Oswald in the doorway: the blog of the Oswald Innocence Campaign, by Ralph Cinque

Imagine if Mark Lane had forced his way into the PD and demanded to consult with Oswald as his lawyer. Say he used Marguerite as his authorization, that she hired him to defend her son. A mother is a pretty close family member, isn't she? 

And if they gave him a hard time about it, he could have pointed out that there were no other lawyers stepping forward. And if they got Robert Oswald or even Marina Oswald to object, Lane could point out that they weren't arranging any legal help for Lee. 

So, it's fun for me to imagine what that meeting between Mark Lane and Lee Harvey Oswald would have been like:

Lane: Did you do this? Did you shoot the President?

Oswald. No, I did not not.

Lane: Did you shoot Officer Tippit?

Oswald: No, I did not.

Lane: Where were you when the President was shot?

Oswald: I was in the doorway. There were other people there: Shelley, Lovelady, Frazier, and others. I wasn't really with them. I keep to myself around here. But, I presume they saw me.

Lane: (reaches into his briefcase and takes out a newspaper) Is this you?

Oswald: (takes the paper; looks at it wide-eyed) Yes, that's me. But, it's a weird image. They did something to it. It doesn't look entirely like me, but that is me. It's definitely my clothes. And hey, that is where I was, so it has to be me. 

Lane: How did you wind up in the lunch room after the shooting? 

Oswald: Bill Shelley told me to go there and wait. He is my supervisor, and I do what he tells me. 

Lane: Do you have any idea who did this?

Oswald: I don't have any concrete knowledge, no. Nobody told me anything. But, I know people who do this kind of thing in other countries and other parts of the world. For instance, if you want a name, there is David Atlee Phillips. But again, nobody said a word to me about killing President Kennedy. Not a word. 

Lane: Is it your rifle they found on the 6th floor?

Oswald: No. As I told police, I don't own a rifle. And their claim that I ordered one from Chicago is totally bogus. I did not.  

Lane: Did you come to work with a large package?

Oswald: No. I came to work with a small package: my lunch. And if you go to the lunch room, the paper bag should still be there in the trash can.

Lane: Did you say anything to Frazier about needing to get curtain rods? 

Oswald: No. Why would I do that? My boarding room has got curtains hanging. I don't know where he got that from. 

Lane: Alright, now listen. First of all, I believe you. Second, it's obvious that you are being framed and that very powerful people in this country wanted the President dead. They couldn't just kill him because it's unAmerican to do that. The U.S. isn't some banana republic. So, they concocted this story that you are a deranged lunatic who did it out of bitterness, resentment, etc. Now, here's what I am going to do:

First, I am going to demand a hearing with the judge concerning the conditions of your detention and your safety. I'll argue for your release on bail on the grounds that we can arrange security for you better than the Dallas Police can, that resentment against you within the community and within the Dallas Police Department is high. The judge is not likely to honor it, but I want to get it on the record that we don't consider you to be safe, and the idea of an accident or security breach that results in an attack on you looms large. And to you, I say: be 100% vigilant at all times. 

Second, I need to impress the judge that because of the gravity of the situation and the risk to you, that the wheels of justice can't turn slowly in this case, that we need to have preliminary hearing within days, in which all of the State's evidence against you is made available to me, your lawyer. 

Third, what do you know about your family's situation?

Oswald: Just that Marina and the children are living with Ruth Paine, and I presume that will continue to do that. Do you know anything otherwise?

Lane: I know that Dallas Police have swarmed the Paine house and are rifling through your possessions.  What can you tell me about Marina? Is she one to stand up to police, assert her rights, etc.?

Oswald: No, I wouldn't say so. She comes from a country where people live in fear of the State.  What should we tell her to do?

Lane: Again, we need to assert that her safety is best provided by private security which we can arrange. We can't allow them to harbor and detain her at a time that they are coming after you for double murder. You can't prosecute a man while holding his wife. 

Oswald: Of course, you realize that I don't have any money- nothing that could buy that. 

Lane: Don't worry about the money. I'll take care of it. 

Oswald: Why are you doing this?

Lane: I was a friend of President Kennedy, and I am not going to let the people who killed him get away with it. 

Alright, now I have motions to file. I have papers prepared which you need to sign, authorizing me to be your lawyer. 

He takes out papers, and they go through the motions of getting them signed.

I want you to tell them that you refuse to undergo any further questioning unless I am present. Will you do that?

Oswald: Yes. I'll do anything you say.

Lane: Good. So, don't talk to them, but do continue declaring your innocence to the press. You're doing a good job of that. 

Oswald: OK. I will. 

Lane: Otherwise, you just have to keep your eyes and ears open. You have to scan constantly for threats. I am going to immediately demand that they provide you a bullet-proof jacket.  

Oswald: OK. I understand.

I intend to visit you every day. And I want you to know that I am going to be working on this 24/7. 

Oswald: I am very grateful. 

Lane: And if they demand something from you that makes you uncomfortable or seems risky to you, don't hesitate to demand to see me. 

Oswald: I will.

Lane: Alright then. I'm going now. Be strong, Lee. You're not alone any more. We are going to make hell for them. Holy Hell. Trust me.

Oswald: I do.