SS ' imposters' spotted

}y JFK witnesses August 27,1978 By EARL GOLZ Warren Commission and has not been enu ui a muzzle blast." '^be DiilUs Morning Ness, 1978 interviewed by the House Assassina­ He said he heard two shots "and Several men posing as Secret Ser­ tions Committee. then there was a blend. For a single vice agents were in Dealey Plaza Arnold said he was moving toward b61t action, he had to have been firing shortly before and after President the railroad bridge over the triple dam good because I dont'think any­ John P. Kennedy was assassinated, The underpass to take movie film of the body could fire that rapid a bolt action. Dallas News has learned. presidential motorcade when "this guy "The next thing I knew someone Shortly before the shooting, one of just walked towards me and said that I was kicking my butt and telling me to •'ie apparent imposters discouraged a shouldn't be up there." get up," Arnold said. "It was a police- soTUier from walking behind a wooden Arnold challenged the man's nian And I told him to go jump in the fence atop the grassy knoll from which authority, he said, and the man rtver. And then this other guy — a ti.e House Assassinations Committee "showed me a badge and said he was policeman — comes up with a shotgun recently test-fired a rifle and a pistol. with the Secret Service and that he and he was crying and that thing was The soldier — and at least four didn't want anybody up there." waving back and forth. I said you can other people — say they met men who Arnold then retreated to fhe front of have everything I've got. Just point it either shov/ed identification as Secret the picket fence high up on the grassy sqmeplaceelse." Service agents or said they were. knoll just to the west of the pergola on All but one of the encounters were the north side of Elm Street. ARNOLD TOOK his film~ from the canister and threw it to the policeman. in the parking lot west of the Texas AS THE PRESIDENTIAL limousine School Book Depository Building from "It wasn't worth three dollars and came down Elm toward the triple something to l)e shot. All I wanted where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly underpass. Arnold stood on a mound of shot the president on Nov. 22,1963. them to do was to take that blooming fresh dirt and started rolling his film. picture (film) and get out of there, just ALL BUT ONE of the counterfeit He said he "felt" the first shot come let me go. That shotgun and the guy agents wore business suits. One man from behind him, only inches over his crying over there was enough to was in sportsclothes and "had dirty left shoulder, he said. unnerve me for anything." looking bands or dirty fingernails," "I had just gotten out of basic Two days later. Arnold was on a according to a Dallas policeman who training," Arnold said. "In my mind plane reporting for duty at Fort Wain- confronted him. live ammunition was being fired. It wright in Alaska. He hadn't given None of the 28 Secret Service agents was being fired over my head. And I hit police in Dealey Plaza his name and protecting President Kennedy were on the din" never told his story to authorities foot at the scene shortly before or after Arnold, then 22, said the first two "because I heard"after that there were the shooting, the Warren Commission shots came from behind the fence a lot of people making claims about pic­ Report said. "close enough for me to fall down on tures and stuff and they were dying "None (in the presidential motor­ my face." He stayed there for the dura­ sort of peculiarly. I just said. well, the cade) stayed at the scene of the shoot­ tion of the shooting. devil with it, forget it. Besides, 1 ing, and none entered the Texas School HIS PRONE position, under the couldn't claim my pictures anyway; Book Depository Building at or imme­ shade of a tree, may have locked away how did I know what were mine?" his story for IS years as the Warren diately after the shooting," the Warren TWO U7«F0RMED Dallas policemen Report stated. "Secret Service proce­ Commission and later other assassina­ tion researchers scanned photographs had been assigned to guard the rail­ dure requires that each agent stay with road bridge. The Warren Report, the person being protected and not be and movie footage of Dealey Plaza for witnesses to the shooting. however, said the two policemen — diverted unless it is necessary to jiist as fellow officers guarding over­ accomplish the protective assign­ The first two shots that Arnold heard didn't come from the Texas passes along the motorcade route — ment." were not assisted by federal agents. GORDON L. ARNOLD, the former School Book Depository Building Dallas soldier, said he was stopped by a because "you wouldn't hear a whiz go Police officer James C. White told The man wearing a lighKolored suit as he over the top of your head like that." he News that he and James W. Foster were was walking behind the fence on top of said. "I say a whiz — you don't really keeping unauthorized people off the the grassy knoll minutes before the hear a whiz of a bullet, you hear just bridge. assassination. Arnold, now an investi­ like a shock wave. You feel it ... You "If there was one (Secret Service gator for the Dallas Department of Con­ feet something and then a report agent) up there, we didn't know it," sumer Affairs, was not called by the comes right behind it It's just like ine White said. "He wasn't on that bridge, I THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

know that." by a "tall and slender" man in a busi­ parking lot was made by Dallas ;•' , However, a railroad signal supervi­ ness suit who "whipped out" identifica­ patrolman Joe Marshall Smith. sor, who aided While and Foster in tion purportedly showing he was a identifying railroad personnel on the Smith, who is still with the force, Secret Service agent, she toP The said immediately after the assassina­ bridge, was under the impression that News. "a plainclothes detective or FBI agent tion he started toward the Texas School "I thought he was trying to get Book Depository Building and met a or something like that" was helping away," she said, "but evidently he the officers guard the bridge. woman who told him, "They are shoot­ wanted me to keep from getting away ing the president from the bushes." THE SUPERVISOR. S.M. Holland, (and pursuing the fleeing man). He The policeman checked the bushes told the Warren Commission that about identified himself, supposedly, and I next to the wooden fence atop the 90 minutes before the motorcade came took it that he was. I just figured they grassy knoll and the parking lot by Dealey Plaza he met the two police­ (Secret Service) were shooting back." behind it. men and the agent near the bridge. Mrs. Hill lost sight of the man run­ Smith and a deputy sheriff met a In 1964. Holland, now dead, was ning through the parking lot about the man in sportsclothes in the lot. Smith asked by Samuel A. Stern, Warren Com­ time he reached the railroad tracks drew his pistol. "And 1 thought, "This is mission assistant counsel, if he sfoke near the point where they ran across silly, I don't know who I am looking to the three together. the triple underpass. for,' and I put it (pistol) back," Smith "Two — there were two city police­ said. "Just as I did, he showed me that men and one man in plainclothes," Hol­ A RETIRED Dallas policeman, Tom he was a Secret Service agent." land said. "I didn't talk to him (the man Tilson Jr., recently told The News how The man displayed the "regular not in uniform). I talked to the city he chased a man who slid down the identification" of the Secret Service in policemen." west side of the railroad embankment "a wallet and folder," Smith said. Stem pressed further and asked if from Dealey Plaza minutes after the "I rememtier one thing, he kind of he knew what the third man's "affilia­ presidential limousine sped by on its had dirty looking hands or dirty tion was." Holland said he didn't know, way to Parkland Memorial Hospital. fingernails it looked like," Smith said. and Stem moved on to another subject. Tilson said the man jumped into a dark "But hell, we all have to work on a car car at the foot of the embankment near ABOUT AN HOUR before Holland or or something like that every now and the Elm Street underpass and drove then. That's what this looked like to the pohcemen were on the bridge, west toward Industrial Boulevard. Julius Hardie of Dallas was driving his me." electrical equipment company truck Tilson, who was not on duty at the time, drove after the car while his ANOTHER POLICEMAN, Sgt. D.V. east on Commerce Street and was about Harkness, told the Warren Commission to make a U-tum to the Stemmons daughter, sitting beside him, wrote down the license number. He lost the he went to the back of the Texas School entry lane when he noticed three men Book Depository Building shortly after on the bridge. That was between 9:30 speeding car as it turned off Industrial onto the Fori Worth Turnpike, but he the shooting and "there were some and 10 a.m. the day of the assassination, Secret Service agents there. 1 didn't get and people hadn't started gathering in reported the incident and the license number that day to the police homicide them identified. They told me they Dealey Plaza to catch a view of the were Secret Service." motorcade. bureau. He said he never heard whether the matter was investigated. Harkness, now a Dallas County adult "I looked over on the railroad probation officer, told The News he bridge and I saw three men," Hardie Although Tilson and Mrs. Hill now "assumed they were with the presiden­ told The News. "And I thought I saw know Dallas nightclub owner Jack tial party. I would assume they would two of them carrying guns, long guns. 1 Ruby was m The Dallas Morning News be Secret Service men if they would be glanced to my left to check for traffic building at the time, they insisted the riding with the president." and then looke^ back, because even in fleeing man they each chased closely He said the men, dressed in suits, Texas it's unusual to see people carry­ resembled Ruby and wore dark, heavy "were all armed." ing long guns. clothing. Dallas Secret Service agent-in- "Now I can't tell you whether it was charge in 1963. Forrest V. Sorrels, was rifles, shotguns or what. But two of MRS. HILL, now remartied, said the only agent to return to the shooting them had long guns." agents from the Secret Service, FBI and scene within an hour. Sorrels said he Two of the men wore dark business CIA interviewed her during the follow­ entered the rear door of the Texas suits and the third an overcoat, Hardie ing year and all told her the man she School Book Depository Building with­ said. met in the parking lot with Secret Ser­ out showing any identification. Unlike Amold, Hardie called vice credentials did not exist under the authorities after the assassination and name she recalled he gave her. THE DALLAS Secret Service chief, in a week or two was visited by two FBI however, would have searched the agents. He told his story but "never The CIA agents who talked to her on depository building too late to be one heard from them after that," he said. several occasions came from Washing­ of the agents HaYkness thought he ton and New York and "had proper encountered in back of the structure. MINUTES AFTER Arnold's encoun­ identification and they knew enough Asked about the phantom agents. ter with the phantom federal agent to scare me," the former Mrs. Hill told Sorrels, now retired, told The News he behind the wooden fence on his way to The News. was "not answering any questions the bridge, Mrs. Jean Hill witnessed She asserts another man who pur­ about this thing. I gave all my testi­ the assassination of President Kenne­ mony in Washington and I don't put dy. She was only a few feet from the ported to be a Secret Service agent "just showed up at my door one day" shortly out anything else. As far as I am presidential limousine. concerned, that's a closed incident." She spotted a man dashing into the after the assassination. She said he "threatened" her to stop talking about All but one of Sorrels' six Dallas parking lot adjacent to the Texas agents in 1963 submitted reports of School Book Depository Building the parking lot encounter. She said she talked atiout the threat during her their whereabouts the day of the assas­ before other spectators, still stunned, sination and none said they were on began to rush up the grassy knoll past Warren Commission testimony months later, but it was "deliberately" left out. foot in Dealey Plaza immediately Amold. before or after the shooting. During Mrs. Hill ran after the strange act­ ANOTHER ENCOUNTER wi' a that time they were either at the Trade ing man and was met in the parking lot phantom Secret Serv;ct UfCfiM Mart, where a luncheon was to be held for the president, or at Love Field. THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

THE CONTINUING INQUIRY I know that my retirement will make no July 22, 1977 difference in its cardinal principles, tha: Published monthly,by it will always fight for progress and re­ PENN JONES PUBLICATIONS, Inc. form, never tolerate injustice or corrupt­ "Everyone must po-und his own anvil." ion. Always fight demagogues of all Subscription price $24.00 parties. Never belong to any party. Al­ ($12.00 for students) ways oppose privileged classes and public Published in Midlothian, Texas 76065 plunderers. Never lack sympathy with the Entered as second class matter poor. Always remain devoted to the public at the Post Office in Midlothian, welfare. Never be satisfied with merely Texas as of December, 1977. printing news. Always be drastically inde pendent. Never be afraid to attack v/rong, PUBLICATION NUMBER 384150 whether by predatory plutocracy or preda tory poverty.

