James Richards

In addition to the excellent examples already posted, we have individuals like John Roselli, David Morales, Tony Cuesta, Roy Hargraves, John Martino and Felipe Vidal Santiago hinting and in some cases outright admitting to involvement.

James

Al,

Your younger photo looks a bit like Ray Romano.

On a serious note. Did you ever cross paths with Maj. Dick Culver?

James

James, I just found an entry on the SSDI for Loran E. Hall, born January 1930, died in April 1995 in Newton, Kansas. So I guess he's gone. (Royce Bierma)

Good work, Royce. Living witnesses are certainly becoming a little thin on the ground.

I believe that this is the camera that Hall got in California the same time he got Hemming's rifle. The check to buy it was supplied by the American Committee to Free Cuba and was signed by Jose Norman.

The weapons were obtained from Clint Wheat and friends. Some made it to Miami and the others were left in the trailor at Lester Logue's brother-in-law's place in Dallas. Speculating here, but I believe the M-1s were left in Dallas to coverted to full auto by John Masen. (David Boylan)

I believe you are right about the camera, David. I also agree regarding the rifles.

James

Anybody know how to get in touch with Mr Lee Hancock to see if he has any news on Hall after he wrote that article? (Ryan Crowe)

Not to take this thread off topic but Lee Hancock is a woman and one tough ass kicker. She was right in the middle of the WACO reporting and was critical of the FBI.

She also did an interview with Gordon Novel I believe. Novel claimed that William Colby gave him the FLIR gunshot information which proved the FBI unloaded big time on the Branch Davidians after Janet Reno claimed they didn't fire a shot. I'll try to find that interview.

I guess I should have started a new thread on this. Sorry if I have broken forum rules.

James

Wasnt Hall wanted for Meth dist. or something to that effect awhile back? I think his son was caught but Hall was MIA. (Ryan Crowe)

You are spot on, Ryan. Well done.

I found this story filed with the Dallas Morning News on September 13, 1989. I love Mansfield's quote, "I would add that the agency does not sanction violations of U.S. law."

You gotta love it.

James

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

Man Claims CIA Tied to Speed Ring

By Lee Hancock

A methamphetamine ring based in Mesquite was set

up by a CIA operative to funnel money to the

Nicaraguan contras, one of the alleged participants

has testified in federal court.

The testimony came during a hearing in Tulsa,

where Loran Eugene Hall, Jr. appeared Monday to plead

guilty to drug charges.

He told the court that his father, Loran Eugene

Hall, Sr. of Mesquite was a CIA agent who recruited

him and others to manufacture speed to raise money for

the contras, said Jack Morgan, assistant U.S. attorney

for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

A CIA spokesman declined to comment Tuesday on Mr.

Hall's case.

"We do not generally acknowledge the employment of

either covert or overt employees," said Mark

Mansfield, an official at CIA headquarters in McLean,

Va. "I would add that the agency does not sanction

violations of U.S. law."

A federal drug conspiracy indictment handed down

in Tulsa in July names Loran Eugene Hall, Sr., 59; his

daughter, Barbara Ann Marteney, 34, of Mesquite; and

his sons, Michael Stephen Hall, 36, of Burns, Kan.,

and Loran Eugene Hall, Jr., 34, of Derby, Kan; and two

other Kansas residents. The indictment charges that

the elder Mr. Hall led the ring, which manufactured

methamphetamines between October 1987 and February

1989.

Loran Hall Jr. and Michael Hall pleaded guilty

Monday. Their father and sister remain at large.

Court documents indicate the ring was broken when

the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics investigators

and Mesquite police trailed Loran Hall, Jr. after he

purchased glassware and chemicals at a Grand Prairie

chemical store.

Mr. Hall and another man were arrested in Noble

County, Okla., as they were carrying those items and

several high-caliber forearms to Kansas in a stolen

truck, according to the indictment....

Mr. Morgan, a Mesquite police investigator and

defense attorney representing Hall family members all

said there was evidence suggesting that Loran Hall,

Sr. worked for the CIA in some capacity.

"He has a long history of involvement with the CIA

attempts to overthrow Castro," Mr. Morgan said. "He

was involved in the ill-famed Bay of Pigs invasion. In

1961, he got arrested with a truckload of guns in

Texas, and he was transporting them from California to

Florida for that invasion."

His name also has surfaced in congressional

investigations of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

The elder Mr. Hall was described in a 1979 House

Select Committee on Assassinations report as a onetime

resident of Cuba with ties to anti-Castro groups in

the United States and organized crime on both

countries.

