Talk:Lee Harvey Oswald

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Ancestry

Lee Harvey Oswald's ancestry.On his mother's side,he was French and German; whilst, on his father's side, he was mainly of old English ancestry and also had an Irish great.grandmother by the name of Mary Tonry.She was born in Ireland (county unknown) in the year 1829; after her arrival in USA, she married Henry Harvey of Pennsylvania.This makes Lee one-eighth Irish; therefore, he should be listed among the other Irish-Americans.This info can be verified by biographies as well as Louisiana census records.They list Mary Tonry as having been born in Ireland.Also, Lee was born at exactly 21.55.--jeanne (talk) 15:43, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

And this is important because? -- Zsero (talk) 18:49, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

As important as JFK being an Irish-American.Why is it OK to list some people as Irish and leave out surely the most interesting man to ever appear on the stage of recent history(LHO).As a woman of mostly Irish and French ancestry,I am proud to share his ethnicity.Have you any further problems ?jeanne (talk) 06:23, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Sorry,my last post was a wee bit testy.What I wanted to say was that Ireland,in spite of it's small size and centuries of oppression has managed to produce a diverse group of people who have strongly impacted history in every field.From many US presidents to Anne Boleyn,Billy the Kid,Josephine de Beauharnais,Neil Armstrong, the Beatles,Che Guevara,Duke of Wellington,Princess Diana,Robert Boyle,the Bronte sisters,countless sports figures,Hollywood stars,politicians, writers and Lee Harvey Oswald-all these people have partial or fully Irish ancestry.jeanne (talk) 11:41, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Where one of his great-grandmothers came from is not a significant fact about Oswald. Nor is the time of his birth, or his girlfriend's birthday. And I'm surprised that anyone would feel "proud" to be even distantly related to a murderer. -- Zsero (talk) 15:48, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Which court of law convicted Mr.Oswald of murder?I saw HIS murder on national television (NBC); he was prevented from receiving a fair trial by Jack Ruby and the gross incompetence of the Dallas police.Anyway,Mr.Zero,I still maintain that Lee Harvey Oswald was one of the most interesting people to step upon the stage of world history.And pray remember in the USA,a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.Nobody saw Oswald fire at the motorcade.If you just killed the most powerful man on Earth would you escape by BUS????17:00, 4 April 2008 (UTC)jeanne (talk) Had his great grandmother been black or 1/64th Cherokee it would be bandied about constantly.All biographies describe people's ancestry-even minor celebs.I just happen to think his Irish link is interesting-it certainly explains his cheeky smirk alongside his Southern gentleman courtesy.jeanne (talk) 17:06, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Speculating about a hypothetical black or Cherokee great-grandmother is neither here nor there. It's still not notable that one great-grandparent out of eight came from some particular country. And to claim that this accounts for "his cheeky smirk", let alone his "courtesy" is beyond ridiculous. About as ridiculous as denying that he was a murderer. -- Zsero (talk) 19:18, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Now you are trying my patience!OSWALD WAS NOT CONVICTED OF KILLING ANYONE.Au contraire,he was a murder victim,gunned down by a sleazy pimp on national tv.That pimp's ancestry is listed in wikipedia.Yet you insist Oswald's should not,for some bizarre reason.Let me explain in simple terms why I insist his ancestry be listed.If somebody wanted to compile a list of people of the Irish Diaspora and wanted to include as many diverse people as possible-even those labeled notorious such as Oswald, well they would find it in wikipedia.Still got problems with him being part Irish?jeanne (talk) 04:12, 5 April 2008 (UTC) I mentioned "his cheeky smirk" in a humourous attempt to explain his conflicting mannersjeanne (talk) 05:29, 5 April 2008 (UTC) when talking to the press-he constantly veered from overt insolence to well-mannered Southern gentleman(yes sir no sir,etc.)

I don't care whether he was convicted; there's no doubt that he did it. John Wilkes Booth wasn't convicted either, and nor were some of the most notorious murderers in history, but that doesn't affect their guilt. His ancestry simply isn't a notable aspect of his life, and certainly his time of birth or his girlfriend's birthday are not notable facts. They're just clutter. If you want to include him in a category of Americans of Irish descent, you can see whether he fits the criteria for the category; if 1/8 is enough, then fine. -- Zsero (talk) 03:27, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

John Wilkes Booth was seen firing at Lincoln;Oswald was NOT!!And who mentioned his girlfriend's birthday?I included Marina's!!And if 1/8th Irish ancestry was good enough for John Lennon,it should be good enough for Lee H.Oswald.ok?Or his Irish blood still a problem?jeanne (talk) 10:01, 6 April 2008 (UTC) Let me also point out that there is a BIG DOUBTjeanne (talk) 13:45, 6 April 2008 (UTC) as to whether or not Oswald DID IT; hence this neutral article.If mentioning something as trivial as his ancestry can possibly help in adding some substance to an otherwise shadowy and enigmatic figure such as LHO it should be encouraged not ridiculed.Have you similar problems with Cher's 1/16 th Cherokee ancestry or Pushkin's 1/8th black?Both are listed in Wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jeanne boleyn (talk • contribs)

Just because other stuff exists somewhere else in wikipedia, that doesn't mean it belongs here. If you believe it belongs here, supply arguments that do not include "since article A has it, then it should be here also". Your current tactic does not help your case. I have no problem with adding it to the article as long as it is sourced and shown to be pertinent. Jons63 (talk) 14:09, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

OK .My sources for his ancestry come from two sources.By the way,I think he should be listed amongst French-Americans as well.Here goes:"Lee Harvey Oswald New Orleans Roots "W. Tracy Parnell.This deals with his French ancestry.The other is Ancestry.com.Community.This mentions his Irish-born great-grandmother,who came to US before 1849 obviously during the Famine as did the ancestors of JFK.It's pertinate as it could be used by people researching the Irish Diaspora or the French presence in America.Also as a quirk of history -JFK=Irish,Jackie=French;LHO also shared these ethnicities.jeanne (talk) 14:51, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Walter Kirk Coleman

A 14 year old boy who lived near Walker's residence in the Turtle Creek neighborhood said that he "saw several men jump in an automobile and speed off" after the shooting.

I have removed this claim because it was an inaccurate newspaper account of what Coleman actually claimed he saw. After hearing what he thought was a car backfire, Coleman looked into the neighboring church parking lot and saw one man walk to a 1950 Ford and drive away at a "normal rate of speed". A second man went to a 1958 Chevrolet sedan, pushed the driver's seat forward, and leaned into the backseat. At that point Coleman went back into this house. No car with several men jumping into it, no speeding off. (CE 2958, FBI interview of Walter Coleman, June 1964). — Walloon (talk) 15:47, 15 April 2008 (UTC)

.30-06 rifle

(In seeming contradiction to this account, the caliber of Oswald's rifle was 6.5 mm, while the caliber of a 30-06 is 7.62 mm.)

The initial report — on the night of the shooting — was made from a very deformed bullet, before any testing had been done on it. Marina said Lee read the morning newspaper and told her, "They said I had a .30 caliber bullet when I didn't at all. They got the bullet and the rifle all wrong… What fools." — Walloon (talk) 16:03, 15 April 2008 (UTC)

Radar Operator

Nobody has commented on how unusual and extraordinary it was that The Marines would allow a seventeen year old to join the corps without VERIFYING his documents and then to allow him to work at the highly senstive job of radar operator, where one needs a security clearance!!! The article fails to comment on this strange occurance. I know that the US Military is very precise when it comes to names, ages, and other personal data. How did Oswald get away with "lying about his age"?And why was he sent to work as a radar operator? What were the seventeen year old's qualifications?jeanne (talk) 14:19, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Remember he joined the Marines in 1956, how unusual or extraordinary was it then. Today it would be unusual and extraordinary, but then was it? My dad joined the Army when he was 17 against the wishes of his parents, but they took him without verifying his documents. I also joined the Army at 17, but the verification was better and it is even more stringent today. When I joined in 1980 very few jobs required security clearances, today every job requires a security clearance, you can't even log into the AF computer networks without a secret clearance. Do you have any sources that say that this was unusual or extraordinary in 1956? Jons63 (talk) 14:43, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

No,in regards to his age but being a radar operator would have required a security clearance and Oswald-even in view of the fact he'd added a year to his age would have been just nineteen and as I mentioned before "what were LHO's qualifications" for obtaining such a senstive post? Also weren't his alleged Marxist sympathies common knowledge amongst his fellow Marines?jeanne (talk) 15:07, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

The idea that Oswald was the "Marxist Marine" who went around spouting dogma comes basically from one source: Kerry Thornley, who testified befor the Warren Commission. Thornley was a dubious witness, and other people close to Oswald scoff at the idea of Lee as a dedicated communist while in the Marines (as detailed in this acticle).

So why was Oswald, high school dropout, mediocre Marine and all around strange person given such an incredibly sensitive position? It's because he was a tool of the CIA and/or military intelligence. Members of the Warren Commission, other investigations of the JFK assassination and Oswald's family have all expressed this view.

The Warren Commission suggested that Oswald, with his ninth grade education, learned to speak Russian from reading books and listening to a few records in his spare time. Do you think you could learn Russian that way? The Commission also suggested that Oswald while in the Marines saved the upwards of $2,000 needed for his trip to Russia. Yet, when he left the Marines, Oswald had only $200 in his bank account. So he was keeping another $1000-$2000 in a coffee can and not in the bank? Oswald was granted early release from the Marines by falsely claiming that his mother was ill. The Marines release him and never investigated. When Oswald returned to the United States from Russia, after having openly claimed that he would give secret information to the Russians, he was never even debriefed the way an ordinary American tourist to Russia would have been. Lastly, when Oswald returned to the U.S., he wrote a fake diary of his time in Russia. Edward Epstein has documented how this diary was clearly dictated to Oswald for him to write down. Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:03, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

Oswald's earnings in the Marine Corps during his 2 years and 10 months of service were $3,452.20, after all taxes, allotments and other deductions. Where do you get the figures of "$200 in his bank account" and "$2,000 needed for his trip to Russia"? Oswald told a newspaper reporter in Moscow that he had saved $1,500 out of his Marine Corps salary to finance his defection. His entire passage, from New Orleans to Moscow, including his first ten days of room and board there, cost less than $1,000. His ship passage from New Orleans to Le Havre, France cost $220.75, it cost him about $20 to reach London from Le Havre, his plane from London to Helsinki cost $111.90, and his train fare from Helsinki to Moscow was about $44. For more information, see the Chapter 6 of the Warren Commission Report. — Walloon (talk) 20:18, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

FBI doc on the $200[1]. Also Frontline.[2] Oswald opened the account for $200 during his last year in the Corps. Closed it upon his discharge without ever making another transaction. Oswald was also reported to have spent money quite freely while stationed in the Far East. I can't prove that he wasn't keeping a year's pay in cash in a desk drawer somewhere, but I find it hard to believe. Joegoodfriend (talk) 22:02, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

I have to agree with Joegoodfriend that Oswald was a tool of the CIA and/or military intelligence. Nobody can learn a language like Russian by books and records. Most Europeans believe Oswald was set up and did not act alone. I personally have never met a single person who believes Oswald acted alone.Why doesn't anyone mention the fact that 90 seconds after the fatal shot, Oswald was seen on the second floor, calmly sipping a coke. 90 seconds. From the sixth floor to the second.After wiping his fingerprints from the rifle, then carefully hiding it and then sprinting down four flights of stairs.90 seconds.Time was certainly on his side that morning!!!!jeanne (talk) 17:53, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

Warren Commission Report, p. 153:

A test was also conducted to determine the time required to walk from the southeast corner of the sixth floor to the second-floor lunchroom by stairway. Special Agent John Howlett of the Secret Service carried a rifle from the southeast corner of the sixth floor along the east aisle to the northeast corner. He placed the rifle on the floor near the site where Oswald's rifle was actually found after the shooting. Then Howlett walked down the stairway to the second-floor landing and entered the lunchroom. The first test, run at normal walking pace, required 1 minute, 18 seconds; the second test, at a "fast walk" took 1 minute, 14 seconds. The second test followed immediately after the first. The only interval was the time necessary to ride in the elevator from the second to the sixth floor and walk back to the southeast corner. Howlett was not short winded at the end of either test run.

Oswald took an Army aptitude test in Russian in February 1959 and rated "Poor." When he reached the Soviet Union in October of the same year he could barely speak the language, according to Richard Snyder and Priscilla Johnson. During the period in Moscow while he was awaiting decision on his application for citizenship, his diary records that he practiced Russian 8 hours a day. After he was sent to Minsk in early January 1960 he took lessons from an interpreter assigned to him for that purpose by the Soviet Government.— Walloon (talk) 21:59, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

I believe that Oswald's movements before and after the assassination (as well as a lot of other things regarding the shooting itself) preclude his having been the assassin of JFK. When I get around to it, I'd like to work this into the Assassination Theories article. Today's we're talking about his movements after the shooting. Tests suggested that Oswald had just enough time to make it to the 2nd floor lunchroom, with only seconds to spare. However, those tests did not take into account the following: (1) The snipers nest was found as a closed nest of boxes. Oswald would have needed time to climb over them. (2) Oswald did not lay the rifle on the floor, he carefully slid it into a narrow space between two tall stacks of boxes. (3) Two persons left the fourth floor 30 seconds after the shooting and used the same staircase. They did not see Oswald, but could not have avoided encountering him had he actually used the stairs. (4) The original report describes Oswald as having been calmly drinking a Coke when discovered in the lunchroom. If Oswald had enough time to use the Coke machine, the whole test falls apart.

Lastly, the whole idea doesn't make any sense. Why would he be hanging out in a empty lunchroom instead of trying to escape?

On the Russian thing, I don't hold that it's impossible for Oswald to have learned to speak some Russian in his spare time. I do think it's another unlikely explanation offered as part of a dubious story woven by the Warren Commission and its defenders. Also, Oswald wrote the entire "diary" after leaving Russia. It contains demonstrable untruths. Who lies in their own diary? Also, again, it is demonstrable that the diary was dictated to Oswald for him to write down. Joegoodfriend (talk) 22:22, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

"The snipers nest was found as a closed nest of boxes. Oswald would have needed time to climb over them."

Officer Luke Mooney, who discovered the sniper's nest, did not have to climb over boxes. He testified that he turned sideways and squeezed between two stacks of boxes. I imagine that Oswald, who weighed about 135 pounds, didn't have much trouble doing the same.

"The original report describes Oswald as having been calmly drinking a Coke when discovered in the lunchroom. If Oswald had enough time to use the Coke machine, the whole test falls apart."

Actually the "original report" does not say that. Officer Marion Baker didn't write the handwritten deposition published as CE3076. It was written by FBI Special Agent Richard J. Burnett. Officer Baker crossed out (i.e., deleted) the incorrect phrase "drinking a Coke", which had been written by Burnett, and initialed the alteration. In any case how does the whole test fall apart? Going by the re-enactments, Oswald still had 12-16 seconds to buy a Coke. However, note that both Baker and Truly said that when they first encountered Oswald, he had nothing in his hands. The Coke bottle Oswald was seen carrying through the second floor office area was apparently bought after the encounter with Baker and Truly.

"Why would he be hanging out in a empty lunchroom instead of trying to escape?"

It is my belief that as Oswald went down the rear stairs heading for the first floor rear exit, he heard Officer Baker and his supervisor Roy Truly coming up those same stairs, and quickly ducked into the lunchroom. Diagram. — Walloon (talk) 23:07, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

As I said, I've been thinking about updates to the More than one gunman section of the assassination theories article for some time. I look forward to the epic battle in which we're bound to engage. Joegoodfriend (talk) 03:17, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

If you've just murdered the most powerful man on the planet, you are going to do one of two things: Shout it to the rooftops why you did it and stake your claim in the history books. Or you are going to get out of Dodge-and fast.Oswald did neither. Instead he is found "hanging out" in the lunchroom. What was his motive for killing Kennedy?jeanne (talk) 06:33, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

What do you mean by "hanging out"? "Hang out" means to to spend time relaxing. Oswald was found entering the second floor lunch room about 90 seconds after the last shot. And as I said above, he may well have done that to avoid Officer Baker and Roy Truly, who were coming up the same stairs he was going down. Within a minute after Baker and Truly left Oswald in the lunchroom, Mrs. R. A. Reid, clerical supervisor for the Texas School Book Depository, saw him walk through the clerical office on the second floor toward the door leading to the front stairway. Oswald was gone from the TSBD three minutes after the last shot was fired. He probably could have left the building in two minutes had he not encountered Baker and Truly. — Walloon (talk) 07:08, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

And what did Lee do after leaving the TSBD ? He hops on board a municipal BUS as his get-away transport. He could have walked over to the Greyhound bus station and been on a bus to Mexico, but instead gets on an ordinary bus which got stuck in traffic. And are you sure Oswald wasn't drinking a coke when Baker encountered him? Most reports state this to have been a fact

And there is still the absence of a motive for killing Kennedy. Why do most people kill political leaders? For many reasons. 1. Political-Oswald was supposedly a Communist, so maybe, yet made no political statement to the journalists after his arrest.2.To foment anarchy and/ or revolution.Difficult to bring about in a country like USA.3.For personal fame and recognition.Why didn't Oswald do what Mark Chapman did after John Lennon's murder? Admit it, revel in it. Oswald's replies were vague almost baffled.jeanne (talk) 08:31, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

"And are you sure Oswald wasn't drinking a coke when Baker encountered him? Most reports state this to have been a fact"

Please click through to the testimony of Baker and Truly that I linked to above. — Walloon (talk) 09:57, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

But that is testimony Baker made before the Warren Commission. Why did FBI agent cross out the line about the coke? Because it provided Oswald with an alibi.The Warren Commission's report is highly controversial, so cannot be relied upon for veracity. Had LHO lived long enough to go to trial, the entire case built up against him would have fallen apart.jeanne (talk) 12:09, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

As I said above, the FBI agent did not cross it out, Officer Baker himself deleted the error, and initialed his deletion. If some coverup was involved they could have just scrapped the draft and written a clean one. The testimony of Baker and Truly is not from the Warren Commission Report, it is from their unedited, verbatim testimony before the Warren Commission. — Walloon (talk) 16:03, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

All this can go on and on forever but the sheer fact remains of the incongruity of the time factor involved. From the time the first shot rang out in Dealey Plaza to the fatal head shot.Eight seconds.And another ninety seconds until Oswald was on the second floor(coke or no coke). That short space of time just does not permit so many events to have occured.jeanne (talk) 16:42, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

Actually, every test conducted by both government & non-government entities has demonstrated that Oswald could have made it from the sixth-floor window to the lunchroom in less than 90 seconds. He didn't have to wipe prints off the rifle; the wood stock was of poor quality to hold prints anyway. Finally, he only had to run down 72 steps to get to the 2nd floor; remember, he was running down so he had gravity on his side as well. lonenut2000 1 June 2009

New Orleans

The New Orleans section has been steadily chipped away at to promote conspiracy. Gamaliel (talk) 18:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

What information might be restored to the article to bring it to a more neutral point of view? Joegoodfriend (talk) 18:44, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I chose my metaphors poorly. What I mean is that through dozens of tiny edits, the section has been slowly twisted to push the conspiracy pov. Gamaliel (talk) 18:47, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

That's cool, but the editors can't address the problem unless we have a better idea as to specfic POV problems you see in the text. For instance, their was a NPOV tag on David Ferrie for a while because it had a lot of stuff about Jack Martin's accusations, but little about the consensus that Martin was not considered credible. Can you point out any text here that needs some balance? Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:23, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Proposal

Per the MOS here, this article is too long. It needs to be trimmed. To start, I'd like to trim the New Orleans section by merging the last three paragraphs into the Trial of CLay Shaw article. We can do a "For further information... jump cite to the article." Further I'd like to condense and summarize the rest of the section by taking out trivial information, such as the quotation about the contents of Oswald's letter to FPCC and the amount of paper Oswald ordered. Thoughts? Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 16:31, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Sounds good. A lot of extraneous information has crept into the article. Editors should remember that this is an encyclopedia article, which summarizes secondary sources, and not a book. Gamaliel (talk) 16:50, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes, agreed. If it's not too much to ask, can we get a For further information link to David Ferrie as well? Joegoodfriend (talk) 17:43, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

frankly i find this entire wiki entry on oswald deeply contentious but will just take issue for now with one tiny point in the New Orleans section: "...and with no membership in the Communist Party USA, wrote a letter to the New York City headquarters of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a pro-Castro organization..." because I am not at all certain that Communist Party USA was behind or even influential in FPCC - I suggest instead that it was the trotskyist arch-enemy of CPUSA, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP)that held 'hegemony'. In Oswald's famous photograph --holding a rifle and a newspaper-- he is holding a copy of the SWP weekly newspaper "The Militant". That "Oswald did send out two honorary membership cards [from New Orleans FPCC] to Gus Hall and Benjamin Davis, two senior members of the American Communist Party" [quote taken from wiki FPCC entry external link] indicates that he was either an extremely naive novice in left politics - or else was engaged in the work of a provocateur

Life in the Soviet Union

The second paragraph of the "Life in the Soviet Union" section has way too much unnecessary detail about Oswald's travel itinerary, what hotels he stayed at, etc. Almost all of it could be cut, and the paragraph reduced to half its length. Anybody object? — Walloon (talk) 23:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Good idea. Joegoodfriend (talk) 23:51, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

Bannister Information

Please stop re-inserting the information about General Banister. This is a biography of LHO. The Banister information is unnecessary and unrelated to the topic. It's only purpose is to skew the article to a conspiracy POV via innuendo. Per discussion above, lets try to keep the article on point and neutral. Thanks. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:17, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

The information is not about Guy Banister. The information concerns the fact that the address "544 Camp Street, New Orleans" was stamped on some of the leaflets that Oswald was distributing, and that this address was also that of a group of anti-Castro activists, including Guy Banister. I did not add this information. It has been part of the article for a long time. Your objection seems aimed at omitting any facts that might mitigate against the POV conclusion that Oswald acted alone. Let's try to keep the article on point regarding the facts. Thank You. Mtracy9 (talk) 23:11, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

By now you should know we comment on content not the contributor. As I know you know, your attempt at characterizing my motives can be considered a personal attack and is wrong in any case. I'll sum up my objection-- as you term it-- this way: Banister's office and the 544 Camp address have no relation to each other, unless one wishes to imply a conspiratorial connection between Oswald and Bannister. The important part of the story, as it relates to Oswald biography, is the arrest for disorderly conduct with Bringuier, and the subsequent coverage it received. Let's try to keep the article focused on Oswald. Thank you. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 23:33, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

I'd like to make a suggestion for a possible compromise. For some reason, no one has ever gotten around to writing an Oswald-Ferrie-Banister-Shaw-whomever section on Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories. If Mtracy9 would do the honors, I'll be glad to add anything I can that will add value. Perhaps there could be a Further Information link from the New Orleans section here.

