James Files Without Bob Vernon?
 

Dave Perry: My comments will appear in blue to differentiate between the remarks of Mr. Vernon, Mr. Shelton and other participants.

Wim Dankbaar: My comments will appear in red between the blue remarks of Mr. Perry.

Originally, this was to be an article about Bob Vernon’s unsuccessful efforts to have Federal and Texas authorities reopen the John F. Kennedy case. For over ten years Mr. Vernon has been advancing the two pronged theory that James Files, currently imprisoned at Illinois’ Stateville Correction Center in Joliet, had significant ties to organized crime in the Chicago area and was the long sought Grassy Knoll assassin.

So far Federal and Texas authorities have indeed not responded in a meaningful way to our request to reopen the John F. Kennedy case. The House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded that JFK ‘s murder was a conspiracy and recommended the Justice Department to follow up on their findings. They did NOT. So what’s new?

However, within the past few months it would appear Mr. Vernon has divested himself of involvement in the story. Over the years Mr. Vernon has failed to address the historically inaccurate and serious flaws in pronouncements made by both himself and Mr. Files. It would appear Mr. Vernon has passed the torch to Mr. Wim Dankbaar who I now consider responsible for resolving the many faults in this tale.

I have been the lead investor since June 2002. No need for me to place myself in the spotlight. Mr. Vernon has recently experienced a private family tragedy, of which the details are none of Mr. Perry’s business, but one that saw him forced to lay down his commitments to this project. It was not his wish, nor was it mine, but we found the best solution in my taking over his share in the project. Mr. Vernon remains as convinced as ever about the veracity of our evidence. Hence Mr. Perry is jumping to specious and false conclusions, without knowing the facts.

Since the day of that tragic event we have been bombarded with allegations that over sixty-five individuals were in or around Dealey Plaza for the expressed purpose of seeing that bodily harm came to the President. The extraordinary claim that Files was a presidential assassin requires extraordinary proof. If historical evidence contradicts this claim then the legal logic is even weaker. If you find any errors, please correct me with facts as opposed to opinion.

I believe there are a lot of facts, documents and testimonies presented in Mr. Shelton’s report, as well as on our website www.jfkmurdersolved.com.

To prove his contention that Files was Kennedy’s assassin Bob Vernon a.k.a. Dr. Truth offered, via his web site, a cover letter and investigative findings. The letter was addressed to United States Attorney General John Ashcroft with copies to the Texas Attorney General, Dallas District Attorney, Houston attorney Don Ervin and Mr. Vernon’s lead investigator retired FBI agent Zechariah Shelton.

Over the years I came to believe that Mr. Vernon and his first lead investigator the late Joe West had little understanding of Federal and Texas criminal law. I now believe the current investigator, retired FBI Special Agent Zechariah Shelton, has similar deficiencies. Additionally, I intend to show that Mr. Vernon using his self-professed promotional skills consistently omitted facts detrimental to the case and attempted to put a positive spin on investigative blunders.

Mr. Perry is entitled to believe all he wants, even to put his beliefs in print. I and others believe that Mr. Shelton’s integrity and investigative skills are beyond question. And so believe his collegues and his former employers.

Therefore, unless Mr. Perry can demonstrate he has the requisite decades-long experience that Mr. Shelton clearly possesses, he is speaking far beyond his level of expertise.

Before we begin I have some words of caution for Mr. Vernon and his colleagues. On February 17, 1998 you wrote me through one of the Kennedy assassination public web forums. You and your team member John Rademacher were "disturbed" over certain copyright issues you had concerning my scan of John’s "archeological dig map" of Dealey Plaza. I had placed a scan of the map on my web page where it still appears. You threatened me with a lawsuit and claimed you intended to inform the Library of Congress and my Internet Service Provider of what you perceived as a criminal act on my part. In one of you typically childish and overblown statements you concluded:

Does Mr. Perry want me to respond on Mr. Vernon’s behalf? I believe all the beef that Mr. Vernon and Mr Perry had, was documented on our website (and I will put it back on as soon as I get to it). Mr. Perry also conveniently omits the fact that Mr. Shelton received several awards during his 28 years of serving his country, as did many of his fellow retired FBI colleagues who assisted him in his investigation.

