Greg Parker Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Connie Trammell was first interviewed by the FBI, 20dec63 due to her name and phone number appearing in Ruby's address book. Connie's story version one: Connie stated that in April, she and fellow students from the University of Texas School of Journalism came to Dallas in connection with a boat show. They stayed at the Adolphus, and went to the Carousel for a party. She met JR at that time, and had a lengthy conversation with him. She graduated, then, after returning to her home in Arkansas for a short period, moved to Dallas mid November '63 to try and secure employment. She sought employment for two or three days without success, then contacted Ruby to see if he needed anyone. At this time, he tried to get her to go into "show business" which she declined. She had hoped he could use a hat-check girl until she could find something more along her lines. About November 20, she called Ruby and told him she had an appointment with Lamar Hunt. This call was in the hope that Ruby knew Hunt. Ruby came to her apartment the next day, and they again discussed possible leads for employment before he drove her down to the office of Lamar Hunt. She was with Ruby from about 11:00am to 1:00pm. On the way downtown, he stopped at the Merchant State Bank for a few minutes. She has not seen Ruby since that day. ********************* Connie Trammell was reinterviewed by the FBI on 10jul64. This second interview was conducted at the request of the WC in order to obtain further information about her interview with Lamar, and the office space occupied by Lamar and HL Hunt. She had married two days earlier and was now known as Connie Trammel Penny. Connie's story version two: Connie stated she was now employed by the General Advertising Agency, Republican National Bank. She advised that she was a senior at the University of Texas when she first met Ruby. She was with a group of girls from the university who were visiting Dallas and staying at the Adulphus. She and one of the other girls went to see a show at the Carousel, and she was on her way to the ladies' room when she was stopped by Ruby who asked if he had met her before. At this time, she gave her name and University phone number to Ruby. Ruby called her at this number on several occasions trying to talk her into becoming a stripper at the Carousel. After graduation, she rented an apartment in Dallas and contacted Ruby a number of times, attempting to obtain employment as a hat check girl or similar. Ruby indicated he did not have any vacancies, but kept insisting that she could work as a stripper. She next indicated that she had never dated Ruby, and had not had too much in the way of conversation with him. On November 21, Ruby contacted her by phone asking if she had decided to go to work as a stripper, at which time she told him she had talked with Lamar Hunt and had made an appointment to see him regarding employment. As she did not have a car, Ruby offered to take her to this appointment which was at Hunt's office in the Mercantile National Bank. Ruby told her he had business to conduct at the bank and it would be no trouble to pick her up. In the a.m. of that day - exact time not recalled, Ruby picked her up and inquired as to how she had made the appointment with Hunt, and adding that he would like to meet him. She explained she had made a personal call to Lamar Hunt's residence, at which time a maid gave her the telephone number of a direct line into Hunt's office. She next called Hunt at his office and made the appointment to see him. She could not recall the suite number where his office was located. She next explained why she had thought Hunt might offer her a job: she had read in a Dallas newspaper that he owned a bowling alley which he was going to convert into a teenage club, and believed therefore that she could gain employment at the club in public relations - the area in which she had obtained her degree. Ruby parked in a parking lot near the bank and accompanied her to the elevator, but did not go upstairs with her. This was the last she saw of Ruby. During the trip from the apartment, Ruby seemed to be impressed by the amount of money Hunt had made, and mentioned that he knew most of the prominent people in Dallas, and could wave to them on the street and be recognized, but added that he did not know Lamar. She lastly advised that she did not obtain the hoped for employment with Hunt as he had no plans for any person to work in the public relations field for his teenage club. ******************* The reason I have posted the above is that there has long been suspicion about the true nature of her visit to Lamar Hunt, given Ruby was with her, it was the day prior to the assassination, and Jim Braden also visited Lamar that day. There is however, some evidence to back her story in the form of a job application: http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/38/3847-003.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/38/3847-004.gif The application however, presents some problems: THE HUNT JOB APPLICATION 1. It is undated 2. The employer section has been left blank 3. There is no indication from whom and where it was obtained. 