I'm responsible, or if you prefer, guilty, for adding the first HSCA quotes to this section. I just wanted to provide some balance because someone had added text along the lines of, "There is no evidence of an acquaintance between Oswald and Ferrie." Joegoodfriend (talk) 02:28, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

No problem Joe. I'm very aware that in order to compromise on these articles sometimes edits are made one day that achieve a consensus but later on as other edits get made, get twisted away from their original intent. Also I believe the Clay Shaw trial article has this 544 Camp issue there. That's where it should go as it was part of Garrison's investigation. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:59, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Actually, Ramsquire was the first to wage a personal attack in regards to questioning motives when he said that my "...purpose is to skew the article to a conspiracy POV via innuendo" (see above). Ramsquire states: "Banister's office and the 544 Camp address have no relation to each other, unless one wishes to imply a conspiratorial connection between Oswald and Bannister." However, this is just one possible interpretation. It should be left up to the reader to decide whether the fact that Oswald had the 544 Camp Steet address printed on some of his leaflets was coincidental, or something more. That Oswald had this address on some of his leaflets should not be ommitted out of fear that some readers may interpret this in a way not to the liking of those who hold the POV that Oswald acted alone. (Wikipedia policy: "...neutral point of view, representing fairly, and as far as possible without bias, all significant views that have been published by reliable sources.") Mtracy9 (talk) 04:05, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

I find your use of the ellipsis humourous. It's clear from my edit that I was talking about the content of the information and not any edit. But hey why deal with facts, right? Nice try. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:02, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

You need to go back and read your first post where you describe the alledged "purpose" of my edit. But hey its easy to confuse content with personal attack, right? Mtracy9 (talk) 22:00, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Last time-- The full comment without ellipsis: Please stop re-inserting the information about General Banister. This is a biography of LHO. The Banister information is unnecessary and unrelated to the topic. It's only purpose is to skew the article to a conspiracy POV via innuendo. Per discussion above, lets try to keep the article on point and neutral. Thanks. As you'll note the part of the sentence you ommitted says "its". Generally in English, you do not refer to people as "its". If I referring to someone I would have said YOUR or used a name. The "its" is clearly relating to the "Banister information". Now please stop it. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:15, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Don't try to couch yout personal attack in what you consider to be clever language. Its meaning and intent was/is obvious. Mtracy9 (talk) 22:42, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Mis-quoting the HSCA

In 1979, the HSCA stated in its Final Report that it found evidence that Oswald, while living in New Orleans in the summer of 1963, had established contact with anti-Castro Cubans[79]and "apparently" with American anti-Castro activist, David Ferrie.[80]

The HSCA report does not support the statement here. The HSCA only mentioned one definitive contact Oswald had in NO -- The well publicized meeting with Bringuier. It makes no finding on if the other meetings with Odio, Echevaria and the other alleged meeting Oswald had that summer. It explicitly states that it cannot explain or determine the extent of Oswalds associations with anti-Casto groups. That is entirely different from the implications of the above paragraph.

The Committee also found "credible and significant" the testimony of six witnesses who placed Oswald and Ferrie in Clinton, Louisiana, in September 1963, where the Congress of Racial Equality was organizing a voter registration drive.[81]

The committee also states that they were telling the truth "as they saw it", which is not quite the endorsement the above sentence seems to give them. The HSCA made no determination if the testimony was in fact the truth and placing it in a biography of Oswald is misleading when the proper context of the quotes is ommitted.

Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:54, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Excellent research, Ramsquire. I knew something was fishy about that whole section, but I couldn't figure out what. This is pretty much conspiracy modus operandi: twist the facts to create innuendo, and it's often subtle enough to go undetected. Gamaliel (talk) 23:00, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. We've all been lax regarding these articles recently. I figured I'd go easy and let them breathe a bit after the whole Arbcom situation. But I've noticed the conspiracy creep and I'm ready to "wade back in to the sewer"-- so to speak. :). Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 23:17, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

RESPONSE:

From page 147 of the HSCA report: "The committee candidly acknowledged that it could not explain Oswald's associations with anti-Castro Cubans." In other words, according to the HSCA, Oswald did indeed have such associations. Also, the HSCA report says on the same page: "The committee concluded that Oswald's most significant apparent anti-Castro association was with David Ferrie."Mtracy9 (talk) 07:04, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Fictional Trials

I think we should remove the fictional trials section as it appears to be place to put trivia into the article. Also I do believe there is Oswald in Popular Culture section where this information might go. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:33, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Lee Harvey Oswald... "was" the assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy...

I would like to EDIT the controversially made fact that Lee Harvey Oswald WAS the assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

The sentence reads:

Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was the assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.

Requesting to be changed to:

Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was the incriminated assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.

On the grounds that he was never found guilty and that it should not be assumed a fact. Lee Harvey Oswald was accused and incriminated as the assassin of the late President John F. Kennedy.

John Wilkes Booth was never found guilty. Hitler (aside from the brief prison stay in 1924) was never found guilty. The same goes for Jim Jones, David Koresh, and any number of people throughout history whose guilt is a historical fact without necessitating a trial. Gamaliel (talk) 23:21, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

I'd say Oswald wasn't even incriminated. That means someone was charged, tried and convicted, which he wasn't. He was only charged. How about "alleged assassin"? -- JackofOz (talk) 23:26, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

That implies a level of doubt which does not exist amongst serious, legitimate historians. Gamaliel (talk) 23:28, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Well, let the historians speak for themselves. And why are historians the only ones who can pronounce on this matter anyway? Millions of serious-minded people have had legitimate doubts about this, as they're entitled to. But let's not get into that here. To me, "incriminated assassin" suggests an even more concrete and unambiguous level of legal guilt than plain "assassin". The Warren Commission found he was the sole assassin, and that's the official word, but that still doesn't make him legally guilty. Legally, he was charged, and that's where the process came to an untimely end. He was not a criminal. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:37, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Legally is not the issue here. We can mention in the intro that he was never tried if you like. Historical fact is the issue here. Historians get the say because Wikipedia weights the findings of professionals and experts above amateurs and dilettantes. Why shouldn't they get the say? Creationists don't get the say on evolution articles, nor flat earthers on geology and astronomy articles. Gamaliel (talk) 23:54, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Of course historians should have their say, and I never suggested they shouldn't. Your post above ("That implies a level of doubt ...") suggested that whatever historians say on the matter is the final word, and I just wanted to counter that. "Legally is not the issue here" - well, when it comes to using "criminal", "incriminate" etc, that gets into legal language. A crime was definitely committed, and Oswald may well have been a murderer, but he wasn't a criminal. -- JackofOz (talk) 00:07, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

I have no problem avoiding the words "criminal" and "incriminate". I just have a problem with using the word "alleged". Gamaliel (talk) 00:12, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

For a long time, the lead read: Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was, according to four United States government investigations, the assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. Propose this be restored.

Many serious, legitimate historians doubt that Oswald murdered JFK. Joegoodfriend (talk) 00:13, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

I think your first suggestion is a good idea. Gamaliel (talk) 00:28, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for your gracious endorsement. Change made. Joegoodfriend (talk) 01:51, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm happy with that. It states the facts, plain and simple. -- JackofOz (talk) 02:50, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Oswald is indeed the alleged killer, not THE killer. With no trial, a denial by LHO himself and evidence that there were more than three shots fired, you lose credibility with most readers when you rely upon the work of the Warren Commission as factual.

The evidence which points to LHO as assassin of JFK was flimsy at best and had he lived long enough to be tried in a court of law (and not by journalists) a good lawyer would have got him acquitted. Comparing him to John Wilkes Booth is nonsense seeing as Booth shot Lincoln in a crowded theatre with plenty of witnesses, whereas LHO allegedly fired, unseen, from a corner window of the TSBD! Oswald had no real motive for assassinating JFK, unless it was to gain fame, and that begs the question as to why he denied shooting him upon his arrest ?!--jeanne (talk) 14:21, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

Sorry if this comes across as condescending, but people have been put on death row with less evidence than what exists to implicate Oswald. There is forensic evidence tying him to both the murder of JFK, and Officer Tippit. There is also eyewitness evidence of him in the snipers window, and killing Tippit. The circumstantial part of the case, and motive is up for dispute and where conspiracy theories arise, but there is hard evidence tying LHO to the assassination. Whether he acted alone, that is another story.Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:37, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

No, you were not being condescending at all, just stating your opinion. The witnesses who claimed to have seen LHO at the window and fire at Tippet appear very unreliable. Their descriptions of the man they saw do not match the physical appearance of LHO. I happen to believe LHO was up on the 6th floor and at the window, but there had to have been another sniper somewhere who killed JFK. eight seconds just wasn't long enough for him to have been the sole assassin.--jeanne (talk) 18:35, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

The eight seconds of the Warren Commission is a minimum time for the assasination to take place, and the fatal bullet has been forensically matched to Oswald's gun. Most juries in Dallas would convict on that basis alone. But in any case, I've always felt that if there was a conspiracy, it would more likely be a conspiracy of two or three loners and not some of the grand stuff you see in books. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:30, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

Wasn't the bullet badly damaged? Ramsquire, there were so many people who had a lot to gain from JFK's death, and you have to admit Texas was the perfect place to carry it off. And what about Ruby's convenient appearance just as LHO was being whisked off to tight security. If that had happened here in Italy, nobody would even question that it was a conspiracy. By the way, Italian journalists always refer to Oswald as Kennedy's "presumed assassin". That might be good for this article.--jeanne (talk) 06:47, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

It was damaged, but as far as I know, the markings on the side of the bullet was enough to positively match it to Oswalds Carcano. Yes, I agree that tons of people had motive to kill JFK, some with much more than Oswald, but motive isn't evidence. There are some good websites out there that discuss the evidence in detail, even some pro-conspiracy ones, and its really interesting stuff. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 16:38, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't know, but to be frank, this Discussion page on Lee Harvey Oswald is clearly the most intellectually stimulating on Wikipedia. The amount of knowledge displayed by the editors is far better than most documentaries. I really enjoy coming to this page, one can learn so much here. I'm quite impressed.--jeanne (talk) 16:45, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

The mountain of evidence incriminating Oswald is so vast it is truly incredible the level of denial some have on this subject. To doubt Oswald killed JFK is akin to doubting whether the pope is catholic. As for this nonsense about "no trial," I suppose that by that logic, Hitler wasn't guilty of anything, nor any of the tyrants throughout history who didn't actually stand trial. Multiple investigations, some almost eager to find evidence of conspiracy all concluded the same thing: Oswald fired the shots that killed Kennedy. Period. Canada Jack (talk) 01:31, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Nobody is eager to find a conspiracy, Jack, it's obvious that the evidence which points to LHO as the lone assassin is not conclusive, otherwise the controversy would have ended years ago. Everything you and the Warren report say, which claims that he acted alone only prove that there was a cover-up. If you can admit that the Dallas police were incompetent in their transferring of Oswald, how can you put any faith in their judgement when they arrested him and charged him with JFK's assassination. What were they Jack, competent or incompetent?--jeanne (talk) 14:20, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

Four U.S. government investigations

Re the statement in the opening paragraph about four U.S. government investigations finding Oswald guilty of the assassination: FBI (1963), Warren Commission (1964), and HSCA (1979), but what is the fourth? The report of the Ramsey Clark panel (1968) never mentions Oswald. — Walloon (talk) 03:20, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

I think Clark publicly supported Oswald's guilt, and that's led to a misconception. Change the text from four to three? Joegoodfriend (talk) 03:53, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

The Dallas Police investigation. Remember they were the first to tackle this thing and they had it together within hours. Gamaliel (talk) 04:16, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

The Dallas Police investigation can't be called a U.S. government investigation. — Walloon (talk) 05:06, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Ancestry

Why has Oswald's sourced ancestry been removed-again? Is he the only American not allowed to have his ethnicity mentioned? I notice nobody has removed Jack Ruby's ancestry on his Wikipedia article.jeanne (talk) 17:38, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

There are thousands of facts about Oswald that one could include. But an encyclopedia article does not have space for every fact about a person. Only the most important. Oswald's ancestry seems to have played no role in his life. Ruby, on the other hand, said that he shot Oswald because he wanted to show the world that a Jew could be tough. He was also upset that the anti-Kennedy "Wanted for Treason" flyers gave an apparently Jewish name at the bottom. He was also worried that the rumors of his conspiring with Oswald in Kennedy's death would cause Jews to be persecuted. — Walloon (talk) 18:06, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

I just thought that his French Louisiana ancestry should be listed also the fact that his maternal grandfather John Claverie was a streetcar conductor in New Orleans. There are a lot of genealogy buffs out there who'd be interested.jeanne (talk) 08:48, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

So make a geneology wiki, Jeanne. It just doesn't seem important as far as LHO is concerned. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.39.53.36 (talk) 06:25, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

I personally think his French ancestry should be included in the article seeing as Ruby's Jewish Lithuanian ancestry is elaborated on. Also, LHO should be included in the list of French-Americans. But, seeing as other editors disagree with me there is nothing I can do about it. Wikipedia is a community effort and if the community doesn't believe LHO's ancestry is important I have to abide by it's opinions. No, I shall not make a genealogy wiki, although it does sound rather interesting.--jeanne (talk) 06:34, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Jack D. White?

Not sure why Jack D. White appears in this sentence:

"However, despite such evidence, some critics continue to contest the authenticity of the photographs, including Jack D. White in his testimony before the HSCA"

His testimony before the HSCA (See http://jfkassassination.net/russ/jfkinfo/hscawhte.htm) demonstrates he has little credibility when it comes to analysis of the backyard photographs. Suggest removing the "including Jack D. White in his testimony before the HSCA" portion of the sentence. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 158.234.250.71 (talk) 15:07, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

In what way does his testimony suggest a lack of credibility? Joegoodfriend (talk) 15:21, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

It clearly shows that he is not an expert in any technique used to ascertain the authenticity of photos, in addition he had no idea what generation of photographs his questionable analysis methods were being applied to.

White's biography demonstrates that he is clearly qualified as an expert witnesses. Your analysis of his analysis is POV, and refering to him as a "layman" in the article is inappropriate. Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:44, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

White should be removed since it gives undue weight to a single person. We do not mention the names or positions of the 21 other experts consulted by the HSCA. Gamaliel (talk) 19:47, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

So, are you saying that White's dissent can stay, but his name should be removed? Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:54, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

I'm saying anyone can object to anything, why are we highlighting this guy? Gamaliel (talk) 20:01, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

How does his biography demonstrates that he is clearly qualified as an expert? To my knowladge he hold no qualifications in regard to photo analysis and in his own testimony clearly shows he has little understanding in any of the methods used to determine authenticity of photos. I let his dissent stay as a compromise in my opinion the sentence should be cut to "However, despite such evidence, some critics continue to contest the authenticity of the photographs" with a number of links. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 158.234.250.71 (talk) 13:07, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

The use of Allegedly

This is an important word when dealing with Oswald. I put it in, put an administrator saw fit to remove it. Why? Dapi89 (talk) 20:56, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

I can't speak for other editors or administrators, but I suspect that the answer is because it's reliably sourced. Being fully cognisant of the farrago that still surrounds the JFK assassination, I think sometimes the dust has to settle and minor issues like this become epistemological and largely irrelevant. Let's face it, for everyone who says "X" about Oswald, you'll find an equal number to say the opposite. We have to live with some uncertainty even in these days of more complete information than we enjoyed even fifty years ago. Is Oswald going to sue? No. Let it rest and we can move on to more important issues. OTOH, if you have cogent evidence that it wasn't Oswald using that alias who ordered the mail-order gun, let's have it. --Rodhullandemu 21:46, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

"Allegedly" endorses the POV of conspiracy theorists, namely their claim that there is some doubt to the guilt of Oswald. Since his guilt is a settled matter for serious, professional historians, Wikipedia should not endorse the claims of conspiracy theorists. Gamaliel (talk) 22:22, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

Exactly so, and I wish I'd said that. --Rodhullandemu 22:29, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

I don't think so. What do historians have to do with this? Did he face trial? Was he convicted? The answer is no, so everything should be listed as allegedly. One could simply say the same for those that wanted it out of the article, as it can just as easily endorse other theories. I would alsothat the findings of the WC were found to be dubious, and that further investigation should be pursued, but of course it has not. Dapi89 (talk) 01:37, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

And yes I do have a citation that doubts his purchase of the rifle, but that is hardly surprising. Dapi89 (talk) 01:54, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

This depends on whether we take the legal view or the practical view, both valid approches. For practical purposes, the weight of evidence is that he committed the crime, either alone or in concert with others. For legal purposes, however, his technical status is "innocent" since he never had a chance to be convicted of the crime. The Warren Commission's findings and other evidence, no matter how convincing they may be, don't and will never alter that, since a person cannot be convicted posthumously. If we say he "was the assassin of JFK", then we should also make it clear (and not just buried way down in the guts of the article) that legally he died an innocent man. -- JackofOz (talk) 02:08, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

The introduction already makes it clear that he was not tried for his murders. Gamaliel (talk) 03:02, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

Historians have everything to do with this. We are an encyclopedia and we rely on the judgment of experts in the relevant fields, in this case history. The lack of a legal judgment is irrelevant. Gamaliel (talk) 03:02, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

Of course it is relevant. "His murders"? I can't help but notice the bias in your tone Gamaliel. Your grasp of legality, and history is somewhat distorted, as of course Oswald is not a convicted murderer. JackofOz (Note: I did NOT make this post. User:Dapi89 did. -- JackofOz (talk) 00:48, 4 August 2008 (UTC))

Wow, let's shelve the bias accusations here, shall we? We've already had too much contentious editing on this article, let us not start another round, eh? My grasp of legality is perfectly sound, I just don't think the concept applies here. We are writing history, not legal opinions, and history is what matters here. Of course Oswald is not a convicted murderer, the facts are clear, but so is the evidence and the judgment of history. The legal opinion is not the overriding one, it is not a standard that applies here. Or will we be adding "alledgedly" to the biography of John Wilkes Booth too? Gamaliel (talk) 14:54, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

JackofOz, I take it you agree Oswalds status as an "accused" should be more prominent in the article, if the word "Allegedly" is not to be used? The rest of the article is worded like there was no doubt it was him. Dapi89 (talk) 11:31, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

Gamaliel, you edited the thread in such a way that makes it appear that I made the post above that Dapi89 actually made. -- JackofOz (talk) 00:48, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

My apologies. It appeared that Dapi89 stuck his comments at the end of yours, so I separated the two. I should have checked the edit history to see who said what before doing so. Sorry. Gamaliel (talk) 00:52, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

No, what happened was that Dapi89 addressed his question "I take it you agree ..." to me, and linked my username. You seem to have read it as a signature, mine, rather than a form of address written by Dapi to me. No harm done. I've restored the sentence the way it was meant to be read. -- JackofOz (talk) 01:02, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

I'm having a heck of a time with this talk page. Perhaps I should get some sleep before I post here again. :D Gamaliel (talk) 01:08, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

The tone of some of the above is that Oswald did it, historians are unanimously agreed on this, and anyone who thinks differently is some sort of crank. Well, historians are not unanimously agreed on the matter, although the majority of them are. As for being "accused", that is what the politicians and historians have done (not that they didn't have good reason to). The police didn't even get around to charging him with JFK's murder, only Tippitt's. History should not be seen as the record of "what actually happened", but what a lot of people believe what happened. In many cases the two things coincide, but in cases like Oswald's there's room for doubt, and keeping an open mind is always a good thing to do. I see this in danger of getting into a discussion of whether or not Oswald did it, and that's not what the discussion is about. -- JackofOz (talk) 01:22, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Lee Oswald was arraigned for the murder of John F. Kennedy at 1:35 a.m. on November 23, 1963. Affidavit text. Affidavit cover. — Walloon (talk) 03:17, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

My mistake, thanks for the info. -- JackofOz (talk) 03:52, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

JackofOz I think you have nailed it. My complaint was that like you say The tone of some of the above is that Oswald did it, historians are unanimously agreed on this, and anyone who thinks differently is some sort of crank. - yes, agreed, it is going that way. The article needs to be worded in a way that makes it clear nothing is definitely known, and we just know what we are told. Official investigations and criticisms of those investigations don't mean much, as both sides arguements are full of holes and lack any real "clean" evidence. The article seems to read like it was fashioned by the WC itself. Dapi89 (talk) 17:02, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

For the article "to be worded in a way that makes it clear nothing is definitely known" would create an article which would push the conspiracy POV and would be unacceptable according to WP policies. Gamaliel (talk) 17:16, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

We must only present what the sources tell us. That's how it works in an encyclopedia. Finally, many things are definitely known, and to make an article with the opposite slant, would be as Gamaliel said above, unacceptable. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:39, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

No it wouldn't. Like I said, both sides theories are full of holes, and these would be pointed out in the article. Dapi89 (talk) 17:51, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

You pointing out "loopholes" would be original research and murking up the information from sources would also violate WP:NPOV. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:49, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Do you think I'm stupid? I will be using published material. Dapi89 (talk) 20:42, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

You'd be surprised how much original research comes up in these articles. I'm glad we won't have that concern here. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 20:57, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

I just have to bring up a point about your John Wilkes Booth comment Gamaliel. I am not a historian, nor do I want to debate with one. I just see a flaw in you bringing up the John Wilkes Booth Assasination. Booth shot Lincoln in a theatre full of people and was plainly seen jumping down from the balcony. Did anyone actually see Oswald pull the trigger? So yes, the word "allegedly" or "accused" should be used for Oswald since he was never brought to trial and convicted nor was seen doing such acts. There is definately a difference in the two scenarios. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jdsjr21 (talk • contribs) 11:05, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

This argument - that because Oswald didn't go to trial and therefore was never convicted and therefore must forever remain an "alleged" assassin - is complete and utter b.s. Here is what Vincent Bugliosi said on this very subject. This invests a power and legitimacy to a verdict of guilty or not guilty that it does not have. A verdict of not guilty, for instance, cannot change the reality of whether or not the defendant committed the crime. That reality was established the moment of the crime, and what happened thereafter can never change it. If a courtroom verdict could, then if the defendant actually robbed a bank, but the three witnesses who saw him do it were unavailable to testify against him at the trial, his subsequent not-guilty verdict means he really didn't rob the bank. In other words, the jury verdict succeeded in doing something that God can't even do - change the past... To those who have challenged my calling Oswald guilty throughout the years by saying he was never found guilty in a court of law, I've responded that "under that theory, Adolf Hitler never committed any crimes, Jack the Ripper never committed any crimes, and the only crime Al Capone ever committed was income tax evasion."

