/internal/media/dispatcher/34891/fullCourtroom sketch "At the Ruby Trial" by artist John Groth02/01/1964 - 03/14/196419 3/8 × 15 5/8 in. (49.2 × 39.7 cm)PaperRichard deY. Manning Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza2003.015.00010Original courtroom drawing on paper titled "At the Ruby Trial" by John Groth, showing images of Jack Ruby, Joe Tonahill and Melvin Belli. The artwork is drawn in black ink, and has handwriting below the images in black ink.
The images show three men, from approximately the chest up, and mostly in profile. Jack Ruby appears to be behind Joe Tonahill, who is partially concealed behind Melvin Belli. Both Mr. Tonahill and Mr. Belli are drawn wearing glasses. Under each image is the last name of the man it represents; from left to right: "Ruby", "Tonahill", and “Belli". Handwritten below the right edge of Mr. Belli's shoulder is, "John Groth / at the Jack Ruby Trial / Dallas." Below this towards the bottom of the page is written, "for Dick Manning."
This drawing has been removed from the frame that it was purchased in. The frame was made of plexiglass and foamcore and secured with metal clips.
Discoloration present along the edges of the paper surrounding artwork; points of discoloration or stains present at each corner from adhesives. (LC 4/22/2014)Art6381939.687579375249.212598425222634Courtroom sketch0E-10Courtroom pencil sketch titled "At the Ruby Trial" by John Groth. The sketch shows the figures of Jack Ruby, Joe Tonahill and Melvin Belli during the trial of Jack Ruby in February or March of 1964. The sketch shows the three figures slightly overlapping with Belli in front, Ruby in the middle, and Tonahill in the background. The three figures are labeled underneath with their first and last names, and all three figures are facing towards the viewer's right. A handwritten caption below the right edge of Mr. Belli's shoulder is "John Groth / at the Jack Ruby Trial / Dallas." Below this towards the bottom of the page is written "for Dick Manning."
Cameras were barred from the courtroom during the trial, but the judge did permit reporters and courtroom artists to stay.ArtworkSketchesTrialsJack Ruby trialArtistTonahill, Joe H.Ruby, JackBelli, MelvinGroth, JohnDallasChicago native John August Groth (1908-88) covered the liberation of Paris during World War II as an artist correspondent for the Chicago Sun. He later covered both the Korean and Vietnam wars. In addition to his sketch work, Groth was a painter, book illustrator and served as the art director for Esquire magazine. His unique style technique is called "speed line," in which the artist uses a series of rough, unperfected lines.
In June 1977, the Dallas Public Library System acquired from Groth a total of 130 sketches made during the Jack Ruby trial for $7,500. The controversial purchase was opposed by two Dallas city council members who argued that municipal funds should not be used to acquire what they considered to be assassination-related "memorabilia." Councilman Bill Blackburn at the time cited this same reason for opposing that the City of Dallas purchase the empty Texas School Book Depository building. Later that year the building would be purchased by Dallas County as part of a bond package.
This particular sketch was not part of that 1977 acquisition because Groth had previously sold (and dedicated) this drawing to an acquaintance, Richard deY Manning (1924-2013), a captain in the 17th Army Airborne during World War II who was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45. Interestingly, this is one of the few Groth sketches from the Ruby trial that was published in The Saturday Evening Post. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator