Os- that even if Oswald had used the rifle, man was not too bright, that perhaps he wald's expertise, the Commission asked it would be difficult to determine if wasn't up on rifles or made a mistake, let three Masters of the National Rifle Asso- prints were there, since it was construct- me point out that Weitzman was a grad- ciation—three of the best riflemen the ed of such poor wood and metal that uate engineer who before becoming a Commission could find—to duplicate they might not register. The Dallas po- Dallas police officer had owned a sport- Oswald's feat. Let's see what happened. lice then explained that Oswald's palm- ing-goods shop where he sold rifles. And First of all, the three experts found they print had previously been on the rifle. Weitzman isn't the only one who iden- could not even aim the rifle correctly, but was "lost" in the process of "lifting" tified the weapon as a German Mauser. because the telescopic sight was improp- it from the rifle. 'That is, the lifted print Two other Dallas police officers were erly aligned; it also wobbled, because it remained its the Dallas police station present when the gun was found, and 52 was poorly attached, while the rifle was sent to Washington. they both described it as a 7.65 Mauser. According to one of them, so did the chief of Dallas homicide, Captain Will Fritz, who, by his own admission, picked up the weapon and ejected a live round from it. The police, Fritz and the Dal- las district attorney told the press all day November 22 and well into the next day that the rifle [mind on the sixth floor of the Bonk Depository was a bolt-action Mauser. It was only late on November 23 that the story abruptly changed, and by some feat of legerdemain, the murder weapon became a 8.5 Italian Mann- licher-Carcano that belonged to Oswald. By that time, of course, the Dallas police had time to carefully search Caswald's home. PLAYBOY: Are you saying that the Dallas police switched the Mouser for the Mannlicher-Garcon in order to frame Oswald? LANE I'm simply suggesting it's a possibility that should be investigated. For example. when Marina Oswald first heard the news of her husband's arrest. she rushed to the garage to check on the rifle and later testified that she thought she saw it there resting on a shelf. Then the Dallas police arrived and "later it turned out that the rifle was not there [and] I didn't know what to think." Nei- ther do I. The Dallas police quickly explained that Marina had not really seen the Mannlicher-Carcano on the garage shelf; she had only seen a rolled-up blanket and mistaken it for the rifle. 01 course, the Warren Commission wholeheartedly endorsed that explanation. The Italian carbine, which could be traced to Oswald—to the Commission's satisfac- tion, at least--was accepted as the murder weapon, and we heard no more about the 7.65 German Mutsu. PLAYBOY: Again, you seem to be looking fora conspiracy. Isn't it possible that in the chaos following the assassination, the rifle could have been mistakenly identified? LANE: Yes, it's possible, but if that were the case, and the Commission sincerely desired to resolve the discrepancy, all they had to do was ask Deputy Consta- ble Weitzman to examine the rifle and tell them whether or not it was the weapon he discovered in the Book De- pository. But when Weitzman appeared, be was never shown the rifle. Consider this a moment—the policeman who first discovered the weapon that allegedly killed the President of the United States is not even asked to identify this weapon Mr. Wrangler by the Presidential Commission investi- For wreal sportswear gating the assassination. Anyway, when I testified before the Commission. I did (You have to look for the "W" because it's silent) demand to see the weapon, and after some procrastination, the Commission What makes the silent "W" so special? The Wrangler name, sign of wruggedly allowed me to examine it. Now, Um not handsome sportswear. Like permanent press pants styled for the "ma" mart or for the a rifle expert or a policeman, but I was traditional; no-iron shirts in solids or wide-track stripes; water-proof jackets. In a variety able to take one look at that weapon and unhesitatingly identify it as a 8.5 of inspired colors, bath traditional and mod, too, in all popular sizes, priced from $5 to V. Italian rifle, not a 7.65 German Mauser. Mr. Wrangler, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 • 1041 !Wt PILL. IsC. 'CCU iOflMiLY nian.11 Iw tnS coat 53 Irs Because etched dearly on the stock of assassination and the first report of LANE As I said, his movements after the • the gun were the manufacturer's words, Tippit's murder, Oswald raced down six assassination arc still shrouded in mys- "MADE ITALY" anti "CAL. 5.57 flights of stairs, ran out of the Book tery. The Commission's reconstruction is PLAYBOY: So you believe the weapon Depository, walked seven blocks to a a rather bad guess. 1 think. The sole Ps originally found was a German Mauser bus stop. got on a bus, got off after a witness who offered credible testimony 111 and was later switched to an Italian car- few stops, hailed a taxicab, left the taxi, about the schedule outlined by the Com- bine that would incriminate Oswald? walked back four blocks to his rooming mission was Earlene Roberts, housekeep- • LANE I'm Inn certain. But I think it's a house, changed his clothes and then er of the rooming house where Oswald 0. more plausible explanation than that all walked nine tenths of a mile to the spot was staying, Mrs. Roberts is now dead. those Dallas police officers examined a where he was supposed to have shot Tip- She testified that Oswald entered the rifle that had "MADIt ITALY" stamped on pit. Let's just stop and examine one house about one P.m., and immediately it and then mistakenly told the world point in this reconstruction—a vital one afterward a police car pulled up in front it was a German Mouser. Remember, the in determining whether or not Oswald of the door, tooted its horn twice and Mauser description lasted for a full day. really shot at Kennedy from the Deposi- drove off. Oswald then left the rooming and it was only after it was decided that tory. The Commission says it took Os- house arid a few minutes later allegedly Oswald owned an Italian carbine that wald one minute and 20 seconds to get shot Patrolman Tippit, who happened to the story changed. from the sixth floor of the building to have stopped his squad car almost a mile PLAYBOY: You've said why you don't be- the second-floor cafeteria. However, Roy away. lieve that the Mannlicher-Carcano could Truly, an executive of the Book Deposi- PLAYBOY: Do you think the police-car have fired the shots in the required tory, said in an early television interview horn was some kind of signal for Oswald? amount of time. Assuming these initial that when the shots were fired he was LANE I don't know. But this is another reports of a Mauser discovered on the standing in front of the building, and aspect of the case that deserved thor- sixth floor of the Depository arc correct, he immediately raced inside with a ough investigation—and never got it. could this gun have done the job? Dallas police officer and ran up the PLAYBOY: Why did Patrolman Tippit stop LANE: Rifle experts agree that a Mauser stairs to the second floor; according to Oswald in the first place? is certainly a far more accurate weapon him, this took only a matter of seconds. LANE: We don't know that Tippit than the antique the Commission placed On the second floor both Truly and the stopped Oswald; all we know is that Tip- in Oswald's hands: in fact, almost any policeman saw Oswald in the employee's pit stopped a man who then shot him. rifle is better than the Islannlicher- cafeteria near a Coke machine. Re- The Commission contradicts itself on Carom°. But the main point, the crucial member, according to the Commission's this. At one point the Report states that point, is the number of shots and their own calculation, it took Oswald one the wanted bulletin on Oswald was not different points of origin. I'm not a minute and 20 seconds to get to the sent out until after he killed Tippit, rifle expert, but I don't believe any rifle second floor. It would seem mathemati- based on eyewitness identification of Os- —unless it's a remarkably advanced one cally impossible for Oswald to fire a wald as the killer. So Tippit certainly —could simultaneously inflict wounds rifle from the sixth-floor window, hide couldn't have stopped Oswald on the ba- from opposite directions. the weapon and race four flights down sis of a police radio all-points bulletin on PLAYBOY: If, as you claim, there's no to the lunchroom, all in the time it took Tippit's own murder. But the Commis- evidence confirming that Oswald was Truly and the officer to run up one sion also quotes A Dallas police officer capable of committing the crime even flight and confront him. How did the who claimed that a roll call of Book De- with an accurate weapon, is there any Warren Commission resolve this dis- pository employees was taken right after evidence indicating that he was even in- crepancy in their time reconstruction? the assassination and that Oswald was volved in the asysssination? They did what they've done so many the only one missing, at which point a LANE: Well, the Warren Commission cer- times before with other witnesses: They call for his arrest was broadcast over the tainly produced a lot of it. I'm just say- simply ignored Truly's original statement. police radio, and Tippit stopped him. ing it's not very convincing. PLAYBOY: Did Truly subsequently change But then it turned out—according to PLAYBOY: If Oswald wasn't involved, as his story? subsequent testimony—that there never you seem to feel is the case, then why LANE: Yes, he later conformed to the was any such roll call, and that a number did be leave the Depository and, accord- Commission's version. of employees left the Depository im- ing to the Commission, kill Tippit? PLAYBOY: Why did Truly and the police- mediately after the assassination. Actual- LANE It's very difficult to find out exact- man rush into the building in the first ly, however, there is evidence that a ly what Oswald did after the President place—unless they had heard shots wanted bulletin for Oswald was trans- was shot. You can hardly turn to the coming from it? ndtted—only 15 minutes after the assas- Warren Commission as a source of un- LANE: Truly testified that he thought the sination—well before Tippit was shot. erring, accurate information on this or shots came from the area of the railroad and therefore well before any evidence any other subject, and Oswald himself tracks or the grassy knoll. He said he ran could have linked Oswald to the assassi- was shot dead before he was able to into the Depository with the officer be- nation; on what information it was based make any public statement other than cause he assumed the policeman wanted we still don't know. One of the Commis- that he was innocent. a rooftop view of this area. The police. sion's most perplexing moments must PLAYBOY: But the Commission did man did go on up to the roof from the have come when it had to explain why reconstruct his movements. cafeteria. the police wanted Oswald 15 minutes LANE: Yes, they did, but their reconstruc- Another interesting aspect of this after die shots were fired—at a time, to tion is doubtful at best. Don't take my question is the testimony of Vicki Adams, quote Professor Trevor-Roper, when word for it; read Time. In its essay of who worked for a publishing firm in the there was "no available evidence point- September 16. 1966, Time wrote: "In Depository. She was on the fourth floor ing toward him." On this crucial trying to reconstruct Oswald's flight when the shots were fired, and ran into question the Commission could only from the sniper's nest in the Book De- the hallway and down the stain at the speculate. They rely once again on our pository Building, the Commission al- very time that Oswald was supposed to be old friend Howard Brennan, their "star lowed for a near-miraculous series of running down the stairs. He wasn't witness," to the effect that it was Oswald coincidences and split-second timing." there, she testified. he had seen firing a rifle from the sixth- What the Commission says is that in PLAYBOY: What do you think Oswald floor window of the Depository. "Most 54 the 43 minutes between the President's actually did after he left the Depository? probably," the Commission concludes, Brennan was the source for the pre- She described the man as short and me a description of Tippit's murderer mature Dallas police radio description heavy. Mrs. Clemons further said that that could not have filled Oswald—and broadcast at 12:45 P.M. Yet Brennan him- this malt with the pistol then waved to thereby also indicated that she had self stated he gave his first description of another man across the street and the apparently committed perjury in her die man in the window to a Secret Serv- two men ran of in opposite directions. previous testimony. And what did the ice agent who arrived on the scene at Mrs. Clemons said neither man was Lee Commission do about this? It chose to approximately one P.M.