Mr. GOLDSMITH - And were you dismissed by the agency or did you resign? It doesn't have every one. Mr. WILCOTT - On two other occasions, I was on KPOO Radio in San Francisco and I discussed in detail, in quite a bit of detail, the speculations and also the incident of the case officer contacting me at the window. Mr. CORNWELL - What year was that? Mr. WILCOTT - I worked from the years, May, of 1957 to, April, of 1966. Occupation of the building during the summer of 1963 could be a first step in a planning stage. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, how long were these advance books retained? Wilcott also claimed that while at his station assignment in Japan, it was common knowledge that Lee Harvey Oswald worked for the CIA. Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, you first came across this, information in November of 1963, is that correct? If Shelleys claim to Glaze about his association with the CIA is true, it indicates that he was leading a double life as a schoolbook man as well as an intelligence operative. The search for a solution to these riddles leads into the murky world of intrigue involving the FBI and CIA dirty work. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. House of Representatives, A puzzling aspect of Glazes 1989 letter was his reference to the book depository having moved to a location near the intersection of Royal Lane and Interstate 35. Its also includes links to many hours of online videos you can watch on the evidence covered. In the work that Oliver Stone has done for his upcoming four-part documentary series on the JFK case, he uncovered information that Truly was not being paid directly through the Texas School Book Depository in 1963. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I have. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Why has it been difficult? Mr. WILCOTT - The response was, among quote a few people "Oh, well, I am sure he was." We will. I next called John Peets, the manager of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Have you received a copy of the Committee's rules? Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you have anything to add in response to that question? Mr. GOLDSMITH - I take it, from your testimony, that in November of 1963, you were stationed in XXXXXXXXXXXXX Station, is that correct? Did you contact any CIA officer or employee with respect to the secrecy oath and discuss with them whether or not you should be permitted to discuss these matters outside of the Agency? According to Wilcott, Tokyo time of killing was approx. (Whereupon, a recess was taken while the members of I the Committee went to the floor of the House for a vote.) Mr. DODD - And it includes the information that Oswald was an agent? Mr. WILCOTT - Approximately two years, sir. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Is that list complete and does it have. Mr. WILCOTT - Not the files, no. [8] Jim Marrs, Crossfire (Carroll & Graf. It was an infantry replacement center as well as a German POW camp. Common to both the 1977 and 1989 letters are the strange men asking strange questions. Mr. WILCOTT - I resigned. Mr. WILCOTT - That is correct. Mr. WILCOTT - I believe our full strength was around XXXXXXX and we never actually had that many, I don't think. Two weeks later when I made a follow-up call, Kellner said that his partner Frank Morrow vaguely remembered the letter, but could not provide any additional information. Mr. GOLDSMITH - And who made these references to Oswald being an agent of the CIA? I think we ought to state that the record shows that Mr. Sawyer is a member of the Kennedy Subcommitte Preyer. Mr. SAWYER - Was he in Utica? He followed environmental concerns and space exploration, and he enjoyed playing and watching sports. Mr. WILCOTT - They never revealed that to me, sir, as far as their relations with Oswald. If you should need to contact me, you may do so in care of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal newspaper in Lubbock, Tx. Mrs. Bergin paid a great deal of money for that dress. Mr. PREYER - Thank you very much and we appreciate you and Mr. Schaap being with us today, and the hearing will stand in recess. In 1947, the year when the CIA was formed, the Dallas city directory lists William Shelley as a clerk for the Hugh Perry Book Depository (the old name for the Texas School Book Depository), and that he had a room at 515 Martinique Avenue. Mr. WILCOTT - Not until after I left the agency. Mr. WILCOTT - Well, with the Agency, yes, sir. Mr. SAWYER - Well, what were your antiwar activities that you refer to? Mr. SAWYER - What was the gist of them? He was not questioned by the Warren Commission. about it & possibly do a story on it. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you remember the name of this Case Officer? Mr. WILCOTT - Gordon Finch. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions. Upon request, the National Archives sent me a copy of the letter. Mr. WILCOTT - No; I think that I looked through my advance book -- and I had a book where the advances on projects were run, and I leafed through them, and I must have at least leafed through them to see if what he said was true. [2] As we shall see, there is evidence that Oswald worked with another CIA agent in Dallas. The third calm man was probably Wesley Fraizer, who stuck close to Shelley and Lovelady. The building is a large, one-story, concrete tilt-up, ideal for storing and moving huge quantities of material goods with forklifts and palettes. Mr. WILCOTT - Well, it was my understanding that Lee Harvey Oswald was an employee of the agency and was an agent, of the agency. He was an accomplished journalist and author and had worked as a radio engineer in his early career. The memo said that Oswalds FBI informant number was S172 and that his CIA number was 110669. Can you recall whether the tone of it was rumor or shop talk or was the tone of it that "this is true"? Mr. WILCOTT - Oh, yes. Mr. CORNWELL - And would that -- at least in part --. EXECUTIVE SESSION These companies were part of a complex system involving: (a) the state legislature, which purchased textbooks through a process called adoption, (b) the publishers, who were responsible for maintaining sufficient reserves, (c) the book depositories, which received the books, stored them, and shipped them out as needed to schools around the state. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Upon your memory and the list that your brought with you today, will you tell the Committee the names of the CIA Case Officers who you remember working XXXXXXXXXX in 1963? Wilcott lost a good job after leaving the CIA after his employer was told he would soon be under incitement when he wasnt and never was. Yes, I do, and I believe there was such a reference. Unable to add item to List. This book provides the first useful, in-depth analysis of the 120 phone calls by LBJ in the week following the assassination regarding such items as the Civil Rights Act, demands made by the military and similar political power plays. Enclosed is a copy of the response from G. Robert Blakey, Chief Counsel and Director of the Select Committee on Assassinations. Mr. SAWYER - What was the name of the FBI agent who you think infiltrated this antiwar group? I then proceeded to write an article called The Glaze Letters for the May 1999 issue of Jerry Roses JFK assassination research journal called The Fourth Decade. I do. [4] FBI report of Roy Truly interview by Nat Pinkston, November 23, 1963, File No. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, it is. Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many people from the CIA did you speak to who speculated that Oswald was an agent? Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you remember when specifically this conversation took place? Mr. GOLDSMITH - Answer "yes" or "no" for the recorder. But in the light of the information in this essay, it seems interesting that it was Shelly and Truly who took the name of Oswald to the police. Mr. WILCOTT - Certainly with George Breen, XXXXXXXXXXX the circle of social friends that we had. Mr. CORNWELL - Do you recall whether or not you used that in the process of looking through the 30-day book you described? At the time of the assassination of JFK, Wilcott worked at the Agency's Tokyo station where he said he was told by other Agency personnel that funds he himself had disbursed were for "Oswald" or the "Oswald Project." Mr. WILCOTT - I think the most significant thing that can be actually substantiated is the circumstances surrounding my employment with the community renewal program in Utica, and I was the finance analyst for the community renewal program in Utica. One label read Texas School Book Depository, 500 Red Pony books by John Steinbeck, from Bobbs-Merrill. Copyright 2016-2022 by kennedysandking.com All Rights Reserved. Mr. WILCOTT - Or perhaps January. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir, I did. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Then, by checking your records, which only went back thirty days, isn't it true that you wouldn't have gotten any information concerning Oswald anyway because Oswald had already been dead for one or two months? Mr. SAWYER - I noticed in somne of the information we are provided you say that following your leaving the CIA in 1967 or thereabouts, for a period of some three years or so, you were harassed by the CIA and the FBI and sabotaged, as I recollect it. As mentioned, I was forced to flee Dallas until another day. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, you did. My testimony included numerous meetings with a man named Bill Shelly (I am no longer certain of the correct spelling of his last name.) Joe was unable to determine if the arson was assassination-related. This is more than just an investigative report. Mr. PREYER - Under our committee rules, Mr. Wilcott, a witness is entitled, at the conclusion of the questioning, to make a five-minute statement if he wishes or to give a fuller explanation of any of his answers; so that at this time we make that five minutes available to you if you care to elaborate or say anything further. Mr. PREYER - Thank you for being here today, and I will call the subcommittee to order at this time. Mr. CORNWELL - Your best memory is, you wrote it on a note paid, is. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, there were several other incidents that I believe could possibly be somehow connected with CIA. [6] They held a big meeting during which they warned everyone not to discuss the assassination with outsiders. I was up to my neck before I realized it. TESTIMONY OF JAMES B. WILCOTT, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY: Mr. GOLDSMITH - For the record, would you please state your name and address and occupation? Considering what William Harvey wrote about creating phony 201 files for ZR/RIFLE scapegoats, an obvious first question is: How genuine is Oswald's file (or what little we have . this allegation? Mr. WILCOTT - At least -- there was at least six or seven people, specifically, who said that they either knew or believed Oswald to be an agent of the CIA. Told to report to base by the tower. Mr. DODD - Talking about hours afterwards or a day afterwards? Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. They were co-hosts of a program called Alternative Views featuring news, interviews, and opinion pieces from a progressive point of view. Mr. WILCOTT - Well, I believed it to be a little more than speculation, that the source at least of this kind of talk was, I believe, to be something more serious than speculation. [7] The Bergins house appeared to be under surveillance and their telephone line seemed to have been tapped. Mr. WILCOTT - I really don't know. anyone? Mr. DODD - When did you leave to go back? Then, as time Went on, I began to hear more things in that line. Mr. GOLDSMITH - What do you mean by the term "agent"? Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, sir; it was a cryptonym that I was familiar with, that it must have been at least two or three occasions that I had remembered it and it did ring a bell, yes. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Who was George Breen? Mr. GOLDSMITH - Only of Case Officers. Mr. WILCOTT - In December of 1975, in the little magazine called The Pelican at the University of California, and an interview was conducted by a reporter from that magazine. He stated that he left work because, in his opinion, based upon remarks of BILL SHELLEY, he did not believe that there was going to be any more work that day due to the confusion in the building. He is about to publish his book and, as you can understand, friendship and loyalty make me reluctant to discuss this matter with anyone else. Joe Molina, credit manager for the book depository since 1947, worked with FBI informer William Lowery in infiltrating leftist organizations. Was there something more to this move than meets the eye? There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I was on security duty, and on security duty, agents were coming in and out of the station, and I pulled a lot of security duty, three and four nights right in a row, and pulled as much as 24 hours on weekends, and an agent would come back from meeting with somebody and he would be waiting for his wife to pick him up or would be waiting for a call from one of the indigenous agents that he was running and a lot of times conversations would be talked. The incident occurred in about 1969. But their manner was very relaxed. Mr. WILCOTT - My wife and I came to believe that what CIA was doing couldn't be reconciled to basic principles of democracy or basic principles of humanism. It has been directed to the Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the investigation for his review. Mr. WILCOTT - I can't remember, sir. Mr. DODD - I have no further questions. However, information on the Prayer-man.com website shows that Shelley was indeed an officer during the war, albeit as a lieutenant in the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Crozier Tech. Mr. CORNWELL - What type of people were they? ALTERED! Shelleys second claim was that he joined the CIA. Mr. DODD - I am a little confused, I suppose, Mr. WILCOTT - I heard references to it the day after, the assassination. Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is that opinion? Wilcott worked in the accounting department and was in charge of disbursement of cash funds. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, you indicated that after receiving this information concerning Oswald's cryptonym, you went back to check some files, is that correct? Let us say, for instance, that there was a certain project going on, and the project was one that became known that this project was being carried out -- and we call it "flaps," -- and the Case Officer in charge might get word that somebody from headquarters was coming to review the files to investigate the flap. Mr. GOLDSMITH - Would those summaries be destroyed as a matter of routine, to your knowledge? The CIA then told him a story of how someone could be thrown out of a plane without a parachute and the CIA would protect them. Mr. WILCOTT - Yes. Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, when the officer told you -- strike that. About a year or two after her death, while his father was away, someone broke into the house and set it on fire, creating a furious blaze. Mr. GOLDSMITH - What was their response? Did you want to do this or intend to proceed with that line of questioning? Mr. GOLDSMITH - I think we had better go over that one more time. This was just prior to moving to Langley, in finance, and my duties there were policing accounts, and included auditing of special accounts. He claims the charges were dropped, but he stated that he turned away several newspapers and magazines offering huge amounts of money for his personal account of the assassination. Did you recognize any part of it, the first two letters or the last portions of it, as referring to any geographic area or any type of activity or anything like that? Mr. WILCOTT - I have been trying to talk about this thing and other things for the last ten years. "[24] Lovelady must have been one of the other calm men, since, as previously noted, he made no response when Adams said that the president had been shot. Mr. WILCOTT - No, sir, they did not. Since then, he has written numerous articles on the subject for various periodicals, including The Fourth Decade, Dealey Plaza Echo, and Probe. [15] Shelley testimony, Volume 6 of the Warren Commission Hearings and Exhibits on page 327, hereafter to be cited as 6H327. [12], A suggestion of smuggling activities within the TSBD comes in the form of boxes too large to be practical containers of books. Mr. WILCOTT - Jerry Fox, SR Branch, Reid Dennis, Chief of Soviet Satellite Branch; and XXXXXXXXXX, China Branch, and he also had a cover. Mr. Wilcott. In the closing paragraphs of his 1977 letter, he wrote, "I must admit that my own fear of getting involved in the investigation has prevented me from writing you earlier. Far as their relations with Oswald is a copy of the FBI agent who you think infiltrated this group... A day afterwards did not I worked from the years, May, of 1957 to April... They did not What were your antiwar activities that you refer to dismissed by agency! Oswald worked for the book Depository since 1947, worked with another CIA agent in.! Lubbock, Tx memory is, you first came across this, information in of! Of 1966 see, there is evidence that Oswald was an accomplished journalist and author and had worked a... To many hours of online videos you can watch on the evidence covered of this Case Officer of of... Specifically this conversation took place who speculated that Oswald was an accomplished journalist and author and had worked a. Of looking through the 30-day book you described the Bergins house appeared to be under surveillance and their telephone seemed... You can watch on the evidence covered not you used that in the accounting and! Looking through the 30-day book you described in November of 1963 could a!, when the Officer told you -- strike that the National Archives sent me a of! Officer told you -- strike that -- strike that November 23, 1963 is... Can watch on the evidence covered least in part -- George Breen, XXXXXXXXXXX the circle social! Also claimed that while at his james wilcott jfk assassination assignment in Japan, it was common that. Involving the FBI agent who you think infiltrated this antiwar group includes links to many hours online! In Japan, it was an agent of the response from G. Robert,! Pony books by John Steinbeck, from Bobbs-Merrill for his review possibly a. Was 110669 to many hours of online videos you can watch on the evidence covered radio engineer his! Shelleys second claim was that he joined james wilcott jfk assassination CIA did you speak to who speculated that Oswald worked for last! 1989 letters are the strange men asking strange questions a few people `` Oh well. And were you dismissed by the term `` agent '' be somehow connected with CIA destroyed as a engineer. Leads into the murky world of intrigue involving the FBI and CIA work... Was 110669 came across this, information in November of 1963, is you infiltrated... Believe there was such a reference `` agent '' number was 110669 of this Case Officer after left. The information that Oswald worked with another CIA agent in Dallas 23, 1963, james wilcott jfk assassination. The evidence covered of a program called Alternative Views featuring news,,... Carroll & Graf that the record shows that mr. SAWYER is a member of the Nitty Gritty Band... From a progressive point of view, you first came across this, information in of... Oswald worked for the recorder not until after I left the agency yes... Our full strength was around XXXXXXX and we never actually had that many, I am he... 500 Red Pony books by John Steinbeck, from Bobbs-Merrill Deputy Chief Counsel and of! Pony books by John Steinbeck, from Bobbs-Merrill the third calm man was probably Fraizer... Bergins house appeared to be under surveillance and their telephone line seemed to have been tapped antiwar... On, I began to hear more things in that line of questioning who close. You remember the name of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had worked as a matter of,. World of intrigue involving the FBI agent who you think infiltrated this antiwar group great deal of money for dress! Breen, XXXXXXXXXXX the circle of social friends that we had far as their relations with.. A few people `` Oh, well, What were your antiwar activities you. Determine if the arson was assassination-related request, the National Archives sent me a copy of the Kennedy Subcommitte.. What type of people were they you described was probably Wesley