William O'Neil

James, this of course means he wasn't president of SMU during '63. I came across the reference that he was president during that year in a book called The JFK Conspiracy by David Miller (By 1963 Beaty was President of SMU.... p46). I checked out everything else he said about Beaty, and was able to corroborate all of it - that is that he'd written the anti-Semitic book, that it was distributed by the likes of McGuire etc. He even had the reference to his army intelligence career. It didn't occur to me therefore that he may be wrong about when Beaty was president. Had I known Beaty's middle name, I would have found the date of death in Texas Online, and wouldn't have started this thread - unless I could find a reference to the ACLUs use of SMU commencing during Beaty's tenure, or alternatively if it commenced having meetings at SMU after Beaty's death, that the new President was of the same ilk as Beaty. Either of those is possible, but as yet, not verified. It was noted a while back that the actual title of the Dallas ACLU was DCLU. Its records are actually archived at the University of Texas, Arlington. Dallas Civil Liberties Union Records, 1953-1996, bulk 1969-1996 But then when you look at the records for Carl Brannin, it states that he founded the DCLU in 1962? Brannin, Carl, 1888-1985 Papers, 1954-1974, bulk 1962-1974; 3 boxes (1.04 linear ft.) Carl Brannin, born in Cisco, Texas, was a longtime resident of Dallas. He was a journalist and social activist who traveled the world in pursuit of humanitarian causes. Brannin, along with his wife, Laura, was especially active in politics, labor union organizing, and the civil rights movement. He was a charter member of the American Civil Liberties Union, founded in 1920, and an organizer of the Dallas Civil Liberties Union founded in 1962. Correspondence, minutes, financial records, speeches, newspaper clippings, newsletters, constitutions, reports, rosters, press releases, notes, and miscellaneous printed material. Brannin’s papers focus on the Dallas Civil Liberties Union during the period that he served as member of the Board of Directors, membership chairman, and secretary, 1962-1974, but also include personal materials, records of the Texas Civil Liberties Union, 1964-1974, and records of the American Civil Liberties Union, 1954-1974, including their periodical, Civil Liberties. Records of the Dallas Civil Liberties Union include clippings, letters, and notes on the Lee Harvey Oswald case which describe events after the Kennedy assassination and after Oswald’s death. The UTA Libraries Oral History Collection contains four transcribed interviews with Brannin. This collection is also known as: Texas Civil Liberties Union, Dallas Chapter, Records. Does anyone know then, who the President of SMU was in 1963? Was there a predecessor organisation in Dallas to the DCLU existing prior to 1962? Greg ; FWIW, Walker spoke at SMU on Feb. 13th, the afternoon of the "party", where Os met Volkmar Schmidt.

Thomas Purvis or anybody know, if one Stuart McClendon of New Orleans La. had any relation to Dallas's Gordon McClendon? Thanks -Bill

Exellent reasoning Duke, the best synopsis of the situation I've come across. -Bill

