T39 Transcript of Texas vs. Jack Ruby: Statement of Facts, Sanity Hearing

Object number1994.002.0010.0011

Date06/13/1966

ClassificationsDocuments

ObjectTranscript

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

MediumPaper

Dimensions11 1/16 × 8 1/2 × 7/16 in. (28.1 × 21.6 × 1.1 cm)

Collections

DescriptionTranscript of The State of Texas vs. Jack Ruby: Statement of Facts, Sanity Hearing - June 13, 1966. In Criminal District Court Number Three of Dallas County, Judge Louis T. Holland presided. Sol Dann, Phil Burleson and Sam Houston Clinton Jr. appeared for the Defendant, Jack Ruby. Other lawyers who spoke on behalf of Jack Ruby included Joe Tonahill and Emmett Colvin Jr. Henry Wade, Bill Alexander and James B. Zimmerman represented the State of Texas. Witnesses who appeared for the State in this hearing are Archie F. Watson, W. S. Elliott, Donald R. Standridge, Kenneth Hudson Croy and Dr. John W. Callahan. None of the defense lawyers participated in examining the witnesses called by the State, fearing doing so would incriminate Ruby in further hearings and trials or infringe upon his constitutional rights. After testimony and over the objection of Tonahill, Ruby testified in person that he considered himself sane and hoped the jury would also. The jury returned their verdict: "We, the jury, find the Defendant at the present time is sane." Judge Holland stated after the verdict was read that this hearing had been empaneled at the request of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and that he was required to conduct this hearing. Then the judge and all the lawyers formally thanked each other for participating in good faith. As a tangent to this hearing, just after the Court's noon recess Marguerite Oswald, mother of accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, was called into the judge's chambers. The judge questioned her as to whether she had violated his instructions that there would be no photographs taken in the courtroom that day. She said she had only taken pictures outside of the courtroom. This brief conversation appears at the top of page 29. The transcript retains both original yellow card covers; typed pages 1 - 81 of thin onionskin paper. Text on cover: "No. E 4010 J The State of Texas vs. Jack Ruby In the Criminal District Court Number Three Of Dallas County, Texas Statement of Facts Sanity Hearing - June 13, 1966 Reported by E. B. Kinsey, Official Court Reporter, 33rd Judicial District of Texas, Burnet - 78611." There is a black stamp on the bottom center of the cover that reads: "FILED Jun 28 1966 Bill Shaw Dist. Clerk, Dallas Co., Texas" with a handwritten signature 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