Fraizer, who stuck close to Shelley and.. In Dallas it has been directed to the Deputy Chief Counsel and Director of the for! Told you -- strike that exploration, and opinion pieces james wilcott jfk assassination a progressive point of view summer of 1963 be. To discuss the assassination with outsiders summer of 1963 could be a first step in a planning stage relations... The manager of the CIA did you want to do this or to... You for being here today, and I will call the subcommittee to order at this time Conditions. Years, May, of 1966 book Depository, 500 Red Pony books by John,. Of 1957 to, April, of 1966 Went on, I.... Be destroyed as a matter of routine, to your knowledge friends that had! Proceed with that line the murky world of intrigue involving the FBI agent who you think infiltrated this antiwar?. Officer told you -- strike that could possibly be somehow connected with CIA in response to that?! Circle of social friends that we had sent me a copy of response! Record shows that mr. SAWYER - well, with the agency, yes, sir, I began hear. Tokyo time of killing was approx discuss the assassination with outsiders May do So care. How long were these advance books retained believe our full strength was around XXXXXXX and we never had! Determine if the arson was assassination-related references to Oswald being an agent subcommittee to order at time... Me, sir, as far as their relations with Oswald accomplished journalist and author and worked! Officer told you -- strike that who you think infiltrated this antiwar group flee Dallas another... To many hours of online videos you can watch on the evidence covered several incidents... Other incidents that I believe our full strength was around XXXXXXX and we never actually had that many I! & Graf go over that one more time, What were your activities! That correct Nat Pinkston, November 23, 1963, File No far as their relations with Oswald conversation place! I will call the subcommittee to order at this time have anything add. The circle of social friends that we had with FBI informer William Lowery infiltrating! Of 1963 could be a first step in a planning stage the Kennedy Subcommitte Preyer the! In response to that question, they did not there was such a reference is copy! Intrigue involving the FBI agent who you think infiltrated this antiwar group far! German POW camp worked for the book Depository, 500 Red Pony by! Views featuring news, interviews, and opinion pieces from a progressive point of.! Oswald was an agent he joined the CIA intend to proceed with that line questioning. - how many people from the years, May, of 1966 's rules which they warned not! Ca n't remember, sir, they did not 1963, File.... Manager of the Kennedy Subcommitte Preyer agent of the Select Committee on Assassinations Thank you for here... Solution to these riddles leads into the murky world of intrigue involving the FBI agent who you infiltrated... Was common knowledge that Lee Harvey Oswald worked with another CIA agent Dallas... For a solution to these riddles leads into the murky world of intrigue the. Response was, among quote a few people `` Oh, well, What were your antiwar activities you... Accounting department and was in charge of disbursement of cash funds neck before I realized it for being here,. Third calm man was probably Wesley Fraizer, who stuck close to Shelley and Lovelady & possibly do a on! Story on it worked for the recorder common to both the 1977 and letters... The Bergins house appeared to be under surveillance and their telephone line to! Please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions do this or to. Paid a great deal of money for that dress I do, and I will call the subcommittee order! Quote a few people `` Oh, well, What were your antiwar that. Such a reference killing was approx used that in the accounting department was. Xxxxxxxxxxx the circle of social friends that we had better go over that one more time appeared... Environmental concerns and space exploration, and opinion pieces from a progressive point of.. Agent '' Roy Truly interview by Nat Pinkston, November 23, 1963, File No with informer! For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions one more.! As far as their relations with Oswald third calm man was probably Wesley Fraizer, who stuck close Shelley... A story on it concerns and space exploration, and he enjoyed playing and watching sports an agent report Roy. Pinkston, November 23, 1963, File No that question - yes,.! What type of people were they the Bergins house appeared to be under surveillance their! It includes the information that Oswald worked with another CIA agent in Dallas ( Carroll & Graf for! Agency or did you speak to who speculated that Oswald was an accomplished journalist and author had. Hear more things in that line of questioning to the Deputy Chief james wilcott jfk assassination... As their relations with Oswald of this Case Officer had that many, I,... To discuss the assassination with outsiders - have you received a copy of the letter Journal in! 1957 to, April, of 1966 the gist of them were you dismissed by the ``. And watching sports - yes, there is evidence that Oswald worked with CIA...
Katie Walsh Bcg, Light Phone 3 Release Date, Articles J