There are only three significant questions left unanswered in the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy which occurred in Dallas, Texas, on November 22nd, 1963.
First is Lee Harvey Oswald’s motive.
Why’d he do it? We’ll never know for sure because Oswald never confessed and he died two days later, taking that secret to his grave.
Second – where was Oswald going after the assassination?
He left the scene, went home, grabbed his revolver, and was walking south on a Dallas street when intercepted by Officer JD Tippit. Oswald shot Tippit and continued fleeing before getting cornered in a theatre where he attempted to shoot the arresting officers. Clearly he was planning to live another day.
The third question – what happened to the missing bullet?
This can now be reasonably explained, although it’s taken a half century to figure it out.
Evidence clearly shows that Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots from his 6.5 mm Mannlicher-Carcano rifle which was recovered from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Conspiracy theorists – give it a rest. Oswald was the trigger man and he acted alone. Not one single piece of evidence exists to refute this because non-events leave no evidence. It never happened any other way than Oswald acting alone.
The problem with the three shot evidence is that only two bullets were recovered. One has never been accounted for.
So what happened to it?
Let’s look at the firearms evidence in the JFK homicide case.
First of all, you have to weigh the ear-witness reports. The vast majority of witnesses stated that three gunshots were heard. Some claimed that one, two, and as many as nine shots were heard, but you’re going to get that variation with the hundreds of people that were present in Dealey Plaza when Kennedy was shot.
You’ve got to give credibility to the witnesses who were closest to the muzzle. There were three Texas School Book Depository workers directly below the sixth floor, southeast window (sniper’s nest) where Oswald fired from. They were unshakable and unanimous that three shots rang out.
Their testimony is corroborated (backed-up) by the fact that three expended shell casings were found in the snipers nest. These three casings were forensically matched as being fired from Oswald’s Carcano ‘to the exclusion of all other firearms’ as the categorical term goes.
What’s clearly telling is the location in which these casings were found and photographed. In all my reading and research, I can’t find any official comment on the meaning of the casing pattern, although it’s obvious when you simply think about it. Two casings are grouped together, and the third is by itself about five feet from where Oswald pulled his trigger.
To further understand the significance, you have to know that Oswald piled a small fortress of book boxes around the sniper’s nest to conceal himself, creating a cardboard wall. When he ejected the casings from his bolt action rifle, they flew through the air at a 90 degree angle from the barrel and struck the wall of boxes to Oswald’s right, then ricocheted to rest on the floor.
Hmmm… two were together and one was off by itself. It’s obvious that Oswald’s barrel position changed between the lone cartridge and the group of two.
So how does this explain the missing bullet?
Let’s look at the two shots that were accounted for.
The first bullet that hit Kennedy, known in assassination terminology as The Single Bullet Theory, got him through the back of the shoulder/ base of the neck, exited his throat, then entered Texas Governor John Connally’s back. In a rapidly diminishing velocity, it traversed Connally’s chest, blew out below his right nipple, continued on to smash his wrist, and lodge in Connally’s thigh. It remained intact, as full metal jacket bullets are designed to do when they penetrate soft mediums like cloth and flesh, and was recovered on Connally’s stretcher at Parkland Hospital. This bullet is also known as The Magic Bullet.
The second bullet that hit Kennedy blasted his head apart. It fragmented into multiple pieces, as full metal jackets are designed to do when they hit a hard medium like bone at a high velocity. Less than fifty percent of this round was recovered. By the way, both of these bullets were ballistically linked to being fired from Oswald’s Carcano ‘to the exclusion of all other firearms’.
These two shots were recorded on the famous Zapruder film which shows them occurring 4.88 seconds apart with both trajectories in the same line to the sniper’s nest window.
Ergo. The two tightly grouped casings came from these two shots because the angle of ejection, ricochet, and rest pattern are similar.
So why was the third casing so far apart?
Simple. It was fired from a different angle.
Let’s think this thing out, then look at some more physical and witness evidence.
If you were Oswald, intent on shooting the President, would you expose yourself to the eyes-front approach of the motorcade as it approached you from the south on Houston St.? (Remember, Oswald was unstable, but he was calculating.) An approaching target, when you’re in a vertical vantage point, is a tough target to hit (Remember, I was a sniper so I know what I’m talking about). It’s common sense that he’d wait until JFK’s limo rounded the corner onto Elm St. and was nearly stopped right in front of him. That’s the most logical time to squeeze-off a shot.
But the two shots that killed JFK happened when the limo was far west of the sniper’s nest and vanishing from Oswald’s sight picture.
So why didn’t he fire when he had the closest opportunity?
Well, he probably did.
The angle of ejection for the lone casing is entirely consistent with Oswald firing it at the first logical opportunity which was when the limo was closest to him and the security eyes were facing away.
So how did he miss?
Simple again. As Oswald was following Kennedy in his cross-hairs, a traffic light came into play. Oswald squeezed off the first round, but it hit the metal housing on the light and fragmented.
This accounts for other evidence like where James Tague, a bystander five hundred and twenty feet to the west, was hit in the cheek by a piece of concrete curb that was sent flying by a lead fragment and where Virgie Rachley stated to have seen sparks fly from the pavement behind the limo when the first of three shots were fired. The simplest explanation is that these fragments were from the first, and missing, bullet.
Just got back from Dallas and the Kennedy Memorial at the School Book Depository Building. I had been familiar with the theory of the first bullet striking the signal and ricocheting to strike the curb causing fragments to hit Tague. I truly believe Oswald acted alone and this theory seems to fit with the physical evidence which to my mind supports that conclusion. What puzzles me is that no witness to my (admittedly very limited) knowledge ever mentioned the sound of a ricocheting bullet after that first shot. The bullet is relatively large and it seems to me would have generated a distinct sound as it passed through the air. The bullet’s path would have taken it close to several people standing on the grass between Elm and Main Streets.
Comments?
Hi Garry –
Just wondering what your thoughts are regarding the violent backward head snap after the head shot that is clearly seen in the Zapruder film. Occam’s razor as well as Newton’s second law of motion would seem to indicate that the shot came from the right front, i.e., the grassy knoll.
Hi, Don and thanks for commenting. You have a very valid question which, on the surface, seems logical to question if the shot at Z313 came from the front right and the reactions seen in Z314-320 were a push back from a frontal impact. This has been extensively studied and the answer is that the motion is a neurological reaction combined with an aerodynamic force working against the body. Ken Rahn is a physicist who made a detailed explanation about the mechanics of the head shot. Here’s the link:
http://www.kenrahn.com/JFK/Scientific_topics/Physics_of_head_shot/Physics_of_the_head_shot.html
In an enlarged look at the frame by frame stills, there is an obvious but slight forward movement of JFK’s head right at impact between Z313-Z314. This is consistent with a high-velocity bullet strike from the rear – the head was, in fact, pushed forward first and then he reacted by moving “back and to the left”.
