James Richards

I don't have access to my notes at the moment so I'm going by memory, which is always a dangerous ploy.

I seem to recall that Charles Hester operated a business called Commercial Photography. There was also the question of whether or not he was related to Robert Hester whose daughter (name escapes me for now) was part owner of the National Film Company.

Research into that entity is interesting to say the least.

FWIW.

James

Awesome. Thanks, Jack.

Cheers,

James

Kathy,

The guy on the right is James Files.

James

I post the following purely as a curiosity.

The link below is the first part of a most interesting series concerning Mitch WerBell. The other links can be found on this page.

The whole thing is a bit cheesy but there is some interesting tid bits including the piece of equipment shown at the 5 minute mark. Over the years, I have had several conversations with many of the anti-Castro guys of the early 1960's and they said that a version of this type of weapon was around at the time. More information regarding this to follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrtrmeITQNk

Cheers,

James

FWIW.

James

Kathy,

Here's a photographic montage I did for the first edition of Larry Hancock's 'Someone Would Have Talked'.

Cheers,

James

Very nice James!

Thanks for posting that montage, it was saved to my computer the second I laid eyes on it

Dean

Thanks, Dean.

I think what we get from this is that a 1959 Rambler was indeed on Elm Street at the time. Roger Craig was pretty much where he said he was and a guy, who in my humble opinion somewhat resembled Oswald, was making his way along side the TSBD in the company of another man.

James

Kathy,

The whole Lee and Harvey thing I have yet to make my mind up about but I do believe Lee Oswald was impersonated several times leading up to the assassination, and then again on the day itself.

The 1959 Rambler is also a curious issue given the several prominent folk who owned one including George Wing, Rip Robertson, Howard Davis and a member of the Dallas chapter of Alpha 66. It must also be considered that this was a common vehicle for the day.

I also think that particular Jim Murray photograph is a very important one. Somewhat of a story being told with lots of detail. Many years ago, I created these comparisons with people present in that image. I post them here more as a curiosity than anything else.

Cheers,

James

Kathy,

Here's a photographic montage I did for the first edition of Larry Hancock's 'Someone Would Have Talked'.

Cheers,

James

Bill,

I've had most of that information for some time. The Vidal family members providing it are respected members of society holding responsible jobs and I'm wary of how it will impact their lives. They have also made several privacy requests that I plan to honor.

I won't reveal their names so forum members can make of it what they wish.

Over the next few months, I will post some more information and photos as I get clearance - I have already posted never before published images of Vidal himself.

There will also be some material involving Vidal, Bishop, Morales, etc.

The image below shows Vidal just before his execution in 1964. The damage done to his right ear in the boat explosion can be seen.

James

According to some people who were close to Felipe Vidal Santiago, William Bishop was responsible for a boat explosion (around Christmas of 1963) that seriously injured Vidal. Other folk on board were Roy Hargraves, Ed Collins and journo Dickey Chapelle.

This was an interesting mix of people.

In an interview published in the first edition of Larry Hancock's 'Someone Would Have Talked', Hargraves claimed he and Vidal were in Dallas at the time of the assassination.

Two independent sources have claimed it was Collins who impersonated Lee Oswald in Montreal.

Not long after the assassination, Vidal who allegedly was not happy with the way things were going, had given an interview to Chapelle - the contents of which never seeing the light of day.

Collins and Vidal were to die in 1964, Chapelle in 1965.

The before mention people associated with Vidal also claimed that during 1964, Bishop was regularly visiting family members attempting to gather information on what they knew. The intimidation factor being not exactly subtle.

Sometimes he was accompanied by a well dressed man, dark complexion, ominous, who they thought worked for the agency. They didn't know his name.

FWIW.

James

Pat,

I don't think the Book Depository employees were directly involved either. I do think they were manipulated, poked and prodded though. Simple folk threatened with things like treason if they didn't cooperate would be more than enough to have them confused and frightened.