-15 minutes too Harvey Oswald. The Commission never believe that Mrs. Markham had really late to explain the all-points bulletin called her to testify, and she was never seen Lee Oswald shoot Tippit. She is describing Oswald. And so we are left questioned by the Commission lawyers. the sole eyewitness support for the Com- with die Commission's "most probably" Now the third witness, Mrs_ Helen Louise mission's allegation that Oswald killed assumption that the bulletin was based Markham, became the Warren Commis- Patrolman Tipple Somewhere a short, on Brennan's identification—which, sion's star witness in this aspect of the stocky murderer with bushy hair may be when confronted with the evidence, case, because she eventually identified walking our streets. doesn't seem very probable at all. Oswald as the murderer. The only prob- PLAYBOY: Why do you think Mrs. Mark- PLAYBOY: Why do you challenge the eye- lem is that on November 22 Mrs. Mark- ham changed her initial identification of witness evidence that Oswald shot Officer ham gave a statement to the police— the killer? Tippit? which the press picked up—that the LANE: You should ask her that. I don't LANE: It's not the witnesses' original man who shot Tippit was short, heavy wish to he hostile to the poor woman. As statements I challenge. It is the Commis- and had bushy hair. Lee Oswald had she told me, she had been ordered by sion's use of them that is so disquieting. thin and receding hair. After Mrs. the FBI, the Secret Service and the Dal- The eyewitness evidence shows that Os- Markham had changed this initial iden- las police not to discuss the case at all. wald did not shoot Tippit. tification and told the Commission that Her son told the FBI that she "had lied PLAYBOY: What evidence? Oswald was the murderer, I phoned her on many occasions, even to members of LANE Well, there were three witnesses in Dallas and tape-recorded our con- her immediate family." He said that she to Tippit's murder close enough to iden- versation. She repeated her original de- was frightened to death of what would tify the murderer. The Commission scription to me, reiterating that Tippit's happen if she didn't testify that Oswald sought to obscure this fact by writing murderer was short, on the heavy side— was the killer. And if you'll look at the that "at least 12 persons saw the man bus not too heavy—with somewhat bushy Commission proceedings, you'll find that with the revolver in the vicinity of the hair. after Mrs. Markham finally admitted she Tippit crime scene at or immediately PLAYBOY: This tape recording of your con- had repeated her initial non-Oswald de- after the shooting," but it was able to versation with Mrs. Markham caused scription of Tippit's murderer to me, she present the testimony of only two who quite a furor during the Commission asked the Commission lawyer anxiously. said they had seen the shooting. The proceedings. At one point, after you re- "Will I get in any (-rouble over this?" and others saw a man fleeing from the scene fused to hand over the tape, Earl War- he reassured her that she wouldn't. The or from the general neighborhood. ren said, "We have every reason to Commission's lawyer was simply convey- Their efforts to identify a fleeing man, doubt the truthfulness of what you have ing the idea that if you commit perjury whom they had never seen before and heretofore told us." Why didn't you want on the side of the Warren Commission, had seen just briefly then, are to be to give the tape to the Commission? you'll be protected. If Mrs. Markham weighed with caution. This is particu- LANE That remark you quoted is just had told the truth, she'd have a -very larly so in view of the nature of the one of the many excessive statements good reason to worry. police line-ups conducted by the Dallas made by the Chief Justice during the PLAYBOY: What do you mean? police. At least one witness said that he hearings. First of all, since the recording LANE: To live in Dallas and contradict could pick Oswald out of the line-up— of my conversation with Mrs. Markham the official version of the assassination since he was loudly protesting his place- was made without her knowledge and can prove to be an invitation to violence. ment in the line-up with a group of consent. for me to make and divulge For example, shortly after our investiga- teenagers. In addition, witnesses said such a recording voluntarily would con- tors visited the Markham home, Mrs. that they signed the affidavit identifying stitute a Federal crime. If the Commis- Markham's son was arrested for car Oswald as the culprit from the line-up sion ordered me to surrender the tape, theft, and, according to the Dallas po- even before they were taken to the line- however, I would no longer be liable to lice, he "fell" from a third-floor window up. The Commissioners said only that prosecution. since the responsibility for "while trying to escape." Fortunately, he they were satisfied with the line-up— divulging the contents would then be survived. Mrs. Acquilla Clemons, to leading one to believe that they were too theirs. I really wanted them to have it, whom I referred a few minutes ago—an- easily contented. Of the eyewitnesses to because Mrs. Markham was then deny- other witness who said Tippit's murder- the actual murder, however, one was a ing she had ever talked to me. But the er was not Oswald—was threatened. Mrs. Mexican-American mechanic named Chief Justice refused to direct me to Clemons told me in a filmed and tape- Domingo Benavides, who was parked in hand it over, and then he told the press recorded interview that she was visited a pickup truck only 15 feet from the wor- that I had refused to give the Commis- by is man she believed CO be a plain- rier scene. Bertavides told me that on No- sion the tape. This unfair accusation was clothes policeman, who wore a gun in a vember 22 he told the Dallas police that widely printed, deftly conveying the holster at his waist. According to Mrs. the man who killed Officer Tippit was impression that I did not really possess Clemons, "He just told me it'd be best if short and somewhat heavy. After Bena- such a tape. 1 returned to my office to I didn't say anything because I might vides gave this description of the killer, think the whole thing over and decided get hurt." Mrs. Clemons said the man the police evidently decided there was that even though I could be sent to jail intimated she could easily be killed on no use bringing him down to the line-up for voluntarily handing over the tape, a her way to work. to view Lee Harvey Oswald, who was case such as this justified the risk, So I PLAYBOY: Your book skips abruptly from extremely thin and above middle height. did give the tape to die Commission, and the Tippit shooting to Oswald's arrival at The second witness was Mrs. Acquilla they subsequently published a transcript the Dallas jail. Why did you leave out Clemons. an Oak Cliff housewife, who of it as an exhibit. When Mrs. Markham details of Oswald's arrest in the Texas told me in a filmed interview that the was confronted with the recording, she Theater—such as Isis statement to arrest- heard shots, then ran out of her house broke down and admitted that she had ing officers: "Well, it's all over now"? and saw a man with a pistol in his hand talked to me. So here we have the Com- LANE': The press reported. on the basis standing over Patrolman Tippit's body. mission's star witness admitting she gave of information supplied by the Dallas 55 PR police, that Oswald said: "Weil, it's all the real Lee Harvey Oswald. One ex- had no connection with the murder of • over now," when he was arrested. But ample of this is the testimony of Mrs. Officer Tippit. When asked if he had no witness in the theater ever testified Sylvia Odio, a prominent anti-Castro killed President Kennedy, Oswald looked 111 that lie made that remark. And even the Cuban exile. She told the Commission stunned and said, "No one even asked Pt police seemed confused on the point; that toward the end of September 1965 me about that, I never heard about that. ▪ one Dallas officer said his actual words a man visited her in Dallas accompanied I didn't kill anyone." As the police were, "This is it." Either way, this hard- by two other men who were either dragged him away, he shouted that he ri ly constitutes an admission that he had Cuban or Mexiain, and who knew things was being made a "patsy." That's Os- Ps assassinated the President and shot Offi- about her father, then iniprisoned by weld's word. In fact, one of his last cer Tippit. Castro. The men seemed to know things words, PLAYBOY: What actually happened at the that no one without inside information PLAYBOY: Are you saying that there exists theater? could know, she testified. They intro- no verbatim record whatsoever of any- LANE: The circumstances of Oswald's ar- duced their companion to her as "Leon thing Oswald said during those 12 hours rest are still a bit cloudy. Most of the Oswald," and later one of them said he of interrogation? witnesses can't remember Oswald saying was a former Marine and expert rifle- LANE: That may seem surprising to you, anything at all, except prorating "police man. One of the men told her Oswald but I'm afraid I've now lost my capacity brutality" and charging he had been had said, "President Kennedy should have for surprise. The Dallas police claimed struck with a shotgun and beaten by been assassinated after the Bay of Pigs Oswald had been "lying" to them. By several police officers simultaneously. But ... it is so easy to do it." The two men that, I assume they mean he continued to as far as I'm concerned, there is no suggested to Mrs. Odio that Oswald protest his innocence—or perhaps had convincing proof that Oswald was any- could "help in the underground activi- something so explosive to say that the thing other than a spectator at the Presi- ties" against Castro. Commission counsel authorities decided to "protect" the pub- dent's assassination—and unless it can showed Mrs. Odio photographs and rim- lic from it. In any case, Oswald was exe- be proved he was more than that, noth- tion pictures of Oswald and asked her if cuted by Jack Ruby on November 24, ing he would say at his arrest is relevant she had "any doubts" in her mind "after before he could repeat his "lies" to the to the case. Of course, it would be a looking at these pictures that the man press—or to a jury. different story if Oswald had admitted that was in your apartment was the same PLAYBOY: You state in your book that guilt during his arrest—but he never did, man as Lee Harvey Oswald." Mrs. Odio "No interpretation of November 24 then or later. replied: "I don't have any doubts." Mrs. can exclude the certainty that Ruby mur- PLAYBOY: Didn't Oswald pull a gun on the Odio's sister also testified the man looked dered Oswald through the complicity or arresting officers in the theater? exactly like Oswald. But the Commission complacency of members of the police," LANE: A Dallas police officer said he did. showed conclusively that Oswald was On what evidence do you base that PLAYBOY: You say you believe there is no not in Dallas when Mrs. Odio was vis- charge? convincing proof that Oswald was more ited by the three men. So who was LANE: Let me say at the outset that the than a spectator to the assassination. "Leon Oswald"—and why was he talk- Warren Commission's conclusion that Does this mean you think he was coming about how easy it would be to assas- Ruby murdered Oswald is the only ma- pletely innocent, or could he have been sinate the President? It appears possible jor conclusion in the Report that is involved in some subsidiary role in a that there may have been a concerted supported by the evidence. Of course, conspi racy? attempt to frame Oswald in advance for the Warren Commission could hardly LANE: Let me put it this way: I am con- the molder of President Kennedy. The have held otherwise, since the murder vinced that Oswald never pulled the Commission. of course, never even ex- took place live on nationwide TV. As for trigger of the rifle that killed President amined such a possibility, and simply the question of police complicity, let's Kennedy. If Oswald