Something to keep in mind when making sense of the JFK assassination is the preponderance of the evidence as a whole and the lack of anything to support a frontal gunshot. There was absolutely no physical evidence of a frontal shot. Using the head snap as “evidence” is only an opinion of interpretation – it’s not the truth. The real evidence about the head shot is that a bullet entry wound with interior beveling was found in the back of JFK’s skull and the exit wound was in the right front. The bullet fragments that came from that wound were found forward in the limousine and they were 100% matched to Oswald’s rifle which was behind in the TSBD. It’s just as simple as that.
Hi Garry –
Much of the evidence for a shot from the rear is based on the apparent sudden forward movement of the head just before the backward snap. This, in turn, is based on the veracity of the Zapruder film. It’s true that the forward motion could be caused by a shot from the rear, but it could also be accounted for if frames had been removed from the film just before Z-313. There are other instances in the film of movements by people that seem much faster than would be possible, which could also be best explained by frames being removed. Film alteration may seem like tinfoil hat territory to many people, but a lot of research has been published on this subject and should be given due consideration. Doug Horne, a ranking member of the Assassinations Records Review Board, has shown that there are serious problems with the chain on custody of the film and the gaps in this chain could certainly allow for alteration.
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2012/05/douglas-p-horne/the-two-npic-zapruder-film-events-signposts-pointing-to-the-filmsalteration/
Anyway, it’s refreshing to see forums like the ones you run here where there are no flame wars of personal insults. Keep up the good work.
Garry –
Here’s a much better link to the Doug Horne article – the first one was garbled in places and the images did not show. Sorry about that.
http://assassinationofjfk.net/the-two-npic-zapruder-film-events-signposts-pointing-to-the-films-alteration/
Dying words
(quote on)
Much of the evidence for a shot from the rear is based on the apparent sudden forward movement of the head just before the backward snap. This, in turn, is based on the veracity of the Zapruder film. It’s true that the forward motion could be caused by a shot from the rear, but it could also be accounted for if frames had been removed from the film just before Z-313. There are other instances in the film of movements by people that seem much faster than would be possible, which could also be best explained by frames being removed.
(quote off)
The forward movement of JFK’s head in the 312-313 interval cannot be explained by simply removing a frame from the Zapruder film. The had moves forward not just in space but also relative to fixed objects that are part of the limousine. And also moves forward relative to Mrs. Kennedy’s head. For some reason, JFK’s head suddenly moves forward about 2 inches. Either:
1. a tremendous coincidence occurred, JFK’s head suddenly moved forward at about the same time his head was hit by a bullet, but had nothing to do with the bullet, or:
2. JFK’s head moved forward as a result of a bullet strike, that we see in frame 313.
The most reasonable explanation is that the head moved forward as a result of a bullet hit from behind.
No frame of the film was simply removed and not replaced by something else. The limousine, frame by frame, is moving a certain distance. During z305-z345, it always moves about 8 inches during each frame interval. By coincidence, this is about 8 mph.
It is not possible for the speed to change abruptly, moving 8 inches from z320-z321 and then by 12 inches from frame z321-z322. That would by enough acceleration to go from 0 to 60 mph in about 0.8 seconds.
Probably the fastest possible acceleration would be something like the following sequence:
8.0 inches
8.5 inches
9.0 inches
9.5 inches
10.0 inches
10.5 inches
11.0 inches
Which would be consistent with an acceleration of 3 mph over about 6 frames, or about a third of a second. This amount of acceleration could cause the limousine to go from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.6 seconds which would be about as fast as this heavy but powerful limousine could accelerate.
It is interesting that for many decades, some CTers spokesmen would continue to push an obviously false theory, that the Zapruder film was altered by simply removing some frames. If this was true, it would be obvious. We would see the limousine take sudden leaps down the road of 16 or 24 inches during a time it was moving 8 inches between any two frames. I do not believe it occurred to these spokesmen that it would be easy to test their theory.
Hi Joe,
I attended a presentation by Josiah Thompson at the JFK Lancer November-In-Dallas conference. Part of his presentation was based on work by researcher David Wimp. They concluded that the forward movement of the head was nothing more than an optical illusion caused by blurring which elongated items in those Z frames.
I checked the late Sherry Fiester’s excellent book, Enemy of the Truth, which was a critical look at the JFK Assassination case from a forensic standpoint (Sherry was a former CSI). On the discussion of a forward movement of the head before the backward motion, she also mentioned the misinterpretation of a blur as forward movement by Tink Thompson, but also pointed out that the late, great Richard Feynman measured forward movement, as well as by more recent photographic experts, John Costella and Itek Corporation. Costella deblurred those frames and concluded forward movement.
However, Sherry explained that the 312-313 forward movement was still consistent with a shot from the front due to loss of velocity of the bullet, transfer of kinetic energy and temporary cavitation, such that “the initial transfer of energy causes the target to swell or move minutely into the force and against the line of fire…..this initial movement against the line of fire transpires one to two milliseconds after impact”. She gives examples of experiments by forensic scientists that prove this phenomenon.
I suggest you read her book.
I agree. I started off my own JFK research as a novel enthusiast of history. I had a college history professor who was given to various conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination. He mentioned several of his conclusions in class one day. Intrigued, I went to my dorm and it began my own research journey.
To be clear: I wanted to find evidence of a conspiracy. In fact, I think that it is human nature to believe this — partially due to distrust of government and the nature that we hope to see something that others cannot. As an engineering student, I was intrigued by approaching the evidence in the same way an engineer approaches a problem.
I began a journey that lasted well after I completed college and grad-school. The more that I read the evidence (and not individuals’ muddying analysis of the evidence), I came to the same Occam’s razor conclusion: Oswald acted alone.
For me, the evidence was overwhelming in how all of the pieces of the puzzle align — but only if there is a single gunman from the sixth floor window. The various conspiracy theories regarding the assassination are surprisingly inconsistent with one another.
In my conclusion: The only way for the conspiracy/conspiracies to be true would be if most (or even all) of the actual evidence to be falsified and planted. Since no one is alleging that ALL of the evidence (or even MOST of the evidence) — physical or eyewitness in nature — was falsified, then the evidence pointed to only one thing: Shots fired from the sixth floor of the building.
During my own research, I identified possible trajectories of the bullets. I also identified potential trajectory hazards — those things (e.g., trees, traffic pole, etc.) that might impede the trajectories. The most glaring possibility was that of the traffic pole and the light hanging from it.
Later, I found the National Geographic special “JFK: The Lost Bullet” online. Consequently, I do believe that the “The Lost Bullet” conclusions (for the most part) make the most sense. In fact, the scenario arguably makes the only sense.
Thanks for your articulate and rational comment, Chris. I wish more people would apply logic and common sense to the JFK case. Thanks again ~ Garry
Hi Gary,
First of all, thanks for the mathematical break down. I’m not great at math but I still was able to follow the gist of what you layed out.
