Letter to Sheriff Decker from Eugene Boone about discovering the rifle
Object number2011.054.0001
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsDocuments
Author
Eugene Boone
ObjectLetter
Credit LineGene and Charmaine Boone Family Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumPaper
Dimensions14 x 8 1/2 in. (35.6 x 21.6 cm)
Collections
DescriptionA copy of a typed, two-page letter written by Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Eugene Boone to Dallas County Sheriff Bill Decker regarding his discovery of the rifle in the northwest corner of the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository on November 22, 1963.
In his letter Boone tentatively identified the rifle as a 7.65mm Mauser and noted that he first saw it at 1:22 p.m., less than an hour after the shooting in Dealey Plaza. He also describes his position when he heard shots fired and his interactions with another eyewitness named H.W. Betzner. Boone collected photographs taken by Betzner before he went to the Texas School Book Depository to help investigators.
Curatorial CommentaryGene Boone explained that all deputies were required to write what were called "Dear Decker" letters to describe their activities in an incident or investigation. This letter was displayed on the Museum's Seventh Floor as part of the "Voices from History: Dallas Law Enforcement" exhibit, November 2006 to October 2007. - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator
Rev. Richard Deats
11/27/1963 - 11/28/1963
Jacqueline Kennedy
02/15/1964
11/23/1963 - 12/11/1963