Post by Rob Caprio on May 8, 2022 12:50:20 GMT -5
All portions are ©️ Robert Caprio 2006-2024
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The Warren Commission (WC) said Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO) all by himself on Sunday, November 24, 1964, in the basement of the Dallas Police Department (DPD) building. This is one claim made by the WC that we all can agree on since it was captured on LIVE television for all to see. The big question though is why was Ruby allowed to be in position to shoot LHO anyway?
Let’s look at this topic in regards to Ruby’s acquaintanceships within the DPD in more detail in this post.
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As I have covered previously in other posts, Jack Ruby had been arrested eight times between 1949 and 1962 by the DPD, and he never faced any charges. Two of the arrests were for carrying a CONCEALED WEAPON and another was for assault, but even so Ruby was allowed to meander around DPD headquarters (HQ) without any problems all weekend long. Why?
Given this set of circumstances the WC tried to allay fears of complicity between members of the DPD and Ruby by writing this in their Report (WCR) about the situation.
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The Dallas Police Department, concerned at the failure of its security measures, conducted an extensive investigation that revealed no information indicating complicity between any police officer and Jack Ruby. Ruby denied to the Commission that he received any form of assistance. (WCR, p. 224)
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The first comment is like saying the fox conducted an investigation regarding who was going into the hen house and making off with them. Of course the DPD was NOT going to find any connection between Ruby and members of their own force who gave him assistance. The same thing goes for Ruby as he knew better than saying who helped him as that would NOT have improved his situation at all. The WC just accepted all of this as if it were the gospel, including Ruby's claims, despite writing this on the SAME page of their report.
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Ruby was known to have a WIDE acquaintanceship with Dallas policeman and to SEEK THEIR FAVOR. According to testimony from MANY sources, he gave free coffee at this clubs to many policemen while they were on duty and free admittance and discounts on beverages when they were off duty. (Ibid.) (Emphasis added)
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Ruby was actively seeking relationships with the DPD and its members so despite the WC assuring us that they found “no evidence of a suspicious relationship between Ruby and any police officer” was found, we still have to wonder since so many knew him by sight and by name. How do we weigh this supposed benign relationship with the DPD as painted by the WC with the FACT Ruby repeatedly got off of with no charges being filed against him in his eight arrests?
Here is what the WC wrote about his arrests in their Report.
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Between 1949 and November 24, 1963, Ruby was arrested eight times by the Dallas Police Department. The dates, charges, and dispositions of these arrests are as follows: February 4, 1949, Ruby paid a $10 fine for disturbing the peace. July 26, 1953, Ruby was suspected of carrying a CONCEALED weapon; however, NO charges were filed and Ruby was released on the same day. May 1, 1954, Ruby was arrested for allegedly carrying a CONCEALED weapon and violating a peace bond; again NO charges were filed and Ruby was released on the same day. December 5, 1954, Ruby was arrested for allegedly violating State liquor laws by selling liquor after hours; the complaint was dismissed on February 8, 1955. June 21, 1959, Ruby was arrested for allegedly permitting dancing after hours; Ruby posted $25 bond and was released on that date. February 12, 1963, Ruby was arrested on a charge of simple ASSUALT; he was found not guilty February 27, 1963. March 14, 1963, Ruby was arrested for allegedly ignoring traffic summonses; a $35 bond was posted. (WCR, p. 800)
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These arrests and repeated dismissals show a pattern of protection here by some group. Whether it was the DPD itself or another group Ruby obviously had pull since he was never held for an arrest until he murdered LHO on November 24, 1963. I have looked into this aspect before, so will NOT do so again here, but just keep in mind all these arrests and NO penalties (beyond a few bond and fine fees totaling $70).
The WC tried to downplay Ruby’s ties to the DPD by stating this in their Report about the number of members he knew.
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Although Chief Curry's estimate that approximately 25 to 50 of the 1,175 men in the Dallas Police Department knew Ruby may be too conservative, the Commission found no evidence of any suspicious relationships between Ruby and any police officer. (WCR, p. 224)
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This was a very conservative number as it was later shown that Ruby knew 40 of the 75 police officers present in the DPD basement when he shot LHO. That means he knew 53% of the policeman present that morning and if you extrapolate that over the 1, 175 men on the DPD it would mean he knew (even slightly) at least 590 members of the DPD! The number the WC gave us is an extremely conservative in this light and meant to lessen the implication of assistance in some fashion for Ruby by a member(s) of the DPD that morning.
A good friend of Ruby’s, boxer Reagan Turman, told the FBI the following about Ruby’s acquaintanceships with the DPD.
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During the time he has known Ruby, it appears to him that Ruby was acquainted with AT LEAST 75 per cent, and PROBABLY 90 percent, of the police officers on the Dallas Police Department. He stated on many occasions, Ruby had told him that the only way a nightclub business can be operated successfully, is with the FRIENDSHIP of the police department and other CITY OFFICIALS. He knows that MANY police officers dropped by the Carousel which was located at on the corner of Commerce and Field Streets in Dallas, and that Ruby had OBTAINED THE CONFIDENCE of these officers.
He stated that he believed he had heard the name J.D. Tippett (sic) mentioned by Ruby, and KNOWS that Ruby is ACQUAINTED with the Chief of Police and several other higher-ups in the police department, although he does not know whether it is beyond a causal acquaintance (Commission Exhibit (CE) 1467, pp. 886-887) (Emphasis added)
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This shows Ruby had a wide expanse of acquaintanceships with members of the DPD including the Chief of Police. Turman would go on to say he was “not surprised” when he had heard that Ruby had gained entrance to the basement since he had the confidence of so many of the police officers. This is the broad brush look at Ruby's acquaintanceships with the DPD, now let’s focus on those that were guarding LHO.
The two Detectives that were handcuffed to LHO, Jim Leavelle (on LHO’s right) and L.C. Graves (LHO’s left), both knew Ruby for about 10-12 years.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you know Jack Ruby, sir?
Mr. LEAVELLE. Yes, I had known him. I have--I had previously stated I met him back in 1951, or thereabouts, when I was working the area that his Silver Spur was located in on South Ervay, and became acquainted with him.
And:
Mr. GRIFFIN. To go back just a minute, you have already told me this before in an earlier interview, but I want to make this clear for the record. You knew Ruby before this occasion when you saw him shoot Oswald?