And, Mr. Morgan said, his name is the subject of a

chapter in the book Coup d'etat in America, which

speculates about CIA involvement in a plot to kill

President Kennedy. The chapter, titled "Loran Hall and

the Free Cuba Committees," details allegations of CIA

financing and orchestration of a plot by anti-Castro

groups to kill President Kennedy."

"In the last few years, he supposedly was involved

with CIA attempts to overthrow the Nicaraguan

government," Mr. Morgan said.

Loran Eugene Hall, Jr. has told investigators that

his father was a 17-year CIA employee most recently

involved in running guns to Central America, Mr.

Morgan said.

The son also has told investigators about

incidents in which helicopters appeared at his

father's Kansas farm bearing men who carried automatic

weapons and answered to military titles such as

colonel and major, Mr. Morgan said.

"It may be true. There's quite an extensive

history on his father's CIA involvement," Mr. Heflet

said. "My client told me that a lot of his dad's

involvement, specifically in the Kennedy

assassination, has been sealed up, and we never may

find out what it was."

Mr. Morgan said federal officials believe the

elder Mr. Hall may be hiding in Kansas, Honduras or

Costa Rica.

"This is a pretty strange case all around," Mr.

Morgan said.

Another point to consider is fund raising and money sources. Anti-Castro operations cost money and these were not rich men. They needed support from the money men. Hall had accompanied Hemming to Dallas, met with some of the people that Hemming was visiting for funds and later, independantly, went back to try and get money from the same sources behind Hemming's back. Obviously, this didn't go over too well with Gerry. Can't say I'd blame him. (David Boylan)

Absolutely right, David.

Speaking of money, Tom Dunkin wrote to Dick Billings that in late October of 1963, Hall and Seymour were on a promise of $30,000 to secure footage inside of Cuba showing Russian missiles. This was supposed to help Barry Goldwater's Presidential campaign of 1964.

Dunkin also said that Hall had weapons and some serious camera equipment including a 16mm Bolex motion picture camera.

James

Ooops! Deleted

I am a moron.

Hi Ryan,

You may be right about the Meth distribution as that rings a faint bell.

Yes, Hall definitely comes across as a tad unstable which suggests that he may have figured out that Hemming was possibly behind setting him up.

For those who are interested, this link below is for Hemming's testimony for the HSCA. Just work forward from this page. Some interesting tid bits for sure including his meeting with Bernardo De Torres at Military Intelligence.

http://history-matters.com/archive/jfk/hsc...mming_0001a.htm

James

James, my understanding is that Hemming couldn't stand Hall and it wouldn't surprise me if he set Hall up. (Royce Bierma)

Hi Royce,

I think the relationship was strained to say the least. In fact, I think that most of the guys on No Name Key just tolerated Hall. I do indeed believe Hall was to be a designated patsy. Whether Hemming was behind that I don't know.

The following is from an interview Hemming gave to Dick Russell in 1976.

RUSSELL: "You told the Senate investigators that Loran Hall was somehow involved."

HEMMING: Yes, on the day of the assassination, I made a call from Miami to Texas. And I pointedly asked, 'Is Lorenzo Hall in Dallas?' I made the call about 1:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. He was there. My contact had seen him in Dallas the day before.

RUSSELL: Why were you suspicious of Loran Hall?

HEMMING: Because he left Miami with the stated intent to kill Kennedy. He had my weapon, a Johnson 30-06 breakdown rifle with a scope on it, that had been prepared for the Bay of Pigs. I'd left it with a private investigator who had previously worked under Agency auspices on the West Coast. Hall got the weapon when we ran short of funds on a return trip from L.A. to Florida, and we ended up using Hall's car.

RUSSELL: You were working closely with Hall?

HEMMING: He came to work with our group in 1963. Then he ran afoul with some people and immediately went to work with a group that I thought was infiltrated by Castro's agents. Hall ignored this. He siphoned off a couple of people who had worked with me in the past, and started organizing his own operation with FRANK STURGIS and some other guys...He knew how to do the job...But I think someone was trying to put him there so he would be one of the patsies."

When Hall was questioned by A.J Weberman about Hemming he said the following. Be warned that the language is quite strong. It is also baffling and bordering on the bizarre.

HALL: Who's GERALD PATRICK HEMMING? Never heard of him. Who is he, some left-winger?

WEBERMAN: He was with INTERPEN and the International Anti-Communist Brigade.

HALL: That's a Communist organization.

WEBERMAN: The International Anti-Communist Brigade is a communist organization?

HALL: Yeah, I wouldn't know anybody like that. Anybody with a name like GERRY PATRICK HEMMING has either got to be a Communist or CIA.

WEBERMAN: Well, I think this man was a dedicated anti-Communist.