I submit that Jack Dougherty in particular was one manipulated and taken advantage of. I do think it very possible he interacted with at least one shooter located in that building.

James

Thanks, Greg. Most interesting.

I submit that discovering what really happened on the fifth floor of the TSBD is key to understanding the assassination itself. This of course brings into serious question the accounts of Williams, Jarman and Norman.

James

Tom beat me to the punch.

Cheers,

James

Tom,

I did contact the embassy many years ago. I never heard back.

BTW, just to add another component - Frank Fiorini and Pedro Diaz Lanz had associations with a Beren (first name unknown) back in the very early 60's.

I have no idea who this is or if he is connected to the Beren family of Dallas.

Cheers,

James

Tom,

Thanks for that information, most interesting. Curious that the anatomical cause of death was not found and that the embassy destroyed his passport.

Homer Beren mixed with some curious folk in Dallas including Julius Schepps and Honest Joe Rubin, the later well aquainted with Lewis McWillie, the Campisis and Jack Ruby.

Homer was also close friends with R.G. Storey - the man who accompanied Earl Warren when he visited Ruby in prison.

It was Homer's brother Irvin who contributed financial support into Arlen Spector's political campaign.

Homer and Irvin Beren below.

James

There was a curious subplot involving Travis Kirk - a lawyer who was quite familiar with Jack Ruby.

Kirk's letter was to Nadine Fordyce, a Dallas waitress who was also friends with J.D. Tippit.

On December 10, 1963, Fordyce shot a man by the name of Glen Wiles in the chest. She was charged with attempting to kill him. Wiles was allegedly fighting with bus driver Dennis Griffis and Fordyce feared that Wiles was going to kill him.

Glen Wiles was a major league scumbag. In 1955 he was charged with indecent exposure and later in the same year was indicted for the statutory rape of a 14 year old girl.

Ruby allegedly had some trouble with Wiles at the Carousel Club and physically assaulted him.

Wiles also had some interesting associations of his own including a Cuban by the name of Antonio Paz who had stayed at the house on Harlandale and was a visitor to the Stevens Theater where Tippit moonlighted as a security guard.

Paz was also associated with General Edwin Walker and Felipe Vidal Santiago, accompanying him on several runs into Cuba during 1963.

FWIW.

James

As requested quite some time back, here is a photograph of Gerald Lester Murphy.

James

Thanks James; Your right. It was Tony Zarba who was executed along with Bobby Fuller, both American citizens I think. In reference to the Galindez affair? I too was aware of Berdardino involvement in someway. One of them was a relative of Terrrillo.., Berdardino it was, I think, but not sure. I'm not sure of all the details other than Murphy took one of the flights in place of a Dominican Republic pilot who was scheduled for that trip to NY.

Thanks, Tosh.

The whole Galindez/Murphy thing for me is an important event as I believe Felix Bernardino, who played a hand in that drama, also had a role in what happened in Dallas. In my opinion of course.

Bernardino is a very interesting guy with an interesting family. His sister was of course Minerva Bernardino.

James

John,

I too have heard the anti-Castro exiles theory. The contacts I have that were around in the day are pretty tight lipped about Rorke and associates who they themselves can be connected to.

If one was motivated though, I do not believe it is too difficult to connect the dots.

Given that, there are some conflicting opinions regarding Rorke. Some saying he was straight up, others didn't trust him.

Regarding JFK supporters within the ranks of CIA, one must remember that at the time there was a small group of Agency men hovering around South Florida who acted with autonomy. They had no real regard for their superiors who in turn were reluctant in attempting to bring them into line.

These men considered themselves patriots and the Kennedys as traitors.

It was a unique time (1959 - 1964) and to really get a grasp on the way things were done, speaking with those who were there is vital - although it might take some prodding.

James

Tosh,

Word around the campfire is that the guys on the ground who actually handled the Galindez/Murphy kidnappings and subsequent 'disappearances' were Arturo Espaillat and Felix Bernardino.