4. It is possible, but not plausible that Hunt would personally do the hiring for such mundane positions, let alone that a maid would give an unknown caller Lamar's direct office line. 5. If there was no position available, why did he agree to give her an interview? RUBY Trammel makes it clear Ruby was very keen for her to work as a stripper at the Carousel. Trammel was not a stripper, nor a member of AGVA. This is good evidence imo, that Ruby never ceased having amateur nights. In the first interview, Ruby is said to have stopped to conduct business at the Merchant State Bank. In the second interview, the business he needed to conduct has become the same bank to which she is being driven - the Mercantile National. Another potentially important difference between the two accounts: in the first, she has herself phoning Ruby to tell him of her appointment with Hunt - adding she did so in the hope that he might know the oil man. In the second account, she has Ruby phoning her about becoming a stripper, at which time, she told him about the job interview. Both stories cannot be true. Lastly, the day has changed in the latter account from the 20th to the 21st of the month. LAMAR HUNT Did he in fact, turn a bowling alley into a club for teenagers? Braden was in the building that day, but what evidence is there to put Braden in the building at the same time as Trammel and Ruby? Lamar was a bigger right winger than his father, and wanted to finance his own version of the Minutemen. He was also a contributor to the infamous Black Border Ad. MERCHANTS STATE BANK Ruby did have accounts at this bank, however, the following document shows no activity in those accounts on that day. Small withdrawals though were made on the 20th and the 22nd. http://www.geocities.com/jfkinfo2/jfk5/f585.htm This points toward a higher likelihood that any bank business he was conducting was indeed at the Mercantile - as per Trammell's second statement - though the date would have to have been as per her first statement. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL BANK This is where Trammel found employment sometime after the assassination The Dallas Republic National Bank was identified by the Washington Post, 26feb67, as a conduit of CIA funds since 1958. Unsurprisingly, the Republic National Bank was the bank of choice for that gung ho gang from CUSA. A couple of comments made in correspondence between Schmidt and Weissman: "We want to get Norman into the Republic National Bank ... where we are building our credit like crazy for the day we need ready cash." "Norman" was Norman Baker, company clerk in Germany, and the person who introduced Weissman to Schmidt. I have not been able to find out what getting "Norman into the Republic National Bank" meant. It would be interesting to know if he became employed by them, though... "I have a lot of contacts, bankers, insurance men, realtors." JBS members all. Richard K Marks, assistant cashier of the Republic National Bank was interviewed by the FBI on 3dec63. He advised that Bill Burley and Bernard Weissman attended the bank on 12nov63 in order for Burley to open an account (Burley, in his interview with the FBI gave this same date as the probable date that the idea for the Black Border ad was first discussed). Marks indicated he was well acqainted with Larrie Schmidt, and believed that Burley and Weissman were close friends of his. He further stated that Schmidt was a friend of Warren Carroll, a writer for HL Hunt's "Lifeline". He gave Schmidt's employer as Mutual of New York (CE1814). Burley's need for an account on the same day as the discussion of the ad must raise eyebrows as he would appear to have little need of one for himself. He and Weissman (according to Weissman) were surviving on $200.00 savings and the use of Schmidt's credit card. Though employed, it was on a commission only basis, and neither had made any sales. According to researcher, Bruce Adamson, George McGhee, George de Mohrenschildt and Robert Gerald Storey all had offices in the Republic National Bank building. Storey lead the JFK Assassination investigation for the Texas Attorney General, Waggoner Carr. THE INVESTIGATION OF DALLAS BANKS David L Johnston, the JP who arraigned Oswald, was interviewed by the FBI on 11dec63. He advised during that interview that he had received information from a confidential source whom he refused to identify, that Ruby had been co-signer on loans obtained at Dallas banks by some DPD officers. He had passed this information to Chief Curry - again without revealing the source of the allegation. He further advised that Curry had instigated an investigation of this matter through the Republic National Bank and the First National Bank AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT RUBY HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CO-SIGNER ON SOME LOANS OBTAINED BY OFFICERS AT THOSE BANKS (CE2272). Johnston was called before the Commission on 26jun64, but they studiously avoided any questions on this matter. Three reports dated 3dec63, and held in the DPD files show that the two banks named, along with one other, had checked their records and found no evidence of such loans. Who was lying and, who was being being protected? http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3227-001.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3227-002.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3228-001.gif CUSA Norman Seigal, manager of Carpet Engineers of Dallas who employed both Burley and Weissman, told the FBI on 4dec63 that Weissman had been in sales meetings until about noon on the day of the assassination. He further advised that he (Weissman) had received a call a few minutes before the assassination and that a message was taken due to the fact that Weissman was still tied up in the sales meeting. The message was from Larry Jones, and was to the effect that Weissman should meet Jones at the place his brother hangs out for lunch (CE1813). The problem with this is that either the sales meeting must have went longer than stated, or the call was not a few minutes before the assassination, but at least a half an hour prior, based on other information in the exhibit. Even more confusing is that, according to Seigal, Weissman, when told of the call, denied knowing anyone by the name of Larry Jones Further, neither Jones (who was indeed a member of CUSA) nor Weissman was known to have a brother in Dallas. However, it's possible they merely referred to each as "brother", or that the brother being referred to was Larrie Schmidt's