Prof. Thompson Defends Garrison DIGBY DIEHL Calling the L.A
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LA Free Press - Gar 5 Jan 68 Los Angeles Free Press Jan. 5, 1968 Prof. Thompson defends Garrison DIGBY DIEHL Calling the L.A. Times editor- ial on "California and the Garri- son 'Circus" "... too strong' and "ungenerous," Josiah Thompson, professor of philosophy at Haver- ford College and author of SIX SECONDS IN DALLAS, brought his sharp critical intelligence to bear on the Garrison case last week. °People must recall that Jim Garrison will have to do what the Warren Commission did notbave to do: prove his case in a.court of law, arguing against defense law- yers, These absurd ad hominem slurs about Garrison's psychia- tric record are disgraceful. So the guy got hives from lint, So what?" Thompson, a chipper and col- legiate-looking 33-year-old, has been called by many observers the most cool - headed and sharp - minded of the Warren Commis- sion's critics. In his book he deals only with the photographic and physical evidence about the six seconds in Dealey Plaza when President Kennedy was shot. After an exhaustive scientific analysis of this evidence, bacon- eludes that four shots were fired from three different directions, negating the Warren Commis- sion's single bullet theory and in- Josiah Thompson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Haverford dicating the necessity of a con- College, was interviewed by Free Press writer Digby Diehl this spiracy. "In my book, I deal only week (article on top left). with the small core of facts we Thompson is the author of SIX SECONDS IN DALLAS, pub- have, Stepping away from that lished by Bernard Geis Associates. This micro-study of the facts core is like walking into a vast of the Kennedy assassination establishes that three gunmen fired swamp of clues, possibilities, and four shots in six seconds. loose ends. Although I have not - Although he claims no exper- fertile in This case? studied this material, my slight Thompson became involved familiarity with Garrison's work tise in the conspiracy area, Thompson suggested a cautious with the assassination investiga- has impressed me." saViks There are peripheral connec- °possibility" that he finds com- tion after reading discrop between news reports of the even'" tions with Thompson's work, how- pelling: "ft appears that the as- ever. "The findings I reported on sassination was executed by a ' and official reports. He began an unidentified station wagon small group of Cuban exiles, fight clipping papers, reading the War- picking up a man from the scene, wing sympathizers, and others ren Report and following the criti- might well have been driven by a who cooperated in the conspiracy. cisms as a passionate hobbyist. Cuban. On the other hand, my stu- I don't see evidence for a general Then, in the Winter of 1966 he dies of trajectories, the site, governmental coup. Now this is was arrested with another Haver- would tend to disagree with his not far from the position Jim ford professor for handing out latest suggestions about a shot Garrison has taken. I am unclear, anti-war literature in the suburbs from the curb-level sewer," however, as to exactly how wide of Philadelphia. Concerning the FREE PRESS he claims the conspiracy to be "There was nothing illegal article on the Mary Moorman now." about our handing out the anti-war (Continued on page 13) Thompson did call the sub- material, and we called the ACLU poenas Garrison issued for the for help" The ACLU lawyer by photograph, Thompson comment- three men as material witnesses fortuitous circumstance was Vin- ed, "I just can't put very much cre- in the Garrison investigation, "po- cent Salandria, a strong Commis- dence in the existence of this fig- tentially the biggest break in the sion critic. They talked, tra- ure. For one thing, Marilyn Sitz- case yet. In the Bradley matter, veled to the National Archives to- man who was standing only eight there is no way we can readily fit gether, and Thompson began to or nine feet from where this fig- him into the events surrounding work on his own in August of 1966. ure appears told me no one was in the assassination, whereas these Then he became involved with a that area. Secondly, the figure recent subpoenas would lead di- book contract with Bernard Geis, shows up prominently in the pub- rectly into the Sylvia Odio mat- and from there became a part of lished Ben Day negative that Dave ter and the loose ends surround- the Life Magazine research staff. Lifton developed. I succeeded in ing the case that have always In the Time-Life Building in New having Mary Moorman's original been suspicious. York, he and a group of research- Polaroid picture copied in Dallas, "If Garrison is able to connect ers saw a copy of the Zapruder and in the original, without the these, he is really on his way to film which everyone present Ben Day dots, the figure seems to cracking this. The material agreed was clear evidence that the disappear." around David Ferrie is the most single-bullet theory is wrong. 0 of t In his research, Thompson met with a government attitude of anon-cooperation" and was pleas- ed that Life had made such an as- tonishing discoverY,IrThomp- son's surprise Life has never published this informations They have refused publication of the Zapruder film (whiCh they paid $250,000 for), and they are at- tempting to supress Thompson's book with a suit to enjoin distri- bution. 9 have no comprehension of what Life is doing. They saw the evidence; they admitted its truth; I cannot guess why they are withholding it." Since the Saturday Evening Post article about his book, Thompson has been appealing to Life publicly to release the four crucial Zapruder frames to the public. These frames are the bas- is for basic later research indi- cated -in the photo captions. Thompson, at presents has no plans for further research into the assassination. A. Did this undamaged bullet in- filet seven wounds? B. In its present condition this case could not have held a pro- jectile on Nov. 22, 1963 as War- ren Report claims (Comm. Ex- hibit 543). In his argument against the Warren Report's single bullet theory, Josiah Thompson cites Commission Exhibit 856 and an X-ray of the cadaver'swrist through which it was fired. Note the extreme flattening of the bullet's tip. On the right are photographs of Exhibit 399 and Gov. Connally's wrist through which It was supposedly fired. Co vErt. Jan. 5, 1968 Att Prof. Josiah Thompson argues that three gunmen fired four shots, The first bullet (fired from the Book Depository) hit Kennedy in the back, the sedond (fired from the Dallas County Records Building), hit Gov, Connally. The third and fourth shots which struck the President's head almost simultaneously, came from the Depository and the grassy knoll. This crossfire inflicted the fatal head wounds. (Credit: Arthur Shatz) ',I! photos printed by permission of Josiah Thompson, author of "Six Seconds in Dallas' Professor Thompson's contention that shots were fired from the grassy knoll is supported by the photos above. showing policttd.spectators scrambling up the slope in the direction of the shots. .