David B. Perry 4601 Ainsworth Circle Grapevine, Texas 76051 October 31, 1992 Harold Weisberg 7627 Old Receiver Road Frederick, Maryland 21702 Dear Harold, Here are a couple of items I tinkered around with. I am sorry I didn't pass out the "Detectives Claim New Three Tramp Theory" when I first wrote it. Now that Craig and Roger's have published The Man On The Grassy Knoll" my article would have had more impact. At any rate hope you find the material interesting. Does the baloney ever stop? Nikki and I send our best to you and Lil. Regards, Dave Perry THE NEWSLETTER 4601 Ainsworth Circle Grapevine Texas 76051 January 5, 1992 IDETECTINTES CLAIM NEW THREE TRAMP THEORY Two Crosby, Texas private parents in Houston in 1965, fled detectives, Phil Rogers and John to Central America. Craig issued a news release and held a press conference in Based upon the news Dallas on November 11, 1991. The release, the detectives two claimed they had identified reported Holt was in Dallas to the individuals that appear in deliver handguns and forged the "Three Tramp" photographs Secret Service identification taken in Dealey Plaza on pins to "anti-Castro activists November 22, 1963. including Homer Echeverria and Orlando Bosch." Holt thought The tramps were perceived there was to be "a staged to be Chauncey Holt (Old man incident." tramp), Charles Harrelson (Tall tramp) and Charles Rogers Holt also claimed he was a (Frenchy). Charles and Phil master forger who prepared Rogers are not related. Oswald's "Fair Play For Cuba" handouts and was filmed in New The details were probably Orleans by television station obtained by the detectives after WDSU as Oswald passed out the interviews with Holt. Charles information. Additionally, on Harrelson is serving a life November 22, 1963, Holt alleged sentence for killing Federal he arrived from Arizona in the Judge John Wood. Charles Rogers, "Oldsmobile station wagon" after allegedly killing his observed by Lee Bowers. SOME TRAMP HISTORY wanted to talk with both detectives. At first I was The public first became unsuccessful in contacting aware of the tramps in late either Craig or Rogers. However, 1967. Jim Garrison showed some fellow researcher Dave Murph had photographs of the tramps when friends on the Houston Police he appeared on The Tonight Show force. Using those contacts Dave with Johnny Carson. Garrison got in touch with Craig and originally obtained the prints through Dave so did I. from Kennedy assassination researcher Richard E. Sprague. When I discussed some Sprague was a collector of tramp story background with John assassination site photographs Craig there were problems. Craig who became convinced that the claimed he knew little of the tramps were involved. This tramp theory or Chauncey Holt. despite Lee Bowers and police His solitary interest was in the testimony to the contrary. Rogers case. Unfortunately, Garrison not Simultaneously I was only believed the tramps were getting information on Holt from involved in the assassination other sources. but the "arresting officers" as well. In the book, "On The Trail It appears Holt was first Of The Assassins" (pp. 207-210) "discovered" by two Atlanta Garrison claimed the police were businessmen, Lamar Waldron and culpable because they wore ill Thom Hartman. I had heard that fitting uniforms, carried their on September 28 and 29, 1991 the weapons incorrectly and one pair brought Holt into Dallas to officer had a radio receiver in be interviewed by J. Gary Shaw his ear. and Mary Ferrell. Even when Garrison knew the Other researchers two officers had been identified unJerstood Holt claimed that he as Bass and Wise by Canfield and was with Harrelson and a mystery Weberman in their book "Coup man, Richard Montoya on d'Etat In America" he refused to 11/22/63. Montoya, Holt claimed, modify the story. To this day was "Frenchy." some people believe the tramps are involved. Garrison's In late October, during a imprudent statements about the phone conversation with Craig we police are all but forgotten. were discussing names used by Rogers. Suddenly, Craig C. ROGERS and C. HOLT exclaimed that Rogers used the name Richard Montoya. Surprised, On September 28, 1991 an I told John I expected he would article appeared in the Houston be in Dallas on November 14, 15 Chronicle. In the story, "'65 and 16 for the Assassination Case Tied To JFK Death?" by Eric Symposium On John F. Kennedy Hansen, John Craig and Phil (ASK). I felt he would use the Rogers linked Charles Rogers to Rogers/Montoya story to prop up the Kennedy assassination as a Chauncey Holt. He denied this tramp. until 11/09/91 when he admitted he would attend. After reading the article I RICKY WHITE REVISITED was told it took about ten minutes to reel off Gibson's True to form, The JFK impressive credentials. Gibson Assassination Information Center was featured in an article "I (co-sponsors of ASK with The Just Want To Catch Crooks."