As for this complete nonsense that because "no one" saw him commit the acts he was accused of, he is only "alleged," there may be a case if that was what the "guilt" was based upon. But it wasn't. Even if we ignore the witnesses who did identify Oswald as the gunman (and Howard Brennan did so on December 18, 1963 - saying he said he "wasn't sure" at the line-up as he feared for his family's safety) both in Deally Plaza and shoot Tippet, there is veritable ton of evidence which convinced not only the Warren Commission but the HSCA of Oswald's guilt. It should be noted that while the HSCA concluded a probable conspiracy and the WC could not rule it out, they both concluded Oswald and Oswald alone fired the bullets which killed the president.

A "ton" of evidence? As Bugliosi also points out, when someone is innocent of a crime, even then, on occasion, there are times when a piece of evidence points to an innocent man's guilt. On rare occasions, there might be two pieces of evidence which points to the guilt of an innocent man. In extremely rare occasions, three pieces of evidence may suggest this. And this is a man who was for years a DA, so he knows of what he speaks, unlike almost all of those who suggest otherwise in terms of "guilt." Oswald? "...everything, everything, points towards his guilt.... In other words, not just one or two or three points of evidence point towards his guilt, but more than fifty pieces point towards his guilt... Only in a fantasy world could Oswald be innocent and still have all this evidence against him."

A brief look at some evidence which suggests Oswald's guilt: 1) Brennan identified him as the man; 2) Many other witnesses saw a rifle sticking out of the window in question; 3) Oswald himself, during the Sunday interrogation, slipped up and placed himself on the sixth floor at the time of the assassination, the only employee of the TSBD who was placed there by him or anyone else; 4) Why would he claim after the assassination, he ascended a floor to get a coke during the screaming and commotion going on outside; 5) Oswald was the sole employee who could not be located in a roll call after the assassination; 6) If Oswald was innocent and simply wanted to go home, why did he not try to get the Beckley bus at Houston and Elm which he normally took and would take him to his front door, instead going out his way to take the Marsalis bus which would require a half-mile walk to get home; 7) Why, if he was not trying to flee, did he get off the bus after only a few blocks when stuck in traffic; 8) Why did Oswald not answer the cabbie when he asked what was going on in Dealy Plaza; 9) Why did Oswald have the cabbie drive by his house if not to ensure authorities were already there; 10) Why was Oswald in such a rush to get in and out of his apartment; 11) Why did Oswald change his clothes in the middle of the day if not to disguise himself; 12) Why, in God's name if he was completely innocent, shoot and kill a police officer, an act witnessed by two people who positively identified him- Helen Markham and Jack Tatum - and was positively identified as the man who approached the scene or fled the scene by William Scoggins, William Smith, Virginia Davis, Barbara Davis, Ted Calloway, Sam Guinyard, B.M. Patterson, Harold Russell, etc., etc.,; 14) Why would he say "Well, it is all over now" when approached by an officer in the theatre; 15) Why would he then if innocent, draw his revolver on the officer; 16) Why would he, if completely innocent, not give his name; 17) Why, if he was innocent, refuse to take a lie detector test; 18) Why would his own wife declare on Feb 23 1964 and Sept 23 1964 she had "no doubt" that her husband killed JFK; 19) The specific rifle found on the sixth floor was ordered by Oswald, as determined by handwriting experts, had his palm print which could only have been placed there when dissembled, and photographs exist of him holding this specific rifle; 20) Two large bullet fragments found in the limo were parts of bullets fired from that specific rifle, as was the whole bullet found on the stretcher as determined by the WC and HSCA; 21) bullet shells found on the sixth floor were fired from the specific rifle; 22) a brown paper bag which matched the one Wesley Frazier saw Oswald using to carry what he said were "curtain rods" was found on the floor, with his fingerprints; 23) Oswald's fingerprints were found on boxes in the sniper's nest; 24) Oswald's clipboard was found on the sixth floor with orders all dated for Nov 22, none filled out.

A few of these items could be explained away. A lot of them, in isolation, would only suggest guilt, not prove it. But when virtually everything Oswald said and did on that day point in the same direction, his guilt, the conclusion, reached by some of the most exhaustive investigations in not only American history but in world history, that Oswald shot and killed Kennedy, is so inescapable that to believe otherwise is to willfully ignore reality. And to pretend, as some do, that a trial is required to establish the reality of whether he indeed killed the president when several large-scale and meticulous investigations concluded precisely that, is, simply put, bullshit. He is no "alleged" assassin because these investigations concluded he was the actual assassin. Period. Canada Jack (talk) 04:06, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

I just have two questions : Were Oswald's fingerprints found on the sixth floor window sill? How did Oswald have time to rub down the rifle, climb over the boxes, run across to the stairwell (with rifle still in hand!!!-why didn't he just drop it by the window?), hide the gun behind some boxes, sprint down four flights of stairs, only to be met by Officer Baker 90 seconds after the fatal head shot?90 SECONDS! A minute and a half! The only person who could have performed such a feat was The Bionic Woman. I'm not saying Oswald was innocent, there's overwhelming evidence that incriminates him, but there had to have been others involved.--jeanne (talk) 07:59, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Oswald's fingerprints were found on the rifle and all over the crime scene. Oswald was an ex-Marine who performed manual labor all his life, so he could have easily run across an empty floor, tossed a rifle behind some boxes, and run down some stairs in the time provided, assuming that 90 seconds is accurate - could Baker have really driven up to the door, gotten off his bike, found Trudy, tried the elevator, and climbed the stairs in that short period of time? If he could have, why couldn't Oswald have done something much simpler and something preplanned? Gamaliel (talk) 16:24, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

I would add that, if Oswald were trying to flee and not get caught, how come there was so much evidence to lead to him? It seems as if there was too much evidence to lead to him. Also, if he were trying to flee, how come he tried to take a bus? A bus will onl take you on their route, not yours. If he were trying to flee, how come he did not find better means to get to where ever he was trying to get to? In fact, if there were no conspriacy, WHERE was he trying to flee to since he was poor? How come Jack Ruby is every place where something major happened? How come Tippit was killed around Ruby's apartment? How did the police end up in Oswald's hood? The description of the suspect (that no one SAW) could have been anyone, so why settle on Oswald? Why be convinced that they guy (Oswald) that roughly fit the description was THE suspect since I am sure that they must have passed many other along the way?

No matter what, he was never tried or convicted so he is an alleged assassin until proven otherwise. Files and testimony is still classified for "national security" so it is not over. If he was guilty, there should be nothing more to hide. No matter what historians think, in order for someone to be guilty in this country, you had to have been convicted. OJ Simpson was found not guilty in court, but the media mae him guilty. Even if you think that he did it, he was found not guilty and was only ACCUSED until found not guilty. Oswald was not found guilty nor was he found not guilty - he never got to that point. So then he is the accused assassin. While there is a good deal that makes you say that he had something to do with it, but if the guy take the time to plan it out, carry it out and get's away SIGHT UNSEEN, then why would he leave a powerful trail of evidence in every form to point in his direction? It appears as if the evidence was some much that someone anticpated to have have enough to convince the public of his guilt after he was a dead man. This was all before he was dead... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.127.176.58 (talk) 03:00, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Even Chief Justice Earl Warren could match what you describe as a "bionic" feat by Oswald. Besides, this issue is moot as we have all that physical evidence and witness evidence and it isn't trumped by someone's estimate as to how long it took him to get to a specified location. Canada Jack (talk) 16:01, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

I accept that Baker could have been mistaken regarding the time factor. However, Oswald did not just toss the rifle behind some boxes, he carefully placed it. Big difference. The floor of the depository isn't that small- I've been there. He would have walked fast diagonally to get to the stairwell. My qestion, however, still hasn't been answered and a good lawyer would have hammered away at the vague reply "his fingerprints were all over the crime scene". Were his fingerprints found on the windowsill of the corner where he allegedly reclined on some boxes with his rusty old war-surplus, $12,95 rifle stuck out the window-which he had to have opened thereby leaving fingerprints-while the most powerful man on the planet passed under his window, yet he WAITED until he'd passed, so that the moving target was barely glimpsed though the leaves of the elm trees below and then fired, and missed, fired again and the bullet became demonically possessed, hit Kennedy through the throat, exited and then did a mad dance through Connally's body, and then, finally he got the last shot to hit the mark, thus making a lot of Kennedy's enemies happy! If you read all that in a novel would you believe it feasible or throw the book down in disgust?--jeanne (talk) 18:28, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

I too don't believe that Oswald was the assassin. However, as it's just my opinon & I've no sources to contradict the Warren commission, my hands are tied. GoodDay (talk) 19:15, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Well put. Whatever we argue on this talk page is meaningless because without those sources, the article cannot change. Gamaliel (talk) 19:57, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

That's the problem with the Warren Commission report-it's official so how can anyone contradict it? Government reports are sacrosant. I once read a British Government report that placed Ardoyne in west Belfast when any map can tell you it's in north Belfast.Another editor wouldn't let me correct the aricle as he too believed in the infallibilty of government documents.--jeanne (talk) 19:21, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

You could have easily cited thousands of sources to correct that report. There is no source from a comparable investigation to contradict Warren, just the blathering of the conspiracy press. Gamaliel (talk) 19:57, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Your objections are utterly irrelevant. We don't know how long Oswald took once the final shot was fired to stash the rifle, and to get to the second floor. No one was standing there with a stop watch. Others have retraced his probable movements and easily have gotten to the second floor within a time frame supposed to be close to accurate. His fingerprints were found on several of the boxes in the window, on the weapon in question, on the wrapping paper, on the clipboard, all found on the sixth floor. And, he was seen on the sixth floor. How your remark about the windowsill is of any relevance is beyond me. It's as if all the evidence which places him there dissappears into thin air because a thumbprint wasn't found somewhere.(!) Perhaps his fingers never touched the windowsill! But to then suppose he is off the hook willfully ignores all the other evidence which places him there. That is what a lot here don't seem to get.

Not sure what your remark about "waiting" is supposed to go. So he waited. If, as you seem to imply, he didn't do it, then someone else waited. Why? We don't know because a) Oswald is dead and b) no one else has confessed to the crime, so we can't ask anyone. But this is all beside the point as even the HSCA, which supposes that a grassy knoll shot was probable, still says all the physical evidence points to all shots which struck originating from the TSBD. There is no evidence - none - of a shot before the turn onto the street. No evidence - none - of a shot from any other place other than the TSBD. (The HSCA acoustic evidence has now shown to be completely erroneous.) So while we can speculate as to why Oswald waited, in terms of "solving" the crime it is utterly irrelevant in determining his guilt as the shots were fired from there at the moments they were fired. IOW, your line of argument goes nowhere.

Your complaints about the rifle are utterly irrelevant as well. The price and vintage are not the pertinent question here - the question is whether the rifle in question, the one actually found, could do what was claimed. And - guess what? - marksmen were able to recreate the sequence of shots within the time in question with the gun found on the sixth floor. That's the only relevant question. Whether the gun cost a nickel or a thousand bucks is completely irrelevant. And, remember this, since three shots were fired, one presumably missed, the second hit JFK and Connally and the third JFK in the head, Mr Oswald only hit his presumed intended mark - JFK's head - in one of three shots. As for Connally's wounds, you seem to doubt one bullet did it. Okay, where is the other bullet? A bullet exited JFK. Where did it go? Connally was right in front - how could it have missed him? And, since the bullet that struck COnnally was tumbling, indicating it hit something before, well, what if not JFK did it hit? And how could it have been slowed sufficiently to not penetrate his thigh?

What never ceases to amaze me is how so many people willfully ignore a veritable ton of evidence which clearly points to this one guy - Oswald - pulling off one of the most heinous acts in American history. So much so that it is almost perverse to pretend otherwise. But yet we have those who clearly have not looked at what evidence points to Oswald with any objectivity not only dismissing all this on the strength of what they see as an discrepancy, (where are the windowsill prints!) but elevating this guy to some level of martyr. Canada Jack (talk) 19:23, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

It was November. When Oswald got o the Sixth Floor the window was likely closed. WHO opened the window? Again I ask, did he leave prints.Where did Oswald recline? Again did he leave prints? The boxes would have been touched by Oswald in his line of work same with the clipboard. And why didn't ALL of the boxes bear his prints? Wasn't the print found on the INSIDE of the rifle with the rusted scope (1890 vintage).The reason the bullet was not found is because it hit Kennedy from the front not back, and what about Connally's words "MY God, THEY'RE going to kill us all" Key word is they, indicating that bullets were coming everywhere at once. And let's talk motive. What was Lee's motive? A political assassination always involves a conspiracy whereas a nutcase can act alone, but they usually do it in public, claim they did it and what's more they would have done it as the car was approaching the Depository. His actions before, during and afterwards jst do not make an iota of sense, especially his escape by-BUS!!!!!!Come on now.--jeanne (talk) 19:46, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Where he might have left prints doesn't tell us much. The fact is that his prints were in enough places to convince non-conspiracy minded people and likely convict him in a court of law.

The immediate outcry of a person witnessing the shooting of a family member is not evidence of any kind, it's just that, an immediate outcry which may, or more likely, or may not be accurate and/or coherent.

He never learned to drive a car. How else was he supposed to escape? Gamaliel (talk) 20:00, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Another thing, which little birdie whispered in JD Tippet's ear that the white guy in his twenties walking down the road was the assassin of Kennedy-miles from the scene of the crime. Got lucky, I suppose. Just like Oswald was lucky the Secret Service agents were hung-over and lucky that Greer slowed down enough to get a final blast at Kennedy's head, and Ruby was lucky the Dallas cops let him get close enough to shoot the gutter rat(rich-coming from a pimp) that killed his president. So much luck and so much dereliction of duty. Another question, why did the cops tell the reporters not to ask Oswald anything as he was being transferred?hmmm.--jeanne (talk) 20:11, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

He could have walked away and then sought a hiding place or had a taxi booked and waiting. A bus leaves you trapped.Especially a slow, city bus. He could have caught a greyhound bus as the depot is close-by to the TSBD.--jeanne (talk) 20:16, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Yes, bad luck explains a lot of historical events. That's life. It's not all some cosmic plan, or conspiracy. As for Tippet, he heard a description on the police radio (based on Brennan's eyewitness account), saw a guy who fit the description turn around and go the other way when he saw the police car, so yeah, he stopped to say hello.

Should Oswald have had a taxi waiting? Booking a taxi to flee the scene in advance? That pretty much guarantees you will be pursued by the authorities. Did he take the wrong bus? Sure, that's why he got off and took a cab. Should he have planned his escape better? Sure, but then the fact that Oswald was hardly a mental giant is not evidence that he couldn't have shot somebody with a rifle. Gamaliel (talk) 20:25, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Oswald not a mental giant? Then how did he learn Russian? Not an easy language with the Cyrillic alphabet and all. Then there's the matter of his being made a Radar operator in Japan when he served with the Marines- at the age of 18! After his arrest, the way he parried the stupid questions of the reporters was sheer genius. Another thing, unrelated to his intelligence is this: If you'll take a look over on YouTube, you will see a clip of him just as he's being led into the area where Ruby was waiting. Notice the expression in Oswald's eyes as they alight on Ruby.Look carefully. Facial expressions never lie.They're worth a thousand Warren reports.--jeanne (talk) 06:08, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

There are different kinds of intelligence. You can be a genius in one area and still be an idiot overall. Oswald could barely spell, held menial jobs his whole life, and kept doing remarkably stupid things. That's hardly intelligence. As for the tapes, an expression? Really? This is not evidence in any sense of the word, and no person who is dedicated to actually examining the evidence - as opposed to merely reinforcing already held beliefs - should be using that to bolster a case for conspiracy. Gamaliel (talk) 15:07, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

It was November. When Oswald got o the Sixth Floor the window was likely closed. WHO opened the window? Again I ask, did he leave prints.Where did Oswald recline?

As Reagan once famously said "There you go again." You utterly miss the point, jeanne. You haven't accounted for the ton of evidence which does place Oswald there. And you have failed to explain why fingerprints in some places are crucial to prove he was there, yet all the other evidence can somehow be ignored. Who opened the window? The better question is: How is the knowing who opened the window relevant? But, since you clearly don't know this, only perhaps 30 per cent of fingerprints lifted are usable in terms of being identifiable. They are often too smudged, too fragmentary or superimposed on other fingerprints to be able to be useful. Besides, I don't know how you open a window, jeanne, but I generally use the side of two fingers on the little hook things to lift the window, or push up with the base of my palms, then pull up with my palms under the window. If Oswald opened the window in that fashion, there is no mystery - no usable fingerprint would be produced in that manner. Nevertheless, there were numerous prints that were good enough to identify Oswald. And, more to the point, his prints were found on the boxes in the nest, and all prints found there were identified as to who they belonged to, save for one. In the sniper's nest, his prints were found on the box he presumably sat upon, and on the box he presumably rested the barrel of his rifle. Depending on how he picked up the boxes positioned in the nest, no usable prints would have been produced. The only "mystery" here is how some can willfully ignore all the other evidence placing Oswald there and raise to a level of "crucial" other evidence which wasn't collected.

Yes a print was found INSIDE the rifle. Which is to be expected as he would have assembled the rifle once he got to the TSBD. The paper wrapping was too short for the assembled rifle and, Oswald likely reasoned, it would be glaringly obvious he had a rifle and not "curtain rods" if he had brought an assembled rifle to work. Which, btw, was clearly a lie. He had no rods, nor any need for rods.

The reason the bullet was not found is because it hit Kennedy from the front not back Where do you get this stuff, jeanne? The bullet wound in Kennedy's back was an entrance wound. This is a proven, established fact because of the nature of the wound. To get technical, examination of the tissues surrounding the back wound found coagulation necrosis of the tissue at the wound margins which conclusively established (as with the wound and the back of the head) that this was an entrance wound. Logic also is problematic for your scenario as a bukllet entering and travelling the path you suggest would require a gun man sitting in Connally's seat facing the president.

What was Lee's motive? A political assassination always involves a conspiracy whereas a nutcase can act alone, but they usually do it in public, claim they did it and what's more they would have done it as the car was approaching the Depository.??? News flash, jeanne. Oswald is dead. And while we can speculate on motive here, only he knew.

His actions before, during and afterwards jst do not make an iota of sense, especially his escape by-BUS!!!!!!Come on now. The only one here not making any sense is you, jeanne. You seem to require a set script for Oswald to have followed if he did it alone. Seems you've been watching too many Hollywood movies here. Besides, if there was a group here involved, why would Oswald hop on a bus for a block, then take a cab? Seems to me he was most concerned with getting the hell out of there. Why? No one else at the TSBD took off, yet the employees were expected to stay put as police investigated. Oswald's actions, in other words, suggest a panic flight from the scene of the crime.