EDITOR: Penn Jones April 10, 1907 Joseph Pulitzer

Elmer Moore, the agent who did not dent Kennedy's skull on Elm Street and It was in the same location where, submit a report, said he was in San gave it to the agent. on the Elm Street side of the fence, Hol­ Francisco and did not return to Dallas Weitzman first ran to the parking land told the Warren Commission a to join the investigation until a week lot behind the grassy knoll and with an "puff of smoke came out six or eight later. About the men who showed alleged Secret Service agent present fett above the ground" as he heard Secret Service identification in the "noticed numerous footprints that did what he asserted was a fourth shot. Dealey Plaza area, Moore said, "You not make sense because they were Others on the bridge and in the plaza can be pretty sure they were not going different directions." also said they saw smoke. (Secret Service)." At about the same time, railroad Holland said apparently "somebody ANOTHER LAW officer who said he supervisor Holland also found many had been standing there for a long talked to a Secret Service agent in Dea­ footprints in the mud over a small area period. I guess if you could count them ley Plaza shortly after the assassination in the parking lot where a sta- about a hundred foot tracks (were) in was deputy constable Seymour Weitz- tionwagon was backed up behind the that little spot, and also mud up on the man. Weitzman told the Warren Com­ wooden fence. bumper of that station wagon." mission he found a portion of Presi­

'^•1•1-1-1•>l•'^•'^t•'^'(•f•'^'^'^'^ Ex-officer suspects he chased ^2nd gun'

ill(r D;ill;i9 ifliiruiny Ni'liiis August 20, 1978 By EARL GOLZ An off-duty Dallas policeman says he chased the Tilson was off work, he said. Three days later, Tilson car of a second man he believes could be involved in was a pallbearer at Tippit's funeral. the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Tilson, who served 27 years before he retired as a hopes telling his story publicly for the first time may detective five years ago, said it was shortly after 12:30 "help when they re-enact it Sunday" in Dealey Plaza. p.m. Nov. 22,1963, when he and a daughter, Judy, were Tom G. Tilson Jr., now 59 and retired, said his expe­ going to pick up another daughter who had been rience seconds after Kennedy was shot could be an watching the presidential motorcade at Main and indication -to the House Assassinations Committee Houston streets. that not all shots came from a 6th-floor window of the Tilson's car was turning east onto Commerce Texas School Book Depository. Street from Industrial Boulevard when he heard via From that window, with a bolt-action Italian mili­ his police radio that Kennedy had been shot, he said tary rifle, Lee Harvey Oswald was accused of firing two bullets that struck Kennedy in an open-top "AND I SAW all these people running to the scene limousine below. of the shooting," he said "By that time, 1 had come across under Stemmons, Everybody was jumping out THE WARREN COMMISSION said Oswald traveled of their cars and pulling up on the medir.n strip. by taxicab after the shooting from downtown to his "But here's one guy coming from the railroad boarding house in Oak Cliff. He then armed himself tracks. He came down that grassy slope on the west with a pistol, which he used minutes later to shoot side of the triple underpass, on the Elm Street side. He police officer J.D. Tippit, the commission concluded. had a car parked there, a black car. And he threw Tippit was covering Tilson's beat that day while somel .aig in the back seat and went around the front THE rONTTNUING INQUIRY

••1 know there was a man," Mrs. Ladner said. hurriedly and got m the car and took off. "Seems like I saw him right before he was getting into "1 was on Commerce Street right there across from the car. 1 think that was about the same time daddy it, fixing to go under the triple underpass going (east) into town. 1 saw all of this and I said, 'That doesn't told me to try to get the number down. But by then make sense, everybody running to the scene and one we were past (the car) and we couldn t get a good person running from it.' " view of the number.. , , . , i TILSON SAID he sped up Commerce to Houston "1 was trying to listen to the police ci,!,.s. And 1 Street and looped around west on Main Street to pass remember him saying, 'Try to write. Write this down," back under the triple underpass. By that time, the or something. And 1 grabbed a pen." black car had gone west on Commerce to Industrial, where it was waiting to turn left. SHE SAID THAT SECONDS before she saw the flee­ The car went south on Industrial, onto the Dallas- ing man, the presidential limousine had just sped past Fort Worth Turnpike and eluded him, Tilson said, but his car parked on the grass at the north side of Elm he got the license number. Street near the west end of the underpass. Kennedy He said he telephoned the police homicide bureau had been hit seconds earlier by shots m Dealey Plaza with the number and a description of the driver and — on the other side of the underpass — and the car, "but they never contacted me or did anything limousine was turning onto Stemmons Freeway about it." He didn't know who took his information toward Parkland Memorial Hospital, and didn't keep the paper on which his daughter About an hour later, the Dallas County sheriff's wrote the license number. radio asked all deputies to be on the alert fi)r a car City police radio logs for that day do not reflect whose license number was obtained from an "anony­ any alert for the vehicle that Tilson says he pursued. mous" source. "HOMICIDE WAS THAT WAY," Tilson said "If you Minutes later, the car was stopped by police m Fort didn't have a big white hat on, they didn't even want Worth, which was the direction the Tilsou suspect's you in the office. car was headed. However, the 195^ Ford stopped in "Here they were solving this case, here they Fort Worth was green and wtate, not black, as arrested a suspect (Oswald) in one day and cleared up described by Tilson. the murder of a president in one day. Man, that was really a super-duper police department. THE SUSPECT arrested in Fort Worth w^is ques­ "They didn't want to have to look for anybody else, tioned by FBI agents and released that day alter and they didn't even want to know about it, really. Oswald was apprehended. He said he had driven 100 They wanted to clear up the case. Who else could do miles to Dallas from his home in Ranger, Texas, to better?" visit an old army buddy in Mesquite but didn't fmd Tilson said the Warren Commission never con­ him home. tacted him. Rather than fighting the heavy traffic after arriv­ HE DESCRIBED the man he saw leaving the west ing in Dallas about 10:30 am , the man from Ranger side of the triple underpa.ss as wearing dark clothes decided to stay and watch the motorcade, he told and with a stocky build — about .S-foot-9 and weighing authorities. 185 to 190 pounds, Although the timing was right, Tilson said he Tilson's daughter, .Mrs Jiidy Ladner, recalls the didn't think the :i-year-old Ranger suspect was the chase but is not certain her father's car got clo.'ie man he chased toward Fort Worth. At .S-foot4, the enough for her to write down the license number of young man was about 5 inches shorter and at 1.^0 the speeding car. pounds, about 60 pounds lighter ihau Tilson's susjject.

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to Castro claimed (Ehc Ilnlliia iHorning Jseim August 18, 1978

By EARL GOLZ never heard of anything they ever Castro by enlisting the aid of Mafia '^TheDillBB Morning News. 1978 opened upon it." hoodlums. Jack Ruby was running guns and Beaird said the FBI finally "sent a The FBI agent who interviev/ed ammunition from Galveston Bay to man out in 1^76.1 don't know why they Beaird in 1976 didn't mention in his Fidel Castro's guerrillas in Cuba about did it then." report that Beaird had volunteered 1957, a former poker-playing partner of The agent interviewed Beaird at his information about Ruby's gunrunning the Dallas nightclub owner told The home in Apache Junction. Ariz, in to the bureau in 1966. The report stated News Thursday. June 1976, a month alter the Senate that since the 1963 assassination, James E. Beaird said he waited until Intelligence Committee voted to recom­ "there had boen so much speculation 1966, almost three years after the assas­ mend a new congressional inquiry into as to possible foreign connections and sination of President John F Kennedy, the Kennedy assassination. Senate he (Beaird) thought it better not to and "nothing had come out so 1 called investigators at the time had just dis­ mention his knowledge of Jack Ruby in them (FBI) just to find out why ... 1 covered FBI files — suppressed since Kemah (southeast of Houston on was curious. However, they didn't see the assassination — showing that top Galveston Bay) " fit to even mention it to me again, so I FBI officials knew of CIA plots to kill The Warren Commission in 1964 THE CONTINUING INQUIRY. investigated numerous allegations of trucks would carry it from the house agent during the time he was involved gunrunning by Ruby but concluded over to this boat." with Mafia intrigue in Cuba, but the that no factual information existed. By 1959, Castro had taken control of FBI maintains he was discrrded in Beaird told the FBI that he "person­ Cuba and Ruby was beginning to October 1959 because he had no infor­ ally saw many boxes of new guns, switch sides as Castro threatened to mation of value. including automatic rifles and force Mafia-backed professional gam­ Ruby contacted convicted gun handguns." stored in a 2-story house blers out of the casinos in Havana. smuggler Robert McKeown in the near the channel at Kemah and loaded One victim of Castro's efforts to oust Kemah area in the spring of 1959 and on what looked like a 50-foot surplus organized crime from Havana gam­ offered $5,000 for each of three people military boat. bling houses was Lewis McWillie, who if McKeown, a friend of Castro's, could "He stated each time that the boat Ruby met in Dallas about 1950 when help free them from Cuban prisons, left with guns and ammunition. Jack McWillie operated a Dallas nightclub. FBI reports show. Ruby told .McKeown Ruby was on the boat," the FBI report McWillie subsequently became a "vio­ the money would be coming from said. lent anti-Castroite" and fled from Cuba someone in Las Vegas, N'ev Beaird, who was an automobile in 1961, according to the Warren McKeown told the FBI that m .May dealer in Houston from 1955 to 1957, Commission. 1959 he met with Ruby, who offered to said Ruby "was in it for the money. It Ruby in early 1959 ordered four trade Jeeps for the three prisoners. wouldn't matter what side, just one revolvers st ped by Dallas gun dealer Ruby also offered McKeown 525,000 for that would pay him the most... I don't Ray Brantley to McWillie in Havana a letter of introduction to Castro for an even know who the ship belonged to. because McWillie "was a little worried unnamed third party to show his good But he was in command of it. He went of the new regime coming in, and evi­ faith, McKeown said, but the deal out every time it went. It was meeting a dently he wanted some protection," never materialized connection down there (in Cuba), Ruby told the Warren Commission. In November 1975 McKeown that's all I ever heard." McWillie's former boss in Havana, asserted on a CBS-TV documentary Ruby would show up in Kemah, gen­ reputed Mafia chief Santos Trafficante about the Kennedy assasination that he erally on weekends, to play poker and of Tampa, Fla., was arrested by Castro also had contact with accused assassin "just killing time until the boat was forces in April 1959 and imprisoned. Lee Harvey Oswald, loaded," Beaird said, and usually was The Trafficante arrest happened "-kKeown stated that a person he there not more than one or two hours. about a month after Ruby was con­ later recognued as Oswald and an uni- "They loaded up at least twice while tacted by the FBI in Dallas as a possible dentilied Latin-American had talked to I was down there," he said. "Pickup informant. He met nine times with an him about buying lugt^-powered auto­ matic rifles several weeks/Btfore'tlie assassination

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(Llif iSiillaa iMorning Xrtoe Man's JFK'bombs' September 10,1978 reportedly instill fear

By EARL GOLZ sination tact, they almost didn't call me, I CThe Diliis Morning Nt»», 1978 The note "is not of any concern had to ask why 1 vasn't called (xn The FBI agent who monitored any more," Hosty said. "That's pretty testify in private) before they would Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas before well squared away now. I think " call me. the assassination of President John He also denied any new disclo­ "I was called up in November." F. Kennedy told The News the Hou.se sures would be connected to recur­ he said, "and I started telling them Assassinations Committee fears he ring rumors that Oswald was an FBI what the story was and they appar­ will "drop bombs" if called to testify informant. ently didn't want to hear it so they publicly. The "bombs • could be dropped sent me home. They said, 'We'll get "If they are going to try and con­ during the committees public hear­ in tuuch with you ' " tain this (assassination probe) like ings this month. Hosty said, because, Hnsty .said he didn't hear from the Church (Senate Intelligence) "I'm sure , . , they know everything the committee again until he called committee and the Warren Commis­ the whole story," last month and asked whether "you sion, they don't want me up there," Hosty said, however, committee are through with me or not " He James P. Hosty Jr said. investigators last month gave him finally gave a deposition Aug. 25 but Hosty is an agent with the FBI the impression they were "all done is not scheduled to testify publicly office in Kansas City. Mo , where he with the investigation and they at the Sept. 20 hearing on the FBI was assigned in 1964 Were writing the report (due in and U.S. Department of Justice. Hosty declined to detail his infor­ December) -- that they were not "I have about M hours of testi­ mation but ruled out anything about opening any new grounds any mony before the Senate Intelligence the threatening note Oswald. more," Committee which they had access Kennedys accused slayer, delivered "It looked like they (members of to, and they (members of the^louse to the Dallas FBI office after Hosty the House Assassinations Commit­ Assas,sinations Committee) built on talked with Oswald's wife three tee) were trying to avoid me," Hosty, that .30 hours with about 3V2 more weeks before the Nov. 22,1963, assas­ who IS nearing retirement, said "In (Aug 25)," he said. THE CONTINUINQ INQUIRY

