On Trial Lee Harvey Oswald 3 of 4

The transcript details a courtroom setting where multiple witnesses provide testimonies related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Key witnesses include Bill Newman, who recounts witnessing the assassination, and Dr. Cyril Wecht, who challenges the single bullet theory, suggesting multiple shooters. FBI agent James Hosty admits to destroying a note from Lee Harvey Oswald under orders, raising questions about a cover-up. Journalist Seth Kantor discusses Jack Ruby's connections and potential involvement in a conspiracy. The testimonies collectively cast doubt on the official narrative, suggesting possible involvement of additional parties in the assassination.

• Bill Newman was a witness to the assassination of President Kennedy, standing on the curb in front of the grassy knoll.
• He described hearing gunshots and seeing the president react, initially thinking it was firecrackers.
• Newman observed visible injuries to Governor Connally and described the president's head wound.
• He believed the shots came from behind him and was in fear for his life and his family's safety.

"We were standing along the curb on Elm Street and as the president's car come toward us probably 200 ft or so from us we heard a boom boom like that President sort of throwed his arms up and we thought at that time maybe someone had throw uh firecrackers or something beside the uh president's car."

• Newman initially thought the sound was firecrackers, indicating the confusion and unexpected nature of the event.

"Just as the president's car got directly in front of me the president was probably 15 ft away Boom the side of his ear flew off and just uh bits and pieces flew off."

• Newman provided a graphic description of the fatal shot, emphasizing his proximity and the impact of the event.

"I thought the shots were coming from directly behind and where would that be on this exhibit uh would be somewhere back in this general area."

• He believed the shots originated from the direction of the grassy knoll, contributing to the theory of multiple shooters.

"After the third shot was fired fired yester had you ever before been in the presence of the president of the United States no sir okay was this an exciting moment for you yes yes sir it was."

• Despite the chaos, Newman acknowledged the significance of being present during a presidential visit, highlighting the emotional impact.

• Tom Tilson, a Dallas Police Department officer, provided testimony regarding his observations on the day of the assassination.
• He described seeing a man resembling Jack Ruby leave the scene and get into a car.
• Tilson pursued the vehicle but did not engage due to safety concerns for his daughter.
• He provided the car's license plate number to Dallas homicide but did not receive follow-up.

"I saw the president car coming this way he had the secret services and all just laying over everybody right in the car and by that time I'd on down by here and right right here there sign here there was car parked right up this is sidewalk on the other side of the sidewalk there the car right here there's a guy right here top of this grass s it's the incline right here fell right here and uh he was he came down this grass Nole behind his sign and and uh when he got to the car he about the front of the car."

• Tilson described his location and actions during the event, emphasizing his observations of a man leaving the grassy knoll.

"I didn't see Jack Ruby on that day did you uh see anybody that looked like Jack Ruby on that day I did where did you see C I saw him coming down the grass and old getting in in a car in this car that you've been talking about yes sir you're saying that the man that came down the grassy null and got in this car and drove off that you've been describing looked like Jack Ruby yes sir exactly like weight and height and same kind of clothes he wear and color hair."

• He identified the individual as resembling Jack Ruby, contributing to suspicions about Ruby's involvement.

"They never contacted me about that at all thank you sir now did you see Jack Ruby on that day no sir I didn't see Jack Ruby on that day did you uh see anybody that looked like Jack Ruby on that day I did where did you see C I saw him coming down the grass and old getting in in a car in this car that you've been talking about yes sir you're saying that the man that came down the grassy null and got in this car and drove off that you've been describing looked like Jack Ruby yes sir exactly like weight and height and same kind of clothes he wear and color hair."

• Despite providing crucial information, Tilson expressed frustration at the lack of follow-up from authorities.

• Dr. Cyril Wecht, a forensic pathologist, testified about the inconsistencies in the single bullet theory.
• He explained the trajectory and physics of the bullets, challenging the official account.
• Wecht emphasized that the bullet's path could not have logically matched the injuries to both Kennedy and Connally.