I always thought the heads snapping back as a result of a combination of two things. First, and it sounds a little gross, is that the tremendous amount of energy plus the expelled mass from the front of the head would create A “jet” like effect. Just as a rocket expels hot gases to propel itself in the opposite direction.
And second, due to muscular and neurological reactions. Especially since the president was wearing a back brace and suffered fromunusual physical conditions which may have contributed to the body reaction of being pushed back.
Thanks for your comment, Dick. It’s nice to hear from someone who uses reason compared to some of the conspiracy theorists that show up here. 🙂
Hi Dick,
The Jet Effect has been debunked, firstly by Tink Thompson’s investigation of Dr. Alvarez’ experiments, which he demonstrated in a slide presentation at a JFK Lancer Conference I attended in Dallas. Alvarez used different objects until he got his desired result (movement of the object or simulated head towards the shooter). Mechanical Engineer Tony Szamboti also disproved the Jet Effect, by explaining that Alvarez’ use of a melon wrapped in tape did not simulate the shear strength of the human skull (Alvarez was concerned with tensile strength which isn’t the same thing), otherwise, a true skull-like object would move away from the shooter, not towards the shooter.
The late Sherry Fiester (former CSI) further explains that the Warren Commission did not mention the Aberdeen Proving Ground tests, which showed that skulls filled with ballistic gelatin always moved in the direction of the bullet or line of fire. The HSCA though later summoned Larry Sturdivan, who confirmed his tests for the WC showed that skulls moved in the direction of the bullet, not towards the source or shooter.
Fiester explains that the blood spray seen in the Z film does not produce a jet effect, but can be explained as “back spatter” (or blow back as I’ve read elsewhere). Back spatter was not studied until the early 80s.
Although he lacked the medical expertise in the study of trauma from brain injuries, Sturdivan tried to reconcile his APG experiments to the Warren Commission’s conclusion that the shot came from behind, as a neuromuscular reaction, but as Sherry Fiester points out, Kennedy’s movement is not consistent with the abnormal posturing of a neuromuscular reaction.
Gary,
I have a slightly different analysis regarding the reactions of head shot based on my basic but admittedly limited understanding of mechanics.You certainly have more experience in these matters but I thought I would offer my largely intuitive analysis. The president can be seen leaning forward and to his left after being hit by a bullet that entered his back and exited out his throat before striking Connolly. His head is turned somewhat left and is pointed downward with his chin nearly touching his chest. An off-center shot from the TSBD would be expected to force his head immediately downward with his neck acting as a pivot point. Being struck any even slightly to the right would result in some leftward movement as with a billiard ball. The chin would be forced down into his chest but bounce backwards from the kinetic energy. The bullets energy would not be expected to overcome the weight of his seated position and skeletal structure with legs fin front that would all act to resist forward movement and his head would bounce back and left from the combination of forces. His back brace may also have been a factor in limiting more crumpling. The forward head movement is quite evident in the film to be a pivoting motion. The forward movement captured on the film may not have been the extreme limits since the camera frame rate of 18.3 frames per second may not have coincided with the maximum movement (likely imo). The effect can be imagined simply when considering a ball attached with a spring to a heavy weight like a bag of oats. When the ball is first struck with sufficient force (baseball bat?) it would move in the direction of the force but bounce back. Sit down in a comfy chair and place your head in a similar position to what the Presidents appears at frame 212 and it should be clear. The forward motion can really only be observed when comparing frames 312 and 313 so many observers only see the back and to the left motion.
There’s sure been a pile of discussion over the force reactions from the head shot. I’ve read so many arm-chair opinions about how the reactions fit or don’t fit with the obvious fact that JFK was hit in the back of the head by a bullet fired by Oswald. The reality is that what’s seen on Z312, 313 and on is exactly what happened. From there, the science can be explained by those knowledgeable enough to understand it. The best guy is Larry Sturdivan who wrote The JFK Myths and he explains the energy transfer and neurological reactions clearly. As he puts it, the energy expended by the bullet was exactly sufficient to move the head slightly forward as seen between 313/314 and then the “back and to the left” was a natural physiological reaction from someone whose central nervous system was unplugged.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Billy Joe. I appreciate sensible people talking about the JFK murder. You wouldn’t believe how many CT nutcases I vet who try to comment on this site.
After all of these years, and why I have felt as theories grew in number and complexity, it usually is ALWAYS the opposite: Human nature in its pure, simple form, with simple reasons and explanations.
Any research as to the traffic signal light/frame eventual location? Cities dump these, and sometimes place in city-managed dumping grounds for possible re-use.
Hi, Mark – You’re evoking Occam’s Razor where the simplest explanation is usually correct. The JFK Assassination is a classic case of evoking Occam – one lone nut, one rifle, three shots, a dead president, and a change of history. Nothing more complicated than that. As for the original traffic light – it looks like it was changed out, discarded, and lost forever. Thanks for commenting!
With all due respect Mr. Rodgers, James Tague’s final testimony was that he was struck by the 2nd bullet, not the 1st, as Max Holland’s scenario involving the traffic light is based. Also, there are no witness reports that anybody heard or saw this happen (you’d think that someone would’ve heard a metal ping as well as swaying of the fixture). David Von Pein also provides evidence that the hole in the traffic light was not considered to have been made by a bullet based on a study.
http://jfk-archives.blogspot.ca/2011/11/jfk-lost-bullet.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20130814061906/http://www.washingtondecoded.com/site/2011/11/the-.html
Even if this happened, there’s the difficulty of a fragment reaching James Tague over 400 feet away (the Warren Commission found it unlikely that even a fragment from the head shot could reach or deflect to mark the curb and/or hit James Tague, which is from a shorter distance than a first shot miss).
I also disagree with many of your other points but thank you for this opportunity to comment on just one aspect you raised.
Gerry – Read Tague’s WC testimony – http://jfkassassination.net/russ/testimony/tague.htm What’s really sad about you conspiracy theorists is that you so want there to be something other than the simple and truthful situation of Oswald acting alone and shooting Kennedy (no matter how you dissect the shots) so you dismiss or distort the facts. It’s 53 years now – time to grow up and accept that there was no conspiracy.
Hi Garry,
Re-visiting this by fluke and just saw your reply to me.
His testimony says 2nd or 3rd shot. Not 1st shot, which goes against your scenario with that light pole (the FBI re-enactments for the WC didn’t have this problem with the light pole, which is ABOVE the intended target). You should also read Tague’s book where he finally explains that it wasn’t the 2nd shot but a later shot, IIRC. (Even the Warren Commission “leaned” towards a 2nd shot miss).
Read this excellent article by Michael T. Griffith http://michaelgriffith1.tripod.com/tague.htm
A conspiracy is suggested because the evidence calls into question the official version of the Warren Commission (WC). There are many learned, professionals in the fields of medicine, forensics and ballistics experts who find the Single Bullet Theory (SBT) untenable. It’s not for a love of conspiracies to answer all of life’s mysteries. Even the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded that it was a conspiracy (based on acoustics evidence), although I don’t agree with their modified SBT. Many like to be called “Conspiracy Realists”, but that doesn’t mean they believe in any theory that goes against the WC.
