{"object":[{"sourceId":{"label":"Source ID","value":"22536"},"creditline":{"label":"Credit Line","value":"Max Causey Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza"},"labelText":{"label":"Description","value":"Spiral bound notebook containing a handwritten journal titled \"Trial of a Juror\" by Max Causey, who served as the foreman of the jury for the Jack Ruby trial. The notebook contains 54 pages. \r\n\r\nJury selection for the Ruby trial began in early 1964.  The trial itself started on March 4th and Max Causey was the first juror selected.  Causey was elected foreman by his peers on March 14th as they began their deliberations.  The trial ended on March 14, 1964 when the jury found Jack Ruby guilty of murder with malice."},"invno":{"label":"Object number","value":"2002.051.0094"},"description":{"label":"Description","value":"A spiral bound notebook containing the handwritten journal titled \"Trial of a Juror\" by the jury foreman Max Causey of the Jack Ruby trial. The notebook contains 54 pages. The cover of the notebook is light brown with dark brown borders at the top and bottom edges of the cover. The cover contains the text \"Aladdin - Secretarial Note Book - Five Aladdin Premium Prize Coupons - 25 cents - Book No. - From - To - No. 1682\" and \"No Slide Edge\" printed in the dark brown border. The cover of the notebook has stains and the holes on the edges of the spiral binding are torn. \r\n\r\nTranscript of the contents reads; \r\n\r\nPage 1\r\n\r\n\"Trial of a Juror\r\nFeb 20 1964      1125 AM. \r\n\r\nI was called to courtroom and was seated in the box D.A. Wade questioned me on Capital punishment in proven 1st degree murder cases. After approx. 20 minutes of questioning the state accepted me as a Juror. At this time (1145 AM) Judge Brown recessed for lunch. I was admonished about discussing the case and released without restraint until 1:45 PM. I had two hours for lunch but no apetite [sic], so I walked the several blocks from the courthouse to midtown where I entered the Eatwell restaurant on Main Street and ordered a bowl of tomato soup and a glass of ice tea. By the time I had finished the lunch it was 1245 PM, still an hour to kill. \r\n\r\nDallas weather that particular Thursday was exceptionally nice for a February afternoon, the temperature at noon was in the upper fifties, a bit nippy in the shade but pleasantly comfortable in the warm sunlight. As I now look back on that leisurely walk back to the courthouse, I recall stopping many times to gaze into the window displays along Main Street, looking but not really seeing that which was being displayed. My mind\"\r\n\r\nPage 2\r\n\r\n\"was preoccupied. Contemplating what it would be like when I again stepped inside the courtroom upon the stand where the defense would try to disqualify me as a juror. Many thoughts went through my mind, the most recurring one was that I must not allow myself to become confused or mixed up when I face the rapid fire questions of the Chief defense counsel Mr. Marvin [sic] Belli. All I intended to do was to state the truth of what I had seen, heard and read since Nov. 24 1963 regarding the case. However I felt certain that no matter how careful I was with my answers that some time during my examination that I would become mixed up or confused on some minor legal technicality [sic], that this would disqualify me as a juror on the case. This was not poor reasoning on my part since 23 prospective jurors had gone the route not one juror had yet been accepted. I certainly didn't have any desire to serve on this jury and as I absently gazed into a Sanger-Harris\"\r\n\r\nPage 3\r\n\r\n\"display window 2 blocks east of the courthouse. I told myself that on this fact I really need not worry, that the defense would find reason to strike me from qualification as they had the previous 23. (I was no. 26, but no.s 21 & 25 had previously been excused by Judge Joe Brown prior to qualification questioning). \r\n\r\nHaving reassured myself that I would not really be found qualified (or acceptable) by the defense I glanced at my watch for probably the hundredth time in the past two hours, it was 1:20 PM, twenty five more minutes I returned to the courthouse, rode the elevator up to the sixth floor where i used the restroom (this was the only restroom I had located) I checked my appearance in the mirror to make certain my lunch wasn't showing and strolled back to the elevator which carried me back to the first floor. From here I walked out the south door and re-entered the building at the other South entrance which allowed entrance to the stairway that led up to the courtroom. The stairway was packed with newsmen and spectators. I elbowed my way to the top of the stairs where I asked a\"\r\n\r\nPage 4\r\n\r\n\"uniformed deputy shiriff [sic] where I should wait the next ten minutes, he escorted me through the crowd and into the courtroom.\r\n\r\nIt was 1:50 PM. my three and one half days of waiting were up, if I were lucky in an hour or two at the most, I would certainly be disqualified as a juror and dismissed to return home to my family where I could assume my regular routine. The defense lawyer who questioned me was Mr. M. Belli, but not at all like what I expected. I was not ill at ease under his questioning. He was courteous, charming and elequently [sic] smooth. The questioning was thorough and deliberate (It is not my intent to disclose any questions or facts pertinent [sic] to the case in this article). As Mr. Belli asked question after question  and I turn answered between frequent objections by the state (Mr. Jim Bowie) it became increasingly apparent to me that thus far I had not given an answer that I felt justified my disqualification which I still felt was a certainty.