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Suspicious Vehicles and 11/22/63


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For what it's worth, one of the most respected scholars and editors within the JFK research community told me some years ago that he was looking at the possibly sinister use of a medium sized truck parked during the assassination on Elm, east of Houston.

Based on his description of the vehicle, I asked if he were postulating a shooter firing out of what might best be termed a "trap door" cut into the wall of the cargo area that extends above the rear of the cab.

He chose not to speculate at that time.

I'll try to find out if he continued his inquiries.

In the meantime, perhaps Brother Richards might dig up a photo that captures the truck in question.

Charles

Charles...the white trailer (not truck) is seen in the zfilm and Towner photo. In the trailer industry

it is called a REEFER, or refrigerated van. The "hole" is where the refrigeration unit normally is

fitted. It seems to be parked by the curb in front of the Daltex building. I have long suspected it

was the COMMAND CENTER from which those within could have a perfect view down Elm.

Jack

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A strange deleted name in WC CD 205 p.576 concerning Richard Belcher; The index for CD 205 list a Richard Belcher as being on page 576, but when one goes to the page, there is only the following entry.......Crawford County Motor Company, Van Driver?, Arkansas advised that he had recently purchased two vehicles

that was? Auto Rental Services, Inc., Fort Smith, Arkansas. One of these vehicles was a 1962 Ford bearing license number redacted. He stated that this vehicle bearing license redacted had been sold to redacted Van Buren, Arkansas (Robert Howard)

Robert,

This is an interesting angle I was working on some time back.

The man in Arkansas may have gone by the name of Betts (first name unknown) and who also possibly used the alias Belcher.

In 1961, H.L. Hunt's company, HLH Parade purchased a company in Van Buren, Arkansas called H and B Canning. This character Betts/Belcher was mixed up somehow with the take over deal. He was allegedly also an associate of J.R. Patterson who at the time was general manager of HLH Parade.

I was never able to get specifics here but the whole thing just didn't seem right.

FWIW (very little I'm afraid)

James

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If Judyth knew any Oswald it was not Harvey, it was Lee...more grains of salt...imo...

It was Lee that had the licence and drove not Harvey.....

How could Marina be materialistic, Lee she didn't have anything, to compare it to in the first place...??

But those are also Judyths words within her book....that Marina was....

and not even enough to see a Doctor for a check up...and lived on also what others provided for them.

Check into Wiesberg, I believe they never spent more than $10.00 a week on grocery's, he did drop by

at the corner grocery store during the week, for milk and bread extra, and there if we are to believe

Judyth.....he was even helping her even pay her rent when first in N.Os.....but that's o.k..... sheesh....

See below for anyone interested.....there were clearly two who looked very similar....imo..

Laurel Kittrell, of the Texas Employment Commission, interviewed Harvey Oswald before he began work at the Book Depository on October 15. He told her he had come up from New Orleans. She described him as neat in appearance and articulate. He told her his first job was selling shoes. In 1956 he moved to Encino, California and worked 6 months a motorscooter messenger boy before he joined the Marines. Laurel Kittrell interviewed "Harvey Oswald", who first worked at Dolly Shoe in 1955, and wrote the infamous note to Warren Easton High School in October, 1955 stating "we are moving to San Diego". Her curiosity was aroused when Oswald told her he had lived in Russia and had a Russian wife. She noticed the woman with him was about to have a baby and remembered her as being quite short and wearing no makeup. During this interview, she asked him what he liked best about Russia. He replied "The opera".

A week later Oswald showed up for another interview. Harvey was then working at the T.S.B.D.. But Mrs. Kittrell realized this Oswald was not the same person she had interviewed before. The two Oswalds were very, very similar--but different people. She said, "the man I remember as (Harvey) Oswald, and the man I remember as the Teamster were much alike in size, shape and outline, generally, there was a marked difference between them in bearing and manner. The man I remember as Oswald was a trim, energetic, compact, well-knit person, who sat on the edge of a chair (Harvey). The man I remember as the Teamster, was sprawled over his chair and was rather messy looking (Lee)".