were alive, there brushed aside all evidence pertaining to examine the Oswald slaying. The pre- would be many questions I'd like to ask this "other" Oswald. vious day, the FBI and the Dallas County him. For example, there is a vast amount PLAYBOY: Did Oswald's interrogation shed sheriff's office were warned by anony- of evidence suggesting that a man look- any light on his Cuban connections? mous telephone callers that Oswald was ing very much like Oswald, and using his LANE: Perhaps, but we may never know going to be killed, but the police officers name and background. was involved in a what Oswald said. Although he was in charge of his transfer—according to series of bizarre activities calculated to interrogated by agents of the FBI, the the Warren Commission—were not in- draw attention to the fact that Oswald Secret Service and the Dallas police for formed of these threats. The time of the intended to kill the President. This other over 12 hours, the Commission says no transfer was announced to the public in Oswald was seen at times when the real stenographic notes or tape recordings advance; and when it took place—an Oswald was provably somewhere else— were made, Dallas Homicide Chief Will hour and 15 minutes after it had been at work or even out of the country. This Fritz admitted he had made some rough announced—the human corridor of po- "Oswald" practiced at rifle ranges in and notes—but tore them up after Oswald's lice officers that was supposed to flank around Dallas and Irving, Texas, making murder! Just think about that: Here is Oswald as he passed through the base- a spectacle of himself by shooting at the most important prisoner on the face ment was not in place. The police car other people's targets: he talked of the of the earth, and the Commission would that was to take him away was also not assassination two months before it oc- have us believe that his interrogation where it was supposed to he. Jack Ruby curred: he bragged to automobile sales- was not recorded by the FBI, the Secret was able to enter the jail through the men that he was soon coming into large Service or the Dallas police. But a Dal- Main Street ramp and shoot Oswald sums of money; and he spoke of going las newspaperman, Hugh Aynesworth, without a hitch. There were police be- back to Russia. In short, he engaged in stated publicly that he saw a police ste- hind Oswald and on each side, but none the kind of odd conduct that would only nographer enter the room where Oswald in the front. make sense if there were a deliberate, was being questioned. It's hard to under- PLAYBOY: Why not? premeditated attempt to frame Oswald stand what this stenographer was doing LANE: I don't know. I do know that all by incriminating him in advance for the if not making a transcript. All we know through Ruby's trial, there were always President's murder. is what Oswald told newsmen as he was police officers to his right, to his left, in PLAYBOY: What does the Warren Com- being led back and forth through the back of him and in front of him. So if mission say about all this? hallways of police headquarters. He said anyone had wanted to kill Jack Ruby, he tANE: In each case, the Commission con- then—and his words are preserved on would have to kill a Dallas officer first. 56 dudes that this man could not have been video tape—that he was innocent and But Oswald's front was unprotected, giv-

hug an assassin a clear range of fire. PLAYBOY: You say Ruby got into the police station through the Main Street ramp. Wmit't it guarded by police officers? LANE: Yes, there was a police officer there. Whether he was gunrdmg the entrance is another question. A former Dallas officer, N. J. Daniels. told the Commission he was standing outside the Main Street ramp with the police officer on duty when he saw a man who was later identified as jack Ruby enter the ramp. Daniels told the FBI that this man bad his right hand in his coat pocket, and mid there was a large bulge in the pocket. which Daniels immediately assumed was caused by a pistol. Daniels didn't do anything because the policeman on guard looked directly at Ruby and let him enter without a word. The impression I got was that the patrolman knew him . ." Daniels testified. Well, here is evidence that at least one Dallas officer allowed an unauthorized man, his pocket bulging with what could have been a gun. to pass into the basement. What did the Commission do about this? Did they call this Dallas policeman and rigorously cross-examine him? No, they neatly disposed of the problem by con- cluding that Daniels' "testimony merits little credetsce." And that was that. PLAYBOY: On what grounds did the Commission dismiss Daniels' testimony? LANE: Partly on the grounds that Daniels was incorrect in remembering if Ruby wore a hat that day. When a witness said something that conflicted with the conclusions of the Commission, his testimony was frequently judged invalid on such trivial and irrelevant grounds. PLAYBOY: Have you tried to speak to the patrolman for his version of the story? LANE: I've never spoken with him. I would be delighted to cross-examine him in some proceeding where a structure of legal rules prevailed. In any case, with or without help, Ruby did get inside, and by some wrenching of the laws of probability, his timing just happened to be perfect. A few seconds after Ruby entered the basement. Oswald was led into the corridor from an elevator. And at that moment, just as Oswald appeared. the horn of a car in the basement sounded once. Then Oswald was led through the raining crowd of report. ers toward the Main Street ramp, and as he approached it, the horn honked a second time, and at that instant Ruby rushed forward and shot Oswald dead. PLAYBOY: Are you implying that the horn was Wine kind of signal alerting Ruby when to shoot Oswald? LANE: That's certainly a possibility. It had to be a police horn, bemuse all the cars in the basement were police cars, and those two honks are clearly audible on video and radio tapes taken by Excitingly new, surprisingly different aromatic pipe tobacco! conceivable reporters. It's there's a cg) 1661 31. J. REYNOLDS TOIAnno SONPoinr. In2ISION saLE• n 57

perfectly innocent explanation for the 0 whole thing, but the Commission never 61111011111 DID IT bothered to investigate it andnever even mentioned the two horn blasts its their report. WHY CAN'T YOU? PLAYBOY: You just pointed out that Ruby arrived 011 the scene at the Very moment of Oswald's transfer. Do you think Ruby knew in advance the exact time this transfer was to take place? LANE That's a possibility, too. The tralla• far took place just after 11:15 A.M. The previous night it was announced the transfer was to take place at ten A.M. If Ruby had followed the official an- nouncement, he would have been more than an hour early. The basement would social have been virtually deserted. But for some reason Oswald's transfer was delayed. and this delay was not an- tie -in The Playboy nounced. I should point out here that Ascot, distinctive tie-in for those Ruby was a "goer" to events. He was more-than-casual occasions. Con- present at the Parkland Hospital when servative counterparts: the Play- the President died; the Warren Commis- boy Tie and the Playboy Bow Tie. sion denies it. but. as I said, Scripps- All of handsome Rabbit-patterned Howard newsman Seth Kantor and silk in red, navy, gray or olive. Tie another reliable witness placed him there. also in black, brown or wine, Ruby was also at the assassination site WA103 Ascot, $10; WA102 Tie, $5; minutes after the shooting; the Corrunis- INA104 Bow Tie, $3.50. All ppd. siols denies this too, but there's a photo Shall we enclose a gift card in your notate? 2 weeks in Tahiti showing him there. And he was at Os- Send chock or money order to: wald's so-called "press conference" in PLAYBOY PRODUCTS police headquarters on the night of No- 918 N. Michigan Ave, for $585* Chicago. 111. 00811 (Including Air Fare) vember 23; this the Commission admits. Playboy Club credit keyboldare may Ruby even chimed in to help out District charge to their keys, Club Mediterranee of the South Attorney Henry Wade when he mis- Seas makes it possible for you to identified the Fair Play for Cuba Com- have your own thatched but (with mittee. Now, he turns up an hour and 15 minutes after the transfer should have private facilities) in Tahiti for just been completed but miraculously is ex- $5851* And this low price includes actly on time—almost like an actor on the all your meals (gourmet French cue. And the play didn't begin until he cuisine), fine chilled wines, un- was in place. The Warren Commission bare limited sports facilities (includ- says it's just a coincidence; I'll leave it up to you. ing deep-sea fishing), and your essential PLAYBOY: Would you describe the photo- round trip jet fare from the West graph that supposedly shows Ruby at the In essence: this is the fragrance Coast on UTA French Airlines. assassination site "minutes after the that brings out the playmate in her. Gauguin never had It so good! shooting"? turns on the playboy in you, Half- Ask your travel agent about Club LANE: Philip W. Willis, a retired Air ounce of Playboy's own pow-per- Force major, took a series of 12 color fume, $15 ppd. Code T200. Mediterranie of the South Seas. photos just before and after the assassina- Or send in the coupon below. tion, Picture eight, taken a few minutes Shall we enclose a gift card in your name? after the President was shot, shows a Send check or money order to: Playboy 'Or 3 weeks for MO. West Coast Products. Playboy Building, 910 N. NUM- man standing in front of the Book De- gan Ave.. Chicago. M. WM, Playboy Club – 1 pository Building—a man who appears credit bayttoldere may charge to their keys. to he Jack, Ruby. I showed the picture CLUB holgDITERRAAIBE to Wes Wise, a reporter for Station ft\ 530 West Sixth Street KRLD, the CBS affiliate in Dallas. Wise Los Angeles, Ca Illornla 90014 knows Ruby well, and testified at his trial. Wise said he believed the picture was of Ruby. Willis told an investigator Noma for the Citizens' Committee that the (ptimati print) FBI had told him it was Ruby. The Com- Address Tel. mission, however, concluded that Ruby wasn't there—and when they published City picture eight, he wasn't. After Willis surrendered the photograph to the Corn- Mate ZIP mission, someone cropped it and removed a substantial portion of the My travel agerd is face of the man thought to be Ruby, who was standing in the [Sr right of the 58 PEUCM• I picture. The cropped photograph was number of criminal charges and licens- bases." I asked Mrs. Rich if she gave then enlarged to make it identical in size ing that had been brought this information to the Commission, to the other pictures, and published in against him, It was a cozy, symbiotic re- She replied: "I slid, but apparently the Report, lationship, and the final pay-off may have they chose to distouitt it At the time PLAYBOY: In any case, does Ruby's ubiq- been Ruby's murder of Oswald. it was given ... Mr. Griffin [Burt Griffin, uitousness lessen the possibility that his PLAYBOY: Was Ruby bilked to organized Commission counsel] said. 