Another thing, which little birdie whispered in JD Tippet's ear that the white guy in his twenties walking down the road was the assassin of Kennedy-miles from the scene of the crime. Got lucky, I suppose. The "birdie" is called a police radio, jeanne. Believe it or not, in 1963, the Dallas police force was equipped with this high-tech equipment. Besides, since officer Tippet was the one who saw fit to stop Oswald, and was subsequently murdered, and Oswald, the one stopped, did not discuss the matter before he was killed, we can only speculate here. But one thing is probable here - all cops in Dallas, aware that the unthinkable had just happened - the killing of the president - were on high alert, ready to stop even the marginally suspicious as a vague description went out. And since Oswald was probably walking at an unusually fast pace, Tippet may have decided to have a chat with the guy. We can't know for sure what happened, but if Oswald was acting suspiciously at that moment, it's a no-brainer that Oswald's actions would have invited an inquiry.

Here are some more howlers: Just like Oswald was lucky the Secret Service agents were hung-over and lucky that Greer slowed down enough to get a final blast at Kennedy's head The motorcade was going at 10mph, jeannie. Oswald didn't require the limo to be slowed further. IOW, this is one of those "doesn't go anywhere" arguments as any sharpshooter could have taken out Kennedy with those low speeds, Greer slowing further or not.

Ruby was lucky the Dallas cops let him get close enough to shoot the gutter rat(rich-coming from a pimp) that killed his president. Perhaps you didn't notice the parading of Oswald through crowded hallways with the press (many unknown to the Dallas cops) crushing in. The transfer was actually, relatively speaking, secure. And the cops knew Ruby. They wouldn't have expected his reaction, and since he had already been there in Oswald's presence, wouldn't have been seen to be a risk. Truth be told, the Dallas police forces' handling of OSwald was one of the most embarrassingly inept moments in American history. Which is partly why we see the enormous security measures now in place for those accused in connection to heinous acts.

Another question, why did the cops tell the reporters not to ask Oswald anything as he was being transferred?hmmm. Migod, you're right! He was about to spill the beans on the conspiracy as he took the 10-second stroll to the vehicle! That;s why he had to be silenced then! Jeanne, you are getting sillier by the minute. But since it seems you have to be sat down, be asked to take a deep breath and consider what for most would be glaringly obvious, this was a prisoner transfer not a press conference. If, as you seem to want to suggest, Oswald needed to be isolated from the media, then why all these previous forays into the press? And, even better, why not invite reporters to ask questions if Oswald was to be shot, since a standing target would have been easier to kill than a moving target?(!)

Oswald not a mental giant? Then how did he learn Russian? Not an easy language with the Cyrillic alphabet and all. jeanne, humans, even imbeciles, have an innate ability to learn languages. It's not as easy when an adult, but one hardly needs to be a genius or highly intelligent to learn a language. Then there's the matter of his being made a Radar operator in Japan when he served with the Marines- at the age of 18! ???

Notice the expression in Oswald's eyes as they alight on Ruby.Look carefully. Facial expressions never lie.They're worth a thousand Warren reports. "Facial expressions never lie." I will have to remember that one. Here's a question for you: Have you actually read the Warren report which you so casually denounce? Canada Jack (talk) 22:57, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

My, my aren't we condescending here. Jackie me lad, you can stop your sneering as I've got news for you: I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO DOUBTS OSWALD'S GUILT AS THE MAN WHO FIRED THE FATAL SHOT!!!!! When I visited the TSBD, there was a large crowd of visitors near the sealed-off window. It was comprised of people of various nationalities, ages, races, both genders, and they all were discussing the assassination. Guess what Canada Jack, not one person agreed with the Warrren report!!!!!They thought the fatal shot came from the Grassy Knoll or mostly likely. from behind the Stemmons Freeway sign. You thought security measures were fairly good that day? Oswald should have had cops in front of him. The cops knew Ruby. Yeah, as a pimp and petty criminal, the perfect person to let near the most important prisoner in the world. You are naive, Jack. Oh, and how many American high school drop-outs do you know who can speak Russian? Or their native English for that matter? I will close here with clause 39 in the Magna Carta signed by King John- he was a real king, BTW, not just a character in Robin Hood, which reads as follows:No man shall be taken, imprisoned, outlawed, banished or in any way DESTROYED, nor will we proceed against or prosecute him, except by the LAWFUL judgement of his peers or by the law of the land. Oswald's rights were trampled on as soon as he was taken in. For the record, I do not suggest that he was completely without culpability. I just do not-and your eloquent words dripping profusely with arsenic-laced sarcasm- will not make me believe in the Warren report or that Kennedy received that final, fatal shot from Oswald's gun. The lack of prints on the window frame and sill would have been hit upon by a lawyer, as well as his lack of legal representation, the lack of prints on the OUTSIDE of the rifle, not to mention the fact that the highly efficient cops failed to check as to whether the gun had been recently fired. You don't think Lee Harvey wouldn't have got off? Oh and I forgot to mention the witness of the Tippet shooting. Didn't Helen Markham describe the killer as a stocky man with BUSHY hair? Well, Lee's hair looks lank and thinning to me. And he's also pretty slim, wouldn't you say? Do I agree with you or the Warren Commission findings? My answer is as it has been since 24 November 1963 when the Dallas police department's friendly neighbourhood pimp placed a gun at a man's stomach and blasted him into eternity before he was allowed to defend himself before his peers-a right which was granted more than 700 years ago at Runnymede, NO WAY, JOSE!Lee Harvey Oswald was at the window of the TSBD but did not fire the fatal shot. Alas, I haven't got a source powerful enough to combat the omniptent Warren report. Rather like a medieval man with a crossbow firing at a Panzer. Good day to you, sir.--jeanne (talk) 07:46, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Oh, another thing I need to add. Dallas was considered a city hostile to the president, yet security was especially lax that morning (no sharp-shooters placed on rooftops, the Secret Service agents behind the car and not actually on the running board of Kennnedy's limo, the route changed to the slower Houston-Elm Street left turn, from the previously planned Main Street route bypassing the TSBD). These precautions should definitely have been implemented after the circultion of the JFK Wanted For Treason posters which had appeared that morning.But they weren't and the rest is....history.--jeanne (talk) 09:45, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

I don't know why you think it's an important point that a bunch of random tourists disagree with the Warren report. Even if you believe that accurate historical knowledge can be ascertained by polling crowds, conspiracy pushers are more likely to make the pilgrimage to that holy site anyway. 15:07, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

The official position of the Sixth Floor Museum is that Oswald was the assassin. The majority of the visitors, however, disagree.--jeanne (talk) 06:11, 3 November 2008 (UTC)

Okay. So? Gamaliel (talk) 22:58, 3 November 2008 (UTC)

So, not everyone believes in the sacrosanct Warren report.--jeanne (talk) 05:51, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Again, so? This, like smiles and looks, is not evidence. The Warren Report, for whatever its purported flaws, actually contains evidence, and most of that evidence is mundane - fingerprints and dull forensics, as opposed to flights of conspiratorial fancy involving secret agents and body doubles - and indisputable, except for the most reality-denying stubborn folks. The evidence points to, like it or not, Oswald and no one else. Gamaliel (talk) 17:11, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Gamaliel, I have just finished watching an Italian documentary on the JFK assassination and it points to more than one shooter as well as a conspiracy.By the way, the window in the TSBD, would have had to contain Oswald's prints. How else could he have raised it without touching it? The Warren Commission was set up by Lyndon B. Johnson.--jeanne (talk) 18:27, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Another thing, the Dallas police had received loads of threats against Oswald's life, yet they announced the time he would be transferred-and it was postponed for an hour, until after Ruby had arrived!Gamaliel, please how can you not see something sinister in all of thisRemember how many enemies Kennedy had.--jeanne (talk) 18:32, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Don't ascribe malice to what could be explained as incompetence. The Dallas Police screwed up, yes. The transfer that was delayed by questioning by postal inspector Harry Holmes and Oswald's request for a sweater. Assuming they planned that delay, why plan a delay at all? So Ruby had time to go wait in line at Western Union? If Ruby planned this, why go to Western Union? Why leave his beloved dogs in his car? Why show up well after the planned transfer time? There's no evidence of anything sinister here. Sure, Kennedy had lots of enemies. So did Reagan, but it was a lone nut who shot him, and no one would dream of connecting Hinkley to the KGB or Castro. You keep raising random irrelevant factoids but you never address any of the questions about your conjecture, nor do you address the mountains of evidence against Oswald. Gamaliel (talk) 20:07, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Gamaliel, I beg to differ as you are avoiding the issues that I am raising. For instance, the window. Did it bear the fingerprints of Oswald? The Dallas police did not offer protection to Oswald after receiving threats. They let a known criminal with links to organised crime in the basement while Oswald was being transferred. The Warren Commission was set up by the one person who had the most to gain from the death of Kennedy.The witness to the Tippit murder described the killer as being STOCKY with BUSHY hair. The rifle had no outside prints and was not tested to see if it had been fired. The motorcade limo was going 10 miles an hour when for security reasons it should have been travelling faster. Why no agents on the running board? Why no sharp-shooters on the roofs, why wasn't the motorcade televised? And why did Truly and Baker let Oswald go-surely he should have been acting strange 90 seconds after killing the President, seeing as Tippit stopped him later for acting strange-hours after the shooting.A good lawyer would have let him go. Remember this, just after the shooting of Oswald, journalists questioned-on live tv as to whether it was done to "shut Oswald up".--jeanne (talk) 06:07, 5 November 2008 (UTC)

• What does the absence of fingerprints in a particular spot matter? You are ignoring actual fingerprints on the murder weapon and at the crime scene.
• "The Dallas police did not offer protection to Oswald after receiving threats." I don't understand that statement at all. He was in police custody. Were Dallas police procedures poor? Yes. Is there anything sinister about a person known to many policeman for hanging around police hq being able to enter police hq? No.
• The "stocky, bushy" description was invented by Mark Lane. Fourteen people witnessed the Tippet shooting or saw Oswald flee the scene. All identified Oswald; none described this imaginary "stocky, bushy" person.
• The lack of specific prints in a particular place does not mean anything.
• The Secret Service failed. That is not evidence of anything other than their failure.
• How should Oswald have been acting? How do you know that he should have been acting in a particular manner that should have been detected by Truly and Baker in a split second?
• The speculations of journalists are not evidence of anything.

This is all conjecture. The evidence - forensic, eyewitness - is clear. Gamaliel (talk) 23:18, 5 November 2008 (UTC)

I'll just add that there is no test to see if a rifle had just been fired. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 00:30, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

I'll also add that it was not common practice for the Secret Service to put snipers on rooftops in 1963. There are several photos of presidents driving through crowded streets, with open top vehicles and people hanging out of windows. This idea comes from crackpot L. Fletcher Prouty and hindsight, and again is not evidence. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 00:38, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

TWO boxes with prints, none on the rest, prints on the INSIDE of the rifle, none on the outside, absolutely no fingerprints on the window- yet it somehow got opened, dubious witnesses, plus Ruby wasn't just a cop groupie-he was a KNOWN CRIMINAL with links to organised crime. Sounds like a fool-proof case against Oswald.--jeanne (talk) 05:51, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

Two boxes with useable prints. As stated before, there would be partial prints all over the place, however, the good ones were found on the boxes you mention, the stock of the gun and the barrel and those matched Oswalds. And the idea that Ruby was a known criminal with links to the mafia, is disputed at best. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:05, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

Ramsquire, do you honestly expect me to believe that Ruby was not a criminal as well as a sleazy pimp? I know that you and I do not agree on the lone assassin theory, but I never thought you would say that Ruby was a clean, cop-struck groupie who liked to hang-out at police stations when his strippers were napping. As for the window being print-free, obviuosly the prints were erased to hide the fact that there were two shooters up there- Oswald and another, plus the two near the Grassy Knoll. I have heard there was one behind the Stemmons freeway sign.--jeanne (talk) 18:26, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

I don't expect you to believe anything. All I'm saying is that your characterization of Ruby is not a fact, but an opinion that is heavily disputed--I never said any of the things you say I said. As for the rest of the things you write, I deal with evidence. The evidence points to Oswald and no one else, if there was a frame-up please present evidence of it, and not conjecture, and I'd listen to it. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:10, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

Behind the Stemmons freeway sign?! Have you ever seen a picture of Dealey Plaza? Seriously, that scenario is so utterly absurd that it is beyond belief. Look for yourself. This is beyond the realm of conspiracy and into the realm of fantasy. Gamaliel (talk) 22:11, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

Seen a picture of Dealey Plaza? Gamaliel, I have taken photos of Dealey Plaza. Havent I mentioned that I've visited the site of the JFK assassination as well as the TSBD? In fact, it was there near the sealed-off window that an intelligent young man convinced me it was from behind the Freeway sign and not the wooden fence that the fatal head shot originated. Well, all I can say is that you can go ahead swallowing the lies served-up to you by the Johnson Administration-same agency that gave us the Vietnam War. I, personally don't buy it. Never had, never will. Neither did my parents, nor siblings. Most Europeans don't either. BTW, I'M still waiting for an answer to the window being sans prints. Or did the Warren com sugggest that he donned gloves to open said window? Gamaliel, if you can believe in magic bullets, I suggest it's you who's dwelling in a world of fantasy and illusion.--jeanne (talk) 06:12, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

The freeway sign is completely exposed. It is impossible for a shooter to use it as cover without being seen by hundreds of witnesses and be captured on film by Zapruder. The evidence is clear. The absence of prints on a particular spot is not evidence and it does not allow you to wave away the real evidence. But if you are willing to accept an invisible assassin hiding in the middle of a crowd of hundreds based on a conversation with some random passerby, then it's clear your mind is already made up and you are not willing to actually look at the evidence. I used to be a conspiracy theorist like you who believed in all kinds of fanciful things until I actually examined the evidence and found that the conspiracies don't stand up. That's why you have to talk about invisible assassins and "missing" prints and not the actual, overwhelming evidence that exists. Gamaliel (talk) 14:02, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

The rail tracks behind the grassy knoll is also likewise exposed, and doesn't provide a great way to escape. Going to Dealey Plaza is great, I've been there, and boy those homeless guys looking for a quick buck always have great stories to tell. One told me that the fatal shot came from a sewer and led me into it (of course all I saw was car tires driving by). To take the word of these guys over the monumental evidence provided by professional and serious researchers, is simply embarrassing. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:20, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

One last thing about this window nonsense is that no one even knows if the window was closed before Oswald got there. It's a warehouse, not an apartment so the weather factor wouldn't be that big of a deal. It's always rough to come to a logical conclusion when we're beginning from guesswork. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:22, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

There were, if memory serves, others working on the sixth floor that morning, before it emptied out and Oswald had it to himself. Any of them could have opened the window. But again, the absence of prints does not mean he did not open the window. Gamaliel (talk) 20:03, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

Is it not the case that nobody has all the facts. There must surely have been evidence that was not brought forward and now never will be. To Gamaliel, you say you were once a conspiracy theorist and now you know the truth. Can you tell me hand on heart that every single doubt you previously had has now been answered to your total satisfaction? Is there nothing there that makes you think, yes, I do believe the Warren report, but I have a nagging doubt about such and such a statement or scenario. If you do have a slight doubt about something, even small, in the Warren report then it could be the difference between Oswald being the sole shooter or not. Titch Tucker (talk) 17:49, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

I have no doubt of Oswald's guilt. The evidence is all there. The only "nagging doubt" I have is that I believe there is a possibility that Oswald could have been used as a pawn of others, but there is no convincing evidence of that. Gamaliel (talk) 20:03, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

The Magna Carta guaranteed that that would be the case, Titch. Oswald was destroyed by Ruby (the local cop-groupie and neighbourhood pimp who liked to hang out with the in-crowd at police stations). To Gamaliel and Ramsquire, the person who told me his theory was not one of those (homeless?-who told you they were homeless?) men out front of the TSBD selling their conspiracy pamplets. I even managed to accidentally get one of those guys in a photo! Anyway, the evidence is long gone which could be used to prove a second gunman/conspiracy and all the players are dead. I need to ask one thing, we all all agreed that the Dallas police were a bunch of incompetents, yet they managed (with all their bungling inaptitude) to catch the guilty man in a matter of hours, and you accept their judgement on his being the assassin. How did they do it? I suppose they just got LUCKY as did Oswald, Ruby, Johnson, etc. So much LUCK in Dallas. It must be the most fortunate place on Earth, where all one's dreams of power and glory come to pass.--jeanne (talk) 18:08, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

I don't think any ever said that the DPD were incompetents, but humans who made some mistakes in their investigation. Mistakes that happen in every investigation by the way-- including the Warren Commission. But I can't ignore the volumes of evidence presented in the WC, HSCA and other investigations by Posner, Bugliosi and others because the WC made a mistake in drawing the President's wound, or there are misstatements of witness testimony. That is where I draw the line. I don't agree with Titch that one small doubt should override the entire commission, where the guilt of Oswald comes from a myriad sources of evidence and testimony, and there is no alternative evidence to follow. I don't know for a fact what happened in Dallas in 1963 obviously, but I do know that the evidence points to Oswald, and Oswald alone. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:21, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

They caught him because of a tip from a shoe store owner and a theater ticker seller that a man was hiding when police cars passed and snuck into the theater without paying. Given that by this time it was common knowledge that a fugitive was about, this was certainly worth a phone call. The cops also made similar raids other places, including a library. No luck involved at all. Gamaliel (talk) 20:03, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

Ramsquire, I agre with you when you say that we will probably never lean what truly happened in November 1963, in Dallas, however, in America, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Titch is right. There are many inconsistancies which point-not to LHO's innocence, as I happen to believe he was involved, but to a larger conspiracy. The police were either incompetent when they transferred Oswald in full view of the public after receiving threats against his life, OR criminally negligent. One or the other. And if it's the latter then I rest my case.--jeanne (talk) 05:36, 8 November 2008 (UTC)

You've waved around this statement about the Dallas Police as if were some sort of irrefulatable trump card several times now, and I must say that I simply don't get it. Incompetence or failure does not equal conspiracy. Gamaliel (talk) 18:02, 9 November 2008 (UTC)

The police incompetence is being high-lighted to prove that their behaviour which was extremely negligent-indeed several reporters refer to them as Keystone Cops- yet had previously been so efficient when they had caught JFK's assassin only hours after the shooting. A single island of efficiency in a sea of bungling inaptitude and mistakes which cost a man his life before he could stand trial and be judged by his peers, not some lowlife like Ruby.--jeanne (talk) 08:26, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

It's not all right all the time or all wrong all the time. It doesn't work like that. The mistakes of the Dallas Police were many, but they did manage to arrest people from time to time. The capture of Oswald was not this masterstroke that you make it out to be. The approach to capturing him was not complicated and did not display any gifted police work. They got a tip and they acted on it with brute force. They acted on other false tips in a similar manner that day. That isn't efficiency, that isn't good police work, that's just the luck of the draw. Gamaliel (talk) 17:01, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Another thing which bothers me is this. Seeing as Oswald already owned a pistol, why did he bother with smuggling the bulky rifle inside the TSBD-which he had to assemble, when he could have brought the pistol to work concealed inside his jacket. Then, while the others were on their lunch break, he could easily have left the building and gone to the Grassy Knoll or any other spot on the motorcade route, and waited there for the arrival of Kennedy.--jeanne (talk) 11:27, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Assuming that you could make such a shot with the type of pistol Oswald owned (which I doubt but I don't feel like looking up pistol ranges right now), why would he use an inferior weapon and put himself in an exposed location? (Contrary to conspiracy mythology, any shooter on the knoll would be visible to many people.) Why not bring a better weapon to a concealed location which he was intimately familiar with? It makes much more sense. Gamaliel (talk) 17:01, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Well, Gamaliel, I must confess that I know absolutely nothing about pistols or their shooting ranges. I was merely thinking that someone who wanted to assassinate the president would also want to make a quick get-away. Firing from a spot outdoors does put oneself in an exposed location, but it also offers the chance to escape. Yet, choosing to fire from the sixth floor of a building offers no escape at all, even if it does provide cover. Many pro- conspiracy as well as anti-conspiracy theorists have pondered this mystery. Also, why would Oswald bother to order a rifle by post when he could walk into any gun shop in Texas and buy one? The false name he used to order the gun was the same one he carried on his ID when the cops grabbed him in the theatre! Gamaliel, do you not see the enigma? Nothing makes any sense at all--jeanne (talk) 17:18, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Remember the timeline. Oswald bought the gun to murder General Walker, not JFK. This was April 1963. The Hidell alias was not used prior to purchasing the gun, and then he went to NO where he used it again. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:44, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

But WHY the alias? And why did he have it on his person at the time of arrest? Had he been arrested inside the TSBD, where he was known as LHO how would that have thrown the police? I am presuming he used it to conceal his identity, but one question just leads to a hundred more.--jeanne (talk) 18:43, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

You can't explain the crazy. Oswald liked making fake IDs and identities. Sometimes they might have been useful (purchasing the rifle), sometimes they got in the way (Marina trying to call him at the boarding house where he went by "O.H. Lee"), mostly they were just pointless and useless. Gamaliel (talk) 19:11, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Pardon the interuption

I have been sort of watching this discussion and I agree that it is difficult to prove that Oswald was not the only shooter. I too have read the Warren Report and find it a very good book to put me to sleep. The question here is not whether or not their was a conspiracy, which there very well may be, but was Oswald the shooter or at least one of them? Evidence in the Warren Report puts Oswald at the scene of the crime. He fled the scene and killed Tippet. He may have been a pansy to a larger conspiracy, but the evidence suggests he fired the weapon in the book depository. So alledged is not acceptable in this case.--Jojhutton (talk) 15:25, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Ruby

If Ruby admitted "stalking" Oswald - as opposed to just showing up for the press conference because that was where the action was - then let's hear the statement in his own words, instead of having the article declare it and then cite it to a dubious conspiracy book.