Thomas, As I recall (without looking anything up), the "coup de grace" witness came up during the HSCA hearings. He was driving a car eastward toward Patton and watched the whole thing, he said. In any case, I have a copy of the Tippit autopsy (somewhere!) and photos from it, and he clearly has a hole in his right temple; what I cannot remember offhand is whether there was any notation in the autopsy report of "powder burns" or other indications that the bullet was fired from closer than the others that hit him in the thorax. Lacking those references immediately, to pursue the "self defense" angle, you'd have to suggest that whomever it was that JDT stopped was a "quick draw" since the inference would be that an experienced police officer got out of the car pulling his own gun, and the person JDT "pulled over" noticed this and was able to draw and shoot his weapon before the cop — whose weapon was either already drawn or in the process of being drawn — could bring his own weapon to bear against the "suspect." There is also the question whether the "suspect" could have seen that with the car between him and the cop. Think about it: a cop pulls up beside you in a hard-topped vehicle. You might even lean in toward his window to "converse" through the closed window (if pulling over a suspect, I can't imagine a cop leaning across the car to manually roll down the window to talk rather than simply getting out of the car, can you? Go through the motions yourself and tell me if you find yourself in a position of "control"), but once the cop starts to get up and out of his car the roof will be in your line of sight, you won't be seeing him draw his gun. On the other hand — or, from the opposite perspective — you can imagine JDT getting out of the car, noticing that the "suspect" was drawing on him, reaching for his own gun and managing to get it out of the holster — but not to where he could use it against the "suspect" — before he was hit and fell down, with the gun beneath him. Too, if JDT was drawing down on the "suspect," who drew and fired after seeing the cop's gun being drawn against him, one might possibly expect that, if JDT was prepared to fire in the first place (rule of thumb: don't draw unless prepared to fire), the gun might end up elsewhere than under his body, perhaps beside it. This is hardly conclusive in any respect, but frankly, an "innocent civilian" should hardly be expected to draw on and fire at a police officer whether or not the officer is drawing his gun or already has it drawn. Perhaps that might be mitigated when, unprovoked, the officer draws a bead on you, but by that point, it's pretty well too late: you're not going to get your gun out and shoot him first. Today (i.e., in the last 20 years or so), police are trained to draw quickly and to train their gun on a suspect immediately. This is not a casual endeavor: they don't "pull a Barney Fife" and get out with their hands on their guns as if they might draw, but to draw with certainty and intent. Drawing a gun is not a casual affair: it signals someone that you are prepared to fire upon them, and if you fire upon them, you are prepared to kill them. How many "innocent civilians" are willing to "duel" with a trained professional who intends, if necessary, to kill them? The only testimony regarding "state of mind" is that of Helen Markham, who characterized it as a "friendly" conversation or encounter. If there were conflicting testimony, I might be inclined to discount HM's characterization, but lacking it, I'd be hard pressed to manufacture this scenario beyond mere speculation. What — beyond speculation — would suggest "self-defense," even leaving the "coup de grace" out of the equation? Duke: It seems something must have been said or done, during the time that the "gunman" was talking to Tippet thru the passenger side window, to cause him to exit the patrol car and approach the suspect . This may have given the suspect a few seconds advantage, to draw down on the approaching cop. The front of the patrol car was low enough for someone to see Tippet draw or reach for his weapon. Lee; The Tippet murder sight has changed alot over the years, some of the alleys/driveways you are interested in may not be there anymore. Good Luck!

Thomas ; I can't help but agree with your views on Oswald's movements and connections. Those who were directing his actions were adept at keeping a low profile, as practiced "tradecraft". As far as limited documentation is concerned, there is another reason. In all the personal and historical (special) collections I have been through of key figures, there is a blatant gap in the record, usually starting around late 62' and continuing through 63'. IOW, these files /collections have been carefully purged of any damning material or correspondence having to do with this subject (JFK /11-22). When I've inquired of the archivist as to why this is , they usually state that this was the way it was given to us, from the relatives or estate. I expect to find this in the Eastland collection as well. We were flat out refused when we asked to see the Julia Knecht ( Walker's gal friday) papers in Texas, as it was "not available to researchers" as per instructions from the family. Thus there his a collective black hole in the record, not just because of official redaction but from the private sector as well. -Bill

Greg; FWIW.... Iv'e always been a bit wary of Huffacker, since I tried to ask him some questions regarding Ruby's motivation etc. He was curt and defensive with his replies, and rudely scoffed at any suggestion that Ruby had alternative motivations in the Oswald shooting. In the last few years he's been part of a group of newsmen or "first day witnesses", who have gone around giving talks where they essentially make a point of debunking any notion of conspiracy. Although he certainly has a right to his opinion, I found his reactions a little too reactionary and un-objective.

Tom ; I have spent a lot of time in La. Miss. Tx. and other states below the Mason -Dixon. Hell, I think we even interupted a Klan meeting in a cafe outside of Zachary La. My, my, if looks could kill,.....lucky we was white, for awhile there I wasn't even sure if that was going to be sufficient!