Committee spokesmen could not cial agent m charge in Dallas, ordered ducted might be as productive as he reached for comment, but a com­ him to destroy the note two days after possible." mittee source scotted at Hosty's the assassination and only hours after Hosty and Mrs Oswald, however, claim iie had t,> ..'^r : .;(.,e a deposi­ Oswald was shot fatally by Dallas later testified before the Warren Com­ tion, nightclub operator Jack Ruby. mission that Hosty did talk to Mrs. Hosty has been til', ..1 at least Shanklin, now retired, has denied Oswald Nov. 1. This talk led to the threatening note by Oswald about one three post-a.-,sassinati>i revelations knowing about the note. that have put him in the FBI doghouse. It only has been revealed within the week later. The fir.'vt occurred only hours after la.st year that Shanklin was disciplined Gale wrote, "This entire facet of the the assassination. Jack Revill, then a along with Hosty and 15 other FBI investigation (was) mishandled." He Dallas police detective, sent a memo to agents and officials for "investigative said Mrs. Oswald should have been Police Chief Jesse Curry quoting Hosty deficiencies" in not reporting Oswald interviewed and the "best time to get as telling Revill the FBI knew Oswald as a security risk. information from her would be after was "capable" of killing Kennedy Among those disciplined by Hoover she was beaten up by her husband as it before he allegedly did, in 1963 were William Sullivan, assistant is felt she would be far more likely to Curry, repeating information he FBI director in charge of domestic cooperate when angry at Oswald than learned from the memo, incurred the intelligence, and Shanklin's predeces­ otherwise sor, Curtis Linam. wrath of FBI Director J, Edgar Hoover "This certainly makes sense," Hoo­ the day alter the assassination when he In a Dec. 10, 1963, internal memo ver scribbled under Gale's remarks. disclosed the FBI knew, but did not that recommended the 17 men be The Gale memo was not made public inform Dallas police, that Oswald was disciplined, Hosty was quoted as saying until January when the FBI released working in a building on the presiden­ his Dallas office did not deem it "advis­ about 40.000 pages of previously classi­ tial motorcade route. able" to interview Mrs. Oswald in fied assassination documents, Hoover denied Hosty made the state­ March 1963 "because they developed FBI Assistant Director C D. ments to Revill but suspended Hosty information that Oswald was drinking deLoach, in an addendum to the memo for 30 days without pay and reassigned to excess and beat up wife on several Dec. 10,1963, suggested the disciplinary him to Kansas City. occasions." action against the 17 FBI personnel "be Hosty's name, auto license and tele­ The memo quoted Hosty as saying held in abeyance until the findings" of phone number were in Oswald's per­ his office "allowed a 60-day 'cooling-off the Warren Commission were made sonal notebook when he was arrested, period'" and then couldn't locate public. but the FBI did not disclose that to the Oswald until after he moved to New DeLoach recommended holding off Warren Commission in the first report Orleans later that spring. because a "leak" to the news media on the notebook. It was not until Feb. Hoover scribbled "certainly is asi­ "would be assumed as a direct admis­ 11, 1964, after the media picked up the nine excuse" to use the cooling-off sion that we are responsible for negli­ story, that Hosty's entry in the note­ period as Hosty's reason for not inter­ gence which might have resulted in book was reported to the commission viewing Mrs. Oswald. the assa.ssination of the president" in a "supplemental" FBI report. J.H. Gale, the FBI inspector who Although Chief Justice Earl Warren The latest FBl-Hosty revelation was wrote the memo, said Hosty said no had indicated he planned to issue no revealed in 1975. It was reported that interview of Mrs. Oswald was con­ subpoenas, deLoach wrote, "There is, Oswald left a threatening note at the ducted when Oswald's return to Dallas however, the possibility that the public Dallas FBI office about two weeks was verified Nov. l, 1963, Gale said will learn of disciplinary action being before the assassinc:>.,j; Hosty wanted to avoid having Mrs, taken against our personnel and, there­ The note. Hosty ,s:.;.J, w i/r.ed Oswald Oswald "gain the impression she was fore, start a bad, unjustifiable '"would take action agai;; t the FBI . . . being harassed or hounded because of reaction." if I did not stop talking to his wife." her immigrant status (Russian) in Hoover wrote "I do not concur" Hosty said J. Gordon Shanklin, spe order that the interview when con­ under deLoach's addendum.

****************

(Ehr Biill.-iB ifflorninui 5CctD9 Officer allegedly August 16,1978

with Ruby at buy gressional subpoena. REP. JIM MATTOX of Dallas deliv- By EARL GOLZ in early 1960, three years before the ered the gun to the committee, meeting Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby assassination. ip - vf. jiive session Tuesday. was with a Dallas police officer when He said it would not be unusual for •-•%: 'i.! months before Ruby bought he bought the revolver he used to kill the officer, who sources believe was a the 6 :: i;e ordered four other Colt accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, lieutenant, to be in his store because Cobras shipped by Brantley to Havana, the man who sold him the gun said "policemen trade with me." Cuba, to a Ruby friend who was an Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ruby's .38-caliber Colt associate of organized crime figures, But Ray Brantley, who operates a Cobra was delivered to the House Ruby told the Warren Commission. hardware and sporting goods store at Assassinations Committee Tuesday 730 Singleton, said he could not remem­ Brantley told The News Tuesday after the independent executor of that "offhand" he could not recall ber the name of the officer who accom­ Ruby's estate refused to release it sending the four guns in 1959 to former panied Ruby to his store to buy the gun directly to the committee under con- Dallas gambler Lewis McWillie, then THE CONTINUING INQUIRY•

would get it (the gun) back to me" He said the gun "definitely" was manager of the Tropicana Casino in The executor of Ruby's estate, Dallas new when sold to Ruby in January, Havana. attorney Jules F. Mayer, said he would 1960. Brantley also told the FBI hours trust only Mattox, a personal'friend, to "That's the reason it was so easy to after Oswald was shot that he "had had loan the gun to the committee with trace because it had been passed no business dealings with Jack Ruby written assurances it would be through just the factory that manufac­ prior to that time (the 1960 sale of the returned. He said a person has bid as tured it to us," Brantley said revolver that killed Oswald)." high as 5125,000 for the S49 weapon. Ruby also bought another revolver Mattox said the shipment of gun. y The House panel has heard allega­ from Brantley to ship to McWillie on Ruby to Havana "is a pretty substantial tions "that the guns were switched in May 10,1963, just six months before the connection to the Cubans. It makes it some way," Mattox said, so "that there assassination, the FBI said. all look kind of suspicious ... The may have been more than one gun other Cubans floating around and involved. THE .3M;ALIBER Smith and Wesson Oswald having the Cuban connec­ was shipped to McWillie in Las Vegas, tions." "THEV JUST HAVE every kind of Nev., where he moved after he was theory in the world floating past forced to flee Havana in 1961. His last THE HOUSE committee implied to them," Mattox said, "that Dallas police job in Havana was pitboss at the Capri Mattox their investigators wanted the were involved in a conspiracy and if Casino being operated for reputed Flor­ revolver to check "any possible link they were involved there was no way ida Mafia chief Santos Trafficante, between this weapon and any other they could be trusted to have done the informed sources said. offense that may have been committed proper ballistics tests You name it and with this weapon." Ruby told the Warren Commission they have heard it." Mattox said the committee "assured McWillie asked for the four Cobras in The committee has indicated the me as expeditiously as possible they Havana because "fee v.^as a little wor­ revolver will be given a ballistics test, ried of the new regime (Fidel Castro Ruby noted in his Warren Commis­ whether the FBI tested it in 1963. had taken over in Cuba) coming in, sion testimony that Brantley "denies I "1 don't know what they would be and evidently he wanted some protec­ ever called. Evidently, he feels, maybe gaming by taking the gun up there," tion. He called me or sent me a letter be feels, it would be illegal to send Brantley said. that I should call Ray Brantley." some guns out of the country."

**************** JFK panel never called 2 witnesses Dallas pair^s testimony would have disputed single-bullet conclusion

highway patrolman who told The News glanced off a thigh. By EARL GOLZ in April 1977 that he recalled turning The bullet, which lost only 2 of 161 Two key Dallas witnesses whose tes over to an FBI agent more than the grjms, v.as found after it fell from a timony would have contradicted the three bullet fragments the Warren stretcher at Parkland Hospital after concept that the same bullet struck Commission asserted were removed Connally and Kennedy were taken into President John F. Kennedy and former from Connaliy's wrist wound. operating rooms, according to the War­ Texas Gov. John Connally never were Harbison said he was guarding ren Commission. interviewed by a panel of forensic Connaliy's recovery room in Parkland Neither Miss Bell nor Harbison had pathologists that upheld the single-bul­ Memorial Hospital on either Nov. 25 or told their stories to the Warren let theory this WMk for the House 26, '963, when someone stepped from Commission, which stated in 1964 it Assassinations Committee in Washing­ the room into the hall and gave him had "very persuasive evidence" a sin­ ton. more than three metallic fragments gle bullet passed through Kennedy and Connally and later fell from Connaliy's The surgeon who operated on purportedly taken from Connaliy's stretcher. Connaliy's chest after he was wounded wounds. Miss Bell was interviewed briefly by in Dallas in 1963 also said Friday he Harbison's story takes on added investigators for the committee in never has "been able to accept the fact importance when it is known that Miss March 1977. This was three months that the bullet that went through the Audrey N Bell, then supervisor of the liefore Robert Blakey took over as the president's neck was the one that hit operating room at Parkland, remem­ committee's chief counsel from the Gov. Connally." bers she also placed four or five bullet ousted Richard Sprague and gave the The panel, by an 8-1 vote, concurred fragments from Connaliy's wounds in investigation a different thrust with with the Warren Commission that Ken­ an envelope at least three days earlier, the appointment of the pathologists nedy and Connally were not struck by on Nov. 22. They were delivered sev­ panel. separate bullets. Separate hits would eral hours later to Capt. Will Fritz, Miss Bell said the two investigators have made it impossible for accused chief of Dallas police homicide. interviewed her briefly with a tape assassin Lee Harvey Oswald to have The cjamittee panel concluded a recorder. No stenographer was present done all the shooting with a bolt-action 6.5s;aiiber slug fired from a Mannhch- for an official deposition, she said. rifle from the sixth floor of the Texas er-Cprcano rlCe struck Kennedy in the She said she hasn't "heard School Book Depository building. back and exited from the throat with­ anything" from the committee since NEITHER THE pathologists panel out hitting a bone, then entered the interview and has "been kind of nor committee investigators inter­ Connaliy's back, shattered a rib, wondering if anything was going to viewed Charles W Harbison, a state smashed several bones in a wrist and come of it." THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

(said to be) by people who were actu­ "I don't guess they have talked to "But the basis lor it essentially it what was told to him by Gov, Connally ally there and when it took place," anybody," Harbison said Friday, "1 Shaw said, "That is what bothers me. haven't heard a cotton-pickmg word and Mrs, Connally at the time he "Of course I am influenced by what from anybody," treated the governor in Parkland as to Gov. and Mrs. Connally said. As far as Committee spokesmen could not be what they 'neard, they observed, they the single-bullet theory is concerned, reached Friday for comment. psrceivsd," Batleii Siiid. "He does not they say that isn't the way it happened. Harbison said "it's a mystery to me" make that determination on the basis And they were sitting in the why his fragments "turned up .so late" of medical, surgical or pathological limousine." and where they went alter he gave findings. And, in discussing the matter them to a man who represented him­ with him, he feels that on the basis of Shaw said it would be possible for a self to be an FBI agent in the hospital what he saw at surgery, this coiUd be single bullet to pass through Kennedy hallway. He also said he is still mysti­ consistent — that this is consistent — and cause all the wounds to Connally fied at who had possession of the frag­ and could be due to a single bullet." without losing more than two grains, ments for several days before they Shaw said "but that doesn't mean I believe that's were placed in his cupped hands. "I think It is absolutely ludicrous tor the way it happened." Miss Bell said she placed her frag­ them (the panel) to say that it took the Single-bullet theorists, Shaw said, ments in an envelope and gave it to governor three seconds to react to a "are presuming it took the governor government agents. massive wound such as he had," almost three seconds to react, as tar as Robert Nolan, a state highway The surgeon acknowledged he was his body actions were concerned, to patrolman, said he took the envelope to "strongly influenced by that (Conual- the impact of that bullet. Fritz early on the morning of Nov 23. lys' recollection of hearing the shots Nolan, now retired, said Friday no one and time of impact of the bullets), "Have you seen the picture when from the congressional committee has because they were there " Oswald was shot? Did it take him three ever talked to him. "It seems rather ludicrous to me for seconds to react to that? No, sir, he people to reconstruct things and find reacted immediately, not even a OR, MICHAEL BADEN, chief medi out that things are not as they were second," cal examiner of New York City and chiurman of the pathologists' panel, toid the committee this week that Or, Roben Shaw, the Dallas surgeon who operated on Connaliy's chest, "still feels he finds the smglebuUet theory untenable." Zhe Ballas ilHorHJiig '^eine September 9,1978 **************** Police tape site disputed

By EARL GOLZ (Eiu- D:ilhi3 Jilmuiiiy iV,'rUie. Septembe!" 13,1978 Orhc Dillis Morning News, 1978 The Dallas police open microphone national reputation for analysis of elec­ the president was shot, just about a thought to have picked up the sounds tronic evidence in plane crashes and minute or two after . , . You can hear of four shots when President John F, wiretap cases. sirens coming down Stemmons Free­ Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 "was The background noises during the way somewhere (after the presidential nowhere near Dealey Plaza," says an six seconds "just do not dictate that it limousine left Dealey Plaza and started acoustical expert whose Chicago firm (open microphone) was in the toward Parkland Memorial Hospital). made its own analysis of the tape motorcade," Pellicano said. So, whoever he was, he was somewhere recording, Spectators cheering the president along Stemmons or somewhere in that along Houston and Elm streets in Dea­ area in range of hearing those sirens Anthony Pellicano said the sound of goby." sirens heard on the tape after Kennedy ley Plaza could not be heard during the was shot was "the most devastating" to six seconds, he said, but the noise of "There are a lot of noises in there the findings of the Cambridge, Mass., heavy traffic and police sirens — not (entire police radio tape available for firm that presented its analysis of the present in the plaza at the time — could Nov, 22, 1963) that sound like tape Monday to the House Assassina­ be heard gunshots," Pellicano said, "A lot of it is tions Committee, flaws m the original Dictabelt which USING A COMPUTER, Pellicano said caused the absence of noise which The firm of Bolt, Beranek & New­ he determined how far away from the -sounds like gunshots. man said the tape revealed four shots open mii;r();uione the motorcade sirens may have been fired during the 6-sec- would have been at certain speeds, "The impulses that the man (Dr, ond period in which the president was "At the rate they were traveling, James Barger, chief scientist for the assassinated in Dealey Plaza. you can hear that they start off softly Cambridge firm) was talking about PELLICANO WAS an expert witne.ss when they come intn range ol the could have been a million and one in connection with the 18-minute gap microphone, gel louder and then start things, not necessarily gunshots. in President Richard Nixon's White to get softer again as Ihcy go off in the House tape recordings in the Watergate distance," he said, "The correlation studies I used is a case. He challenged the Cambridge "It was nowhere near Dealey Plaza, mathematical correlation; it's not a firm's analysis that the gap was inten­ And the most conclusive evidence was hearing correlation. And we can find a tional. His firm, Voice Analysis and the sound of the sirens. The sirens — if lot of noises that .sound and correlate Interpretation, al.so has acquired a you clock them — came after the time like gunshots but are not." THE CONTINUING TNOTTTRY

PELLICANO said the police Dicta- On the other hand, the open micro­ "I'M SURE there was a conspiracy," belt was worn and had many scratches phone didnt have to be a policeman's said the electronics investigator. "And on It which made "all kinds of sounds and could have been held open inten­ I would love to say there were four or ''n the tape that sounded like tionally, he said. five shots but I can't say it was based on gunshots" at points other than the six any of my findings. I can't say there "In other words, let's say the assas­ seconds when Kennedy was shot to were any more than three shots." death. sin wanted to try to jam the communi­ cations, but he didn't really know too much about it," Pellicano said. "But he Pellicano said his firm used 5300,000 I'ou can use your imagination," he in sophisticated equipment for three said thought if he would get a radio transmitter and get a crystal for the weeks of acoustical analysis of an same frequency and held that button excellent copy of the tape obtained The noises the Cambridge firm said open and generate some noise over from a Dallas resident. were motorcycles also could have been that thing he would be able to mask a a bus running alongside a police car lot of the communications. It all He said the House Assassinations with the car's window down and its depends on how close he was to the Committee "knows of my findings and microphone open, Pellicano said. receiver." some.jody is supposed to contact me." ****************

iTlir IliillnB iTIiirnitiq NtfiiB Question about JFK tape arises: August 11,1978 ^Who was the motorcycle officer?'

EARLGOLZ And. on Tliur.sday, The News can hear "electronic beeps" during the Six minutes of the file tape record­ learned a House Assassinations Com­ si:; minutes, which they say ,sound like ing of a Dallas police motorcycle radio, mittee investigator made an ap))oint- the Morse code signal for "victnrv," marred by electronic interference but ment in Dallas to obtain a fourth and To the ear, the six minutes on the transmitting when the shots were fired even more complete transcript from police radio tape sounds like a constant at President John F, Kennedy, app-ir- private citizens who have made a study electronic roar. The sound of shots are ently hold the key to a new challenge of the assassination. not discernible. of Warren Commission findings, The Warren Commission, in its sources said Thursday Their version, painstakingly writ­ ten word for word, states that at 12 ,H investigation, concluded Oswald could The tape, which never was tested have squeezed off only three shots acoustically by the Warren Commis­ p.m., as the electronic interference is about to end, a dispatcher's voice is from his holt-action Italian rifle during sion, reportedly indicates in recent the six seconds the shooting occurred. tests that four shots — not three — heard to say, "There is a motorcycle In connection with the House Assas­ were fired at Dealey Plaza on Nov, 22, officer up on Stenimcuis with his mike sinations Committee investigation, Dal­ 1963. stuck open on Channel 1. Could you las Police Chief Donald Byrd has Four shots would mean accused send someone up there to tell him to agreed to seal off Dealey Plaza for three assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, it he did shut It off?" hours beginning at 530 a.m. Aug. 20 — any of the shooting, wasn't the only Ju.st prior to this request on Chan­ not Aug 22 as incorrectly reported person pulling a trigger Nov. 22,1963, nel 2, the then-police chief, Jesse Thursday — so representatives of the Among the many questions stemm­ Curry, is quoted as shcutinji instruc­ committee can fire weapons to simu­ ing from the tape and its most rettnt tions on the same thannti late the possible velocity and vibra­ analysis is the identity of the motorcy­ tions of shots as determined by the cle policeman who apparently held The interference on Channel 1 Cambridge firm open his radio microphone from 12:28 stopped almost immediately accordiiiu 'We are not aware of what they to 12:34 p.m. on Nov, 22,196,5. It was dur­ to those who have studied the tape (committee representatives) are going ing those six minutes that the six sec­ recordings, but the identity ol the to do that morning," said a spokesman onds of shooting occurred. motorcycle officer was never learned. for the Dallas Police Department. The Warren Commission never ANo, the citizens with the most com­ "Chief Byrd said that we are fully coop­ sought the policeman's identity. plete version of the tapes claim they erating if they need anything."' ****************

EDITORIAL All the Stories are good and they get little circulation except in the Texas This issue of TCI should be called the area. Earl Golz edition since so many of the stories were written by him for THE DALLAS MORNING Earl, we are grateful, and we hope you NEWS can keep up the good work. 10 THE CONTINUING INQUIRY 1963 tape reveals threat to JFK By EARL GOLZ An anti-Castro Cuban vowed about (Tlir iOiilliiB ifliiriiiim ZVrhiB August 14,197S two months before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated that he and others "are going to give him the umes or other documents publicly to put a Cuban parade in Dallas and the works when he gets in Dallas" Nov. 22, released chief of police wont let me And we are 1963, according to a tape recording The FBI interviewed dozens of per­ going to do it. sons who knew about meetings of anti- made available by a retired Dallas "And we are waiting for Kennedy policelntelligence officer. Castro groups in the Dallas area during the months before the assassination, the 22nd of November. We are going to The recording, made secretly at a see him, in one way or the other. We John Birch Society meeting in Farmers including several reportedly attended by accused assassin Lee Harvey are going to give him the works when Branch, is of the voice of Ernesto he gets in Dallas. Castellanos, who, at the time, said he Oswald. had lived about 3'/2 years in Dallas and A report by the Dallas County "Mr. Good Old Kennedy, I wouldn't had flown in a plane during the abor­ Sheriff's Department, dated one day even call him President Kennedy. He tive Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in after the assassination, stated Oswald stinks. I dont want to get mad." 1961. had been to an Oak Cliff home of a Castellanos was bitter about the last- Several weeks ago. investigators for Cuban where "Freedom for Cuba minute withdrawal ol support by the the House Assassinations Committee Party" members met lor several United States during the Bay of Pigs obtained the recording from the months. Cuban invasion. He said he was in one retired officer, who never had released The house, later identified as the of seven planes that left Miami He said it publicly. one at 3126 Harlandale St. and occupied shortly before they flew over the Bay by Jorge Salazar in 1963, was the same of Pigs "in a beautiful American voice I CASTELLANOS WOULD have head. 'Turn back, the whole thing is learned of the Kennedy visit to Dallas house where Antonio Veciana, founder of the Alpha 66 anti-Castro group based off- from newspaper reports only about •"It was all ordered by the CIA."" he five days before the Oct. 1, 1963, meet­ in Miami, Fla., met in April 1963, according to a 1964 FBI report released said. "I got another word for the CIA ing at which he spoke. Sponsors o' ':ie but I wouldn"t say it here." meeting were identified on the record­ in 1971. ing only as two Farmers Branch cou­ A drawing of an intelligence agent AFTER SPECULATING that some of ples named Stewart and Merrill. who worked with Veciana in attempts his listeners at the meeting may have "The United States at this moment, to assassinate Castro and known only voted for Kennedy in 1960. Castellanos if you keep Kennedy there, we are as ""Maurice Bishop"" was distributed said. ""I bet you it is also true that they going to be in a bad way,"' Castellanos publicly by the House Assassinations are sorry about it. They will be sorry said. "Get him out, get him out. The Committee July 30 to try to learn his for the rest of their lives " quicker, the sooner, the better. He's real identity. Stating he was supporting any pre.si- doing all kinds of deals . . Mr. Ken­ dential ambitions by US Sen. Barry nedy is kissing Mr Khrushchev (Nik- CASTELLANOS WAS a guest speaker Goldwater, R-Ariz , in 1964, Castellanos ita Khrushchev, then premier of the at the Farmers Branch meeting, with said Goldwater is "Mr. Nobody at this Soviet Union). I wouldn't be surprised two other Cuban exiles introduced as moment We have to get rid of one if he has kissed Castro, too" Ed Hughes and Francisco Leyba Both (president) first. We have to wait and indicated they lived m Dallas, Hughes, Castellanos' name was not listed in see what Mr Goldwater is going to do born in Chicago, said he had lived in afterward. the Dallas telephone book or city direc­ Cuba most of his life and had been tory m the early 1960s, including 1963. superintendent of the Havana power "That's the same thing Kennedy and light company for 24 years before said all over the United States before THE WARREN Commission, in its he took the presidency. He said he was extensive investigation of possible Castro took over Leyba said he had been a farmer in a remote Cuban prov­ going to do this, going to do that Look Cuban connections with the assasina­ what he's doing; he's sinking the tion, never mentioned Castellanos or ince He said he had been Imprisoned by Castro forces and escaped United States I'm sorry to talk about his other two Cuban-speaking exile this. But the way 1 feel about the man, companions at the meeting in its 26 vol- Castellanos said he had been '"trying its for your own good"