"Warm regards to all your friends at Langley. Please remind them that they are NOT EXEMPT from copyright infringement, as you are not. Take heed. Good luck, agent Perry."

In the end you had to admit your allegations were groundless,

I am not aware of any such admission by Mr. Vernon. I think it’s more likely he wasn’t bothered enough by Mr. Perry’s copyright infringement to pursue the issue.

proving once again you have little if any understanding of the law. In order to prevent similar accusations, I wish to remind you and your associates that you have made your letter and Special Agent Shelton’s investigation available to the general public via the Internet. Those two documents and other records referenced in this report were provided by you and/or members of your team through Internet forums. Therefore that material resides within the public domain. Other reports referenced including FBI records are also in the public domain.

Mr. Perry is absolutely correct here (for a change). We have no problems with Mr. Perry publishing these documents on his website.

Robert G. Vernon
2609 Coffee Tree Court
Antioch, California 94509
925.754.8833

Hon. John Ashcroft April 28, 2003 Attorney General of the United States

United States Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20530 VIA CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Dear Attorney General Ashcroft,

Since 1992, I have been actively involved in a privately funded legal investigation into the murder of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. In 1998, retired FBI Special Agent Zechariah Shelton joined our team as the lead investigator. Since that time, Mr. Shelton has sought and has received the input and consultation of nearly a dozen retired FBI Special Agents including Art Pfizenmayer, Pete Wacks, Michael Wacks, Jack O’Rourk, Jim Wagner, Dick Stillings, James W. Sibert, Robert Hartz and others.

Let’s review how this all started and how Mr. Vernon and SA Shelton became involved in the case.

First we need to go back a few years before Mr. Vernon became captivated by the Jim Files’ story. In 1989 Joe West formed a non-profit Texas private investigative corporation called Truth, Truth, Truth, Inc. By 1990 he was working for a Midland, Texas company called Matsu. Matsu was incorporated in Texas on January 25, 1989 "for the express purpose of creating (emphasis mine) a story centering around" the fact that deceased former Dallas police officer Roscoe Anthony White was the Grassy Knoll assassin. (Excerpted from Matsu’s letter of agreement dated January 25, 1989). West was also assisting the JFK Assassination Information Center located in Dallas, Texas. The members of that group, J. Gary Shaw, Larry Howard, and Larry Ray Harris, also believed Roscoe White was the Grassy Knoll assassin. Joe West appeared at the JFK Assassination Information Center’s press conference held on August 6, 1990 and made the following statement:

Before we go into Mr. West and his probing the Roscoe White story, I would like to say that Mr. West passed away in 1993 and cannot defend himself. I never had the pleasure to know Mr. West but based on his legacy, I consider him a great American. He was actively pursuing a lawsuit to exhume the body of JFK. This alone tells me enough about the honor and integrity of Mr. West, for I too believe that a new autopsy would conclusively verify that JFK was hit from the right front and that the skull would have an entrance wound in the right temple and a large gaping defect in the back. I also believe that the skull would contain traces of mercury from the explosive bullet that Mr. Files claims to have shot from the grassy knoll. In short, Mr. West was the only American citizen in history who tried to prove there was a conspiracy in this most convincing and sensible way, and our team also believes that Mr. West paid with his life for his attempts, a belief, by the way, that in large part prompted Mr. Files to give his videotaped confession to Mr. Vernon.

Therefore I reinforce and repeat my opinion that Mr Perry’s attempts to discredit Mr. West is offensive. Mr Perry wants to tell me that the Kennedy family might be disenchanted with an exhumation of the 35th president of the United States, but I happen to believe that the truth about the coup d’etat that occurred on 11/22/1963 is of greater importance to the American public and their democratic values, than the possible grief of the Kennedy family.