"The reason for the problem was this they got the alleged murder weapon this manaker Carano single action uh non-automatic weapon and it was determined that in the hands of the most skilled Marksman that the government could find it took 2.3 seconds from shot to shot."

• Wecht highlighted the timing issue, questioning the feasibility of the single bullet theory.

"The bullet entered the back of President Kennedy and then it moved to the front and it moved to the left and it exited from the midline of his neck that bullet did not strike any dense bone there was nothing to deflect it whatsoever nothing to to alter its path."

• He described the bullet's path through Kennedy's body, noting the lack of deflection or alteration.

"There is simply no way possible for that bullet to have entered Governor Conley's posterior right axillary area which is a fancy medical way for saying behind the right armpit if it hit him behind the right armpit it would have had to have come out of the president's neck and in some way veered back to the right and then stopped and turned around and started once again in a path toward the left bullets do not react that way not even in comic books folks."

• Wecht concluded that the bullet's trajectory was implausible, suggesting multiple shooters.

• The single bullet theory suggests that one bullet caused multiple injuries to both President Kennedy and Governor Connally.
• The bullet supposedly passed through Kennedy, hitting Connally's chest, wrist, and thigh, yet Connally continued to hold his hat and look forward.

"Governor Connally under the definition of the single bullet theory has been hit through the chest through the wrist... the bullet's gone into the left thigh and there he sits continuing to hold the hat and to look forward."

• The theory is controversial due to the pristine condition of the bullet, known as Commission Exhibit 399, despite causing significant damage.

"Commission Exhibit 399... broke both the rib and the wrist in Governor Conley but emerged in near pristine condition."

• The bullet's path and condition have been subjects of experiments and debates.

"This bullet went through the wrist of a human cadaver breaking the radius... to simulate the wrist fracture."

• The autopsy performed on President Kennedy is criticized for being incomplete and inadequate.
• Key procedures, such as the full examination of the brain, were not conducted.

"One of the most incomplete superficial inadequate inept forensic pathologically incompetent medical legal autopsies I've ever seen."

• The lack of brain examination is highlighted as a major flaw in understanding the bullet wounds.

"The brain was not examined at the time of the autopsy... the brain was never examined in this case."

• The Zapruder film shows Kennedy's head moving backward and to the left, suggesting a shot from the right side, possibly from the grassy knoll.

"The film shows the president being driven backward and to the left with substantial force at the moment of impact with the head wound."

• Expert testimony suggests the shot's directionality is most consistent with a force from the right side.

"That is most consistent with a force of substantial nature coming in from the right side."

• There is debate over the origin of the shots, with some experts suggesting shots came from a lower floor than the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository.

"At least one of the shots would have been more likely to have come from around the second floor of the Texas School Book Depository building."

• The possibility of synchronized shots from multiple directions is discussed, though considered remote.

"You can do it according to a point in time you can do it from a pre-arranged signal... a remote possibility but a physical possibility to be considered."

• The president's brain, crucial for examining the bullet's path, was never made available for examination.
• There are theories about its disappearance, including the possibility of it being taken by Robert Kennedy.

"The house select committee... concluded that it was he who was responsible for The Disappearance of his brother's brain."

• The lack of brain evidence leaves many questions unanswered regarding the bullet's trajectory and impact.

"We don't know a lot of things about what would happen what happened because of the incompleteness of the examination and the unavailability of the evidence."

• Expert testimonies vary, with some agreeing on rear entry wounds, but disagreeing on other aspects of the assassination.
• The credibility and motivations of pathologists and other experts are questioned.

"By necessary implication they are either hopelessly and utterly incompetent or they deliberately suppress the truth from the American public."

• The reliability of the Magic Bullet theory is doubted, with some suggesting it might be a fake or fraud.

"I have much doubt as to whether that bullet went through any of the individuals that day."