Occam’s Razor is not merely that the simplest explanation is the best one (Occam’s Razor is not even used to prove criminal cases – only the BARD standard of proof is – and in Oswald’s case, they would have considered CE399 as inadmissible due to the faulty or break in its chain of possession). It is primarily a heuristic tool used in science experiments, as a method of choosing between two COMPETING hypotheses, and the one with the least assumptions is the best one. (Frankly, I think the SBT requires more assumptions).
With all due respect Mr. Rodgers, time to re-consider your hypothesis.
Thanks for your comment, Gerry, but I’ll stand by my belief.
Garry, frame 313 of the Zapruder film, has what seems to be a dramatic sunlit flare…perhaps the
track of a bullet, or the sunlit reflection of a bullet, appearing over Jackie Kennedy’s head, emanating
from 1:00PM in the frame directly to the President’s head. If it were the track of a bullet, it would seem
to be coming from the opposite side of Elm Street, opposite the grassy knoll (i.e. from the direction of Main Street). But, I’ve seen discussion, in the literature, that this is a light flare resulting from a bullet (or fragment of a bullet) hitting the windshield…but the light phenomenon seems to exhibit direction, starting from the top of the frame, heading directly to the President’s head, coinciding with, or a bit prior to, the head shot impact of the third shot from the TSBD. Have you seen this, and know what it is?
Hi Gary, To the best of interpretations, what’s being seen here is portions of JFK’s skull bone that were blown off by the force of the bullet impact. You see them first appear in Z313 and then have moved away in Z314. There might also be a bit of freeze-frame distortion happening as the Zapruder film was shot at 18 frames per second and this impact happened in a lot less than 1/18 of a second. It certainly is not a bullet path and the evidence is 100% conclusive that only one bullet hit JFK in the head and that it came from Oswald’s 6.5mm Carcano that was fired from the TSBD. Here are enhanced versions of Z-Frames 313 and 314. Thanks for commenting!
http://www.assassinationresearch.com/zfilm/z313.jpg
http://www.assassinationresearch.com/zfilm/z314.jpg
I have always wondered why the Virgie Rachley testimony about seeing sparks behind the limo early in the assassination sequence has not been given more currency. Seeing sparks on the pavement that coincided with the first explosive sound is not likely to be something she imagined or invented. Plus, a bullet (or part of a bullet) striking pavement would give off a different sound that would explain why MANY witnesses took the first shot to be a firecracker.
Placing the first shot much earlier in the assassination sequence gives Oswald more time to operate the bolt action and take fresh aim twice. And it is easy to see how the shots get easier as the sequence progresses. In the first shot, Oswald has to hit a target that is moving from left to right across his field of vision, and at very close range as seen through a sniper scope. Not surprising that he could have missed (although I agree an intervening obstruction might have been required for him to miss the limousine entirely). By the third shot, the limo is moving directly away from Oswald, making JFK appear to be a stationary target in the crosshairs.
Secondly, as I understand it, Gov. Connally showed many people the bullet scar under his shoulder blade, and that it was oblong as opposed to circular. This alone tends to corroborate a tumbling bullet having just exited JFK’s throat. I don’t see this fact highlighted nearly enough.
It’s ironic that the Warren Commission, whose purpose was to calm the conspiracy hysteria, did the exact opposite. While they got the big things right (two lone nuts, single-bullet theory), they got enough things wrong (sequence of the shots) that the effect was more questions raised than answered. And we see with hindsight that the WC did not get the benefit of everything known by the FBI and the CIA, for internal ass-covering reasons.
Finally, the failure to get a Dallas County autopsy was a key element in the conspiracy theories that linger today. Looking back, I don’t see why Dr. Earl Rose wasn’t dispatched to fly back to DC with the body to a) maintain the chain of evidence and b) participate in the Bethesda autopsy. Seems that would have been an elegant solution to the brouhaha at Parkland.
Thanks for the great post and the original thinking.
Bob King
New Braunfels, Texas
Hi Bob – Thanks for the rational, well-thought-out comment. That’s a very good point about Earl Rose not being taken back to DC. In all my researching I’ve never heard if this was optioned and looking at it, it would have made perfect sense. I suspect that the whole Kennedy team was in such distress that foresight such as this wasn’t in the picture.
I’ve been meaning to do a blog post on the Single Bullet Theory (should be Single Bullet Fact). It’s so simple when you think about it with an open mind and there is no other rational explanation. Also, Connally’s wound descriptions were clearly described by the doctors who operated on him and are entirely consistent with a tumbling bullet.
I think the biggest failure of the Warren Commission was to stack it with lawyers and politicians rather than with forensic expertise. But, in the end, they got it right and their conclusion will stand the test of time.
Thanks for stopping by, Bob. It’s nice to have someone intelligent respond to a JFK post. You should see some of the idiotic, almost visceral comments that I get here from conspiracy theorists. I just trash them and move on.
I recall reading that one of the Secret Service Agents (Kellerman?) did offer to have a Dallas doctor (Coroner?) to accompany them back to Washington and remain with the Presidents body. This was as they were “negotiating” at Parkland Hospital when told the body could not leave. The offer was rejected and the agents ultimately muscled their way out.
There’s some truth to this as I understand. I read an account from Secret Service Agent Roy Kellerman that the SS was blocked by Parkland pathologist Dr. Earl Rose who also had coroner power. Rose demanded he do an autopsy at Parkland as the law dictated. Kellerman phoned Dallas DA Henry Wade to get authority to take JFK’s body back to Washington and avoid the time of a Dallas autopsy. Wade informed Kellerman it was illegal under Texas law to remove a body from the state without a coroner’s consent. Kellerman asked what the punishment was. Wade said there was a $100 fine. Apparently, Kenny O’Donnell whipped out a hundred bucks and gave it to Rose, saying “Here you go.” The SS then did force their way past Rose and technically stole Kennedy’s body. I can sure see it happening.
They got most of it right but in it’s written report, the Warren Commission failed to agree on the SBT and left it unresolved, deciding it was unnecessary for them to make that determination (some members would not accept it). I find Dale Myers computer animation analysis of the single bullet model to be the clearest explanation of the three shots. As you say, it really seems remarkably simple. But it is understandable how people could initially assume that the President and Governor Connolly had been struck by separate bullets especially given Governor Connolly’s account. But it just seems so clear in the Zapruder film that JFK and Connolly are struck at frame 224 that it is difficult for me to understand how they couldn’t recognize that. I presume that they were often looking more at still blowups as opposed to focusing on the film. Did they have a first generation copy? The digital HD version now available to the public has made it much easier to give closer detailed analysis to anyone who is interested. I believe the Commission had already begun it’s hearings before the single bullet theory had even been suggested. I do expect there was some pressure on investigators to arrive at a predetermined result pushed by Hoover who IMO was likely aware of the threat Oswald might pose to the President.