'Strike that perfect timing in the jail was just a crime in Dallas? From the record.'" Mrs. Rich's testimony. coincidence? LANE: The Commission concluded he of course. was incompatible with the LANE: No. it doesn't. I believe in chance, wasn't—but many witnesses said he was, Commission's evaluation of Ruby as an in the random factor, but you reach a Several told the local or Federal police honest and aboveboard, though possibly point in this ease where the Warren that before opening it gambling opera- deranged, character with no shady con- Commission asks you to accept one too tion in Dallas, they were told by Syndi- nections—so it was ignored. And let me many coincidences. They proceed as if cate kingpins in Las Vegas to clear it stress that the Commission's conclusion Cause and effect are alien doctrines. with Jack Roby, who was their "con- that Ruby was an insignificant character The American press speaks of Europeans tact man" with the Dallas police. One without criminal connections is vital to rejecting the Report because of their witness testified that Ruby was also their determination that there was no conspiracy theories of history. We Ameri- deeply involved in the Dallas narcotics conspiracy. If their evaluation of Ruby cans are asked to accept a coincidence racket. And there is evidence that Ruby goes, so does much of their case against theory instead. Europeans rejected the was the "bagman," or paymaster, for a a conspiracy. In fact, Mrs. Rich's testi- Commission's Report earlier than Ameri- clandestine group of anti-Castro Cuban mony about the arms cache wasn't just cans, because the European press pre- exiles. ignored—it was deleted from the public sented both sides. Here those who PLAYBOY: What evidence? version of the 26 volumes. As you prob. dissented from the findings—including LANE: The testimony of Nancy Perrin ably know, the Commission reserved the me—were denied access to the press for Rich. She swore that her husband was right to Aie the transcripts on which the two years following the assassination. contacted by an anti-Castro group and volumes of testimony were based, prior PLAYBOY: Do you believe that Ruby killed asked to run guns into Cuba and smuggle to publication, CO improve the "clarity Oswald in a conspiracy with the Dallas exiles out. He was selected because he'd and accuracy" of the witnesses' testimony. police—to silence him? previously accomplished similar missions PLAYBOY: Is there any further evidence LANE: This is possible and should have for Franco during the Spanish Civil linking Ruby to the anti-Castro under- been investigated—but it never received War. Mrs. Rich says she attended a ground? thorough examination from the Commis- meeting with her husband to discuss the LANE: Yes, there's the testimony of Rob- sion. Let me acid that there is no doubt terms of the deal. It was presided over, en McKeown, a Houston resident who in my mind that had Oswald lived to she told me, by a lieutenant colonel of was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle face trial. he would have been acquitted the U. S. Air Force, and there was at arms to Fidel Castro while Castro was in of the assassination of President Ken- least one man present who she thought the Sierra Maestro. When Castro visited nedy. A Commission attorney, Alfredda "might have been Cuban." Mrs. Rich's the U. S. in the early days of his regime, Scobey, conceded that in the January husband was promised $10,000 for the he personally greeted McKeown and 1965 issue of The American Bat Associa. job, but they haggled with the group and hailed him as a friend of the revolution, [ion Journal. Perhaps the real authors of eventually succeeded in raising the sum 1 have an FBI report that reveals that the assassination decided to "dose the to $25.000. But the negotiations hit a in January 1959 McKeown received a case" in the most effective—and final— snag because there was no money at telephone call from one "Jack Ruben- way possible. hand, and Mr. Rich demanded a large stein" in Dallas. Rubenstein, of course, PLAYBOY: What exactly were Ruby's cash retainer. According to Mrs. Rich, was Ruby's real name. "Rubenstein" relations with the Dallas police? when she testified before the Commission, said he knew that McKeown had LANE The Commission more or less ac- she then was surprised to see her old influence with Castro, and told him "he cepted the statement of Jesse Curry, friend Jack Ruby walk in the door, his wanted to get three individuals o'at of chief of the Dallas police, that Ruby coat pocket bulging ostentatiously. Ruby Cuba who were being held by Castro." knew "only" 25 to 50 Dallas policemen. and the colonel went into the bedroom He stated that if McKeown could ac- But Joseph Johnson, who was Ruby's and a few minutes later Ruby came out, complish their release, "Rubenstein" bandleader at the Carousel Club for Isis pocket no longer bulging, and left would pay $5000 for each person. The more than six years, says Ruby had a soon afterward. Though she didn't see caller added that "a person in Las "very close, warm relationship" with the it, she testified that the money was then police, and personally knew more than forthcoming. Vegas, Nevada, would put up the mon- half the Dallas force. There are 1200 PLAYBOY: What did the Warren Com- ey." A few weeks after this call, a man policemen on the force. Another witness, mission conclude about Mrs. Rich's visited McKeown in Houston and offered Nancy Perrin Rich, Ruby's former bar- testimony? him $25,000 for a letter of introduction tender at the Carousel Club, also said LANE: Nothing. They never even men- to Castro. This man never gave his Ruby knew over half the Dallas police tioned her in the Report. There was no name, but according to the FBI report, force. The Warren Commission said that effort to track down the Air Force colo- "McKeown advised that he feels strongly Ruby would occasionally serve the few nel Mrs. Rich says presided over the that this individual was in fact Jack cops he knew "free coffee and soft meeting, or to identify anyone else in- Ruby, the man whose photographs he drinks," but Mrs. Rich, who got her job volved. Let me show you how the Com- has seen many times recently in the with Ruby through a Dallas policeman, mission dealt with her testimony. When press." Now here is further evidence said in a filmed interview with me that I interviewed Mrs. Rich in Lewiston, linking Ruby to anti-Castro activity, and he supplied "booze, women and Am- Maine, on April 18, 1966, she informed the FBI forwarded this report to the bling" to the police, There was a vast me that, after the meeting, the Air Force Warren Commission; but the Commis- amount of evidence and testimony colonel showed her a cache of military sion never published it in its Report or before the Commission attesting to the armament in a shed in the back yard of referred to it in any way. I only came long-standing corrupt relationship be- the apartment building where they met. across it myself while poring over the tween Ruby and the Dallas police. The "I got the general impression from what mass of unindexed material in the 26 evidence shows that Ruby bribed the was said," she told me, "that these were volumes. officers and that in turn they quashed a pilfered Irons U.S. Army or Air Force PLAYBOY: Aren't you drawing a great 59 many conclusions from the testimony of carrying on an affair with one of the at the Carousel Club, didn't the Warren O two people? strippers. This man told Waldo. and Commission conclude there was "no cred- tans: McKeown's and Mrs. Rich's are not later repeated directly to me. that he ible evidence" that Ruby knew Tippit? the only evidence of a Ruby-Cuba link. had seen Ruby, Officer Tippit and Weiss- LANE You continue to confront me with IN Shortly after the incident with Mc- man sitting together at a back table en- Commission conclusions as if they were Keown. Ruby flew to Havana with a gaged in deep conversation for almost facts. Yes, the Commission did. but the Las Vegas gambler named Lewis J. Mc- two hours. evidence says otherwise. Ruby's sister, Willie. Ruby told the Commission of PLAYBOY: Why would they hold such a Mrs. Eva Grant, told a New York Herald pr his trip but didn't say what he did in meeting in public view? Tribune reporter who asked her about Havana. McWillie testified that his plush LAM I don't know. Tippit that "Jack knew him and I knew gambling casino had been expropriated PLAYBOY: If there was such a meeting. do him." She added that "Jack called him by Castro, and he "personally left Ha- you believe that its purpose was to plot Buddy" and "We liked him.... He was vana to avoid arrest." McWillie said the assassination of President Kennedy? in and out of our place many times." At he had known Ruby for some time, that LANE: I don't know what its purpose was. least six other witnesses—including Dal- Ruby had once procured a pistol for him, That's the whole issue. There is some las Police Lieutenant George C. Arnett and that he knew Ruby "to be well ac- evidence to support the contention that —swore that Ruby knew Tippit. For quainted with virtually every officer of there was such a meeting. The Commis- example, one of Ruby's bartenders, Cur- the Dallas police." When the Commission sion should have found out where those tis La Verne Crafard, and another dub spoke to McWillie, they already knew three men were that night, and told us. of the Fill report on the McKeown inci- They didn't. Maybe my informant was employee, Andrew Armstrong, were dent, but they never questioned the wrong about seeing the men together. at the Carousel Club when Tipples gambler about it, and never bothered to The point is that here is a potentially death was announced over the radio, and determine a possible link between Ruby's critical lead that the Commission stub- both men told the FBI that Ruby told Havana trip and his earlier contact with bornly refused to follow up. The meet• them then that he had known Tippit. McKeown. The Commission simply ing itself could mean nothing—or Still another witness, who once sought brushed off the whole incident as unim- everything. Well never find out from Ruby's OK to open a numbers opera- portant. the Commission's Report. tion in Dallas, told the FBI that Tippit PLAYBOY; Do you believe, as some have PLAYBOY: The Report concluded that "was a frequent visitor to Ruby's night implied, that Ruby was involved with "The Commission has investigated the club, along with another officer who was the CIA in his alleged anti-Castro allegation of a Weissman-Ruby-Tippit a motorcycle patrolman in the Oak- activities? meeting and has found no evidence that lawn section of Dallas." The FBI agents LANE I don't know, but at that time the such a meeting took place anywhere at who interviewed Hardee reported that CIA was firmly in charge of anti-Castro any time." "from his observation there appeared to exile activity in the United States. Ruby LANE Of course they conclude that, It be a very close relationship between may have had nothing to do with the assists their coincidence thesis. But let these three individuals." CIA, however; he may just have been me tell you how the Commission "inves- One of the many witnesses the Com- acting for some expropriated gambling tigated" this meeting. As I said, Thayer mission never chose to call was Harold interests nut [or revenge against Castro. Waldo was the source for my informa- Richard Williams. On April 3, 1966, I What I object to is the Warren Commis- tion on the two-hour Ruby-Tippit-Weiss. filmed and tape-recorded an interview sion deliberately suppressing these facts. man meeting. Waldo testified on June 27, with Williams in Dallas, and he told me Let me add a vital point: By hushing 1964—but the Commission counsel never that early in November 1963 he had up things like this, the Commission once asked him about the meeting_ I told beers roughed up and arrested in a raid didn't dispel rumors: they provided more the Commission I could not reveal the on an after-hours club called the Mika- fertile ground for them. Became people name of the man Waldo said had wit- do, where he worked as chef. Williams naturally wonder, if there's nothing sinis- nessed the meeting, because I had prom- says he carefully studied the face of the ter here, why did the Commission sup- ised the man he would not he involved; officer driving the police car to head- press the facts? The Warren Report may Ire was a leading Dallas citizen; he was quarters. intending to find out who he have won a little time for the Govern- married, and the stripper he was going was and make a complaint. Seated ment. but its methods have opened up a with had become pregnant. But the Com- alongside this cop in the front of the car, whole Pandora's box of rumors and spec- mission wasn't interested in the truth, according to Williams, was Jack Ruby, ulation. No cover-up at all is better only in discrediting my report of the whom the driver called "Rube." Wil- than a poor one. meeting. For example, after I told the liams said he knew Ruby well, since PLAYBOY: Since you've mentioned rumors Commission what I knew, Chief Counsel Ruby "used to furnish us with girls" for and speculation, let's discuss your con- J. Lee Rankin asked me, "Do you realize parties at the Mikado Club. On Novem- tention in Rush to Judgment that on the that the information you gave in closed ber 22 Williams saw a photograph of evening of November 14, 1963, a two- session could have an unfavorable effect Patrolman J. D. Tippit in the papers and hour meeting took. place at the Carousel on your country's interests in connection recognized him as that same officer. Club between Ruby, Patrolman Tippit with this assassination?" Mind you, When Williams told acquaintances and Bernard Weissman, the ultra-right- Rankin wasn't concerned with investi- about seeing Ruby and Tippit together, wing activist who placed that full-page gating the report and finding out if such he was promptly taken into custody by ad in the November 22 Dallas Morning a meeting had really occurred; he was the Dallas police and told to keep quiet News accusing Kennedy of treason. only disturbed that talking about it about the incident, since "it would be Where did you hear about this alleged could harm our country's interests. This, very easy" to charge him with a crime meeting? of course, was the whole problem with "and make it work." Nevertheless, Wil- LANE: 1 learned of it from Thayer Waldo, the Commission; they weren't interested liams agreed to tell me all he knew, a respected reporter for the Fort Worth in pursuing the truth, but in performing Despite all these facts, the Commission Star-Telegram. who told me that an ac- a prophylactic function, in protecting concluded there was "no credible evi- quaintance of his, a prominent Dallas their conception of the national interest. dence" that Ruby and Tippit were ac- figure, was in the Carousel Club that In this case; unfortunately, they couldn't quainted. night. Waldo's friend was a frequent do both. PLAYBOY: Do you also challenge the Com- 60 visitor to Ruby's place, because he was PLAYBOYt Apart from the alleged meeting mission's conclusion that Ruby had