\"\r\n\r\nPage 5\r\n\r\n\"My juror qualification questioning by the defense continued for approximately on hour at about 2:5O PM, Mr. Belli asked Judge Brown if he (the defense) was to be allowed more than the prescribed 15 unexcusable strikes, to which Judge Brown answered something to the effect that he could not for see [sic] this possibility. The defense lawyers then went into a whispered conference. I was very uncomfortable but still I expected Mr. Belli to use his strike prerogative to delete me as a juror. After a three or four minute conference Mr. Belli rose to his feet and past [sic] the juror qualification acceptance back to Mr. Wade. Mr. Wade rose to his feet stated that the State would accept me as a juror, he then sat down. Mr. Belli, again rose to his feet he stated that the defense had no real objection to me as a juror and that I was acceptable. \r\n\r\nIn my thirty-four years on this planet I have never been exposed to a more devastating shock then at that\"\r\n\r\nPage 6\r\n\r\n\"moment. I suddenly felt as though the ceiling and all upper seven floors of the record building had colapsed [sic] on my head. The next thing I remember was Judge Brown speaking to me, to swear me in with the oath of a juror. I remember trying to stand erect but Judge Brown allowed me to remain seated for the oath, considering my real shock of the moment this was indeed a kind gesture. \r\n\r\nThe juror\u2019s oath was administered to me and the court bailiff Mr. Bo Mabra quickly escorted me thru a locked door immediately behind the judges bench up a winding flight of stairs to a large suite which was to be used as the jury deliberation [sic] room. This was to be my daily habitat during the many days ahead while downstairs the long, slow, deliberate jury qualification continued in quest [sic] for the other eleven jurors. As I climbed those winding stairs that first time I remember asking the bailiff a question which I really already know the answer to\"\r\n\r\nPage 7\r\n\r\n\"but I had to hear it from him. Was I the first juror, of course his answer was in the affirmative. The bailiff made me as comfortable as a man in my present state of mind could be. He hurridly [sic] returned to the courtroom locking the massive door at the foot of the stairs. The locked door served a dual role, one was to keep any one from approaching me, the other was to restrain me if need be. \r\n\r\nNot until the bailiff left me alone for the first time did the full monementous [sic] impact of what was happening to me begin to settle over me as a choking, smothering shroud. Suddenly it was frightfully painful to ponder the many aspects of my personal situation. My first concern was how this would affect my wonderful family, how would they cope with all the family problems that I had thus far always handled. There were so many, many financial problems that needed my guidance in order to remain in the black. My wife is a very remarkable woman, intelligent, lovable and understanding, but in all our 10 1/2 years of married life, I and I alone\"\r\n\r\nPage 8\r\n\r\n\"had administered our family affairs. We often discussed our financial status vs our needs and desires but ultimately the responsibility of the financial decision [sic] had always been mine. How could she now react to these added responsibilities, could she cope with all the little family crises [sic] that arise from day to day? In short, could she be both mother and father to the family for an extended period? \r\n\r\nWhat about my employer Ling-Temco-Vought? This was a grave concern to me although the firm encouraged all its employees to serve their civic responsibilities such as serving on jury duty when summoned. The company very generously paid out salaries while we served on jury duty, but for how long? Who could foresee and employee being assigned confining [sic] jury duty which could concievable [sic] last weeks? Would my pay continue thru a prolonged trail, if not, my financial situation would become crucial very shortly. Unfortunatly [sic], our checking account\"\r\n\r\nPage 9\r\n\r\n\"could not withstand the omission of even one bi-weekly paycheck. The financial drain of a large home mortgage, new car payments, doctor bills, insurance and other family expenses required a delicate balancing of the budget. Also, my duties with the company had just suddenly become more critical due to the receipt of a new classified contract to which I was to have the responsibility of planning, scheduling, and cost control, in my absence the job would surely be given to someone else and where would this leave me?\r\n\r\nI could continue exploring the many trouble [sic] thoughts I experienced during that first afternoon but to do so would perhaps bring boredom to the reader and definitely bring pain to my mind. In between fleeting worried thoughts I paced the floor within the confinement of my habitat, glancing so many, many times at my watch only to find that a few seconds had elapsed since I last checked the dial. This climatic afternoon drug laborously [sic] on until 5:30 when the\"\r\n\r\nPage 10\r\n\r\n\"bailiff returned. At the head of the stairs just outside my suite he greeted me with \"hey Max have you jumped out a window yet\", It wasn't really funny but I forced a laugh as I returned the greeting. It was wonderful to have someone's company again after 2 1/2 hours of pondering my situation. \r\n\r\nThe next hour was spent in familiarizing me with my sleeping