William O'Neil

Thanks Robert! I'm sure Richard appreciates your support. If you have time, you might want to also check out the debate on his work over at Lancer. I'm exhausted after trying to absorb all this........could you please send the elevator back up? -Bill

Jim, Given that Hurt could master languages very well (even without formal intruction) is it possible that he taught Oswald Russian ? Or, at least tutored him in the skills to master it in a short period? -Bill

John, You are correct in your assumption regarding the MSC files. They have been cleansed, as have almost all the relevant collections we have been through in the South. Time after time we would see that the period between 1962-early 64' were either missing or very scant. When they first announced that the MSC files would be opened up, we called the State Archives in Jackson Miss. to arrange to see them. They told us there was a delay in the release of certain parts of the collection and that the full files would not be available until later that year. I think that they pulled some 'sensitive' material out then. In fact the archivist told us when we did go down there, that some things had been removed for "privacy reasons" Riiiiiight! -Bill

John , As we have dicusssed in the past . The battle for segregation was the last stand for the White supremisists (sic?) Even though the die was cast, and the segregationist's battle was all but lost ..... It was still do or die! This is what people fail to realize......it was a battle of survival for their... "Way of life" This is highly stressed throughout the literature of the time. I've read so much of the literature ( political ephemera) of that period, that it's a wonder JFK lasted as long as he did! It was more bitter and vitriolic than any Cuban broadsides I've ever seen. Vile hatred! -Bill

William, We heard this directly from Joe Oster, Banister's former partner in the Detective Agency. He told us he never heard anything about Guy being in the ONI. Said Banister wasn't in the service either, as he had already joined the FBI. Joe left Banister to form Southern Research, because he said Guy was more interested in politics (Segregation), than running a business! -Bill O Hi Bill, I'm not arguing with you. There are two Guy Johnsons in the CIA files who might be related. Ok , I will try and go back and establish the details. Guy Persic Johnson is the guy I am interested in. While he is dead his son is alive. Guy P. Johnson was definately ONI, and according to Jack Martin, the guy who caused Guy Banister all sorts of consternation for connecting him to the assassination, it was Guy P. Johnson who had a copy of the "Homme Report," from the counsel to the Eastland committee which contained evidence that RFK tried to kill Castro. Both Homme and Guy P. Johnson were stationed in the South Pacific in the 50s and worked on a CIA project together, and both were associated with Bud Festerwald at the time of the Garrison investigation. I have a bounty out for anybody who comes up with a copy of the so-called "Homme Report," but for some reason, I don't think it will be easy to come buy, even for those who want to falsely pin the blame the assassination on RFK. BK Ok , I will check on this! I can assure you that both are likely dead. My inclination is that Guy P. Johnson is our man, but I can't say for sure. I did not know there were two! BTW, anybody that says Banister was a non - entity in the assassination.... has not done their homework! -Bill

William, We heard this directly from Joe Oster, Banister's former partner in the Detective Agency. He told us he never heard anything about Guy being in the ONI. Said Banister wasn't in the service either, as he had already joined the FBI. Joe left Banister to form Southern Research, because he said Guy was more interested in politics (Segregation), than running a business! -Bill O

