L.H. Oswald Shooting by Ruby Eyewitness Account by Homicide Detective Pictured at Oswald's Right in the Iconic Photograph

Two pieces relating to James R. Leavelle (1920-2019), the Dallas Police Department Homicide Detective who is pictured in Robert H. Jackson's 1964 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald being shot by Jack Ruby. The lot is comprised of a typed letter signed by Leavelle, as well as a souvenir photograph of the shooting signed and inscribed by Leavelle.

Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963) was being led through the Dallas police station basement when he was shot at point-blank range by Jack Ruby at approximately 11:21 AM on November 24, 1963. Oswald, then a prime suspect for the murders of President Kennedy and Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit, later died of his injuries. Detective Leavelle was one of the closest eyewitnesses of Lee Harvey Oswald's shooting. As one of two police officers escorting Oswald that morning, Leavelle was literally handcuffed to him at the time of the shooting.

The lot includes:

1. 2pp typed letter signed by James Leavelle as "James R. Leavelle" at the center of the second page, and also hand-inscribed with his phone number. Written in Dallas, Texas on January 14, 1991. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope bearing Leavelle's Garland, Texas return address. Expected light paper folds, else near fine. 8.5" x 11".

Detective Leavelle provides us with a detailed account of the events which occurred in Dallas, Texas between November 22-24, 1963 from the perspective of a firsthand participant and a law enforcement agent. Besides recounting the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, Leavelle offers his recollections of the Kennedy assassination. He also refers to his interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald, and other witnesses, in building a murder case against Oswald.

In part, with original spelling and punctuation:

"On that fateful Friday of the 22nd. of November…I made the statement… 'I hope nobody takes a shot at the President because you would be unable to put enough people around him to protect him.' not realizing how soon those words would come back to haunt me…

I preceded to the Book Depository and took charge of the witnesses, until the report of the shooting of Officer Tippit came out…I was told shortly that Oswald had been arrested in the Texas Theatre…After I had been talking with Oswald about 15 minutes about the shooting of the Police Officer 'which he did not admit' Capt. Fritz came in and had Oswald listed as a suspect in the shooting of the President…For the next day and a half I spent interviewing witnesses and making a good solid murder case against Oswald for the murder of Officer Tippit.

There was a break in security of about 15 seconds that permitted Jack Ruby to enter the basement…He walked up to the entrance ramp a walk of 83 seconds caught the break in security when the officer assigned to the ramp stepped out to the curb to hold up traffic and permit a police car to leave the basement…I saw Ruby before he got the shot off and tried to pull Oswald behind me but was unsuccessful. Oswald never spoke after [he] was shot. Oswald went to his grave without ever admitting the shooting of any one."

2. A glossy black and white photograph after Robert H. Jackson's famous photo showing Oswald's shooting. Leavelle appears at left, Oswald at center, and Ruby at right. Inscribed and signed by Leavelle as: "To: Roy Hensel / James R Leavell" near the right edge. The photo is affixed to a larger mount where Leavelle has also inscribed: "I said to Lee 'Lee if any one shoots at you I hope they are as good a shot as you are.'" Expected light surface wear, else near fine. Overall measures 8.25" x 10.75".

James R. Leavelle retired from the Dallas Police Department in 1975 after 25 years of service.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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