James Richards

I am hoping someone has some background or maybe insight to an alleged incident which happened in Miami around December of 1962. It involved a fist fight between Oswald and Jerry Buchanan. Oswald was supposedly handing out pro-Castro leaflets when Buchanan attacked him.

Jerry Buchanan is an interesting character. In 1961 he trained with Masferrer's group on No Name Key. He was involved with flying supply missions from a secret base in the Bahamas to anti-Castro guerrillas in the Escambrey Mountains and in 1963, when British authorities captured several of Orlando Bosch's men in the West Indies, an operation funded by Paulino Sierra, Buchanan was the only American amongst them. There is also some connections to Frank Sturgis.

Jerry Buchanan is the brother of reporter James Buchanan who along with John Martino, was prominent in post assassination stories saying that Castro was behind the plot.

Maybe the fight was concocted to put Oswald in the company of Castro supporters? I would surely appreciate any information or theories.

Cheers,

James

Robin,

These 2 images below were taken from a high floor of the Dal-Tex. It's not the roof but it does give one a good idea on what the field of vision was (TSBD can be seen on the extreme right).

This exercise was conducted by the DPD a day or so after the assassination. It makes one wonder what they were doing up there given that they supposedly had their man.

Maybe they knew something that we didn't?

James

Sheffield Edwards died of natural causes on July 15, 1975.

James

Someone who may or may not be listed as a suspicious death is rarely mentioned anti-Castro fighter Juan Jose Peruyero. Peruyero was a member of Brigade 2506 and became very active in several anti-Castro movements which included an association with William Pawley.

Peruyero was gunned down in front of his Miami house on Jan 7, 1977. One theory is that several of the more militant anti-Castro Cubans were annoyed at Peruyero who was supposedly associating his group with some undesirable right-wing elements. Another theory is that Peruyero was brokering a settlement between two warring drug factions, one of which was not happy with the proposed deal.

However, Peruyero was closely associated with Reinaldo Pico Ramon who was a part of the Agency's dirty tricks department. The possibility exists that the HSCA may have had him in their sights regarding what he knew about the Martin Luther King assassination.

If any forum members are in communication with Gaeton Fonzi, it would be interesting to know if the HSCA did indeed have Peruyero listed as someone of interest.

FWIW.

James

I noticed that both your Duran look-alike and Big chin man look-alike in Dealey Plaza appear several years older, and have their hair cut shorter, than in your training camp photos. Are your training camp photos from 60-61, and could this represent normal aging? Or are the photos taken too close together in time to account for the apparent differences in age? What are the dates of the photos? (Pat Speer)

Hi Pat,

The photos of Alfredo Duran I used in the comparison were taken in the late summer of 1963. The image of De Torres and Big Chin guy was mid September 1963.

I don't see a major difference in age but both guys in Dealey Plaza have close cropped hair. I am trying to secure an image of De Torres which was taken in early December of 1963 which shows him with a buzz cut. Maybe there was a special on at the Flagler Street barber.

James

I agree with James, I have no doubt in my mind that is Alfredo Duran in those photo's in DP after the shooting. (Ryan Crowe)

Hi Ryan,

There seems to be a collection of guys (Angelo Murgado included) who associated themselves with De Torres in the early days and stayed with him over the years. The origin seems to be that they were all part of Brigade 2506 and then Agency recruited as various assets.

If we can just find out who this guy is below, we may step a bit closer to the truth.

James

James,

I don't have any info of a Czukas/Sturgis link. Sturgis (and Reinaldo Pico) were reporting to Bernard Barker. (David Boylan)

Thanks, David.

For anyone who is interested, there are some photos of Barker and Sturgis at this link.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CIAbarker.htm

BTW, have you come up with anything more on Pico since we last spoke about him? I scrounged this poor quality image below which shows Pico on the far left.

James

James, could you kindly post the Duran photo comparison's, or refer us to a previous post, etc. so we may have a look. You certainly aroused my interest. (Antti Hynonen)

Hi Antti,

Here you go.