Also, we should not use that section to cherry pick Ruby quotes. He said many contradictory things, many outright crazy things. If you want to say that he hinted at conspiracy, you should also say that he was adamant that he acted alone. Gamaliel (talk) 18:09, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

What would you call it? He intended to kill him for christ sake, how is this not stalking? He was never adamant about anything, thats the point thats being made. Furthermore, who are you to say whats dubious? The WC isn't exactly thorough. Keep your opinions to yourself. And Cherry picking quotes? Get real. This section deals specifically with his motive(s). As it happens I was planning to expand this article and include all the other things Ruby said about Oswald, but I wasn't given a chance. Instead you have slapped a "section disputed" tag on it. Dapi89 (talk) 20:40, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Here is Ruby's own testimony from the WC (I'm not sure if it was sworn or not):

• [S]ome persons are accusing me falsely of being part of the plot . . . a plot to silence Oswald. . . . [T]he people that have the power here . . . already have me as the accused assassin of our beloved President. I tell you, gentlemen, my whole family is in jeopardy . . . as to their lives. . . . Naturally, I am a foregone conclusion. My sisters Eva, Eileen, and Mary, I lost my sisters. My brothers Sam, Earl, Hyman, and myself naturally -- my in-laws, Harold Kaminsky, Marge Ruby, the wife of Earl, and Phyllis, the wife of Sam Ruby, they are in jeopardy of loss of their lives . . . just because they are blood related to myself . . . Consequently, right at this moment I am being victimized as a part of a plot in the world's worst tragedy and crime at this moment. . . . At this moment, Lee Harvey Oswald isn't guilty of committing the crime of assassinating President Kennedy. Jack Ruby is. How can I fight that, Chief Justice Warren?
• If certain people have the means and want to gain something by propagandizing something to their own use, they will make ways to present certain things that I do look guilty.". . . If you don't take me back to Washington tonight to give me a chance to prove to the President that I am not guilty, then you will see the most tragic thing that will ever happen. And . . . I won't be around to be able to prove my innocence or guilt.. . . I am used as a scapegoat, and there is no greater weapon that you can use to create some falsehood about some of the Jewish faith, especially at the terrible heinous crime such as the killing of President Kennedy. . . . Now maybe something can be saved. It may not be too late, whatever happens, if our President, Lyndon Johnson, knew the truth from me. But if I am eliminated, there won't be any way of knowing. Right now, when I leave your presence now, I am the only one that can bring out the truth to our President, who believes in righteousness and justice. But he has been told, I am certain, that I was part of a plot to assassinate the President. . . .

It seems to me that he is pretty adamant that he acted alone and was not in concert with Oswald, and he wanted that story to get out (because of the charges being made by the John Birch Society). Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 21:03, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Dial back the hostility please, Dapi89. Gamaliel (talk) 21:12, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

If I seem hostile it is because I think I am being treated like an idiot. Ramsquire I am affraid you seem to be missunderstanding me. I am not saying there was a connection between Ruby and Oswald, I am saying, judging by what Ruby has said, that there may have been a connection between him (Ruby) and a conspiracy, that may or may not, include Oswald. The text you have included is just part of what Ruby said before he died. I would have to follow that up and make sure, word for word, that was what he did say - I tend be to suspicious of everything - conspiracy theories included.

The filmed interview citation that I have put in reveals another angle about Ruby's story. He did contradict himself, on more than one occassion, but why should one version of his story be included and another ignored? It seems to me as if the article is pointing the reader to a particular version - and that is not NPOV. Dapi89 (talk) 21:53, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

I think you are reading way too much into Ramsquire's comments. I don't detect any condescension in his remarks. Gamaliel (talk) 21:59, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Sorry Dapi if you think I am treating you like an idiot, not my intention. But you said he was never adamant about anything. The quotes are presented to show that it's not a stretch for someone to think that he was in fact adamant that he acted alone and was shook up by the charges of the John Birch Society. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:20, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

What is the source of that YouTube clip anyway? If it's not Federal or State government, it's a copyright violation and needs to go. And it will. --Rodhullandemu 22:02, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Well he was pretty adamant in that filmed interview that he was part of a conspiracy. He didn't sound crazy then, and he might, just might, have been telling the truth. Rodhull: not important, I have in a published work, which will be dug out soon. Dapi89 (talk) 22:49, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Two things. One, using the Youtube clip as a source for the proposition that Ruby was adamant that he was part of a conspiracy is original research, but since you have a published work with the quotes its not important. Two, as Gamaliel has stated above, it is the consensus of the serious, professional historians that guide the article. So although some authors or researchers may believe the quotes were a confession of sorts, we still cannot give that viewpoint undue weight, when the consensus of the experts is that Ruby was confused at best. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 23:25, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Well yes, so thats irrelevant. There are many who are serious and professional historians that doubt the findings of the WC (which again is lot a legal authority). This comment again implies that those historians that do not share the opinions of the those that are believers in the WC, are not serious, or second rate, or perhaps even crazy. This tone is also apparent in the article, which is why I am disputing its non neutral wording. I could just as easily complain that the findings of the WC are given undue weight, when wikipedia is obliged to give both sides of the story. Just for the record, incase you were wondering, I am not a conspiracy theorist. Dapi89 (talk) 11:06, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps some history is in order here. That issue, the WC having undue weight, was discussed by the ArbCom a few years ago and they said: "As applied to this case, where the Warren Commission Report contains extensive accounts of primary evidence, use of the primary evidence to draw novel conclusions is inappropriate. It is the interpretation of the primary evidence by the Warren Commission which is usable as a secondary source." What I'm trying to explain is that we are in a lot of ways bound by the interpretations of the WC and HSCA, in this article, because of verifiability concerns. Otherwise, the door is opened for the articles to become a stream of consciousness rant, which is unencyclopedic and inappropriate (and trust me, it has happened before, hence ArbCom intervention). FTR-- I never considered whether you were a conspircacy theorist or not, just as I hope you didn't consider me a WC apologist (I am not). Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 16:37, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

I understand what your saying, and thats the problem. Those interpretations still violate true NPOV, because we are making the assumption that all the investigative agencies were thorough, their cases watertight and had the truths best interests at heart. Given the amount of criticism, from both sides of the fence, surely much more of an effort should be made to ensure this comes across in the article which makes it clear that there is some doubt as to Owalds guilt. Particularly in the event of the House Select Committee on Assassinations findings in 1979 - about which nothing has yet been done. This alone contradicts the theory of the lone gunman, even if it does not exhonorate Oswald. Dapi89 (talk) 23:18, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

The article currently states that "when arraigned, he had been distraught over the Kennedy assassination. Ruby later, changed his statement, and claimed he did it to spare Jackie Kennedy from having to testify at the trial. Later, Ruby changed this for a second time, claiming he had shot Oswald on impulse." I don't think we should characterize his statements as "changes" since I don't believe any of these claims of motive contradict one another. Gamaliel (talk) 14:27, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

I would disagree, it demonstrates a clear contradiction. The first reason states planned intent, which then begs the question: did anyone help or force him into it? The second, impluse, makes clear he did it alone. Dapi89 (talk) 18:39, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

As a compromise, we could just state that Ruby gave several reasons behind his actions without characterizing them as changing or as consistent. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:45, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

I would support this. Gamaliel (talk) 18:50, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes. I agree. Dapi89 (talk) 21:32, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

There is no contradiction. A motive does not indicate planning, nor is it evidence of conspiracy. Impulsive acts have motives. He killed Oswald in a blind rage, but what made him angry? The assassination of JFK. Gamaliel (talk) 18:50, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Allegedly so. But in light of him changing his motives, i.e sparing JBK from a trial, "rage", to alledging a conspiracy are three different motives. Dapi89 (talk) 21:32, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Rage is not a motive and is not incompatible with his other explanations. Gamaliel (talk) 21:46, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

This entire argument seems to me to be about something that is not germane to this article. If the editor wants to expound on Ruby's motives and movements, please consider doing so by adding to the Jack Ruby article, there is already a lot there along these same lines. If the editor wants to cover the possibility that Ruby did not act alone, add some material to the Kennedy assassination theories article. I'd like to keep working on making that article something better than a junkyard, any help is appreciated. Joegoodfriend (talk) 03:07, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Gamaliel I have never said rage was a motive. You can see above I was saying the rage was related to this notion of sparing JBK from testifying. Dapi89 (talk) 12:23, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Actually, in your comments above you said he had "three different motives" and listed "rage" as one of them. But if you agree that rage is not a motive, then what justification is there to say he changed his story? The conspiracy hints didn't come until he was in his crazy phase, when he also said that Jews were being massacred by the thousands in the prison where he was being held. Gamaliel (talk) 15:01, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

So I did. I meant two. Dapi89 (talk) 18:14, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Acoustic reference

, ; ; --62.101.126.233 (talk) 18:32, 31 August 2008 (UTC)

Lee or Lee Harvey?

As a southerner, wouldn't Lee have been called Lee Harvey as the use of double names is the custom in the southern United States? I notice the article refers to him as just Lee. I think it should say Lee Harvey instead. Does anyone agree with me?--jeanne (talk) 13:16, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

There should be few places in the article that call him Lee at all. It should either be his full name or his surname only, unless it is in a place where the first name alone is used to distinguish him from another family member. Beyond that, the use of double names isn't really a normal Southern custom as much as it is a Southern stereotype. Wildhartlivie (talk) 13:31, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

In the book I have on Janis Joplin written by her friend Peggy Caserta who went to school (the seventh grade) with Oswald in Covington,La., the author (Caserta) refers to Oswald as Lee Harvey not Lee. Obviously his teachers called him that as well. But I agree that his surname should be used throughout the article.--jeanne (talk) 17:49, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

His wife Marina, his mother Marguerite, his brother Robert, his half-brother John Pic, and George de Mohrenschildt, the closest he ever had to a friend in his adult life, all called him Lee, not Lee Harvey. And Lee Oswald attended only four months of first grade, not seventh grade, in Covington, Louisiana. He went to seventh grade in New York City: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School, P.S. 117, P.S. 44, P.S. 613, and back to P.S. 44. — Walloon (talk) 18:14, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

OK so that takes care of his name, but how do we account for Caserta's story about Lee locking his teacher up in a closet over an entire weekend? She relates it in the book she wrote.--jeanne (talk) 18:18, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

It seems as if Lee had made a habit of being in two different places at the same time his entire life!!!--jeanne (talk) 18:19, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

Peggy Caserta has a vivid imagination, that's how we account for it. Schedule showing known addresses of Lee Harvey Oswald from the time of his birth. — Walloon (talk) 18:42, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

Walloon, forgive me for being stubborn but why would she make that bit up? It was written before the JFK film came out, besides her book was a graphic story of her friendship with Janis, not Lee H. Oswald. If she wanted to lie about Lee she could have invented something more lurid, surely. I just think that whenever we try to pin Oswald down to one place and time, he elusively slips out of our grasp again.--jeanne (talk) 18:54, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

Actually, the year 1951 shows him living in Fort Worth which is the time Caserta alleges him to have been in Covington. Weird..--jeanne (talk) 19:01, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

Oswald wasn't in the seventh grade in 1951. He was in the seventh grade in 1952-1953. Don't you think that if Lee Oswald had lived in Covington, La., and gone to school there in the seventh grade, his mother, brother, teacher, and classmates (who were 12-13 years old, after all, not toddlers) would have remembered that? Especially the teacher he allegedly locked in a closet over a weekend? And what does it have to do with when the movie JFK came out? What's more likely: mass amnesia, or that Peggy Caserta made it up? — Walloon (talk) 20:28, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

There are a few things that account for all of this. The first is that, unfortunately, Peggy Caserta hasn't been considered the most reliable of Joplin's biographers, with several disputing the accounts in the book. She had some substance abuse issues of her own, and she wrote her book some four years after Joplin's death. Another point is, much like the "assassins have three names" theory from Conspiracy Theory, by 1974, the whole world was calling him Lee Harvey Oswald, as they do Mark David Chapman. That doesn't mean the people who actually knew him did that, nor does it reflect some regional naming custom. Finally, it's more likely that she's repeating an urban legend. That's not to say that she made it up, or that the story wasn't told to her. The story may have been circulating in that area for many years, without it being true. This is to say that a recounting of an old story as an aside mention of a classmate, in a biography of a rock star written by an author whose reliably has been questioned can't be more valid than school records and other official documents. Wildhartlivie (talk) 02:18, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

You are absolutely correct in everything that you say Walloon and Wildhartlivie, I suppose the only way Caserta's story can be verified is by the school records of Covington for roughly the period between 1951-53. Yes, it could well be an urban myth, circulated around Covington, much like the oft-repeated tale of Charles Manson having auditioned for a part in The Monkees. I was silly to have brought it up, but I feel anything concerning Oswald which contradicts established fact should be questioned and analysed- and in this case-dismissed as fallacy.--jeanne (talk) 06:04, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Fair enough! Wildhartlivie (talk) 06:49, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Oswald's body link

I have no wish to get into the rest of the content dispute regarding the Oswald's murder section, but I do want to ask what the purpose is for the link to the celebrity morgue image of Oswald's body? What does a citation link for that photo support? I don't believe it is relevant or necessary, and IMO, it's crude. If there is nothing for it to support, then its place in the article is sensationalism and needs to be removed. Wildhartlivie (talk) 13:24, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

The circumstantial case against Oswald

For the past several days, an editor has been taunted and insulted on this page for pointing out some of the weaknesses in the case against Oswald in the JFK assassination. These snarky and abusive responses to the editor have taken the form of (1.) simply stating the conclusions of the Warren Report and other investigations, as if conclusions are evidence, (2.) arguing about what is "logical", and (3.) misstating the facts of the case.

The case against Oswald is, in fact, entirely circumstantial. The prosecution of any case looks for means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime, all of which Oswald lacked in the assassination. Oswald also has an alibi for much if not most of the time during which the Warren Report suggests he prepared for, and later escaped from, the crime.

Here are the facts. If you want to challenge me, give me time to look for citations. If I make a mistake I'll be the first to admit it.

The bag and rifle: The bag Oswald took to work was, according to Wesley Frazier and his sister, no longer than the distance between Oswald's armpit and his cupped hand, and less than the distance between his hand and the ground. These distances would have been far less that the shorter piece of the disassembled rifle (35 inches). The WC also concluded that Oswald took paper and tape home from the SBD before the assassination to make the bag. Yet the tape was the old-fashioned kind that was automatically wetted down and used as soon as it was taken off the tape reel. The rifle was found in a well-oiled condition, yet the the recovered bag showed none of the oil spots that would have been present had it actually contained a disassembled rifle and its parts. The WC concluded that Oswald had brought the paper (which had been available in the SBD for only a few days) and tape from the SBD to the Paine's house, but Frazier also testified that Oswald had nothing with him when gave him a ride the night before the assassination. Marina also stated that he had nothing with him when he arrived.

It is true that one series of tests demonstrated that Oswald rifle could be fired quickly enough and with approximately the accuracy needed for it to have been used in the crime. However, these tests were accomplished after the rifle had been overhauled, with shims added to the otherwise useless scope. The rifle was then sighted to be accurate through the scope for test firings, something Oswald would not have had the chance to do. The tests were conducted by highly skilled marksmen firing at a stationary target much closer and larger than the real target. Thus the tests in no way endorse the idea that a poor marksman who did not practice could have used the rusty rifle with inaccurate scope to hit the real target in question, which was receding in the distance as it moved at a varying speed on a downward plane (and was probably blocked by a tree when the first shot was fired).

The witnesses: Arnold Rowland saw a man with a rifle in the southwest corner of the 6th floor at the time of the shooting (the “sniper's nest” was in the southeast corner). Carolyn Walther saw a man with a rifle and a second man in a suit. Ruby Henderson also saw two men. One of the men in the Dallas County Jail saw two men, one of whom had a scoped rifle. Persons viewing the Bronson film of the sixth floor have agreed that two men can be seen. Howard Brennan, the WC's only eyewitness to identify Oswald, gave conflicting and confused testimony.

Oswald's movements: The Warren Report indicates that Oswald was last seen by another SBD employee on the 6th floor at 11:55, giving him a full half-hour to prepare before the motorcade's scheduled 12:25 arrival. In actuality, the WC heard received separate statements from no fewer than three employees, Eddie Piper, William Shelley and Bonnie Ray Williams, that they had seen Oswald just before or at 12:00 on the first floor of the SBD. Williams furthermore had returned to the 6th floor at noon and stayed there until approximately 12:20, eating lunch alone and seeing and hearing nothing. (Those watching the motorcade from the 5th floor would later report the atmosphere on the upper floors of the SBD as so quiet that they could hear footsteps above them.)

Carolyn Arnold later revealed that she had encountered Oswald eating lunch alone on the second floor of the SBD as late as 12:25 pm. Oswald's presence in the 2nd floor lunchroom at this time would be consistent with both his statement to Piper at noon that he “was going up to eat” as well as his presence in the lunchroom at 12:31 pm.

Finally, the WR makes the dubious claim that in 70 to 90 seconds, Oswald could observe the aftermath of the killing, squeeze out between the stacks of 50 lb. boxes making up the sniper's nest, apparently push the boxes back into place, hide the rifle, descend four flights without being heard or seen (Victoria Adams descended the same staircase at the same time as Oswald is alleged to have done so and did not see him), operate the automatic door to the lunchroom, and walk to the middle of the room, where he stood calmly and not out of breath when discovered seconds later.

Did Oswald then flee the building? No. He was next seen in the 2nd floor office of Mrs. Reid, who saw him “walking at a very slow pace” and drinking a Coke.

To summarize: There is no physical evidence that directly implicates Oswald. There is no reliable eyewitness testimony that implicates Oswald, and what testimony there is suggests a conspiracy. Again, the evidence does not in the least suggest that Oswald had the means, motive and opportunity to kill the President.

Many people believe that the weakness of the case against Oswald calls for a healthy skepticism. So please, show a little respect. Joegoodfriend (talk) 05:05, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Joegoodfriend, that was a beautifully-written, concise and accurate account of Oswald's movements which clearly make it impossible for him to have fired the fatal head shot (which took out most of the back of JFK'S head-indicating the shot came from the FRONT). When I visited the TSBD in 2006, my first human reaction upon seeing that elm tree below the window of the 6th floor was such that I spoke out loud "How the hell did Oswald shoot him from here?" That was when a man said it was probably done from behind the Stemmons freeway sign. I also believe there were 2 men at the south-east corner window, which was why the prints on the window were rubbed away. I dont' believe that after the shooting, Oswald carried the gun across the warehouse to hide behind the boxes, nor do I believe he could have fired off 3 rounds in 8 seconds with a crappy rifle, that had a rusted scope, with a moving, receding target that was constantly being blocked by the elm tree. When JFK was shot the first time, in the throat, Greer made the fatal mistake of turning around to look, thus slowing the limo enough for the real assassin(s) to fire the shot which judging by the damage done to the head came from a bullet fired from a high-velocity weapon. The Carcano was low-to-medium velocity. Then there are the witnesses. Please. I wouldn't want my destiny to rest in the accounts of such unreliable witnesses. Remember these were ordinary men and women caught up in the biggest event of the century and naturally their reports were confused. Their president had just been shot.I have already discussed the impossibility of LHO being able to accomplish so much in 90 seconds. I will say though that the dictobelt recordings on the police radio confirm that the first 2 shots came from far off and were fired a second apart (they probably did come from the TSBD), whereas the third and fourth shots-yes there were FOUR- came almost simultaneously, and they sounded as if they came from a closer distance than the first two. Remember Kennedy was moving AWAY from the TSBD and toward the Grassy Knoll. The weapon sounds different too, more powerful. That puts at least four different shooters in Dealey Plaza that day. Not just a lone assassin, namely the supposedly Marxist ex-Marine, who spoke Russian, had renounced his US citizenship, carried a fake ID, with average marksman abilities, a HIGHLY-STRUNG personality (thus would probably not keep a cool head while firing) who escaped the scene of the crime by a slow-moving city BUS!!! Recall that it was LBJ who set up the Warren Commission. After Ruby (another convenient weirdo, who liked to hang out at police stations) murdered LHO, many reporters on live tv speculated if it was done to "shut Oswald up". It obviously was and Joe, your excellent explanation here just clinches it.Thank you.--jeanne (talk) 06:18, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

To Joe...the first problem I have with your post is your claim that some unnamed editors have been snarky and abusive to jeanne. If you are referring to me, I object strongly ...I've been nothing but respectful, even when the claims have stretched logic (i.e. a shooter behind the Stemmons freeway sign, in plain view yet obscured during the Zapruder filming). Second, the prosecution of any case looks for evidence which then leads you to means, motive and opportunity-- and no prosecution needs to prove motive. If you want to say the evidence was planted you have the burden of then providing evidence of that thesis. Fingerprints, are not circumstantial and neither is the testimony of Brennan which you want to discount. There are men serving on death row right now with less evidence against them than what the authorities have found against Oswald. Third, and we've been through this a lot by now, yes there are inconsistencies in the WC, some things are necessarily wrong, and others are just confusing, but in the end if we assume that you are 100 percent correct all you've done is placed holes in a flawed document, you haven't proven Oswald's innocence, nor come close to showing a conspiracy. There is no alternative suspect, no explanation of the direct evidence against him, and no allowance that perhaps the errors in testimony is coming from your witnesses. Finally, the direct evidence against Oswald include gun powder residue on his hand and jacket, the fingerprints, the bullets being matched by ballistics to his rifle (regardless of the condition of the rifle), and eyewitnesses. Plus the circumstantial acts of Oswald, being the only employee to leave early that day, killing officer Tippet. Attempting to kill Officer MacDonald, in the theater all combine to point to guilt, at least in my eyes. Could Oswald have been part of a larger plot? Yes, but based on the evidence, any conspiracy starts with Oswald. By the way, JGF I've always respected your dissent from the WC because it is based on inconsistencies in the narrative, not just wild speculation, taking a quote here and there out of context, and outright ignoring of key evidence. And one more thing, it troubles me that anyone would be convinced of anything because of what was written at a wiki, and not by the work of professionals of either side (now there's the snark!). Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:55, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Ramsquire, do you consider the men who comprised the Warren Commission (all hand-picked by LBJ) to have been professionals?--jeanne (talk) 18:40, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

The premise of your question, is a little off base. Although, LBJ appointed (which is a bit different from handpicked) the seven man panel, the leg work was done entirely by underlings, that LBJ would have no role in hiring. And yes, I consider the chief justice of the Supreme Court, two leading Senators and Congressmen and the former head of the CIA and World Bank to be professionals. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:58, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Direct criticism of other editors on the talk pages is a tricky subject. If I call out an editor by name (er, handle) I run the risk of making an enemy for life (anyone remember a certain editor who has repeatedly been banned from posting on the JFK/Oswald pages?). If I don't name names, I run the risk of tarring everybody.

