Admitted Assassin - Really?
In 2023 Peniel Unlimited, LLC published Admitted Assassin with the subtitle “Roscoe White and the Murder of President Kennedy.” As stated on page 6, it was “a concerted effort by Ricky White and others to either verify or challenge certain evidence and information implicating his father in the ambush that killed President Kennedy in Dallas Texas.”
The “others” were Kennedy researchers J. Gary Shaw and Brian K. Edwards. I bought the book with the belief that some of their “evidence” which I disputed in chapters one and two of my book, Tales of Deception and Imagination, would be refuted. It was not the case.
The first thing I found curious was the involvement of Brian Edwards. Edwards is co-author of the book, Beyond the Fence Line: The Eyewitness Account of Ed Hoffman and the Murder of President Kennedy. The book, published in 2016, documents what Ed Hoffman allegedly saw near the railroad tracks behind the “Grassy Knoll.” I will not belabor the point, but Hoffmann's description of events contradicts and/or refutes that found in the Roscoe White story. Additionally, Hoffman’s story has been debunked by researcher M. Duke Lane in his article "Freeway Man.”
Duke Lane's Freeway Man Investigation
In my view, Edward’s offers conflicting observations while paying little attention, as will be shown later, to available evidence. It's a form of assassination research somewhat akin to "Where's Waldo."
This is not unusual for some within the "research" community. For example, private investigator, Joe West, found the Roscoe White story believable. He claimed to be investigating the subject and appeared at the JFK Assassination Information Center press conference August 6th, 1990. This was when Ricky White revealed his story to the media. In an about face, West later decided Roscoe White was not the Grassy Knoll assassin – it was now James Sutton a.k.a. James Files. West began researching the Files’ story for producer Robert Vernon. Vernon did produce a money losing "documentary" about Files entitled Confession of an Assassin. (MPI Home Video, 1996)
When Vernon found he had been duped he managed to sell his catalog to Kennedy "researcher” Wim Dankbarr. More details are available at The Files' Mosaic.
Admitted Assassin unanswered questions
A] The finding of Roscoe White’s military records.
“OCTOBER 15, 1982 “… the family returned to the Toland home at 2630 W Houston St. (Paris, Texas). On site, Ricky’s cousins found Roscoe’s Marine Corps footlocker in a detached shed at the north edge of the property. Inside the trunk, Ricky found his father's military records, letters from home, and assorted military memorabilia. At the bottom of the footlocker, Ricky found his father's diary.” (p. 275) (Emphasis mine)
In late 1991 I was involved in investigating the Roscoe White story. As part of my investigation, I tried to obtain Roscoe White’s military records under Freedom of Information (FOIA). In the end, I was successful. However, one request required an appeal to the Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy. The request was for the names of any other individuals who requested Roscoe White’s military records.
My appeal was upheld. There were two other individuals who requested and received copies. There was 1] Attorney James Lesar of the Assassination Archives and Research Center in Washington, D.C. Mr. Lesar’s request was approved on November 20, 1990.
Surprisingly number 2] was Ricky White whose request was approved on December 2, 1988. This begs the question – if Ricky had Roscoe’s military records by October 15, 1982, why was he requesting them six years later!
B] The three cables
Chapter 5 of Admitted Assassin deals with three cables. The cables are purportedly White’s official orders to kill the president. (pp. 125 – 153) The authors explain, “The following is an analysis of Roscoe’s orders as contained in the three cable messages with our best effort at interpretation and explanation." (p.134) (Emphasis mine)
Why should we rely on the "best efforts" of the authors when the cables have been subjected to scientific and linguistic studies by professionals?
[a] The authors did not mention that the three cables were subjected to scrutiny as to authenticity and content in November of 1990. Kent Demaret, Houston Bureau Chief of People magazine, had the Northern Arizona Forensic Laboratories Examiner of Questioned Documents, James Hale Jr., review the cables. Hale produced a 7-page detailed report. He concluded,
“It is apparent that texts of Items A (1-3) were produced by a ‘romantic’ novice typist, considering the chosen lexicon, the use of the capital letter ‘I’ instead of the lower case ‘I’ to represent the numeral ‘1’ in the headings of each document, the misspelling of the word ‘forgein’ (foreign), and the use of the redundant phrase “Reply back if not understood.” It is also apparent the coded lexicon is so clearly understandable, it is intended to convey to the average reader the sinister nature of the ‘messages’.”
“Based upon research and analysis, the undersigned (Hale) must avert the evidence does not support its accompanying story, which is, in my opinion, refuted.” Hale gave 22 specific reasons he considered the documents spurious.
Northern Arizona Forensics Hale Report
[b]On November 26, 1990 Donald Morris* of The Trident Syndicate provided a five page report matching the language used in the three documents against known government communications. His review of the wording, paragraph by paragraph concluded:
“Beyond any question, the person who concocted these documents never served in any executive capacity with any arm of the United States government, and has never drafted, handled, or even been exposed to, any form of government communications.”
*Donald Morris (November 1, 1924 – December 5, 2002) was a United States naval officer, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, novelist, military historian and foreign affairs writer. Morris retired from the CIA in 1972 and became a foreign affairs column writer for the Houston Post.
On page 286 of Admitted Assassin there is a notation for June 29th 1990. It indicates “Kevin Walsh of the Capitol Hill Investigative Agency from Washington, D.C. arrived in Paris, Texas and interviewed Philip Jordan. The following is a summary of that interview taken directly from Walsh's notes.”
In reading the notes, it would appear Walsh discovered that Jordan, a Navy veteran, had information indicating Roscoe was the Grassy Knoll assassin who received his orders from a “Colonel Bond.”