• Jack Ruby's presence at Parkland Hospital on the day of the assassination raises suspicions about the bullet's authenticity and the events of the day.

"Are you aware of the fact that Mr Ruby Jack Ruby was at the Parkland Hospital that afternoon?"

• The connection between Ruby and the assassination adds another layer of complexity to the investigation.

"I have Mr Ruby very much in mind."

• The process of removing a brain from a deceased individual involves a series of precise incisions and procedures.
• In the specific case discussed, the procedures revealed an absence of a complete brain in the cranium, with only fragments remaining.
• The testimony challenges the official reports that claimed the brain was preserved for further study.

"In order to remove a brain from a deceased person, you have to make an incision that goes from ear across the top of the head to ear."

• This quote outlines the standard procedure for brain removal, highlighting the meticulous nature of the process.

"The president's brains were literally blown out of his head; he had none."

• This statement emphasizes the extent of damage observed, contradicting official claims of the brain being preserved.

"The official autopsy report in this case... states on page four the brain is removed and preserved for further study."

• It highlights a discrepancy between the witness's account and the official autopsy report, raising questions about the accuracy of the documented findings.

• The witness was under orders from the military not to discuss the autopsy details, which he adhered to until given permission later.
• Despite the shocking nature of the missing brain, the witness did not volunteer this information to investigators unless specifically asked.
• The investigation into the president's death involved numerous interviews and testimonies, but certain critical details were not pursued or disclosed.

"I was under orders not to talk to anybody by the United States military."

• This quote underscores the restrictions placed on the witness, affecting the disclosure of information.

"If those investigators from the house select committee didn't ask you the magic question, by golly, you're not about to tell them."

• It illustrates the witness's adherence to only providing information that was explicitly requested, limiting the scope of the investigation.

• The FBI agent discussed receiving and destroying a note from Oswald, which was ordered by a superior before the Warren Commission was announced.
• The destruction of evidence and withholding of information from agents were discussed, raising concerns about transparency and accountability within the FBI.
• The agent expressed frustration over being kept in the dark about certain aspects of the investigation, such as Oswald's alleged trip to Mexico.

"I was ordered to destroy it... I was told by the agent in charge Gordon Shanklin."

• This quote highlights the directive to destroy evidence, which raises questions about the integrity of the investigation process.

"The information that you believe that was withheld from you had to do with the supposed trip of Lee to Mexico."

• It points to a lack of communication within the FBI, impacting the thoroughness of the investigation.

• Oswald's alleged visit to Mexico City and interactions with embassies were scrutinized, with findings suggesting the presence of an impostor.
• The investigation revealed discrepancies in descriptions and activities, leading to the conclusion that Oswald might not have been the individual present.
• The CIA's capabilities to fabricate identities and documents were mentioned, adding complexity to the investigation.

"We had no choice but to conclude that he had not [visited the embassies]."

• This conclusion challenges the narrative of Oswald's activities in Mexico, suggesting alternative explanations.

"There was no photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald even though they had photographers there around the clock."

• The absence of photographic evidence supports the theory of an impostor, questioning the validity of Oswald's alleged actions.

• The witness, bound by a secrecy oath, was unable to disclose certain classified information to the jury.
• The existence of extensive classified files on Oswald and the potential for fabricating identities were acknowledged.
• The secrecy surrounding the investigation limited the transparency and availability of information to the public and legal proceedings.

"There are many things that you know... that you are not able to tell the jury because of your secrecy oath."

• This quote highlights the constraints on sharing information, affecting the comprehensiveness of the investigation.

"We were given access to a certain file... that talks about fake identities and how you can make a spy out of someone."

• It reveals the CIA's documented capabilities to manipulate identities, adding layers of complexity to the case.

• There is a suggestion that Lee Harvey Oswald was set up by someone posing as him in Mexico City a month before President Kennedy's assassination.
• There is a belief that Oswald had some association with the CIA, possibly involving rogue elements within the agency.
• The CIA is suspected of covering up for these rogue elements, which is characterized as their standard operating procedure.