Mr. GRAVES. I will tell you how I knew Ruby. He opened a joint, a dancehall down on South Ervay called the Silver Spur something like 10 years ago, approximately. That is where I first knew Jack Ruby existed. Since that time I have just known about Jack Ruby----
Lieutenant L. E. Swain and Captain Will Fritz preceded LHO, and again, with the exception of Captain Fritz, Swain had known Ruby for 10-12 years. This was learned by independent research since for some odd reason the WC never saw fit to call Lt. Swain, have him interviewed by the FBI or give an affidavit on this topic. Lt. Mongomery makes us aware of Captain Fritz NOT knowing Ruby in his testimony though.
Mr. GRIFFIN. All the people in your car knew it was Ruby? [This question was in relation to the shooting of LHO.]
Mr. MONTGOMERY. No; Captain Fritz didn't know who it was. They didn't know each other.
Here is what Captain Fritz said about knowing Ruby.
Mr. BALL. Did you ever know of Jack Ruby?
Mr. FRITZ. No, sir; I never did know him. I never knew him at all. Some of the officers knew him. But I never knew him.
This same knowledge goes for the man bringing up the rear, Detective L.D. Montgomery as he too had known Ruby for years.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Well, now, you knew Ruby. Did you try to get him to open up on the way down?
Mr. MONTGOMERY. No; I didn't. Usually when we are bringing a prisoner down I don't try to talk to them too much. I don't want to upset anything, you know, any plans he has to talk to him.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, did Captain Fritz know that you were acquainted with Ruby?
Mr. MONTGOMERY. He knew when I told him; yes.
This goes beyond the realm of “coincidence” to me, but each of us has to decide for themselves what this means to them in the big picture. The WC seemed very shy in this area as they failed to call or have interviewed 17 out of the 40 police officers Ruby knew that morning in the basement. One of the omissions is unforgivable as Lieutenant George Butler said he knew Jack Ruby for many years.
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Just prior to taking my position on the armored car, I had looked over the crowd carefully that was gathered near the door. I have KNOWN Jack Ruby for years but did not see him at that time. This observation made approximately 10 minutes before the shooting. (CE 2002, Report from Lt. Butler to Chief Curry, p. 69) (Emphasis added)
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The WC only mentioned Butler once in their whole Report and it did NOT pertain to this issue. Why NOT? In his report Butler mentions others in his department, Criminal Investigation Division, Juvenile Bureau, were ordered by Captain Frank Martin to go to the basement to provide security. These included Detectives Wilber Cutchshaw, Roy Lowery, and William "Blackie" Harrison and along with Captain Martin they headed out around 11:00 a.m. ONLY Butler would not be called before the WC. Why?
Here is what Cutchshaw testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you know Jack Ruby before the time he shot Lee Oswald?
Mr. CUTCHSHAW. I had seen him one time before.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Where was that?
Mr. CUTCHSHAW. At the Carousel on Commerce.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How long was that before he shot Oswald?
Mr. CUTCHSHAW. That's been about 2 1/2 years ago, the first time I saw him.
Here is what Lowery testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. Yes, that's correct, and now, I don't think we have to do anything more about it.
Mr. LOWERY. All right. On page 3, this also is in paragraph 1. "He did not know who this individual was until his hat fell off in the melee and he saw it was Jack Ruby whom he has known for several years."
The facts are that at approximately the same instant the shot was fired, or within a fraction of a second thereafter, I did recognize the person firing the shot as being Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. The correction there being that you recognized him before his hat fell off, is that what you mean?
Mr. LOWERY. Well, I couldn't definitely say that I recognized him before his hat fell off. I don't----
Mr. HUBERT. Did you recognize him before he fired the shot?
Mr. LOWERY. Well, it seemed like to me at the same time. Now, of course, this happened directly in front of me, closer than--about half of the distance between the two of us and----
Here is what Harrison testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. GRIFFIN. You do recognize Ruby by sight, do you not?
Mr. HARRISON. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you know Jack personally?
Mr. HARRISON. I knew him as a businessman as well by sight, and I have known him for 12 years, I guess, as a businessman.
Here is what Captain Martin testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you know, or was there anything told to you whereby you could recognize an unauthorized person?
Captain MARTIN. Nothing was said. Of course, if I'd had seen Jack Ruby, I'd have known him. I've known him for a long time.
We again see five more cops who knew Ruby, and with the exception of Cutchshaw, quite well. There is another reason why Butler’s omission is quite alarming and that reason came from Reporter Thayer Waldo of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during his WC testimony.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, turning finally to November 24, I think you've told us how you got down there, and your statement indicates that you were standing on the outside of the building at the Commerce Street entrance?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Along with a number of other newsmen, when a Lieutenant Butler invited the press people into the jail; is that correct?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir; with one exception. There was not a number of other newsmen, there were only, as I recall, three of us standing out on that sidewalk at that time.
Mr. HUBERT. You had a press identification on you then?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir; and when Butler,…stuck his head out around this vehicle and said, "Come on down." They were two of the same, and as I approached one of them in this comparatively narrow space between the column that forms the frame of the ramp and the side of the vehicle where he was standing, he grinned at me and recognized me immediately and said, "How are you this morning? I know you, but I still have to ask you for your credentials." So, I got out my credentials. I had the badge on, but beyond that he required my Department of Public Safety identification.
Mr. HUBERT. That was even after Lieutenant Butler invited you in?
Mr. WALDO. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. It was just that you had arrived at that time?
Mr. WALDO. Well, we had arrived some time earlier and had seen the preparations. I had gone upstairs and checked Chief Curry's office and had been told that it would be half to three-quarters of an hour yet before the prisoner would be removed… and that everybody would be notified before there was any movement…
Mr. HUBERT. Were you told it was going to be by elevator down-into-the basement and then through the basement ramps out Commerce Street?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Who told you that, sir?
Mr. WALDO. As I recall it, it was Lieutenant Butler himself, who was on the third floor at the time I went up, and I would like to for whatever it's worth, add something at this point. Lieutenant Butler was since, oh, probably 2:30 on the afternoon of the 22d of November, the man whom I had sought out on every occasion that I wanted to learn something about developments, whenever I could find him, because he was a man of remarkable equanimity, poise, and very cooperative within the authorization that he had, and the first thing----
Mr. HUBERT. You mean he would give you more news than anybody else?