quarters, these were far short of the comforts of home but fully adequate for their purpose. The bedroom was about 7' x 7' with a single built in comfortable bunk bed, lavatory, and comode [sic] , there was a shaving mirror over the lavatory. A tiled shower was next door to my room. The bailiff slept just across the hall, his room was a carbon copy of mine with the exception of a telephone. The telephone was our emergency link with the outside world. Although, I was at no time allowed to talk to any over this phone it was some comfort to know that it was there\" \r\n\r\nPage 11\r\n\r\n\"in the event that an emergency should arise within my family. The bailiff called my wife to inform her that I was to be detained for a while, he gave her his phone no. for use in emergency situations. \r\n\r\nAt about 7pm the bailiff suggested we go out to dinner. I welcomed the thought of getting out in the open but I didn't feel hungry. We stepped out of the courthouse into the cold, damp, and dark night, as a fast moving cold front had engulfed Dallas since I had been out to lunch. We walked the three blocks to the Dallas-Jefferson Hotel on Houston street where we ordered dinner. The food, under any other circumstances I'm sure would have been delicious but I could only pick at it, I had no desire for food at that time. We returned to our sleeping quarters at about 8PM. By this time my wife had brought the luggage that I required for a prolonged stay. The luggage was left at the sheriff's office where we picked it up.\"\r\n\r\nPage 12\r\n\r\n\"Bo Mabra (the bailiff) and I talked a while and very soon I found that he was a very friendly, considerable and likable person, ideally suited for his job. He was to be my nursemaid, den mother, chaplain, doctor and most important my only link to the world beyond for the days ahead. Bo had held this same job for 8 years during which time he played nursemaid to many such jury panels, it was old stuff to Bo. We drank coffee and discussed the prospects of how long our confinement might last. Our most optimistic estimate was three weeks, neither of us dared to predict how much longer it would take once the jury was finally picked to hear all the evidence in court and reach a decision as to the innocence or guilt of Mr. Ruby. \r\n\r\nI went to bed that first night contemplating what lay ahead. I wondered who might be the 2nd juror, how long it take to pick him (or her), would it take as long to get the 2nd as it\"\r\n\r\nPage 13\r\n\r\n\"had to get me, if so I would surely be alone for three or four more days of questioning. With a Sunday falling during that period this would indicate that I likely would not have another juror companion until Monday or Tuesday. As I now lay in bed my mind raced over & over again all the thoughts that I first entertained when I realized I had been accepted. But now in the darkness additional would be problems kept cropping up. My mind kept cycling and re-cycling until I mercifully lapsed into unconsciousness. I slept fitfully until 3 AM at which time I looked at my watch and thought would this night never end. For the next three hours I frequently catnapped waking up each time thinking that it was all a bad dream. At last I heard Bo in the shower next door to my room, thank heaven it was morning. \r\n\r\nMy second day started with my shaving and a quick shower. By the time I had dressed, Bo had brought coffee down from the jail kitchen so we enjoyed a cup before departing outside for or [sic] breakfast. As we left the court-\"\r\n\r\nPage 14\r\n\r\n\"house, the press and spectators had already began to assemble with still two hours before the court was to reconvene in the jury selection. As we stepped out onto the street it was bitter cold, snow had sprinkled the autos that were parked on the street an occasional snowflake still floutered [sic] from a dark overcast sky. Just outside the courthouse door was a newsstand, as we strolled by I could not help but observe that I had made the front page. I was not allowed to read the newspaper but I did see my wife and older son's picture on the front page, I had not anticipated being such a newsworthy item. I wondered how my wife reacted to such instant publicity, she was not the type to seek it in the least. Breakfast of sweet roll & coffee was concluded and we returned to the courthouse up the stairway, through the throng, into the courtroom, up the stairs to my day quarters, where my long wait was to be resumed. While waiting on this second day I decided\"\r\n\r\nPage 15\r\n\r\n\"to make notes, or a daily log of activities, this seemed like an excellent way of spending my time.\r\n\r\nAt 11:45 Bo returned and suggested that it would be better if we stayed in the room for lunch, since he had received word that the press was waiting on the street exit for photographs or questioning which was not allowed by the court. So, to avoid the possibility of a disturbance I agreed that sandwiches brought up to the room would be fine with me. As we ate the sandwiches I pumped Bo for information regarding the no. of prospective jurors that had been rejected during the morning and who rejected them. I was very interested in wheither [sic] the jurors were disqualified by Judge Brown or wheither [sic] struck by either the state or the defense. My interest here was justified since I knew both the state and defense each had only 15 strikes. This is to say that both the state and defense could reject 15 prospective jurors each on peremptory [sic] challenges without stating any reason.