-Caveat Lector- -----Original Message----- From: Robert Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Newsgroups: alt.assassination.jfk,alt.conspiracy.jfk,alt.assassination.jfk.uncensored Date: Thursday, January 14, 1999 2:20 PM Subject: John Elrod Article > >This is an interesting article from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, about >John Elrod. > >As you read the article, notice that the Sheriff's office specifically >stated that, "Elrod was sober" when he came to them, and that they were >impressed enough with him to tell the FBI that he he had "information of >value". > >In fact, the local Sheriff was impressed enough with Elrod to bypass the >local FBI office and write directly to Hoover. > >Unfortunately, the FBI took a somewhat different attitude about Elrod's >story. They falsely claimed in their report, that Elrod wasn't even in the >Dallas jail on 11/22/63, and they tried to create the impression that >Elrod never mentioned Oswald's name, only referring to an "unnamed >cellmate". > >Of course, the Sheriff's report, as well as a recently discovered internal >FBI memo confirmed that they were fully aware that Elrod was talking about >Oswald. > >---------------------------------------------------- >Memphis Commercial Appeal (Nov. 10, 1997) > >By Bartholomew Sullivan > >On Aug. 11, 1964, just after midnight, a troubled man stumbled >into the Shelby County Sheriff's Department in downtown >Memphis, carrying a sawed-off shotgun. He had a story to tell >about Lee Harvey Oswald. > >John Franklin Elrod gave his story to a sergeant on duty, A. C. >Gilless. Thirty-three years later, Gilless, now sheriff, can't >recall the incident but says that, under the circumstances, >he's surprised he can't remember. > >"1964? Lord have mercy. That's 33 years ago," he said. > >What Elrod told Gilless and then the FBI could go far in >debunking the official explanation of Oswald's televised murder >two days after President John F. Kennedy was killed, according >to a new book on the case, Oswald Talked: The New Evidence in >the Kennedy Assassination. > >Among the revelations: Oswald knew his own killer, Jack Ruby. > >According to the book and documents now available from the >National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, >Elrod was Oswald's Dallas cellmate between the time the accused >assassin was arrested and the time Oswald was shot to death by >strip-club owner Ruby while being taken down to the garage of >the Dallas County jail. > >The book indicates Oswald was probably an FBI informant who'd >infiltrated a Cuban exile group that was buying stolen guns in >Texas. According to Elrod, Oswald said Ruby was part of the >gunrunning ring, as was another man paraded before the jail >cell bars for Oswald to identify, authors Mary and Ray >LaFontaine say in their book. > >A Dallas police report released to The Commercial Appeal under >the Freedom of Information Act says Elrod was arrested Nov. 22, >1963 - the day Kennedy was killed - at 2:45 p.m. "on railroad >tracks a few minutes after a radio call was dispatched that [a] >man was walking along railroad carrying a rifle. This man was >not carrying a rifle at time of arrest." He was charged with >"Inv. murder and Co. Vag.," apparently investigation of murder >and violation of the county vagrancy law. > >He was released days later and left town. What he heard Oswald >say in jail about Ruby and the gunrunners is the subject of the >book that stars Gilless in a cameo role. > >Gilless's original reaction to hearing of his involvement in >the controversy was to say the Elrod incident never occurred. > >"None of it's true," he said in a telephone interview Oct. 16. >"I've heard from several people who read that book and asked me >about it but I can assure you none of that happened." > >But shown the documents from the National Archives last week, >Gilless acknowledged his signature on an urgent letter to J. >Edgar Hoover, then the FBI director. > >"Apparently I had some contact with him (Elrod) because I wrote >this letter and signed it," he said. "But in those days I >processed many, many people through this jail." > >Gilless's letter to Hoover was itself unusual, Gilless says. > >"I wrote that letter apparently directly to Hoover, and I don't >know why I did that, rather than call the local office. I don't >know why I don't remember that." > >Gilless's letter to Hoover reads in part: "This subject walked >into our office at approximately 12:30 a.m. this date and >stated he had information concerning the murder of Lee Oswalt >(sic). He had with him a travel bag which contained a sawed-off >shot gun. The local office of the FBI has been informed of this >subject and stated they would conduct an investigation. Please >wire reply collect. Yours truly, Alton C. Gilless Jr." > >Hoover did reply, in a memo dated Aug. 12 and corrected by a >different typewriter to read Aug. 13. The director wrote simply >that Elrod had a rap sheet with the FBI but was not wanted. > >The FBI's local office also was involved in talking to Elrod. >In another National Archives document, Special Agent Joseph M. >Brewi writes to an unidentified "SAC" or special agent in >charge that Shelby County Sheriff's Capt. R. G. McEllroy called >him about Elrod. McEllroy died in 1982. > >"(Elrod) claimed he had information re the death of Oswald and >wanted to get it off his chest. McEllroy added that Elrod was >sober and he, McEllroy, thought Elrod may have some information >of value," Brewi wrote. > >The LaFontaines, Dallas-based journalists who found and >identified the suspicious "three tramps" photographed walking >in police custody shortly after the Kennedy assassination, say >they, too, are surprised Gilless can't recall the Elrod >interview. > >The couple say Elrod, now 64, fears for his life, doesn't have >a phone and doesn't want to talk about the incident. They >interviewed him on an island in the Mississippi River north of >Memphis but won't say whether he's still there. By agreement, >they won't reveal his whereabouts. > >-- >Check out my website, The JFK Assassination Home Page >http://www.thuntek.net/jfk/ > >the FTP site is: >ftp://ftp.thuntek.net/pub/users/sub/reharris/ > DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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