brother, Robert. Seigal at least gives Weissman something that could be construed as an alibi. Not so for Burley. He stated that Burley never arrived for work until about 2:00pm and had not attended any sales meetings that morning. By now, it should be no surprise that Burley was not asked to provide an alibi for the assassination when interviewed by the FBI. The same lack of curiosity was shown by the FBI in their interview with Larrie Schmidt. The seriousness of CUSA's intent in Dallas can be seen by the fact that Schmidt, Weissman and Burley all dumped their wives before starting their campaign of infiltration in Dallas. Here is what Weissman said about Jones before the Commission: QUOTE Mr. Weissman. Well Larrie had been named executive secretary of the Dallas chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom. And another man--his name is in one of these letters somewhere I don't recall it offhand--who was brought into CUSA by Larrie. was named chairman or vice chairman--vice chairman. And the only other move that we had to make in order to take control of Dallas Young Americans for Freedom would have been to get rid of the chairman, who was anti-Larrie Schmidt. He was absolutely no help to us. And this was on its way to accomplishment. But for some reason or another, there was some sort of an argument. I am still not clear on what happened. I wasn't there. I just can take it secondhand from Larrie. A friend of Larrie's had come to Dallas--this was Larry Jones. another partner in---- Mr. Jenner. He is mentioned in some of these interviews. Did you meet Larry Jones? Mr. Weissman. I didn't meet him in Dallas; no. He was gone before I got there. But Larry had come to Dallas, he had stayed a few weeks, had made friends with these people and I had advocated many and many a time---I saw through Larry the first time I met him---is to get rid of this guy, because he was not going to do us any good. Mr. Jenner. You did meet Jones? Mr. Weissman. In Army yes. Mr. Jenner. You met Larry Jones in the Army? Mr. Weissman. Yes We were all on the same post. Mr. Jenner. Mr. Chairman if you will permit, I would like to go back to that at this moment. Representative Ford. Surely. Mr. Jenner. This was another man. You hadn't mentioned him before. Mr. Weissman. I didn't? I thought I did. Mr. Jenner. What rank was he? Mr. Weissman. SP-4 Specialist-4. Mr. Jenner. That wasn't the company clerk? Mr. Weissman. No. Larry worked for headquarters. He was in communications---the scramblers and so forth. Mr. Jenner. Seeking to scramble broadcasts? Mr. Weissman. No. In other words, they would send out the secret messages and so forth from commander to commander and so on. Mr. Dulles. These were military messages? Mr. Weissman. Yes. Mr. Jenner. How old a man was Larry Jones? Mr. Weissman. Larry--he looked 30. I think he is 21. UNQUOTE So what to make of Larry Jones? He was obviously in a highly sensitive position in Germany. It's also clear he was in Dallas at some stage. But it's also obvious he either never left before the assassination, or returned on or before the events in DP. Why did Weissman deny knowing him? Why didn't the WC ask him about that phone message? And why didn't the FBI interview Larry? From Weissman's first visit to the Commission: "The council originally consisted of myself, of Larry Schmidt, of Bill Burley, of a Larry Jones, who is no longer associated in any way with us..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Parker Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Connie Trammell was first interviewed by the FBI, 20dec63 due to her nameand phone number appearing in Ruby's address book. Connie's story version one: Connie stated that in April, she and fellow students from the University of Texas School of Journalism came to Dallas in connection with a boat show. They stayed at the Adolphus, and went to the Carousel for a party. She met JR at that time, and had a lengthy conversation with him. She graduated, then, after returning to her home in Arkansas for a short period, moved to Dallas mid November '63 to try and secure employment. She sought employment for two or three days without success, then contacted Ruby to see if he needed anyone. At this time, he tried to get her to go into "show business" which she declined. She had hoped he could use a hat-check girl until she could find something more along her lines. About November 20, she called Ruby and told him she had an appointment with Lamar Hunt. This call was in the hope that Ruby knew Hunt. Ruby came to her apartment the next day, and they again discussed possible leads for employment before he drove her down to the office of Lamar Hunt. She was with Ruby from about 11:00am to 1:00pm. On the way downtown, he stopped at the Merchant State Bank for a few minutes. She has not seen Ruby since that day. ********************* Connie Trammell was reinterviewed by the FBI on 10jul64. This second interview was conducted at the request of the WC in order to obtain further information about her interview with Lamar, and the office space occupied by Lamar and HL Hunt. She had married two days earlier and was now known as Connie Trammel Penny. Connie's story version two: Connie stated she was now employed by the General Advertising Agency, Republican National Bank. She advised that she was a senior at the University of Texas when she first met Ruby. She was with a group of girls from the university who were visiting Dallas and staying at the Adulphus. She and one of the other girls went to see a show at the Carousel, and she was on her way to the ladies' room when she was stopped by Ruby who asked if he had met her before. At this time, she gave her name and University phone number to Ruby. Ruby called her at this number on several occasions trying to talk her into becoming a stripper at the Carousel. After graduation, she rented an apartment in Dallas and