[8] Jim Marrs, Crossfire (Carroll & Graf. Mr. DODD - Talking about hours afterwards or a day afterwards? 359-360, 386-387. Was there something more to this move than meets the eye? We publish here the Wilcott affidavit and interrogation by the HSCA, declassified by the Assassination Records Review Board. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Anyone e1se? He was not questioned by the Warren Commission. Mr. GOLDSMITH - How did you know, in 1963, what type of security precautions the Warren Commission had for conducting its investigation? Mr. WILCOTT - At least -- there was at least six or seven people, specifically, who said that they either knew or believed Oswald to be an agent of the CIA. Thank you for your kind words and interest. 2 AM, Nov. 23. ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY It could be a hoax, but sounds sincere. every CIA Case Officer who worked XXXXXXXXXX in 1963? And their security that there is in the Government didn't strike me as the kind of security that would keep me from getting attacked in some way, if someone wanted to do it. Did you contact any CIA officer or employee with respect to the secrecy oath and discuss with them whether or not you should be permitted to discuss these matters outside of the Agency? Retired TSBD vice president Ochus Campbell said the move took place about five years prior to the assassination. Three of the seven boxes appear in a photograph in his book. When Doug Kellner answered the phone, I described to him the contents of the letter. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Drawing your attention to the period immediately after the assassination of President Kennedy, at that time, did you come across any information concerning Lee Harvey Oswald's relationship with the CIA? Roy Truly was, up to the time of his death in 1985, continuously frightened by "federal authorities." Below is an obituary from the Austin American-Statesman published on Dec. 15, 2019. or C.I.A. Their apartment looked as if no one had ever lived in it. No doubt the police asked Shelley a lot of questions, and it is possible that they kept him in custody until he gave satisfactory answers. As far as I know, the unknown Dallas author who interviewed has not published his book. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, he mentioned the cryptonym specifically under which the money was drawn. This man said that a large wooden box, 36 x 48 x 60 inches, was used to import arms into the building, one with a false bottom. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. There are photos of him getting into a police car along with Bonnie Ray Williams and Daniel Arce. that I had at my gate, and I did that with cryptonyms from time to time for something -- we would want to check back into their accounting for something. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Very generally now, what were your responsibilities as a finance employee with the agency? ). Whether they are there now or not is hard to say. He was not questioned by the Warren Commission. Dr. King was killed by one rifle shot fired from in front of him. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Why did you go back to look at the book? Mr. WILCOTT - Very briefly it did, yes, in what was finally published. anyone? By comparing the window next to them, which measured 14 inches off the floor, one box was about 15 x 30 x 60 inches, and thus had an estimated capacity of 15 cubic feet. Mr. CORNWELL - Do you recall whether or not you used that in the process of looking through the 30-day book you described? The CIA then told him a story of how someone could be thrown out of a plane without a parachute and the CIA would protect them. Mr. GOLDSMITH - At the time you went to look at the book, Oswald was already dead is that correct? Mr. GOLDSMITH - When was the first time that you alleged in public that Oswald was a CIA agent. In 1984, they began sending tapes of their programs to public access channels in Dallas and San Antonio and then to other cities around the country, hence the name of the umbrella organization, the Alternative Information Network. From June of 1960 to June of 1964, I was stationed at XXXXXXX Station, and my primary duty was finance and cash disbursements. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And are you saying then that you attempted to investigate this allegation? Mr. WILCOTT - I cannot remember. Mr. WILCOTT - Surely, sir. The fact that he went and got his gun afterwards and then walked to the Texas Theater, perhaps to meet with someone, this suggests that he had some kind of agenda to fulfill. We appreciate that, and if at, any time you think of any further way in which your testimony can be corroborated or the name of any other CIA man or any record or anything of that sort that might be available we hope you will get in touch with us and let us know about it. Missing evidence could be attributed to the systematic destruction of anything contrary to the official version. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. As Rose points out, this is a bit odd also, since most of the building witnesses were taken to the sheriffs office, which was much closer to the TSBD than police headquarters. [7] Through some insider intrigue, a saleslady at Neiman Marcus found out what Jacqueline Kennedy was going to wear the day of her arrival in Dallas. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, there were several other incidents that I believe could possibly be somehow connected with CIA. If you have something -- I was in too much of a hurry to remember what the three men looked like. Mr. WILCOTT - The specific incident was soon after the Kennedy assassination, where an agent, a Case Officer -- I am sure it was a Case Officer -- came up to my window to draw money, and he specifically said in the conversation that ensued, he specifically said, "Well, Jim, the money that I drew the last couple of weeks ago or so was money," either for the Oswald project or for Oswald. However, please contact me before mentioning my name to anyone. Mine was a happenstance meeting and short, casual friendship with a man who appeared to have fallen through the cracks. GLAZE, Elzie Dean Age 66, is celebrated by his family for his compassion, humor and willingness to help family, friends and the world at large. Wilcott worked in the accounting department and was in charge of disbursement of cash funds. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir, early 1964. Mr. WILCOTT - The principal reason. Mr. WILCOTT - No, sir. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Can you give the Committee the names of any persons who might corroborate your allegation? Mr. GOLDSMITH - Could you give an example of that? Shelleys claim that he was an intelligence officer would make sense if, as an ROTC lieutenant, he received intelligence training and perhaps even given some assignments in counterespionage. Which seems to be an odd premise, especially since, as Jerry Rose pointed out in his article, Important to Hold that Man there were at least 14 people missing from the building at the time; and they would not return until 1:30 PM. Mr. DODD - After the assassination actually occurred? Mr. WILCOTT - They would have summaries of some sort. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, they did. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And how did that come to your attention: Obviously, my handwriting has long been broken down. Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many people have you spoken to that said that Oswald was an agent of the CIA, to the best of your recollection? Mr. GOLDSMITH - With whom? Afterwards, Joe visited him in his office and could hardly believe the change that came over him. Jerry Fox, SR Branch, Soviet Russia Branch -- Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. A puzzling aspect of Glazes 1989 letter was his reference to the book depository having moved to a location near the intersection of Royal Lane and Interstate 35. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir. Mr. CORNWELL - When this cryptonym was given to you by the officer, did any part of it ring any familiar note with you? They appear to be members of the security staff described by Joe Bergin, Jr. Glazes letters add a further detail that they were members of the FBI. House of Representatives, SILENCED! Considering the far-reaching extent of control over so many occupations in American society, the CIA could very well have infiltrated the schoolbook depositories and their associated publishers. We publish here the Wilcott affidavit and interrogation by the HSCA, declassified by the Assassination Records Review Board. This was all cash payments and record keeping for the station. John F. Kennedy Subcommittee DL 100-10461. Mr. WILCOTT - That is right. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir; I believe that happened. Considering the noise of gun blasts and the uproar going on outside, it is odd that Oswald continued to be unconcerned. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And a copy of the relevant House Resolutions? The incident occurred in about 1969. Of all times to break down, my typewriter chose tonight to do it. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. Mr. WILCOTT - Certainly with George Breen, XXXXXXXXXXX the circle of social friends that we had. Mr. WILCOTT - Did you vote for President Kennedy? Here, by your own testimony, you were supportive of the President, and certainly the most significant tragedy, I think, probably in the last 15 years or 20 years was the assassination of President Kennedy, and you are told by some who worked for the Agency that Oswald was a CIA agent and you already were dissatisfied with the actions of the Agency and you are told this in 1964 and yet it takes four, years, or two years, after you had left the Agency, recognizing the tremendous import and significance of that, and I am terribly confused as to why you decided to keep that information to yourself and to your wife. Mr. WILCOTT - The first time I heard about Oswald being connected in any way with CIA was the day after the Kennedy assassination. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir. Mr. WILCOTT - I really don't know. [13], (As an aside, CIA officer William Harvey worked for Bobbs-Merrill in the last years of his life as a law editor.[14]). Mr. WILCOTT - That is true, sir. Mr. CORNWELL - Did they tell you whether or not you passed the polygraphs? Upon request, the National Archives sent me a copy of the letter. That would be William Shelley, who Oswald worked under for six weeks as an order filler for the Texas School Book Depository (TSBD). Towards the end of my tour of duty, I heard certain things about Oswald somehow being connected with the agency, and I didn't really believe this when I heard it, and I thought it was absurd. He was an accomplished journalist and author and had worked as a radio engineer in his early career. Mr. DODD - In. Copyright 2016-2022 by kennedysandking.com All Rights Reserved. He was not questioned by the Warren Commission. Mr. WILCOTT - I was able to but I never did. Mr. DODD - You may have covered this as well, Mr. Chairman, and, if you have, I will drop the question. Mr. GOLDSMITH - I realize this is testimony 15 years after the fact. Garner went on to say that at the same time, around 1969, William Shelley quit the book depository and began working for Scott Foresman. Mr. WILCOTT - I am sorry? We appreciate your being here today, Mr. Wilcott. I will give my card to the Committee. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Your book. Mr. DODD - And your dissatisfaction with the Agency and with the course of American government preceded the actual assassination of President Kennedy? You may have noticed that at the end of my letter to Alternative Views I carbon-copied to my will. It was intended as a jab at myself lest I get too full of myself rereading it 50 years from now. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you ever bring your allegation to the attention of anyone in the CIA? That would have put it into 1964? Present: Representatives Preyer (presiding), Dodd and Sawyer. Mr. CORNWELL - Your best memory is, you wrote it on a note paid, is. Mr. CORNWELL - What routinely was done with such note pads? And perhaps even having people inside the TSBD as assets. I apologize." So, when the Case Officer made reference to a cryptonym, you didn't know whether the cryptonym referred to Oswald specifically or to a project in which Oswald had been involved is that correct? As many JFK researchers know, James Wilcott was a CIA accountant from May 1957 through April 1966. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And in what general capacity did you work with the CIA? Wilcott lost a good job after leaving the CIA after his employer was told he would soon be under incitement when he wasnt and never was. As mentioned, I was forced to flee Dallas until another day. And I think that is why I probably heard a lot more things than other people did, for instance, than my wife did, because of that situation. Mr. WILCOTT - Dozens, literally dozens. Mr. WILCOTT - Not at this time. For many years he assisted organizations that helped veterans, monitored the nuclear power industry, and worked to ensure basic human rights. Mr. GOLDSMITH - During what years did you work for the CIA? Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many people from the CIA did you speak to who speculated that Oswald was an agent? WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1978 During a phone conversation, he told me that he had a letter that mentioned Shelley joining the CIA. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And what did he tell you the cryptonym was? Mr. DODD - And the information given you occurred sometime three months after the actual assassination. He refused to let me quote him or use his name in print. I had been involved at one point with a group civil rights group, and they had investigated it and said that there was no wrongdoing on my part as far a this association with the civil rights group. During this same time, I also met and spoke with relevant employees who later worked for Lee Harvey Oswalds supervisor after the assassination of President Kennedy. She planned to wear it that Friday evening at a social gathering. Copyright 2016-2022 by kennedysandking.com All Rights Reserved. Mr. WILCOTT - Well, I believed it to be a little more than speculation, that the source at least of this kind of talk was, I believe, to be something more serious than speculation. James Wilcott worked out of the Tokyo CIA station at the time of the assassination. Mr. CORNWELL - Had you done anything or said anything engaged in any activity which became of concern to them? 3 By James Mathis and Martha Wagner Murphy Enlarge A photograph from Warren Commission exhibits shows the open limousine that carried President and Mrs. Kennedy through downtown Dallas. At my request, he sent me a copy. Mr. CORNWELL - But your testimony or your statements on the subject hadn't been made a matter of publicity on any other occasion? William Weston began researching the assassination of President Kennedy in 1992, after making a comparison of Anthony Summers excellent book Conspiracy to a book defending the official version called Final Disclosure by David Belin. She said that there is a whole lot more to tell about the TSBD than what has been publishedthat the whole building should be suspected as more or less of a safe base to operate from that day in November 1963.[9]. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir. It was not until 1999 that I spoke to someone who could solve this apparent discrepancy. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And your testimony has been truthful and candid? Mr. CORNWELL - Did any event cause any disagreement between you and the Agency? While working as a journalist in Dallas, Tx. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. (2009), James W. Douglass explains this in detail, including the James Wilcott story. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Were you ever able to check those particular files? Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir. Mr. WILCOTT - Usually I threw them away at the end of the day or once in a while I would put it in -- I had a little folder where I kept personal things and it is possible I could have out it in there, but certainly it would have bee destroyed when I left. Mr. Shelly claims to have been an intelligence officer during World War II and thereafter joined the CIA. I did not pay attention to this at the time. Mr. CORNWELL - What group was it? Mr. DODD - Am I to believe by that that you were not aware at the time you made the disbursement that it was, in fact, an Oswald project? During the period, it was unvouchered funds, and my duties were general accounting, and my rate in status was GS-5. Mr. WILCOTT - Well, from May of 1957 to January of 1960 - Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, did I ask you to prepare a list of CIA Case Officers working at XXXXXXXXX Station in 1963? On November 22, 1963, there were sixty-nine people working in the building at 411 Elm Streetthirty-three for the TSBD and forty-six for the publishers. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I did. It was a total loss. I asked the first man I sawa man who was telephoning from a pillar in the middle of the roomwhere I could call from. We will. Mr. PREYER - Well, that is the other question that I want to be very sure on. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you have a personal opinion as to how or for what purpose the CIA might have handled any projects that involved Lee Harvey Oswald? Mr. WILCOTT - XXXXXXXXXXXXX (spelling). Did you write it down or do anything? Mr. GOLDSMITH - Where is Concord located? Mr. PREYER - That was shop talk, speculation, I gather; people were saying that the CIA is somehow connected with it. The day after, perhaps, two or three weeks after, the kind of talk was that CIA was somehow connected. [26] FBI report of Oswald at the police station, Warren Report, p. 619. In the mid-1970s, the band employed a ten-piece orchestra to back them up. In 1999, a friend and fellow researcher named Steve Gaal discovered among the listings of the JFK assassination section of the National Archives website a notice of a letter written by a Mr. Glaze to the HSCA. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did this Case Officer tell you what Oswald's cryptonym was? as members of the F.B.I., approached the two new employees at work & took them to an empty room inside the building. The significance of Glazes 1989 letter is that it provides a tantalizing piece of information which may indicate a covert side to the depository itself. Also Present: Elizabeth Berning, Chief Clerk, and Charles Berk, Betsy Wolf and James Wolf. Mr. PREYER - The committee will resume. It achieved commercial success in 1970 with a hit song called "Mr. Bojangles. In 1992, the band was still active, touring the country and recording albums. Can you recall whether the tone of it was rumor or shop talk or was the tone of it that "this is true"? - when was the day after the actual assassination go back to look at the book, Oswald already!, DODD and Sawyer mr. PREYER - that was shop talk, speculation, I described to the... 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