Do you have anything on that?

BTW, I seem to remember Tony Zarba was executed around the time Fuller was.

James

Rorke says his CIA contact was Commander Anderson of the U.S. Navy. I wonder if this was George Whelan Anderson:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/gwanders.htm

Arleigh Burke and George Anderson.

James

As requested quite some time back, here is a photograph of Gerald Lester Murphy.

James

Santo Trafficante and David Yaras.

James

Some time back, a forum member (my apologies, I can't remember who) asked for a photograph of David Yaras. Better late than never.

James

"... Rorke's connection to the owner of a CIA operated PBY out of Miami, and to a CIA man named Montgomery Luft - all aspects in the months just before both men disappeared. ...'.

James: That was the PBY that was at one time going to be used to remove Eddie Bayo from Cuba. (check Billings background info) The mission failed and Pawley provided a ship to go in a get Bayo and others out off Cuba. that too, failed. (the Thor? or Winder Jammer? been awhile) ( I think Rampart Magazine covered some of this in the mid seventies; "The CIA's Secret Yacht War, by Warren Hinckle) I think Bill Turner might be able to shed a little light on that operation. "Fish are Red", and "Deadly Secrets" come to mind, also.

The PBY was reg to "Texaco Petroleum", and later to, "Atlantic Richfield" One of the pilots who used to fly this PBY, Catalina, was Manuel Rojas a previous "Regina Cuban Air Cargo" pilot. He was earlier with Riddle Airlines back in 1957.

I flew as co-pilot on a few of those early raids into Cuba with Rorke and at one time with Sturges in a C-46 and another in a D-18 Twin Beach, previously (1958-59?) owned by Steve Guthrie. This raid or flight was in early 62 or 63... In 1959 the PBY was used to take some of us off the island of Cuba after a botched landing in a DC-3... FWIW.

Rorke also flew out of a small landing strip near CT "The Sea Spray Inn", which burned down around the sixties, I think. The PBY in question had been retro fitted at one time at LB Smith Aircraft, Miami. (not sure if this was before the BoP or after) It (the PBY) had originally been flown from Maranda Airpark, Tucson to Miami via New Orlanes, as well as two A-26's, which were later used in the BoP and flown by Crispin and Gonzalas in that operation. ( A-26-A or B-26 K; ID N 933 I think it was)

Alex Rorke about this time obtained money from up north (NY) and obtained access to and old navy vessel which became known as the "Raider Ship Rex" and made raids into Cuba from Everglades Fla,. In time this ship became a communications platform for JFK and was berthed near the Kennedy compond at West Palm. Perhaps you already know this, but thought I would bring it up to date for those who might care or be interested in such matters (FWIW)

Now I'll go back under my rock..., I'm not much interested in JFK or Cuba research anymore, to many "Experts" out there.., but I do respect your research and dedication. If you can help Sherry in that regard.., , that would be wonderful.

Tosh,

Thanks for the info on the PBY. Muchly appreciated.

The Manuel Rojas you mentioned, could that have been Carlos Rojas?

This photo below shows Carlos Rojas.

Cheers,

James

Can you tell us more about Wilbur Baldinger and his conversations/meetings with Alex Rorke and what you think the significance

of these meetings might be? (John Bevilaqua)

John,

Unfortunately, I don't know a whole lot here but one would be correct in thinking, as you have done, that the reasons would be of quite some interest for JFK researchers.

Baldinger was known to Agency man Montgomery Luft, as was Rorke, and being able to uncover some background on Luft may bear some very juicy fruit. In addition, Luft was a frequent visitor to South Florida and had some curious connections down there including one with Col. William Bishop.

He also had tenticles into the Baltimore private intel group and by extention into Montreal via our old friend Robert Emmett Johnson. Interesting circle of associations indeed.

Luft is a character that has yet to surface in the JFK mileau but if one is persistent and can get a handle on him, many of the questions we seek may be answered.

FWIW.

James