**************** Oswald's mother claims CIA move By EARL GOLZ Oswald"s mother, however, has told THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS Marina C>swald Porter testified The News that at least one of her letters September 14, 1978 Wednesday before the House Assassina­ to her son was surreptitiously opened tions Committee that her first by the CIA before it went on to Russia. opened by the CIA husband, accused assassin Lee Harvey Marguerite Oswald of Fort Worth Oswald, suspected Russian intelligence learned in 1976 after inquiring under THE CIA OFFICIALLY has said it agents of opening his mail "on one or the Freedom of Information Act that never had contact with Oswald while two occasions"" before it reached him her letter dated July 8, 1961, to her son he was in Russia from 1959 to 1962 nor in Russia in 1961. in Minsk, Russia, was intercepted and during the 18 months from the time he 22 A 3Ilti; ^allaa ii'^^^rntll^ ^'rlna Sunday, September 17,1978 ••**

Kennedy witness 'owed' FBI M «/ througthat yearh plot, sthe duriny maintaineg the earldy 1960a sloos to remove associatioe Castrno n By EARL GOLZ from power. of them. O 2! An FBI witness whose false story knocked down Hall was called before the House Assassinations WITH ONLY four days until the Warren Report strong evidence of an assassination conspiracy only Committee m public session June 7,1977, but invoked went to press, the FBI was where it started on the Odio H days before the Warren Report went to press has told 2; the Fifth Amendment when asked whether he was in story. But the Warren Commission went with the C The News he was indebted to the FBI at the time, Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, the day of the assassination. FBI's first statement taken from Hall — which, Anti-Castro gunrunner Loran Eugene Hall said he He testified in private session later last year after he allegedly, was false. still thinks FBI agent James Hosty Jr. may have was given immunity from prosecution. The commission said, "While the FBI had not yet .helped him get his release from jail without further completed its investigation into this matter at the repercussions one day after Dallas police arrested HDSTY, ONE month after the assassination, was time the report went to press, the commission has •z him for possession of dangerous drugs. The arrest was one of two FBI agents who interviewed Sylvia Odio, a concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was not at Mrs. c Oct. 17, 1963, a little more than a month before Presi­ Cuban emigre active in the anti-CaStro movement in Odio's apartment in September 1963." to dent John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Dallas, Hosty said he still thinks Hall "probably was Mrs, Odio's story, which subsequently became one Hall, then living in the Los Angeles area, said he there " at Mrs. Odio's apartment. Hosty said Mrs. Odio of the Warren Commission's most troublesome believes Hosty was the FBI agent who told him after a "struck me as being a typical tropical, kind of flighty. lengthy interview in a Dallas jail, "We've got nothing unanswered questions about a possible assassination on you and, as far as we're concerned, you're free to conspiracy, seemingly was discredited by Hall on I don't think she knew who she was talking about; you go.' " Sept. 16,1964. His statement was taken by the FBI eight know, all gringos look alike." Hosty, who monitored Lee Harvey Oswald's activi­ days before the Warren Report was published Sept. 24, He said "hard physical evidence" indicated ties In Dallas before the assassination, denies he ever 1964,. Oswald was on his way by bus from New Orleans to met Hall or "dealt with him" in any way. Mrs. Odio told Hosty and another FBI agent nine Mexico City at the time Mrs. Odio supposedly saw him Dallas oilman Lester Logue; who was helping Hall months earlier that Oswald, along with two Latin in Dallas. in his anti-Castro efforts at the time, asserts he alone men, showed up at her Dallas apartment in late Sep­ Hosty's denial that he knew of Hall before the was responsible for Hall's release from jail the day tember 1963 soliciting funds to oust Castro. She said assassination is challenged by the Dallas policeman after his arrest. one of the two Latin men, who introduced Oswald as who arrested Hall three weeks after the Odio inci­ ,' But radio newsman Art Kevin of Seattle, Wash., a "Leon Oswald," quoted him as saying, "I'll bet you dent. longtime friend of Hall, said a "highly placed federal Cubans could kill Kennedy for what he did to you at- source was responsible for his getting out" of jail in the Bay of Pigs," according to Hosty's report. SGT. KENNETH Heard recalled Hall "insisted" Dallas. Mrs. Odio's story remained unchallenged as late Heard contact Hosty when he stopped Hall's car on as August 1964, North Central Expressway near Mockingbird Lane. HOSTY, NOW with the FBI office in Kansas City, J, Lee Rankin, the Warren Commission's chief Heard said he refused to notify the FBI, and took Hall Mo., recently said the House Assassinations Commit­ counsel, finally wrote FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and his companion — the same William Seymour of tee is "afraid" he will drop some "bombs" if called to on Aug. 28 asking the FBI to "determine who it was Hall's Odio statement — to jail after finding some testify publicly during the committee hearings in that Mrs. Odio saw in or about late September" 1963. unauthorized prescription drugs in the glove Washington. The FBI suddenly located Hall, who allegedly said compartment. He refused to be more specific, but the Hall jail he was one of the trio calling on Mrs. Odio two Hall denied he asked for any FBI agent. He con­ incident could not be one of the bombs, he said, months before the assassination. He identified his tended the FBI, plus the CIA and Army intelligence, because Hosty "didn't work Cuban matters (in 1963), companions as William Howard Seymour of Phoenix, sent representatives to interview him about his anti- and 1 don't know how he would have my name." Ariz., and Lawrence Howard of East Los Angeles, Castro activities when they learned he was incar­ Hall was one of the casualties when Fidel Castro Calif, cerated. The FBI revealed it had pre-assassinatlon seized power in Cuba. Then 29, he was working in the The FBI said that Seymour, who slightly resem­ knowledge of Hall's arrest in a report responding to Hotel Capri casino in Havana when Castro ejected bled Oswald, probably was the "Leon Oswald" at Mrs. the Warren Commission's request to find the visitors American mobsters from Cuban gambling operations Odio's apartment. to Mrs. Odio's apartment. in 1959. He found himself incarcerated in the same Two days later, however, Seymour and Howard Wallace Heitman, Dallas FBI agent in charge of prison cell with reputed Florida Mafia don Santo Traf­ denied to the FBI they had visited Mrs. Odio in Sep­ Cuban affairs at the time, recently said, "I know the ficante Jr., who owned the Capri casino. tember 1963. And, two days after their denial. Hall story of Hall; that he was here and he was arrested. Trafficante's freedom reportedly was a project renounced his story to the FBI. And I don't know how I found out." that involved the efforts of Dallas nightclub operator When the FBI showed Mrs. Odio photographs of Heitman, now a Dallas lawyer, said he has "no Jack Ruby for several months of 1959. After Hall and Hall, Seymour and Howard, she failed to identify any recollection of interviewing" Hall in jail. "I am not Trafficante were released from the Havana prison THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

going to say categorically I didn't, but I don't believe I ensued, FBI Director Hoover denied Hosty made the did." comments but later suspended him without pay 30 Hall's attorney, Bryson Mills, said Hall "doesn't days and transferred him to the Kansas City FBI recognize that name (Heitman) at all. Hosty is the office.) name that he says he thinks was the FBI agent's name. Or, at least, the name that was given to him. "He says he probably could identify him (the FBI WHAT DO YOU THINK? agent) by a picture better than he could by recalling It has been suggested that a conference of his name," Mills said. "But he thinks that (Hosty) was the name given to him. And, he says, prior to the time critics and researchers be held at some the FBI agent talked to him, he never asked for him, central point most convenient to those inter­ never heard of him, never met him. The guy just came ested in attending. It is imperative that down to talk to him. this be considered during October so we might "And Loran advises that he does remember for sure that when the FBI agent talked to him, he told have a response to the HSCA side show. Loran, 'We've got nothing on you and, as far as we're concerned, you're free to go.' So in that regard, Loran Please advise us of your ideas and suggestions says, the FBI agent may have had something to do as quickly as possible. with his release." THE EDITOR INVESTIGATORS for the House Assassinations Committee have questioned Hall, Hosty and Heard, but not about Hosty's alleged involvement with Hall. Hosty and Mrs. Odio, however, are expected to be called to testify publicly by the committee within the next two weeks. Sept. 8, 1978 "The very fact that they didn't question me about It (in private session Aug. 25) must mean that they Dear Dr. Wecht, don't have any faith in it," Hosty said. "I just kind of question these people who come for­ I shall never forget your valiant efforts ward after IS years, trying to get into the act," Hosty yesterday. Heroes are indeed rare today, and said "T certainly would have thought, with all of the furor I was having with the police department back in I dare say this century has not produced - 1963, he (Heard) would have brought that out — they and will not come up with - another Cyril wouldn't have sat on that. Because they were trying to Wecht. nail me to the cross back in 1963." (Hours after the assassination, Dallas police If I am ever again confronted with "standing detective Jack Revill sent a memo to then-Police Chief up for the truth" in the face of insurmount­ Jesse Curry quoting Hosty as telling Revill the FBI able odds, I hope I have a Cyril Wecht on my knew O-swald was "capable" of killing Kennedy before team. he did. Curry publicly repeated Hosty's remarks, say­ ing the FBI knew — but didn't inform Dallas police — that Oswald was working in a building on the presi­ Sincerely, dential motorcade route. In the controversy that Mary Ferrell

WITHERSPOON 8, ASSOCIATES/Advertising-Public Relations/321 South Henderson/ Post Office Box 2137/Fort Worth, Texas 76101 /Telephone 817 335-1373

Mr. G» Robert Blakey, Chief Counsel Select Committee on Assassinations U. S. House of Representatives 3331 House Office Building, Annex 2 Washington, D. C. 205l5 September 16, 1978 Dear Professor Blakey;

Thank you for having r.e appear in Thursday's hearings to present what I believe are sor.e iirr^portant questions regarding Warren Commission Exhibits 133A, 133B, and 139. I hope your cornittee's studies can ansvjer these questions in a conclusive manner.

I wish to bring to your attention the folio-wing comments regarding ray appearance in Washington:

1. I highly praise Staff Counsel Robert Genzman for his professional skill and manner, objectix'-ity, fairness, friendliness, and dedication to his job. His skill THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

5' I regret that my testimony was cut short because of time problems with the noon recess. I did not ^t to finish one statement I was in the middle of regarding the method of fabricating the photographs. Counsel interrupted me just as I was about to discuss the Imperial Reflex camera and its relationship to the distinctive markings of the film plane aperture. I was going to state that one of two things could have occurred; perhaps that camera was used to photograph the empty backyard, with the Oswald figure being superimposed later; or perhaps that camera was used to photocopy the composite art. Another less likely possibility is that a mask of the film plane aperture was used when printing the photocopy composites. Since neither the Warren Commission nor HSCOA have ever proved this camera belonged to Oswald, the whole question of match of picttires to camera is really irrelevant, isn't it? The camera, turned up long after the assassination at the house of Robert Oswald, and since it didn't belong to him, he assumed it might belong to Lee. But there is no proof of this. Indeed, there are indications that the camera belonged to Dallas policeman Harry Olsen, according to some researchers, and that the backyard photos were fabricated by the CIA working through Olsen and Frank Sturgis to implicate Oswald as the patsy in a CIA plot to have "communist" Oswald assassinate "fascist" General W-nlker. \-lhen the V?alker plot failed, the materials were "saved" and later used in the JFK murder, with Os^'wald again the patsy. Mary Ferrell can give you the name of a newsman tv-ho said he saw several copies of the backyard photos in the Dallas police station on Friday night, November 22. Yet the police swore they did not find the photos in the Paine garage until Saturday afternoon. If you cannot prove the Imperial Reflex camera belonged to Oswald, legally any proof you come up with is worthless.

6. I was disappointed by the lack of exhibits allowed me. I was told that because of "lack of time" and "expense factors" I would be limited to the committee preparing for me one exhibit on the backyard photos and one exhibit on the rifles, in addition to any which I might use which had previously been admitted into evidence. Yet the "experts" you employed to "shoot my amateur theories down" were allowed dozens of large photos to explain their "theories". This seems to be hardly an im.partial look at the questions involved. Fortunately I had brought with me much of my own original art, which Mr. Genzman kindly allowed m.e to use as exhibits, small though they were. At my own expense, I contributed these exhibits to your investigation without compensation, and but for this, the committee's stinginess would have kept these important exhibits out of the hearing records. Also, Mr, Genzman explained to tE that because of "lack of time", none of my exhibits would be incltided in the press packet of glossy 8x10 photos furnished to the press; thus, the press received only photos of the "experts' analysis" and did not get any pictures demonstrating my exhibits, though you have had much of it in your hands for a year or more.