I came on board of this project in the summer of 2002, so I do not know much of the details about the Roscoe White story and Mr. West’s involvement, nor have they ever played a role in my decision to become involved. My decision was based on the findings as presented at www.jfkmurdersolved.com and additional information that is not (yet) published there. My decision was NOT based on a lead that the deceased Mr. West pursued more than a decade ago which proved to be inconclusive. In that light, I find Mr Perry’s statement "8. The fact that Joe West attempted to "pursue exhumation of JFK's remains" is not relevant to the

James Files' story. " most remarkable!

In my view it would be highly relevant in proving the wounds as having been inflicted by multiple gunmen from multiple directions, and more specifically as Mr. Files says he inflicted

them. But more importantly: if Mr. Perry wants to show that past conduct of Mr. West is not relevant to the James Files story - which by the way is also corroborated by the Chauncey Holt

and Tosh Plumlee story - why does he make such an issue about Mr. West investigating the Roscoe White story?

Although I am not able to comment in detail about an episode "before my time", I already know that Mr. Perry is making many false statements about it. To discover the pattern, you only have

to see the false claims about the episode I DO know about.

Anyway, Mr Vernon does know a lot more than I do about the distant past and he has offered me a statement . He did so, after Mr. Perry’s allegations had created some turmoil on the

JFKLancer forum. Mr. Perry’s allegations were specifically promoted by a fellow by the name of Richard J. Smith.

Untill now I have declined to post Mr. Vernon;s statement, for I think he could have used a little less blunt language. But Mr. Vernon is Mr Vernon, he is very firm on his rights of free speech

and would not allow any form of censorship. Meanwhile, and contrary to Mr. Shelton;s opinion, I think Mr. Perry’s accusations deserve a direct response. So here is Mr. Vernon’s statement in

italics:

Wim Dankbaar has asked me to respond to Dave Perry and RJS regarding their post below:

POST: As promised in a previous thread, I contacted Dave Perry concerning his comments about James Files and the promulgation of the Files story by, among others Wim Dankbaar. I asked in particular to address the Malcolm Summers/Roscoe White situation, as well as his comment that Houston orthodontist Dr Paul Stimson had changed his story regarding the "bitemarks" on the .222 shell found by John Rademacher. It's also obvious from Mr Perry's statement that he knows Mr Dankbaar all too well, as we have seen here.

VERNON: The last person anyone serious thinker would want to contact regarding the JFK assassination is Dave Perry. He has a long history of sticking his nose in other people’s business and fabricating things that didn’t happen and twisting the truth to meet his personal agenda whatever that may be. He has exhibited behavior like this since I learned who he was and after he lied to me twice, I’ve never paid any further attention to him. No one else should either.Email from Dave Perry to RJS 9/22/03:

PERRY: I have seen this pattern many times before and you too will find yourself in a no win situation. Dankbaar is already convinced the Files' story is true and as a result he has spent money to "take over" the case. Therefore no matter what proof is given it will not be substantial enough. Dankbaar will only ask for more. However, when someone such as myself asks for answers to our questions, people such as Vernon and/or Mr. Dankbaar will never reply in a straightforward manner. They will dodge the issues and issue epithets.

VERNON: This is an outright lie. Dave Perry does not know hardly anything at all about our investigation and every question or disinfo piece that he has ever published has been answered many times over. I’ve even posted the answers on my old web site www.jfkmurdersolved.com for Dave would NEVER publish my answers where anyone could see them.

PERRY: Long before Vernon became involved back in 1990 the Roscoe White story was the big news. Early on Joe West was working with the JFK Assassination Information Center. West made the following statement at the JFK Assassination Information Center PRESS CONFERENCE on August 6, 1990:

"Seventeen months of searching for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The evidence that I've gathered concludes beyond any reasonable doubt that there was a firing squad in Dealey Plaza on November the 22nd, 1963. Beyond a reasonable doubt that Roscoe Anthony White was one of the members of that firing squad."

By May of 1991 most local researchers knew I was working on an article and that it answered point by point the questions posed by those who still clung to the belief that White was the shooter. Six months later in November of 1991 The Third Decade published my article "Who Speaks For Roscoe White.