contacted Ruby a number of times, attempting to obtain employment as a hat check girl or similar. Ruby indicated he did not have any vacancies, but kept insisting that she could work as a stripper. She next indicated that she had never dated Ruby, and had not had too much in the way of conversation with him. On November 21, Ruby contacted her by phone asking if she had decided to go to work as a stripper, at which time she told him she had talked with Lamar Hunt and had made an appointment to see him regarding employment. As she did not have a car, Ruby offered to take her to this appointment which was at Hunt's office in the Mercantile National Bank. Ruby told her he had business to conduct at the bank and it would be no trouble to pick her up. In the a.m. of that day - exact time not recalled, Ruby picked her up and inquired as to how she had made the appointment with Hunt, and adding that he would like to meet him. She explained she had made a personal call to Lamar Hunt's residence, at which time a maid gave her the telephone number of a direct line into Hunt's office. She next called Hunt at his office and made the appointment to see him. She could not recall the suite number where his office was located. She next explained why she had thought Hunt might offer her a job: she had read in a Dallas newspaper that he owned a bowling alley which he was going to convert into a teenage club, and believed therefore that she could gain employment at the club in public relations - the area in which she had obtained her degree. Ruby parked in a parking lot near the bank and accompanied her to the elevator, but did not go upstairs with her. This was the last she saw of Ruby. During the trip from the apartment, Ruby seemed to be impressed by the amount of money Hunt had made, and mentioned that he knew most of the prominent people in Dallas, and could wave to them on the street and be recognized, but added that he did not know Lamar. She lastly advised that she did not obtain the hoped for employment with Hunt as he had no plans for any person to work in the public relations field for his teenage club. ******************* The reason I have posted the above is that there has long been suspicion about the true nature of her visit to Lamar Hunt, given Ruby was with her, it was the day prior to the assassination, and Jim Braden also visited Lamar that day. There is however, some evidence to back her story in the form of a job application: http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/38/3847-003.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/38/3847-004.gif The application however, presents some problems: THE HUNT JOB APPLICATION 1. It is undated 2. The employer section has been left blank 3. There is no indication from whom and where it was obtained. 4. It is possible, but not plausible that Hunt would personally do the hiring for such mundane positions, let alone that a maid would give an unknown caller Lamar's direct office line. 5. If there was no position available, why did he agree to give her an interview? RUBY Trammel makes it clear Ruby was very keen for her to work as a stripper at the Carousel. Trammel was not a stripper, nor a member of AGVA. This is good evidence imo, that Ruby never ceased having amateur nights. In the first interview, Ruby is said to have stopped to conduct business at the Merchant State Bank. In the second interview, the business he needed to conduct has become the same bank to which she is being driven - the Mercantile National. Another potentially important difference between the two accounts: in the first, she has herself phoning Ruby to tell him of her appointment with Hunt - adding she did so in the hope that he might know the oil man. In the second account, she has Ruby phoning her about becoming a stripper, at which time, she told him about the job interview. Both stories cannot be true. Lastly, the day has changed in the latter account from the 20th to the 21st of the month. LAMAR HUNT Did he in fact, turn a bowling alley into a club for teenagers? Braden was in the building that day, but what evidence is there to put Braden in the building at the same time as Trammel and Ruby? Lamar was a bigger right winger than his father, and wanted to finance his own version of the Minutemen. He was also a contributor to the infamous Black Border Ad. MERCHANTS STATE BANK Ruby did have accounts at this bank, however, the following document shows no activity in those accounts on that day. Small withdrawals though were made on the 20th and the 22nd. http://www.geocities.com/jfkinfo2/jfk5/f585.htm This points toward a higher likelihood that any bank business he was conducting was indeed at the Mercantile - as per Trammell's second statement - though the date would have to have been as per her first statement. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL BANK This is where Trammel found employment sometime after the assassination The Dallas Republic National Bank was identified by the Washington Post, 26feb67, as a conduit of CIA funds since 1958. Unsurprisingly, the Republic National Bank was the bank of choice for that gung ho gang from CUSA. A couple of comments made in correspondence between Schmidt and Weissman: "We want to get Norman into the Republic National Bank ... where we are building our credit like crazy for the day we need ready cash." "Norman" was Norman Baker, company clerk in Germany, and the person who introduced Weissman to Schmidt. I have not been able to find out what getting "Norman into the Republic National Bank" meant. It would be interesting to know if he became employed by them, though... "I have a lot of contacts, bankers, insurance men, realtors." JBS members all. Richard K Marks, assistant cashier of the Republic National Bank was interviewed by the FBI on 3dec63. He advised that Bill Burley and Bernard Weissman attended the bank on 12nov63 in