-- John Armstrong, 1997

Mrs. Kittrell gave a thirty-page statement to the U.S. Attorney in Dallas. Her statement was hand carried to the Warren Commission by the Secret Service. But her 30-page statement and subsequent 90-page manuscript in which she discusses her interviews of the two Oswalds, were ultimately ignored and suppressed.

-- John Armstrong, 1999

The FBI finally got around to interviewing Mrs. Kittrell on June 4, 1965. The U.S. government finally got around to allowing the American people access to her statement in 1994, more than thirty years after the assassination.

Shown below is an excerpt from two pages of her lengthy statement, which is FBI record no. 124-10057-10339; Agency file no. 62-109060-4052.

According to an FBI report located at the National Archives by Mr. Armstrong in May 1999, the FBI had tracked Oswald's return trip to the U.S. from Mexico City, indicating that Oswald took a La Frontera bus from Mexico City and arriving at the border town on Nuevo Laredo on the morning of 10/3/63. Noting that Oswald also applied for unemployment compensation at the Texas Employment Commission that same day, the report found it "highly improbable that Oswald could have traveled" the 426 miles "from Laredo, Texas to Dallas, Texas on 10/3/63, in time to appear personally" before Laurel Kittrell at the Texas Employment Commission. The agent who wrote the report was obviously unaware that two people were sharing the identity of Lee Harvey Oswald.

http://home.wi.rr.com/harveyandlee/Kittrell/Kittrell.htm

The official story of Russian-speaking Harvey Oswald's activities on November 22, 1963 is familiar to many. Since Harvey didn't drive and didn't have a driver's license, on the morning of the assassination at around 7:15 AM he walked the short distance to Wesley Frazier's house and rode with Frazier to the School Book Depository, where he stayed continuously until the early afternoon and was observed by many witnesses. The shirt he wore was variously identified as tan or, more often, brown.

Wearing a white shirt that day, the American-born "Lee" Oswald was seen at two different places early in the morning. In 1998, Mr. Armstrong described the sightings this way:

Lee Oswald --- 7:30 am, November 22, 1963 --- J.W. "Dub" Stark was the owner of the Top 10 Record Store located at 338 W. Jefferson in Oak Cliff. The store still exists and is across the street and a block and a half west of the Texas Theater. On December 3, 1963 SA Carl E. Walters wrote a memo to SAC, Dallas. The memo stated "On 12/3/63, Mr. John D. Whitten, telephonically advised that he heard Lee Harvey Oswald was in the Top 10 Record Shop on Jefferson on the morning of 11/22/63. Oswald bought a ticket of some kind and left. Then some time later, Oswald returned to the record shop and wanted to buy another ticket. Whitten requested that his name not be mentioned in any way, as it could hurt his business". News reporter Earl Golz confirmed this story in his interview with Mr. Stark (notes of Earl Golz). This story was further confirmed by Top 10 Record store employee Louis Cortinas, 18 years old in 1963, also in an interview conducted by Earl Golz (notes of Earl Golz). For interested parties, Dale Myers interviewed Mr. Stark in 1997. This interview is described on page 57 of Dale Myers book, With Malice.

Lee Oswald --- 8:30 am, November 22, 1963 --- Lee Oswald entered the Jiffy store, 310 S. Industrial, Dallas, TX., about 8:30 am. Fred Moore, the store clerk said "identification of this individual arose when he asked him for identification as to proof of age for purchase of two bottles of beer. Moore said he figured the man was over 21 but the store frequently requires proof by reason of past difficulties with local authorities for serving beer to minors. This customer said, sure I got ID and pulled a Texas drivers license from his billfold. Moore said that he noted the name appeared as Lee Oswald or possibly as H. Lee Oswald. As Moore recalled, the birth date on the license was 1939 and he thought it to have been the 10th month." (interview of Fred Moore by SA David Barry 12/2/63).

http://home.wi.rr.com/harveyandlee/November/November_22.htm

B......