Mr. WALDO. He was more able to understand what was wanted and he was always in on, apparently, on high-level information, and if it was for release, he would be the one who would have it and be most willing apparently to give it. This is a thing that happens in circumstances like this. A reporter picks out a man, tries him out, and if he finds that he's cooperative the first time, he tries to stick to him, because by that time the official recognizes his face.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you find that other officials were not so cooperative?
Mr. WALDO. I would say, yes, …What I wanted to say about Lieutenant Butler was that this almost stolid poise, or perhaps phlegmatic poise is a better word, that I had noticed all through even the most hectic times of the 22d and the 23d, appeared to have deserted him completely on the morning of the 24th. He was an extremely nervous man, so nervous that when I was standing asking him a question after I had entered the ramp and gotten down to the basement area, just moments before Oswald was brought down, he was standing profile to me and I noticed his lips trembling as he listened and waited for my answer. It was simply a physical characteristic. I had by then spent enough hours talking to this man so that it struck me as something totally out of character. Now, he may merely have had a bad night.
Was it just a “bad night” or did Butler know what was coming? Did he have a part in arranging what was coming and is that why the WC stayed clear of him? We will never know what gave Butler a “trembling lips” since the WC seemed not care enough to inquire for us.
Another person the WC ignored was Detective H.L. McGee who also knew Ruby, but fortunately for us he also did a report in which he gave us more information.
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I had stationed myself in the general area in front of the information desk to await the transfer. While I was in this area, the only person I noticed come into the building from either the Commerce Street or Harwood Street doors was Attorney Tom Howard. He came in through the Harwood Street entrance and walked up to the jail office window.
At this time Oswald was brought off the jail elevator and Tom Howard turned away from the window and went back toward the Harwood Street door. He waved at me as he went by and said, "That's all I wanted to see." Shortly after that I heard a shot and someone said, "Oh." I did not see the shooting. (CE 2002, p. 135)
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Needless to say, neither McGee or Tom Howard, Ruby’s lawyer, was ever called by the WC to explain this incident. It seem too much of a coincidence that Howard showed up at the time Ruby was about to shoot LHO. If we go back to Lieutenant Swain, a man who knew Ruby and was part of LHO’s escort party, and look at his report we will see the following comments.
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When I walked out into the driveway, I found that press photographers and news media were surrounding the area. STRONG flood lights were focused in the direction of the jail office. THEY WERE BLINDING. These lights were located at the northeast corner of the area of the opening leading from the jail office.
The vehicle in which the prisoner was to be loaded was ATTEMPTING to back into the opening in front of the jail office where UNRULY prisoners are generally unloaded. I immediately moved forward…moving the crowd of photographers and newsmen backward. These people were BLOCKING the vehicle’s movement, being in between the vehicle and the prisoner. (CE 2002, p. 171) (Emphasis added)
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Clearly the scene was a mess and who thought BLINDING FLOOD LIGHTS were a good idea? Obviously that would be Chief Curry as he promised the newsmen a show on the morning of November 24, 1963. Captain Fritz would confirm the blinding lights in his WC testimony.
Mr. BALL. Were there any flashbulbs or were they just steady beams of light?
Mr. FRITZ. I didn't see any flashing lights. These were steady blinding lights that I saw. That I couldn't see, you might say.
Somehow, I don’t think having your escort policemen blinded by flood lights is a good idea in terms of protecting your prisoner from harm. As we have discussed before as well the armored car was not IN PLACE and this led to the easy access to LHO. In his report Swain says this is due to the newsmen and photographers, but he real blame goes to Captain Fritz as he should NOT have allowed LHO to be removed UNTIL the car was in place. One last thought from this report by Lt. Swain, why was LHO removed in the fashion left to “unruly” prisoners? Did LHO act unruly while in custody? I have never read that he did so it seems odd that he was taken to an area left for them generally.
Lt. Swain said in this report that he had known Ruby since 1948, but had not seen him since 1948 or 1949, but that seems hard to believe since Ruby was in and around DPD HQ a lot over the years.
Another man who deserved some attention, and did not get it, was Lieutenant J.R. Gilmore. Joseph Cavagnaro, front office manager of the Sheraton-Hilton Hotel in Dallas, told the FBI that Ruby was a close friend of Lieutenant Gilmore.
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Ruby according to Cavagnaro “knew all the policemen in town.” Cavagnaro stated Ruby was well acquainted with a great number of policemen and particularly the policemen who were in or had been in the Special Service of the Police. He stated he knew Ruby was a close friend of Lieutenant Gilmore and Eric Kaminski. (CE 1592, p. 78)
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We see Ruby was especially close to the Vice Squad that included Lt. Gilmore, and this is strange since it was THEIR JOB to keep somebody like Ruby in line. Another person who confirmed the ties between Ruby and Gilmore was Robert Larkin, former manager of a night club adjoining Ruby's Vegas Club, told the FBI the following.
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Larkin stated that by the very nature of his business Ruby made it a point to be friendly with the police officers, and a number of officers knew him and dropped by his establishment from time to time. He recalls that one Lieutenant James Gilmore of the Dallas Police Department, Vice Squad, was PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY with Ruby. Gilmore was occasionally accompanied by his partner on his rounds when he would stop by to visit Jack’s place and often would view the show. (CE 2329, p. 290) (Emphasis added)
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This is important because even though Gilmore was NOT part of the transfer party he was in the building and shortly after Ruby shot LHO an unknown visitor came to see Ruby and was sent to Gilmore.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you recall his statement to you, Mayo to you, that after the shooting when Mayo was stationed in the Main Street ramp that there was a man who came to Mayo, I think, identified himself as Ruby's roommate, and was trying to get in to see Ruby, that being after the shooting. Do you recall that Mayo reported that during the course of the interview?
Lieutenant REVILL. It seems like I do recall Mayo saying something like that, and I believe he referred this man to Lieutenant Gilmore of the Special Service Bureau. I believe he told me that, but I don't see it here and I don't know why we omitted that, but I think we--I do recall him making such a statement. George Senator, I believe he would have been the individual.
Mr. HUBERT. Yes. He described him as having a slight limp, too, I think he said.
