Notebook used by Dallas Times Herald reporter Bob Fenley the day Oswald was shot

Object number1995.030.0002

Date11/24/1963

ClassificationsDocuments

Author Bob Fenley

ObjectNotebook

Credit LineSarah Fenley Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumPaper, Metal

Dimensions9 x 4 3/4 in. (22.9 x 12.1 cm)

Terms

Collections

DescriptionNotebook used by Dallas Times Herald reporter Bob Fenley on the day Lee Harvey Oswald was shot.. On the front cover, "Oswald Shooting Nov 24," is written in blue ink. Approximately the first quarter of the notebook had been written in with a black pen. Fenley took notes on the first 20 pages. On the first page, there is a description of the scene in the Dallas Police Headquarters’ basement before Oswald is brought out. The handwriting is almost legible. The handwriting on the next two pages suddenly becomes sloppy and illegible. Though the text is difficult to read, Fenley seems to have been writing about Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald; the name “Jack Ruby” does appear on the second page of the notebook. Fenley’s handwriting becomes less hurried on the notebook’s fourth page, and he describes the shooting more coherently. He mentions that the shooter has been identified as Jack Ruby. He also describes Jim Leavelle leading Lee Harvey Oswald into the basement and L.C. Graves’ retrieval of the revolver from Jack Ruby. It appears as though Fenley interviewed a Dallas Police detective named R.L. Lowery. Fenley describes Oswald after he was shot. He quotes detective B.H. Combest as saying, “Jack, you son of a bitch.” He mentions George Senator, Jack Ruby’s roommate. Fenley notes details related to Jack Ruby such as his quick temper and that he assaulted a man at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. His notes about these details seem to come from an interview with a witness named Bob Stinson. Lee Harvey Oswald’s time of death is recorded as 1:07 p.m. Fenley describes Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry as he announces Oswald’s death as a “solemn bulldog.” He records Curry as saying that Jack Ruby, formerly Rubenstein, will be charged with murder. Fenley also records information he possibly gathered from police officers: Ruby’s address (223 Ewing) is written at the top of one page and “38 small nosed revolver” is written along with a note to call Glenn King about the gun. A list of Jack Ruby’s previous arrests is recorded. Fenley notes that “1 or 2 calls during the night concerning Oswald” were taken. Captain Fritz’s statement is also summarized in Fenley’s notes: Fritz spoke about Oswald, the assassination, and Oswald's shooting, as well as the case against Jack Ruby.

Curatorial Commentary

As a Dallas Times Herald reporter, the late Bob Fenley was at Dallas Love Field, Parkland Memorial Hospital, and Dallas police headquarters during the weekend of the assassination. In 1964, he covered the Jack Ruby trial in Dallas and also testified before the Warren Commission. His daughter, Gail Fenley Rothstein, recorded an oral historywith the Museum about her father's life and career on March 11, 2015. - Stephen Fagin, Curator