I believe Klopfer is mistaken about Robert Morris meeting with Eastland in Greenwood Miss. It was Chep (DeLesseps) Morrison; the Mayor of New Orleans who accompanied Banister to Eastland's estate. I came across this article years ago while in New Orleans, searching the Times Picayune and States Item microfiche. The article has a picture of them both (Morrison and Banister) getting off a private plane in Greenwood Miss. This meeting was about Banisters desire for a possible ‘Red Squad’ for the NOPD, Banister requested that Morrison meet with Eastland, in order to brief the Mayor on the 'Red problem' in La. Banister was indeed close with Eastland (and probably Robert Morris as well), as they both worked tirelessly to defend segregation. Guy Banister was a valued private source for several orgs and Committees. He was recommended as an investigator for the Mississippi Sovereignty Committee by his friend and fellow investigator John D. Sullivan. Sullivan thought that the Committee could utilize Banisters investigative skills, and his numerous files on the Civil Rights groups etc. He was not hired however; do to concerns about his rabid political views, which some Commissioners thought might play into the hands of their critics. Banister applied for investigative positions’ with the Louisiana Sovereignty Committee (see letter to W.M. Rainach in Boylan post) and the Louisiana Un-American Activities Committee. He especially wanted the position at LUAC because he thought the Committee lacked experienced or qualified personnel to accomplish the task at hand. When they didn’t take him up on it, he became critical of their “lack of results”. I believe he was counting on a position with the Committee to help with his propaganda aims, before and after 11-22-63. They did cooperate to some extent, but not soon enough, or nearly as much, as Banister desired. Banister was not in the Service during the war, he was with the FBI. He was not in the ONI, however his friend and cohort Guy Johnson, was. Banister, was a virulent racist and anti-communist who would stop at nothing to get “results”… even if he wasn’t paid in $$. For people like Guy Banister, there were causes that didn’t always have monetary rewards, like saving the White race from ‘Godless Communism’ There were many others of his ilk that ended up in the same broke boat, like his former buddy, Kent Courtney. Very few soldiers in this field, made money for their endeavors. -Bill

Dave , You are correct. Banister did not 'officially' get the job with the MSC. The main reason being that he was too radioactive, because of his activities in the segregationist movement. Some on the Commission, feared his hiring would play into the hands of those claiming that the Commission was merely a weapon against Civil Rights activists (which it was!). -Bill

William, You might want to contact Clayton Ogilvie, who works on the Weisberg Collection. He knew Hal and was going to try and didgitize his suff as well. He might remember the guys name who has Hal's stuff. -Bill

Bill, Did he ever show you or tell you about the manuscript he co-wrote with Robert Kaffke about going to Cuba in '59 and Oswald in Mexico City? Thanks, BK William, I think he mentioned it once , but at the time I was fixated on something else, and didn't ask him about it. He had a bunch of stuff stored away in a warehouse, after he got sick. One of his friends kept his old papers there, I can't think of the guys name to save my life. I will look thru some of his letters and see if I can find any mention of these things. -Bill O

I knew Hal for 25+ years. Hal Verb was not an FBI informant. He detested them, and IMO, would rather have gone to prison than cooperate. Take it to the Bank! -Bill O'Neil

Ha! Was he driving WEST!! -Bill

Lets not forget Tom Howard (Ruby's friend and subequent attny) suddenly showing up in the jail office area at the last minute, and upon seeing Oswald being led to the basement said.."That's all I need to see", and left. -Bill

What gets to me is all the silly 'what if' scenarios that were laid out. Well IF Oswald hadn't asked for a sweater, he wouldn't have been shot. Well IF the transfer car had been in place ,Oswald wouldn't have been shot. Well IF Harry Holmes hadn't made a last second request to ask Os another question, he probably wouldn't have been shot. IF IF IF.......... IF there had been better SECURITY in the basement ,Oswald wouldn't have been shot! The fact is, these things happened....WHY? -Bill

