T17 Transcript of the State vs. Ruby: Statement of Facts: Jury Trial, Volume 2

The Museum recorded oral histories with the following individuals named in this document: Dallas Police Department officers Don Archer and L.C. Graves, defense attorneys Joe Tonahill and Phil Burleson and Dallas County D.A. Henry Wade. - Stephen Fagin, Curator

The late Dallas police detective Don Archer witnessed the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald and was immediately ordered to remain with Jack Ruby. In his 2002 oral history with the Museum, Archer recalled that on the elevator ride from the basement to the Dallas police jail upstairs, Ruby twice said, "Well, I just couldn't let him get away with it," referring to Oswald. Archer remained with Ruby on the fifth floor for several hours, and he recalled that Ruby was "very, very nervous." Archer said, "[Ruby] was just perspiring real bad. I could see his heart beating real fast." According to Archer, once he informed Ruby that Lee Harvey Oswald had died at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Ruby's demeanor completely changed. Archer said, "He quit perspiring. His chest quit thumping. He just calmed down." This led Archer to believe that Ruby was likely part of a plot. He recalled in his oral history, "I felt like he was connected, and he had accomplished what he needed to accomplish." This significant recollection was featured in the British television documentary series, The Men Who Killed Kennedy. In that documentary, Archer stated, "I would say that his life had depended on him getting Oswald." - Stephen Fagin, Curator

In the Museum's 1994 oral history with L.C. Graves, recorded less than a year before his death, the former police detective was quite candid with his criticism of how the prisoner transfer of Lee Harvey Oswald was handled with regard to media access to the suspect. Graves, wearing a dark suit, walked along Oswald's left side, while detective Jim Leavelle was handcuffed to Oswald on the right. When asked if he said anything to Oswald on their way to the police basement, Graves said, "No, no, I didn't because my mind was on getting rid of that sucker. And I didn't like the circumstances under which we had to get rid of him, but I didn't have any choice. It was like a lamb being led to slaughter, and I felt like we knew better, but we didn't have the choice, you know." According to Graves, he immediately recognized Jack Ruby when the nightclub owner stepped out and shot Oswald on live television. - Stephen Fagin, Curator