\"\r\n\r\nPage 16 \r\n\r\n\"Any prospective juror that did not qualify in the judges own opinion he could strike without it being charged either to the state or the defense. My reasoning was simple mathematics, I knew that the defense had already struck 5 when I was accepted, this left them with 10 remaining strikes and over 100 prospective jurors yet to be examined. The more strikes used by the state or defense reduced the remaining strikes consequently when they ran out, assuming the court did not grant additional strikes the sooner, either the defense or the state would have to start accepting jurors. While Bo and I munched on cold corn beef sandwiches Bo told me that during the morning session the defense had used two more of its peremptory challenges, the state had used two and Judge Brown had disqualified two. The box score was now 34 prospects questioned and one selected, the state had used two strikes (peremptory challenges) and the defense\"\r\n\r\nPage 17\r\n\r\n\"had used seven.\r\n\r\nWith lunch recess over Bo returned to the courtroom. I tried to kill time by playing solitaire, after numerous failures to beat Sol I had just given up when I heard the lock turn on the massive door at the foot of the stairs and the noise of the excitement in the court filtered up the stairs. I heard footsteps, this time it was evidently more noise than Bo had usually made each time he visited me. Excitement swelled within me as I anticipated company. I was really in luck, not only was Bo bringing me a companion, but I quickly recognized him as one of the prospective jurors whom I had lunched with only two days ago. Mr. Allen W. McCoy was the second acceptable juror. I quickly greeted him with a warm handshake and a hot cup of coffee. My solitary wait was over, I looked at my watch it was 3:55PM, after 25 hours I now had a companion to share my waiting. \r\n\r\nI explained to Allen what\"\r\n\r\nPage 18\r\n\r\n\"I knew about our day quarters our night quarters and the daily routine which we would pursue while we waited for no. 3. It was apparent that Allen was not as shocked upon his selection as I had been with mine. He seemed to quickly accept the role that had been dealt him and just as quickly accepted the routine which accompanied it. \r\n\r\nAllen and I talked and the next 1 1/2 hours passed swiftly. At 5:30 Bo returned (alone this time) and we proceed to our night quarters where Allen was acquainted with the other side of our routine. At 7:00PM, Bo carried us out to dinner, this was the first time in about 36 hours that I felt hungry. After dinner we walked around for about 20 min and returned to our night quarters. We talked and read magazines until around 11 PM when we each returned to our separate rooms and beds. \r\n\r\nThe following day was Sat. and was to be a regular working day for\"\r\n\r\nPage 19\r\n\r\n\"the Court. We awoke at 6PM [? assume author meant AM] anxious for the day to start being optimistic about a quicker selection of the jurors. After breakfast we once again climbed the 20 steps back of the Judges bench in the courtroom and arrived at our day quarters. Our earlier optimism suffered a setback at approx. 12:30 PM when Bo returned from the courtroom, stating that Judge Brown had recessed until 9AM Monday. No additional jurors had been accepted. So McCoy and I along with our bailiff faced a day and one half of waiting during which time there was no possibility of any progress being made on the jury selection. This was to be my first weekend away from my family in over eight years. I wasn't looking forward to this separation. However, it didn't turn out as bad as I had expected thanks to our very thoughtful bailiff. Bo had parked his car in a lot nearby and said that he asked Sheriff Decker if we could drive out to suburban restaurants for our meals during this 1 1/2\"\r\n\r\nPage 20\r\n\r\n\"day court recess. Permission was granted. This was a welcomed break in the monotony of our daily routine and it helped pass the long weekend. We had two such meals out, Sat. lunch and Sunday dinner.\r\n\r\nMonday, 24 Feb. 1964. the second week of the jury selection. Allen and I were eager for the court to resume it's juror questioning, we wanted to see some progress made in the selection of jurors. Approximately 11:15 we heard the door at the foot of the stairs being opened and two sets of footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. Bo was bringing us our third juror. Juror no. 3 was Mrs. Mildred McCullem [sic] of Garland. She was the first lady juror accepted. With the acceptance a a [sic] lady on the jury required that a lady bailiff Mrs. Nell Tyler be assigned to keep her company and take care of her needs as Bo was doing for the men. Our number now included 5 when we went out for lunch including the two bailiffs. During our lunch walk our photographs were taken for the first time since our selection. Judge\"\r\n\r\nPage 21\r\n\r\n\"Brown had warned the press that no pictures would be allowed. We never knew when this picture was taken however we saw it in the Tue morning Dallas Moring News. Monday night, the five of us, Allen, Mildred, the two bailiffs and I went out to eat dinner in a group. The first day of the second week of jury selection had ended with three jurors selected. \r\n\r\nTuesday 25 Feb. 1964 - Today we believed would be a profitable day in the jury selection. We were correct at approximately 10:30 we heard the familiar footsteps on the stairs. We were introduced to juror no. 4 Mr. Gene Dickerson of Mesquite. We poured him a cup of coffee and filled him in on jury life as we knew it. Within the next hour and before lunch we were privileged to welcome juror no. 5 Mr. Doug Sowell of Dallas, Oak Cliff. At noon our no. including the two bailiffs was 7 and the news photographers had a ball while we walked the 4 blocks to lunch at the Dallas-Jefferson Hotel. The photographers were everywhere, even in the dining room snapping pictures while we ate lunch.