James Richards

Does anyone know if this guy below is Witt?

James

Hi Harry,

Not wishing to interrupt here, but is the Ed Swabeck you asked about actually Edgar Swabeck?

James

Amongst all of this, it must be remembered that Mob money from Carlos Marcello and to a lesser extent Santo Trafficante was being funnelled into Alpha 66 via bagman Rolando Masferrer. Masferrer was closely associated with Col. William Bishop. Masferrer held the lease on No Name Key with Lawrence Howard.

Does anyone want to connect the dots?

James

Tosh puts Licavoli in the Plaza under the code-name RAVEN. Do you believe Licavoli was there? Do you know of any other Radio code names like 'Raven' used that day. (Shanet Clark)

Hi Shanet,

I have no idea regarding Licavoli but anything is possible and I am certainly open to suggestion. I am also unaware of the code name 'Raven'.

I am however aware or another code name allegedly used that day but I will have to keep that to myself for now as it is part of some ongoing research I am doing. Steady as she goes is applicable here.

Regarding Vidal and Hargraves, their history together is very important I believe. Remembering that it was Vidal who got the word to the exile community and other interested parties regarding the dialogue JFK was allegedly attempting to motivate with Castro.

I believe that when the truth comes out, and it will, we may find Vidal a little further up the food chain than first thought. We may also discover that the conspiracy itself to kill JFK in an open car travelling through Dallas was not all that complicated either. Time will tell.

James

I have great respect for your photographic look-alike work. (Tim Carroll)

Thank you, Tim, for the kind words.

Do you mean by the above statement that you consider Felipe Vidal Santiago and Roy Hargraves to be the likeliest candidates for DCM and Umbrella Man, respectively? (Tim Carroll)

Yes, it is my opinion that Vidal and Hargraves were our friends on Elm. I didn't formulate that view based on the photographic evidence alone but also by comments Hargraves made in an interview with Noel Twyman, the fact that Vidal and Hargraves were close friends and went on many a mission together, and conversations I have had with several anti-Castro guys who were around during the early 1960's.

James

I don't understand the phrase "command connection for him to be operational in Dallas...." First, the term "command connection" is new for me. Second, who would have had one, Roy Hargraves, for example? (Tim Carroll)

Hi Tim,

I believe the Dealey Plaza assassination teams were operational cells with a command or cutout in place; and may not have necessarily known about any other teams. This pooling of cells was under the direction of David Morales. For example, I believe the team of Herminio Diaz Garcia and Tony Cuesta came via John Roselli.

The team of Felipe Vidal Santiago and Roy Hargraves on Elm Street came via Colonel Bishop who I believe was actually John O'Hare. O'Hare and Roselli go straight back to Morales.

I just can't find a way to get Gordon Novel to Dallas. He may well have been there and operational but he doesn't seem to fit within any solid structure I am aware of. Like I said, that doesn't mean one didn't exist.

Let me stress that this of course is just my opinion.

James

I thought forum members might find this article which was printed in the Datona Beach Morning Journal on May the 14th, 1976, somewhat interesting. There's a few curious throw away lines, some fascinating opinions and several intriguing components deemed as fact.

I guess the big question is, was John O'Hare in fact Colonel William Bishop?

James

*************************************

'CIA Agent' Alive And Well In Costa Rica?

By BOB FORD

John O'Hare, the self styled CIA agent who recruited a handful of Daytona Beach men into a "covert" operation here last year, "sounds as if he worked for the CIA," according to an internationally known soldier of fortune who worked for the CIA as a "contract agent."

Gerry Patrick Hemming who has appeared before U.S. Senate investigators and bared plots and plans for the Central Intelligence Agency's domestic operations, was interviewed by telephone this week from his Miami office about any possible connection O'Hare might have had with the CIA.

Hemming, a 6'-6" former Marine and Special Forces sergeant, said he knew O'Hare during maneuvers with the Army Reserves in the late '60s in South Florida. "I think he'd been around the "Company" (CIA) for a long time as a contract employe," Hemming said. "You just don't use the Company's name and get away with it for long!"