Lieutenant REVILL. This, I don't know.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, as to the second thing that Mayo told you. To wit, about Ruby's roommate who may or may not be Senator, you do recall that he said that, but you don't know why it was left out of the----
Lieutenant REVILL. It was an oversight. It seems as though I do recall him telling me something about that, and that he referred this man to Lieutenant Gilmore, who was assigned to the special service section.
Who was this visitor? Was it George Senator? Does anyone know if Senator had a limp? I checked his testimony but there is no mention of it. Needless to say, the WC did not bother to call Gilmore and ask about this unknown visitor and what Gilmore was doing during the shooting of LHO.
D. L. Blankenship, who worked under Gilmore, also is said to have "known Ruby over the years," according to Assistant District Attorney William Alexander. (CE 1628, p. 104). Blankenship was interviewed by the FBI about his part in Ruby's arrest in 1954 (CE 1611, p. 89) but not about his contacts with Ruby at the time of the assassination.
E. E. Carlson, who was also involved in Ruby's 1954 arrest, told the FBI that he was off duty on the morning of November 24 (CE 1612, p. 91) Later that day, according to an FBI report of the same date, Carlson encountered Ruby in the identification bureau, where he was taken to be fingerprinted and photographed.
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Ruby appeared very cordial toward Edward E. Carlson. . . . They greeted each other warmly and exchanged pleasantries. . . . Carlson . . . advised that he still had a liking for Ruby and would shake hands with him at any time. (CE 2080, p. 515)
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CE 1628, p. 104:
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CE 1611, p. 89:
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CE 1612, p. 91:
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I will now list a group of officers who knew Ruby, but said they had nothing to do with the transfer of LHO. For brevity’s sake I will just put the source document in quotes and you can look it up for yourself.
Lieutenant George Arnett, was said to be "quite good friends" with Ruby (CE 1467), and told the FBI that he was not on duty when Oswald was shot (CE 1615).
Lieutenant Erich Kaminski, who worked with Lieutenant Gilmore, had known Ruby since 1953; he told the FBI that he was in his office from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday the twenty-fourth but that he took no part in the security arrangements. (CE 1549) Kaminski was said to be "a close friend" of Ruby. (CE 1592)
Officers Truett Walton and Glen Neal were mentioned as frequenters of the Carousel Club and on friendly terms with Ruby (CE 1542); neither Walton nor Neal was questioned about his relations with Ruby or his whereabouts on the twenty-fourth. These seven police officers, like the 17 officers acquainted with Ruby who were on duty in the basement, were not called to testify before the Warren Commission.
Captain Fritz, who led LHO into the basement while NOT assigning anyone to be in front of him, and thus, shielding him from someone like Ruby testified to the following before the WC.
Mr. DULLES. Have you discovered any connection between any of your officers and Ruby?
Mr. FRITZ. Well, I think a lot of the officers knew Ruby. I think about two or three officers in my office knew him, and I think practically all of the special service officers who handle the vice and the clubs and the liquor violations, I think nearly all of them knew him and, of course, the officer knew him who had arrested him carrying pistols a time or two, two or three times, uniformed officer mostly. He seemed to be well known. It seems a lot of people in town knew him. But I never was in his place and I didn't know him. Twenty years ago I might have been in his place.
As is the case in most things in this murder there is a differing account of what Captain Fritz said. Travis Kirk had been a Dallas lawyer for over 20 years before moving to the west coast in August 1963. He would be interviewed by the FBI on December 6, 1963 and would say the following.
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Mr. Kirk stated he has been greatly disturbed regarding the recent Dallas murders of President John F. Kennedy and . . . Lee Harvey Oswald. He has formulated rather definite opinions regarding the circumstances surrounding g the killing of Oswald, these based on his personal contacts over the years with law enforcement officials, attorneys, and judges in Dallas. He stated he also has had some association with individuals considered by him to be at least in the fringe of the Dallas underworld. He pointed out that he has defended persons in Dallas courts charged with felonies and involving cases investigated by the Dallas Police Department.
Mr. Kirk states he is acquainted with Captain Will Fritz of the Homicide Bureau. . . . He states he also knows Jack Ruby by reputation and has been in Dallas night clubs operated by this individual. He does not recall ever having engaged in conversation with Ruby. Mr. Kirk was asked specifically y if he knows of any instance that would dramatize a close friendship or association between Ruby and Fritz.
Mr. Kirk could not recall any specific occasion when he has seen these persons together. He could not recall any occasion when he, Kirk, has seen Ruby in the Dallas Police Department. However, Mr. Kirk states it is inconceivable that Fritz did not know Ruby. He described Fritz as a domineering, dictatorial officer possessing a photographic memory and a thorough knowledge of the Dallas underworld. In light of Ruby's reputation and notoriety in Dallas prior to the murder of Oswald, and Fritz's long-time control of the most important segment of the Dallas Police Department, Mr. Kirk considers it utterly ridiculous that [the report ends at this word] (CE 3006, p. 529)
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As the old saying goes, it ended just as it was getting good! It is quite strange for the FBI to cut the report off at that point, isn’t it? Anyway, we see a man who had a good knowledge of the workings of the Dallas legal and police systems saying it is “ridiculous” to think Frtiz was NOT aware of Ruby. I would agree since Ruby was known by both the Chief of Police Curry and Dallas Mayor Earle Cabell.
We see a lot of evidence in this post showing Ruby’s tight connection to many on the DPD and how this could have made it easy for him to receive assistance into the basement and assistance in his attempt to shoot and kill LHO. There is simply too much to ignore and accept the conclusion rendered by the WC in their Report.
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While the Commission has found no evidence that Ruby received assistance from any person in entering the basement… (WCR, p. 219)
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Please. It is quite clear that Ruby received a lot of assistance in entering and executing the killing of LHO. Allowing the media to disrupt the transfer to the point it could not move the transfer car into place and having blinding lights in the faces of the officers alone helped Ruby. Then add in Captain Fritz allowing LHO to be taken out in this chaos and we see the DPD were more than willing to help in Ruby’s task.
With the threatening calls coming in LHO should have been transferred at night and in private if the goal was to have him arrive safely at the county jail, but obviously this was NOT the plan based on all of this evidence in this post and other posts that I have done.
