Pete Mellor

Your honour, There are several misconceptions about memory that have a direct effect on the study of the Tippit killing. First, it is generally assumed that the more violent the crime, the more likely a witness will be able to remember the details. It has been theorised that a mental shock disrupts the process necessary for full storage of memories. Another postulation is that in situations where emotions run high, such as would occur during a violent killing, people tend to become more distracted, more self-preoccupied or more worried. Studies have demonstrated that witness accuracy is consistently poorer in violent or stressful situations. Witnesses are always asked to give the time of an incident, and among other things, to describe the actions of themselves and/or others during and after the shooting and the length of time that elapsed. But how accurate are witnesses likely to be in their descriptions? Not very, particularly in light of the violence in the Tippit killing. Studies have shown that witnesses are also likely to overestimate the duration of a violent event by twice the amount or greater, especially in situations where the event was of a very short duration. One study involving a simulated bank robbery even resulted in witnesses describing a thirty second event as having taken fifteen minutes! Therefore we must be wary of those witnesses that have connected a happenstance that appears to be of significant importance because it might actually have occurred minutes or hours later. Witnesses also distort their own memories. Again, a variety of reasons may exist for this to occur. For one thing, witnesses are affected by their own internal thoughts, wishes and desires. People often wish to place themselves into a better light or help contribute to an important project such as solving a murder case. This does not have to be done purposefully, nor does it have to be even consciously noticed by the witness. In these situations it is virtually impossible to determine which memories are real and which are not. (Arnolds, Carroll, Lewis & Seng-Eyewitness Testimony: Strategies & Tactics. 1984)

Absolutely!

B.C. Of course the accuracy of memory is only just one area of witness reliability that must be understood. We must also be cognizant of the ability witnesses posses to accurately identify the source of a sound. Rather than eyewitnesses, we also have ear witnesses, a field of study that has not received nearly as much attention. However, the importance of such witnesses can not be underestimated for the question of the origins of each of the shots fired in Dealey Plaza. The official interpretation of the origin of the shots, of course, remains that they were fired from above and to the left rear of the motorcade. Hence, depending upon where a bystander was positioned the shots would have been heard from either the left or right but always from above. Other theories. particularly those that include shots fired from the grassy knoll, factor in sound impulses as originating at ground level from either the left or right. Unless, regardless of the theory, the witness was situated in a position in front of or behind the location of origin. This would include such witnesses, for example, as Gordon Arnold who recalled a bullet past his left ear, or Abraham Zapruder who thought a shot emanated from behind and to his right, similar to Bill Newman for shots occurring from the grassy knoll and Howard Brennan and Amos Euins for shots fired from the Depository. Witnesses are generally very adept at locating the source of a sound if it originated from the left or right of a person. This is due to the fact that a person's ability to determine the direction of a sound is rooted in the time differential as the sound wave strikes first the ear closer to the source of the sound and then the more distant ear. BUT, most importantly in the context of Dealey Plaza witnesses, the ability of a person to accurately distinguish sounds originating from above or below or from the front or the back is very poor.

Greg, you have posted part of this info previously, very interesting stuff. Benjamin's thoughts are the same as mine, regarding poss use in the Plaza. Also, if the gun was a previous murder weapon, it could have been used and hidden for quite a time prior to its 23rd Nov. dumping, an ideal time to sow confusion.

Ben, I've always had the statements and sightings of witnesses make a north knoll shooter more than just a suggestion. More like the grail for conspiracy. The witnesses in front of the knoll heard and felt shots whizzing past their heads. Zapruder stated a shot from over his shoulder. Bill Newman had to hit the deck because he thought the shots were coming from behind and to the right of him. Gordon Arnold was behind the picket fence area when a guy flashed S.S. badge and got him to move out of the area. He was in front of the fence, on the steps when he felt a bullet whizz past his ear. He too hit the deck. Lee Bowers witnessed sus guys driving around the parking area and reported two men behind the fence and a "flash of light or smoke or something which caused me to feel that something out of the ordinary had occurred there." Ed Hoffman also stated that he saw two men behind the fence. Emmett Hudson, in front of the knoll also stated, "You could tell the shot was coming from above and kind of behind." Cheryl McKinnon on the knoll also said "Myself and dozens of others standing nearby turned in horror toward the back of the Grassy Knoll where it seemed the sounds had originated. Puffs of white smoke still hung in the air in small patches." Sam Holland on the triple underpass had a ringside seat and reported shots as well as smoke come from the trees. After the shots, Holland and fellow railway workers rushed behind the picket fence to discover muddy footprints and cigarette stubs as well as muddy shoe marks on a car bumper. Jean Hill, on the south side of Elm said she saw smoke at the corner of the fence area at the time of the head shot. As mentioned in posts above, policeman Weitzman and Officer Smith met S.S. or officials on the knoll after the shooting, but none have ever been accounted for. We can also look at the reports from Julia Mercer who witnessed the suspicious truck at the underpass earlier that morning, perhaps delivering a rifle to the knoll area. Again, never accounted for. Yarborough got a strong smell of gun-smoke just seconds after which was nowhere near the supposed lone assassin's 6th floor window.