order for Burley to open an account (Burley, in his interview with the FBI gave this same date as the probable date that the idea for the Black Border ad was first discussed). Marks indicated he was well acqainted with Larrie Schmidt, and believed that Burley and Weissman were close friends of his. He further stated that Schmidt was a friend of Warren Carroll, a writer for HL Hunt's "Lifeline". He gave Schmidt's employer as Mutual of New York (CE1814). Burley's need for an account on the same day as the discussion of the ad must raise eyebrows as he would appear to have little need of one for himself. He and Weissman (according to Weissman) were surviving on $200.00 savings and the use of Schmidt's credit card. Though employed, it was on a commission only basis, and neither had made any sales. According to researcher, Bruce Adamson, George McGhee, George de Mohrenschildt and Robert Gerald Storey all had offices in the Republic National Bank building. Storey lead the JFK Assassination investigation for the Texas Attorney General, Waggoner Carr. THE INVESTIGATION OF DALLAS BANKS David L Johnston, the JP who arraigned Oswald, was interviewed by the FBI on 11dec63. He advised during that interview that he had received information from a confidential source whom he refused to identify, that Ruby had been co-signer on loans obtained at Dallas banks by some DPD officers. He had passed this information to Chief Curry - again without revealing the source of the allegation. He further advised that Curry had instigated an investigation of this matter through the Republic National Bank and the First National Bank AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT RUBY HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CO-SIGNER ON SOME LOANS OBTAINED BY OFFICERS AT THOSE BANKS (CE2272). Johnston was called before the Commission on 26jun64, but they studiously avoided any questions on this matter. Three reports dated 3dec63, and held in the DPD files show that the two banks named, along with one other, had checked their records and found no evidence of such loans. Who was lying and, who was being being protected? http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3227-001.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3227-002.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3228-001.gif CUSA Norman Seigal, manager of Carpet Engineers of Dallas who employed both Burley and Weissman, told the FBI on 4dec63 that Weissman had been in sales meetings until about noon on the day of the assassination. He further advised that he (Weissman) had received a call a few minutes before the assassination and that a message was taken due to the fact that Weissman was still tied up in the sales meeting. The message was from Larry Jones, and was to the effect that Weissman should meet Jones at the place his brother hangs out for lunch (CE1813). The problem with this is that either the sales meeting must have went longer than stated, or the call was not a few minutes before the assassination, but at least a half an hour prior, based on other information in the exhibit. Even more confusing is that, according to Seigal, Weissman, when told of the call, denied knowing anyone by the name of Larry Jones Further, neither Jones (who was indeed a member of CUSA) nor Weissman was known to have a brother in Dallas. However, it's possible they merely referred to each as "brother", or that the brother being referred to was Larrie Schmidt's brother, Robert. Seigal at least gives Weissman something that could be construed as an alibi. Not so for Burley. He stated that Burley never arrived for work until about 2:00pm and had not attended any sales meetings that morning. By now, it should be no surprise that Burley was not asked to provide an alibi for the assassination when interviewed by the FBI. The same lack of curiosity was shown by the FBI in their interview with Larrie Schmidt. The seriousness of CUSA's intent in Dallas can be seen by the fact that Schmidt, Weissman and Burley all dumped their wives before starting their campaign of infiltration in Dallas. Here is what Weissman said about Jones before the Commission: QUOTE Mr. Weissman. Well Larrie had been named executive secretary of the Dallas chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom. And another man--his name is in one of these letters somewhere I don't recall it offhand--who was brought into CUSA by Larrie. was named chairman or vice chairman--vice chairman. And the only other move that we had to make in order to take control of Dallas Young Americans for Freedom would have been to get rid of the chairman, who was anti-Larrie Schmidt. He was absolutely no help to us. And this was on its way to accomplishment. But for some reason or another, there was some sort of an argument. I am still not clear on what happened. I wasn't there. I just can take it secondhand from Larrie. A friend of Larrie's had come to Dallas--this was Larry Jones. another partner in---- Mr. Jenner. He is mentioned in some of these interviews. Did you meet Larry Jones? Mr. Weissman. I didn't meet him in Dallas; no. He was gone before I got there. But Larry had come to Dallas, he had stayed a few weeks, had made friends with these people and I had advocated many and many a time---I saw through Larry the first time I met him---is to get rid of this guy, because he was not going to do us any good. Mr. Jenner. You did meet Jones? Mr. Weissman. In Army yes. Mr. Jenner. You met Larry Jones in the Army? Mr. Weissman. Yes We were all on the same post. Mr. Jenner. Mr. Chairman if you will permit, I would like to go back to that at this moment. Representative Ford. Surely. Mr. Jenner. This was another man. You hadn't mentioned him before. Mr. Weissman. I didn't? I thought I did. Mr. Jenner. What rank was he? Mr. Weissman. SP-4 Specialist-4. Mr. Jenner. That wasn't the company clerk? Mr. Weissman. No. Larry