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The Warren Commission (WC) said Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO) all by himself on Sunday, November 24, 1964, in the basement of the Dallas Police Department (DPD) building. This is one claim made by the WC that we all can agree on since it was captured on LIVE television for all to see. The big question though is why was Ruby allowed to be in position to shoot LHO anyway?
Let’s look at this topic in regards to Ruby’s acquaintanceships within the DPD in more detail in this post.
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As I have covered previously in other posts, Jack Ruby had been arrested eight times between 1949 and 1962 by the DPD, and he never faced any charges. Two of the arrests were for carrying a CONCEALED WEAPON and another was for assault, but even so Ruby was allowed to meander around DPD headquarters (HQ) without any problems all weekend long. Why?
Given this set of circumstances the WC tried to allay fears of complicity between members of the DPD and Ruby by writing this in their Report (WCR) about the situation.
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The Dallas Police Department, concerned at the failure of its security measures, conducted an extensive investigation that revealed no information indicating complicity between any police officer and Jack Ruby. Ruby denied to the Commission that he received any form of assistance. (WCR, p. 224)
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The first comment is like saying the fox conducted an investigation regarding who was going into the hen house and making off with them. Of course the DPD was NOT going to find any connection between Ruby and members of their own force who gave him assistance. The same thing goes for Ruby as he knew better than saying who helped him as that would NOT have improved his situation at all. The WC just accepted all of this as if it were the gospel, including Ruby's claims, despite writing this on the SAME page of their report.
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Ruby was known to have a WIDE acquaintanceship with Dallas policeman and to SEEK THEIR FAVOR. According to testimony from MANY sources, he gave free coffee at this clubs to many policemen while they were on duty and free admittance and discounts on beverages when they were off duty. (Ibid.) (Emphasis added)
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Ruby was actively seeking relationships with the DPD and its members so despite the WC assuring us that they found “no evidence of a suspicious relationship between Ruby and any police officer” was found, we still have to wonder since so many knew him by sight and by name. How do we weigh this supposed benign relationship with the DPD as painted by the WC with the FACT Ruby repeatedly got off of with no charges being filed against him in his eight arrests?
Here is what the WC wrote about his arrests in their Report.
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Between 1949 and November 24, 1963, Ruby was arrested eight times by the Dallas Police Department. The dates, charges, and dispositions of these arrests are as follows: February 4, 1949, Ruby paid a $10 fine for disturbing the peace. July 26, 1953, Ruby was suspected of carrying a CONCEALED weapon; however, NO charges were filed and Ruby was released on the same day. May 1, 1954, Ruby was arrested for allegedly carrying a CONCEALED weapon and violating a peace bond; again NO charges were filed and Ruby was released on the same day. December 5, 1954, Ruby was arrested for allegedly violating State liquor laws by selling liquor after hours; the complaint was dismissed on February 8, 1955. June 21, 1959, Ruby was arrested for allegedly permitting dancing after hours; Ruby posted $25 bond and was released on that date. February 12, 1963, Ruby was arrested on a charge of simple ASSUALT; he was found not guilty February 27, 1963. March 14, 1963, Ruby was arrested for allegedly ignoring traffic summonses; a $35 bond was posted. (WCR, p. 800)
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These arrests and repeated dismissals show a pattern of protection here by some group. Whether it was the DPD itself or another group Ruby obviously had pull since he was never held for an arrest until he murdered LHO on November 24, 1963. I have looked into this aspect before, so will NOT do so again here, but just keep in mind all these arrests and NO penalties (beyond a few bond and fine fees totaling $70).
The WC tried to downplay Ruby’s ties to the DPD by stating this in their Report about the number of members he knew.
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Although Chief Curry's estimate that approximately 25 to 50 of the 1,175 men in the Dallas Police Department knew Ruby may be too conservative, the Commission found no evidence of any suspicious relationships between Ruby and any police officer. (WCR, p. 224)
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This was a very conservative number as it was later shown that Ruby knew 40 of the 75 police officers present in the DPD basement when he shot LHO. That means he knew 53% of the policeman present that morning and if you extrapolate that over the 1, 175 men on the DPD it would mean he knew (even slightly) at least 590 members of the DPD! The number the WC gave us is an extremely conservative in this light and meant to lessen the implication of assistance in some fashion for Ruby by a member(s) of the DPD that morning.
A good friend of Ruby’s, boxer Reagan Turman, told the FBI the following about Ruby’s acquaintanceships with the DPD.
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During the time he has known Ruby, it appears to him that Ruby was acquainted with AT LEAST 75 per cent, and PROBABLY 90 percent, of the police officers on the Dallas Police Department. He stated on many occasions, Ruby had told him that the only way a nightclub business can be operated successfully, is with the FRIENDSHIP of the police department and other CITY OFFICIALS. He knows that MANY police officers dropped by the Carousel which was located at on the corner of Commerce and Field Streets in Dallas, and that Ruby had OBTAINED THE CONFIDENCE of these officers.
He stated that he believed he had heard the name J.D. Tippett (sic) mentioned by Ruby, and KNOWS that Ruby is ACQUAINTED with the Chief of Police and several other higher-ups in the police department, although he does not know whether it is beyond a causal acquaintance (Commission Exhibit (CE) 1467, pp. 886-887) (Emphasis added)
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This shows Ruby had a wide expanse of acquaintanceships with members of the DPD including the Chief of Police. Turman would go on to say he was “not surprised” when he had heard that Ruby had gained entrance to the basement since he had the confidence of so many of the police officers. This is the broad brush look at Ruby's acquaintanceships with the DPD, now let’s focus on those that were guarding LHO.
The two Detectives that were handcuffed to LHO, Jim Leavelle (on LHO’s right) and L.C. Graves (LHO’s left), both knew Ruby for about 10-12 years.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you know Jack Ruby, sir?
Mr. LEAVELLE. Yes, I had known him. I have--I had previously stated I met him back in 1951, or thereabouts, when I was working the area that his Silver Spur was located in on South Ervay, and became acquainted with him.
And:
Mr. GRIFFIN. To go back just a minute, you have already told me this before in an earlier interview, but I want to make this clear for the record. You knew Ruby before this occasion when you saw him shoot Oswald?
