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Image of Dallas Police detectives outside of the Texas School Book Depository
Image of Dallas Police detectives outside of the Texas School Book Depository

Image of Dallas Police detectives outside of the Texas School Book Depository

Object number1989.100.0023.0006
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer William Allen
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineWilliam Allen, photographer, Dallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)
Collections
DescriptionOriginal 35mm black and white negative taken by Dallas Times Herald staff photographer William Allen. This image shows Dallas Police Detective Marvin Johnson on the steps of the Texas School Book Depository holding a Dr. Pepper bottle and a bag of chicken bones that were found on the building's sixth floor near the sniper's perch on November 22, 1963. Johnson appears to be talking with Dallas Times Herald reporter Darwin Payne.
Curatorial Commentary
The paper bag in the officer's hand was found to contain chicken bones.  Along with a package of Viceroy cigarettes and a Dr. Pepper bottle, the bag was found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository near where investigators found the sniper’s perch and three spent rifle shells.  Early news reports suggested the assassin ate lunch there while waiting for Kennedy to arrive.  Once Oswald was arrested, Dallas Police received suggestions from the public to pump his stomach to see if he had recently eaten chicken.  But investigators soon learned that the lunch had belonged to Texas School Book Depository employee Bonnie Ray Williams, who left the area around 12:15 pm and joined two coworkers on the fifth floor to watch the president's motorcade. - Gary Mack, Curator