worked for headquarters. He was in communications---the scramblers and so forth. Mr. Jenner. Seeking to scramble broadcasts? Mr. Weissman. No. In other words, they would send out the secret messages and so forth from commander to commander and so on. Mr. Dulles. These were military messages? Mr. Weissman. Yes. Mr. Jenner. How old a man was Larry Jones? Mr. Weissman. Larry--he looked 30. I think he is 21. UNQUOTE So what to make of Larry Jones? He was obviously in a highly sensitive position in Germany. It's also clear he was in Dallas at some stage. But it's also obvious he either never left before the assassination, or returned on or before the events in DP. Why did Weissman deny knowing him? Why didn't the WC ask him about that phone message? And why didn't the FBI interview Larry? From Weissman's first visit to the Commission: "The council originally consisted of myself, of Larry Schmidt, of Bill Burley, of a Larry Jones, who is no longer associated in any way with us..." Bumbed for Mark Lane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dolva Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 (hope I have the right schmidt here). Schmidt states he felt frightened if staying in Dallas. He felt watched. One person or two with Ruby had a pretty steady watch on the post boxes. He said he thought one of them might shoot him. I sometimes wonder if this was Harry. Anyway, he left. Could some out of the loop come to realise what has happened and basically shut up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Kelly Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Connie Trammell was first interviewed by the FBI, 20dec63 due to her nameand phone number appearing in Ruby's address book. Connie's story version one: Connie stated that in April, she and fellow students from the University of Texas School of Journalism came to Dallas in connection with a boat show. They stayed at the Adolphus, and went to the Carousel for a party. She met JR at that time, and had a lengthy conversation with him. She graduated, then, after returning to her home in Arkansas for a short period, moved to Dallas mid November '63 to try and secure employment. She sought employment for two or three days without success, then contacted Ruby to see if he needed anyone. At this time, he tried to get her to go into "show business" which she declined. She had hoped he could use a hat-check girl until she could find something more along her lines. About November 20, she called Ruby and told him she had an appointment with Lamar Hunt. This call was in the hope that Ruby knew Hunt. Ruby came to her apartment the next day, and they again discussed possible leads for employment before he drove her down to the office of Lamar Hunt. She was with Ruby from about 11:00am to 1:00pm. On the way downtown, he stopped at the Merchant State Bank for a few minutes. She has not seen Ruby since that day. ********************* Connie Trammell was reinterviewed by the FBI on 10jul64. This second interview was conducted at the request of the WC in order to obtain further information about her interview with Lamar, and the office space occupied by Lamar and HL Hunt. She had married two days earlier and was now known as Connie Trammel Penny. Connie's story version two: Connie stated she was now employed by the General Advertising Agency, Republican National Bank. She advised that she was a senior at the University of Texas when she first met Ruby. She was with a group of girls from the university who were visiting Dallas and staying at the Adulphus. She and one of the other girls went to see a show at the Carousel, and she was on her way to the ladies' room when she was stopped by Ruby who asked if he had met her before. At this time, she gave her name and University phone number to Ruby. Ruby called her at this number on several occasions trying to talk her into becoming a stripper at the Carousel. After graduation, she rented an apartment in Dallas and contacted Ruby a number of times, attempting to obtain employment as a hat check girl or similar. Ruby indicated he did not have any vacancies, but kept insisting that she could work as a stripper. She next indicated that she had never dated Ruby, and had not had too much in the way of conversation with him. On November 21, Ruby contacted her by phone asking if she had decided to go to work as a stripper, at which time she told him she had talked with Lamar Hunt and had made an appointment to see him regarding employment. As she did not have a car, Ruby offered to take her to this appointment which was at Hunt's office in the Mercantile National Bank. Ruby told her he had business to conduct at the bank and it would be no trouble to pick her up. In the a.m. of that day - exact time not recalled, Ruby picked her up and inquired as to how she had made the appointment with Hunt, and adding that he would like to meet him. She explained she had made a personal call to Lamar Hunt's residence, at which time a maid gave her the telephone number of a direct line into Hunt's office. She next called Hunt at his office and made the appointment to see him. She could not recall the suite number where his office was located. She next explained why she had thought Hunt might offer her a job: she had read in a Dallas newspaper that he owned a bowling alley which he was going to convert into a teenage club, and believed therefore that she could gain employment at the club in public relations - the area in which she had obtained her degree. Ruby parked in a parking lot near the bank and accompanied her to the elevator, but did not go upstairs with her. This was the last she saw of Ruby. During the trip from the apartment, Ruby seemed to be impressed by the amount of money Hunt had made, and mentioned that he knew most of the prominent people in Dallas, and could wave to them on the street and be recognized, but added that he did not know Lamar. She lastly advised that she did not obtain the hoped for employment with Hunt as he had no plans for any person to work in the public relations field for his teenage club. ******************* The reason I have posted the above is that there has long been suspicion about the true nature of her visit to Lamar Hunt, given Ruby was with her, it was the day prior to the assassination, and Jim Braden also visited Lamar that day. There is however, some evidence to back her story in the form of a job application: http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/38/3847-003.