\"\r\n\r\nPage 22\r\n\r\n\"The two jurors selected during Tue morning were all for that day. Tue night the five of us and the two bailiffs piled into Bo's car and went out to the Flight Deck restaurant for dinner. The change of scenery di wonders for our moral. \r\n\r\nWed. 26 Feb. 1964 - With each passing day we grew in no. and in anxiety for the 12th man his coming would surely bring a cheer from each of us. At approximately 10:20 we heard the familiar ring of footsteps on the stairs and Bo brought us juror no. 6 he was R.J. (Bob) Flechtner of Richardson. He was followed at 11:45 by juror no. 7 Mrs. Gwen English who qualified about 11:30. \r\n\r\nThe news photographers were set for us at lunch. They climbed up post, stood on top of cars, mailboxes and any available object in order to photograph the 7 jurors. After lunch we settled down in our day quarters to await for juror no. 8. We didn't have to wait long, at about 3 PM Mr. Glen Holter took up his position as juror no. 8. This had been the best day for jury selection, three jurors had\"\r\n\r\nPage 23\r\n\r\n\"been selected and the defense used one peremptory challenge, they had only four left. The state had used had used five challenges and the defense eleven. Wednesday night we had dinner at Vincients [sic] Sea Food Restaurant, we were taking shape finally.\r\n\r\nThursday 27 Feb. 1964 - after breakfast at Malendorfs, we returned to our day quarters to wait for juror #9. We were still waiting at lunch. The defense had used one more strike during the morning, challenge no. 12. We looked ahead eagerly for additions to our no. Our luck wasn't all bad this day about 5PM Mr. Jim Cunningham juror no. 9. Thursday ended with 9 jurors selected. The defense had now used 13 challenges. \r\n\r\n\r\nFriday 28 Feb 1964 - Today we had only one addition to our no., he was Waymon Rose of Dallas, the no. 10 juror. \r\n\r\nSat 29 Feb 1964 - We were very apprehensive about filling the jury today, however Judge Brown recessed at noon with no\"\r\n\r\n\r\nPage 24\r\n\r\n\"jurors picked during the morning. We looked forward to a long weekend locked up in our rooms unable to get out. This was my second weekend to be locked up. It was good news when we learned that both state and defense lawyers had agreed for us to have a TV in our lounge room but news and certain other programs were censored. This helped our time to pass faster, but even so it was a long weekend. I was really missing my family by this time.\r\n\r\nMonday 2 Mar 1964 - Today starts the 3rd week of jury selection and it is my 11th day to be locked up. I never realized before so completely the meaning of freedom. However, it is not the 11 days just passed that causes me concern it is the many long days ahead during the selection of the two jurors and the trial itself that I fear. Monday 2 Mar passes without another juror being selected. This was my worst day since the day I was accepted. The time period to\" \r\n\r\nPage 25\r\n\r\n\"conclude this entire affair may exceed my worst fears. We have now gone thru 2 days of questioning since juror no. 10 was chosen on Friday.\r\n\r\nThis group of jurors are outstanding, the intelligence level is well above that of the average jury. So far everyone has been very congenial and considerate of each other. We have a good cross section from all walks of life. The personalities of a couple are such that the moral of the group is kept high thru joking and witicisms [sic]. We joke about how long the trial will take with what we hope are vast exagerations [sic], anything for a laugh. For the most part everyone is holding up as well as could be expected under the circumstances. We know that we may be free and easy with our joking now, but once we have heard the Judges charge to us at the end of the trial and we start our deliberation all joking will end and the seriousness of the situation will\"\r\n\r\nPage 26\r\n\r\n\"dominat [sic] our every thought\r\n\r\nTue - 3 Mar - 1964 - There is a general let down feeling throughout our no. in regard to a quick selection of jurors no. 11 and 12. We feel like it may be the end of the week before we have our 12th juror. The state has now used 11 strikes and the defense has used all 18 [transcriber remark: is 18 truly correct?]There were originally 15 strikes for each side] of their allocated strikes. The defense must now rely upon offending a prospective juror which they don't want since they must make him angry and cause the Judge to strike him. This type of questioning is very time consuming, we are not at all aprehensive [sic] about a fast end to these filabustering [sic] tactics. \r\n\r\nThe Tue morning newspaper was cut to ribbons indicating much fireworks in yesterday\u2019s session. We know that it got noisy because at times we could hear shouting & objections all the way upto our day quarters. We can only\"\r\n\r\nPage 27\r\n\r\n\"speculate as to what is going on. It bothers us only from the curious standpoint and how this probable delay is accepted by our families and employers. \r\n\r\nThis day closed with jubilation. We were rewarded with juror no. 11 Mrs. Ailen [sic] Shields about 10:30 AM. She joined us for lunch. The most important juror of all, juror no. 12 Mrs. Louise Malone joined us at 2:30PM. She was welcomed with heavy applause just about as heavy applause as 11 anxious jurors could muster. Morale soared to its highest peak since before my selection. Each of us felt that at long last we would get the opportunity to serve in the position to which we had been so carefully selected. We were told by Bo Mabra that the trial would begin promptly at 9AM Wed morning. This momentous occasion called for a dinner celebration. A vote was taken and we decided to go to Kirby's Steakhouse for dinner.