"Well, the only plausible explanation is that they were trying to set him up."

• This quote suggests that the impersonation of Oswald was an intentional act to frame him for the assassination.

"I have no doubt that he was in some way, yes."

• This indicates a strong belief in Oswald's connection to the CIA, although not necessarily as a direct agency operation.

• Sylvia Duran testified that she processed a Cuban visa application for Oswald, but her inability to accurately describe him casts doubt on whether it was truly Oswald.
• Discrepancies in descriptions and testimonies from other embassy personnel further challenge the identification of Oswald at the consulate.

"She could never tell us that he had signed it in her presence."

• This highlights the uncertainty and unreliability of the evidence linking Oswald to the Cuban consulate.

"We had other testimony from people in the embassy that said that it was not."

• This suggests conflicting accounts regarding Oswald's presence at the consulate, undermining the assertion that he was there.

• The motorcade route that passed the Texas School Book Depository was decided just days before the assassination, suggesting an opportunistic rather than planned conspiracy.
• The implication is that conspirators could not have predicted the motorcade's path, making the setup of Oswald seem extraordinarily lucky.

"I wouldn't call it lucky, I mean there's always context, sir."

• This implies that while the situation seems coincidental, there might be underlying factors or influences at play that are not immediately apparent.

• Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald, was a known figure in Dallas, often seen at events and around police and media personnel.
• Ruby's connections to crime figures and his actions on the day of Oswald's murder are scrutinized for potential involvement in a larger conspiracy.

"I saw Jack Ruby and spoke with him and shook hands with him, some distance away in the hospital."

• This shows Ruby's presence at key locations during critical times, suggesting a possible role beyond that of a mere bystander.

"Jack Ruby was maintaining that he had more information to reveal."

• This indicates Ruby's belief or claim that he had knowledge pertinent to the assassination, fueling conspiracy theories.

• Ruby was described as emotionally unstable, with potential brain damage affecting his judgment and behavior.
• His actions, including the killing of Oswald, are attributed to a mix of emotional distress and a desire for notoriety.

"He had tears in his eyes."

• This illustrates Ruby's emotional state following Kennedy's assassination, suggesting his actions were driven by personal turmoil rather than a calculated plan.

"Ruby thought he would be a hero to the world for having killed Oswald."

• This reflects Ruby's belief that his actions would be celebrated, highlighting his distorted perception of the situation.

• Ruby had historical ties to organized crime figures, which were investigated for possible connections to the assassination.
• Despite these connections, the evidence suggests Ruby's actions were not part of a coordinated conspiracy.

"These people who he was telephoning were well and deeply connected with the underworld."

• This quote underscores Ruby's associations with criminal elements, which could imply potential motives or influences on his actions.

"Ruby had been associated with these crime figures for many years."

• This suggests that Ruby's interactions with these figures were part of his longstanding lifestyle rather than a specific plot related to the assassination.

• Ruby repeatedly requested to be moved to Washington for testimony, claiming to have critical information.
• His requests are interpreted as either a genuine desire to disclose information or as a manifestation of his paranoia and fear for his safety.

"He asked several times, yes, sir."

• This indicates Ruby's persistent attempts to move his testimony to a federal level, suggesting he believed he had significant information to share.

"He suspected the room was bugged."

• This shows Ruby's paranoia and mistrust of his surroundings, reinforcing the idea that he felt threatened or compromised.

• The trial and testimonies explore various angles of potential conspiracy and cover-up but ultimately rest on the jury's interpretation of the evidence.
• The defense rests with an assertion of a larger plot involving rogue elements and possible manipulation of events and individuals.

"The evidence is clear that Jack Ruby had a very deep affection for President Kennedy."

• This statement is used to argue that Ruby's actions were driven by personal motives rather than a broader conspiracy.

"The defense rests."

• This marks the conclusion of the defense's presentation, leaving the jury to deliberate on the complex web of testimonies and evidence presented.