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/38/3847-004.gif The application however, presents some problems: THE HUNT JOB APPLICATION 1. It is undated 2. The employer section has been left blank 3. There is no indication from whom and where it was obtained. 4. It is possible, but not plausible that Hunt would personally do the hiring for such mundane positions, let alone that a maid would give an unknown caller Lamar's direct office line. 5. If there was no position available, why did he agree to give her an interview? RUBY Trammel makes it clear Ruby was very keen for her to work as a stripper at the Carousel. Trammel was not a stripper, nor a member of AGVA. This is good evidence imo, that Ruby never ceased having amateur nights. In the first interview, Ruby is said to have stopped to conduct business at the Merchant State Bank. In the second interview, the business he needed to conduct has become the same bank to which she is being driven - the Mercantile National. Another potentially important difference between the two accounts: in the first, she has herself phoning Ruby to tell him of her appointment with Hunt - adding she did so in the hope that he might know the oil man. In the second account, she has Ruby phoning her about becoming a stripper, at which time, she told him about the job interview. Both stories cannot be true. Lastly, the day has changed in the latter account from the 20th to the 21st of the month. LAMAR HUNT Did he in fact, turn a bowling alley into a club for teenagers? Braden was in the building that day, but what evidence is there to put Braden in the building at the same time as Trammel and Ruby? Lamar was a bigger right winger than his father, and wanted to finance his own version of the Minutemen. He was also a contributor to the infamous Black Border Ad. MERCHANTS STATE BANK Ruby did have accounts at this bank, however, the following document shows no activity in those accounts on that day. Small withdrawals though were made on the 20th and the 22nd. http://www.geocities.com/jfkinfo2/jfk5/f585.htm This points toward a higher likelihood that any bank business he was conducting was indeed at the Mercantile - as per Trammell's second statement - though the date would have to have been as per her first statement. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL BANK This is where Trammel found employment sometime after the assassination The Dallas Republic National Bank was identified by the Washington Post, 26feb67, as a conduit of CIA funds since 1958. Unsurprisingly, the Republic National Bank was the bank of choice for that gung ho gang from CUSA. A couple of comments made in correspondence between Schmidt and Weissman: "We want to get Norman into the Republic National Bank ... where we are building our credit like crazy for the day we need ready cash." "Norman" was Norman Baker, company clerk in Germany, and the person who introduced Weissman to Schmidt. I have not been able to find out what getting "Norman into the Republic National Bank" meant. It would be interesting to know if he became employed by them, though... "I have a lot of contacts, bankers, insurance men, realtors." JBS members all. Richard K Marks, assistant cashier of the Republic National Bank was interviewed by the FBI on 3dec63. He advised that Bill Burley and Bernard Weissman attended the bank on 12nov63 in order for Burley to open an account (Burley, in his interview with the FBI gave this same date as the probable date that the idea for the Black Border ad was first discussed). Marks indicated he was well acqainted with Larrie Schmidt, and believed that Burley and Weissman were close friends of his. He further stated that Schmidt was a friend of Warren Carroll, a writer for HL Hunt's "Lifeline". He gave Schmidt's employer as Mutual of New York (CE1814). Burley's need for an account on the same day as the discussion of the ad must raise eyebrows as he would appear to have little need of one for himself. He and Weissman (according to Weissman) were surviving on $200.00 savings and the use of Schmidt's credit card. Though employed, it was on a commission only basis, and neither had made any sales. According to researcher, Bruce Adamson, George McGhee, George de Mohrenschildt and Robert Gerald Storey all had offices in the Republic National Bank building. Storey lead the JFK Assassination investigation for the Texas Attorney General, Waggoner Carr. THE INVESTIGATION OF DALLAS BANKS David L Johnston, the JP who arraigned Oswald, was interviewed by the FBI on 11dec63. He advised during that interview that he had received information from a confidential source whom he refused to identify, that Ruby had been co-signer on loans obtained at Dallas banks by some DPD officers. He had passed this information to Chief Curry - again without revealing the source of the allegation. He further advised that Curry had instigated an investigation of this matter through the Republic National Bank and the First National Bank AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT RUBY HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CO-SIGNER ON SOME LOANS OBTAINED BY OFFICERS AT THOSE BANKS (CE2272). Johnston was called before the Commission on 26jun64, but they studiously avoided any questions on this matter. Three reports dated 3dec63, and held in the DPD files show that the two banks named, along with one other, had checked their records and found no evidence of such loans. Who was lying and, who was being being protected? http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3227-001.