never met Weissman, the man responsible for the anti-Kennedy ad? LANE Yes, I do. And it's the same story here: Witness after witness told either the FBI or the Commission that Weiss- 0 man was a frequent visitor to the Car- ousel Club in November of 1963. On August 21, 1961, the FBI showed Curtis Cam ° Created Crafard several photographs of Weiss- man, and Crafard said that Weissman had been in the Carousel "on a number The Mairgaxita of occasions." The FBI report on the interview states that Crafard revealed he "has heard Ruby refer to Weissman by the name of 'Weissman' and on several occasions has served Weissman drinks at ? Cuervo the Carousel Club." It goes on and on like that, but despite all this evidence. Makes the Commission claimed that Ruby knew neither Tippit nor Weissman. PLAYBOY: In any case, the Commission The concluded that Ruby was too "moody ■ and unstable to have encouraged the T Eat-AL- Authentic confidence of the persons involved in a sensitive conspiracy." Do you think they Margarita... have a point there? LANE: Well, that's an interesting bit of L A 1, 10.1t7 . speculation. I personally don't know who Naturally a conspiracy would pick as its assassin. ••••• J• af Perhaps the conspirators, if they exist, • A.u` would have preferred a college professor ..104 or a Rhodes scholar. But I do know that ."'''TE:L4.jAl. 11 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR Ruby killed Oswald quite effectively, although the odds were very much 4 TEQUILA JOSE MANJOOR VC, CUERV against it, with just one well-placed shot O in the stomach. Unlike the Warren Inuit ON N01111.1111.• onutr M /gilt D IIIONITIN. I.c, NIOlf oa 0, CON NrCIIC Commission. I can't psychoanalyze a hypothetical group of conspirators and The morniya/sekor TL is today's hottest new determine their recruiting practices. All I can say is that if Ruby was ordered to 35mm single lens reflex camera. Why? kill Oswald, his employers would have Because it has on exposure meter behind no reason to be dissatisfied with the way the lens. And it's a true spot meter. And he did his job. it has fully interchangeable lenses. PLAYBOY: How did Ruby explain his moti- vation for killing Oswald when he tes- And it is remarkably priced under $160.

tified before the Commission? Need more reasons? LANE Ruby's app arance before the e See your photo Commission is one of the most fantastic aspects of the whole investigation. In the dealer or write for first place, the Government was far from 28 page folder. eager to have him testify at all. The Com. mission was formed during November of 1963, but Ruby wasn't interrogated until June of 1964. even though he repeatedly asked the Commission for per- mission to testify. And when he was finally called, only two members of the seven-man Commission were present— Earl Warren and Gerald Ford. The lo- mamiya /sekor cale for his interview was, of all places, the Dallas County jail. and in attendance at the outset were Dallas Sheriff J. E.

Decker, Assistant District Attorney Jim marketed eAclusisrely by Bowie and Robert G. Storey, special Ponder I Best: counsel to the attorney general of Texas. New York/Chicago/Las Angeles Perhaps the Commission assumed Ruby Write to Dept. PY would be more comfortable in familiar 11201 West Pico Boulevard, surroundings. If so. they were wrong, Los Angeles, California 90064 because Ruby begged over and over to be taken to Washington, where he could speak freely, but Earl Warren repeatedly iI turned him down. This is all printed in it was he felt he could not reveal in the President Kennedy or Governor Con- the Commission evidence. "I Want to tell Dallas jail. nally? the truth," Ruby said at one point. "and PLAYBOY: Well, what information did LANE There has been no allegation that llq I can't tell it here. . . . GentJensen, un- come out of the Dallas hearing? Oswald dicl. On the contrary, Marina Os- less you get me to Washington, you can't LANE Ruby testified for about three wald testified her husband thought highly get a fair shake out of me." He added: hours, but he was asked very few ques- of President Kennedy, particularly of the "My life is in danger here.' When Con- tions, and most of his statements were job he was doing on behalf of civil rights. gressman Ford asked, somewhat redun- volunteered. The Commission's most Oswald expressed similar pro-Keunedy dandy, if there were things he would fantastic omission was that Ruby was sentiments to other people whose testi- reveal in Washington that he wouldn't re- never even asked whether or not he re- mony is on the record. Marina Oswald veal in Dallas. Ruby told him that there ceived help in entering the basement of also said that while they were living in the were. And its the hearing closed, he Dallas police headquarters. Ruby stated Soviet Union, Oswald read that Connally made one last desperate plea to Chief that when he shot Oswald "there was no was running for governor of Texas, and Justice Warren to get him out of Dallas. malice in me." The Commission had al- he told her if he had been living in Texas "You are the only one who can save me," ready concluded that Ruby killed Os- at the time he would have voted for him. he told Warren. "But by delaying min- wald in a fit of frenzy stemming from his PLAYBOY: Would you discuss the circum- utes, you lose the chance." Ruby said he love of Kennedy and his hatred of Os- stances of Oswald's stay in the Soviet was anxious to tell the truth about "why wald. So, of course, they also failed to Union? my act was committed, but it can't be ask the logical and vital question: If LANE: Winston Churchill once referred said here." At that point Earl Warren, Ruby didn't hate Oswald. why did he to Ruasia as a mystery wrapped in an enig- instead of reassuring Ruby and trying to kill him? It goes like this right down the ma, and Oswald's stay there falls into that category. He lived there two years, find out what he knew, actually told him line. At one point Ruby disclosed that 36 attempted to give up his American citi- that he had good reason to fear for his hours before his "unpremeditated" mur- zenship, and expressed violent anti- safety if he talked too much. These are der of Oswald, a Dallas police officer American and pro-Communist opinions. Warren's exact words, from the Commis- had made a veiled suggestion to him Yet in his private diaries for the same sion records: "I think I might have some that Oswald should be killed. As he tes- period he consistently expresses bitter reluctance if I was in your position, yes: tified to this effect, Joe Tonahill, his anti-Soviet sentiment. On his return to lawyer, passed a note to the Commission I think I would. I think I would figure it the States, Oswald dictated the begin- out very carefully as to whether it would members reading: "This is the thing ning of a book on Soviet life based on endanger me or not." Here is the Chief that started Jack in the shooting." In these notes, and it, too. was anti-Soviet. other words, Ruby's own lawyer inti- Justice of the United States questioning His mother, Marguerite Oswald, has also mates that a Dallas policeman motivated the one surviving principal, and in effect repeatedly stated in public that her son Ruby to murder Oswald. Yet Ruby was warning him not to tell everything he was a CIA agent; but I've been unable not asked a single question by the Com- knows. It certainly was, to put it as to find any independent verification for mission on this point. innocently as possible, an incurious that charge. After his return to the States, PLAYBOY, Do you believe the Commission approach. Oswald maintained his leftist public was only going through the motions PLAYBOY: Couldn't Ruby have blurted out image. but there are some strange con- when they interviewed Ruby, and really whatever he knew to Warren, and on the tradictions here, too: He was ostensibly didn't want to learn the facts? strength of that demanded some kind of pro-Castro, but he also tried privately LANE: I don't know why the Commission political asylum? Didn't he actually jeop- to ingratiate himself with an anti-Castro behaved as it did. Maybe Ruby was ardize himself more by making only cryp- Cuban exile group. Whether he was a wrong in thinking his life was in danger tic remarks that might be disregarded? rightist passing for a leftist, or a leftist in Dallas. Maybe he could have testified LANE.: I think he handled things quite posing as a rightist, or an FBI or CIA well from the standpoint of his own in- freely there without fear of personal in- agent passing for both, or possibly just terest. If he was involved in a plot and jury. On the other hand, if lie did have plain confused, I honestly haven't beets he told the whole story, his statement police assistance in shooting Oswald, he able to figure out. I'm inclined to believe would be tantamount to a confession of obviously might be reluctant to talk be was a sincere leftist. murder with malice. After a new trial, about it in the Dallas jail. The thing to PLAYBOY: If both Ruby and Oswald were his "asylum" would be a cemetery. Ruby's remember is that when the Commission linked in some way with Cuban exile cryptic remarks may have been intended questioned Ruby, President Kennedy, groups, do you believe they were asso- E as a reminder that he still might talk Officer Tippit and Lee Oswald were all ciated in any other ways? if arrangements for Isis release were dead; Ruby was the sole known surviv- LANE: I've heard many stories to this b not fulfilled. AU of this, of course, is ing protagonist of the events that began effect, but no one has yet presented it based on the presumption that Ruby on November 22. Even if his fears were convincing proof that the two men knew b irrational, the Commission had an obli- may have been part of a conspiracy to each other. a kill Oswald. gation—to the truth and to the American PLAYBOY: You mentioned that while he C PLAYBOY: Why didn't the Commission people—to do everything possible to allay was in the Soviet Union, Oswald tried to take Ruby to Washington? Ruby's fears and find out all he knew. renounce his American citizenship. In LANE The Chief Justice said that a trip The Commission never did that. And September 1963, he applied for a pass- with Ruby would attract "public atten- that's why the most revealing question of port in New Orleans, and his ap- I tion" and require the presence on die that entire day was posed by Jack Ruby plication was granted. But passport d plane of additional security guards. to Earl Warren. He said to the Chief regulations require the applicant to z When Ruby continued to make the re- Justice of the United States: "Maybe swear lie has never "sought or claimed quest. Warren snapped: "No, it could certain people don't want to know the the benefits of the nationality of any not be done. It could not be done. There truth that may come out of me. Is that foreign state." Why was Oswald granted Sr are a good many things involved in that, plausible?" a passport? Mr. Ruby." So Ruby never got to Wash- PLAYBOY: If Ruby's motives were uncer- LANE: I don't know. His application was ington. That was the only interview the tain, what about Oswald's? Has it beers wired—not mailed, as is the usual proce- Commissioners ever had with him, and determined if Oswald ever expressed per- dure—to Washington, and clearance 62 lie was never allowed to reveal whatever sonal or political hostility toward either came through within 24 hours, which must be retord dine, considering his in his relationship with her; but later on, background. after she'd been isolated in the custody PLAYBOY: Is there any evidence, as you in- of the FBI and Secret Service for timated earlier, connecting Oswald with months, she stated that Oswald was