"If an operation like O'Hare's goes on for any length of time, there's no way it could escape the notice of the Company. If Langley (CIA headquarters in McLean, Va.) doesn't do anything to quash the thing then it's a Company operation. If the man is an imposter they'll burn him," Hemming said.

"First they'll get him in trouble, then they'll . talk to him. If he still persists, if he's really stupid, the'll really put the screws to him."

O'Hare convinced several people to help him set up a communications post here during the fall and winter of 1974. O'Hare, also known as Colonel Richard Gray and P. Harrison, recruited a former sheriff's deputy, William Russell; Steve Van Vorhees, an assistant state attorney, and Johnny Kern, owner of the Bali Jr. restaurant on Mason Ave.

They all say they believe he was a CIA agent and still do. The hush-hush project was scrubbed early in 1975, with the reported death of O'Hare. Kern, Russell and Van Vorhees never saw the body, which was in a sealed casket and have expressed doubts O'Hare is really dead.

Hemming agreed O'Hare is probably still very much alive. "All the Company men get buried now and then," Hemming quipped. "It's called 'uping and dying'." He explaind: "Something goes wrong with the operation and you have to up and die (laughing)."

"After he dies he gets a new set of paperwork (identity) and operates somewhere else," Hemming said. "He's probably in Costa Rice right now working the Panamanian operation - that's where all the money is - that's where the mercs (mercenaries) are now."

Hemming had a quick answer for North Florida FBl chief Arthur Nehrbass assurances from the CIA that O'Hare was not an agency man. "Bull! They (the FBI) just get the runaround. That's the name of the game. One agency's business is not the business of another. The Company is going to protect its own

people.".

Asked about Nehrbass' statement that the CIA "wouldn't lie to us,"-Hemming retorted, "Some of these guys actually believe that! They've got a lot of Boy Scout types in the Bureau and other agencies and they actually believe that crap." A long time associate of Hemming's is Mitchell WerBell, a former OSS man and one of

the founding fathers of the CIA. WerBell has also been characterized as "the top gun, and master armorer of the CIA". He is an internationally licensed gun dealer and is believed to maintain close ties with his former employer, the CIA.

WerBell was interviewed by telephone from his home in Atlanta by The Morning Journal. He said he is getting tired of attacks on the CIA and, regarding O'Hare's possible link as a Company man: "They (the CIA) just don't work that way and I'm confident it wasn't an agency operation." WerBell then quickly added: "I'm also certain of another thing--you'll never know!"

"Why don't you dig the guy up and find out if he's the one?" WerBell was told that would take a court order to exhume the body. "You might find it (the coffin) empty." Asked about the FBI,- assurances that O'Hare wasn't CIA, WerBell agreed with Hemming about the CIA denial. "Hell, they'd lie to anyone."

Hemming supported Kern's theory, that O'Hare didn't con the local people because little money changed hands_ and. O'Hare didn't really make any profit; from the venture. Hemming also strongly supported Kern's expressed belief that O'Hare intended to support the covert: "safe house" on Kern's Lake Disston property by importing narcotics.

"That's a common operation for the Company," Hemming said. "They're in the intelligence business - they're not moralists or reformers; they're not in the law enforcement business."

"A Company man may get a free ride once a week to finance the operation and make a little on the side," Hemming said. He explained "a free ride is sanction to smuggle drugs without reprisal.

Two private investigators also say they're convinced O'Hare was "genuine CIA" and planned to finance his operation with drugs. Jim Jones, owner of Suncoast Security and Detective Agency in Daytona Beach, has interviewed several dozen persons in Florida who knew O'Hare. Jones: "I think this was !an agency sanctioned operation to be. executed by contract agents, but the funds dried up during Senate investigation into the CIA and the contractors were cut loose to finance themselves."

Kennard Smith, a private eye* in Washington who completed a 40 page report for Kern, also says he believes O'Hare was an agent. Smith said he's been close to the intelligence community for many years and has talked about the O'Hare case with several close associates who are former CIA employes.

"It was a Company sanctioned operation, but on a contract basis. The Company knew about it - there's no way it couldn't have known about it," Smith said.

The Morning Journal was able to track down a high ranking officer in Special Forces Reserves who knew O'Hare up until 1972. The officer gave this account of his recollection of the man.

"He wasn't actually a member of our unit. He always showed up for drills wearing an Air Force uniform and the insignia of a staff sergeant. He also had Airborne (paratrooper) wings and said. he'd been a member of the 82nd Airborn. Division during World War II.

"He was an extremely resourceful man and highly motivated. Anytime we needed something, he seemed to know how to get it. Once when we needed an airplane for a parachute jump exercise and we were unable to get one from the Army or the Air Force, O'Hare called an admiral he knew and soon a Navy plane appeared properly equipped for a parachute operation."

The operation in which O'Hare was engaged here was described to the officer, who admitted there was no way he could know if O'Hare were involved in covert activities. But he did say: "I doubt Jack O'Hare was ever a CIA agent."

"Jack O'Hare was not Lawrence of Daytona." the officer remarked. "I think somebody hallucinated a Topaz type operation and, quite frankly, it sounds more like a Toonerville Trolley."

Any idea how he ultimately ended up in Columbus, Ohio? My understanding is that he was originally headed to Virginia (which would fit with him being Agency). What diverted him? (Greg Wagner)

That's a very good question, Greg.

I just can't see Novel being an official employee of the CIA but certainly as some kind of asset; in what capacity, I really have no idea. His connection to Ferrie is one that has always been interesting to me though.

When you look at his relationship with such people as Clay Shaw and Mitch WerBell, his undefined and baffling connection to Carlos Marcello, his association with such things as Waco and UFO research; and old Gordy is a real brain teaser.

Even though Novel is an enigma and a definitive player, I can't find a command connection for him to be operational in Dallas (not suggesting that there wasn't one) as the Umbrella Man on Elm Street.

FWIW.

James

It sure would have been interesting to know what questions Jim Garrison had for Novel.

Researching Novel is enough to send anyone around the twist completely. This guy is everywhere and nowhere.

There is a History Channel documentary on J. Edgar Hoover where Gordon Novel is interviewed. He claims that Carlos Marcello showed him a photograph which depicted Hoover and Tolson in a compromising position; and that is why the FBI did not aggressively pursue the Mafia for fear of exposure.

That aside, what is interesting here is the confirmation (admission) of a direct Mafia connection to a supposed CIA asset. If the FBI knew this in the early 1960's, then no wonder they did not want Novel chatting with Garrison.

James

Hi Shane,

The unpublished shots of Morales and Joannides have been very difficult to track down. The person who had these images and wouldn't let me copy them is now deceased (nothing suspicious) and I have no idea what became of his photographic collection. I have not yet been able to find another source.

BTW, I am very suspicious of the accuracy of any statement coming from the various publishing houses. Corbis are notorious for getting details wrong and Time Life don't exactly strike me as an organization I would trust.

There are lots of interesting images out there that have not yet seen the light of day but do exist; like a wealth of material held in private collections that showcase suspects like David Ferrie, Felipe Vidal Santiago and David Morales.

Needless to say, there is much photographic evidence relating to the JFK assassination that remains locked away in safe deposit boxes and the like.

Onward.

James

Regarding Hunt and his ears, check out the two photos of him at the bottom of this comparison. On the left he has these Vulcan like points and a flaring which are completely different to what we see on the right.

The photo of Hunt I used in the comparison with the Old Tramp was snapped around the time of the Bay of Pigs and the Vulcan ears seem to match. There is considerable evidence given the different ears in the bottom right image that Hunt had surgery to change his ear shape. I wouldn't mind laying money that it was post November 22, 1963.

Let's also not forget that these guys were professional liars - in fact, their survival demanded that very trait. Would characters like Hunt, Holt, Phillips, Harrelson etc. lie to family? Yes, of course they would. It would be naive to think otherwise.

FWIW.