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3227-002.gif http://jfk.ci.dallas.tx.us/32/3228-001.gif CUSA Norman Seigal, manager of Carpet Engineers of Dallas who employed both Burley and Weissman, told the FBI on 4dec63 that Weissman had been in sales meetings until about noon on the day of the assassination. He further advised that he (Weissman) had received a call a few minutes before the assassination and that a message was taken due to the fact that Weissman was still tied up in the sales meeting. The message was from Larry Jones, and was to the effect that Weissman should meet Jones at the place his brother hangs out for lunch (CE1813). The problem with this is that either the sales meeting must have went longer than stated, or the call was not a few minutes before the assassination, but at least a half an hour prior, based on other information in the exhibit. Even more confusing is that, according to Seigal, Weissman, when told of the call, denied knowing anyone by the name of Larry Jones Further, neither Jones (who was indeed a member of CUSA) nor Weissman was known to have a brother in Dallas. However, it's possible they merely referred to each as "brother", or that the brother being referred to was Larrie Schmidt's brother, Robert. Seigal at least gives Weissman something that could be construed as an alibi. Not so for Burley. He stated that Burley never arrived for work until about 2:00pm and had not attended any sales meetings that morning. By now, it should be no surprise that Burley was not asked to provide an alibi for the assassination when interviewed by the FBI. The same lack of curiosity was shown by the FBI in their interview with Larrie Schmidt. The seriousness of CUSA's intent in Dallas can be seen by the fact that Schmidt, Weissman and Burley all dumped their wives before starting their campaign of infiltration in Dallas. Here is what Weissman said about Jones before the Commission: QUOTE Mr. Weissman. Well Larrie had been named executive secretary of the Dallas chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom. And another man--his name is in one of these letters somewhere I don't recall it offhand--who was brought into CUSA by Larrie. was named chairman or vice chairman--vice chairman. And the only other move that we had to make in order to take control of Dallas Young Americans for Freedom would have been to get rid of the chairman, who was anti-Larrie Schmidt. He was absolutely no help to us. And this was on its way to accomplishment. But for some reason or another, there was some sort of an argument. I am still not clear on what happened. I wasn't there. I just can take it secondhand from Larrie. A friend of Larrie's had come to Dallas--this was Larry Jones. another partner in---- Mr. Jenner. He is mentioned in some of these interviews. Did you meet Larry Jones? Mr. Weissman. I didn't meet him in Dallas; no. He was gone before I got there. But Larry had come to Dallas, he had stayed a few weeks, had made friends with these people and I had advocated many and many a time---I saw through Larry the first time I met him---is to get rid of this guy, because he was not going to do us any good. Mr. Jenner. You did meet Jones? Mr. Weissman. In Army yes. Mr. Jenner. You met Larry Jones in the Army? Mr. Weissman. Yes We were all on the same post. Mr. Jenner. Mr. Chairman if you will permit, I would like to go back to that at this moment. Representative Ford. Surely. Mr. Jenner. This was another man. You hadn't mentioned him before. Mr. Weissman. I didn't? I thought I did. Mr. Jenner. What rank was he? Mr. Weissman. SP-4 Specialist-4. Mr. Jenner. That wasn't the company clerk? Mr. Weissman. No. Larry worked for headquarters. He was in communications---the scramblers and so forth. Mr. Jenner. Seeking to scramble broadcasts? Mr. Weissman. No. In other words, they would send out the secret messages and so forth from commander to commander and so on. Mr. Dulles. These were military messages? Mr. Weissman. Yes. Mr. Jenner. How old a man was Larry Jones? Mr. Weissman. Larry--he looked 30. I think he is 21. UNQUOTE So what to make of Larry Jones? He was obviously in a highly sensitive position in Germany. It's also clear he was in Dallas at some stage. But it's also obvious he either never left before the assassination, or returned on or before the events in DP. Why did Weissman deny knowing him? Why didn't the WC ask him about that phone message? And why didn't the FBI interview Larry? From Weissman's first visit to the Commission: "The council originally consisted of myself, of Larry Schmidt, of Bill Burley, of a Larry Jones, who is no longer associated in any way with us..." Bumbed for Mark Lane Thanks for bringing this up Greg BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Thomas Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 From Weissman's first visit to the Commission: "The council originallyconsisted of myself, of Larry Schmidt, of Bill Burley, of a Larry Jones, who is no longer associated in any way with us..." CD 780 An interview between SS SA John Joe Howlett and Harry McCormick of the Dallas Morning News p. 5 http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/...amp;relPageId=6 Talking about Larry Schmidt, McCormick tells Howlett: “Schmidt drives a Rambler, Texas 63 License Number NY 8889” Steve Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dolva Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 William Plumlee mentioned in a post that ''Jones'' was a code or operative name used at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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