7, VJhen I returned home I was told that Nina Totenburg on PBS made something like the following statement: "We learned during the noon recess from staff sources that the reason for the belligerent questioning of Mr. White was that he had insisted on being allowed to testify, and in fact had used pressure on the committee because he is a constituent of Jim Wright, House Majority Leader." I ask you to talk to Ms. Totenburg and straighten her out on this and ask her to correct this on a subsequent broadcast. As you well know, I was a photo consultant to the committee in 1977 • Every relationship I have ever had with the committee has been at the committee staff's request. I have never insisted on anything. In'fact, I was quite reluctant to take time from my busy schedule to come to Vlashington to testify, but when Mr. Genzman phoned me a couple of Saturdays ago and asked me to come, I considered it a patriotic duty. In fact, you subpoenaed me, so I had no choice, did I? I think you should also determine which staff person gave her THE CONTINUING INQUIRY certainly made my task of testifying easy. He is a credit to the committee staff and to the legal profession, and I predict a bright future for him. I likewise commend Patricia Orr for the same qualities I mentioned regarding Mr. Genzman.

2. Staff Counsel Michael Goldsmith severely daisaged the credibility of the committee's impartiality by his intemperate "cross-examination" methods of attacking my credibility by trying to make me appear an incompetent buffoon. Indeed, it was Mr. Goldsmith instead of me who appeared to the press and the listening public to be the fool because of his antagonistic behavior. Apparently you called this to his attention during the noon recess, and I appreciate the "apology" with which he opened the afternoon session. But I'm still puzzled by his attack, especially when I heard him being questioned about it by the press, and the only response he would give is that 'nis manner of questioning was just "Blakey's method" of dealing with a viitness.

3. If possible, I would appreciate the written record being corrected in a minor detail of the biographical sketch you read about me. Somehow my degree from Texas Christian University got changed to say I was a history major. In fact, my major was journalism, with a minor in history. I don't know how your staff made this mistake, but I hope it can be corrected for the sake of acctiracy.

U. I have stated to your staff on numerous occasions that I am just a private citizen with limited resources. I have no investigative staff or large budget. I have no pcrwer of subpoena. I have no access to computer analysis, photogrammetry, or other sophisticated forensic techniques. I have numerous times stated to your staff that the committee ought to undertake such studies ^sing first generation materials) because they t^iere beyond the resources of a private citizen. I have frequently emphasized to your staff that I was there to raise questions, not to provide answers. In light of this, Mr. Goldsmith's attack on my credibility seems immensely inappropriate. this erroneous information. As for Mr. Wright, I shook hands with him once at a luncheon about 20 years ago, and I am slightly acquainted with his chief press aide, but I assure you I have never applied any pressure to yotir staff through Congressman Wright.

3. I have brought to the attention of your staff new work I have been doing for the last year, but have been told that it is too late to be considered for the public hearings. It has to do with identification photos of Oswald, and I consider it much more important than the 5-year old work I did on the backyard photos and the rifles. I was told that work on this area had already been completed by expert forensic anthropologists, and that it is doubtful that my "theories" would be covered. I am enclosing copies of some of this material for your perusal, and I request that exhibits be prepared of some of them and used on the day your anthropologists testify, for if they fail to confront some of the issues I raise, then their conclusions may be invalid. I do not tidish to come to Washington again to testify (but will if necessary), but would rather provide you materials for exhibits along with a deposition or notarized statement of my allegations. In your manner of presenting "critic's" claims and then trying to destroy then with expert testimony, this should fit right in viith the mo^us operandi. I am also releasing this material to certain members of the press so that if these allegations are not addressed, the media may then ask why not.

Again, thank you for having me there to testify, and for listening to the above comments. If I can assist you in any other ways, please let me know.

In the words of General McArthur, "Duty, Honor, Country." And I would add, "Truth, above all."

Sincerely, ^J^ej^^^^^jTve Jack White THE CONTINUING INOTTTRV 11 returned to thi.s country and allegedly this country and purportedly showed read by the CIA, then resealed and sent as-^iLSSinated Pre.sidenl John F. Ken­ litUe interest in him after that. on to Oswald. nedy on Nov. 22,19h3. However, the CIA apparently never Mrs. Oswald said the intercepted let­ Oswald's form-r Rii.s.sian wife testi­ told the Warren Commission it inter­ ter was "the first contact I had with fied Wednesday she had some vague cepted one of Mrs. Oswald's letters to Lee" after about 18 months in Russia. notion after she married him m April her son while he was in Russia. The letter described her "reaction to 19S1 that he might have been an Ameri­ James Angleton, chief of the CIA's Lee's marrying a Russian girl can spy but she never found any evi­ counterintelligence staff in 1961, was (Marina)," and was a "nice, motherly dence of it. in charge of the agency's New York letter about his marriage," she said. She said she thought it more likely mail intercept project for mail moving The CIA may not have opened any of that Oswald, like most foreigners liv­ from this country to Russia. the other subsequent letters she sent ing in the Soviet Union at the time, was Angleton. who is scheduled to tes­ her son after July 8, 1961, because under surveillance by KGB intelli­ tify before the House Assassinations "maybe they were satisfied I was going gence agents who probably opened his Committee, once said the New York to accept liCe's wife," she said. mail and hid li.-itening devices in project "was probably the most import­ On the exact same date of the inter­ Oswald's Minsk apartment. ant (of Soviet intelligence activities) cepted letter Oswald flew from Minsk Oswald's mother said she is con­ that counterintelligence ever had." to Moscow to visit the American Embassy. vinced her son was in the employment OSWALD'S MOTHER is more suspi­ His wife joined him the next day of the CIA when he left for Russia in cious of what the CIA didn't say about and they began filling out the neces­ September 1959 and probably contin­ possibly intercepting other letters to sary papers for what resulted in a sur­ ued to work for the agency when he her son than what it admitted in 1976 prisingly smooth return to the United returned in June 1962. about one letter. She said she wrote States for a defector and his Russian THE CIA MAINTAINS it did not "many" letters to her son in Russia wife. debrief Oswald when he returned to after the first one was intercepted.

•k-k***-k*-k-k-k-k-k***-k

§an iFranristo (Cl)ronklr Couple Talks About Sept, 12, 1978

Bad Days in CIA By tt' arren Ilinchle The ex-CIA man poured his eighth cup of coffee and lit his 11th cigaret. He stared out the open window into the quiet blackness of a Concord Sunday night. The other ex-CIA person sat at the dining table and looked frail and nervous. She was his wife.

They were talking about what 7f was life is like for a CIA couple. It wasn't long before they got into the bad parts. He made a face as if all common the dirty little secrets were a stinking rose opening in front of his nose. knowledge, • .

He had been a CIA finance officer for nine years, she a secre­ that Oswald tary to spies. They served together In Tokyo, Washington, D.C., and worked for Miami. Between them they saw enough to make them want out. They were told not to talk, but they the agency' knew that, someday, they would. They held their tongues for over ten years. They were afraid, Now, the silence of a thousand sleepless nights is over. Jim Wilcott Sunday, in their modest Con­ cord home, they took the unsettling journey back through the looking glass into the never-never world of The place they described was a ioned values are destroyed in the the CIA. topsy-turvy land where old-fash­ name of saving them, a perverse THE CONTINUING INQUIRY 12 onthe Yugoslav. "The idea was to place of spxual blackmail, betray­ The tapes were being tran­ 'get him on the hook' — get him ing friends, unleashing psycho­ scribed by a young American girl used to the high life," Wilcott said. paths and hobnobbing with mob­ who was no Scarlett O'Hara. so she At one point it was decided that sters, of pseudonymns and crypto- was manifestly humiliated by the Wilcott should "get him involved nyms, drunkards and ripoff artists, sexual exuberances she was trans­ with women." The master plotter dirty money and dirty tricks and lating from the Bulgarian bedroom for this was Elsie Wilcott's boss, a run-amok assassins; a place where vernacular The CIA men thought spy named Dennis, who was head of error and folly were held sacred in this great sport and had broken out the Tokyo station's Soviet Russia the almighty name of secrecy. One drinks all around while they kept Satellite Division, where Elsie was a assa.ssin among those run amok was playing the .steamy portions over secretary. At one point Dennis Lee Harvey Oswald who, according and over as the young translator called Mrs. Wilcott into his office to the former CIA money man, was turned redder than wine. When and told her that her husband in the pay of the CIA. Wilrott dared to wonder what this might end up in a compromising had to do with national security the situation with another woman but ca.se officers looked at him like he "It was common knowledge in that he would only be doing the the Tokyo CIA station that Oswald was some stick-in the-niud account­ deed tor the good of her country. worked for the agency," he said. ant. This did not serve to stir the fires of Wilcott's fiduciary duties in her patriotism. "That's true," his wife said. the Tokyo station — he was there "Right after the President was from 19fi0 to 1»>4 — included "The CIA was always terrible killed, people in the Tokyo station handing out upward of $4 million a to women — particularly the wives were talking openly about Oswald month in unmarked bills of various of agents," Elsie Wilcott said. "The having gone to Russia for the CIA. currencies for the station's dirty agency was both snobbish and Everj'one was wondering how the tricks. sexist." agency was going to be able to keep the lid on Oswald. But I guess they Wilcott said the CIA had a Eventually Wilcott was told did," she said. phobia about fresh currency — the that he was being "phased out" and physically dirtier its money the a person called a "recruitment The former CIA finance officer better, on the theory that used agent" was being "cut in" to bribe is Jim Wilcott. His wife's name is money was less traceable. If some­ or blackmail the Yugoslav into Elsie. They were recruited by the one made the mistake of bringing spying on his own country. Wilcott CIA as a husband and wife team new bills from the bank, Wilcott was told never to see his friend back in the late 1950s, shortly after and his aides would scatter the cash again. He doesnt know what hap­ they were married. "We were a on the floor and take off their shoes pened then — he doesn't even two-for-one deal," he says. There is and jump up and down on it like know if he did a good enough job weary bitterness in his voice. button-down collared grape crush­ corrupting his friend American- ers. style to make him turn traitor. Once, when he asked about Peter "We didn't even know what The money Wilcott handed out CIA was all about when we went to Dadier, Wilcott was told that he had was dirty in more ways than one. "no need to know " work for them," he said. They Wilcott said he learned from other found out soon enough. During her CIA agents that some of his cash polygraph test for security clear­ ended up in the hands of members ance, the CIA interrogator asked of the Japanese version of the "CIA people drink like fish," Elsie, who had grown up on a farm, Mafia, who performed unmentiona­ Wilcott was saying, over his 15th if she had ever had sex with the ble services for the Tokyo station, coffee. The Tokyo station kept animals. She was flabbergasted. and to psychopathic personalities booze in supply the way most "Why, 1 didn't even know any such the CIA plotted to release from offices keep paper clips. It was thing was possible," she said. A Vietnamese mental hospit ^ and generally used — along with the friend of theirs who went through outfit as Viet Cong to pillage South dirty if untraceable cash Wilcott security clearance had on