Mr. GRAVES. I will tell you how I knew Ruby. He opened a joint, a dancehall down on South Ervay called the Silver Spur something like 10 years ago, approximately. That is where I first knew Jack Ruby existed. Since that time I have just known about Jack Ruby----
Lieutenant L. E. Swain and Captain Will Fritz preceded LHO, and again, with the exception of Captain Fritz, Swain had known Ruby for 10-12 years. This was learned by independent research since for some odd reason the WC never saw fit to call Lt. Swain, have him interviewed by the FBI or give an affidavit on this topic. Lt. Mongomery makes us aware of Captain Fritz NOT knowing Ruby in his testimony though.
Mr. GRIFFIN. All the people in your car knew it was Ruby? [This question was in relation to the shooting of LHO.]
Mr. MONTGOMERY. No; Captain Fritz didn't know who it was. They didn't know each other.
Here is what Captain Fritz said about knowing Ruby.
Mr. BALL. Did you ever know of Jack Ruby?
Mr. FRITZ. No, sir; I never did know him. I never knew him at all. Some of the officers knew him. But I never knew him.
This same knowledge goes for the man bringing up the rear, Detective L.D. Montgomery as he too had known Ruby for years.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Well, now, you knew Ruby. Did you try to get him to open up on the way down?
Mr. MONTGOMERY. No; I didn't. Usually when we are bringing a prisoner down I don't try to talk to them too much. I don't want to upset anything, you know, any plans he has to talk to him.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Now, did Captain Fritz know that you were acquainted with Ruby?
Mr. MONTGOMERY. He knew when I told him; yes.
This goes beyond the realm of “coincidence” to me, but each of us has to decide for themselves what this means to them in the big picture. The WC seemed very shy in this area as they failed to call or have interviewed 17 out of the 40 police officers Ruby knew that morning in the basement. One of the omissions is unforgivable as Lieutenant George Butler said he knew Jack Ruby for many years.
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Just prior to taking my position on the armored car, I had looked over the crowd carefully that was gathered near the door. I have KNOWN Jack Ruby for years but did not see him at that time. This observation made approximately 10 minutes before the shooting. (CE 2002, Report from Lt. Butler to Chief Curry, p. 69) (Emphasis added)
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The WC only mentioned Butler once in their whole Report and it did NOT pertain to this issue. Why NOT? In his report Butler mentions others in his department, Criminal Investigation Division, Juvenile Bureau, were ordered by Captain Frank Martin to go to the basement to provide security. These included Detectives Wilber Cutchshaw, Roy Lowery, and William "Blackie" Harrison and along with Captain Martin they headed out around 11:00 a.m. ONLY Butler would not be called before the WC. Why?
Here is what Cutchshaw testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did you know Jack Ruby before the time he shot Lee Oswald?
Mr. CUTCHSHAW. I had seen him one time before.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Where was that?
Mr. CUTCHSHAW. At the Carousel on Commerce.
Mr. GRIFFIN. How long was that before he shot Oswald?
Mr. CUTCHSHAW. That's been about 2 1/2 years ago, the first time I saw him.
Here is what Lowery testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. Yes, that's correct, and now, I don't think we have to do anything more about it.
Mr. LOWERY. All right. On page 3, this also is in paragraph 1. "He did not know who this individual was until his hat fell off in the melee and he saw it was Jack Ruby whom he has known for several years."
The facts are that at approximately the same instant the shot was fired, or within a fraction of a second thereafter, I did recognize the person firing the shot as being Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. The correction there being that you recognized him before his hat fell off, is that what you mean?
Mr. LOWERY. Well, I couldn't definitely say that I recognized him before his hat fell off. I don't----
Mr. HUBERT. Did you recognize him before he fired the shot?
Mr. LOWERY. Well, it seemed like to me at the same time. Now, of course, this happened directly in front of me, closer than--about half of the distance between the two of us and----
Here is what Harrison testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. GRIFFIN. You do recognize Ruby by sight, do you not?
Mr. HARRISON. Yes.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you know Jack personally?
Mr. HARRISON. I knew him as a businessman as well by sight, and I have known him for 12 years, I guess, as a businessman.
Here is what Captain Martin testified to before the WC about knowing of Jack Ruby.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you know, or was there anything told to you whereby you could recognize an unauthorized person?
Captain MARTIN. Nothing was said. Of course, if I'd had seen Jack Ruby, I'd have known him. I've known him for a long time.
We again see five more cops who knew Ruby, and with the exception of Cutchshaw, quite well. There is another reason why Butler’s omission is quite alarming and that reason came from Reporter Thayer Waldo of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during his WC testimony.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, turning finally to November 24, I think you've told us how you got down there, and your statement indicates that you were standing on the outside of the building at the Commerce Street entrance?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Along with a number of other newsmen, when a Lieutenant Butler invited the press people into the jail; is that correct?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir; with one exception. There was not a number of other newsmen, there were only, as I recall, three of us standing out on that sidewalk at that time.
Mr. HUBERT. You had a press identification on you then?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir; and when Butler,…stuck his head out around this vehicle and said, "Come on down." They were two of the same, and as I approached one of them in this comparatively narrow space between the column that forms the frame of the ramp and the side of the vehicle where he was standing, he grinned at me and recognized me immediately and said, "How are you this morning? I know you, but I still have to ask you for your credentials." So, I got out my credentials. I had the badge on, but beyond that he required my Department of Public Safety identification.
Mr. HUBERT. That was even after Lieutenant Butler invited you in?
Mr. WALDO. Yes.
Mr. HUBERT. It was just that you had arrived at that time?
Mr. WALDO. Well, we had arrived some time earlier and had seen the preparations. I had gone upstairs and checked Chief Curry's office and had been told that it would be half to three-quarters of an hour yet before the prisoner would be removed… and that everybody would be notified before there was any movement…
Mr. HUBERT. Were you told it was going to be by elevator down-into-the basement and then through the basement ramps out Commerce Street?
Mr. WALDO. Yes, sir.
Mr. HUBERT. Who told you that, sir?
Mr. WALDO. As I recall it, it was Lieutenant Butler himself, who was on the third floor at the time I went up, and I would like to for whatever it's worth, add something at this point. Lieutenant Butler was since, oh, probably 2:30 on the afternoon of the 22d of November, the man whom I had sought out on every occasion that I wanted to learn something about developments, whenever I could find him, because he was a man of remarkable equanimity, poise, and very cooperative within the authorization that he had, and the first thing----
Mr. HUBERT. You mean he would give you more news than anybody else?
Mr. WALDO. He was more able to understand what was wanted and he was always in on, apparently, on high-level information, and if it was for release, he would be the one who would have it and be most willing apparently to give it. This is a thing that happens in circumstances like this. A reporter picks out a man, tries him out, and if he finds that he's cooperative the first time, he tries to stick to him, because by that time the official recognizes his face.
Mr. HUBERT. Did you find that other officials were not so cooperative?
Mr. WALDO. I would say, yes, …What I wanted to say about Lieutenant Butler was that this almost stolid poise, or perhaps phlegmatic poise is a better word, that I had noticed all through even the most hectic times of the 22d and the 23d, appeared to have deserted him completely on the morning of the 24th. He was an extremely nervous man, so nervous that when I was standing asking him a question after I had entered the ramp and gotten down to the basement area, just moments before Oswald was brought down, he was standing profile to me and I noticed his lips trembling as he listened and waited for my answer. It was simply a physical characteristic. I had by then spent enough hours talking to this man so that it struck me as something totally out of character. Now, he may merely have had a bad night.
Was it just a “bad night” or did Butler know what was coming? Did he have a part in arranging what was coming and is that why the WC stayed clear of him? We will never know what gave Butler a “trembling lips” since the WC seemed not care enough to inquire for us.
Another person the WC ignored was Detective H.L. McGee who also knew Ruby, but fortunately for us he also did a report in which he gave us more information.
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I had stationed myself in the general area in front of the information desk to await the transfer. While I was in this area, the only person I noticed come into the building from either the Commerce Street or Harwood Street doors was Attorney Tom Howard. He came in through the Harwood Street entrance and walked up to the jail office window.
At this time Oswald was brought off the jail elevator and Tom Howard turned away from the window and went back toward the Harwood Street door. He waved at me as he went by and said, "That's all I wanted to see." Shortly after that I heard a shot and someone said, "Oh." I did not see the shooting. (CE 2002, p. 135)
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Needless to say, neither McGee or Tom Howard, Ruby’s lawyer, was ever called by the WC to explain this incident. It seem too much of a coincidence that Howard showed up at the time Ruby was about to shoot LHO. If we go back to Lieutenant Swain, a man who knew Ruby and was part of LHO’s escort party, and look at his report we will see the following comments.
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When I walked out into the driveway, I found that press photographers and news media were surrounding the area. STRONG flood lights were focused in the direction of the jail office. THEY WERE BLINDING. These lights were located at the northeast corner of the area of the opening leading from the jail office.
The vehicle in which the prisoner was to be loaded was ATTEMPTING to back into the opening in front of the jail office where UNRULY prisoners are generally unloaded. I immediately moved forward…moving the crowd of photographers and newsmen backward. These people were BLOCKING the vehicle’s movement, being in between the vehicle and the prisoner. (CE 2002, p. 171) (Emphasis added)
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Clearly the scene was a mess and who thought BLINDING FLOOD LIGHTS were a good idea? Obviously that would be Chief Curry as he promised the newsmen a show on the morning of November 24, 1963. Captain Fritz would confirm the blinding lights in his WC testimony.
Mr. BALL. Were there any flashbulbs or were they just steady beams of light?
Mr. FRITZ. I didn't see any flashing lights. These were steady blinding lights that I saw. That I couldn't see, you might say.
Somehow, I don’t think having your escort policemen blinded by flood lights is a good idea in terms of protecting your prisoner from harm. As we have discussed before as well the armored car was not IN PLACE and this led to the easy access to LHO. In his report Swain says this is due to the newsmen and photographers, but he real blame goes to Captain Fritz as he should NOT have allowed LHO to be removed UNTIL the car was in place. One last thought from this report by Lt. Swain, why was LHO removed in the fashion left to “unruly” prisoners? Did LHO act unruly while in custody? I have never read that he did so it seems odd that he was taken to an area left for them generally.
Lt. Swain said in this report that he had known Ruby since 1948, but had not seen him since 1948 or 1949, but that seems hard to believe since Ruby was in and around DPD HQ a lot over the years.
Another man who deserved some attention, and did not get it, was Lieutenant J.R. Gilmore. Joseph Cavagnaro, front office manager of the Sheraton-Hilton Hotel in Dallas, told the FBI that Ruby was a close friend of Lieutenant Gilmore.
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Ruby according to Cavagnaro “knew all the policemen in town.” Cavagnaro stated Ruby was well acquainted with a great number of policemen and particularly the policemen who were in or had been in the Special Service of the Police. He stated he knew Ruby was a close friend of Lieutenant Gilmore and Eric Kaminski. (CE 1592, p. 78)
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We see Ruby was especially close to the Vice Squad that included Lt. Gilmore, and this is strange since it was THEIR JOB to keep somebody like Ruby in line. Another person who confirmed the ties between Ruby and Gilmore was Robert Larkin, former manager of a night club adjoining Ruby's Vegas Club, told the FBI the following.
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Larkin stated that by the very nature of his business Ruby made it a point to be friendly with the police officers, and a number of officers knew him and dropped by his establishment from time to time. He recalls that one Lieutenant James Gilmore of the Dallas Police Department, Vice Squad, was PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY with Ruby. Gilmore was occasionally accompanied by his partner on his rounds when he would stop by to visit Jack’s place and often would view the show. (CE 2329, p. 290) (Emphasis added)
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This is important because even though Gilmore was NOT part of the transfer party he was in the building and shortly after Ruby shot LHO an unknown visitor came to see Ruby and was sent to Gilmore.
Mr. HUBERT. Do you recall his statement to you, Mayo to you, that after the shooting when Mayo was stationed in the Main Street ramp that there was a man who came to Mayo, I think, identified himself as Ruby's roommate, and was trying to get in to see Ruby, that being after the shooting. Do you recall that Mayo reported that during the course of the interview?
Lieutenant REVILL. It seems like I do recall Mayo saying something like that, and I believe he referred this man to Lieutenant Gilmore of the Special Service Bureau. I believe he told me that, but I don't see it here and I don't know why we omitted that, but I think we--I do recall him making such a statement. George Senator, I believe he would have been the individual.
