Handwritten note from Jack Ruby to his lawyer Melvin Belli

Object number2008.005.0002.0002

DateMarch 1964

ClassificationsDocuments

Author Jack Ruby

ObjectNote

Credit LineAnthony Pugliese Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumPaper, Adhesive, Foamcore

Dimensions6 x 4 in. (15.2 x 10.2 cm)

Terms

Collections

DescriptionHandwritten note from Jack Ruby to his lawyer Melvin Belli. The note is written in pencil on a small piece of paper. In response to Detective Jim Leavelle’s testimony during Ruby’s trial for the murder of Oswald in 1964, Ruby passed this note to his attorneys, suggesting that his hat would have obscured his face. Text of letter: "R (circled) IMPORTANT The gun did not have a hammer, and is almost impossible to stop from firing even if you grasp same. Also I was wearing a hat, so how could he tell the expression on my face, and he was hand-cuffed to the prisoner"

Curatorial Commentary

This note was displayed in the Museum's temporary exhibition, "Jack Ruby: The Man in That Hat" from October 2010 to August 2011 and was displayed in the Museum's permanent exhibit from 2013 to 2015. We removed it from display earlier this year to protect it from prolonged exposure to light. In its stead, we have displayed a reproduction of this note. - Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections