Post by Rob Caprio on Sept 9, 2024 19:47:40 GMT -5
All portions ©️ Robert Caprio 2006-2025
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www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/lee-harvey-oswald-4.jpg
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The conclusion the Warren Commission (WC) provided to the American people in 1964 was so poor that hardly anyone really accepted it as the final answer to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK). The clamor became even louder following the investigation of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison in the late 1960s and the Senate report of the Church Committee (CC) in 1976, and there were new calls to look at the case again.
This led to the congressional body that became known as the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) which formed in late 1976 and would conclude in 1979. The HSCA would be the last official "investigation" into the murder of the 35th President. It started off well, but pressure from the CIA forced changes at the top and the appointment of a man, G. Robert Blakey, who had a preconceived outcome just as the WC had in 1964. His culprit was the Mafia.
The HSCA did look at many things the WC failed to either look at or do so in a comprehensive manner. The purpose of this article is one of these things.
The HSCA Says...Austin's Barbecue & J.D. Tippit
****************************************************
One area that has not gotten as much attention (although that has increased over the decades) is the murder of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit (JDT) on November 22, 1963. This murder occurred just a short time after the murder of JFK in Dealey Plaza (DP), therefore, the WC rushed to link the two crimes and blame Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO) for this killing as well. It was neat and tidy as well as totally inaccurate based on their own evidence.
Unlike LHO, the WC was very mum on JDT and his history. He was painted as model police officer who was killed while trying to stop the murderer of JFK and no other narrative was allowed. They also stated that he was married and had three children, and all was well at home so no one but the murdering LHO would have wanted him dead.
The problem with this story is that when researchers began to look into JDT themselves over the years following his death a different picture emerged that showed perhaps, just perhaps, others might want him gone.
We learned from JDT's wife, Marie, that he worked a second job at "Austin's Barbecue" for a number of years to supplement his income when she was interviewed by the FBI on May 20, 1964.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/pages/WH_Vol26_0261b.gif
She stated that for the past two or three years, in addition to his work as a patrolman, TIPPIT had worked at Autin's Barbeque... every Friday and Saturday night from 10:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. He had been so employed to act as a deterrent potential trouble-making teenagers who hang out at Austin's. He also worked every Sunday afternoon from 2:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., in the same capacity, at the Stevens Theater in the Stevens Park Shopping Center. He would also occasionally work extra at football games on Saturday afternoons at the "Cotton Bowl." (Commission Exhibit (CE) 2985, p. 6)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/html/WH_Vol26_0261b.htm
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The reason given for all of this extra work was because they had purchased a new home per Marie Tippit. (Ibid.) The work schedule given above would make one wonder what kind of life JDT really had as it seemed it would have been working seven days a week and that can't be any fun. Marie Tippit said when he was not working (and this seemed to be never given the schedule above) he spent all of "his time at home, either working in the yard, playing with his children, or having friends over." (Ibid.)
If this was true, and we don't know this, how did he have time to have affairs as we have heard? The most common woman listed is Johnnie Maxie Witherspoon. She would be interviewed by the HSCA in 1977 and confirm that she was JDT's girlfriend from 1961-1963. The HSCA's coverage of her is short and sweet.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol12/pages/HSCA_Vol12_0021a.gif
(13) Committee investigators also interviewed Mrs. Johnnie Maxie Witherspoon. Mrs. Witherspoon stated that she became acquainted with Officer Tippit during his employment at Austin's Barbecue. Mrs. Witherspoon informed the committee that she and Tippet [sic] engaged in a relationship and started dating for a couple of years. She said the relationship ended in the summer of 1963 when her husband returned home. (HSCA XII, p. 37)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol12/html/HSCA_Vol12_0021a.htm
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Her husband, Stephen Thompson, came back and despite her admitting to being pregnant with JDT's child they reconciled in September 1963 according to court records. "While conceding that she believed she was pregnant with Tippit's child at the time of this reconciliation, the woman insists that while living with this false impression she actually became pregnant by her husband.
"However, the husband today denies this, insisting that the child was fathered by Officer Tippit. The man and the woman have long since been divorced again. Both deny any knowledge of Tippit's death other than what is in the official account."
According to researcher Henry Hurt, the husband would follow JDT and Johnnie around Oak Cliff at night when they were together during the months of the affair. Apparently, this fact was part of the original petition for divorce. (SEE FBI #68-8294-DR 2; interview with Witherspoon.)
One retired policeman told author Hurt that he and other officers believed that JDT was killed as a result of a volatile personal situation involving his lover and her estranged husband -- and that some of the other officers "will be inclined to talk about it once they have retired and their pensions are secure." (Henry Hurt, "Reasonable Doubt", pp. 167-168)
Supposedly JDT had time for other women as well. One was supposedly Clara Jo Monk who was a car hop waitress, and she too was married. It is amazing that he would have time for all of this extracurricular activity given his workload.
JDT's boss at Austin's, Austin Cook, was also interviewed by the FBI and his synopsis is pretty short and sweet as well.
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historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/pages/WH_Vol26_0262b.gif
On May 15, 1964, Austin Cook... owner of Austin's Barbeque... advised that Dallas Patrolman J.D. Tippit had been employed by Cook for about three years at the time Tippit was shot and killed on November 22, 1963. Tippit had been employed to work from 10:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. every Friday and Saturday night as a deterrent to any potential teen-age trouble. Mr. Cook explained that large number of teen-agers hang out at his drive-in on those nights.
Mr. Cook advised that he was a member of the John Birch Society but he had never discussed politics or political personalities with TIPPIT. He stated it was his impression that TIPPIT did not appear interested in politics. He advised he had never heard TIPPIT mention JACK RUBY or mention any of RUBY's nightclubs or LEE HARVEY OSWALD. Cook stated that the only people who contacted TIPPIT while he was at work were relatives or members of his family. He stated that TIPPIT had obtained this extra job in order to pay off bills at his new home and to support his family.
...Cook explained that after TIPPIT was killed, teen-agers who had known TIPPIT at the drive-in donated $300.00 to $400.00 which they gave to Cook, who in turn gave it to Mrs. Tippit. (CE 2895, p. 10)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/html/WH_Vol26_0262b.htm
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This is all pretty bland except for the last part. Researcher Walt Brown stated in "Treachery in Dallas" that the teenagers did not like JDT because he was a "jerk." If this is true, why would they raise money for him? Furthermore, where would teenagers get so much money from? $300.00 in 1963 is $3,080.00 today and $400.00 is $4,107.00 today. That is a lot of money for a number of teenagers to raise in my opinion. What do you think?
Given JDT's financial problems one has to wonder if he would be open to any activity that would bring him money. The issue of narcotics came up in the WC testimony of Police Chief Jesse Curry regarding JDT.
Mr. DULLES - A rumor reached me that Officer Tippit had been some way involved in some narcotic trouble, I don't know what the foundation of that is. Do you know anything about that at all?
Mr. CURRY - Nothing whatsoever; no, sir.
Representative FORD - You mean you know nothing about it or you checked it out and there is no validity?
Mr. CURRY - This is the first I ever heard of it that he was involved in any narcotics.
Representative FORD - But your records, so far as you know, would not indicate such?
Mr. CURRY - No, sir.
Mr. DULLES - Thank you.
I wouldn't want Curry on my defense team as he went from never hearing that JDT might be involved in narcotics to it was the FIRST TIME that he had heard JDT was involved in narcotics in a flash. His later "No, sir" when asked if records would indicate this means nothing since he just admitted that he had NEVER heard this before so how could he be familiar with records that either showed he was or wasn't involved in narcotics? He couldn't of course so this denial means absolutely nothing.
One of the reasons I find the narcotics angle interesting is because those teenagers sure had access to a lot of money to pass on to his widow. Where would a bunch of teenagers come up with $3,100.00 or $4,100.00 (current amounts) for JDT's widow Marie? Did they have paper routes in very expensive neighborhoods and received a lot in tips? Or did they run an ice cream truck that made a fortune each week? Both of these options are highly doubtful for me. So, where did a bunch of teenagers come up with so much money then?
It has been common for a long time to use young teenagers as "mules" for narcotic sales. Was the real reason JDT was working at Austin's Barbeque was to facilitate this and give it official coverage? Another idea was he there as part of a drug sting?
It is not widely known that there was another Tippit on the DPD force that could have brought him into contact with JDT. Gayle M. Tippit (GMT) worked in the Special Service Bureau area of the DPD, and he had known Jack Ruby for years at the time of his namesake's death. On December 16, 1963, Detective GMT was interviewed by the FBI about his experience with Ruby.
He said that he first met Ruby in 1950, and he seemed to have a good amount of experience with Ruby. GMT said while he checked up on the "Silver Spur Night Club" he became "very well acquainted with Jack Ruby." (CE 2986, p. 3 in original; see CE 1620 for a clear version showing the year "1950".) Here is some more information from this interview.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/pages/WH_Vol26_0265a.gif
In subsequent years Gayle Tippit had occasion to contact Ruby while the latter was operating the Vegas Club and the Carousel Club although his contacts in recent years have been in infrequent. Tippit personally had no knowledge of illegal activities on the part of Ruby, such as gambling, narcotics or prostitution. (CE 2896, p. 4 in original)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/html/WH_Vol26_0265a.htm
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This shows that GMT knew Ruby for quite some time so for me it is impossible to think he was not aware of Ruby's activities that might have crossed the line. Ruby was arrested numerous times, so he was no saint. This also shows us that GMT worked in the areas of vice and that included narcotics. Was JDT working with him on a narcotics bust that centered around Austin's? Could JDT's death have been a result of this sting he was taking part in? This question has never been asked as far as I have seen over the decades.
Ruby did admit to knowing a Tippit on the DPD, but said it was not the one that was shot. It was GMT obviously.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol9/pages/HSCA_Vol9_0069b.gif
(514) It is unclear whether Ruby knew Officer J.D. Tippit. Ruby stated that he did not. Others, however, have said that Ruby did know Tippit or that Tippit had frequented Ruby's club(s), sometimes also alleging a possible conspiracy. Andy Armstrong, a Carousel employee, told the FBI that when Ruby heard the news of Tippit's shooting on Friday afternoon while at the Carousel, he indicated that he knew Tippit.
(515) At a later date, Ruby told Armstrong that the Tippit he knew was another man on the force and not the one killed. There were three men on the force who pronounced their names similarly, although there were minor spelling differences, and Ruby admitted acquainted with Detective Gayle M. Tippit. (HSCA IX, p. 130)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol9/html/HSCA_Vol9_0069b.htm
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This confirms that Ruby knew the Tippit who worked in the vice area of the DPD. So, was there a narcotics ring being run at Austin's Barbecue? Was GMT running this and using JDT to help him? This leads me to a very interesting question, was JDT killed by accident on November 22, 1963, when the real target might have been GMT? Just a thought. There is no way to prove this, but perhaps it was a mix up or JDT was killed for his participation in this narcotic work.
Back to the Ruby claim of not knowing JDT. A witness was interviewed who said that the two did know of each other because JDT stopped at his "Silver Spur" nightclub.
Quote on
...Mrs. Coffman stated she knew of no out-of-town visitors acquainted with RUBY; however, related that RUBY knew numerous officers of the Dallas Police Department, including Officer TIPPIT who was killed by LEE HARVEY OSWALD. She stated that Officer TIPPIT patroled [sic] the area of the Silver Spur and made numerous visits to the club and was a close friend of JACK RUBY. (J.D. Tippit File, p. 12; p. 1 in original)
www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=233604#relPageId=12
Quote off
This differs with what Ruby told the WC and this should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with this case. Why the WC continually took his word for things is the real question. Stella Coffman knew Ruby since 1948 and was his head waitress so she should have known the truth.
Was JDT involved in areas that a normal police officer should not have been involved in? Given his supposed financial issues we have to wonder if he was. What else would he get out of hanging out at Ruby's club so much?
Was JDT involved in narcotic work (either helping to sell them or bust the ring up)? That is a key question as this could explain why he was really killed as anyone who has researched this case knows that LHO did not kill him as the WC claimed.