bru- hit the FBI? tal and heat her frequently. Marina orig- LANE Well. a question might be raised inally said her husband never expressed the slopes! by the fact that Oswald's address book hostility toward any person in public life. The Playboy Ski Sweater makes contained the address and auto-license Later, after her confinement by the FBI the runs, later, the lodge fun. The number or Dallas FBI Agent James Homy, and Secret Service. she testified her hus- finest pure virgin worsted wool and this was Later deleted from the police band shot at General Edwin Walker. fashioned for full-speed-ahead list of Oswald's addresses, And Congress- Marina also told FBI agents right after comfort. With the Playboy Rabbit man Gerald Ford's book Portrait of an the assassination that she had never seen Interwoven in white on cardinal Assassin revealed that at the outset of the her husband with a pistol, and he had red, white on black or black on investigation, Texas Attorney General never owned a pistol. She also said she white. For playboys: S. M, L, XL Waggoner Carr and Dallas District At- had never seen a telescopic sight. Yet the sizes, WAIen, $22 ppd. Playmate's: torney Henry Wade informed the Com- Commission relied on her later statement S, M. L sizes, WA201, $20 ppd. mission that Oswald was an undercover that she took the famous picture of Os- Shall we enclose a gift said in your name? informant for die FBI. These two Texas wald holding a rifle equipped with a Send check or money order to: PLAYBOY officials. Ford writes, disclosed that Os- PRODUCTS. gig N. Michigan Ave.. Chi- telescopic sight and wearing a pistol on cago. Illinois wald's FBI code number was 179, that his hip. And so it went: The longer she Been. Playboy he had been on the FBI payroll from was in the custody of Federal authori- Club credit Leyholders September 1962 to the day of his death, ties, the longer they questioned her and may charge to and that his FBI salary was $200 per "revived" her memory, the more damn- their keys. month. Now, what did the Commission ing Marina Oswald's testimony became do upon receipt of this startling evidence? to her late husband. Brainwashing, it 'a. Did it launch an immediate investiga- would seem, is not an exclusive property tion? No. Chief Counsel Rankin merely of the Chinese. • told the Commission, according to Con- PLAYBOY: Do you impugn Marina's testi- gressman Ford: "We have a dirty rumor mony that Oswald attempted to shoot that is very bad for the Commission . . General Walker on April 10, 1963? , and it is very damaging to the agencies LANE: I think the evidence does that. that are involved in it and it must be Her testimony on this subject "evolved" wiped out insofar as possible to do so by during the period she was in Federal this Commission." So without even exam- custody. At first. she said she knew of no ining this statement by two prominent acts of violence committed by Oswald. Texas officials, the Commission labeled Later, much later, she "remembered" die it a "dirty rumor" and decided "it must Walker incident. There was only one be wiped out." They did this quite effec- witness to the Walker shooting: Walter tively—by asking J. Edgar Hoover if it Kirk Coleman, a 14-year-old boy who were true. He denied it. What could one lived in the house behind General FREE! expect him to say—"Oswald was work- Walker's. When he heard shots one night, WORLD'S LARGEST ing for me when he killed the Presi- he ran out and saw two men, one evident- dent"? As far as the Commission was ly with a rifle, jump into two cars and ELECTRONIC KIT concerned, asking Hoover all but closed the subject. The sources of the allegation drive away. The Commission said Oswald CATALOG! were never questioned. And since the could not drive. Coleman was shown pictures of Lee Oswald, and stated that minutes of Commission proceedings will HEATHKIT 1987 not be made public for 75 years, we neither of the two men looked anything would never even have heard of the like Oswald. The Commission, of course, matter except for Congressman Ford's never called Coleman, the only eyewit- indiscretion. ness, and relied wholly on Marina's un- [:r PLAYBOY: In your book, you say that supported, self-contradictory and belated /0 "The case against Lee Harvey Oswald allegations as to what her husband had / was comprised essentially of evidence said—not what she had seen. from two sources: Dallas police officers PLAYBOY: Didn't investigators find a and Marina Oswald," You've already ex• photograph of Walker's house among pained why you doubt the integrity of Oswald's possessions? Dallas police. Why do you doubt Marina LANE: Yes—though, of course, that doesn't Oswald? prove Oswald was the one who took it.

LANE Marina changed her testimony so Let's take a look at it: It's a rather tOS colorful pages „ Illustrates over 250 often it was difficult to determine which mysterious photograph. It shows Walker's kits for apace-ago fun at 60% savings. Build your own PURIM %warn, color TV. electronic version the Commission accepted. At house, with an automobile parked in organ. guitars 8 guitar amplifier. portables, marine electronics. ham end shortwave ra- first, she declared that her husband was front. There is, however, a hole torn in dio. plus many more. No special skills or knowledge needed. Find out how easy it innocent and hadn't planned to murder the photograph, deleting the back por- Is , mail coupon for FREE copy I anyone. Later, she told the Commission tion of the ear. Marina Oswald testified that the "facts" given to her by the Fed- that this hole had been torn in the eral police convinced her that Oswald photograph after it came into posses- had, indeed, killed Kennedy in order to sion I Heath Company, Oeps,38-2 of the Warren Commission, She tes- I Bergen Harbor, Michigan 49022 become famous. In other words, the po- tified: "When the FBI first showed me i Plane send FREE ISO liesinkit Catilag. lice had to reveal her own husband's this photograph, I remember that the li- I Rime psychology to her. She at first testified cense plate, the number of the license Address that her husband was pacific and gentle plate was on this car, and was on the City 63 photograph. It had the white and black the Commission evidently wasn't inter- of photographic experts charged it was ▪ ested in a possible effort by the FBI to fraudulent. O munbers_ . . . There was no link in the original when they showed it to me tamper with a major witness. I don't PLAYBOY: On what grounds? . . ." The Commission tried to get her know what the FBI meant by "co- LANE: First of all, some of the pictures , • off the subject, but she appeared maxi- operate." Perhaps nothing. But Marina reproduced iu the press show a tele also said an immigratinza official came scopic sight on the rifle, while in others ▪ rtted by the altered photograph. "Why does the Commission not ask me about from New York to see her before she was there is no telescopic sight. Subsequently, • this?" she persisted. Finally the Commis- questioned by the FBI and "said that it responsible publications such as News- .' sion lawyer said, "Off the record, would be better for me if I were to help week and Thr New York Times admitted please," and the subject was never re- them." She was obviously upset by her to the Warren Commission that their art ferred to again. Wesley Liebeler, the encounters with the FBI, and plaintively departments had retouched the photo. junior attorney for the Commission who told Earl Warren, who throughout the But even more serious is the evidence conducted the "off-the-record" discus- hearings adopted the role of father figure that the entire picture was faked. As sion, recently said at a public meeting toward her: "I think that the FBI agents published on the cover of Life, the that he doesn't remember what was said knew I was afraid that after everything shadow from Oswald's nose Calls directly during that off-the-record conference. that had happened I could not remain to down to the middle of his mouth, where- And this photograph is the one piece of live in this country, and they somewhat as the shadow from his body falls at physical evidence used to show that exploited that for their own purposes, in about a 45-degree angle to his rear and Oswald shot at General Walker. a very polite form, so that you could not to his right. From this, photographic ex- say anything alter that. They cannot be PLAYBOY: Do you know why or how the perts immediately concluded that either accused of anything. They approached it photo showing the license plate was mu- Oswald's head had been superimposed in a very clever, contrived way." The tilated after the photo came into the on the picture or that the picture had Commission's hands? Chief Justice quickly changed the subject. So if you're asking tie if Marina Os- been taken on a planet enjoying two LANE: No. I don't. The Commission per- suns. I repeated this observation to the mitted a relatively inexperienced junior wald was pressured by the Government to tailor her testimony to the official ver- Commission and they decided to test the lawyer—Wesley Liebeler again—to han- photo's authenticity. Evidently, in order dle this aspect of the investigation. The sion, I'd say it certainly seems so. Marina to prove that the shadows in the picture photograph raises the very real possibility was almost never subjected to what could be authentically duplicated, the that the Warren Commission tampered might be called cross.examination. The FBI had one of its agents assume a sim- with evidence. Why? Well, if the license Commission would not permit it. It was plate was dated either of the two years this attitude, when Marina was appear- ilar position and took a photograph of that Oswald spent in the Soviet Union, ing before the seven-man Commission, him. which was published in the Report. that would be proof that he didn't take that prompted one participant to refer to Sure enough, the body shadow in the the picture. But now you have me spec- the vignette as "Snow White and the FBI picture falls at the same angle as the ulating. As I said earlier, I don't know. Seven Dwarfs." body shadow in the Life picture. But PLAYBOY: Wasn't it proved conclusively PLAYBOY: What proof do you have for the there's just one small problem: In the that the photo was taken with Oswald's charge in your book that the famous Life photograph published by the Warren camera? cover photograph of Oswald holding the Commission, die man's head had been LANE: The FBI said so. alleged murder weapon may have been removed] The FBI said they did this be- PLAYBOY: Why would Marina Oswald lie forged? cause nothing about the head was "perti- in an effort to incriminate her dead LANE: This photograph was the single nent"—while it was obviously the only husband? document most responsible for persuad- pertinent factor involved, since the ques- LANE: Marina Oswald's testimony indi- ing Americans that Oswald was involved tion was whether or not the nose and cates only one thing—that she was a in the assassination. It shows him stand- body shadows matched. But the Warren frightened woman, a Soviet citizen in an ing on a lawn holding the Mannlicher- Commission showed a photo with the alien and menacing country, unable to Carcano rifle in one hand and two Com- head deleted as proof that the Life pho- speak English. without any means to munist newspapers in the other, with a tograph was accurate. Thus we come full support herself and her children, think- holstered pistol strapped to his waist. circle. An openly doctored photograph ing she was subject to deportation at any How pat can you get? Many copies of was offered to prove that another was time. Marina Oswald is the type of this picture originally and mysteriously authentic. witness every unscrupulous prosecutor materialized on the day of the assassina- PLAYBOY: So you believe the photograph dreams of. because she's totally vulnera- tion—on a desk in the Dallas police was forged as part of a plot to incrimi- ble to pressure. Remember, she was held headquarters; one cannot be certain of nate Oswald? incommunicado for months by the Fed- their origin. LANE: Oswald believed that. In the Com- eral authorities, and when she emerged, PLAYBOY: The Warren Report seems cer- mission's 26 volumes of evidence, you'll she disavowed all her original statements tain. On page 592, it states that the pho- discover that when Oswald was con- protesting her husband's innocence and to "of Lee Harvey Oswald holding a rifle fronted with the photo in the Dallas jail, wholeheartedly supported the Warren [was] found among Oswald's possessions he charged that "The Dallas police have Commission's conclusions. in Mrs. Ruth Paine's garage at 2515 superimposed my head on that body, be- PLAYBOY: Are you charging that agents West Fifth Street, Irving, Texas." cause that is a picture of my head, but of the United States Government intimi- LANE: That's what the Dallas police said, not of my body." Oswald added that dated a witness and persuaded her to but questions about the authenticity of he'd worked for a photographer and change her testimony? the picture raise doubts about its origin knew something about photography, and LANE: It seems very likely. Take a look at as well. Many newspapers ran the pit. therefore knew the photo was a forgery. Marina's own testimony before the Com- ture—and Life, on February 21, 1964, He said he would prove it at his trial. mission. She testified that FBI agents carried it on its cover with the caption: There never was a trial, of course. Life or "told me that if I wanted to live in this "Lee Oswald, with the weapons he used Obviously, I'm not charging that country, I would have to cooperate." to kill President Kennedy and Officer any other publication superimposed the Marina gave the Commission the names Tippit." The publication of that photo- head. They evidently accepted the photo of the FBI agents who said this to her, graph raised questions in photographic in good faith, though rather uncritically. 