This is more than disingenuous. Walsh, hired by Jim Lesar of the Assassination Archives and Research Center, interviewed Jordan at his home in Paris, Texas on July 24, 1990. Lesar was concerned the story might be a hoax. Walsh provided a 5 page report to Jim Lesar. I have a copy of the report but based on an agreement I made with Jim on December 10, 1990 I am not authorized to publish it. However, some important points are:
Kevin Walsh Cover Page (Redacted)
Jordan indicated, “Ricky is likeable and crazy, obsessed with proving his fatherkilled J.F.K. and that he make a movie or book and money on the story.”
As an aside, on July 3, 1990 Larry Howard Co-Director of the JFK Assassination Information Center wrote Oliver Stone. Larry provided Stone with 17 talking points including "The name of the gunman who fired from behind the picket fence and who also controlled the assassination." Later that same year, Ricky White, his wife Tricia, Larry Howard, and his wife flew to California to meet with Oliver Stone. The purpose of the trip was to pitch the Roscoe White story to Stone for $750,000. In the end, Stone dismissed the tale " . . . to be nothing more than a publicity-seeking hoax."
Stone, Oliver and Zachary Sklar, JFK The Documented Screenplay, (New York, NY: Applause Books, 1992), p.20.
Larry Howard's letter to Oliver Stone
Walsh alerted Lesar (along with Mary Ferrell and J. Gary Shaw) that, “It is my opinion that to go forward tomorrow with public accusations will be irresponsible. I hope to be proven wrong for the sake of the needless embarrassment to innocent individuals.” Kevin was referring to the Ricky White press conference hosted by the JFK Assassination Information Center and J. Gary Shaw on August 6, 1990.
Conclusion:
“Is the Roscoe White story just another elaborate hoax analogous to the Warren Report and other nonsensical “governmental” lone assassin proclamations?”
“Admittedly, it might be. The authors don't believe it is, but as was urged at the beginning of this book, that should be YOUR call.” Admitted Assassin (p.255)
The Warren Report became “nonsensical” when the FBI and the CIA withheld important documents and provided perjured testimony. I find it amusing that Shaw and Edwards want you to believe the story while withholding crucial evidence. In my view, they are no better than the FBI and CIA were in 1963 by violating the legal principle of DISCOVERY (q.v.).
Dave Perry
November 18, 2024
UPDATE - December 3, 2024
The above was written prior to the recent Dallas symposiums held close to the anniversary of the assassination. I understand there was a presentation discussing the White, Shaw, and Edwards book Admitted Assassin. After speaking with some of the attendees, I determined little if anything was said about the Hale, Morris, or Welsh investigations. I am unsure if information was presented concerning the relationship between Ricky White, the rest of the White family, Andy Burke, and Matsu Corporation. The review of this little known relationship is the subject of my comments below:
There was a lot of activity surrounding the Roscoe White story in late 1989 and early 1990. Matsu Incorporated was developed for the purpose of looking into the Roscoe White story at Ricky White's behest. Matsu was registered with the State of Texas as a corporation on July 25th 1989. The agent of record was Jack Ladd. The officers were President - Gary R. Bailey, Secretary/Treasurer/Director – Gary Glasscock, and Director – Brian Sargo. Matsu, Inc. took its name from the Kennedy/Nixon discussions of the diplomatic handling of the islands of Matsu and Quemoy, located near Taiwan.
On September 21, 1983. Joe H. West created a company called DE-FENCE and later TRUTH,TRUTH,TRUTH, Inc. on April 13th 1989.The offices of both corporations were located at 1231 Campbell, Houston TX.
On January 25, 1989, Matsu developed a “Letter of Agreement” between the corporation and Ricky White, Andy Burke, Geneva Ruth White Galey, and Roscoe Anthony White, Jr. This was well before the involvement of J. Gary Shaw, Bud Fensterwald, and the JFK Assassination Information Center. In reviewing this document you should take note of the following:
A] The agreement was, “for the express purpose of creating a story centering around and about the life of Roscoe Anthony White, and any and all extenuating ramifications of his life, and subsequent to his death.” (Emphasis mine)
B] On page 2 of the agreement, “The Matsu Corporation shall have creative control over creation of the story . . “ (Emphasis mine)
I found it interesting that creation was the operative word rather than investigation. Additionally in late 1989 or early 1990 Richard Abshire under the pen name “Dick Anderson” wrote a 38 page book proposal. Much of the “evidence” presented has been refuted. The proposal was turned down by Viking/Penguin Publishing due to lack of verifiable “evidence” supporting the story.
C] On page 2 items 2), 3), and 4) discuss how the expenses and income (some $80,000) will be distributed. Any income generated was to be disbursed as follows “Matsu – 20%, Andy Burke – 20%, Ricky White – 20%, Geneva Ruth White Galley – 20%, and Roscoe Anthony White, Jr. – 20%.”
In my view, the monetary interest might just outweigh the investigative interest.
This could be the reason Matsu filed a Temporary Restraining Order against Joe H. West and TRUTH, TRUTH, TRUTH, Inc. in the District Court of Harris County, Texas 165th Judicial District on or about October 1,1990. Matsu did not want West to continue having custody of the cables or have them analyzed as the property was, “unique and priceless and cannot be replaced.” Moreover on September 25, 1990 J. Gary Shaw signed a verification that he “is a representative of the Matsu corporation plaintiff in the above entitled and numbered cause that he is authorized by the Matsu corporation to make this verification. . . “
Matsu Restraining Order Against West Cover