Stephen, do you have any additional info on Ferrie's interest in narcotics? It's very sketchy right now. There are 2 or 3 people from that era who gave statements in the 1961-1969 period that Ferrie might have had some connection to narcotics. There is a strange letter found in Ferrie's effects (entitled Dear Bastard) that clearly refers to drugs. His friend, the late Mo Brownlee was arrested on drug charges several times. And several people I interviewed said that they had heard that he dabbled in drugs at one time, or that his personality changed in about 1962, possibly relating to drugs. On the other hand, no drugs were found in searches in 1961, 1963 or 1967. And a few friends say that "the boys" played with drugs, but that Dave didn't. But he was close to the Marcello gang, and they were involved in drug trafficking. I think Bill Nitschke told HSCA that he thought Ferrie might have been trafficking. And the Vincent Bonomo murder case might have a drug angle. Ferrie was tangentially involved. But more than a few of Gill's clients had drug troubles, and Ferrie worked for Gill. Hey Steve, We interviewed a woman in New Orleans a few years back who knew well, Ferrie, Novel and others . She had met them through her boyfriend. One day (late 62" early 63"), Ferrie shows up at their house and tells the "boyfreind" that he "wants to show him something" They all go down the driveway to Ferrie's car, whereupon Ferrie opens the trunk and displays a large pile of weapons lying in the trunk. Numerous rifle's and various sidearms were stacked full. This woman became very concerned and went back upstairs saying "I don't even want to know where those came from !" When her boyfreind returned, he told her to never mention what she had just observed, she complied. This woman is the real deal. I could relate more but since Novel is still around......I'll choose to hold back. Ferrie was indeed running weapons....... and God knows what else. -Bill

Good work Tom! -Bill

Yes. A failed attempt at hitting JFK meant a huge loss of any opportunity in the future. Security would have greatly increased. The plotters would have to act on their best opportunity, which after Miami, was probably Dallas. Just as Ruby (IMO ) needed to kill Oswald before he left the custody of the DPD. The window of opportunity probably woud've closed, if Oswald was successfully transfered to the Sheriff's Dept. -Bill

"But let's not forget that Lee was trained by the Marine Corps to hold, show and respect weapons. The Beretta we saw in his apartment was well oiled and immaculately clean" The Beretta!? huh? -Bill

Soto told Garrison's investigator he never worked for McLaney: What are the chances that these lady's could come up with these details, and a story like this? This guy contradicts himself constantly. These Cubans couldn't wait to start framing Oswald, some leaks were on purpose, others jumped the gun. -Bill

You can see it that way, and I am sure-as-heck too cynical to rule out the crying thing as a cover story, or - if it happened - as an LBJ-manufactured excuse for why he was distraught. However - big murder, big conspiracy, and big debts are traumatic things, maybe producing momentary regrets, once one sees the upshot and responsibility of one's own handiwork.* And Johnson expressed other conflicted behavior, in prattling on, early and late, about conspiracy and "a damned Murder Inc. in the Caribbean," to what seemed like different purposes at different times. So the man was not unflappable, not unafraid. Of something. I have no doubt the man was "in on it," but to what degree of responsibility and action? Maybe, in an instant, it seemed less than he had imagined, and being suddenly thrust into the bloody target seat, still warm from Jack, unnerved him. He did, after all, retire Kennedy's desk. (And Nixon didn't bring it back.) Gloating? Sweeping change? Fear? This is biographer's meat, and we need to cut and cure more of it, so better biographies are written, and very good ones (Robert A. Caro's) might be perfected. Wonder why LBJ wanted to "stay in the area"? Did he fear going 'wheels up' and getting shot out of the air, did he fear going back to Washington? Maybe there was still unfinished business to be completed in- "the area" -Bill +++++++++ *Sidebar: I referred above to Johnson being, "unmann'd" by his guilt, in the language of Shakespeare's Macbeth. We should recall that in 1967 "MacBird," a rather well-received satirical play on Johnson as the king-killing usurper, and Bobby as the avenger, was popular off-Broadway. So the "Johnson did it" view was contemporary. And I find from my JFK and RFK research that works - even fictional works - written soon after such events do catch much important fact and opinion that was in the minds of witnesses and the general public. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBird This is biographer's meat, and we need to cut and cure more of it, so better biographies are written, and very good ones (Robert A. Caro's) might be perfected. Wonder why LBJ wanted to "stay in the area"? Did he fear going 'wheels up' and getting shot out of the air, did he fear going back to Washington? Maybe there was still unfinished business to be completed in- "the area" -Bill