\"\r\n\r\nPage 28\r\n\r\n\"Prior to going out to dinner we all went up to our night quarters to cleanup and wait for the six pm departure time. We planned our departure to dinner by unmarked sheriff's cars to avoid the news photographers who we knew were waiting out on the streets for the first photos of the complete jury. Not even the deputy sheriffs who drove the three cars knew where we were going for dinner until we were driving away from the courthouse. Judge Brown had instructed that no photos of the jury would be taken. \r\n\r\nWed 4-Mar-1964 - We are supposed to start hearing testimony today, however we don't expect to occupy our seats before lunch due to all the anticipated motions an etc[sic]. After breakfast we returned to our day quarters, made a pot of coffee & began our wait to be called downstairs into the jury box.\"\r\n\r\nPage 29\r\n\r\n\" We got our chance today to sit in the jury box for the very first time. We heard about 1 hour and 50 min. testimony this AM. During the afternoon we heard about 3 hours of testimony. The trial was really getting under way now. \r\n\r\nThu 5 Mar 1964 - Testimony lasted about 2 hours this morning and about three hours this afternoon.\r\n\r\nFri 6 Mar - Testimony started at 10 AM - Bo Mabra told me as I came down the stairs to the jury box that my wife was in the audience and where she was seated. I quickly spotted her sitting there, this was the first time I had seen her in 15 days or about 363 hours. Of course I could not speak to her but our eyes met several times during the day when there was frequent delays and pauses in the testimony. The state concluded their testimony shortly after lunch. The defense started its parade of witnesses before us at 3:00PM.\"\r\n\r\nPage 30\r\n\r\n\"Judge Brown dealt the jury a devastating morale blow at 445 PM when he announced that court would recess until 9AM Monday morning. We the wanted the court to operate on Sat as well as longer hours during the days, with shorter recesses.\r\n\r\nWe now faced a long tiresome weekend locked up. This was my third such weekend without my freedom. For most of the jurors, all but Allen and myself it was their second weekend, however two jurors, no. 11 and no. 12 it was their first such weekend. This weekend was spent just loafing around our quarters. Nearly everyone slept until 8 or 9 AM. By 10AM Sat morning we all up and hungry enough to walk the 3 blocks to the Dallas-Jefferson coffee shop for breakfast. With breakfast liesurally [sic] concluded we returned to our quarters around 11:30 AM. That afternoon Bo took some of the men out for\"\r\n\r\nPage 31\r\n\r\n\"haircuts. I didn't go this time since I had received a haircut the previous Sat. Sat Evening we were carried out to dinner. Sunday's activity was almost a carbon copy of Sat. except we stood on a street back of the Dallas Hotel and watched a wrecking crane demolish a building. We all stood and watched this activity for more than an hour, we all enjoyed this very much.\r\n\r\nMonday 9 Mar 2964 - a day of courtroom testimony. We had asked Bo to speak to Judge Brown about speeding things up by shorter recesses and longer days. The Judge really cooperated we didn't shut down until 6:45PM it was a good day for the jury (measured in hours of testimony heard)\r\n\r\nTuesday 10 Mar 1964 - Today, as we walked away from the courtroom for lunch we saw several persons parading\"\r\n\r\nPage 32\r\n\r\n\"in front of the Courthouse carrying pickets. We could not read the pickets from our distant sighting. I remember thinking that it takes all kinds of people to make up the population of a city the size of Dallas, but why do some people want to show off like 'NUTS'. We had a fairly good day in court, not as good as Monday but we didn't shut down today until 5:45 PM.\r\n\r\nWed 11 Mar 1964 - This is my 21st day in captivity with no contact (personal) with my dear family, I wondered how much longer it would be, my best guess was 8 or 10 more working days in court. We were shocked early 930 AM when the defense rested its case. The state started its rebuttal at about 1045 AM and rested its rebuttal at about 5 PM. The defense started its rebuttal about 5 PM. We recessed for the day at 545 PM.\"\r\n\r\nPage 33\r\n\r\n\"Thursday 12 Mar 1964 - My 22 day as a juror. The defense rested their rebuttal at 12:15 & we recessed for lunch until 1:45 PM. The state started its closing rebuttal at 1:45 PM and closed its case at 5 PM. The defense started its final rebutal [sic]. We recessed for the day at about 6 P.M.\r\n\r\nFriday 13 Mar 1964 - My 23rd day - it is an apprehensive jury that fills the box today. Judge Brown told us yesterday that the court intended to finish this case before the day (Friday) ends. We expect to have the charge and start our deliberation tonight.