Yes Ron, Jim D. made a statement in his post just a few days back regarding an interview he conducted in New Orleans, he said, "It pays to travel around." I wonder how much Jim is in the red. I'm sure many researchers/authors lost money on the quest, except maybe Posner & Bugliosi.

Joe, Interesting you mention Castro. Pro Castro guys are usually the last to be considered as being behind Dallas. I will admit that whatever group of JFK enemies we look at, it still doesn't seem to fit the full picture. I can't swallow the lone-nut assassin/magic bullet stuff. However, Ruby was following somebody's orders to kill Oswald to silence the guy, so logic dictates that Ossie was a participant or had knowledge of what went down. I've always wondered about fellow FPCC member Gilberto Policarpo Lopez & his flight across the U.S./Mexico border the day after Dallas, and onto a flight in Mexico City to Havana, where he was the only passenger. Also he managed this when his U.S. passport was expired! Wasn't his brother a high rank in the Cuban army? Also Mexico City CIA was told by some informant that Lopez was involved in the JFK assassination. Ruby could be linked to Cuba through Trafficante who some believe was an agent for Fidel. None of this was investigated at the time, like so many other aspects, and like the Chicago Cubans, so we'll never know.

Cheers Jim, as usual, comprehensive info. I knew Roberts was doolally when Posner got to her.

Where Marina is concerned, I tend to agree. Anyway, this is for you Tom. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SWPZ-RydpInuUVDmq2Mne2JZ6zpSIORZ/view?usp=sharing

Roy for Ron.

Maybe not Jim, but double agents do. Ossie could have been leading three lives! Or two. U.S. Intelligence and Pro Castro. I wonder if Phillip's thread couldn't be re-titled 'Was Oswald a Leftie Larping as a right winger?' (Just chucking this stuff in for the debate.) Yet, there are reports of Oswald in N.O. accompanied by Latinos, such as visit to Pena's bar. Also the pamphlets that were printed under the name of Osborne and that person not being identified as Oswald. Didn't Quiroga think he was a Castro agent too? Marina's Fidel/Hidell statement, + her plane hijack to Cuba story....what would be the point of these statements if they were just inventions? I'm certainly not in the lone nut camp because Ruby wouldn't need to stalk and rub out Oswald if he was a loner. So what did he know or what was he part of? CIA? Mafia? Another thought is many suspect that Trafficante was a Castro agent and Ruby had links to Santos too. Paradox on paradox.

Just to expand the quote in book's Notes which states:-'Ross Banister, HSCA interview by L.J. Delsa, 11 August 1978. (Information from interviewer's notes.)' Delphine Roberts. In a case piled high with paradox, she seems to be another. She tells that Banister said "Oswald is with us, he's associated with the office." In '67 she tells the Garrison probe that she had no knowledge of LHO. In '78 statements to HSCA again changed. First, she never saw Oswald, then she did see Oswald in Banister's office. She then tells a story of Banister taking her upstairs to see an office with Cuba posters on the wall. Sounds very strange as this was not possible from the Lafayette office. Newman himself had no knowledge of Oswald having a Camp St office, nor the Camp St., janitor (who actually lived on the premises) never saw Oswald there.

Paul, the first quote is from the 'Spanish Trace' thread from 2017 if that's any help.

Yeah Mike, "Oswald did it to embarrass me" is a supposed statement that the Guy told his brother Ross Banister before his death in 1964. Quote from Russo's 'Live By The Sword'. OK I'm sure that many Forum members may jump in here to pour cold water on Russo's work.....with Oswald being the lone-nut assassin working for Fidel, but I'm just the messenger.

Just listened again to Jim's DPUK presentation from 2018 on 'JFK's Foreign Policy'. (Almost 4 years ago! Time is flying.) Such a very interesting history, especially for me, a U.K. bod who was largely ignorant of U.S. 20th century foreign policy, pre and post JFK's presidency. Of the book recommendations, I never got hold of my own copy of Poulgrain's brilliant 'Incubus of Intervention'. Around £100 on Amazon!! However, in 2020 Poulgrain covered the same ground in 'JFK vs Alan Dulles' which is also highly recommended.

Mike, Few offices in the Newman building had entrances on both 531 Lafayette Street and 544 Camp Street. Guy Bannister and Associates office was shared on the ground floor (U.K. term.)- 1st floor (U.S. term) by Mancuso's Restaurant, both entrances being on Lafayette Street. Just round the corner on Camp Street was the other entrance into the Newman building which was just a small enclosed area with stairs leading up to a few offices on the 1st floor (U.K. term)-2nd floor (U.S. term). In 1962 Sergio Arcacha Smith had his CRC H.Q. in one of these offices, but by '63 he had moved out. During Oswald's time in New Orleans only a couple of the Camp Street offices were occupied and these were Trade Unions offices. The use of a Camp Street office (IF actually used) by Oswald certainly does not point to any close relationship with Bannister. The building was arranged in such a way that there was no access from Camp to Bannister's office on Lafayette, unless you exited the Camp Street door and walked around the corner, past the restaurant to Bannister's office entrance door. Bannister thought that Oswald's stamping of some of his leaflets with the Camp Street address was done to embarrass him.