Why did the HSCA not investigate this angle further (we know why the WC wouldn't)? It seems like it could have been important to me. What do you think?
spartacus-educational.com/JFKtippit4.jpg
i.ytimg.com/vi/gyAIIiX2BjY/maxresdefault.jpg
www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/lee-harvey-oswald-4.jpg
flashbackdallas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/oak-cliff_austins_bar-b-cue_kimball-yrbk_1963_a.jpg
The conclusion the Warren Commission (WC) provided to the American people in 1964 was so poor that hardly anyone really accepted it as the final answer to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK). The clamor became even louder following the investigation of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison in the late 1960s and the Senate report of the Church Committee (CC) in 1976, and there were new calls to look at the case again.
This led to the congressional body that became known as the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) which formed in late 1976 and would conclude in 1979. The HSCA would be the last official "investigation" into the murder of the 35th President. It started off well, but pressure from the CIA forced changes at the top and the appointment of a man, G. Robert Blakey, who had a preconceived outcome just as the WC had in 1964. His culprit was the Mafia.
The HSCA did look at many things the WC failed to either look at or do so in a comprehensive manner. The purpose of this article is one of these things.
The HSCA Says...Austin's Barbecue & J.D. Tippit
****************************************************
One area that has not gotten as much attention (although that has increased over the decades) is the murder of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit (JDT) on November 22, 1963. This murder occurred just a short time after the murder of JFK in Dealey Plaza (DP), therefore, the WC rushed to link the two crimes and blame Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO) for this killing as well. It was neat and tidy as well as totally inaccurate based on their own evidence.
Unlike LHO, the WC was very mum on JDT and his history. He was painted as model police officer who was killed while trying to stop the murderer of JFK and no other narrative was allowed. They also stated that he was married and had three children, and all was well at home so no one but the murdering LHO would have wanted him dead.
The problem with this story is that when researchers began to look into JDT themselves over the years following his death a different picture emerged that showed perhaps, just perhaps, others might want him gone.
We learned from JDT's wife, Marie, that he worked a second job at "Austin's Barbecue" for a number of years to supplement his income when she was interviewed by the FBI on May 20, 1964.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/pages/WH_Vol26_0261b.gif
She stated that for the past two or three years, in addition to his work as a patrolman, TIPPIT had worked at Autin's Barbeque... every Friday and Saturday night from 10:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. He had been so employed to act as a deterrent potential trouble-making teenagers who hang out at Austin's. He also worked every Sunday afternoon from 2:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., in the same capacity, at the Stevens Theater in the Stevens Park Shopping Center. He would also occasionally work extra at football games on Saturday afternoons at the "Cotton Bowl." (Commission Exhibit (CE) 2985, p. 6)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/html/WH_Vol26_0261b.htm
Quote off
The reason given for all of this extra work was because they had purchased a new home per Marie Tippit. (Ibid.) The work schedule given above would make one wonder what kind of life JDT really had as it seemed it would have been working seven days a week and that can't be any fun. Marie Tippit said when he was not working (and this seemed to be never given the schedule above) he spent all of "his time at home, either working in the yard, playing with his children, or having friends over." (Ibid.)
If this was true, and we don't know this, how did he have time to have affairs as we have heard? The most common woman listed is Johnnie Maxie Witherspoon. She would be interviewed by the HSCA in 1977 and confirm that she was JDT's girlfriend from 1961-1963. The HSCA's coverage of her is short and sweet.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol12/pages/HSCA_Vol12_0021a.gif
(13) Committee investigators also interviewed Mrs. Johnnie Maxie Witherspoon. Mrs. Witherspoon stated that she became acquainted with Officer Tippit during his employment at Austin's Barbecue. Mrs. Witherspoon informed the committee that she and Tippet [sic] engaged in a relationship and started dating for a couple of years. She said the relationship ended in the summer of 1963 when her husband returned home. (HSCA XII, p. 37)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol12/html/HSCA_Vol12_0021a.htm
Quote off
Her husband, Stephen Thompson, came back and despite her admitting to being pregnant with JDT's child they reconciled in September 1963 according to court records. "While conceding that she believed she was pregnant with Tippit's child at the time of this reconciliation, the woman insists that while living with this false impression she actually became pregnant by her husband.
"However, the husband today denies this, insisting that the child was fathered by Officer Tippit. The man and the woman have long since been divorced again. Both deny any knowledge of Tippit's death other than what is in the official account."
