/internal/media/dispatcher/58825/fullT39 Transcript of Texas vs. Jack Ruby: Statement of Facts, Sanity Hearing06/13/196611 1/16 × 8 1/2 × 7/16 in. (28.1 × 21.6 × 1.1 cm)PaperDallas County District Clerk Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza1994.002.0010.00110Transcript of The State of Texas vs. Jack Ruby: Statement of Facts, Sanity Hearing - June 13, 1966. In the Criminal District Court Number Three of Dallas County, Judge Louis T. Holland presiding. Henry Wade, Bill Alexander, and James B. Zimmerman appearing for the State of Texas. Sol Dann, Phil Burleson, and Sam Houston Clinton, Jr. appearing for the Defendant, Jack Ruby. Additional appearances made by Joe Tonahill and Emmett Colvin Jr. The 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 the State's witnesses testified and over the objection of Tonahill, Ruby testified in person at his own request and suggestion that he considered himself sane and hoped the jury would also. After deliberating, 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 was impaneled 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.
On an interesting note, directly following the Court's noon recess Marguerite Oswald was called into the judge's chambers and was questioned whether she had violated Judge Holland's instruction that there would be no photographs taken in the courtroom that day. She said she had only taken pictures outside of the courtroom. The transcription from this brief conversation is at the top of page 29 of the transcript.
The transcript retains both original yellow card covers; typed pages 1 - 81 of thin onionskin paper. The left edge of the front cover has residue as if from a brown tape binding that has since been removed. The booklet is held together with cotton tape.
The cover on the first copy 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
Statement of Facts
Sanity Hearing - June 13, 1966 [underlined]
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".
Transcript in good condition. Onionskin pages are in better condition than front and reverse covers; slightly yellowed on edges. Covers have indentations and pen marks; edges have minimal tears and fold creases. Deep vertical crease on front cover just to right of holes. Residue of brown woven fabric tape on spine edges of both covers. (JM 11/22/2019)Documents6617021.590000000028.09880619765541Transcript1.1112522225Transcript 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".TranscriptsJack Ruby trialCourt recordsMental healthTrialsAppealWitnessesJuryVerdictHearingTonahill, Joe H.Ruby, JackBurleson, PhilHolland, Louis T.Wade, Henry M.Zimmermann, James B.Dann, SolClinton, Sam Houston, Jr.Colvin, Emmett, Jr.Kinsey, E. B.Shaw, BillCallahan, John W.Watson, Archie F.Elliott, W. S.Standridge, Donald R.Croy, Kenneth HudsonOswald, MargueriteAlexander, William F.Dallas County Criminal Courts BuildingCriminal District Court No. 3Dallas County District Attorney's OfficeState of TexasTexas Court of Criminal AppealsDallasThe 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