T38 Transcript of The State of Texas vs. Ruby: Pretrial Hearing on Sanity Trial

Object number1994.002.0010.0010

Date06/10/1966

ClassificationsDocuments

ObjectTranscript

Credit LineDallas County District Clerk Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumPaper

Dimensions11 1/8 × 8 5/8 × 3/16 in. (28.3 × 21.9 × 0.5 cm)

Collections

DescriptionTranscript of The State of Texas vs. Jack Ruby: Pretrial Hearing on Sanity Trial Setting of June 13th, 1966. Phil Burleson, Sol Dann, Sam Houston Clinton Jr., Joe Tonahill and Emmet Colvin Jr. all spoke in defense of Jack Ruby. Henry Wade, Bill Alexander and James Williamson spoke for the state. Judge Louis T. Holland presiding, in place of Judge Joe B. Brown. Phil Burleson filed a motion to dismiss the 1964 affidavit filed by Jack Ruby's sister Mrs. Eva Grant asking for her brother's sanity to be assessed. Based on that motion, Burleson then asked that there be no sanity hearing. Judge Holland insisted that he was bound to follow the direction of the higher court, which was to resolve the question of Ruby's sanity or insanity by holding a hearing. The defense lawyers began to squabble, Tonahill against Burleson, Dann against Tonahill and also occasionally against Burleson. Henry Wade and Bill Alexander listed other affidavits that also called into question Ruby's mental state and then asserted that they were ready to hold a sanity hearing. The defense claimed doing so would damage Ruby's constitutional rights. At the end of the hearing, Judge Holland ordered both Tonahill and Burleson to be ready for a sanity hearing the following Monday, June 13, 1966. Transcript consists of 40 typed pages of onionskin paper; each page has a printed footer that reads: "Frank Howell, Official Court Reporter, Dallas, Texas". Text on the cover: "No. E 4010-J The State of Texas vs. Jack Ruby In the Criminal District Court Number Three Of Dallas County, Texas Pretrial Hearing on Sanity Trial Setting of June 13th, 1966" There is a printed footer that reads as follows: "Frank Howell Official Court Reporter Dallas, Texas" There is also a black stamp on the bottom center of the cover with the following text: "FILED Jun 21 1966 Bill Shaw Dist. Clerk, Dallas Co., Texas" A handwritten signature [illegible] is next to the stamped word "Deputy".

Curatorial Commentary

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