The Assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald
Introduction
Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine and employee of the Texas School Book Depository, was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. The event sent shockwaves around the world, as Oswald was supposed to be a key witness in the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In this article, we will delve into the events leading up to Oswald’s assassination, the investigation, and the verdict.
The Events Leading Up to Oswald’s Assassination
On November 21, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald was scheduled to testify in the trial of Howard Beale, a former employee of the Texas School Book Depository who had attempted to assassinate President Kennedy in a 1962 press conference. Oswald was also due to testify in the trial of Roger Watt, a former employee of the depository who had accused Oswald of stealing a suitcase containing 57 pounds of dynamite.
On November 22, 1963, Oswald arrived at the Texas School Book Depository at 11:00 AM. At 12:30 PM, Oswald shot and killed the depository’s former employee, Coleen Twomey, who was 30 years old at the time of her death. Oswald then walked to the sixth floor of the building, where he fired a single shot into the men’s restroom, hitting police officer J.D. Tippit. Tippit was killed immediately.
The Investigation
The Dallas Police Department (DPD) immediately began investigating the shooting. They interviewed witnesses, including Oswald’s friends and acquaintances, and collected evidence from the crime scene. The DPD also interviewed Tippit’s family and friends, who described him as being nervous and agitated before the shooting.
In the following days, the DPD received a threatening letter from the "Real Lone Gunman" (later revealed to be Irving "Jack" Spring), who claimed responsibility for the shooting. Spring also provided the DPD with information about Oswald’s whereabouts at the time of the shooting.
The Gunman
On November 23, 1963, the DPD arrested Lee Harvey Oswald at a motel in East Dallas. The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald, who was carrying a rifle and wearing a helmet and camouflage uniform. The police found a 6.5mm rifle at the crime scene, which was later matched to Oswald’s rifle.
The Autopsy and Gunshot Wounds
The autopsy of Oswald’s body revealed that he had a single gunshot wound to the head, which was fatal. The police also found a small amount of dirt on Oswald’s body, which suggested that he had been shot in the head while wearing his rifle.
The Initial Verdict
On November 24, 1963, the Dallas Police Department announced that it had identified Lee Harvey Oswald as the perpetrator of the shooting. However, the case was initially set for trial in February 1964.
The Courtroom Testimony
On February 2, 1964, Oswald testified in the trial of Howard Beale, the former depository employee. Oswald claimed that he had acted alone in shooting and killing the depository employees and Tippit. However, his testimony was met with skepticism by the jury, and the prosecution argued that Oswald was mentally unstable and had planned the assassination for months.
The Impeachment of Lee Harvey Oswald
On February 14, 1964, the jury delivered a verdict of "guilty" of murder and "not guilty" of attempted murder against Oswald. The jury’s verdict was met with widespread outrage and protest, and many saw it as a miscarriage of justice.
The Jury’s Verdict in the Case of Roger Watt
In June 1964, the jury acquitted Lee Harvey Oswald of the charges of murdering Roger Watt. Watt had accused Oswald of stealing a suitcase containing 57 pounds of dynamite, which was stored in the depository’s safe room. The jury found that the prosecution had not proven that Oswald had intended to kill Watt, and that the charges of murder and attempted murder were too serious to be committed with ordinary intent.
The Assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald
In May 1964, Lee Harvey Oswald was scheduled to testify in the trial of Warren Gabriel, the former employee of the Texas School Book Depository who had accused Oswald of stealing a suitcase containing dynamite. Oswald’s testimony was not a scheduled hearing, but rather a planned apology for his past actions.
The Death of Lee Harvey Oswald
On November 24, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald was shot and killed by night club owner Jack Ruby in the basement of the Dallas Police Department headquarters. Ruby was a friend of Oswald’s and had met with him several times. He had also been a suspect in the assassination of President Kennedy, who had shot Ruby in the abdomen earlier that day.
The Aftermath
Lee Harvey Oswald’s death marked the end of an era in American history. The event was widely seen as a tragic and senseless act of violence, and it led to a shift in public opinion about the nation’s approach to the murder of the president.
Timeline of Key Events
- November 21, 1963: Lee Harvey Oswald is scheduled to testify in the trial of Howard Beale.
- November 22, 1963: Lee Harvey Oswald is shot and killed in the basement of the Dallas Police Department headquarters.
- November 23, 1963: Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested at a motel in East Dallas.
- February 2, 1964: Lee Harvey Oswald testsifies in the trial of Coleen Twomey.
- February 14, 1964: The jury delivers a verdict in the case of Roger Watt.
- June 1964: The jury acquits Lee Harvey Oswald of the charges of murdering Roger Watt.
- May 1964: Lee Harvey Oswald is scheduled to testify in the trial of Warren Gabriel.
Conclusion
The assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald was a tragic event that shocked the world. The event was widely seen as a senseless act of violence, and it marked a turning point in American history. The investigation and trial of Oswald raised questions about the government’s actions and the handling of the crime, and they had significant consequences for American society.