James

John Lennon

Paul McCartney

Bob Dylan

Van Morrison

Bruce Springsteen

The FBI showed Odio the photos of Hall, Howard and Seymour in 1964, shortly after the publication of the WC report. I may not recall the details accurately, but I believe Weberman's web-site states that the photo of Seymour came from the Monroe County Sheriff's mug shot of Seymour when he was arrested at No Name Key in Dec of 1962. But apparenltly there was a mistake and the first photo she was shown was of Ponce de Leon not Seymour. I think they did ultimately get it right.

But Fonzi definitely showed Odio a whole series of Cuban exile photos while he was workinbg for the HSCA. Just think those photos might be helpful for research purposes if they could be located. (Tim Gratz)

Tim,

I believe you are correct about the Seymour/Ponce DeLeon mix up. I am also of the belief that Ronald Ponce DeLeon is someone of great interest.

James

James:

The relevant segment of the e-mail I received early this morning, which is probably published somewhere or another, is as follows:

"Harvey continued to keep in contact with Johnny Roselli. According to Richard D. Mahoney: 'On April 8, Rossrlli flew to New York to meet with Bill Harvey. A week later, the two men met again in Miami to discuss the plot in greater detail....' On April 21 he (Harvey) flew from Washington to deliver four poison pills directly to Rosselli, who got them to Tony Varona and hence to Havana. That same evening, Harvey and Ted Shackley, the chief of the CIA's south Florida base, drove a U-Haul truck filled with the requested arms through the rain to a deserted parking lot in Miami. They got out and handed the keys to Rosselli."

In addition to the above, there is an FBI surveillance record of Harvey and Roselli having lunch together at a major D.C. hotel in June, 1963, long after Harvey had been assigned to Rome.

If Maceo was in with the Varona and Artime crowd, then he would not fit in with my concept of the disaffected Cubans. Artime and Varona had not been cut off from U.S. government funding, as they were associated with Second Naval Guerrilla, receiving $250K monthly. A side issue that may well relate to Second Naval Guerrilla is the flight from Cozumel by Rorke and Sullivan. I make a major distinction between participants in Second Naval Guerrilla and the disaffected people training on No Name Key. (Tim Carroll)

Thanks, Tim. Muchly appreciated.

James

I just received an e-mail in the middle of the night, about 12 hours ago, detailing the timing of contacts between Wild Bill Harvey and Johnny Roselli after Harvey was dismissed from JM/WAVE. (Tim Carroll)

That is interesting, Tim. Hopefully you will be able to share some details there.

I am very interested in the relationship that Harvey and Roselli had firstly with each other but also with Antoneo Maceo (see below). Maceo is the namesake and grandson of the exalted Cuban leader Antonio Maceo. Maceo may have been one of the original contacts Roselli made when the idiotic Castro assassination plots began.

My interest is in the ongoing relationship between all three men as Maceo went on to join forces with Tony Varona and Manuel Artime.

Maceo below.

James

Morales was still at JM/WAVE at the time of the Garrison investigation? Also, is De Torres living in Little Havana now? (Tim Carroll)

Tim,

Morales had officially left JM/WAVE in 1965 I believe. He was the Pakse Base Chief in Laos during 1966-67. I'm sure the lines of communication to JM/WAVE were still open to him though. I submit that Morales was very keen as to what De Torres was discovering during his tenure with the Garrison investigation.

Last I heard, De Torres was in Chile with the DEA but I do believe he maintains a house in Miami.

James

Sylvia Odio is a credible person who fainted and was hospitalized upon seeing Oswald on the TV. That is not similar to the effect viewing some of these look-alike photos has on researchers; at least none have reported fainting spells. I believe it is very likely that Oswald was at her doorstep. Not "Harvey" or Seymour, but Lee Harvey Oswald, the man in the secure custody of the DPD. (Tim Carroll)

Hi Tim,

I agree that Sylvia Odio is a very credible witness. I also believe it was the real Oswald that night on her doorstep. Which of course now brings into question the Mexico City trip and our chunky 'Oswald' photographed there.