The day Kennedy was shot The Cuban government invited he left the CIA in the late '60s. The there was rejoicing in the Tokyo Elsie and Jim Wilcott to Havana agency is not beyond retribution, CIA station, Wilcott recalls. Most of last month to testify before a "CI.A he says. He is .still, frankly, nervous. the agents were not, like himself, tribunal'" the Cubans had organized The Wilcotts are the first former "Kennedy liberals," but rather de­ as the high point of a world youth CIA couple to go public. They spised the Camelot president for festival. The former CIA couple decided to tell what they know, it nut sending the military in to went. It was the first time either of for no nobler reason, to sleep better res( ue the CIA bunglers at" the Bay them had been to a socialist coun­ nights. of Pigs. The station was abuzz about try. Oswald and, when Wilcott ex­ Wilcott is going to do some pressed disbelief at the talk that The Cubans were understand­ work "developing information ' Oswald was a CIA employee, a case ably curious about the couples with Philip .\gee, the former CIA officer told him: "Well, Jim, so and experiences in the CIA's Miami agent turned author and anti-CIA so, right over there, drew an station, which carried on a full- crusader. But Wilcott says he will advance from you for Oswald un­ scale secret war against Cuba not take a dime for anything he der a crypto." throughout the '60s. The CTAstor y writes concerning the Cl.\. the Wilcotts told the Cubans was "I don't want people to think In the months to come, he was much the same as the story about I'm doinc this for the money," said to hear constant references to the Tokyo — bribes, blackmail, dirty the man who used to write checks station's earlier work on "the Os­ cash for gangs of well-fed sabo­ for the CIA. wald project." Wilcott said Oswald teurs, assassination plots against had been trained for his trip to Castro and that old CIA standby, Russia at Atsugi Naval Air Station, the Mafia. a plush supersetrt. t cover base for One day in Miami, Wilcott was the Tokyo CIA stations "special The Wilcotts are not your having lunch with some other CIA operations." Wilcott says he no classic whistlehlowers. They are finance officers when they were longer recalls the names of the CIA among that select handful of astonished to see the deputy chief agents involved. He also didn't take former (.'l.\ enipkiyees who have of the Miami station dining with notes back then, he says. He wasn't spoken on the record about compa­ Santo Trafficante Jr., the not un­ planning on exposing the CI.A. The ny business, but they have not known Miami mobster. As account­ details he remembers have the ring hustknl a forum or written a book. ants will, the talk turned to dollars of the authentic. They wailed a decade to tell the and cents. The Mafia had once House investigators what they The House assassinations com­ charged the CIA S200 for a broken knew about Oswald. They are not leg, a CI.A money man said. mittee thought sufficient of Wil­ eager to be on television and Elsie cott's knowledge of Oswald's Cl.\ Wilcott declined to have her pic­ One of the junior CI.X account­ connections to bring him to Wash­ ture taken. They prefer the ano­ ants took out his Bic and figured ington for two (lays of closed door nymity of Concord, where they something on the tablecloth. That testimony earlier this \ear. Wilcott have lived for several years was cheaper, he said, than the volunteered then to take a "voice government could get it done. stress" test before he testified to Jim \'i"ilcott said he had lost prove how on the square he was. He several accounting jobs "under Well, it always pays to shop passed. very strange circumstances" sime around.

**************** this case or to any of the parties involved which will prevent him from THE TANGLED WEB: An Inquiry Into the acting impartially without prejudice Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy to the substantial rights of any of the said parties will now retire from By S. Duncan Harp (Copyright 1978) the Jury Room.33

Continued from the last issue So, the suspect was pronounced guilty even before his trial commenced in a courtroom under Actions by authorities at the grand jury the jurisdiction of the very same authorities who would later be responsible for his trial proceedings appeared to bear out this latter and the police investigation of the crime. view. The State's opening statement read in Like the statements of Mayor Yorty, it would part: be hard to find something more prejudicial to On June the 5th, 1968, at approxi­ the rights of a criminal defendant than the statement above. mately 12:20 a.m., the suspect, Sir- han Bishara Slrhan, shot Senator Robert F. Kennedy and five other in­ One is inclined to wonder, then, what dividuals, Paul Schrade, Irwin Stroll, the purpose was of the police investigation William Weisel, Elizabeth Evans, and Ira Goldstein... WHO WAS JACK RUBY By Seth Kantor is an excel­ Any member of the Grand Jury who lent book. has a state of mind in reference to 14 THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

into Robert Kennedy's murder that followed— The backbone of the defense case was the this investigation which Robert Houghton called testimony of psychiatrist Bernard Diamond. Dia­ possibly the most extensive investigation mond had spent over twenty hours with Sirhan ever conducted by any local law enforcement and had hypnotized him six times. In Diamond's agency,"34 — was it to seek the facts so that view, Sirhan was snapped into a hypnotic state a proper conclusion could be arrived at, or by the bright lights and mirrors placed through­ to "substantiate" and rationalize a conclusion out the Ambassador; this "transformed him from that had been predetermined? The investigation a harmless bystander into an automaton wired to itself would go on for several weeks after the kill."38 Supporting this viewpoint was the fact conclusion of Sirhan's trial. that, even under hypnosis, Diamond was unable to get Sirhan to recall why he was in the pan­ The trial began on January 7, 1969 and try or what he meant to do there, although he ended in April of that year, some fifteen weeks was able to get him to relive the actual shoot­ later. Its cost to the state was officially ing. But even Diamond himself readily admitted estimated at $929,285.00, making it the cost­ the fantastic nature of his theory.* liest trial in Los Angeles history. Ninety witnesses were called, and the resultant trial Clinical psychologist and defense witness transcript was 107 volumes long. Martin Schorr gave Sirhan a number of psycholo­ gical tests. His conclusion — Sirhan was a Defense and prosecution made a bargain paranoid psychotic, and a borderline schizo­ before the trial began that Sirhan would plead phrenic, an individual with a split personal­ guilty to a charge of murder in the first de­ ity who freaked out under pressure. In Schorr's gree in return for a sentence of only life view, Sirhan killed Kennedy in just such a state imprisonment. These plans would have pre­ of "dissociation."39 vented a trial from even taking place, but they were upset by Judge Herbert V. Walker, If we believe the story Sirhan told at who refused to allow it. He said he didn't his trial, it was mere coincidence that he ended want another "Dallas" — he wanted all ques­ up at the Ambassador Hotel at all. Sirhan testi­ tions in this assassination to be resolved at fied that after he had left a gun club where he a trial. Despite the trial, however, another had been target shooting on the afternoon and Dallas is precisely what he got. evening of the 4th, he picked up a copy of the LOS ANGELES TIMES and saw an ad for a march to The prosecution tried to depict Sirhan as celebrate the first anniversary of Israel's a fanatic Arab nationalist who had premeditatedl^ victory in the 1967 six-day war. He went down, killed Kennedy because of his support for Israel' he said, to "see what those sons of bitches were up to,"'^0 but discovered to his chagrin As was expected, the defense did not dis­ that the demonstration was scheduled for the agree with the contention made by prosecutor following night. He saw a party at the cam­ David Fitts in his opening presentation that paign headquarters of Senator Thomas Kuchel, Sirhan had "acted alone and not in concern with he said, but left because It was too dull for anyone else."35 Throughout the trial the de­ him — following two men to what they described fense team, composed of lawyers Grant Cooper as a better party two blocks away. The "par­ (the team head), Russell Parsons and Emile Her­ ty" was Kennedy's victory celebration. man, "admitted" Sirhan's guilt. Said Parsons to the jury right before they began their There were many such stories, and many deliberations, "I know he took a life. We of them highly interesting. Unfortunately, admitted that."36 Instead, the defense por­ all too often the defense and the media, not trayed Sirhan as "a manic 'Jekyll-Hyde' in­ questioning that Sirhan had acted alone, paid capable of premeditating anything."37 attention to the broader outlines of the inter­ esting theories and anecdotes and Ingnored the The basis of their strategy at first was hard facts in the case, facts which might have to try to get Sirhan acquitted on psychologi­ proved Sirhan innocent of murder. Such an cal grounds, since they did not question the attitude comes from having a closed mind. assumption that Sirhan had acted alone. As large amounts of incriminating evidence mount­ ed up during the course of the trial, however, * Evidence not discussed in this paper sug­ gests that this theory may not have been so the defense decided that such a strategy would really "fantastic" after all. The reader is re­ not be successful. They started working in­ ferred to Robert Blair Kaiser's book stead then for a finding of murder in the sec­ "RFK MUST DIE!" A HISTORY OF THE ROBERT KENNEDY ASSASSI­ ond degree, by reason of diminished mental capa­ NATION AND ITS AFTERMATH (New York: E P Dutton city. and Co.. Inc., 1970). THE CONTINUING INOTTTBV 15

Although it would be an injustice to sin­ and executed the murder alone."46 Rather gle out chief defense lawyer Grant Cooper alone, went on to say that, "When Sirhan was con­ one wonders where hig attention was during the victed, he was convicted on the evidence."47 witness testimony. "We don't quarrel that it As I will show in Parts II and III, however, was held within one inch,"41 he said at the there is good reason to question the veracity time of the murder weopon's distance from the of this latter statement. fatal wound. As I will show in Part II, only a person ignorant of the evidence could have DeWayne Wolfer, a criminologist in the honestly made such a statement and still dis­ crime laboratory of the LAPD's scientific in­ allow the existence of a second gunman. vestigation, was put in charge of the LSPD's handling and testing of the physical evidence. Cooper was involved in another case at At the trial, Wolfer testified that it was the time the defense was preparing for the tri­ Sirhan's gun "and no other gun"48 that fired al, so he left this essential work to others. the bullets in the pantry. Virtually no one Perhaps this accounts for the ineptness of the questioned Wolfer's statement at the time, defense. but since then a lot of questions have been raised about how Wolfer was able to arrive And perhaps the defense team should not at this conclusion, and about the procedures be judged too harshly for not using normal pro­ he used in doing so. It is rather difficult cedure and critically examining the evidence. to retrace the steps Wolfer took on the way After all, it appeared that Sirhan himself be­ towards any of his conclusions, as it appears lieved in his own guilt. At one point in the that, aside from a brief daily "work log," trial he said under oath that he had "no doubt" he kept no records of any of his examinations. that he was responsible for the killing of Sena­ tor Kennedy and the wounding of the five oth­ As I will show throughout the remainder of ers. '*2 At another time, he shocked those pre­ this paper, had Sirhan's defense team chosen sent by jumping to his feet and shouting, "I to critically examine the evidence before killed Robert Kennedy willfully, premeditatively them, Sirhan might never have been convicted [sic], with 20 years of malice aforethought."^3 of Robert Kennedy's murder. As chief defense While this statement did not exactly coincide counsel remarked some years later, "if we had with others he made (which were in themselves known then what we know now we would have contradictory to each other) as to when he de­ defended him differently."49 scribed to kill Kennedy, one can imagine the havoc this wreaked with his lawyers' line of The defense team adivsed Sirhan to enter defense! It is to Judge Walker's credit that a plea of guilty in order to save him from he responded to Sirhan's outburst with the re­ the death penalty. The young Arab was found mark, "Well, the evidence has to be proved here guilty of first degree murder on April 17, in court.'"^"i 1969 and sentenced to death on April 23. This sentence was later reduced to life Sirhan's notebooks, with their statements, imprisonment. Sirhan will be eligible for apparently in Sirhan's own hand, that "Robert parole in 1986. F. Kennedy must be assassinated," helped the prosecution prove their case of premeditated murder.45 Once the defense decided upon a psy­ AUTOPSY AND AFTERMATH chological stategy which ruled out the possibil­ ity of premeditation. It is logical to assume Kennedy's autopsy began at 3:00 in that they were not particularly disposed towards the morning on June 6th, less than two hours a line of defense which even hinted at the pos­ after his death. Assisting Los Angeles Coro­ sibility of conspiracy. After all, their main ner Thomas Noguchi in the operation were two concern was with getting their client "off the pathologists on his staff and three military hook," and the term"conspiracy" normally implies consultants just arrived from the armed For­ premeditated and conscious plotting by two or ces Institute of Pathology in Washington. more individuals. Including conscious action by The entire operation took six hours and the all principals Involved. final report was over 60 pages in length.