Let me apologize to two editors. Gamaliel and Ramsquire are knowledgeable, fair and worthy of everyone's trust. There is however another editor who's joined us recently who is abusive and who, well, doesn't know jack. Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:10, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

No worries, I kinda had a feeling where you were going but I just wanted to make it clear that it wasn't me. I've recently done some research on the "well-oiled" gun, and no traces in the bag and blanket. It's all very confusing but interesting from both sides. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:18, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

The problem with the case against Oswald is that all of the players are dead, as are all of the people who would have been in a position to know thr truth of what took place in Dallas 22-24 November 1963. And as time passes we get farther away from discovery. We are now approaching the 45th anniversary and we are still at square one. Who shot JFK? Did Oswald act alone? And as time moves on, events will grow more hazy so that facts become fiction and vice-versa.--jeanne (talk) 19:26, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Just for the record, I didn't mean to say the shooter was possibly hidden directly behind the Stemmons freeway sign but rather farther back so that he cannot be seen in the film. He'd have had a good, clear shot from that position. In the photos you cannot see clearly all of the people on the Grassy Knoll.--jeanne (talk) 05:49, 12 November 2008 (UTC)

Removal of JFK's body from Texas

Seeing as in 1963, it was not a Federal crime to assassinate the President of the United States, the trial against Oswald would have been held in Texas. The Secret Service agents broke Texas law by removing the President's body from the state, therefore wouldn't the case against Oswald have been dismissed?--jeanne (talk) 09:32, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

Ah, but Governor Connally was alive and kicking. Man, he was tough. Joegoodfriend (talk) 16:34, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

Oswald would have stood trial for the murder of Tippitt and attempted murder of Connally. Strange, how the Secret Service took the body of Kennedy out of Texas knowing Oswald could not legally be tried for the murder sans body.--jeanne (talk) 18:46, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

Nothing in Texas statutory or case law supports such a disallowance. Related, a decision by the Texas Court of Appeals which the U.S. Supreme Court let stand:

Mahaffey v. State (Cr.App. 1971) 471 S.W.2d 801, certiorari denied 92 S.Ct. 1297, 405 U.S. 1018, 31 L.Ed.2d 480.

"In the first ground of error, complaint is made because the court permitted Dr. Dowdey [the Dallas County medical examiner] to testify from an autopsy report which had been prepared by another doctor. It is contended that the testimony was hearsay and was in violation of Article I, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution, Vernon's Ann.St. and the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States....

"The report was admitted before the court but not before the jury. Dr. Dowdey did not participate in the autopsy, but from the report prepared by Dr. Rose, he testified that Dennis died as a result of injuries caused by the bullet.

"The testimony of Dr. Dowdey was relevant and admissible in evidence.

"The contention that Article 49.25, V.A.C.C.P., Article 3731a, V.A.C.S., and Article 3737e, V.A.C.S., as applied to the facts of this case as unconstitutional is overruled.

"The first ground of error is overruled....

"Complaint is made in the third ground of error because the court permitted the testimony of Dr. Dowdey that the finding of cause of death in the autopsy report was consistent with the descriptions of the body as set out in the report because it was hearsay. The witness testified from facts recited in the autopsy report. Based upon his own qualifications as a physician and pathologist, he was properly allowed to express an opinion as to the correctness of the cause of death as stated in the report. This Court held that it was proper for a pathologist to testify to his own expert opinion based upon the autopsy report made by another pathologist over the objection that it was hearsay. [emphasis added] Neely v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 409 S.W.2d 552.

"No error has been shown. The third ground of error is overruled."

— Walloon (talk) 04:12, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Dr. Earl Rose, who also had the distinction of autopsying J.D. Tippit, Oswald and Ruby was part of the medical team that handled the President at Parkland. It was Rose who attempted to stop the Secret Service from removing JFK's body from the hospital. The Secret Service responded by holding Dr. Rose at gunpoint while wheeling the President out of the building. Joegoodfriend (talk) 01:11, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Can you supply a first-hand account of Secret Service agents pointing their guns at anyone inside Parkland Hospital? — Walloon (talk) 03:30, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

As earlier as 1967 in The Death of a President William Manchester spent a full ten pages on the tense confrontation between Rose and the Secret Service. That account never mentioned a weapon leaving its holster however. For that little addition to the story, we have Crenshaw's JFK: Conspiracy of Silence (1992).

"When the entourage had moved into the main hall, Dr. Earl Rose, chief of forensic pathology, confronted the men in suits. Roy Kellerman, the man leading the group, looked sternly at Dr. Rose and announced, "My friend, this is the body of the President of the United States, and we are going to take it back to Washington." Dr. Rose bristled and replied, "No, that's not the way things are. When there's a homicide, we must have an autopsy." "He's the President. He's going with us," Kellerman barked, with increased intensity in his voice. "The body stays," Dr. Rose said with equal poignancy. Kellerman took an erect stance and brought his firearm into a ready position. The other men in suits followed course by draping their coattails behind the butts of their holstered pistols. How brave of these men, wearing their Brooks Brothers suits with icons of distinction (color-coded Secret Service buttons) pinned to their lapels, willing to shoot an unarmed doctor to secure a corpse. "My friend, my name is Roy Kellerman. I am special agent in charge of the White House detail of the Secret Service. We are taking President Kennedy back to the capitol." "You are not taking the body anywhere. There's a law here. We're going to enforce it." Admiral George Burkley, White House Medical Officer, said, "Mrs. Kennedy is going to stay exactly where she is until the body is moved. We can't have that … he's the President of the United States." "That doesn't matter," Dr. Rose replied rigidly. "You can't lose the chain of evidence." For the second time that day, there was little doubt in my mind as to the significance of what was happening before me. "Goddammit, get your ass out of the way before you get hurt," screamed another one of the men in suits. Another snapped, "We're taking the body, now." Strange, I thought, this President is getting more protection dead than he did when he was alive. Had Dr. Rose not stepped aside I'm sure that those thugs would have shot him. They would have killed me and anyone else who got in their way." Joegoodfriend (talk) 04:45, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

My thoughts exactly. Why weren't they as protective of JFK when he was in the motorcade? And why were they so adamant that his body had to be moved out of Texas jurisdiction? Without an autopsy performed in the state of Texas, LHO could not have been tried for his murder. The agents didn't care. WHY did they not care, unless they knew Oswald wouldn't live long enough to stand trial anyway? Another thing which makes me laugh when the Oswald-acted-alone group insist that LHO couldn't have been part of a conspiracy,because nobody would trust a nut like Oswald with the job. Yeah, well the Bulgarian Secret Service entrusted a pretty nutty guy with the task of shooting the Pope in 1981. Oh Joe, had they shot DR. Rose, do you think Oswald would have been made to take the rap for that killing as well? I just don't know how they got away with all of that. The entire assassination was obviously one MASSIVE cover-up.--jeanne (talk) 05:45, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Well, I'm not touching any of that speculative stuff on the Secret Service. If you're really interested in the weird story of the two autopsies, try Lifton's Best Evidence. Be careful though, Lifton got some things wrong. You might also read the opinions of Dr. Cyril Wecht on the matter. But again, his opinions are at odds with other doctors who had access to the same information he had. Joegoodfriend (talk) 05:59, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

" Without an autopsy performed in the state of Texas, LHO could not have been tried for his murder." Jeanne, I'll repeat what I said above: nothing in Texas statutory law or Texas case law supports your assumption. For a contrary decision by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, see what I wrote above. — Walloon (talk) 08:26, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Oswald's Brother

Robert Oswald has stated in interview that he believes his brother guilty of having shot JFK. When he saw L.H. Oswald in police custody, he found him strangely detached in the face of being held for the killing of the most important man on earth. This fits a profile: psycopaths do not feel "normal" emotions, such as anxiety or confusion, in the same way as do others. Then again, psyco-sociopaths are known to be able to pass lie detector tests, and I believe Oswald refused one.~~opusv5~~ —Preceding unsigned comment added by Opusv5 (talk • contribs) 15:51, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

The psychological make-up of a person has no bearing on whether or not they had the opportunity to commit murder. Anyone can fit the profile of a killer, some are detached loners, some are respectable pillars of the community, others are simple thugs who thrive on violence. It doesn't matter whether Oswald was any of these, it matters whether he had the opportunity in 90 seconds to do all of the things the Warren report claimed he had.--jeanne (talk) 06:15, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

Actually the 1 minute 30 seconds is the time it took Truly to reach the lunchroom from outside at the time of the first shot. Oswalds movements were recreated in about 1 minute 18 seconds. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:18, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

1 minute and 18 seconds is still a very short period of time to do the things Oswald is alleged to have done.--jeanne (talk) 18:21, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

Oops I meant Baker. Truly was the building manager. But the only thing the WC has Oswald doing, is firing three shots at a minimum of 7.1-7.9 seconds. Going across the floor to go down four flight of stairs (and these are not long skyscraper type stairs) to the second floor where he encountered Baker and Truly. Also the WC allows that the time frame may have been longer on November 22 because of crowd jostling and other things going on. The 90 seconds is a minimum time. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:43, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

From p. 152 of the Warren Report: Two recreations were done for Oswald's time to the second floor. One was 74 seconds, the other 78. Two were also done for Baker. One was 75 seconds, the other 90. From the WC: The minimum time required by Baker to park his motorcycle and reach the second-floor lunchroom was within 3 seconds of the time needed to walk from the southeast corner of the sixth floor down the stairway to the lunchroom.

So the WC makes this work, as long as the everyone forgets about the stuff they knew about but skipped: Looking out the window for several seconds after the shooting, escaping from the sniper's nest (which was somehow done either without pushing the 50 lb. boxes out of the way, or by pushing them back into place after exiting the nest), hiding the rifle between stacks of boxes, pushing another full box over the two stacks with the rifle in between, descending the stairs while somehow completely avoiding Victoria Adams, and (possibly) buying a Coke. All without breaking a sweat. Man, what a cool customer. Joegoodfriend (talk) 04:08, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

Remember the coke machines were slow in those days, and the bottles had to be opened with an opener attached to the machine. I saw a programme today on Italian tv. It seems as if there may have been 6 shots fired at the motorcade, not 4. And Gov. Connally insisted he was still waving at the crowd when he heard the shot that got Kennedy through the throat. The Governor himself was hit 2 seconds later. How did the bullet remain poised in the air for 2 seconds?!!!!!!--jeanne (talk) 10:17, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

There is some evidence (from Marina Oswald) that Oswald tried to assasinate a prominent right-winger named Walker shortly before JFK's assasination. If this be true, he at least had it in him to shoot to kill. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Opusv5 (talk • contribs) 15:46, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

As I said before, his personality is irrelevent. The discussion here is opportunity.--jeanne (talk) 17:56, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

Good job JGF. As I have said repeatedly, you continually find holes in the Warren narrative without misquoting or inaccurately analyzing/summarizing the report. Yes, the WC allows for the 90 second minimum time but makes room for a longer time period as well. One thing, both Truly and Baker remember Oswald's hands being empty during their encounter, and as for Adams, either the WC misquotes or her or she was incorrect, her possible re-entry into the building would have had to been about five minutes after the shooting unless Lovelady was wrong about the time he returned to the building. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 21:29, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

Why thank you. Ram's observations are all correct and relevant and I'd love to address them:

1. Baker's run: The WC observes that possibly Baker had more than 90 seconds to reach the lunchroom, because there's no way the recreations could fully take into account the chaos of the situation right after the assassination. A good point.

2. Who was Victoria Adams? Adams and Sandra Styles watched the motorcade from the fourth floor and descended the same staircase used by Oswald after the assassination. According to Adams, they were on the staircase 30 to 60 seconds after the shooting, and she saw and heard no one. The WC chose to concluded that Adams was mistaken, and that she had not descended the staircase for several minutes. They discounted Adams' testimony because she also claimed to see Billy Lovelady immediately upon her arrival on the the first floor. Lovelady had made a statement in April of 1964 that he had immediately left the SBD after the shooting, and did not return for several minutes. However, the WC chose to accept this later account from Lovelady, and ignore his sworn affidavit given on the day of the assassination, in which he stated that immediately after the shooting he went back into the SBD to help direct police officers. This earlier account is completely consistent with Victoria Adams statement.

3. What about the Coke bottle? In Baker's WC testimony, he stated that Oswald had nothing in his hands when he encountered him in the lunchroom. However, Baker subsequently submitted a handwritten statement, in which he wrote of Oswald, "I saw a man standing in the lunchroom, drinking a Coke." The words "drinking a Coke" were subsequently scratched out and initialed by the officer. Very confusing. What we do know is, Oswald's next move was not to leave the building, but to casually stroll past the desk of SBD employee Mrs. R. Reid, while drinking a Coke from the lunchroom.

This affair has given rise to my favorite conspiracy theory of all time, "The Coca-Cola Theory." J.I. Rodale, the editor of Organic Gardening and Farming, suggested in the 1960's that Oswald assassinated JFK due to mental impairment stemming from an addiction to refined sugar, as evidenced by his need for his favorite beverage immediately after the assassination. I guess it's too bad that Coke didn't switch to corn syrup sooner, or JFK might have lived. On the other hand, Oswald might still have been able to obtain sugar-sweetened Coke on his trip to Mexico. Hmm. Joegoodfriend (talk) 20:57, 22 November 2008 (UTC)

That explains why I'm slightly mad. Wasn't Lovelady the man seen in front of the TSBD as the motorcade was passing? I've seen the photo which was taken at that moment and he's there on the left.--jeanne (talk) 10:36, 23 November 2008 (UTC)

The big issue with the WC "conclusions" on the time it took for Baker and Truly to meet up with Oswald is that it is inconsistent to the point of not meaning anything. It says the maximum time for their recreation is 90 seconds, but then says but it could have taken longer. In effect, nullifying their conclusion by saying two things at once. And jeanne yes, that was concluded to be Lovelady. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:40, 24 November 2008 (UTC)

As for the Coke theory, you have to admit Oswald drinking the Coke, and then a bottle being pictured on the retaining wall by the knoll, can't just be coincidence. Can it? Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:11, 24 November 2008 (UTC)

You're right. Of course, Coke might be the patsy. I've never trusted PepsiCo. Joegoodfriend (talk) 05:26, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

South-east corner window

I just saw a documentary on Italian television regarding the JFK assassination. It showed a photo taken of the TSBD, minutes after the assassination. The only window that was open was the south-east corner window, allegedly used by Oswald to fire at the motorcade. If this window was the only one open in the entire row of windows, we can safely presume that the shooter opened it himself thereby leaving prints. It would be a really far stretch of the imagination to say that Oswald had been lucky again in finding that some other employee had kindly left it open for him earlier, yet had not bothered to open any other windows. Remember November in Texas is quite cool. SO WHERE ARE THE PRINTS? None were found, so obviously that can only mean that the shooter (notice I do not say assassin), or someone who came up later, wiped away the prints. Now if that person was our Russian-speaking, Marxist, ex-Marine warehouse clerk by the name of Lee Harvey Oswald, well that just adds another activity he managed to complete in the narrow 90 seconds-1 minute, 18 seconds time margin allocated him by the Warren Commission.--jeanne (talk) 14:38, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

Jeanne, it is a matter of public record that Dallas was unseasonably warm that day. The weather predicted that it would be cool, hence Jackie's wool coat, but it was a warm day. So first, anyone could have opened that window! Also fingerprints are not always easily left all over the place. Second, you are ignoring the prints that were found in that area, by focusing on this window argument. Third, if he did wipe away prints, as you speculate, clearly he didn't do a good job as several were found in the nearby boxes and on the rifle. Fourth, and as a matter of personal knowledge, I can tell you that if any prints were found on the window that matched Oswald's it wouldn't be as probative as you believe. Any defense counsel worth his salt would simply argue "of course LHO prints were there, he had worked at the company for weeks." I also imagine that LHO's prints would have existed alongside the numerous people who worked for the company. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 21:40, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

It was the only window open and opened less than half-way, allowing enough space for a rifleman. By your argument, then it was logical for LHO to leave prints on the boxes as well, seeing as he would have touched the boxes during his course of work. The rifle only contained one print, on the inside. A lawyer would have gone berserk over that one. Oh, did they find the cloth he used to wipe down the gun?--jeanne (talk) 06:05, 22 November 2008 (UTC)

Yes, if there was a trial and no murder weapon was found, the prints on the boxes would not be that probative. But combined with the other evidence, that was found, it makes the window argument less necessary. Clearly, if there were prints on the gun, the boxes, the window, and a rag found with prints on it, it would be even more of a slam dunk. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:45, 24 November 2008 (UTC)

The only print found on the gun was on the INSIDE. Only two of the boxes had prints. Not much evidence to convict a man, especially as nobody SAW Oswald fire at the motorcade.--jeanne (talk) 07:12, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

That is not true. Prints were found on the barrel, wooden stock, and trigger housing. Among the witnesses who saw a man fire from the TSBD was Brennan (whose description of the man led the police to Oswald), Amos Lee Euins, and Robert H. Jackson. Malcolm O. Couch saw a rifle in the window after noticing two black workers in the fifth floor window straining to look above them, and there are other witnesses who saw various glimpses of the shooting in progress. Last thing, prints alone would not be enough to convict Oswald. But the prints in connection with the eyewitness testimony, and the forensics evidence linking Oswalds Carcano to the crime to the exclusion of all other guns is more than enough to find him guilty. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:09, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

There's a big difference between "is there enough evidence to get a conviction" and "Oswald really was the lone assassin."

Defense of the WR often falls back on Howard Brennan. To me, Brennan's "identification" of Oswald can be dismissed. It's true that by 12:45, police had broadcast the description of a suspect including height, weight, age, and physical build. The WC chose to presume that this description had come from Brennan. There's no evidence that it actually did. If Brennan was looking up at the sixth floor he would have seen, at most, Oswald's head and shoulders. And I just don't buy a man with questionable eyesight making a positive identification from 120 feet away.

And I certainly don't buy the "Oswald's Cacarno to the exclusion of all other evidence" conclusion. The head shot was clearly a fragmentation bullet, not a sniper rifle bullet of the kind used by the Cacarno. And only the stone-age science of the 1960's would lead to the conclusion that all the recovered bullet fragments came from the same "batch" of bullets. Modern analysis suggests otherwise [3]. Joegoodfriend (talk) 03:29, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

I've always thought that it was CE399 that was matched to the Carcano to the "exclusion of all others" and the fragments of the other bullet(s) found show they were from the same batch? As for proof of a lone assassin, I'm not well versed enough to prove that, and the WC with its faults isn't really that helpful. It's a good thing I'm only trying to point out that there was enough evidence to get a conviction-- despite the claims of others. I've always made room for the fact that Oswald could have been helped... a conspiracy of two nuts. However, in my opinion, any search for conspiracy has to begin with Oswald, as the evidence and the inferences you can make from that evidence indicate he was much more than just a patsy. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:25, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

Ron Lewis Addition

I tagged it because although there isn't really any doubt that these claims were made, I am not sure they belong in this article. This appears to be a Roscoe white type of thing where someone makes an unverified claim to be a witness to history. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:12, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

This book by Ron Lewis was published by "Lewcom Productions", so I've removed the material as it's from a self-published book. Gamaliel (talk) 17:34, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

Backyard photos

Can we categorically state that Marina Oswald took the "backyard photographs" given that in her testimonies the number of pictures taken changes. When first questioned she is very precise and said she had taken ONLY ONE photograph, 133-A, which subsequently appeared on the cover of Life Magazine. We know this to be a false. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 158.234.250.71 (talk) 13:26, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

The text of the article addresses the fact that critics have questioned both the origin and authenticity of the photographs. Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:41, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

The text clearly states that Marina Oswald took the pictures, this is disputed given that she had no idea how many photographs are in existance. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.208.79.51 (talk) 22:09, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

The text as written is acceptable as long as it is backed by a citation from a reliable source. This article is a biography of Lee Harvey Oswald. Material on the minutiae of the debate regarding the authenticity of the photographs (possibly) belongs in the articles on Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories or the HSCA. Joegoodfriend (talk) 23:33, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

Possible motives

The Warren Commission gives the possible motives of LHO for the assassination, which are very weak and do not hold up to closer scrutiny. For example, if Oswald shot Kennedy to gain a place in history, he would have shot him as the motorcade directly faced the TSBD and could not miss hitting him. He wouldn't have tried to escape either. This motive, therefore, crumbles into dust. As for being a Marxist, why would a committed Marxist want to replace Kennedy with Johnson, who was far more conservative than JFK? Doesn't make sense either. We can safely say that Lee Harvey Oswald had no motive for killing President Kennedy. This removes the motive, now all we're left with is the means and opportunity, which is the mail-order 1890-vintage Carcano rifle and eight seconds to fire three shots at a moving target from a rusted scope with a large oak tree in the way. Too bad the WC didn't employ the services of Lt. Columbo.--jeanne (talk) 08:36, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

Officer Tippit

The article fails to mention why Tippit stopped Oswald in Oak Cliff. Yes, The WC claimed it was the highly-accurate description provided by Howard Brennan, which the police subsequently relayed via radio to all policemen in the greater Dallas area: white man, 5'10, 165 pounds, slender build, approximately 30 years old,. They also said that the suspect was believed to be armed with a 30.caliber rifle. Ok, let's digest this bit by bit, shall we? Starting with the last: Oswald was not armed with a 30.caliber rifle-how the police could have presumed the assassin would attempt to walk the streets of Dallas armed with a rifle, especially as his rifle was found hidden behind boxes at the TSBD is beyond comprehension. Also remember Officer Baker encountered Oswald on the 2nd floor of the TSBD sans rifle! Ok, so that part's easily eliminated. Now, for the age and weight. Oswald was only 24 and didn't look 30. That's a good six years age difference. Not many 24 years olds can be mistaken for thirty. He did not weigh 165, but instead 15 pounds less. So that just leaves a slender white man of 5'10. How many people all over Dallas fitted that description? Besides, Tippit in his patrol car approached him from BEHIND. According to author Michael T. Griffith, none of the witnesses who saw Officer Tippit's assailant, described him as "acting strange or suspicious" prior to the shooting. So, why did an ordinary policeman cruising around in his patrol car, become suddenly inspired with the notion that the slender white man walking ahead of him along a residential street, three miles from the scene of the crime, was the assassin of the most powerful man on the planet? A lightning bolt from heaven? ESP? The ghost of JFK whispering in his ear? The article fails to address this issue entirely.--jeanne (talk) 08:49, 16 January 2009 (UTC

I reckon it could be added, with reliable sources backing it. GoodDay (talk) 16:11, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

That is a good point about the WALKING part. If they (cops) did not know who they had to find, then why would a cop stop a WALKING mand when you would think that he would look for someone in a car? Besides, witnesses said that the guy spoke with Tippit and then the action took place. It appears as if they must have known each other and then something happened to cause the murder - a murder which seemed as if it HAD to happen. That is, Tippit HAD to be killed, not just stopped. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.127.176.58 (talk) 05:05, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Agreed, the article doesn't state why tippit stopped Oswald because we aren't allowed to post speculation. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 17:28, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

But any reader would wonder how a cop with only a 10th grade education would be astute enough to spot the President's assassin from BEHIND? The article should contain this fact, Ramsquire. And it is a fact that Oswald and Tippit were moving in the same eastwardly direction, so Tippit could not possibly have seen his face until he pulled up alongside him.--jeanne (talk) 17:35, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Start a blog and you could put up all your musings. But here you need reliable sources, otherwise it's just original research. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 18:50, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

I'm well aware of the fact that here, on this article, the only reliable source that's accepted is the Warren Report so we never really get past Go, do we?--jeanne (talk) 18:56, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Nice use of a straw man. I'll respond further when you have something of substance to discuss. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:21, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

That's pretty insulting to imply that someone with "only a 10th grade education" was stupid. Are you saying with a higher education Tippit could have better recognized Oswald? Tippit had two years of vocational training before he was hired as a police officer, and served as a patrol cop for eleven years before he was killed. Second point: There are numerous citations in this article that are not from the Warren Report (remember, the Report is one volume long; there are 26 volumes of testimony and exhibits), or the Warren Commission. Take a look. Third point: there is evidence that Oswald was walking west on Tenth St., and turned around and began walking the opposite direction, away from Tippit's squad car, which was traveling east, when Tippit approached him. Half of the witnesses who saw Oswald on Tenth (before he met Tippit) said he was walking west; the other half of the witnesses, who saw Oswald only as he encountered Tippit, said he was traveling or facing east. See the section Why Tippit stopped Oswald of Dale K. Myers' blog. Myers wrote an entire book about the Tippit killing. — Walloon (talk) 19:33, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

I think my questions as to Tippit's reason for stopping Oswald show substance, if you don't mind me defending myself, Ramsquire. PS, I don' take put-downs too well. Walloon, I didn't mean to appear insulting when I mentioned Tippit's 10th grade education. Today, however, a drop-out wouldn't be able to join the military or police force. The article clearly states that Tippit pulled up behind Oswald.--jeanne (talk) 20:38, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Myers did a fine job in that book. I'm glad a got a copy before the price went to $130 on amazon! I have only one beef with him. Note that in the article he says, The shortest route, which ends with Oswald headed westbound on Tenth, would have Oswald leaving his rooming house headed south on Beckley to Davis, east to Patton, southeast on Patton to Tenth, and east on Tenth to a point near Marsalis Avenue. At that point, Oswald would double back on his route, heading back west on Tenth to the scene of the Tippit shooting at 404 E. Tenth. The total time for the trip would be about 13.5 minutes – which fits the time period available.

Oswald only had ten minutes tops to cover the distance. He must have gotten a ride. That would also explain why Oswald was last seen before the shooting by his landlady standing on the corner outside his roominghouse (waiting for a ride), and why no one saw him between the roominghouse and the crime scene (many saw him fleeing from the crime scene). Joegoodfriend (talk) 20:43, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

About your statement that "Oswald only had ten minutes top to cover the distance", I disagree. The outer boundaries of when Oswald arrived at his rooming house, and when Tippit could have been shot are 12:55 p.m. and 1:16 p.m. respectively. The House Select Committee on Assassinations, in its reconstruction of the event, concluded Oswald arrived at “approximately 12:55 P.M.” His housekeeper, who saw him enter and leave, was trying to watch the assassination news on TV and adjust the picture when he came in. She gave no indiction that she looked at a watch or clock to note when Oswald entered:

Mr. BALL. You were working with the television?

Mrs. ROBERTS. I was trying to clear it up to see what was happening and try to find out about President Kennedy.

Mr. BALL. Why did you say to this man as he came in, "You are in a hurry,"why did you say that?

Mrs. ROBERTS. Well, he just never has come in and he was walking unusually fast and he just hadn't been that way and I just looked up and I said, "Oh, you are in a hurry."

Mr. BALL. You mean he was walking faster than he usually was?

Mrs. ROBERTS. Yes.

. . . .

Mr. BALL. Can you tell me what time it was approximately that Oswald came in?

Mrs. ROBERTS. Now, it must have been around 1 o'clock, or maybe a little after, because it was after President Kennedy had been shot — what time I wouldn't want to say…

The only actions Oswald is known to have taken in his closet-sized bedroom were to get his revolver and some bullets, and put on a jacket, both of which could have been accomplished in 3 minutes or less. Add a minute for Oswald to linger on the corner, where Mrs. Roberts last saw him, and it's still only about 1:00 p.m. The latest Tippit could have been shot was some time before 1:16 p.m., which is when bystander Domingo Benavides can first be heard on police radio channel recording trying to use Tippit's radio to notify police about the shooting. Subtract two minutes for Benavides to hide out in his vehicle, as he said he did to make sure the shooter was no longer in the immediate area, and it's 1:14 p.m. Oswald had 14 minutes, not "ten minutes top" to walk the distance from his rooming house, encounter Tippit, and shoot him. And re your statement "no one saw him between the roominghouse and the crime scene", three people (Jimmy Burt, William A. Smith, and William Lawrence Smith) saw Oswald on Tenth St. before he reached the crime scene. — Walloon (talk) 22:19, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

130 dollars! And I thought books were expensive here! How many pages does it have? Is it gilt-bound?--jeanne (talk) 20:54, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

The book is out of print. That is the current market price for used copies. — Walloon (talk) 22:15, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

You might say it's "guilt-bound." Joegoodfriend (talk) 20:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

LOL, that's a good one, Joe. --jeanne (talk) 20:59, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Sorry if you read it as a put down, I was talking about discussing further once some citation or possible sourcing is put forward, not that your point had no substance. I did not intend to be insulting, and apologize if you took it that way. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 21:49, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Walloon and I have had this argument before, but in case you missed it:

• The Warren Report says: "If Oswald left the bus at 12:44 p.m. and walked directly to the terminal, he would have entered the cab at 12:47 or 12:48 p.m. If the cab ride was approximately 6 minutes, as was the reconstructed ride, he would have reached his destination at approximately 12:54 p.m. If he was discharged at Neely and Beckley and walked directly to his roominghouse, he would have arrived there about 12:59 to 1 p.m. From the 500 block of North Beckley, the walk would be a few minutes longer, but in either event he would have been in the roominghouse at about 1 p.m. This is the approximate time he entered the roominghouse, according to Earlene Roberts, the housekeeper there. (See Commission Exhibit No. 1119-A, p. 158.)
• Earlene Roberts said "it must have been around 1 o'clock, or maybe a little after," when Oswald arrived.

So if Oswald arrived earlier and walked/jogged to the crime scene:

1. The Warren Report, despite being quite meticulous on this point, was wrong.

2. Ms. Roberts was also wrong, despite giving a time estimate consistent with the Warren Report.

3. Either Ms. Roberts made up the bit about Oswald standing on the corner, or Oswald had some logical reason for doing so other than waiting for a ride.

4. 12 people witnessed the shooting or its immediate aftermath, but not one has ever been identified who saw Oswald jogging to the crime scene. (I don't count the witnesses you mention because they were all within a block of Tippit's car).

5. Our eminent friend Dale K. Myers puts the killing at precisely 1:14:30.

So I say he got a ride. Is there any good reason why the HSCA suggested that Oswald arrived at 11:55? Joegoodfriend (talk) 02:32, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

1. The Warren Report was indeed wrong on that point. Vincent Bugliosi writes in Reclaiming History, endnotes, p. 49–50,

Warren Commission assistant counsel, with a stopwatch, reconstructed with [cab driver Wiliam] Whaley the route he took with Oswald, leaving the cabstand at the Greyhound bus depot around 12:48 p.m., most likely several minutes later than Oswald actually left there. I say that not only because Oswald would have probably been walking at a fast pace from the time he left the Depository, but most importantly because the most reasonable assumption is that Whaley put 12:30–12:45 p.m. on his trip ticket because he left at some time prior to 12:45 p.m., making the Warren Commission estimate of a 12:48 p.m. departure from the bus depot at least three minutes too late. It makes little sense that if Whaley left the depot at 12:48, he would record his departure time as being between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. From the cabstand, it took five minutes and thirty seconds, by cab, to reach 700 North Beckley, where Whaley dropped Oswald off, and at a normal pace, five minutes and forty-five seconds to walk the four blocks to Oswald’s rooming house at 1026 North Beckley (6 H 434, WCT William Wayne Whaley), making Oswald’s estimated Warren Commission arrival time there around 12:59 p.m. or slightly earlier, since Whaley said that he drove “a little bit faster” (accounting, he said, for no more than a half minute) than the driver during the reconstructed run (6 H 429).

With a probable minimum three-minute error by the Warren Commission, the real arrival time was most likely around 12:56 p.m. or earlier. The HSCA, in its reconstruction of the event, concluded Oswald arrived at “approximately 12:55 P.M.” (HSCA Record 180-10115-10004, September 19, 1977, p.2).

2. Mrs. Roberts gave a vague time, and gave no indication that she looked at a clock or a watch. She concluded, "What time I wouldn't want to say."

3. There was a bus stop on that corner across from Oswald's rooming house, along the Beckley bus route, and a bus transfer was found on Oswald when he was arrested. My guess is that Oswald considered waiting for a bus, and decided to walk to wherever he was going instead.

4. But no one saw Oswald getting into or out of a vehicle, either. Nor did anyone see Oswald walk from where the cab let him off at the corner of 700 N. Beckley to his rooming house at 1026 N. Beckley.

5. Yes indeed, Myers does. Do you know him?

— Walloon (talk) 04:21, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

It is never difficult for powerful organsations and the shadowy people behind them to obtain the services of a disgruntled actor such as Booth, or snarling Marxist Oswald, or a wild-eyed Princip. Most of the time they get away with it and the innocent public never suspect who really pulled the strings, but once in a while they slip up, as they did with Mehmet Ali Agca.--jeanne (talk) 05:59, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

I knew I could count on Walloon for a rock-solid comeback. Is it conceivable that Oswald would wait at the bus stop for a moment, then change his mind and run off in the opposite direction from where a bus boarded at that stop would have taken him? Fascinatingly, yes, it's quite conceivable.

Such random behavior would be consistent with his earlier movements, including walking away from the SBD, then catching a bus...headed back towards the SBD. Next, making it to a cab stand, but then hesitating and not taking the first cab available. He was crazy enough to have done all the things he's been accused of, I'll give you that. Joegoodfriend (talk) 06:51, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

I never said LHO was your average guy, however, his behaviour could indicate that he was running away from people far more powerful than the police and just didn't know where to turn to. The bus journey was a perfect example of that.--jeanne (talk) 07:03, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

Dusting off my copy of the Warren Report, I become more convinced that Oswald could not have arrived at his rooming house before 1:00.

Oswald leaves the SBD at 12:33, walks seven blocks, catches a bus stuck in traffic at 12:40. Exits the bus at 12:44. Walks two blocks to the cab stand, takes the second cab available. It's 12:48. Gets dropped off 4/10th of a mile from his rooming house at 12:54. Arrives home 12:59-1:00, leaves 1:03, is standing on the corner at 1:04. Spotted within a block of the killing at 1:13.

Thus Oswald had only 9 minutes to make a trip that required (as described by Myers) a minimum of 13 and 1/2 minutes.

Bugliosi's argument is downright disingenuous. Warren's version is meticulous and is in no way contradicted by any known fact, yet Bugliosi concludes that Warren made a "probable minimum three-minute error." Why? Only because of an entirely subjective conclusion that the "reasonable assumption is that Whaley put 12:30–12:45 p.m. on his trip ticket because he left at some time prior to 12:45 p.m."

No one who's read Whaley's testimony would make such and assumption. (WR p.161) "Whaley testified that he did not keep an accurate time record of his trips, but recorded them by the quarter hour, and that sometimes he made his entry right after a trip while at other times he waited to record three or four trips." It is not a reasonable assumption that the log is accurate when:(1.) Whaley says that it is not accurate and (2.) he often makes numerous trips before writing them down.

As for the HSCA time line, the document cited does not seem to be available, and without a further explanation of their time of Oswald's arrival at home of approximately 12:55, the citation is meaningless. Joegoodfriend (talk) 01:21, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

OK, so this is the timetable for his departure at 1.03 from the rooming house(how did the woman happen to be so precise in her recollection of the time he left, most people are vague as to time?), at 1.04, he's standing on the corner, and then nine minutes later he's spotted within a block of the Tippit shooting at 1.13. How many blocks away is that? Did they calculate possible delays due to traffic, or were the streets miraculously clear that day, allowing Oswald unimpeded passage? Hmm, strange how his luck ran out due to an alert shopowner. Another thing, why didn't he just blow away the witnesses after shooting Tippit? He then could have taken all their wallets and escaped from Dallas. Finally, I would add that upon leaving the TSBD, why did he board a bus, when he could have gone into a downtown department store, and blended with the shoppers? Nothing makes sense. Nothing--jeanne (talk) 06:32, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

It behooved Bugliosi, as an Italian-American to insist that Oswald acted alone. Had he supported the conspiracy theory, the possibility of Mafia involvement would have raised it's head, thus the fall-out onto the Italian community would have been tremendous. Ruby had links to the Chicago mob run by Sam Giancana. The names of Carlos Marcello and Santo Trafficante would have been brought up. Bugliosi, therefore, had a lot to gain by maintaining that Oswald, who was of English, German, French, and Irish ancestry, acted alone.--jeanne (talk) 07:52, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

Oswald changing direction

OK, Walloon, Ramsquire, I have read Myers' blog as to Tippit's suspicions being raised when Oswald most likely switched directions. I buy that explanation. Most cops would consider that behaviour bizarre. I lived in Texas for two years, and Texas cops are normally suspicious of anything out of the ordinary, but especially on 22 November 1963. OK, that part I can accept. But why was Oswald coming apart at the seams? He had maintained a cool, calm demeanor following the assassination, so much so that he fooled Baker and Truly. I would suggest that his weird backtracking had to do with the fact that his paranoia was growing by the minute, and didn't know who was friend or foe. I never said, guys, that I believed Oswald was innocent, I said (and I will carry this conviction with me to my grave), that he was the patsy in a conspiracy so convoluted that we couldn't even begin to unravel it forty five years later. He was indeed on the Sixth Floor of the TSBD, but probably escaped down the stairs seconds before the fatal head shot. Something was wrong with his part in the plot and he wanted to get away fast. Which is why he esaped by bus. More anonymous. I often have wondered why he drew attention to himself by leaving the TSBD, when he could have brazened it out inside the building his fellow employees when the police started their questioning. He had a meeting with a mystery person in Oak Cliff and obviously took fright when he saw Tippit. Michael T. Griffith has an interesting blog which questions Tippit's motives for stopping Oswald. --jeanne (talk) 13:52, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

I'm pretty much on the record that Oswald COULD have been involved in a smaller scale conspiracy, but that there's no evidence of it. However, his take that he was just a patsy, rings hollow as more and more is found out. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 22:19, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

Ramsquire, the Oswalds, Agcas, Princips, are always guided by hands unseen and unknown.--jeanne (talk) 05:33, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Small

The small amount of money Oswald had on him when he was arrested suggests that he was not part of a vast conspiracy. Of course, he might have been keeping the amount small as a double bluff, to disarm suspicion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.158.207.21 (talk) 11:35, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

How much cash did Mehmet Ali Agca have in his wallet when he shot Pope John Paul II on behalf of the Bulgarian Secret Service? Anyway, would you walk the streets of a major city with a large amount of money in your possession?--jeanne (talk) 12:51, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

The large amounts on the Watergate burglars are used as proof that they were criminals in the article on them. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.194.4.21 (talk) 09:56, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Actually, your comments on Oswald's lack of cash got me thinking. A man who is planning to assassinate the president knows in advance that he will have to make his escape after the deed is performed. And that same person, even if he is borderline nutty, realises that to leave town and hide out, he needs cash-and plenty of it. As you point out, Oswald had no cash on him, nor was any large amount of money found at his rooming house. How did he plan on getting away without money? He could have robbed Tippit once he killed him, in order to obtain cash but did not. He was obviously counting on help from others, whose names we'll probably never discover.--jeanne (talk) 13:08, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Oswald left $170 (that's about a month's take home pay for him) and his wedding ring with Marina the night before the assassination. He was clearly expecting to go away the next day, and maybe never come back. At this point, he was carrying out a meticulous plan of some kind. After the assassination, he knew he was in trouble, but he actions showed no coherent planning at all. But consider, if his plan was to kill the President and then escape the SBD, everything has gone perfectly. After that he has no plan? It doesn't add up. Joegoodfriend (talk) 01:18, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Maybe Oswald never expected to escape the Texas School Book Depository, and was surprised he was able to walk out. — Walloon (talk) 04:32, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

No, it doesn't add up. Nothing does. One explanation only provokes another question. Perhaps he was to meet up with someone inside the TSBD who never showed?--jeanne (talk) 05:22, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Oswald seems to be lurching back and forth between having a plan and not having one a lot around here. First, he's resigned to being caught after the crime. Then, he instead executes a plan to both hide some evidence and escape the building, flying down the stairs at a break-neck pace. Then suddenly he has no plan whatsoever, walking away from the SBD, catching a bus at random, then leaving the bus to unhurriedly catch a cab ride, pick up a gun at home and then jog aimlessly around Dallas. Something's amiss here. Joegoodfriend (talk) 07:42, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Joe, that editor did start me thinking about Oswald's lack of money. That is definitely a clue that he was expecting aid from othe quarters. One does not escape without ready cash. Had he decided at the last minute to run off, instead of just waiting to be caught at the TSBD, he would have realsied his need for cash. He obviously had no money at his rooming house. So, when he shoots Tippit, who probably had money on him, why didn't he rob him after shooting him? I believe when he discovered his friends had abandoned him, and were to let him take the rap for the assassination, he fell apart and didn't know what to do or whereto go. Don't you remember that film No Way Out with Kevin Costner and Sean Young?--jeanne (talk) 07:55, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Mannlicher-Carcano rifle

The section about the rifle is titled "Mannlicher-Carcano rifle", yet the article states above "purchased a 6.5 mm caliber Carcano rifle (also improperly called Mannlicher-Carcano) by mail order".

