Skip to main content

T16 Transcript of the State vs. Ruby: Statement of Facts: Jury Trial, Volume 1

Object number1994.002.0006.0001
Date03/04/1964
ClassificationsDocuments
ObjectTranscript
Credit LineDallas County District Clerk Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumPaper
Dimensions11 1/2 × 8 3/4 × 1 in. (29.2 × 22.2 × 2.5 cm)
DescriptionTranscript of the State vs. Jack Ruby: Statement of Facts: Jury Trial, Volume 1. Melvin Belli, Joe Tonahill and Phil Burleson represented the defendant, Jack Ruby; Henry Wade, Dallas County District Attorney, was the prosecutor, assisted by Jim Bowie, Bill Alexander and Frank Watts. The presiding judge was Judge Joe B. Brown. The witnesses who appeared on this day of the trial are Don Campbell, John Newnam, Georgia Mayer, William G. Duncan Jr., R. M. Sims, T. B. Leonard, Wesley A. Wise, D. V. Harkness, John Rutledge, G. C. Hallmark, Doyle Lane, Ray Brantley, Jim Leavelle and Dr. Earl F. Rose. After several motions were made by the defense and denied by the Court, witnesses were sworn in and Jack Ruby pled guilty by reason of insanity. The State declined to make an opening statement, over objections from the Defense. The witnesses immediately began testimony. Transcript retains original covers and is 214 typed pages on thin onionskin paper; each page is individually stamped "Copyright (c) 1964, Shirley M. Stinebaugh-James Muleady, Dallas, Texas". Typed text on the cover: "No. E. 4010-J In the Criminal District Court No. 3, of Dallas County, Texas. January Term, A. D. 1964. The State of Texas vs. Jack Rubenstein Alias Jack Ruby Statement of Facts Jury Trial - March 4 - 14, 1964. Volume One March 4, 1964 - Pages 1 - 214 (Copy)" At the bottom is a short printed statement: "James J. Muleady Official Court Reporter 2nd Floor Records Bldg. Annex Phone Riverside 1-5624 Dallas, Texas" In blue ballpoint ink, a handwritten note in the top left corner says, "Gun intro page 152".
Curatorial Commentary
Dallas County medical examiner Dr. Earl F. Rose went on to perform Jack Ruby's autopsy at Parkland Memorial Hospital following Ruby's death on January 3, 1967. The late Dr. Rose, who recorded an oral history with the Museum in 2005, also performed the autopsy of Lee Harvey Oswald and would have conducted President Kennedy's autopsy had his body remained in Dallas following the assassination. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
The Museum recorded oral histories with the following individuals named in this document: Dallas Police Department officers R. M. Sims, Jim Leavelle and D. V. Harkness; journalist (and future Dallas mayor) Wes Wise; Dallas County medical examiner Dr. Earl F. Rose; defense attorneys Joe Tonahill and Phil Burleson and Dallas County D.A. Henry Wade. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
One of the more unusual Jack Ruby-related items in our vast Collection is a small (4 inch by 6 inch) handwritten note that Ruby passed to his attorney Melvin Belli during the testimony of Dallas police detective Jim Leavelle (Anthony Pugliese Collection, 2008.005.0002.0002). Apparently questioning statements made during Leavelle's testimony, Ruby wrote: "Also I was wearing a hat, so how could he tell the expression on my face, and he was hand-cuffed to the prisoner." This note, or a facsimile, has been on display alongside Jack Ruby's recognizable fedora hat as part of the Museum's core exhibit since 2013. - Stephen Fagin, Curator