I’m with you about how the WC members struggled with the SBT. A main flaw in the WC was they didn’t employ many forensic people to interpret evidence or properly x-exam expert witnesses and allow them to expand on how their opinions of the ballistic dynamics. Dale Myers has the best presentation of how the Single Bullet Fact worked. Another credible publication is The JFK Myths by Larry Sturdivan who gave the ballistic evidence at the 1978 HSCA hearings. As for Oswald being on the FBI radar for a JFK threat, I don’t see any evidence it was there. I’m, sure Hoover never heard of LHO till his arrest.
I hope you will continue to welcome my comments and you don’t think I am a total kook after reading this. My suggestion of Hoover identifying Oswald as a potential unwitting assassin is admittedly speculative (or imaginative) and I agree there is no evidence to support this “scenario”. But I sometimes have a somewhat dark view of human nature when it comes to personal self interest.
I have always been troubled by the attempt on Walker, a nationally known anti-communist right wing leader and why Oswald was not considered a suspect, given the contents of his FBI file. If Walker was not such a well known figure and anti-communist (given Hoovers personal war on communism) I likely would not give it a second thought (even with news reports of Oswald’s return from Russia). But former General Edwin Walker was a person of some note (see his Wiki page), and an attempt on his life seems likely to have come to Hoover’s attention.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover may have been aware of Oswald’s dangerous potential, especially after Oswald’s attempt to assassinate former General Edwin Walker (nationally known controversial right wing anti communist political figure) in Dallas, only a few months before JFK’s trip. Oswald’s FBI file would have made him a potential suspect in the Walker shooting, but the lead was never shared with Dallas police. Hoover was in the unique position to know of the information contained in Oswald’s file and control access. Hoover was facing mandatory retirement at age 70 and only a Presidential executive order could exempt him from the federal retirement statute. He knew the Kennedy brothers (Bobby was AG and had a very strained relationship with Hoover) had hoped to allow him to retire and install their own FBI Director. A successful assassination would eliminate the need to resort to uncertain blackmail pressure Hoover would be expected to employ. Hoover was not expected to leave easily from the agency he had essentially founded and led since 1924. He also was a personal friend of LBJ whom he knew would provide him the waiver he sought to allow him to remain Director of the FBI. Hoover may (or may not) already have been aware of other potential plots which he ignored, and one more would only increase the odds for him. He may have understood immediately the likelihood of a potential Presidential visit Texas, Johnson’s home state, perhaps even influencing events behind the scenes. I doubt he would want to directly involve LBJ who might act unnaturally due to the danger to himself and Ladybird and somehow cause suspicion. Hoover might even rationalize that the nation was better served by his continued leadership of the FBI and his personal fight against communism. Hoover had his own personal motivation to hold on to the power he had acquired and wielded as arguably the most powerful individual in US government. Note that Hoover was responsible for selecting the Warren Commission and “his” FBI was the investigating arm of the WC.
I believe Oswald’s psychological state of mind, no prospects, dashed hopes of getting Cuban visa, and deteriorated marriage with Marina refusing to take him back, motivated him to shoot Kennedy and I believe it is likely he might even have attempted to run up to the car with his revolver had fate not presented him such an unfortunate (and irresistible?) opportunity.
Kennedy’s trip was announced and published in newspapers the day before Oswald went to Mexico City. I believe it is possible that the CIA had overheard Oswald’s desperate offer to assassinate JFK during his visit to Mexico City where he was hoping to obtain a visa to Cuba. Neither the Russians or Cubans would want to involve themselves with such an unsolicited dangerous offer and the CIA could have sat on the info for fear of revealing their valuable covert surveillance operation of the Cuban and Soviet embassies. They might have imagined with Oswald’s offer being rejected that he would no longer have a reason to try to kill Kennedy. Naturally there would be efforts to coverup any foreknowledge once their tragic miscalculation was understood.
George de Mohrenschildt was at least aware of Oswald’s attempt on Walker. He testified to seeing Oswald’s scoped rifle when he and his wife visited the Oswald’s at their apartment shortly after the Walker shooting. It was learned after de Mohrenschildt’s suicide in 1977 that he had been in possession of a signed (by Oswald) photo of Oswald holding the rifle and revolver. It was dated PRIOR to the attempt on Walker and inscribed “Hunter of fascists” (in Russian) which is a reference to Walker. He committed suicide in 1977, right after becoming aware that the House Select Committee on Assassinations wanted to interview him. His wife provided the photo to the HSCA two days after his death. At a minimum he was aware Oswald had attempted to assassinate Walker and failed to notify the police. Had he done so, Oswald would have likely been unable to shoot Kennedy. Still it is possible he had been an informer to the FBI which his background might suggest and may have been instructed to report on Oswald. Could he have also have encouraged (instructed or on his own) or have had foreknowledge of the attempt on Walker? Seems possible but in any case I believe he was haunted by guilt and the shame he could bring to his family due to his (unwitting) role in the Presidents assassination.
Admittedly this theory is mere speculation, but I always found it odd that Oswald was not under closer observation especially given the earlier Walker shooting, considering the info in his file as well as an FBI agent (Hosty) assigned to his case. And consider the conversation testified to by Dallas Police Lt. Jack Revill with FBI agent James Hosty, suggesting the FBI was indeed aware (all in WCR ). The WC chose to accept the FBI’s (weak) account of that conversation despite (strong) evidence supporting Lt. Revill. The head of the Secret Service Protective Research Division testified that the info in Oswald’s file would have made him a potential danger had they been aware of it. It seems Hoover would have understood Oswald’s danger as well but may have placed his personal ambition over his duty. He is now known to frequently have abused his authority through spying and intimidation of even the most powerful members of government.
It might be interesting to consider how this theory could also be applied to Clyde Tolson, the Associate Director and “best friend” of Hoover, also potentially with his own motivation to see Hoover remain as Director and in a position to manipulate Oswald’s file.
The government would want to avoid admitting to this (or other theories) if true, considering the damage to international prestige and loss of national confidence in our foundational institutions, already suffering erosion.
This is speculation but at least it fits in with Oswald being the lone self motivated assassin. One more coincidence is that the first discussion of a possible Presidential visit to Dallas occurred within two weeks after the attempt on Walker.
Its the sort of “conspiracy” I can understand…absolute power corrupts absolutely (and is difficult to give up..willingly). Hoover obtained the waiver from LBJ and remained as Director until his death.
On a separate matter…in your experience as a sniper, would you ever imagine any skilled assassin selecting the grassy knoll as a good place to shoot from? It would seem to be impossible to secure imo. I have never seen that point argued but it seems obvious although I have no experience in these matters and am only offering an intuitive opinion.