\r\n\r\nJudge Brown read the charge to us tonight, he started about 8:15 and finished about 835. The lawyers started their final appeal to the jury shortly before 8:45 PM. We heard first from Mr. Alexander for the state. We listened to all\"\r\n\r\nPage 34\r\n\r\n\"seven lawyers, four of the state and three of the defense. Judge Brown had allowed each side 2 1/2 hours for the appeal. Finally at 11:15 AM Sat morning  14 March Mr. Wade closed out the appeals and the trial. The rest was up to the jury. Judge Brown asked us if we wanted to start our deliberation then (1:15 AM) are [sic] retire and start deliberations the next (Sat.) morning. We agreed to retire for the night. \r\n\r\nSaturday 14 March 1964 - We arose around 7:30 and proceeded to breakfast by about 830. By 900 AM we had finished breakfast and returned up to the deliberation room. While I was in the restroom the rest of the jury elected me foreman. However, I wouldn't accept this election and a new election was held, again I was elected foreman. I suppose it was my\"\r\n\r\nPage 35\r\n\r\n\"seniority that drew this honor. After two hours and twenty minutes (1120 AM) we had agreed unanimously on a verdict. I walked down the familiar 20 steps to the foot of the stairs and knocked on the door. Quickly Bo Mabra opened the door and I told him we had reached a verdict. He told me he would have to call the Judge to the courtroom. \r\n\r\nIt was approximately 45 minutes before the court could assemble to hear our verdict. At approximately 12:15 we seated in the jury box for the last time. Judge Brown asked if we had reached a verdict, and we answered or nodded affirmatively. Then Bo came over and I handed him the charge which had been filled in and signed by me. We all looked at the defendant as the Judge the verdict aloud to the court 'We the jury find the defendant guilty\"\r\n\r\nPage 36\r\n\r\n\"of murder with malice and affix his punishment at death'. There was no visible emotional charge in the defendant. He was ushered out by the deputies and immediately Mr. Belli was screaming like a wild man. Pandemonium broke loose in the courtroom, the camera men climbed the walls to get shots and microphones up to Mr. Belli and others to Mr. Wade. Simultaneous with this pandemonium Judge Brown was dismissing us and thanking us for the service we rendered as a juror. \r\n\r\nBo ushered us up the stairs to wait in the deliberation room for the last time while some of the excitement in the courtroom subsided. In approximately 15 min. we made our last exit down the so familiar 20 stairs and out of the deliberation room. We returned to our night quarters and finished\"\r\n\r\nPage 37 \r\n\r\n\"packing for home. Everyone was eager to get home and see their loved ones again. We took turns on Bo's phone calling our family\u2019s [sic]. When I called my wife it was the first time in 24 days that I had been allowed to talk directly to her. It was wonderful to hear her voice and be able to speak to her. \r\n\r\nSheriff Decker had suggested that his deputies drive us home since there was a huge mob completely surrounding the records building. Everyone wanting pictures of the jury, some agreeing and others disagreeing with our verdict. As we left the building for the last time the crowd outside was lined along the street like watching a parade. As the sheriff's car pulled out of the prisoner unloading dock on the west side of the records building to enter Houston street, for just an instant we were facing, not 50\"\r\n\r\n\r\nPage 38\r\n\r\n\"yards away, from the scene where on the 22 Nov. 1963 this entire unbelievable episode of world history had first begun to unfold. In slightly less than four months enough world shaking history had been made to fill volumes of history books. The world would long remember the past 4 months, argumentive [sic] speculation regarding the President's assassination, the assassination of his assassin, and the trial of Jack Ruby the man who assassinated the assasin [sic] after he had been arrested and in the custody of law enforcement officers.\r\n\r\nNo matter how historians reflect on [scratched out] the events of the past four months, Wheither [sic] history commends this verdict or condemns it only time will tell, but as for me my mark (insignificant as it may be) is niched in history. My Trial of a Juror is finished.\"\r\n\r\nPages 39 - 45 in the journal are blank.\r\n\r\nPage 46 contains the name and addresses of the jurors for the Jack Ruby trial in the order they were selected. The left side of the page reads;\r\n\r\n\"1. Max E. Causey - 710 Peachtree Lane - Garland, Tex - BR85067\r\n\r\n2. Allen W. McCoy - 1518 Belmead Lane - Irving, Texas - BL32245\r\n\r\n9. James E. Cunningham - 1314 Belaire Dr. - Richardson, Texas - AD5 - 1555\r\n\r\n4. Luther E. Gene Dickerson - 2314 Candleberry - Mesquite - AT54378\r\n\r\n5. DJ Sowell - 5716 Glen Forest - Dallas FR-4-0356\r\n\r\n6. Robert J. Flechtner Jr. - 818 Vinecrest Ln. - Richardson, Texas - AD-50812\"\r\n\r\nThe right side of the page reads;\r\n\r\n\"7. Gwen L. English - 10078 San Lorenzo - Dallas - DA7-7062\r\n\r\n8. J. Glenn Holton - 116 [Musin?] Way - G.P. Tx - HN2-8252\r\n\r\n3. Mildred McCollum - 918 Briarwood - Garland, Texas\r\n\r\n10. J. Waymon Rose - 7132 Meadowcreek Dr. - Dallas, Texas 75240 - AD9-1743\r\n\r\n11. Aileen B. Shields - 5706 Kenwood Ave. - Dallas, Texas 75206 TA6-1505\r\n\r\n12. Louise E. Malone - 4432 San Carlos Dr. - Dallas, Texas - (7185) - LA8-9221 - Bus LA6525\"\r\n\r\n\r\nPage 47\r\n\r\nThis page contains;\r\n\r\n\"Bo W.W. Mabra - 201 Athens St. - Hutchins, Tex - CA52682\r\n\r\nNell J. Tyler - 305 N. Brighton - Dallas, Texas\"\r\n\r\nPage 48\r\n\r\nThis page is blank\r\n\r\nPage 49 \r\n\r\nThis page contains; \r\n\r\n\"Trial by jury is one of the rights endowed upon each citizens [sic] by the Constitution. For nearly 200 years it has been the accept [sic] way of meating [sic] out justice in our courts of law. During this span of time our society has made gigantic advancements in scientific and technical fields. Many people feel that our legal and sociological [advancements - crossed out] fields have not kept pace with our scientific and technical advancements. I would not attempt to become involved in such a discussion but of one thing I am certain, and that is I know of no fairer method of rendering justice that [sic] our ancient trial by jury right\"\r\n\r\nPage 50\r\n\r\nThis page contains;\r\n\r\n\"Many times during these many days have I asked myself \"Why me, Why did I allow myself to be accepted for this jury?