According to researcher Henry Hurt, the husband would follow JDT and Johnnie around Oak Cliff at night when they were together during the months of the affair. Apparently, this fact was part of the original petition for divorce. (SEE FBI #68-8294-DR 2; interview with Witherspoon.)
One retired policeman told author Hurt that he and other officers believed that JDT was killed as a result of a volatile personal situation involving his lover and her estranged husband -- and that some of the other officers "will be inclined to talk about it once they have retired and their pensions are secure." (Henry Hurt, "Reasonable Doubt", pp. 167-168)
Supposedly JDT had time for other women as well. One was supposedly Clara Jo Monk who was a car hop waitress, and she too was married. It is amazing that he would have time for all of this extracurricular activity given his workload.
JDT's boss at Austin's, Austin Cook, was also interviewed by the FBI and his synopsis is pretty short and sweet as well.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/pages/WH_Vol26_0262b.gif
On May 15, 1964, Austin Cook... owner of Austin's Barbeque... advised that Dallas Patrolman J.D. Tippit had been employed by Cook for about three years at the time Tippit was shot and killed on November 22, 1963. Tippit had been employed to work from 10:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. every Friday and Saturday night as a deterrent to any potential teen-age trouble. Mr. Cook explained that large number of teen-agers hang out at his drive-in on those nights.
Mr. Cook advised that he was a member of the John Birch Society but he had never discussed politics or political personalities with TIPPIT. He stated it was his impression that TIPPIT did not appear interested in politics. He advised he had never heard TIPPIT mention JACK RUBY or mention any of RUBY's nightclubs or LEE HARVEY OSWALD. Cook stated that the only people who contacted TIPPIT while he was at work were relatives or members of his family. He stated that TIPPIT had obtained this extra job in order to pay off bills at his new home and to support his family.
...Cook explained that after TIPPIT was killed, teen-agers who had known TIPPIT at the drive-in donated $300.00 to $400.00 which they gave to Cook, who in turn gave it to Mrs. Tippit. (CE 2895, p. 10)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/html/WH_Vol26_0262b.htm
Quote off
This is all pretty bland except for the last part. Researcher Walt Brown stated in "Treachery in Dallas" that the teenagers did not like JDT because he was a "jerk." If this is true, why would they raise money for him? Furthermore, where would teenagers get so much money from? $300.00 in 1963 is $3,080.00 today and $400.00 is $4,107.00 today. That is a lot of money for a number of teenagers to raise in my opinion. What do you think?
Given JDT's financial problems one has to wonder if he would be open to any activity that would bring him money. The issue of narcotics came up in the WC testimony of Police Chief Jesse Curry regarding JDT.
Mr. DULLES - A rumor reached me that Officer Tippit had been some way involved in some narcotic trouble, I don't know what the foundation of that is. Do you know anything about that at all?
Mr. CURRY - Nothing whatsoever; no, sir.
Representative FORD - You mean you know nothing about it or you checked it out and there is no validity?
Mr. CURRY - This is the first I ever heard of it that he was involved in any narcotics.
Representative FORD - But your records, so far as you know, would not indicate such?
Mr. CURRY - No, sir.
Mr. DULLES - Thank you.
I wouldn't want Curry on my defense team as he went from never hearing that JDT might be involved in narcotics to it was the FIRST TIME that he had heard JDT was involved in narcotics in a flash. His later "No, sir" when asked if records would indicate this means nothing since he just admitted that he had NEVER heard this before so how could he be familiar with records that either showed he was or wasn't involved in narcotics? He couldn't of course so this denial means absolutely nothing.
One of the reasons I find the narcotics angle interesting is because those teenagers sure had access to a lot of money to pass on to his widow. Where would a bunch of teenagers come up with $3,100.00 or $4,100.00 (current amounts) for JDT's widow Marie? Did they have paper routes in very expensive neighborhoods and received a lot in tips? Or did they run an ice cream truck that made a fortune each week? Both of these options are highly doubtful for me. So, where did a bunch of teenagers come up with so much money then?
It has been common for a long time to use young teenagers as "mules" for narcotic sales. Was the real reason JDT was working at Austin's Barbeque was to facilitate this and give it official coverage? Another idea was he there as part of a drug sting?