Teamster Oswald.

There would have been records of a Union dues paying member available for quite some period of time after 11/63.

With the testimony given regarding "Teamster Oswald" you would think there would have been a mad scramble to

issue a subpoena for Union records.

Considering Bobby Kennedy's well known interest in Union activities, this would have been a windfall of sorts, giving

his Justice Dept. unfettered access to Union records.

Once again we find an evidentiary path which, though it should have been followed, appears to have been avoided.

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The "Teamster" Oswald; its hard to make an accurate assessment re: whether it was the real LHO or one of the impostor Oswald's; Although some may disagree.

James, thanks for the info on Betts, I am sure you are familiar with David Ferrie's phone call records re his several calls to a Mae Belcher in Dallas, the ramifications of this could be quite interesting. In 1975, Mae Belcher was indicted along with a career swindler named James Lofland, who was busted for the same activity in 1963. Mae Belcher was associated, actually the owner, I believe of a company called the Good Earth Oil Co., ostensibly she had a daughter named Lila Boos, according to the Mary Ferrell site. I was never able to determine the results of the 1975 indictment filed in the New York courts.

But considering the CIA ships doing anti-Cuban ops in Florida pre-assassination.....the Rex, Leda and their linkage to Belcher Oil, the possibilities are wont to make one do some real digging........

Also, have you ever heard of someone named Charles Jessup.......He would be in my parlance, a person of interest and possibly even someone who was operating in the same circles as Lofland and Belcher.....Maybe same circles, is not the correct phraseology, as Jessup was a religious scam artist, somewhat similar to Albert Osborne, except there is nothing to indicate he was tied in any way to the JFK assassination, but he definitely was an interesting character.......

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The "Teamster" Oswald; its hard to make an accurate assessment re: whether it was the real LHO or one of the impostor Oswald's; Although some may disagree.

James, thanks for the info on Betts, I am sure you are familiar with David Ferrie's phone call records re his several calls to a Mae Belcher in Dallas, the ramifications of this could be quite interesting. In 1975, Mae Belcher was indicted along with a career swindler named James Lofland, who was busted for the same activity in 1963. Mae Belcher was associated, actually the owner, I believe of a company called the Good Earth Oil Co., ostensibly she had a daughter named Lila Boos, according to the Mary Ferrell site. I was never able to determine the results of the 1975 indictment filed in the New York courts.

But considering the CIA ships doing anti-Cuban ops in Florida pre-assassination.....the Rex, Leda and their linkage to Belcher Oil, the possibilities are wont to make one do some real digging........

Also, have you ever heard of someone named Charles Jessup.......He would be in my parlance, a person of interest and possibly even someone who was operating in the same circles as Lofland and Belcher.....Maybe same circles, is not the correct phraseology, as Jessup was a religious scam artist, somewhat similar to Albert Osborne, except there is nothing to indicate he was tied in any way to the JFK assassination, but he definitely was an interesting character.......

Robert,

This is a most interesting path to investigate. Mae Belcher's daughter was one Lila McEntire who was a high profile Dallas socialite. She and her close circle of friends would often visit Mexico City and be entertained by highly placed government officials.

As for Mae Belcher, she curiously gave the Army Emergency Relief a 40 acre oil lease. I have not been able to ascertain any real details here but something about this doesn't quite sit right.

Case in point being that one of Mae's closest business allies was a geologist named John Greathouse and as it so happens, one of his close friends was a Texan by the name of William 'Rip' Robertson.

As to Jessup, I only know he was part of this interdenominational revival thing with his brother Byron.

FWIW.

Lila McEntire and Mae Belcher below.

James

Edited by James Richards
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For what it's worth, one of the most respected scholars and editors within the JFK research community told me some years ago that he was looking at the possibly sinister use of a medium sized truck parked during the assassination on Elm, east of Houston.

Based on his description of the vehicle, I asked if he were postulating a shooter firing out of what might best be termed a "trap door" cut into the wall of the cargo area that extends above the rear of the cab.