\" Several times during my qualification questioning I could have answered either the state or the defense in such a manner as to have had the court dis-qualify me as a juror. Why, then did I not do this. The answer is simple, I could not do so without sacrificing those legal and moral aspects of our society that I hold most reverent. The first question I asked myself, when I first became aware that I was to be a prospective juror on this case was; Would I truly make the kind of juror that I would most like to have if I were the one on trial instead of Mr. Ruby, and would I be equally fair to the state. I search my heart and sole [sic] for the answer and felt beyond a doubt that I could if asked to, render a completely fair and impartial verdict based solely on the facts presented in the courtroom. Nothing less, nothing more.\"\r\n\r\nPage 51 \r\n\r\n\"I have been asked why I believe in capital punishment. This is a difficult question to answer, since I would really prefer that an easier more humane method of major crime deterrent could be found. No past civilization has ever endured that didn't at some time enforce the death penalty on members of its society that committed crimes of varying degrees within it's civic-[iz+d?]] frame work. Many countries, including Great Britain abolished the death penalty, only to see a gigantic resurgence of major crimes which necessitated the re-establishment of the death penalty. \r\n\r\nI have never relished the thought of having the awful responsibility of setting in judgment of another man's life. It is not something that I find easy to do, but I feel that it is a moral and civic responsibility to do so. I am, wheither [sic] I like it or not, a member of this society which is governed by man-made laws. The law states that when a duly accepted jury panel of 12 citizens\"\r\n\r\nPage 52\r\n\r\n\"finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a man is guilty of committing an unprovoked act of murder, with full and complete sanity then he is subject to being sentenced to die for his crime. This law is upheld by the rule of the majority members of our society. Many people who agree with this law will when summoned as a prospective juror on such a case, refuse to accept the responsibility of enforcing the law on moral or religious grounds. It is to these people that I appeal, please do not condem [sic]  those of us in our society who feel that until such a time as a more humane and befitting deterrent to major crimes can be devised that our existing law must be enforced if our society is to survive. I personally believe that when 12 God-Fearing jurors seek to set in judgment on a man's life, that each and everyone should seek God's divine guidance in seeing that justice prevails.\"\r\n\r\nPage 53 \r\n\r\nThis is a partial page, the bottom three-quarters of the page has been torn out. \r\n\r\n\"Needed items \r\nDictionary\"\r\n\r\nPage 54 \r\n\r\nThis is a partial page, the bottom three-quarters of the page has been torn out. \r\n\r\n\"31 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 39 - 40 - 1 - 2\r\n3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 50 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 45\r\nMonday # 56\"\r\n\r\nInside Back Cover\r\n\r\nThere is a yellow post it note affixed to the inside back cover which reads; \r\n\r\n\"Feb - 27 why no jurors that AM? - What happened?\r\n\r\nMarch 2 - what happened? Tonahill contempt of court - Epilepsy League\r\n\r\nMarch 3 - what happened? shortening [this line has been marked through]\r\n\r\nMar. 11 - defense rested case\""},"medium":{"label":"Medium","value":"Cardboard, Paper, Metal"},"onview":{"label":"On View","value":"0"},"media":{"label":"Media","value":[{"mediaURL":"https://emuseum.jfk.org/internal/media/dispatcher/23103/full","displayOrder":"0","mediaType":"Document","mediaId":"23103"},{"mediaURL":"https://emuseum.jfk.org/internal/media/dispatcher/23024/full","displayOrder":"1","mediaType":"Image","mediaId":"23024"}]},"title":{"label":"Title","value":"Max Causey's journal of his experiences on the Ruby trial jury"},"classification":{"label":"Classifications","value":"Documents"},"primaryMedia":{"label":"PrimaryMedia","value":"/internal/media/dispatcher/23024/full"},"thesconcepts":{"label":"Terms","value":["Journals","Jury","Trials","Jack Ruby trial","Ruby, Jack","Belli, Melvin","Wade, Henry M.","Brown, Judge Joe B.","Mabra, W. W. \"Bo\"","McCoy, Allen","Decker, Bill","Tyler, Nell","McCollum, Mildred","Dickerson, Luther","Sowell, Douglas","Flechtner, Robert","English, Gwen","Holton, Glen","Cunningham, James E.","Rose, J. Waymon","Shields, Aileen B.","Malone, Louise","Alexander, William F.","Tonahill, Joe H.","Causey, Max","Dallas"]},"culture":{"label":"Object","value":"Notebook"},"displayDate":{"label":"Date","value":"02/20/1964"},"width":{"label":"Width","value":["15.0812801626"]},"id":{"label":"Id","value":"64330"},"dimensions":{"label":"Dimensions","value":"8 15/16 x 5 15/16 in. (22.7 x 15.1 cm)"},"height":{"label":"Height","value":["22.7012954026"]}}]}