"As late as February 1992 West was quoted in the Houston Post (02/16/03) as still believing in the White story. West claimed that even though some of the White evidence was faked he ". . . still believes the essence of Geneva White Galle's story." Her story was that her husband Roscoe shot Kennedy.

This should certainly refute Vernon's claim that Joe West, based upon a forensic report stating a diary West obtained from Ricky White was a hoax, exposed the entire Roscoe White story as a fraud.

VERNON: Joe West was hired by the Matsu Corporation to determine whether or not Roscoe White was real or not. At first, various pieces of evidence led Joe to believe White might have been involved. In 1992, West no longer believed in Roscoe for testimony from Rev. Jack Shaw, the handwriting analysis, and evidence brought forth by former CIA case officer John R. Stockwell convinced Joe that White’s story was not true. He told Matsu that. We have the phone tapes. He told reporter Steve Brewer that. We have a signed statement from Brewer to that effect. Joe never depended on Dave Perry for anything. Joe arrived at his conclusions on his own.

PERRY: During this period West had taken John Rademacher (the finder of the shells) under his wing. They appeared at a Jim Marrs meeting at the University of Texas at Arlington on October 6, 1992. During the meeting both were still putting a positive spin on the White story. John reiterated what he had stated in a letter to several TV networks dated May 22, 1990. ". . . and through an eye witness who saw the strange gun under the mans (sic) arm. Malcolm Sommers (sic) said the gun looked very strange and different looking.

"What happened was this, West was still looking for proof that White was the shooter, Rademacher had found some strange shell casings. At the Marrs' meeting they put it together for the audience.

Dankbaar probably has no idea of how much documentation some Kennedy researchers have on both stories. The first person to hear about Files was John Bolt of the Associated Press. Vernon wrote him to tell how West had debunked the White story and oh by the way solved the case again! He mentions an FBI agent putting West on to "a known Mafia hit man" West and Vernon "located this man in prison and on August 17, 1992 the investigator (West) visited the prisoner for the first time. During this meeting the prisoner confessed to his participation in the assassination of JFK . . ."

So how did Vernon manage to spin the story? In 1992 he simply claimed it was West who debunked the White story. No mention was made of my PUBLISHED article that appeared almost a year before. Roscoe White was conveniently removed from the Grassy Knoll and replaced with James Files. Some alleged co-conspirators such as Plumlee and "Hugh" changed from White as the shooter to Files. West, who died on or about February 13, 1993, was elevated to sainthood and Rademacher stopped using Summers as a White witness and changed him to a Files witness. This was done for the TV show Hardcopy. I appeared on the show opposite Marrs who claimed he was still keeping an open mind. At the time none of us knew Marrs was trying to work out his own book deal with Files. Open mind my foot.

VERNON: Joe West and Rademacher interviewed Summers in 1991. He signed a sworn affidavit that the man he saw looked like Roscoe White. Joe West never heard Files confess that he was a shooter. Joe was dead over a year before Files confessed. This is a lie from Dave Perry. It did not happen. Hugh and Tosh have NEVER said that Files was a shooter. Hugh does not know Files and vice-versa. Tosh and Files saw each other when Tosh was picking up Nicoletti for a flight in the early 60s….once. Tosh has NEVER said that Files was a shooter. This is a lie from Dave Perry. Rademacher did not stop using Summers and change to Files as Perry lies once again. Rademacher had NO KNOWLEDGE OF FILES until the summer of 1994. The Hardcopy show was a cheap, unorganized press move made by MPI in Chicago in association with a San Antonio TV station. It was the biggest bunch of bullshit I have ever seen. Rademacher had nothing to do with it.

PERRY: So the only corroboration that Summers saw Roscoe White came from West and Rademacher. Actually I would like to see the affidavit of fact that Summers saw Files.

VERNON: Wim Dankbaar has it in the files.

