Description:

Lee Harvey Oswald Captor James R. Leavelle Recalls Oswald's Shooting

A small archive relating to James R. Leavelle (1920-2019), the Dallas Police Department Homicide Detective who was accompanying Lee Harvey Oswald through the Dallas police station basement when the latter was fatally shot by Jack Ruby. Accompanied by the original auction description and Bill of Sale from History In Ink: Historical Autographs (Springfield, Missouri) dated October 19, 2005.

The lot includes:

1. A 2pp letter signed by James Leavelle as "James R. Leavelle" at the bottom of the second page. Written in Garland, Texas on January 4, 2001. The first page of the account is actually a photocopy of the original, which Leavelle presumably kept in error, but the second page is the original printed on an ink jet printer. In mint condition without any paper folds. 8.5" x 11."

Leavelle--as one of two police officers escorting Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963) through the basement, and literally handcuffed to Oswald at the time the latter was shot--was one of the closest eyewitnesses of the shooting. Oswald was shot at point-blank range by Jack Ruby at approximately 11:21 AM on November 24, 1963. Oswald, then a prime suspect for the murders of President Kennedy and Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit, later died of his injuries.

Detective Leavelle recounts in part: "The question most often asked me is, 'What went through your mind at the time of the shooting in the basement?' And if I saw Ruby before the shot was fired? I did see Jack Ruby as he stepped from the crowd and take the two short steps and double auction the shot into Oswald. I later timed it with film from TV Cameras that recorded the event and it took only a fraction over one second for him to step out and fire the shot. You cannot do much in that length of time…"

Detective Leavelle provides us with recollections of what happened in Dallas, Texas in November 1963 from the perspective of a firsthand participant and a law enforcement agent. Besides recounting the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, Leavelle describes his interrogations of Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby, discounts prevalent Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, and even mentions Oliver Stone's controversial feature length film "JFK."

2. A partly printed questionnaire of five questions, hand-inscribed with approximately 53 words in Leavelle's hand. Trimmed at top.

Of most interest are questions #3 and #4. When asked, "In your opinion what were Jack Ruby's motive[s] for the shooting?," Leavelle replied: "He told me he wanted to be A hero I belive [sic] him." And in response to the question, "How has this event changed or affected your life?," Leavelle answered: "It has taught me how to sign autographs not much else."

James R. Leavelle retired from the Dallas Police Department in 1975 after 25 years of service.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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August 25, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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