LHO was indeed a Southern boy, and I don't mean that in a geographic sense........ -Bill

Thanks Michael, Don't know how, but I skimmed over that and missed it the first time. -Bill

On page 271 of AFTJ, Joan Mellen quotes Peter Francis Conor (Connor) as saying: that Oswald callled his namesake Robert E. Lee "the greatest man in history". Does anyone have a source for that statement ?, she doesn't supply one, and I can't seem to find it. Thanks -Bill

James: I saw the original drafts for the book( A Texan Looks at Lyndon) and the related correspondence concerning it's design and content. Haley [and friends] went out of the way to imply LBJ's guilt, in fact, thats where the effort to blame Johnson for 11-22 really originated.

Iteresting side- lights. The JBS in Texas was one of , if not THE most radical branches in the nation. Joe Grinnan was one of the extreme radicals behind the scenes. I read alot of his holiday correspondence over the years with J. Evatts Haley, another mover and shaker. These guys had a real distaste for "Democracy".....among other things!

Thanks all! Seems to me he was one of those who were suddenly missing on the morning of the 22nd? Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

Thanks Gary; But, I coudn't get the link to work.

Earl Lively Jr. was a RW radical in the Dallas area , he wrote a news paper column, and also did a radio show for a time, he was connected with Robert Morris and was a follower of Edwin Walker. He was intent on tying Oswald and the FPCC to the assassination, and intended to write a book on the subject. Does any body have any further info on this cat? -Bill

That was supposed to be Medgar Evers....my fingers aren't working this morning.

Bill, I gather from your post that you have spoken with Rothermel at length. Do you know anything about him making the Boone and Crockett Club trophy list during the mid 1960's? This was a club for hunters. Also, do you know anything about a character named John Sawtooth? James James; Yes we did talk to him for a couple of hours. Specifically, I don't know about Boone and Crockett Club , but he had a very impressive "Trophy Room" in his house, I call it the "Kill Room" because it had every type of hunting weapon you could imagine, in a large wall glass display case. Water Buffalo head the size of a truck, was on the opposite wall, among many other other critters. Wouldn't suprise me if the real long arm that killed JFK, was in that case... Kinda like that judge in the Megar Evans case, know whata mean? Sawtooth doesn't ring a bell at the moment. -Bill

Robert : No, you won't see it, Rothermel told me that what he knows about 11-22-63 (alot IMO)... will "die with him". -BILL

Thank you all for your responses!. Greg; I agree completely about source run-around, I was getting dizzie so I came to the Forum. Citations are taking over my life !! -Bill

Mark ; I didn't mean to imply that Ruby was a commie, only that there was a concerted effort to portray him as such, after the fact. Where the propaganda eminates from is revealing, and in the end, predictable. However, I'd like to document it. Thanks, Bill

Thanks all, Greg , I knew about Dies but wondered where he picked it up. I'm tracing these kind of stories down, to determine their origin, which I believe is important. Capell is behind many of them and Oliver was a JBS mouthpiece. I now see Ruby as much a "fall guy " as any of the others. Involved yes, mastermind ...no. Thanks, Bill

I'm presently trying to trace down the origin of the rumor, that Jack (Ruby) Rubenstein was the person that was involved with the Young Communist League etc. in Chicago and Muncie. I'd like to know if Revilo Oliver's source was Martin Dies or George Fehrenbach. Anybody nailed this down......Greg??

Just some sketchy bits. Langridge was the Jefferson Parish DA from the late 50s to the late 60s. He was reputed to be Carlos Marcello's man. When David Ferrie was arrested on morals charges in 1961, it was Langridge's office that processed the charges. Ferrie also charged that he was being "shaken down" for payoffs alleged to go to Langridge. When the complaining witness against Ferrie retracted his charges in September 1962, Langridge non prossed the cases. Langridge then went with the complaining witness and his father to Eastern Air Lines to plead for Ferrie's reinstatement from suspension. THANKS STEVE! -Bill

Does anyone have info on one Frank H. Langridge of New Orleans, who was the Jefferson Parish DA in 67' ?

John : Keep in mind ,there is no evidence that Walker was sitting at his desk ,when the bullet passed through his window, we only have Walker's word on that....which ain't worth much. That night was one of the few nights he was ''alone '', although Hemming says otherwise, he has offered no proof to this claim. Bill