/internal/media/dispatcher/58824/fullT38 Transcript of The State of Texas vs. Ruby: Pretrial Hearing on Sanity Trial06/10/196611 1/8 × 8 5/8 × 3/16 in. (28.3 × 21.9 × 0.5 cm)PaperDallas County District Clerk Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza1994.002.0010.00100Transcript of The State of Texas vs. Jack Ruby: Pretrial Hearing on Sanity Trial Setting of June 13th, 1966. Appearing for the state: Henry Wade, Bill Alexander, and James Williamson. For the defendant, Jack Ruby: Phil Burleson, Sol Dann, Sam Houston Clinton Jr., Joe Tonahill, and Emmet Colvin Jr.
Phil Burleson files 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 asks that there be no sanity hearing. Judge Holland insists that he is bound to follow the direction of the higher court, which is to resolve the question of Ruby's sanity or insanity by holding a hearing. The defense lawyers begin to squabble, Tonahill against Burleson, Dann against Tonahill and also occasionally against Burleson. Henry Wade and Bill Alexander list other affidavits that also call into question Ruby's mental state, and then assert that they are ready to hold a sanity hearing. The defense claims doing so will damage Ruby's constitutional rights. At the end of the hearing, Judge Holland orders both Tonahill and Burleson to be ready for a sanity hearing the following Monday, June 13, 1966.
The transcript retains both original blue card covers; typed pages 1 - 40 of thin onionskin paper; each page has a printed footer that reads: "Frank Howell, Official Court Reporter, Dallas, Texas". The left edge of the front cover has residue as if from a black tape binding that has since been removed. The booklet was originally held together with 3 metal staples, which were disposed of prior to transport to UNT for digitization.
The cover has a black printed box with the following text typed within it:
"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 is next to the stamped word "Deputy".
Transcript in good condition. Onionskin pages are in better condition than front and reverse covers; slightly yellowed on edges. Covers have creases throughout cardstock paper, staple holes along spine edges, and black residue from original adhesive binding. Deep vertical crease on front cover just to right of holes. (JM 11/22/2019)Documents6616921.907543815128.25755651515539Transcript0.4762509525Transcript 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".HearingJack Ruby trialTranscriptsTrialsCourt recordsMental healthBrown, Judge Joe B.Alexander, William F.Tonahill, Joe H.Wade, Henry M.Williamson, James M.Dann, SolColvin, Emmett, Jr.Howell, FrankShaw, BillBurleson, PhilRuby, JackClinton, Sam Houston, Jr.Grant, EvaHolland, Louis T.Dallas County Criminal Courts BuildingCriminal District Court No. 3Dallas County District Attorney's OfficeState of TexasDallasThe 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