James

On a separate thread we posted that Hemming has identified Leopoldo as Bernardo deTorres and Angel as Angel Murgado, who was very close to the Kennedys. Since that posting Gerry tells us that he was informed of that fact by De Torres himself. De Torres did work with several members of Hemming's Interpen group. (Tim Gratz)

It should also recognized here that Angelo Murgado aka Angelo Kennedy was involved with many political exile groups right up until a few years ago. One of his associates was Alfredo Duran who back in the late summer of 1963, was involved in a low level operation out of Miami. Others on this op were none other than Bernardo De Torres and William Seymour. Murgado was also present.

I believe photographic evidence puts Alfredo Duran in Dealey Plaza just after the shooting.

James

There are indications that Czukas was supervising "Leopoldo" and "Angelo" prior to visiting Syliva Odio. (David Boylan)

Hi David,

This fascinates me greatly. Do any of these indications include Frank Sturgis?

James

Thanks James.

I will give Mr Pena a good "Googling" when time permits.

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Hi Stephen,

This link is to a pretty good piece on the RFK assassination. It gives some brief background on Hank Hernandez and Manuel Pena.

http://www.skepticfiles.org/socialis/rfkplot.htm

James

James,

There are indications that Czukas was supervising "Leopoldo" and "Angelo" prior to visiting Syliva Odio. (David Boylan)

Hi David,

This probably deserves its own thread. That aside, I was not aware of this possible connection. Most interesting.

Do you have any details on Czukas and his connections?

James

James

Please post the Tracy Barnes photo, that one is the match, I think.... (Shanet Clark)

Hi Shanet,

Here is the Barnes comparison. I think Ron Ecker pointed out that the ears do not match and I believe he is correct.

James

Okay, thanks guys.

I was excited there for a moment but I have calmed down now. It's time for a lie down.

James

In the past I have been a strong supporter of Rip Robertson being present in Dealey Plaza during the assassination. I made up a comparison of him which included the possibility that the guy standing next to him was Tracy Barnes.

In reviewing that theory it has always never quite sat right. However, Rip Robertson and John Roselli is a different kettle of fish. I am aware of the claims that Roselli was in Vegas at the time but I submit the following as food for thought.

In the main comparison below which includes Robertson, the image of Roselli is circa 1966. The other image of him in the second comparison is obviously from many years earlier.

FWIW.

James

Does anyone have anything on Steve Czukas? Czukas had reportedly mascaraded as a U.S. Customs Service Officer but was paid by the CIA.

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Hi David,

I believe it was Czukas who put Marita Lorenz into protective custody after she told him that she was mixed up with the Dallas plot and the infamous car trip.

She also supposedly wrote the details in a notebook which Czukas locked away in Miami. If I remember correctly, wasn't Czukas FBI not CIA?

James

Be interested to hear what you've got on Mr Pena. (Stephen Turner)

Stephen,

If my memory serves me correctly, there was some work done on Pena by Lisa Pease which included that he served in the Navy during WW2, the Army during the Korean War, and counterintelligence in France.

I will have to dig amongst my notes for specific details. I'm sure a Google search will offer plenty.

Cheers,

James

Does anyone have anything on Steve Czukas? Czukas had reportedly mascaraded as a U.S. Customs Service Officer but was paid by the CIA.

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Hi David,

Going by memory here but I think Czukas put Marita Lorenz into protective custody after she told him she was mixed up with the Dallas plot and her information about the alleged car trip.

I also seem to remember that she wrote extensive material in a notebook which Czukas locked away in Miami.

I'll have to dig into my notes as specific details escape me for the moment.

James

Korshak originally came to L.A. to help out with the Rosselli blackmail case in the forties. He stayed and became one of the city's leading socialites, mingling with the Chandlers and Steins et al. And this despite the fact he was the Chicago mob's main man on the West Coast, with Frattiano doing the dirty work on the floor below. Korshak's connections and hidden involvement in the JFK case have always intrigued me. If anyone knows of any books on him let me know.

Most of what I know of him came from Dark Victory, The Last Mogul, and The Kid Stays in the Picture. (Pat Speer)

Hi Pat,

I agree that Korshak's connections are intriguing.

You may be interested to know that Gus Russo has a publication due out soon titled, 'The Fixer', which is a study regarding Sidney Korshak.

In addition, there is a film about to go into production titled, 'The Man Who Kept Secrets' which is also about Korshak. The director of this film is William Friedkin who directed 'The French Connection' and 'The Exorcist'.

Sidney Korshak below.

James

Thanks, John.

I have no doubt that if Meyer wasn't involved directly with the murder of JFK, then he was in a position to find out who was. Meyer may also have speculated that the individuals behind JFK's death may have been the same ones behind his ex wife's demise.

As a personal observation, I have serious problems with Ray Crump being a lone gunman here. Call me cynical but it was all a little too convenient. I submit that James Angelton was running Bernardo de Torres who in turn was running the clean-up.

Speculation of course.

James

Hi Stephen,

It's enough to make one very angry, isn't it?

The other guy who we haven't mentioned yet was the one running the investigation, Manny Pena. This guy was brought out of retirement and is a curious individual to say the least. Background on him suggests that CIA wanted their man at the helm of the investigation.

James

Good post, John. Excellent information.

I certainly agree that Meyer had motive but did he have opportunity? Can you see a way in which Meyer could have started the wheels of conspiracy in motion, or indeed help to move it along?

In simplistic terms, the plot to kill JFK had to start somewhere, with one person and then grow into a conspiracy. Where do you see Meyer, if at all, fitting into this chain?

James

Re the San Diego hitman "the Bomp", does anyone know why he may have played a role in the aftermath of the JFK assassination, a role that may have sealed his fate? (Tim Gratz)

Tim,

I have no idea if he played a role in the aftermath of the JFK assassination but in 1967, Bompensiero turned FBI informant. He also spent a lot of time bad mouthing Roselli which may have been a contributing factor to his demise.

Frank Bompensiero was shot to death by Tommy Ricciardi.

FWIW.

James

Angus MacKenzie died of brain cancer.

James

James, I have been looking at where the original reports of this lady

& her male partner came from,here's what i've got.

At 12-20am,Sergeant Paul Sharaga, heard the ambulance "shooting

call"on his police radio. Sharaga remembers"I was directly across

the street from the Ambassador on Fedora.All I had to do was make a

U turn & I was in the back parking lot." I arrived at the hotel & there

was mass confusion."Right away an older Jewish couple ran up to me

They were hysterical, I asked them what happened? The woman said

they were coming out of the Embassy room when a young couple in

their early twenties,well dressed came running past them. They were

very happy,shouting,"weshot him,weshot him" the older woman asked

"Who did you shoot" The girl said "Kennedy, we killed him."

I said can you describe them The lady described the girl as"Female

caucasian, early twenties,light hair,wearing a polka dot dress. Male

caucasion, early twenties,well dressed. no further description.

Sharaga also said "These were spontaneous remarks,not colored by

imagination. That was the most valid description avaiable.

Sergeant Sharaga's notes are missing from LAPD files,after he handed

them to detectives at the scene.

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Hi Stephen,

RFK campaign aide Sandra Serrano was one who saw the woman in the polka dot dress exit the Ambassador Hotel. Serrano was unwavering in her account of what happened. She was also the subject of some heavy-handed bullying by Hank Hernandez who on behalf of the LAPD administered a polygraph test. I fear the truth was not being sought here but for Serrano to recant. Hernandez is an interesting character on his own and a search into his background will turn up some curious information.

The couple that also witnessed the escape of the woman in the polka dot dress were referred to as 'The Bernsteins' but as Pat said, these reports all went missing.

It was later claimed that Valerie Schulte, a coed from Santa Barbara was the woman in the polka dot dress. Trouble is the dress was the wrong type and with different dots, and she also didn't go running from the building yelling "we killed him".

Schulte below.

James