(May Texas Observer) allowed the 1990, Reader's Digest) detectives to present the unsupported Chauncey Holt The story reveals her revelations. Holt did not credentials are somewhat less appear. Another researcher, Gus impressive. She has a 40% Russo discovered "there wasn't success rate using the "FBI enough time to make proper Facial Identification Catalog." security arrangements" whatever She was taught to use the book that meant. The first symposium at the FBI Academy at Quantico, leaflet claimed Holt was to be Va. in late 1984 or early 1985. present. ASK had months to come I am told ANY competent portrait up with security arrangements! artist could achieve similar results using the "Catalog." It I was reminded by a fellow will require more than Gibson's researcher that The JFK statements to verify the Holt Assassination Information proclamations. Center's 1990 Ricky White Labor Day conference came with a Through the press kit Holt promise we would get to question made certain claims. Ricky White. When we got there Gary Shaw claimed Ricky wouldn't (1) He prepared the "Fair be at the meetings. Trisha Play For Cuba" handouts for (Ricky's wife) felt Ricky had Oswald. spent too much time investigating his father's Wrong . The handouts involvement in the were prepared for Oswald (using assassination. Ricky needed some the alias Osborne) by the Jones rest. So they went to Sea World Printing Company in New Orleans. in San Antonio. Oswald paid $9.89 for them on June 4, 1963. Two days later, September 4, 1991 at the Jim Marrs' (2) Holt arrived 11/22/63 meeting I asked Ricky why he from Arizona in an Oldsmobile didn't appear. Ricky's response station wagon observed by Lee "They told me to stay Bowers. away." Possibly . but maybe HOLT vs. the EVIDENCE Holt merely read Bowers' testimony. Bowers saw that From talking with seven vehicle at 12:05 pm. This would symposium participants make it difficult for Holt to discovered the Holt story didn't leave the parking lot, ditch the hold up well and Rogers and car, deliver the guns, deliver Craig had difficulty getting the the fake identification, return audience to respond positively to the "pergola nearest the to their "proof." TSBD" and run to the boxcar without any witnesses observing They brought along the event. "forensic expert" Lois Gibson. I Bowers claimed he couldn't the press, make a few dollars tell which State the station and leave the research community wagon was from because he holding the bag. Personally, I couldn't see the license plate. wonder when the book will be However, he did see a Goldwater out? for President bumper sticker. It doesn't take much of an SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES imagination to link Barry Goldwater with the State of The Texas Secretary of Arizona. State's office informs me "John Craig and Company forfeited (3) The tramps were "told their incorporation papers on to wear work clothes as if they 01/09/89 for non-payment of were railroad employees." taxes." Wrong . unless Frenchy The Texas State Private is some kind of working Investigators Bureau shows John supervisor. Isn't he wearing a Craig is flagged as a Status 40. sport coat? "This means that agency is on an insurance suspension." (4) "Holt is the first Maybe both bureaus have credible person to ever come . given me information on another forward and say he was in John Craig. Although I think Dealey Plaza and was a not, I will be happy to supply member (albeit unwittingly);: my notes to any of you who wish of the conspiracy." to follow up on this aspect of the case. More Tramp Information Wrong . To refer to a self-described career criminal I think the best source for and master forger as a credible information on the tramps is person borders upon the "Coup d'Etat In America," ridiculous. Once Holt found he Canfield and Weberman, The Third was involved in something more Press, 1975, pp. 59-62. Some serious than "some kind of examples: staged incident" it became his obligation to contact the The first search of the trains authorities. behind the TSBD revealed little. Harkness "shook down a long Rogers and Craig concluded string of boxcars but found their appearance at the nothing. A 'clearall' was symposium was " an honor and sounded and the trains were civic duty." Honor and civic allowed to leave." duty would better be served by turning Holt into the Later the police decided to authorities as an accessory in shake down a northbound freight. the assassination of John F. Bowers pulled the freight up Kennedy.