He chose not to speculate at that time.

I'll try to find out if he continued his inquiries.

In the meantime, perhaps Brother Richards might dig up a photo that captures the truck in question.

Charles

Charles...the white trailer (not truck) is seen in the zfilm and Towner photo. In the trailer industry

it is called a REEFER, or refrigerated van. The "hole" is where the refrigeration unit normally is

fitted. It seems to be parked by the curb in front of the Daltex building. I have long suspected it

was the COMMAND CENTER from which those within could have a perfect view down Elm.

Jack

Bingo, Jack.

Pure/mere speculation here: Might a shooter in the prone firing position have had a line of sight through the "hole" down Elm?

The only problem I have with the concept of the trailer (thanks for the correction) as a command post and/or shooting position is that its sinister occupants would have no means of E&E should the vehicle be stopped by authorities, suffer mechanical difficulties, etc.

Along the lines of "in case of fire, don't use elevators".

Intriguing.

Charles

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Peter,

There is at least one clear, unambiguous photo of the trailer and the "hole" in the Elm Street position (roughly in front of what today is used as the canopied entrance to Morton's Steak House and DalTex in general.

Help!

Charles

Charles...I emailed the photo of the reefer van to Peter Lemkin. I assume he will post it here, but right

now he is very involved in the conspiracy section on 911. Peter?

Jack

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who is James Branum?

(image: copy of DPD '63 'scribble' (inset by me))

Edited by John Dolva
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Peter,

There is at least one clear, unambiguous photo of the trailer and the "hole" in the Elm Street position (roughly in front of what today is used as the canopied entrance to Morton's Steak House and DalTex in general.

Help!

Charles

Charles...I emailed the photo of the reefer van to Peter Lemkin. I assume he will post it here, but right

now he is very involved in the conspiracy section on 911. Peter?

Jack

Sorry, was distracted by the Borg. The two vehicles there are interesting as mobile command posts. Anyone know when they 'moved out' and if the DPD or Sheriff did any investigation of them [thought the question should be if they did of anything that day....]?

A sniper under the sacks of laundry is an interesting thought.

Jack

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For what it's worth, one of the most respected scholars and editors within the JFK research community told me some years ago that he was looking at the possibly sinister use of a medium sized truck parked during the assassination on Elm, east of Houston.

Based on his description of the vehicle, I asked if he were postulating a shooter firing out of what might best be termed a "trap door" cut into the wall of the cargo area that extends above the rear of the cab.

He chose not to speculate at that time.

I'll try to find out if he continued his inquiries.

In the meantime, perhaps Brother Richards might dig up a photo that captures the truck in question.

Charles

Charles...the white trailer (not truck) is seen in the zfilm and Towner photo. In the trailer industry

it is called a REEFER, or refrigerated van. The "hole" is where the refrigeration unit normally is

fitted. It seems to be parked by the curb in front of the Daltex building. I have long suspected it

was the COMMAND CENTER from which those within could have a perfect view down Elm.

Jack

Or most likely a simple cargo trailer built by the WELLS CARGO Trailer company.....

http://www.wellscargo.com/wells/index.html

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  • 2 months later...
Just to add another vehicle to your list, have a look at this photo which I believe was taken minutes after the assassination, at the corner of Elm and Houston (I think that's the Dal-Tex building in the background). It just happens to be a light colored '62 Rambler American station wagon.

JWK

post-4880-1150428484_thumb.jpg

post-4880-1150428532_thumb.jpg

__________________________________

J.W.,

Regarding your post #48 this thread, great catch!

Does anyone know if this vehicle was caught on film by anyone else and/or at any other time?

This of course is the light colored 1962 Rambler American station wagon J.W. King refered to in response to my questions about a possible Rambler station wagon on the Elm Street Extention visible in posts #1 and #9 on the Hammer Man and Crew thread.

Thanks,

--Thomas

_________________________________

Edited by Thomas Graves
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