HALL: Who? GERRY PATRICK HEMMING? If its the one I heard about he's CIA. I've got nothing to talk to you about. Anybody who associates with GERALD PATRICK HEMMING has either got to be CIA, FBI or an asshole. I got nothing to say. Hey, nobody is going to print anything I got to say, nobody. That's fine. I'm in no hurry to get my head blowed off. HEMMING is a CIA punk. I've known the son-of-a-bitch for fifteen years. He turned his own goddamned crews in so he wouldn't have to go to Cuba. He has fingered me on my own goddamn deals and caused me to get arrested. Ah XXXX. Hey man as it stand right now there's only two of us left alive. That's me and SANTO TRAFFICANTE as far as I'm concerned we're both going to stay alive because I ain't gonna say shirt. I ain't gonna have some come up to me and blow me away...The only thing I'm saying is that if any of you assholes come near me you better have a XXXXXXX' army with you baby. Cause I got my xxxx together and I'll blow the first one of you mothers away that even comes near me. That you can put in print.

So, anyone want to volunteer to go interview him?

James

Thanks, David.

Very interesting indeed. There is something fishy about all of this. Not all of it makes a whole lot of sense.

Curious to note that Howard was very keen to make it clear to Garrison that he had nothing to do with the assassination. HSCA testimonies are also curious given that Hall and Howard had theirs released and Seymour's is still sealed. I do have that correct, don't I?

James

Quote from The CHICAGO TRIBUNE,Teusday,November 26 1963;

{UPI} - Mexico City, November 25,1963 The newspaper Excelcior

....said Oswald crossed the border at Laredo,Texas, on September

25, and " DROVE TO MEXICO CITY.......The United States Customs

Service confirmed the crossing. A spokesman said, " There are

records to establish this. " The records also showed Oswald reentered

the United States October 3. (Harry Dean)

Thanks, Harry.

You have said to me in the past that you don't believe William Seymour was the 'Leon Oswald' who visited Sylvia Odio with Loran Hall and Lawrence Howard; and I certainly agree with you.

Do you have any theories as to who this individual was?

James

Has anybody any idea who this guy is? I believe he's a Cuban exile linked to JM-WAVE. (Shane O'Sullivan)

Shane,

It might be a character by the name of Julio Gran. I don't know a lot about Julio except that he was a sharpshooter and was present at John Roselli's Point Mary camp. I also believe he was involved with Alpha 66 but I have no way to confirm that.

The photo of Gran below is circa late 1960's.

James

Good stuff, Shane. I appreciate your reply.

Do you have any more information on this Mrs. Dole? That would certainly be an interesting component to the larger picture.

As far as connections to JM/WAVE goes, I have been told that Rip Robertson was involved with Castillo but I have no way to confirm that. It is just hearsay but tantalizing none-the-less.

I agree that the Castillo story as weird as it is, is convincing. I get the feeling however that details will be few and far between.

Thanks again.

James

Then it would not be so far fetched that Veciana was there too? (Wim Dankbaar)

Not far fetched at all, Wim. I certainly believe that there was much chatter leading up to the assassination which exposes the poor job the Intelligence agencies did in preventing the murder.

James

For those who are interested, this is the Corsican connection below. I've thrown in Souetre for good measure.

James

Hi Shanet,

Wim was originally referring to the Secret Army Organization. This was a group led by General Raoul Salan. I don't know if Sturgis was connected to them or not but I speculated based purely on the loose connection between Jean Souetre and E. Howard Hunt. That of course holds no water but is worth pondering.

I haven't read the Spaggiari book but it sounds interesting.

James

I was hoping to get some opinions from forum members regarding the very strange Castillo. A brief background; Castillo was arrested in the Phillipines supposedly in connection to a plot to kill President Marcos. During the interrogation by the National Security Police (who can be most persuasive), Castillo displayed four identities with both homicidal and suicidal tendencies.

The FBI also interviewed Castillo where he claimed to have been in Dallas on the 22nd of November, 1963. Castillo said he was positioned on the second floor of the Dal-Tex building and told to shoot on a signal that never came.

Castillo is also supposedly Eddie Bayo's brother-in-law.

I guess the first question is how did Castillo get back from the Phillipines to be interviewed by the FBI? Did the Filipino authorities just hand him over? Also, one of the personalities Castillo displayed was Sgt. Manuel Angel Ramirez; or is there a possibility that this could be Castillo's real identity?

Another curious oddity is that Castillo bears a striking similarity to fellow potential mind control patsy Sirhan Sirhan (see below). The Phillipines also holds some further interest given that Eugene Thane Cesar (IMO, RFK's real assassin) fled there.