It is not widely known that there was another Tippit on the DPD force that could have brought him into contact with JDT. Gayle M. Tippit (GMT) worked in the Special Service Bureau area of the DPD, and he had known Jack Ruby for years at the time of his namesake's death. On December 16, 1963, Detective GMT was interviewed by the FBI about his experience with Ruby.
He said that he first met Ruby in 1950, and he seemed to have a good amount of experience with Ruby. GMT said while he checked up on the "Silver Spur Night Club" he became "very well acquainted with Jack Ruby." (CE 2986, p. 3 in original; see CE 1620 for a clear version showing the year "1950".) Here is some more information from this interview.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/pages/WH_Vol26_0265a.gif
In subsequent years Gayle Tippit had occasion to contact Ruby while the latter was operating the Vegas Club and the Carousel Club although his contacts in recent years have been in infrequent. Tippit personally had no knowledge of illegal activities on the part of Ruby, such as gambling, narcotics or prostitution. (CE 2896, p. 4 in original)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh26/html/WH_Vol26_0265a.htm
Quote off
This shows that GMT knew Ruby for quite some time so for me it is impossible to think he was not aware of Ruby's activities that might have crossed the line. Ruby was arrested numerous times, so he was no saint. This also shows us that GMT worked in the areas of vice and that included narcotics. Was JDT working with him on a narcotics bust that centered around Austin's? Could JDT's death have been a result of this sting he was taking part in? This question has never been asked as far as I have seen over the decades.
Ruby did admit to knowing a Tippit on the DPD, but said it was not the one that was shot. It was GMT obviously.
Quote on
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol9/pages/HSCA_Vol9_0069b.gif
(514) It is unclear whether Ruby knew Officer J.D. Tippit. Ruby stated that he did not. Others, however, have said that Ruby did know Tippit or that Tippit had frequented Ruby's club(s), sometimes also alleging a possible conspiracy. Andy Armstrong, a Carousel employee, told the FBI that when Ruby heard the news of Tippit's shooting on Friday afternoon while at the Carousel, he indicated that he knew Tippit.
(515) At a later date, Ruby told Armstrong that the Tippit he knew was another man on the force and not the one killed. There were three men on the force who pronounced their names similarly, although there were minor spelling differences, and Ruby admitted acquainted with Detective Gayle M. Tippit. (HSCA IX, p. 130)
historymatters.com/archive/jfk/hsca/reportvols/vol9/html/HSCA_Vol9_0069b.htm
Quote off
This confirms that Ruby knew the Tippit who worked in the vice area of the DPD. So, was there a narcotics ring being run at Austin's Barbecue? Was GMT running this and using JDT to help him? This leads me to a very interesting question, was JDT killed by accident on November 22, 1963, when the real target might have been GMT? Just a thought. There is no way to prove this, but perhaps it was a mix up or JDT was killed for his participation in this narcotic work.
Back to the Ruby claim of not knowing JDT. A witness was interviewed who said that the two did know of each other because JDT stopped at his "Silver Spur" nightclub.
Quote on
...Mrs. Coffman stated she knew of no out-of-town visitors acquainted with RUBY; however, related that RUBY knew numerous officers of the Dallas Police Department, including Officer TIPPIT who was killed by LEE HARVEY OSWALD. She stated that Officer TIPPIT patroled [sic] the area of the Silver Spur and made numerous visits to the club and was a close friend of JACK RUBY. (J.D. Tippit File, p. 12; p. 1 in original)
www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=233604#relPageId=12
Quote off
This differs with what Ruby told the WC and this should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with this case. Why the WC continually took his word for things is the real question. Stella Coffman knew Ruby since 1948 and was his head waitress so she should have known the truth.
Was JDT involved in areas that a normal police officer should not have been involved in? Given his supposed financial issues we have to wonder if he was. What else would he get out of hanging out at Ruby's club so much?
Was JDT involved in narcotic work (either helping to sell them or bust the ring up)? That is a key question as this could explain why he was really killed as anyone who has researched this case knows that LHO did not kill him as the WC claimed.
Why did the HSCA not investigate this angle further (we know why the WC wouldn't)? It seems like it could have been important to me. What do you think?