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

 Russ Lattime brought up a valid question, which he cited as an objection to what I'm claiming about Ruby's hair being altered in his photos because Bookhout wore a thick wig at the Garage Spectacle. The question was fair, but his intentions weren't, as I will explain.

But first, you need to realize that there is a hierarchy when it comes to evidence; that some pieces of evidence carry more weight than others. And, the fact is that evidence sometimes conflicts. So, knowing what trumps what is crucially important.

In this case, we are comparing a THEORETICAL behavioral concern (why Ruby's family didn't scream Bloody Murder when they saw the altered images of him in the newspapers) with ACTUAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (his obviously and certainly altered photos).

You know how in the children's game rock-paper-scissors that rock breaks scissors, paper covers rock, and scissors cut paper. Well, in this case, the existence of the altered photos trumps the peculiar fact that his family didn't say anything about it.

So, why didn't they say anything? Here's what I think. First, they were being coddled by the authorities. They were allowed to visit Jack in prison as much as they wanted, and quite freely. He had visitors coming and going. And they gave Ruby very comfortable accommodations. He was NOT put in the general prison population. There were lies told, such as that Ruby was in a maximum security cell, with the light on 24 hours a day. Bull shit. Ruby was given the most comfortable and relaxed conditions the prison could provide. Like the maitre-d of a posh hotel, Sheriff Bill Decker visited Ruby once a week to make sure he had everything he needed. The Dallas Sheriff Office took such good care of Ruby that his family had no complaints. They certainly weren't going to fuss about some photos, strange as they were.

And remember that they weren't in a mindset to doubt that he did it. Like everyone else, they just accepted it because their minds had nowhere else to go. If not Jack, who? They didn't know about James Bookhout, and they couldn't conceive of him. If Ruby's cunning lawyers couldn't conceive of a James Bookhout masquerading as Ruby, how could his family? The disease of Americana had everyone in its grip.

So, they assumed, unequivicaly, that Ruby did it. So, even if his pictures in the paper looked odd, so what? Why complain? It might rock the boat for the cushy conditions he was getting.

In The Godfather, there was a mobster named Frank Pentangeli who got arrested and was going to testify against Michael Corleone to a Senate Organized Crime Committee. But then, he saw his brother from Sicily in the audience, whom Michael Corleone had flown out. Instantly, Frank changed his mind about testifying and said he knew nothing about the Corleone crime family. Then later on in the story, Tom Hagen visited Pentangeli at the cushy prison where he was being held. They walked the spacious grounds. There was no one else around; just the two of them. They smoked fine cigars. And then Tom informed Pentangeli that he was expected to commit suicide, that his family would be taken care of for life, etc.

Later, back at his "cell" which was more like a spacious apartment, his guards were waiting for him to come out and play cards with them, but he was in the bathtub, dead, his wrists having been slit and the warm water running over.

Well, that reminded me of Ruby's treatment at the County Jail. And ironically, his guards played cards with him too.

So, don't be snowed by people like Lattime. The fact is that Jack Ruby had very little hair on top, and his photos were altered. And the reason they were altered is because James Bookhout wore a thick wig. His family didn't say anything because their radar was down, and they had other concerns that seemed far more important. What I'm telling you is the truth.