I would certainly be interested in any opinions or additional information regarding this.

Cheers,

James

Christy,

The thing with Hall is that I'm not sure you'd get a straight answer. At one point, he even denied knowing Hemming. I think you will find that Hall these days is paranoid to the extreme and bordering on the deranged.

As far as the Cobbs go, I am unaware of any connection between June and Lloyd.

James

The man who would be worthwhile speaking with is Alfredo Duran. Duran is an ex Brigade 2506 member and was associated with Bernardo De Torres, William Seymour, Ed Collins and Dennis Harber in the summer of 1963.

I believe Duran was present in Dealey Plaza during the assassination. I don't believe he was a part of the conspiracy but present due to chatter in the lead-up. Another unknown crony of De Torres' I believe was also present.

Duran was the President of the Board of Directors of the Cuban Committee for Democracy. He is also the leader of the Cuban American Commission for Family Rights. Duran has been criticizing the Bush administration for their new restrictions on Cuban Americans travelling to Cuba.

The President of this organization is named Alvaro Fernandez - office phone number 305 - 5312520

For those who are keen and live in Southern Florida, maybe a phone call would be worthwhile. Then again ....

James

Is anyone able to provide evidence that Frank Sturgis was connected to the Secret Army Organisation? Larry, James? Or anyone else? This might be tough, as the word "secret" is in it. I'm hoping for an insider to come forward. (Wim Dankbaar)

That might be a tough one, Wim.

We do know that the Secret Army Organization tried to kill DeGaulle and Jean Souetre was a part of that. Souetre was supposedly in Dallas on the day of the assassination even though I believe he was there to see General Walker regarding the utilization of Latin American contacts to hit DeGaulle during his upcoming tour there.

Anyway, Souetre was supposedly trying to get the CIA to back the Secret Army Organization in assassinating DeGaulle. Meetings were held in Madrid where E. Howard Hunt was allegedly in attendance. Nothing came of this but could Sturgis have been connected via Hunt? Just a thought.

Thinking aloud here.

BTW, there was also a 'Secret Army Organization' of Californian ex Minutemen led by FBI man Howard Godfrey during the late 1960's but I don't think this is the organization you are interested in.

James

great photo. This must be why for the longest time I though Manuel was Hall. Gerry set me straight and a LIFE photo. I don't know how I got that, but this photo has a story. Know it, James? (Christy Cox)

Hi Christy,

If you're talking about the photo I posted, it was taken by Tom Dunkin in Miami. He snapped off a whole roll with Hall and Aguilar wandering around a boat yard and chatting with a local water police officer. At one point, Aguilar was misidentified as being Seymour and the ID stuck for awhile which also didn't help things.

If there is anything else to that image, I would really like to know it. I know Dunkin's place was ransacked and many negatives went missing.

I get the feeling that the images of Hall and Aguilar might have been used against Hall who in my humble opinion may have been designated as a patsy of sorts.

I have dozens of photographs of Loran Hall so if you want any, let me know and I'll email them to you.

Cheers,

James

Thanks, Harry.

That is very interesting. What is also interesting is that Manuel Aguilar (alleged Castro agent) who was regularly photographed with Loran Hall, said Lawrence Howard was with Oswald in the months leading up to the assassination.

I guess it could be suggested that the footprints leading back to Castro were being laid here?

Another speculative question, could Loran Hall have been the one Oswald was supposed to meet in the Texas Theater?

Hall and Aguilar below.

James

Lorenzo Pacillo = Loran Eugene 'Skip' Hall

Lorenzo=Leopoldo

Alonzo Escruido = Lawrence John 'Larry' Howard

Alonzo=Angelo (Harry Dean)

Harry, a speculative question for you. Do you believe Hall and Howard were the infamous Leopoldo and Angel who visited Sylvia Odio in September of 1963?

James

remember, not for you but others who may be intersted in this thread--Hall is Lorenzo Pascillo(sp)? (Christy Cox)

Indeed, Christy. I think it is relevant that during 1963, there was some effort put into deliberately photographing Loran Hall with Manuel Aguilar. At the time, Aguilar was considered a double agent. Maybe this was part of the proposed Dallas playbook that didn't formulate?

I also agree that the late 50's early 60's period in Cuba is vital. Sure, it wasn't Dallas but it was one of the roads to get there.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

James

Thanks, Chris. I appreciate the reply. Yes, you did answer my question.

The informing on Morgan aspect is very interesting. I can't find the reference at the moment but Morgan may have been inserted by Frank Bender/Gerry Droller who was mentioned on another thread.

If I remember correctly, wasn't Hemming and Loran Hall in Cuba at this time as well?

Cheers,

James