Jack Ruby talking with his lawyers during his change-of-venue hearing

Object number2014.080.0418.0003

Date02/10/1964 - 02/13/1964

ClassificationsPhotographs

Photographer Dallas Morning News Photographer

ObjectNegative (b&w)

Credit LineThe Dallas Morning News Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Donated by The Dallas Morning News in the interest of preserving history

MediumFilm

Dimensions15/16 × 2 1/4 in. (2.4 × 5.7 cm)

Terms

Collections

DescriptionOriginal 35mm black and white panoramic negative taken by a staff photographer from The Dallas Morning News. Reporters and photographers surround the table where Jack Ruby is seated inside a courtroom in Dallas, Texas. Taken during Ruby's change-of-venue hearing in February 1964, this image shows Ruby and his lawyer Joe Tonahill (center of the image) listening attentively to Ruby's lead lawyer, Melvin Belli, shown in profile on the viewer's right. An unidentified man sits just behind Belli, holding a large hardcover book.

Curatorial Commentary

The unidentified individual in the foreground of this photograph is holding a copy of Melvin Belli's 1963 book, Belli Looks at Life and Law in Russia, co-authored by Danny R. Jones and published by Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. This same hardcover first edition might be part of the Museum's Collection today. In the Judge Joe B. Brown Collection is a copy of this book (2004.010.0160) personally inscribed by Melvin Belli to Dallas County Judge Joe B. Brown, who presided over the Jack Ruby trial. It is also possible, and indeed consistent with Belli's personality, that the flamboyant San Francisco attorney gave away numerous copies of his book while staying in Dallas. - Stephen Fagin, Curator