Hey Billy Joe – Thanks for your lucid, well thought out comments. It’s so nice to hear from a rational person interested in the JFK murder. I think Hoover was caught off-guard by JFK’s murder as was anyone. Hoover, even by today’s standards, was an awful, devious and manipulative man bent on immortalizing his personal honor by way of protecting the FBI’s integrity. As soon as Hoover learned there was an agency link to the JFK assassination, he went into damage control – controlling information released by the FBI.
History shows Hoover had no prior knowledge of any ground-level events leading to JFK’s death. The Hosty note destructed at a local level and the Walker attempt connection never surfaced until the Warren investigation was underway. Oswald’s Russia links were lost in the myriad of information crossing the FBI’s plate -certainly nothing that would come to the Director’s attention before the murder.
Oswald was a total wild card who capitalized on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shoot the president. There was nothing the FBI or Hoover could have done to prevent it… not like the Secret Serice planning could have (hindsight). Now George DeM was a different cat. He knew about LHO’s shot at Walker. But in fairness, how could he have foreseen the strands of fate bringing JFK under LHO’s gunsights in Dealy Plaza.
And as a trained marksman or sniper, the Grassy Knoll was a terrible strategic spot for a front-on/right-front shot. The problem was concealment and deflection from the limo profile. Crazy place to make a hit, then try and get away from. Now the 6th Floor of the TSBD was perfectly positioned. It allowed high vantage and a controlled target as well as escape time.
Enjoyed reading your informative website, Mr. Rodgers, though we disagree on what really happened on that fateful day in November, 1963. Best regards to you.
Thanks for your comment, Jack, and I appreciate your civil overtone 🙂
Gary,
I came across your blog while googling for some other information regarding the JFK assassination. For the most part, I am very impressed by your analyis, although I am not completely sold on your belief the first shot hit the traffic light. It is a reasonable possibility but just one such possibility. I do disagree with a statement you made in reply to Brian when you wrote, “I still have a problem on how LHO could have completely missed that monstrous target of the limo from that distance (approx 75-80′) while he struck JFK accurately from 189′ on the second shot and 265 on the third. “. If Oswald’s target was the limo he would have had no trouble hitting it but it’s safe to say he was not trying to shoot the limo. He was trying to shoot the guy on the extreme right hand side of the limo and if that shot missed slightly to the right of his intended target, the bullet would completely miss the limo. I do agree that that first nearly vertical shot would have been the most difficult for reasons you alluded to. It would have been made even more difficult by the fact he was firing out the bottom of a window with a very low sill and to get the proper verticality for that shot, he likely would have had to rise up out of the kneeling position he probably assumed for the subsequent shots. This would also effectively make the boxes he stacked for a rifle rest useless for that purpose. On top of that he would have been trying to track his target as it made a 110 degree turn from Houston on to Elm and he might also have rushed that first shot trying to squeeze off a round before his target disappeared under the tree. With all the factors working against him, it’s easy to understand why he might have missed that first shot whether or not that shot hit an intervening obstruction.
Hi John. Thanks for your respectful comment. You’re right about the theory of the traffic light. It is only a theory, but it’s the best one that I’ve heard. I’ll agree with you that LHO was not trying to hit the limo – he was trying to hit JFK who just happened to be in the limo. The barrel angle of the first shot – assuming that it was done just after the limo rounded the 110 degree turn – would have been steep and likely would have been done from a higher than kneeling position. There are a number of video re-enactments which demonstrate this, however there was certainly enough window opening to allow a sight picture from a higher shooting position. I disagree, though, with your statement “that a shot missed slightly to the right of his intended target, the bullet would completely miss the limo.” I’ve just looked at the Secret Service re-enactment video & stills which were taken from a camera installed in the sniper’s nest window and it’s clear that if LHO missed slightly to the right, there was still a huge amount of the limo left to strike. Here’s the link to the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUtJos-wZXI The footage to watch is between 15:10 and 15:16. Hope this helps.
Garrry, I just subscribed to your excellent blog. Brian Roselle (Brian posted some comments below) and I have a presentation on a theory about the probable timing of the first shot – that it was just a moment before the Zapruder film starts. The theory is very much consistent with your explanation of the significance of the shell pattern. Hope you will read our work – and hope you fund it interesting. BTW I’m in Seattle – but wish I could live in Vancouver!
Ken Scearce
http://home.fuse.net/broselle/Zapruder%20web%20site/A%20Home%20page.html
Hi Ken & thanks so much for subscribing and for the compliment. I just downloaded your paper and I’m really looking forward to reading this! It sure looks like you & Brian have put your work into this. Be back to you in a bit once I’ve had time to absorb this 🙂
Garry,
I have also done some looking into the first shot timing and saw your page here while internet searching. I also see a number of other articles on your blog that I will have to look at, they look fascinating.
Thought you might be interested in one other possible Occam’s razor that I saw for an early first shot, which was simply a near limo miss that impaled into the pavement. The timing for that would likely be ~½ second before the Z film restarted, which was a little after the limo got past the traffic light, but still before the tree. The Tague fragment in this case would have most likely been a fragment from the third bullet (the one you mentioned that >50% of was never found). I described the timing basis for this shot scenario on the page https://sites.google.com/site/bjrtestsite/
Thanks for sharing your research as well as posting all those topics; I’ll try to build up the nerve to read some of them 😉
Brian
Thanks for your comment, Brian. You’re obviously very knowledgeable on the JFK case. I had a quick look at your analysis and I want to read this carefully before giving my thoughts. Be back in a bit & thanks again. Garry
Hi again, Brian. I took a good look at your site and your calculations. Good job and a lot of intelligent effort put into it. That’s an excellent composition of the Secret Service recreation, the Dorman film and the Zapruder frames. I highly recommend anyone interested in how the shots happened to check out Brian’s work at https://sites.google.com/site/bjrtestsite/ I take it you’re from a scientific background and not a conspiracy theorist 🙂
We’ll never know for sure what happened to the missing first shot. Here’s a few more comments from my point of view. You could be right that the shot missed the limo and hit the pavement and your observations of the bystander reactions support your timing calculations at ‘Z124’. I still have a problem on how LHO could have completely missed that monstrous target of the limo from that distance (approx 75-80′) while he struck JFK accurately from 189′ on the second shot and 265 on the third. I also put weight on Virgie Rachley’s testimony that she saw sparks flying up from ‘behind’ the limo and in the ‘middle of the lane to the left of the limo’. If that were true, that would be a huge miss – also it was pretty close to the motorcycle escort. The sparks would be consistent with a copper jacket strike, which could have been a whole or a fragmented bullet.
Couple things on the Tague fragment. If it were from the third bullet, the fragmented head shot, the angle of trajectory is puzzling – not from a bird’s eye view, but from an arc. It would have to have cleared the windshield, then travelled about 255′ dropping an elevation of about 11′ to contact the curb. That’s a pretty big curve. The gc/ms examination of the curb ‘smear’ revealed only lead, no copper or antimony, so it had to be from a fragment. Also, the evidence of police office Stavis (Steve) Ellis is very clear that he saw the curb strike right after the first shot, not the other two. Tague, himself, has been all over the map on the timing – He now says that it was the third, but then take into account that he didn’t even realize that he was struck until it was pointed out to him that his cheek was slightly bleeding. Further to the trajectory of the curb strike – if LHO completely missed the limo and his first round struck the pavement and fragmented, then the trajectory would be rather peculiar, again having a pretty big arc in travelling approx 520′.
I’m not trying to prove you wrong, Brian. Your calculations could well be right. Here’s my take on the timing if the first shot did, in fact, hit the traffic light. I don’t know if you have the Secret Service survey material but it’s really helpful in extrapolating the Z film. In taking the calculated speed and timing of the limo to known points, the estimated Z film point that the limo would have passed the line of sight from the rifle to the traffic light would be as early as ‘Z90’ to as late as ‘Z104’, therefore at 18.3 fps, it was between 1.585 and 2.250 seconds before the Z film started. I’m with you on the second shot striking at Z223 and the head shot at Z313 (duh :). So if my traffic light theory is right, LHO had between 11.42 and 12.186 seconds to pull off two more shots. Piece of cake, as they say.
Garry,
Thanks for getting back so quick, I realize what I referenced wasn’t the easiest reading. And unlike you, my writing skills have a ways to go!
You are right in that my background is more of a technical one, and I have mostly looked into the first shot possible timing and have not delved into second or third shot details or other aspects of the case very much.
I agree with you that examining the possibilities of the source/trajectory of the Tague fragment will lend insight into whether it was from a first shot that missed or a fragment of the third shot, and this data would help define the scenario better. Like you, I think that a fragment coming off the pavement then striking near Tague nearly 500 feet away does not seem the most likely. I have done limited analysis in this area but plan to look into it more, so thanks for providing some of the estimated distances and timing for the traffic light, that will help in comparing that scenario to the other.
Thanks again in general for posting your thoughts on this subject and quickly reviewing, assimilating, and commenting on the new material. I’ll forward anything else I find that I think may be of interest to you.
Best Regards,
Brian
It’s a pleasure to have intelligent debates like this on the JFK case, Brian. I’m sure you’ve had your discussions with the tinfoil hat crowd. I always ask the question “Have you read the Warren Report?” Invariably, the answer is “No. It’s all bullshit. Why would I waste my time on that garbage.”
I’d like to know if you have any thoughts on where Oswald was going after the assassination. No doubt he was planning on living another day and had some sort of intention. In reading Dale Myers book ‘With Malice’ on the Tippit murder, he makes a good case that Oswald was walking towards Tippit on 10th towards Patton, then turned a 180 when he saw the police car approaching. This is likely what raised Tippit’s suspicion. LHO clearly shot Tippit out of self preservation, and then he ran in the same direction he was originally going in – towards the business district.
My theory – and it’s only a theory – is that LHO was going to do a hold-up. He’d already murdered the President of the United States, so a two-bit robbery would be pretty minor stakes. He only had $13 on him, having given the majority of his cash to Marina the night before, and he probably expected that he’d get caught at the TSBD. So, he was in need of money to do what I suspect was his next step, and that was to catch a bus back to Mexico and try his luck at going to Cuba.
Any thoughts by anybody out there?
Garry,
It dawned on me the other day when I was organizing my files that I forgot to send you the Tague curb mark analysis from a third shot fragment I said I planned to look in to. Basically it was a modeling effort where I had to wrestle yucky ballistic equations. The gist of it all is that I could not show it was impossible. There were possible solutions (that in addition I think could be realistic) which could make the missing mass/fragment from z313 work for that scenario. However, although showing it could be possible may be suggestive, it’s not a proof. If interested in the summary it’s at:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxianJtaXNjZGF0YXR8Z3g6NzY1NDdlNjliMWY5MmRkZQ
As I do this post I see two other quick comments from previous posts here I’d like to make:
The link Ken Scearce referenced in his post needed to be relocated. It includes some shot timing history and insight supporting why the first shot occurred before the Zapruder film restarted at z133. It is currently at http://www.jfkforensics.net/secretsofthezapruderfilm.html
Relative to John Corbett’s comment on missing the limo, you are totally correct that going directly right (in a 3 o’clock direction) at that early limo position would still allow quite a bit of limo to strike. However he may be right about a miss going down and right (45 degrees from horizontal in a 4:30 o’clock direction). In that case it only had to miss by about 3 feet for a “minimum” limo miss (as a length reference, the traffic light was ~3 ft long). I have a small discussion which included this at: https://sites.google.com/site/bjrtestsite2/shot-marks-on-road
If you were able to do your presentation at the Conference on Forensic Research & Technology, I hope it all went well and was duly appreciated.
Thanks and best regards,
Brian
Hi Brian, I have to say that I’m impressed with the depth that you’ve gone to in trying to solve this puzzle. You’re right that this cannot disprove that the Tague fragment came from the Z313 bullet. I have my doubts that a fragment could perform such a radical ballistic arc and still maintain enough kinetic energy to chip the concrete, but concede that it’s possible.
Moving outside of the scientific realm and getting into that “unreliable” arena of eye-witness evidence, I’d say some weight has to be put on the statement of motorcycle officer Stavis (Steve) Ellis who was riding at the left side of the limo when the first shot occurred. His statement (although not cross-examined and he was never called to give evidence at any of the inquiries) is crystal clear that he saw the debris fly from the Tague curb impact and that it was after the first shot and before the next two. Here’s Ellis’s statement which I got from Ken Rahn’s site:
http://www.kenrahn.com/JFK/History/The_deed/Sneed/Ellis.html
I wouldn’t call the Tague strike a red herring (my words) as there’s no doubt that it is part of the Assassination ballistic evidence. That is clear. Whether it came from the missing first shot or the Z313 pieces is the question. The physical exhibit from the “smear” was destructed in the GCMS analysis (indicating only lead with no trace of copper or antimony) and was never subjected to NAA analysis so there’s no molecular fingerprint available to link it such as in 399 and the 842 Connelley wrist fragment or the Z313 groupings.
I’d sure like to know where the Tague fragment came from. Personally, I highly suspect that it was from the first shot (which we agree was not recorded on the Z film) and the older I get, and the more I now see this whole JFK case more like a parlor game than a murder investigation, the more I apply the law of parsimony (Occam’s Razor) and try to see things in the simplest way. To me, there are only three significant unanswered questions in the entire story:
1. What happened to the missing bullet?
2. Where was LHO headed after the assassination?
3. What was LHO’s real motive?
At this point, pushing 52 years after the fact, we’ll only ever be able to speculate. Thanks so much for your common sense and diligent look into the facts, Brian. The JFK game needs more people like you! ~ Garry
(quote on)
Couple things on the Tague fragment. If it were from the third bullet, the fragmented head shot, the angle of trajectory is puzzling – not from a bird’s eye view, but from an arc. It would have to have cleared the windshield, then travelled about 255′ dropping an elevation of about 11′ to contact the curb. That’s a pretty big curve.