I have 3 pages from an Agency Photo Mounting Sheet showing our mystery man. They claim the man in the white shirt and the man in the dark shirt were one in the same. Interesting to note that Richard Nagell claimed they were 2 seperate individuals.

I will send them to you privately as they won't attach here for some reason.

FWIW.

James

Thanks to everyone who has replied. Some fascinating information indeed.

And Steve, that is the first time I had heard of Robert Borchgardt. That spun me out completely. It certainly does raise the question of whether he got information from Oswald direct.

For those who are interested, the image below shows some of the weapons that Miller and Whitter were in possession of. Sorry about the poor quality.

James

Good post, John.

Personally, I do feel that there was a book in the wings regarding Cuesta which Dunkin was involved in.

I have nothing to back this up and throw it out there as a possibility, but some of the information in said publication may have concerned a trip Oswald made to Mexico City in July of 1963 with Richard Case Nagell. There they met with Herminio Diaz Garcia who was getting out of Cuba via Mexico City at the same time. When back in the US, Diaz Garcia hooked up with Tony Varona and Trafficante before joining Eloy Menoyo's training camp in the Everglades. Cuesta of course being wounded on the mission that killed Diaz Garcia in 1966. I submit that Cuesta was a Nagell contact and one of the voices on that mysterious tape recording Nagell possessed.

There is also the connection between Cuesta and Bernardo De Torres. A photograph exists that shows De Torres, Cuesta and an insurgent team on a small boat. If De Torres was reporting back to JM/WAVE (Morales) during the Garrison invesigation which I believe he was, then we have a tight circle of 'go to' operatives and command who may indeed trace back to the assassination of JFK.

In theory of course.

James

Hi Tim,

I don't know if it was Fonzi or not, but Odio was shown images of Loran Hall, Lawrence Howard and William Seymour and she said it wasn't them. I don't know who else she looked at but I got the impression that after awhile, Odio just wanted to be left alone.

James

At the risk of being laughed off the forum, here is one of the more bizarre comparisons I have done. I was mainly looking at body shape and trying to get some feel as to stature and posture.

That is Felipe Vidal Santiago on the right.

FWIW.

James

NO Seriously, it shows Frank Sturgis on a hill top out of doors with about ten others showing a gentleman how to take the safety off of a loaded handgun.

It has the cheesy feel of a paramilitary guy giving a press demonstration.

Do you think Wim is suggesting the tentative Knoxville press member is an Oswald lookalike? Its worth watching, for Sturgis...Fiorini.

Lot of material recently, thanks for everything/ (Shanet Clark)

Hi Shanet,

The piece of film in question was originally shown on an Italian documentary titled 'The Two Kennedys'. I do believe in some quarters that the suggestion is the UPI guy is Oswald; I do not believe it is.

What is interesting though is in that gathering of people is Marita Lorenz (see below). That is Sturgis on the far right and Lorenz in the black.

FWIW.

James

Thank you for the nice words, Shanet.

According to Gerry Hemming and some other guys who were there at the time and wish to remain nameless, the guy was a UPI reporter out of Knoxsville, Tennessee; name unknown.

The film the still image was taken from was shot at an airfield run by Paul Poppenhager in 1961.

I know Wim doubts this but I have heard it from several sources and I have no reason at this time to doubt them.

FWIW.

James

I would like to join Richard in his praise for Jack who has shone a very bright light into the conspiracy darkness for decades. It was his photographic work that got me interested all those years ago. To share ideas with the likes of Jack White in forums like this in invaluable and indeed a very great pleasure.

James

I was hoping to get some forum members' opinions regarding Miller and Whitter. John Elrod claimed that Oswald identified Miller in the jail; Miller having been arrested 2 days earlier with Ruby's mechanic Whitter. These guys were in possession of US Army weapons stolen from the National Guard Armory in Terrell, Texas.

Could Miller and Whitter be a legitimate link between Ruby and Oswald? Is it possible that Oswald was the informant that brought about their arrest?

I certainly would like to hear opinions or any other information forum members have on this aspect.

Cheers,

James