You can see it that way, and I am sure-as-heck too cynical to rule out the crying thing as a cover story, or - if it happened - as an LBJ-manufactured excuse for why he was distraught. However - big murder, big conspiracy, and big debts are traumatic things, maybe producing momentary regrets, once one sees the upshot and responsibility of one's own handiwork.* And Johnson expressed other conflicted behavior, in prattling on, early and late, about conspiracy and "a damned Murder Inc. in the Caribbean," to what seemed like different purposes at different times. So the man was not unflappable, not unafraid. Of something. I have no doubt the man was "in on it," but to what degree of responsibility and action? Maybe, in an instant, it seemed less than he had imagined, and being suddenly thrust into the bloody target seat, still warm from Jack, unnerved him. He did, after all, retire Kennedy's desk. (And Nixon didn't bring it back.) Gloating? Sweeping change? Fear? This is biographer's meat, and we need to cut and cure more of it, so better biographies are written, and very good ones (Robert A. Caro's) might be perfected. Wonder why LBJ wanted to "stay in the area"? Did he fear going 'wheels up' and getting shot out of the air, did he fear going back to Washington? Maybe there was still unfinished business to be completed in- "the area" -Bill +++++++++ *Sidebar: I referred above to Johnson being, "unmann'd" by his guilt, in the language of Shakespeare's Macbeth. We should recall that in 1967 "MacBird," a rather well-received satirical play on Johnson as the king-killing usurper, and Bobby as the avenger, was popular off-Broadway. So the "Johnson did it" view was contemporary. And I find from my JFK and RFK research that works - even fictional works - written soon after such events do catch much important fact and opinion that was in the minds of witnesses and the general public. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBird

FWIW, Throughout its history at 2700 Flora Street, Moorland YMCA served as a meeting place for various groups. It was “neutral ground” for different church groups to meet with one another. It also was the meeting place for civil rights advocacy groups45. Much of the civil rights movement in Dallas was based at Moorland YMCA. In the 1950s, the NAACP held its public meetings at the YMCA, and many travelers who would come to the area throughout this time and into the 1960s stayed at Moorland when no other facilities would shelter them46. In 1963, in the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, the Dallas Committee for Full Citizenship was formed. Calling for full desegregation of Dallas schools and “dedicated to working for the complete desegregation of the greater Dallas community through nonviolent methods,” the 50-member group was one of several that met at Moorland YMCA47. The Committee for Full Citizenship, led by Dr. George Deen, staff psychiatrist at Timberlawn hospital, went on to participate in statewide demonstrations for integration http://www.dbdt.com/downloads/2700-Flora-Street.pdf. DeM had a habit of being "in proximity". When he lived in New York, it was just down the road from the law firm where Robert Morris was working. And then there was that walking tour of Latin America which took him to Guatemala City coinciding with the BoP. Greg , Funny how Walker tries to tie Os and Ruby to Wolf's demise. Knowing what I do about "Ted" and his penchant for mis-direction, I would start looking among Walkers group, for a suspect in Wolf's death. As for Deen, well... "The Eye's of Texas are Upon You" son....and when your in the biz of Civil Rights... that's not a good thing. -Bill

I think an even more interesting question is, What was Agent Rice doing in Shreveport during this crucial time? -Bill O

Hmm, what's with all the picture taking Lee? Why risk being seen wandering around with a camera? For RECON? I've been to the Walker house, there wasn't any need for all these pictures, in order to acomplish this act, once you've seen the layout. Hmmm.... -Bill

Tom, The firing time and sequence would not be relevant, if the [dented lip] round, was the last one fired, no? If in fact it was the last round fired and the jam then occured , the bullet underneath would likely have scrape marks on it's upper surface. Was this ever checked? Was this jam, the reason the operator of this gun didn't fire the final round? Did he abandon the effort upon chambering the final round, and realize his target was now out of reasonable sight? -Bill