Mr. HUBERT. Yes. He described him as having a slight limp, too, I think he said.
Lieutenant REVILL. This, I don't know.
Mr. HUBERT. Now, as to the second thing that Mayo told you. To wit, about Ruby's roommate who may or may not be Senator, you do recall that he said that, but you don't know why it was left out of the----
Lieutenant REVILL. It was an oversight. It seems as though I do recall him telling me something about that, and that he referred this man to Lieutenant Gilmore, who was assigned to the special service section.
Who was this visitor? Was it George Senator? Does anyone know if Senator had a limp? I checked his testimony but there is no mention of it. Needless to say, the WC did not bother to call Gilmore and ask about this unknown visitor and what Gilmore was doing during the shooting of LHO.
D. L. Blankenship, who worked under Gilmore, also is said to have "known Ruby over the years," according to Assistant District Attorney William Alexander. (CE 1628, p. 104). Blankenship was interviewed by the FBI about his part in Ruby's arrest in 1954 (CE 1611, p. 89) but not about his contacts with Ruby at the time of the assassination.
E. E. Carlson, who was also involved in Ruby's 1954 arrest, told the FBI that he was off duty on the morning of November 24 (CE 1612, p. 91) Later that day, according to an FBI report of the same date, Carlson encountered Ruby in the identification bureau, where he was taken to be fingerprinted and photographed.
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Ruby appeared very cordial toward Edward E. Carlson. . . . They greeted each other warmly and exchanged pleasantries. . . . Carlson . . . advised that he still had a liking for Ruby and would shake hands with him at any time. (CE 2080, p. 515)
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CE 1628, p. 104:
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CE 1611, p. 89:
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I will now list a group of officers who knew Ruby, but said they had nothing to do with the transfer of LHO. For brevity’s sake I will just put the source document in quotes and you can look it up for yourself.
Lieutenant George Arnett, was said to be "quite good friends" with Ruby (CE 1467), and told the FBI that he was not on duty when Oswald was shot (CE 1615).
Lieutenant Erich Kaminski, who worked with Lieutenant Gilmore, had known Ruby since 1953; he told the FBI that he was in his office from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday the twenty-fourth but that he took no part in the security arrangements. (CE 1549) Kaminski was said to be "a close friend" of Ruby. (CE 1592)
Officers Truett Walton and Glen Neal were mentioned as frequenters of the Carousel Club and on friendly terms with Ruby (CE 1542); neither Walton nor Neal was questioned about his relations with Ruby or his whereabouts on the twenty-fourth. These seven police officers, like the 17 officers acquainted with Ruby who were on duty in the basement, were not called to testify before the Warren Commission.
Captain Fritz, who led LHO into the basement while NOT assigning anyone to be in front of him, and thus, shielding him from someone like Ruby testified to the following before the WC.
Mr. DULLES. Have you discovered any connection between any of your officers and Ruby?
Mr. FRITZ. Well, I think a lot of the officers knew Ruby. I think about two or three officers in my office knew him, and I think practically all of the special service officers who handle the vice and the clubs and the liquor violations, I think nearly all of them knew him and, of course, the officer knew him who had arrested him carrying pistols a time or two, two or three times, uniformed officer mostly. He seemed to be well known. It seems a lot of people in town knew him. But I never was in his place and I didn't know him. Twenty years ago I might have been in his place.
As is the case in most things in this murder there is a differing account of what Captain Fritz said. Travis Kirk had been a Dallas lawyer for over 20 years before moving to the west coast in August 1963. He would be interviewed by the FBI on December 6, 1963 and would say the following.
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Mr. Kirk stated he has been greatly disturbed regarding the recent Dallas murders of President John F. Kennedy and . . . Lee Harvey Oswald. He has formulated rather definite opinions regarding the circumstances surrounding g the killing of Oswald, these based on his personal contacts over the years with law enforcement officials, attorneys, and judges in Dallas. He stated he also has had some association with individuals considered by him to be at least in the fringe of the Dallas underworld. He pointed out that he has defended persons in Dallas courts charged with felonies and involving cases investigated by the Dallas Police Department.
Mr. Kirk states he is acquainted with Captain Will Fritz of the Homicide Bureau. . . . He states he also knows Jack Ruby by reputation and has been in Dallas night clubs operated by this individual. He does not recall ever having engaged in conversation with Ruby. Mr. Kirk was asked specifically y if he knows of any instance that would dramatize a close friendship or association between Ruby and Fritz.
Mr. Kirk could not recall any specific occasion when he has seen these persons together. He could not recall any occasion when he, Kirk, has seen Ruby in the Dallas Police Department. However, Mr. Kirk states it is inconceivable that Fritz did not know Ruby. He described Fritz as a domineering, dictatorial officer possessing a photographic memory and a thorough knowledge of the Dallas underworld. In light of Ruby's reputation and notoriety in Dallas prior to the murder of Oswald, and Fritz's long-time control of the most important segment of the Dallas Police Department, Mr. Kirk considers it utterly ridiculous that [the report ends at this word] (CE 3006, p. 529)
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As the old saying goes, it ended just as it was getting good! It is quite strange for the FBI to cut the report off at that point, isn’t it? Anyway, we see a man who had a good knowledge of the workings of the Dallas legal and police systems saying it is “ridiculous” to think Frtiz was NOT aware of Ruby. I would agree since Ruby was known by both the Chief of Police Curry and Dallas Mayor Earle Cabell.
We see a lot of evidence in this post showing Ruby’s tight connection to many on the DPD and how this could have made it easy for him to receive assistance into the basement and assistance in his attempt to shoot and kill LHO. There is simply too much to ignore and accept the conclusion rendered by the WC in their Report.
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While the Commission has found no evidence that Ruby received assistance from any person in entering the basement… (WCR, p. 219)
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Please. It is quite clear that Ruby received a lot of assistance in entering and executing the killing of LHO. Allowing the media to disrupt the transfer to the point it could not move the transfer car into place and having blinding lights in the faces of the officers alone helped Ruby. Then add in Captain Fritz allowing LHO to be taken out in this chaos and we see the DPD were more than willing to help in Ruby’s task.
With the threatening calls coming in LHO should have been transferred at night and in private if the goal was to have him arrive safely at the county jail, but obviously this was NOT the plan based on all of this evidence in this post and other posts that I have done.