(quote off)
I do not believe the smear on the curb had anything to do with the wound on Tague’s cheek. I believe it was caused by something else. Like by a car drifting out of its lane and scaping the rim of the wheel along the curb. If this had happened, it could smear lead from a balancing wheel weight precisely on the corner of the curb, right where we find it.
Thousands of cars go down this busy street and in that very lane of traffic each day, often at night. Some drivers would be intoxicated. It is not unlikely that an occasional car will drift out of its lane.
It is possible that there was a tremendous coincidence. A bullet fragment just happened to strike precisely on the corner of the curb, right where we would expect a wheel rim might, and bounce up and strike Mr. Tague on the cheek. Possible, but unlikely. It should not be our first theory.
So, the bullet from Oswald would have to curve downward a good deal less than 11 feet to hit Mr. Tague directly on the side of the cheek. Not surprising, I don’t think. Carefully engineered bullets hold a pretty straight line. But a jagged fragment (not a smooth cylinder with a rounded nose), spinning wildly (not around its axis of travel) could curve a few feet over the course of 255 feet, I should think.
Thanks for your comment, Joe. I don’t believe Mr. Tague was hit by a fragment of the third bullet (headshot fragment ) either.
Joe,
I too agree that James Tague was not wounded by a fragment from the fatal head shot, but mark on the curb was not just a smear. It was a scar, and more like a nick in the concrete, as evident from photos taken. What has been described as a smear, are the metallic traces of antimony and copper.
Also, two policemen (including Sheriff Buddy Walthers) confirmed that the bullet mark was fresh after James Tague told them so. In fact. Tague said he saw something fly off or words to that effect.
Furthermore, Tague may not have been hit by a bullet fragment but by a flying chip of concrete caused by a bullet fragment striking the curb.
As for your theory that it may have been caused by a lead wheel balance weight, I doubt that would nick the curb. Also, you’d expect to see a circular or continuous abrasion and possible tire rubber marks, especially if it was a fresh mark, as the witnesses claim. Frankly, this is the 1st time that I’ve heard about that mark being caused by a lead wheel weight, and haven’t come across this idea in any research articles or books.
Michael T. Griffith wrote an excellent paper on this.
http://michaelgriffith1.tripod.com/tague.htm
Garry, that’s the easy bit, focusing on the physical evidence and following it through to a logical conclusion.
The bit that interests me when it comes to writing about crime is why people do the things that they do.
What has always intrigued me about the JFK assassination is why Jack Ruby silenced Oswald.
It’s when there are no clear answers that we get conspiracy theories because, I suspect, people can’t stand unresolved issues and they make up their own answer. The same reason why it’s important to resolve the tension created in a crime novel -readers want to know who did and why.
Hi Peter and thanks for your comment.
There seems to be several reasons as to why Ruby murdered Oswald, but I’m convinced that there was no conspiracy or even sole intent on Ruby’s part to ‘silence’ Oswald – ie to keep him from talking, because there was nothing to talk about. The facts are clear that Oswald shot Kennedy and that he acted alone in an opportunity that was the product of a number of fateful events that aligned. Therefore, there was no reason for anyone to kill Oswald to silence him Also, there is no known link between Ruby and Oswald, however Jack Ruby had a number of contacts within the Dallas PD because of his nightclub businesses. There’s always been a question if one of the Dallas officers allowed Ruby access to the basement of the PD Headquarters, not for anything sinister – just because Ruby was a regular figure around the police. This was never resolved.
Ruby gave a number of reasons over the years. He always maintained that it was spontaneous act and that he just wandered into the (poorly secured) police basement to see what was going on, coincidently just at the same time that Oswald was being transferred from the city jail to the county jail. Ruby stated that when he saw Oswald, he ‘snapped’ and shot Oswald to prevent Jackie Kennedy from having to go through the ordeal of a trial. Ruby also stated that he thought he’d be seen as a hero for it and that he wanted to show the world that “a Jew had guts”. (Ruby’s real name was Jacob Rubenstein.)
These may be seen as self-serving statements, but you have to look at the evidence in its entirely. Ruby was known to have a hot-headed and unstable personality. During the two days between the Kennedy and Oswald shootings, Ruby was noted by many acquaintances to be in a deteriorating state of depression and instability during the Friday night, all day Saturday, and on the Sunday morning. Ruby was definitely at the Dallas police office on the Friday night mingling with the press and cops. The place was a total gong-show for security breaches (something that would never be allowed today). There’s speculation that Ruby was at the police HQ on Saturday, thereby suggesting Ruby was stalking Oswald, but this is virtually eliminated when you closely look at the timeline.
What occurred on Sunday morning shows that the strands of fate were really what led to Oswald’s death. Oswald was scheduled to be transferred at 9:00 am. This was delayed by a last minute interview with a postal inspector. Ruby was at home doing his laundry. One of his strippers called him requesting that he wire her money from Dallas to Ft. Worth so she could make it to work that night. Ruby had to wait till his laundry was done to get fresh underwear (something he had a fetish about – and this was verified by his roommate) and then drove to the Western Union office in downtown Dallas, which was right across the street from police HQ.
Ruby took his prized daschounds with him and left them in car, along with a couple thousand dollars cash in the trunk, and went inside to wire $50.00. This was verified by the time stamp on the transfer order at 11:17 am, 24 Nov 1963. Ruby was carrying his .38 revolver as he always did when carrying large amounts of cash (Also, this was Dallas, Texas, in 1963. Everybody carried guns.) Once he finished the transaction, he noticed there was still a large media crowd at the police HQ, so he walked across to see what was going on. (He’d been to HQ many times and was familiar with the layout) Someone told him that they were just about to transfer Oswald. At the same time, the police had an armored truck stuck on the basement ramp and the overhead door was open. Ruby simply walked down the ramp and into the crowd of reporters. The time was 11:21, four minutes after the Western Union time stamp and exactly the time that it would take to cover the distance.
Now Oswald was also a contributor to the fate of this timing. He had been ready to transfer five minutes earlier, but he delayed the process to change his sweater (to black from a blue – which some feel may have been a symbolic play to the cameras). So the contact between Ruby and Oswald could not possibly have been anything but fate.
I agree that people hate things to appear unresolved. In my opinion, the Warren Commission did a piss-poor job of selling their findings to the American people. They treated it like a legal judgement that was not appealable and had a pompous attitude ‘How dare anyone question the judgement of America’s men of highest integrity’. The JFK Assassination was a turning point in society’s faith in leadership – partly because it was the first live televised coverage of a major event and partly because the information in the Warren Report wasn’t readily available for thirty-five years until the internet arrived. The Warren Commission got the facts right but they got the resolution totally wrong. It’s no wonder so many people think there was a massive conspiracy, not just to kill JFK, but to silence Oswald