OSWALD'S LEGAL RIGHTS I

June 25, 2012


WHITEWASH-the report on the Warren Report by Harold Weisberg, Chapter 7: Oswald's Legal Rights I


Knoxville, Tennessee (JFKASSASSINATION) Today this blog begins our report on Chapter 7 of Harold Weisberg's book "Whitewash--the report on the Warren Report", published in 1965. 

The title of Chapter 7 is Oswald's Legal Rights.


Harold Weisberg proposes in this chapter to assess whether or not LEE HARVEY OSWALD'S legal rights as an American citizen were pheld during his custody by the Dallas Police Department.


He says that with the publication of the WARREN REPORT, the MEDIA assured us that Oswald's rights had not been compromised.


Weisberg argues that "a careful analysis of the report" proves that that assurance was unfounded.


It is Weisberg's view that the Commission did nothing to address the issue of Oswald's legal rights.


He writes:


"In almost every way....Oswald was...either denied or prevented from exercising his rights."


Weisberg reminds us that OSWALD, as the ACCUSED, "is PRESUMED INNOCENT until CONVICTED."


Using the REPORT itself, Weisberg summarizes OSWALD's time in the custody of Dallas Police.


One thing that stands out is that Oswald had very little "free time".


Oswald was INTERROGATED "for a total of 12 HOURS beginning after 2:15 p.m. November 22, 1963."


In addition, he was taken to 3 different LINEUPS along with his ARAIGNMENT, FINGERPRINTING & administering of a PARAFFIN TEST.


Oswald was also taken to a PRESS CONFERENCE just after midnight.


Weisberg concludes his introduction to this chapter by quoting Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry:


"We were violating every principle of interrogation."