The final verdict was a certainty long There was a very good reason for all before the trial ended. In Dan Rather's words this effort. Noguchi did not want any on one CBS broadcast, "The investigation of "lingering doubts" as a result of an ill- [RFK's] death was billed by local authorities performed autopsy, as there had been in the as one of the most thorough ever. The con­ case of Robert Kennedy's brother. When it clusion: that Sirhan Sirhan, angered at became clear in the early hours following Robert Kennedy's support of Israel, planned the shooting tiiat Robert Kennedy would not 16 THE CONTINUING INQUIR" recover from his wounds, Noguchi went so cervical vertebra in his neck. far as to comsult Allegheny County (Pitts­ burgh) Coroner Cyril Wecht, a respected The fourth bullet, which passed through the forensic scientist and noted Warren Com­ right jacket shoulder pad (but not deeply enough mission critic, to ensure that history to puncture the lining), never touched Kennedy's would not be repeated any further than it body. The police say it followed the same back- already had been. to-front trajectory as the other three (an op­ posing direction would naturally Indicate a As stated on the cover sheet on the autop­ second gunman), and ended up in the head of sy report, the cause of Senator Kennedy's death Paul Schrade. Unfortunately, it is now impos­ was determined to be a "GUNSHOT WOUND OF THE sible to independently ascertain the validity RIGHT MASTOID, PENETRATING BRAIN." Had the of the LAPD's claims regarding this fourth bul­ bullet which caused this wound missed the sena­ let, for while testing RFK's coat to determine tor, in all likelihood he would have fully re­ the direction of the bullets which passed through covered; none of the other bullets came any­ it, DeWayne Wolfer performed a "Walker's H-Acid where near to being of a fatal nature. test." This test is normally used as a last re­ sort only, since it generally destroys the evi­ This fatal bullet passed through the mas­ dence examined in the course of the testing (as toid bone behind Kennedy's right ear and enter­ it did in this case). This makes it rather hard ed the skull at an upward angle of 15° and a to perform subsequent tests on the material in leftward one of 30. It shattered on Impact and question. Since other, less drastic, tests were scattered fragments throughout the brain in two possible in this Instance, one must wonder directions. The autopsy report labelled this why this particular process was used. wound "gunshot wound number 1." In addition, somewhere In between the The entrance wound Is described in the re­ time Kennedy was shot and the time his jacket port as being "about 3/16 inch (0.5cm) in dia- appeared in court Its left sleeve was removed. meter"50 — which Is also about the same width No police records have been made available as a .22 caliber bullet. The wound itself was which account for this disappearance, and thus rather small. It hardly bled at all until DeWayne Wolfer himself "doesn't know" how probed manually by Dr. Abo to relieve pressure this could have happened. He testified in on the brain. 1971 that the sleeve had still been there when he examined the jacket, but records A total of four bullets hit Robert Kennedy's of his examination, which might substantiate person. Aside from the fatal head shot, there his claim, are nowhere to be found. was one which went completely through his body, one which came to rest in his neck, and one which transversed the right shoulder pad of his (TO BE CONTINUED) jacket, leaving Kennedy unharmed. All four shots were fired from a very closed range and all followed a trajectory of back-to-front at FOOTNOTES an upward angle.

Of the two non-fatal wounds, "gunshot 33. Joling, p. 26. wound number 2," the one which passed entirely through his body (generally known as the "through 34. Houghton with Taylor, p. 302. and-through" shot) entered to the rear of Ken­ nedy's right armpit. It travelled upward and 35. "The Defiant Defendant, " Newsweek, Feb­ to the left at angles of 59 and 33-35 degrees ruary 24, 1969. respectively, and exited the bcdy through the chest. 36. Ralph Blumenfeld, "The Death of RFK. New Questions; Part I: Seven Years Later," The second non-fatal wound, "gunshot wound New York Post, May 19, 1975, p. 29. number 3," was caused by the "neck bullet," This bullet was recovered by Dr. Noguchi from 37. "The Assassins: Who Did It — and Why? Kennedy's body In very good condition, and has Newsweek, March 24, 1969, p. 28. been the one Kennedy bullet used for ballistics tests for these reasons. It had entered the 38. "Sirhan's Trance," Newsweek, April 7, 1969, body at an upward angle of 67 degrees and a left­ p. 37. ward one of 30, at a point one-and-a-half inches below the through-and-through bullet's entrance. 39. "Sirhan" Tradedy of the Absurd," Newsweek, It came to rest to the side of Kennedy's sixth March 17, 1969, p. 37. THE CONTINUING INOTTmv 17

40. "Sirhan Takes the Stand," Newsweek, March Kennedy; Arthur Bremer and George C. Wal­ 17, 1969, p. 37. lace," broadcast January 5, 1976, tran­ script, p. 2. 41. Transcript, Sirhan Trial, p. 4147. 47. Ibid. 42. Dave Smith, "Sirhan Takes Witness Stand, Admits He Killed Kennedy," Los Angeles 48. Ralph Blumenfeld, New York Post, May 19, Times, March, 5, 1969, p. 1. 1975, p. 29.

43. "A Deadly Iteration, " Time, March 7, 49. Klaus Liedtke and Frank P. Heigl, "Rob­ 1969, p. 22. ert Kennedy's Assassin Is Still Freel" Saga, Vol. 51, No. 3 (December, 1975) 44. Ibid., p. 23. p. 60. (Reprinted from Stern, November 9, 1975). 45. Kaiser, Appendix "C": Reproduction of Sirhan's Notebook, p. 550. 50. "Report of the Medicolegal Investigation of Senator Robert F. Kennedy" (The Autop­ 46. CBS Reports Inquiry: "The American Assass­ sy Report), Department of Chief Medical ins, Part IV; Sirhan Sirhan and Robert F. Examiner-Coroner, County of Los Angeles, California, June, 1968.

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THE UMBRELLA MAN - UP DATE

Pictured here are three clandestine photographs of L. Stephen Witt taken by The Dallas Morning News. An informant has identified Witt as The Umbrella Man in Dealey Plaza at the time of the assassination of President Kennedy.

Witt admitted nothing to the Texas investigators, but he has been called to Washington and will be recalled to Washington for testimony. He is scheduled to take his umbrella with him according to information given to TCI.

A Wilma Bond photograph is also printed here for comparison purposes.

',¥ t,.». ;*•

IWSP*' THE CONTINUING INQUIRY

THE UMBRELLA MAN photos courtesy THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Justice Reformed, The Soho Weekly News January 26, 1978 laws, many of which overlay in areas where one broad law would be sufficient. or Liberty llireatened? Bui it is precisely the broadness of the language in the bill that is alarming. Robert Levinskas Kennedy has been on a visit to China Senate Bill No. 1437 was drawn up as a and not available for comment, but Ken compromise between liberal and con­ The highly controversial Criminal Fmeberg, his administrative assistant and servative senators after its predecessor, one of the principal drafters, says the bill Justice Reform Act of 1977 is expected to the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 1975 be ready for a Senate vote sometime next is in "pretty good shape." He admits that (S-1), met with vehemem opposition from "a bill of that size and magnitude can month. The mammolh 382-page document civil libertarian, labor, press and political — the most comprehensive codification of never be perfect" bulsavs that "even as it groups. Although S-1437 is not as overtly stands, it's a hell of a lot better than cur­ federal criminal law in U.S. history — threatening as S-1 was considered lo be, it contains provisions so broadly drawn that rent law." promises to be the subject of heated The pros and cons were aired in a radio they might easily endanger civil liberties, Senatorial debate. according to many legal authorities. The debate on WBAl-FM two weeks ago bill's chief sponsor is, interestingly Supporters of the new bill maintain that between Roger Pauley, deputy chief enough. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. it brings definition, order and clarity to legislative' and special projects section' what is now a confusing mass of federal Criminal Division, Etepartment of Justice- THE CONTINUING INQUIRY 19

Leonard Orlin, professor of law at the material that the government does not University of Connebticut; Thomas I. want to disclose as "official secrets" — Some of the controversial provisions Emerson, professor of law at Yale has been deleted from S-1437. Potentially contained in S-1437: University; and [)aniel Crystal," a New repressive provisions dealing specifically •A provision that would make it a York civil liberties attorney. with failure to obey a public-safety order crime for a newsperson to refuse to dis­ Pauley, strongly in favor of S-1437, given by any law enforcement officer dur­ close a confidential source to police if maintained that it "tries to correct struc­ ing any demonstration or assembly that is the source is a criminal suspect or to tural deficiencies in our laws as well as to said to jeopardize govemmf-nt property, destroy notes or other material that make as many substantive reforms regard­ obstruct a government function by might lead to such a source. ing particular offenses as possible. Such physical interference, or attempt to hire •A provision that would make it a revision is needed to give law enforcement criminal agents were unsatisfactory as crime for a newsperson to possess an officers and courts a modem and efficient well. original government document or framework in which to try to do something photocopy dr publish it without gov­ about the problem of crime.'' S-1437 calls for a sentencing com­ ernmental authorization. mission to be appointed to set up sentenc­ •A provision allowing the testimony of Crystal, opposed to the bill, charac­ ing guidelines to advise federal judges, terized it as a "prosecutorial dream" aris­ a witness to be indirectly used against who generally receive no training in sen­ him in court, even though the witness ing from a "power grab for added jurisdic­ tencing procedure. But Orlin pointed out tion," which would grant a much greater was compelled to testify because he that there were no guarantees as to how was guaranteed that his testimony amount of jurisdiction than present law well such a commission would do its job. does. He^said it was a "blueprint for a would not be directly used against him He was apprehensive that what are now in court (use immunity). future police state" that would allow maximum sentences would become func­ federal agencies to interfere with state •Provisions dealing with criminal con­ tionally mandatory and unjustly harsh spiracy and criminal solicitation that responsibilities and that Congress should guidelines. "take a few more years" to study and are so broadly drawn as to significantly amend it. Emerson shared Orlin's concern and challenge First Amendment free added that under S-1437 a judge could speech guarantees. The four experts agreed on the value of eliminate the possibility of parole provisions concerning consumer fraud and altogether; that a prisoner's time off for •An anti-sabotage provision that could fraud in general; provisions against sex good behavior would be cut from the pre­ be used against the trade-unionists discrimination and proposals for a violent sent ten days per month to a mere three participating in a demonstration in crimes compensation scheme. There was days per month; and that after having which incidental damage to or obstruc­ no argument with a provision reducing the served his full sentence a convict would tion of government property occurs. penalty for possession of minor amounts face the possibility of probation for an ad­ •A provision under which anyone dis­ of marijuana to a $100 fine with automatic ditional five years. obeying a government employee's or­ record-expungement after a certain period The bill is extremely complex. Its der to disperse a gathering or stop of time. They were satisfied with an in­ language is extremely ponderous. picketing or leafleting would be guilty novative provision that eliminates the Orlin claims he is concerned. "The of a new crime: failing to obey a public- seven year statute of limitations in the House, the Senate and the public at large safety order. case of a government official who is still in somehow have to come to grips with all of •A provision under which union mem­ office and who has participated in con­ the very complicated and fundamentally bers striking for higher wages or spiratorial governmental abuse that has important issues presented in this ominous benefits in a strike marked by violence been fraudulently concealed, as well as package." or the fear of violence could be held with provisions against white-collar Emerson says the Senate has "gotten guilty of "obtaining the property of crimes that present laws have trouble de­ another'' by extortion, aling with. off on the wrong foot" and that S-1437 should be scrapped altogether. He says There was considerable dissatisfaction that House of Representatives Bill No. with provisions regarding obscenity and 2311 is a considerably more viable use immunity, and with provisions that alternative, believing that it, and not functionally assume that there is an Of­ S-1437, has been "drafted by persons will­ ficial Secrets Act, even though the OSA ing to conform with the principles of formulated in S-l —• which classified American democracy.'' •

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We know our readers are shocked and dis­ White. After the "patty cake" treatment of appointed with the attitude and direction Marina Oswald, the harsh cross examination of the House Select Committee on Assassin­ of White was shocking. Then after the lunch ations. Tyrants are not noted for their kind­ break, the Committee attorney indicated that ness or fairness. Conditions in the country White was granted an appearance only because will get worse. White was a constitutent of House Majority Leader Jim Wright of Fort Worth. Although the Greeks lost the battle, brave men will remember for another thou­ This reminds to to bring up some of the sand years the words of the Greek soldier bloody political history of Texas. facing certain death from an overwhelming enemy just before the battle at Thermopylae. When Jim Wright was running for his first When information came that "the enemy is so state office as State Representative of Parker numerour, their arrows will darken the sky." County, Texas, he was facing a tough opponent The Greek soldier replied: "Fine, I like to in the run-off election. Shortly before the fight in the shade." election, a man appeared at the home of Wright,s opponent, asked his name, then pump­ The arrogance and ignorance of the Com­ ed several shots into the candidate who died mittee members is shocking. A Committee within hours. We are not in any way blaming member did not know the route that the Warren Jim Wright as he was one of the first to go to Commission said Oswald took from the TSBD the hospital and give blood to the victim. to the Tippit killing site. And he is going to vote on the findings of the Committee! The matter is simply a part of our bloody Unfairest treatment of all came after the political history which precedes 1963 and appearance of Fort Worth advertising maa. Jack should not be forgotten.

THE CONTINUING INOUIRY Penn Jones , Editor P. O . Box 1140 Midlothian , Texas 760^5