B.C. I'm with you on that. I have Gil's complete file on 'The Rifle' and now his 'Handgun' work is another great piece of research. + his opinion on how the DPD worked this number on Oswald makes more sense than the official fairy-tale.

Hey get off Joe, it belongs to me! Was Oswald guilty? What, "beyond a reasonable doubt". Ignoring the official time of 1:16, which a defence council would challenge. Helen Markham describes the shooter as short, on the heavy side and with bushy hair. Aquilla Clemons saw two people involved, one being short and heavy, agreeing with Markham. Clemons was visited later by a man who told her to keep quiet! Warren Reynold's did not witness the shooting, but saw the supposed fleeing gunman, he did not i.d. this man as Oswald, until after he was almost killed by a gunman himself. Frank Wright, who lived across the street stated the killer of Tippit wore a long coat and drove off in a grey car. Sadly, history was denied a trial of the accused so I do not know exactly where Oswald was between 1300, leaving the rooming house on Beckley then seen standing by a bus stop outside and his later arrest at the Texas theatre. I am also doubtful of the automatic/revolver ballistic evidence and the fantastic story behind the discovery of the Oswald/Hidell wallet, found at the scene of the Tippit killing. Strangely, no witness saw this item at the scene! So, who discovered it, Cpt. Westbrook at 10th & Patton or Detective Paul Bentley after Oswald's arrest? Also, as written in a recent post on this Forum, who do the fingerprints on the front passenger side of Tippit's car belong to?

Without any doubt Hammarskjold's plane, a DC-6 the Albertina crashed, which the 'official investigation' put down to pilot error on the approach to Ndola airfield in the Congo. Many questions remain. Suspicions of CIA, MI6, South African involvement. Some believe the Albertina was shot down by a 2nd aircraft, or bombed. Witnesses spoke of an explosion in the sky prior to the crash. Most of the crew's bodies were badly burned, but not Hammarskjold's, who a U.N. representative stated his body was not burned, but had a round hole in his forehead. Just some of the very odd anomalies in this case. Didn't the late Desmond Tutu, as part of the S. African 'Truth & Reconciliation Committee' uncover documents incriminating CIA involvement in the plot. British researcher Susan Williams's book 'Who Killed Hammarskjold?' covers this case very well.

Greg, Hi. Well, the impulsive act and non-planned killing of Oswald was Ruby's line of defence, as was the false claim that he was sparing Jackie a court appearance back in Dallas, which was a lie dreamed up by his attorney, who just happened to be also in attendance in the DPD basement that Sunday morning. Don't you find the Ruby phone records, contacts with major league Mafia figures all over the States extremely suspect? His explanation that the calls were AVGA Union related are laughable. Calls to Marcello, Hoffa, Trafficante, Giancana associates as well as visits to mobsters in New York & Chicago etc., all this activity in the months prior to November. Even on the 21st he is in Houston! What is this club owner doing attempting to enter Fritz's Homicide office? He sure wasn't attempting to distribute his business cards. What did he want on the 4th floor jail area on the Friday night? His excuse for being there was another lie, like being at Parkland that afternoon. Why would an impulsive act cause Ruby to want to be shipped to D.C. with Warren, where he could give information he couldn't give in Dallas, where he said his life was in danger? Finally, if his act was impulsive and not planned, how did he get into the basement area? Why was he hanging around the building from early that morning? Any dog lover wouldn't leave their pooch in a car for four hours! Why the need for George Senator to lie to Ruby's cleaner? Nah, this was planned as sure as there was more than one shooter in Dealey Plaza.

Have Vols 1-3 and been eagerly awaiting Vols 4-5. Good to hear the next instalment is on the way.

I'm fine Paul. 😀 Sure, the funeral home FBI inky hands stuff is another weird episode!

Paul, the Livingston/Savage book states Sunday night, no time given. It doesn't say 'middle of the night'. Could have been Sunday evening. The pics and prints were taken post autopsy, but prior to Oswald being prepared for burial. Livingston describes this as a routine assignment for the Crime Lab. It's written in the book that this procedure was "the chain of evidence to verify the fact that the Oswald killed by Jack Ruby and buried in Fort Worth was the same Oswald who was in police custody charged with the murder of two people." Yeah I know, with the multitude of chain of custody anomalies in this case, they have to legally prove that Oswald was dead!

Thanks for that Pat. In 'JFK First Day Evidence' the Scalice info is just an author's note at the end of the chapter. It states, "Although the trigger-housing fingerprints were extremely faint and barely distinguishable and partially distorted a positive identification of LHO was made by Scalice. I think you & Jim D have shot this down in flames.

Actually, Livingston & J.B. Hicks took Oswald's photograph and fingerprints in the Parkland morgue on Sunday night 24th. These prints from the morgue were checked against the print card of Oswald's prints taken the previous Friday by the DPD Identification Bureau. Apparently normal police procedure. Also in 1992, Savage obtained another photograph of Oswald's prints from HSCA Exhibit F-400 of prints taken in New Orleans August 9th, 1963.