Mannlicher should be removed, as its misleading.12.152.67.72 (talk) 15:50, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

Oswald/Hidell purchased a 6.5 Italian Carbine (6.5mm Carcano Model 1938). The Klein's Sporting Goods ad that Oswald/Hidell ordered from listed the gun as "6.5 Italian Carbine." Common names for the Model 1938 used in the US at that time (1963) included Mannlicher-Carcano, Paraviccini Mauser and Terni (arsenal name) which tecnically speaking are misnomers. Mannlicher is not misleading, it is superfluous, and the whole parenthetical comment could be removed because there are more than one misnomer for the Model 1938 which may appear in the literature and listing one or all really adds little important. Roy F. Dunlap Ordnance Went Up Front (Samworth, 1948) was a popular reference on WWII military small arms and stated: "The basic action is the Carcano. This mechanism is a hybrid, combining both Mauser and Mannlicher features, as modified by an Italian designer named Carcano." Also Walter H.B. Smith Rifles: Volume Two of the NRA Book of Small Arms (Telegraph Press, 1948) refers to the 6.5mm Italian Rifles as Model 1891 and Model 1938. The photo of the full-sized rifle is captioned "Italian Model 1891 Paraviccini-Carcano" Paraviccini being involved in designing the Model 1891 rifle though to a lesser extent than M. Carcano. I have seen the Model 1938 listed as Terni Carbine and as Terni Rifle. To be technical, the Oswald rifle was a Series 1891 Model 1938 made at Terni arsenal in caliber 6.5mm Italian (the first Model 1938 rifles were in 7.35mm Italian). The Italians used "carbines" with 17" barrels and called the Model 1938 with 20" barrel a rifle (although in US usage 20" is still considered a carbine length barrel). Naaman Brown (talk) 20:35, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Strange World of coincidence

First may I say the evidence against Mr Oswald is overwhelming. What seems to have provoked so many suspiscions in the mind of conspiracy theorists is the strange coincidences in Lee Oswalds life. Also the fact that Lee was either a pathological liar or half the population of Dallas was against him. When Lee was a child his Uncle was a driver for Mr Carlos Marcello (House Assassinations Investigation). When Mr Marcello (who had often clashed with Mr Robert Kennedy) was asked if he had ever met Lee he said 'no'. The House Investigators found no reason to doubt his answer. When Lee was a defector in the U.S.S.R. a pilot from the same Air Base he had been stationed at in Japan Parachuted into the Soviet Union after having his plane shot from under him; Mr Francis Garry Powers. Did Mr Powers meet Mr Oswald in Japan or later in the U.S.S.R.? we do not know. When Lee was in custody he denied knowing anything about the photographs of himself holding a rifle. Tho no notes were taken of his interrogation, we are also told he denied being a member of a rifle club, he also denied bringing a large package to work on the day Mr Kennedy was shot. Either everyone els is lying or Lee did know about the photographs and Rifle etc.Johnwrd (talk) 22:31, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

The lack of reference to Judyth Vary Baker is not objective

The lack of references on the main page of Lee Harvey Oswald to the wiki page of Judyth Vary Baker is certainly perplexing. Any objective account of LHO (even on a single page) would have to at least provide need a brief summary of their alleged affair with JVB and the surrounding circumstances of their work, especially so since these have been found to be supported by a number of evidences. What makes it even more essential, is that the portrait of LHO in the light of JVB strikingly differs from the current wiki description of LHO. Schatz87 (talk) 10:51, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

There are plenty of sources supporting the claims of JVB on her wiki page. A good overview of the evidence and its implications can be found in the documentary: The History Channel: The Men Who Killed Kennedy: "The Love Affair," 2003. (as TMWKK, The Final Chapter, ep.8 The Love Affair, in 5 segments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ry3DrsN9PY&feature=PlayList&p=0ED4E37B91ABEDC4&index=0&playnext=1) Schatz87 (talk) 11:03, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

I disagree with you on two points.

Info on Baker does not belong on the LHO article because there is no evidence of a relationship between them. Their alleged relationship could instead be discussed on the Kennedy assassination theories page.

You say that there are plenty of sources supporting the claims of JVB on her wiki page. Well, what she's done is list a lot of people who she claims believe her story. So what? That's not evidence. The fact that she's failed to provide a single shred of evidence of the relationship speaks for itself. Joegoodfriend (talk) 17:29, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

First of all, there is evidence she indeed worked on the Reily Coffee Company in the summer of 1963 (see copy of her W2 form from the Reily Coffee Company in New Orleans: http://www.judythvarybaker.com/docs/The%20Coffee%20Company.htm).

Second, there is at least one surviving witness who have attested LHO and JVB knew each other well: the wife of David Lewis who worked for Guy Banister in 1963, see http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2140352666545542746.

Thus, evidence exist and failing to mention this key love affair in Oswalds life and their work connections gives an incomplete picture of Oswald.

Schatz87 (talk) 23:08, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

Christchurch Star

anyone has reliable reference about that? 93.86.91.184 (talk) 17:02, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

[4] Gamaliel (talk) 18:16, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Related deletion discussion

Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Judyth Vary Baker may be of interest to editors here. Gamaliel (talk) 13:48, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for the heads up. This is fascinating. I like the way she threatens to publically condemn wikipedia if she doesn't get her way. Joegoodfriend (talk) 17:30, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

=I see gamaliel has said Baker provided no evidence and some others say this. But references show filmed live witness from New Orleans who everyone knows, testifying Baker had a sexual relationship with Oswald. See Anna Lewis http://www.jfkmurdersolved.com/lewis.htm I really want to stay out of this, but live witness testimony does not count in Wikipedia? Anna Lewis and also Edward Haslam http://www.jfkmurdersolved.com/haslam1.htm but are not only ones on film or tape for Mrs. Baker. Mac McCullough of New Orleans is on tape. If someone has evidence they had an affair with accused assassin Oswald, and History Channel shows it, and then Mr. Haslam provides more evidence from 1972 (see his interview) then this is not fringe issue any more than biography of Carlos Bringuier is in Wikipedia really because he interacted with Oswald. As for Baker's cancer research, her young age made it remarkable and what was brought her to New Orleans while only age 19. She was first high school student ever allowed at national science writer's cancer research conference in 1961 and was guided by Nobel Prize winners in her research which is unusual age 17. There were hundreds of newspaper articles about her 1961. I am sorry Mrs. Baker got upset, but this has been a bad experience for her, be glad it not happen to you. I need her English skills to continue editing many articles so hope she will still help me. Allan M. truehistoryjvbaTruehistoryjvba (talk) 14:14, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

"If someone has evidence..then this is not fringe issue"

If two people or ten people go on television and claim that they saw the cow jump over the moon, that does not constitute reliable evidence that the cow jumped over the moon. That is particularly the case if those same people have radically changed their story over time and admitted to not telling the truth about it in the past.

"She was first high school student ever allowed at national science writer's cancer research conference in 1961 and was guided by Nobel Prize winners in her research which is unusual age 17."

Really? According to the 1961 article that mentions Judyth on jfkmurdersolved.com, Judyth was one of a "a group of 66 high school students (who) started work at the cancer research institute under grants supplied by the State of New York and the National Science Foundation." Joegoodfriend (talk) 15:26, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

The lead

I removed a couple of bits from the lead[5] but was reverted in the name of consensus.[6] So, in the spirit of WP:BRD, I will come here to discuss my edits. I believe that my edits clear up a few basic problems with the lead:

• The first sentence is a contradiction—it states that Oswald was the assassin according to three government investigations. However, one of the cited investigations was the HSCA, which found that Oswald was one of at least two assassins.
• Oswald was the assassin based on the vast majority modern and reliable scientific evidence. The first sentence (probably accidentally) implies that only the three government investigations conclude that he was Kennedy's assassin.
• Why even mention the HSCA in the lead? Its conclusions derived from misinterpreted evidence and have been discredited by modern science.

I can foresee reasonable debate on my latter two points, but the first sentence should not contradict itself; it has to be changed. Ice Cold Beer (talk) 06:51, 3 August 2009 (UTC)

• As I recall, the HSCA concluded that Oswald was the shooter and may have had assistance from persons unknown, including possibly a grassy knoll shooter who missed. Even if you accept the HSCA's mentioning of possibilities and probabilities as conclusions, that still leaves Oswald as the one who killed JFK.
• If you can reword it to include scientific/historical consensus, I would support that depending on the wording.
• I agree but 1) the conspiracy set would vociferously object and 2) we can't really ignore the HSCA and the conspiracy stuff, we have to address it, even if it is all nonsense. Gamaliel (talk) 14:38, 3 August 2009 (UTC)

I'm not suggesting that we ignore the conspiracism, although I have to admit I don't care if the conspiracy theorists object; we don't have to cater to them. Perhaps it would be best to mention the HSCA but put their findings in the appropriate context. Ice Cold Beer (talk) 18:57, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

It would be tough to form a consensus without catering to them in some form. The HSCA stuff is further fleshed out and given context in the body of the article as is appropriate via WP:LEAD. Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 20:41, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Recommend that the lead not be changed.

one of the cited investigations was the HSCA, which found that Oswald was one of at least two assassins. The word assassin is used in the context of person or persons who caused JFK's death. All the government investigations concluded that this was Oswald only.

Oswald was the assassin based on the vast majority modern and reliable scientific evidence. -and- (the HSCA's) conclusions derived from misinterpreted evidence and have been discredited by modern science. I don't agree with these statements. In any case, they are subjective. I could counter-point them with opposite conclusions using equally "modern science."

To put this as politely as possible: I agree with Gamaliel on the need for a balance of viewpoints in the article. Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:41, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Why not use the words presumed assassin in the lead, which is what the Italian media always call Oswald. They never say the assassin.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 16:10, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

'editorial' about logical fallacy

Hi, All.

Earlier today, I added this brief paragraph to the article's "Investigations" section, just before the "Possible motives" subsection:

A common logical fallacy is the belief that, if the purported number of shooters is more than one, then the assassination was necessarily the result of conspiracy. That is akin to believing that the involvement of two automobiles in an accident must mean that their drivers conspired to collide.

A while later, Ice Cold Beer removed the paragraph, describing it as an "editorial".

I believe that the paragraph (1) is relevant; (2) was fairly appropriately placed; and (3), in light of how frequently the fallacy is expressed by all sorts (those who believe Oswald acted alone, those who believe Oswald was not the assassin, and those who believe that Oswald conspired with others), is prudent to include. We have all kinds of people—laymen, legislators, jurists, authors, scientists, &c.—who, when discussing this issue, utter statements to the effect of "If there was a second shooter, then, by definition, you have a conspiracy."

Wikipedia has countless prudently placed corrections of logical fallacies. It should have this one, too.

(I was going to suggest that another explication I wrote might be considered to be more in line with the tone of an encyclopedia. I added it to another Wikipedia article today; but my present search for that edit is fruitless, leading me to believe that there is some delay in the addition of certain items to "my watchlist" and/or "my contributions".)

(If you do reply, please, notify me at my own Talk page, too.)

President Lethe (talk) 22:17, 6 September 2009 (UTC)

Use of Alleged

Alleged assassin should be used in the lead as there is reasonable doubt as to Oswald's sole culpability in the assassination, which was also the verdict the House Committee reached.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 13:53, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

There really isn't any doubt amongst people who take the evidence seriously. Ice Cold Beer (talk) 08:54, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Which evidence are you talking about? The 90 second time frame from the fatal shot on the 6th floor to the encounter with Officer Baker on the 2nd; lack of fingerprints on the window frame, pane and sill; the confused eye-witness reports, the ability for Oswald to be in Oak Cliff 40 minutes after the shooting in Dealey Plaza by the utilisation of public transport alone?!!!! I could go on. Even the House Committee admitted there was probably a conspiracy.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 09:09, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Reading the above talk page for the first time is mind-numbing. For what it is worth, it's my own view that there is indeed reasonable doubt about LHO, and the word alleged in the lede/intro is not out of line here, from what I think I understand about how Wikipedia 'should' work. However, I'm also aware that I have a lot to learn about the politics of Wikipedia.

It appears to me that this article is on the very front lines of a central ongoing struggle within the Wikipedia community itself. It also appears that adding 'alleged' in the LHO lede will not be done easily, as witnessed by the firm stand of Senior Editor and admin Gamaliel, who states his position on this article clearly above in the talk page as well as on his personal page. I also note that Ice Cold Beer is an admin; his stand appears uncompromising. What is evolving here, possibly over a period of years, is part of an ongoing discussion over what the definition of reliably sourced is.

One point I will make at the moment is that having visited Dealey Plaza and the Texas Book Depository, I noticed the plaque mounted outside on the building's wall does use the word 'allegedly' in the context we are discussing. The Wikipedia photo from the building's Wikipedia article backs this up; The wiki-link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BookDepositoryPlaque.jpg

This plaque was emplaced by the Texas Historical Commission on the site. Personally, I find that compelling in making a case. I would submit that if this word and context is good enough for the state of Texas, it is reasonable to use it in the article's lede. My cordial best wishes to all. Jusdafax (talk) 11:08, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Very well put, Jusdafax.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 11:39, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

I also have visited Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor museum. The staff inside the museum take the Oswald acted alone POV. Almost all of the visitors I happened to overhear talking did not.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 13:47, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Ah yes, the rarely-cited WP:PLAQUE policy. I've definitely changed my stance now. Well done. Ice Cold Beer (talk) 04:42, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

I think this is my favorite talk page comment ever. Gamaliel (talk) 03:46, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

I admit I am curious. Since you are an admin, should we take your comment as your interpretation of WP:Civility? I ask as a student of Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines. Thanks. Jusdafax 06:31, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

You should take it as a snarky comment reminding you to cite actual Wikipedia policies and not ones that you've made up to push conspiracist nonsense. Ice Cold Beer (talk) 02:45, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

There really isn't any doubt amongst people who take the evidence seriously.

This, of course, is not true. Many serious historians have researched and written about the fact that a strong case can be made that Oswald was not on the sixth floor at the time of the shooting. Among these are Anthony Summers, Sylvia Meagher, Mark Lane, Harold Weisberg and others I could name. Joegoodfriend (talk) 05:02, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

None of them are recognized as a serious historian outside the conspiracy community. Do any of them have credentials as scholars of history? Are they recognized by historians for their contributions? Have they done any serious historical work outside of events related to the assassination? Gamaliel (talk) 05:34, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

The version of the article we have now is fine. --John (talk) 13:40, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

None of them are recognized as a serious historian outside the conspiracy community.

This is, of course, not true.

Senator Richard S. Schweiker wrote that “Sylvia Meagher’s Accessories After the Fact was instrumental in finally causing a committee of Congress—with full subpoena power, access to classified documents, and a working knowledge of the nuances of the FBI and CIA—to take a second official look at what happened in Dallas November 22, 1963.” The FBI once stated that, “No one knows more about the assassination of President Kennedy than Harold Weisberg.” Anthony Summers is the author of scholarly works on Richard Nixon, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and several other subjects. Mark Lane successfully argued the defense of a publication sued by Howard Hunt for suggesting his involvement in the assassination.

Have you read any of these books? Do you have specific criticism to offer against the authors? If not, what is your basis for dismissing them as cranks and/or crackpots? These books examine the evidence and point out the flaws in the reasoning of the Warren Commission. They are at least as valid as the works of Posner and Bugliosi, whose work is highly touted by the pro-Warren crowd, despite the fact that they’re just a couple lawyers re-arguing the pro-Warren case. Joegoodfriend (talk) 19:23, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

We could discuss the conspiracy books I've read or the backgrounds of these authors, ranging from the amateur historian to the professional charlatan, but that's not the issue. I'm afraid the judgments of the FBI or a Miami jury or a Senator aren't the kind we use to evaluate sources. Have they convinced other serious professional and academic historians that their work is worthy of their respect and are they representative of mainstream academic thinking? Unless they have, we shouldn't be using their work as sources. Gamaliel (talk) 19:57, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”

“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”

“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master – - that’s all.” Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

I honestly don't think it matters to Gamaliel and Ice Cold Beer (and a few others) what the truth is. (If this is a misjudgement, my apologies.) In the past few days I've studied the issue of pages being "guarded" by admins or Senior Editors with a lot of juice. Short version, it's my belief that they don't care what you say, and don't have to... This is a sport, and the fix is in. Cheers, Jusdafax 20:59, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

It appears that your keen interest in the civility policy has disappeared. Gamaliel (talk) 21:08, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

Quite the contrary. Permission to speak freely... Here's how I see it. The "frame" you use in your advocacy against those who do not believe as you do is the issue I raise with the Lewis Carroll quote. Seems to me that you and ICBeer strongly feel that anyone who does not believe absolutely and without question that LHO killed JFK is a "conspiracy" nutcase. Use of words like "amateur" "serious" and "mainstream" are designed by their very nature to create a worldview that conforms to your own, and enable use of sources you approve. To quote (if I may) from your user page:

"What I'm proudest of and spent more time working on than anything else are my contributions to Lee Harvey Oswald. The Oswald entry is even mentioned in a newspaper article (broken link) on wikipedia. If you want to witness insanity firsthand, try monitoring these articles for conspiracy nonsense... " (and you provide a link to a list of articles about JFK.)

I grant you, of course, that "conspiracy nonsense" exits. But I feel lumping anyone who even has some doubts about the so-called "mainstream" view of the JFK assassination, in with people who believe he was killed by space aliens, etc. does all of us and Wikipedia itself a disservice. Again, I believe use of the word "allegedly" in the context of LHO/JFK, based on the sincere doubts that exist for many concerned people, is reasonable. To you, the case is closed. This is the nub of the current disagreement about editing this article, along with debating the interpretation of reliably sourced and who is to be the final word on it.

CONCLUSION: The wording we have now in the intro may be the closest we can come to compromise. (Unfortunately we now have two conversations going. I will discuss further below, thanks.) Jusdafax 22:59, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

On authors of published research suggesting a conspiracy: are they representative of mainstream academic thinking?

YES.

David Scheim: PhD, MIT. Edward Epstein, PhD, Harvard. Gerald McKnight, Professor, Hood College. Joan Mellen, Professor, Temple University. Cyril Wecht, MD, JD, participated in HSCA. David Wrone, Professor, U. of Wisconsin. Walt Brown, PhD, former Justice Department employee. John Newman, Professor, University of Maryland. Henry Hurt, journalist, Rockefeller Foundation. Gaeton Fonzi, Federal investigator for the HSCA. Joegoodfriend (talk) 02:44, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

Why is admin status being brought up so frequently in this section? Once we choose to involve ourselves in this article we give up our privilege of using the tools. Our admin status is completely, 100% irrelevant. Playing the David vs. Goliath card is pathetic and a distraction from the topic at hand. Ice Cold Beer (talk) 05:19, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

Re: Edits to intro by Ramsquire

I believe Ramsquire has found a good middle path with the current edit to the intro. I also like the comment with his edit: "changed intro to make it more fact based."

That, in my belief, is exactly correct. I also believe that putting as absolute fact in the opening sentence that LHO is the assassin of JFK is a misuse of Wikipedia. The way it reads now is a fact: Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was, according to three United States government investigations, the assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was fatally shot on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

The current revision, I strongly feel, reflects the essence of Wikipedia's core beliefs. This fact of this edit becomes more important than the article itself, I feel.

I believe, frankly, that those who argue for the former POV wording argue from a pre-set agenda. I call on them to admit to the basic justice of this edit, which has implications for Wikipedia that reach far beyond this article.

Bottom line: I do not know that Oswald acted alone or with others, nor do I know that he did or did not pull the trigger on Nov. 22, 1963. I do know, as Ramsquire states, that U.S. Government investigations say he did. That is a fact. Therefore the edit improves the article, and is NPOV. That, in my view, is crucial to Wikipedia. Nothing else is as important to this long-standing issue.

No one can dispute the truth of the opening sentence in Ramsquire's edit. Many would dispute the previous version. Jusdafax 17:31, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

I agree. It's much better now.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 18:36, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

And so the opening sentence returns to the way it was for years until this Aug 28 IP edit with no edit summary -- except for the placement of the ref. --JimWae (talk) 19:25, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

I was unaware of that. Aditionally, the no edit summary is of interest. I have yet to pour through the edit history here, but assuming that's the case, I contend those concerned with this matter remain involved by putting this page on their watchlist, refreshing often, and that the Ramsquire edit remain as established Wikipedia material on this high-profile article. I believe that the issue should be discussed here further, prior to making edits that state as uncontrovertable fact that LHO killed JFK. I also find the involvement of admins in this issue of interest, worthy in my view of further discussion in itself. Jusdafax 19:48, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Wow, I was unaware of this discussion when I made the edit. But yeah, I just restored what was there previously, not a big deal. As for years of consensus being undone in a flash... welcome to Wikipedia. ;) Ramsquire ^{(throw me a line)} 19:54, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

Allow me to thank you for your edit, which I see is more of a revert. Years of consensus undone in a flash is one thing (and, I now see, by an IP named, one-time editor!) but it being backed by powerful admins is another. I would especially like to hear from those involved in the discussion above. Jusdafax 20:13, 21 September 2009 (UTC)

"Powerful admins", eh? That's news to me. I don't have any strings to pull, and I've never used my admin powers on this article. If you think I'm a pernicious influence, you are welcome exercise the exact same powers I do here: editing and talk page discussion. Gamaliel (talk) 21:12, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

If I have misjudged you, Gamaliel, my sincere apologies. From what I understand of wikipedia policy, you could have blocked or even banned me already. Debating admins is a new experience for me, and one I do not seek.

To quote George Orwell, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." By this I mean that many here may experience a chilling effect with the status quo power structure in editing LHO's article. Your seeming backup of ICBeer's self-admitted "snarky" comment in the section above appears to make borderline incivility among admins toward non-admins an issue of concern in the context of what can be said and how it can be said.

Now, THAT being said, I am a fan of your work elsewhere. After a recent confrontation, it is my perhaps erroneous understanding that I should not bring discussion from other talk pages onto this one, so I will not name the page. But rest assured I don't see you as a "pernicious influence"... but as someone I have a very deep disagreement with around a few issues here. Best wishes, Jusdafax 23:23, 23 September 2009 (UTC)