64 but the matter was never followed up; circles around the world, and a number PLAYBOY: When did Oswald make that statement about the photo? Didn't you were afraid to offer their nonconforming I don't know, but within a few months O say earlier that the Commission claimed inf ation. they were both dead. One of them, there were no transcripts of his interim till another witness to the Tippit James F. Koethe, a respected staff writer 04 gation at police headquarters? laying—who also, you will recall, said for The Dallas Times Herald, was found LANE: This particular remark was report- ippit'a murderer was short and stocky strangled in his apartment. The Dallas ed to the Contrnission by Dallas police- —was Domingo Benavides. When I vis- police list it as an unsolved killing. men and Federal agents who were present ited Dallas with a film crew some PLAYBOY: And the other newsman? at the interrogation and who remembered months ago, Benavides agreed to speak LANE: That was Bill Hunter, a prize- fragments of Oswald's commence. to us, but the night before the projected winning reporter for the Long Beads, PLAYBOY: You said a while ago that sev- interview, two Dallas homicide detec- California, hidependent Press-Telegram. eral witnesses have reported being tives visited De Antonio, our director, in He was shot by a local police officer while threatened by both Dallas policemen the Tower Motel, and informed him that he sat reading in the press room of the and Federal agents for contradicting the there would be no interview and that Long Beach public safety building. The Government version of the assassination. we were being investigated. Benavides police said it was an accident. Have there been other instances? never showed up for the appointment. PLAYBOY: Do you believe these two men LANE: Some extraordinary things have When I was back in Dallas just after were victims of a conspiracy? the publication of my book, I appeared happened in Dallas to people who gave LANE: Not necessarily. The murders testimony contradicting the version that on a local radio show and asked anyone could be coincidences, but there are too Oswald was the lone assassin of President who had any information about him to many coincidences in this case. Penn contact me. Benavides' father-in-law, a Kennedy and Officer Tippit. Since I Jones, Jr.. editor of a Texas paper, the wrote my book, much more has come to man named Jackson, called. Mr. Jackson told me Benavides was afraid to talk and Midlothian Mirror, has investigated light. I mentioned earlier the Acquitla these events. He told me that he believes Clemons episode; her life was threatened had previously Red the Dallas area in fear. Jackson further revealed that after a total of 14 witnesses have died myste- by a Dallas police officer—or so she riously since November 22, 1963. William thought—after she said that Tippir's Benavides failed to identify Oswald as Tipples murderer, Benavides' brother, Whaley, the cabdriver who allegedly murderer was not Oswald. Another wit- drove Oswald from the assassination scene ness to the Tippit slaying, Warren who resembled him, was shot through the head and killed. Benavides quit his and whose original testimony was very Reynolds, was one block away from the inconvenient to the Commission Report, shooting when he saw a man run past him job and was replaced by another Mexi- can-American bearing a resemblance to was killed in a car crash—the first cab- carrying a pistol. Reynolds described the him. Within weeks, that man was also driver to die in an accident in Dallas in man to the police on November 22. and shot through the head by an unknown 30 years. Lee J. Bowers, who, as I al- since his description was completely at person, but he survived. The assailants ready mentioned, told me in a filmed in- variance with that of Oswald. he was of these two men have never been terview that he had seen smoke or flames never taken to the line-up at police head- apprehended by the Dallas police. Be- coming from behind the wooden fence quarters, On January 21, 1964, Reynolds rtavides was convinced he was the in- on the grassy knoll, was killed a few was questioned by agents of the FBI and tended victim and fled Dallas, but his months after I saw him—also in an auto- shown pictures of Oswald, but he said father-in-law. Mr. Jackson. went to the mobile crash. When I was in Dallas with again that Oswald was not the man he police and told them he planned to ini- the film crew, some witnesses said they had seen fleeing the murder scene. Two date his own investigation of the two as- were afraid to talk to us because of the days later Reynolds was in the basement saults, since the police had made no death of the two reporters and the intim- of his used-car salesroom and a man be- progress. The police told him not to. idation of other witnesses. For example, hind a filing cabinet shot him through Some time later, Jackson heard a noise on the Commission reveals that a man giv- the head. Reynolds was on the critical his front lawn and went to investigate. ing his name as Lee Oswald priced a car list, but he survived. He later said that As he stood silhouetted in the doorway, shortly before the assassination. This he believed the attack on him was con- a man jumped out from behind some man talked loudly to the salesmen about nected with what he saw on November bushes and fired one shot, narrowly going back to Russia, as I mentioned 22. A man was subsequently arrested and missing him. Jackson now believes that earlier, and said he expected to come charged with the attempted murder of these episodes are part of an organized into a large sum of money soon. The Reynolds. His name was Darrel Wayne effort in Dallas to silence Domingo Commission concluded that Oswald Garner, and he admitted he'd phoned his Benavides. couldn't drive and that he wasn't there, sister-in-law and "advised her he had PLAYBOY: Where is Benavides now? Have `"'drat day. Anyway, we spoke to shot Warren Reynolds." But suddenly a two of you been able to trace him? the auto salesmen and they told us young "exotic dancer" named Betty that LANE: The last I heard he was in Lancas- Bogard, the man who tried to sell Oswald Mooney McDonald showed up with an ter. Texas. But I can't compel him to the car, was brutally beaten and hospi- alibi for Garner. claiming she had spent speak to me. The Dallas police advised t lized after testifying. He subsequently the night of the shooting with him. Gar- him not to, and he evidently respects ell Dallas. These two salesmen told us, ner was [reed on the basis of her unsup- el advice. "If you take this and the fact the reported testimony, but a few days later PLAYBOY: Do you believe witnesses a porters have been killed, and all the Miss McDonald was arrested on a disor- being systematically threatened—or li- other peculiar things happening in Dal- derly conduct charge after allegedly quidated? las, were just afraid to be in your film." fighting with her roommate, and was LANE: f don't know, but things have been Thus, important witnesses seem to have taken to Dallas police headquarters— happening in Dallas that are more remi- (been terrorized into silence or conformity. where her dead body was found one niscent of James Bond than of Sherlock PLAYBOY: Isn't it possible that some of hour after arrival. The Dallas police said Holmes. For example, immediately after these people were only reacting fearfully she hanged herself. Miss McDonald had Ruby killed Oswald, two newspapermen to rumors and to events unconnected been employed as a stripper in Jack went to Ruby's apartment with his room- with the assassination? Ruby's Carousel Club. Because of inci- mate, George Senator. Senator, by the LANE: Yes, it's possible. But what I think. dents like these, many Dallas residents way, has since indicated that he knew of emerges is a clear pattern of intimidation who knew something contrary to the Ruby's plan to shoot Oswald before the of nonconforming witnesses. For exam- "official version" of the assassination 66 event. What he told these two newsmen ple, a Dallas housewife, Wilma Tice, informed the Commission that she had authority said it would be best not to talk mission." Lee Harvey Oswald was in- seen Jack Ruby at Parkland Hospital about the assassination, and I just can't terrogated 12 hours without a taped or while the doctors were struggling to save go through it all again." Mrs. Hill added, stenographic record of his statements, the President's life. Her testimony corrob- "I can't believe the Warren Report. I yet FBI and Secret Service agents can orates that of Seth Kantor, the Scripps- know it's not true, because I was there traipse around the country on the heels Howard newsman who knew Ruby well when it happened, but I can't talk about of a relatively obscure New York lawyer. and who you'll recall also saw him at it anymore, because I don't want the FBI tape-recording every word he utters. It's the hospital. But the Commission dis- here constantly and I want to continue all a question of priorities. I guess. regarded these two witnesses and con- to teach here. I hope you don't think I'm PLAYBOY: Do you think they're still fol- cluded that Ruby was not at Parkland a coward, but I cannot talk about the lowing you? Hospital. in any case, just after Mrs. case anymore." There is definitely an LANE I don't know. Tice was invited to tell her story to atmosphere of fear in Dallas surround- PLAYBOY: Have you had any other trouble the Commission, but before anyone ing the whole question of the assassina- with the FBI or Secret Service? except the Commission knew she was to tion. LANE When you're involved in a case testify, she began receiving anonymous PLAYBOY: But many people did consent to like this, there's always the risk of suc- phone calls. One caller, for instance, interviews with you. cumbing to a touch of paranoia. I've warned her, "It would pay you to keep LANE: Yes, and those people are the real tried to avoid that. But I was stopped your mouth shut," Then, one night, Mrs. heroes of this whole affair. They're the once in 1964 outside my Manhattan Tice was awakened by a call. There was ones who make me believe that there apartment by two men who identified no one on the line, but suddenly the still is hope for the truth here in Amer. themselves as FBI agents. It was pour- doorbell rang and she went downstairs ica. One of these people, S. M. Holland, ing, and I had a cab waiting. They asked a middle-aged Texas railroad man, told to find she couldn't open her front door. me if I was Mark Lane and when I ad- me in a filmed interview that he had wit- She then went to the back door and mitted it, they demanded that I hand nessed the assassination from the rail- found it was barricaded by a ladder. over my attaché case. I refused, of course, road bridge. He said he knew that at When she finally testified, Mrs. Tice and they then announced they had infor- least one shot came from behind the described these events, but the Commis- wooden fence on the grassy knoll. He mation that I possessed a file stolen from sion lawyer was not interested in reas- told me that his statements during our the office of the FBI. I said, "Oh, is a file suring her of her safety. In fact, he even interview might lose him his job, but he missing?" and one of the agents replied, encouraged her not to testify. Here is a added, "When the time comes that an "This is no time for levity." I was in- witness who believed there was a connec- American can't tell the truth because the clined to agree, as I was getting soaked don between her invitation to testify Government doesn't, that's the time to to the skin standing there—they were and the subsequent efforts to intimidate give the country back to the Indians—if wearing trench coats—so I told them to her by anonymous phone calls and by they'll take it." In my opinion, one man have J. Edgar Hoover write a letter if he barricading her house. There is nothing like S. M. Holland is worth a handful had anything to ask me, and not send his more serious in any investigation than of eminent officials, when it comes to flunkies to accost me on the street and an attempt to tamper with a witness, establishing the facts, demand my possessions. I started for the and Mrs. Tice told the Commission she PLAYBOY: If witnesses have been intimi- cab, but they surrounded me—as well as was so frightened she "wouldn't answer dated—even murdered—for challenging two men can surround one man—and the phone anymore." And what did the the official version of the assassination, we almost had a little scuffle on the side- Commission counsel reply? Did he order doesn't that place your own life in walk before I was able to shove one of an immediate investigation? No, he jeopardy? them aside and get into the taxi. I never simply dismissed her. LANE: Well, I hope not, because I'm not heard anything more about their missing PLAYBOY: Do you think this pattern of very heroic. In fact, I'm a bit of a cow- file. Our investigators in Dallas have intimidation—if it exists—has official ard. But I've become so publicly iden- been openly followed by uniformed Dal- sanction? tified with this case for so long that if las cops, but that may be standard oper- LANE: I think some aspects of the effort to anything happened to me, it would only ating procedure there, so I try not to let silence witnesses have the sanction of the deepen and confirm suspicions. it concern me. FBI, the Secret Service and the Dallas PLAYBOY: Have you been placed under PLAYBOY: Do you know if your phones are police. Just to take one example: Mrs. official surveillance in any way since you tapped? Jean Hill. a Dallas schoolteacher, indi- initiated your investigation? LANE An electronics expert examined cates she was intimidated—in a slightly LANE Well, there are 1555 files dealing my phone on three separate occasions, more subtle fashion—by the Federal with the assassination in the National and each time he said they were being police. Mrs. Hill was standing very dose Archives; 508 of these were classified tapped. But I'd be surprised if the FBI to the Presidential motorcade on No- when I was there last, and some of the wasn't tapping my lines, since they tap vember 22. She told me that the shots material can't be seen by anyone for 75 so many others. In fact, I'd feel a bit came from "the grassy knoll"—in fact, years. Of the remaining documents, so neglected if mine escaped scrutiny. They she coined the phrase. She also testified far I have discovered a total of 55 files— may have this apartment bugged, too, to the Commission that the shots came prepared for the Warren Commission by but we haven't bothered to check that from there. I first spoke to her in Feb- the FBI and Secret Service--dealing out. We really don't care too much any- ruary 1964, and when I saw her again with nothing more than my speeches more. We've adjusted. But I wouldn't be recently. she told me that after our inter- around the country. They make fascinat- surprised if Mr. Hoover reads this interview, "the FBI was here for days. They ing reading. One file is almost a com- view before Mr. Hefner does. practically lived here. They just didn't plaint by a bored Secret Service agent PLAYBOY: Was there any Government like what I told them I saw and heard compelled to listen to many of my lec- pressure to prevent publication of your when the President was assassinated." tures. He writes, "I enclose the seven book? When I asked her for a filmed and tape- reels of tape which we made of Lane's LANE: Unfortunately, publishing compa- recorded interview, she refused. She told lecture here in San Francisco, and you nies are vulnerable to such pressure; me: "For two years I have told the truth, will note that what he said in these many of their hooks are purchased in but I have two children to support and speeches differs not at all from the testi- lots by Government agencies: a number I am a public school teacher. A school mony which he gave to the Warren Corn- of publishers are engaged in delicate 67 W mergers skirting the antitrust laws: and a Kennedy is asked about the Warren the country and I've heard these rumors 0 everybody is open to harassment by the Report, he always says—and I pant- myself. I've been asked many times if Internal Revenue Service. My own pub- phrase—"I've never read it, but I accept Johnson was involved. I know these ru- Esher, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, I un- it." They've never read id To me those mors have been strengthened by the re- ;a1 derstand, came under direct pressure statements indicate that the Kennetlys cent publication of letters from Jack rt from the FBI. An assistant director of are keeping their options open and bid- Ruby, smuggled out of the Dallas jail. the FBI called a Holt executive and ing their time until they can announce, One of these, a note to another prisoner, urged him not to publish my book. He "We have now read the Report—and we reads, —The only one who had anything PI Said that "John," meaning J. Edgar, "the find it false." to gain by Kennedy's death was Johnson. ureau." meaning the FBI, and "1." PLAYBOY: Rumors are circulating that Figure that out." I personally think the caning him, would be very upset if President Johnson is trying to pressure ntmors are unfortunate, but the awful Olt did. When the Holt executive said Robert and Jacqueline Kennedy into thing is that until the archives arc Olt was committed to the book, the blocking publication of William Man- opened, until the facts are known, such FBI man told him that this decision chester's book on the President's death, or speculation will persist andwill grow. would not he the only consideration in at least into deleting those sections most Of course, I don't believe President John's mind when he picked a publisher hostile to L. B. J. Is there any truth Johnson had anything to do with the as- for his next book. Until that conversa- in this? sassination—but until all the facts are don, Holt had published many of LANE: I'm not privy to President John- known, I cannot base my disbelief on the Hoover's works—including one called son's thinking on the subject. But I have evidence. President Johnson has a per. Masters of Deceit, which I imagine is a heard such stories. The Wall Street Jour- sonal and political stake in dispelling kind of autobiography. nal recently reported that the Kennedy these rumors once and for all. Only the PLAYBOY: If what you've had to say about family "fears the wrath" of the President facts can replace conjecture. I've ap- the assassination is true, why hasn't the because of the revelations in the book. pealed to the President to open up the Kennedy family spoken out? If the Presi- PLAYBOY: The Warren Commission was a National Archives, assemble the evident was realty killed by a conspiracy, Presidential Commission, appointed by dence and allow independent, impartial wouldn't the Kennedys be the first to Johnson. Do you hold him responsible and qualified investigators in the fields raise a public outcry? for its alleged transgressions? of ballistics, forensics, handwriting and LANE: The Kennedys are beginning to LANE: Yes, absolutely. Harry Truman photographic analysis to examine every speak out, although rather softly. Rich- used to say about the Executive desk: document and render an objective ver- ard Goodwin, who was President Ken- "The buck stops here." President John- dict to the American people. Since Presi- nedy's White House aide and speech son appointed the Commission and se- dent Johnson has nothing to hide, he writer and is now part of Bobby Kenne- lected its members. He is responsible for dy's inner circle, recently criticized the their subsequent behavior, and he is should deal honestly with the American Warren Commission and made a mild responsible for the fact that the most vi- people by ascertaining and releasing all public request for a new investigation of tal material in this case is classified top- the facts of the assassination. Until he the assassination. I can't believe Good- secret until September 2039. President oes, there will be a shroud of suspicion ianging over his head, and over all our win would have said this without first Johnson is responsible for the fact that clearing it with the Kennedy family; so I the crucial material evidence—the rifle, emocratic institutions. And if he does think the Kennedys may share his opin- the bullets, the pistol, the autopsy X rays not act voluntarily, then the American ions. Another Kennedy aide, Edwyn Sil- and photos—have either disappeared or people, through the legislature and the berling, Chief of the Organized Crime been left to the tender mercies of the courts, will have to act for him. We have and Racketeering Section of the Justice FBI, the Secret Service and the Dallas waited for the truth too long—three years Department under Robert Kennedy. police. With one stroke of his pen, the too long. has written an introduction to an early President could make all this material PLAYBOY: Do you believe you will succeed in discrediting the Warren Report and anti—Wan-en Commission book. Silber- available to the American people. He has ling says this book "raises questions that chosen not to do so. It's not only Earl initiating a new investigation? deserve to be answered concerning the Warren who's at fault, although by their LANE: The Warren Report already stands possibility that a conspiracy existed to behavior, Warren and his colleagues discredited before the rest of the world. destroy President Kennedy." Hugh have desecrated John Kennedy's memo- When Waggoner Carr, the attorney Trevor-Roper published a major attack ry. The Chief Justice and his six cohorts general of Texas, read the Report, he on the Warren Commission Report in were just front men for Lyndon Baines told the press: "It is a document which the London Sunday Times. He told me .jtalinson. The buck stops at his desk. will last through the ages." I do not believe the Warren Report wilt survive the later he indirectly received a message PLAYBOY: New York Post columnist Pete from Senator Robert Kennedy saying, Hamill recently wrote that everywhere next six months. In fact, a Harris poll "Keep up the good work." he traveled in America, he came across a published last October in The Washing- PLAYBOY: Why hasn't Senator Kennedy theory about the assassination. "The ton Post revealed that even then only spoken out directly? theory says that somehow, in some way, one of three Americans believed Oswald LANE: That question must be directed to Lyndon Baines Johnson was respon- was the lone assassin. History may come him for an authentic reply. But I'll give sible." On September 1, 1966, The New to know the Report as the "Warren you my opinion. The assassination of York Times' Moscow correspondent re- Whitewash": it may be ranked with Tea- pot Dome and the Reichstag Fire trial as President Kennedy is the most delicate, ported that "the Kremlin was mounting a and the most potentially explosive issue campaign to challenge the Report's verac- a synonym for political cover-up and in American life. The Kennedys have a ity and, by innuendo, to implicate cynical manipulation of the truth. human motive to avenge their martyred President Johnson in the assassination PLAYBOY: You've devoted the past three brother, and they also have a political of President Kennedy." Intentionally or years of your life to a critical investiga- motive to do it in the moat effective way. not, aren't you adding fuel to the fire tion of the assassination. How long do Remember, the Kennedys are waging a of these unsupported rumors? you plan to continue your efforts? long-term political war with President LANE: That is not my intention. My LANE: Until the American people know Johnson, and the assassination issue may desire is to find out who killed our Presi- how and why and by whom our President well play a very vital role in that sung- dent and why he was killed. I've ap- was killed on November 22, 1963. 68 gle. I think it's significant that whenever peared on radio and TV shows all across