(Note from Wim: I am aware of Summers’ videotaped statement that it COULD have been Files. I am convinced that Summers did NOT see Files, but another unidentified man. This is based on the testimony of James Files, who did not have an overcoat and had his gun in a briefcase, as well as on Summers’ recollection that the man he saw was "well in his forties")

PERRY: BTW a few months after the Hardcopy show I ran into Malcolm Summers in Dealey Plaza. He was not too happy with my on camera comment that "He is elderly and looking back though 33 years." He was upset about my use of the word elderly, not that I questioned he saw Files.

VERNON: The only thing Summers said on HardCopy was that it "could well be" that the man he saw was Files. Summers made no positive ID at all. Of course, Dave Perry is getting a little old and senile now and it is certainly understandable that his sporadic memory and pathological lies get crossed in his head. Doo doo occurs.

PERRY: I have a different answer concerning Stimson.

I spoke with Stimson and corresponded with him back in 1996. I have the report that was used on Hardcopy. Since Dankbaar is interested in getting to the bottom of things he should do as I did. Place a call to Stimson, review the report with him, ask Stimson his opinion as to how the report was developed, were portions taken out of context, and what Stimson thought of Vernon's actions with respect to the report. If I were developing a documentary I would sure want to get Stimson's consent before I went forward.

VERNON: This is very interesting here. Dr. Stimson is a highly respected forensic odontologist who had NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH JFK ASSASSINATION when I asked him to examine the casing. Repeat: there was no mention to him about JFK with regard to the casing. Dr. Stimson was told ONLY that the casing was supposed to have been involved in a murder and that it was believed that the dents in the casing MAY have been caused by teeth marks. Dr. Stimson was asked BY ME to tell me (1) Are the dents made by human teeth; (2) Are the dents NOT made by human teeth; and/or (3) if the dents are NOT made by human teeth, what caused the dents. Dr. Stimson’s letter, posted on www.jfkmurdersolved.com since 1996 is VERY CLEAR AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. Stimson says the dents are : "consistent with being made by human dentition (sic)." He even goes on to say that he could not match the teeth with any particular person for he did not have teeth molds or dental records to compare with. Stimson even listed the measurements and stated with what teeth the marks were made. AFTER, repeat, AFTER Stimson’s lab study was published, Dave Perry called him and talked to him. I remember it well. Stimson became "funny." Twisting words, recanting, sputtering, etc. I confronted him and we had a rather heated discussion back and forth for a few days. I also learned that Stimson does/did a LOT of work for the FBI and that the FBI had become a little disgruntled with one of "their" experts making a statement such as Stimson had made.

BUT, here’s what’s REALLY IMPORTANT and old Dave REALLY misses the boat here: When Stimson started to crawfish (walk backwards or at least try to) I TOOK THE CASING TO FOUR MORE FORENSIC ODONTOLOGISTS INCLUDING THE US ARMY forensic odontologist. ALL FOUR AGREED IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT TEETH COULD HAVE MADE THE DENTS. And they ALL KNEW DR. STIMSON and how "eccentric" (their words) he was/is. The truth is a bitch, Dave. Someday maybe you’ll learn that.

PERRY: Why doesn't Dankbaar answer some of the important questions I pose on my web page? One is the absolute fact there was no last minute change in the motorcade route. This was purely an invention by Jim Garrison. For years all of us who get involved in helping the media with their stories know this is a sure sign of someone perpetrating a fraud.

VERNON: Jim Marrs explained the whole thing to me and I could never repeat it verbatim. Anyone can write to Jim and I’m sure he can set you and Dave straight. Do it.

PERRY: When you see the finished article I intend to post in a few weeks, you will see Mr. Dankbaar has a lot more problems with this story than I have covered here.

VERNON: Oh good…another bunch of lies and disinfo based on Dave’s personal opinion, conjecture and hearsay. Nobody reads his site anyway, at least not anyone with any sense or real knowledge of the JFK case.

Dave

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to Dave's new article. RJS

VERNON: Look forward to it all you want RJS or whatever your name is. I still think you are really JRS (John R. Stockwell) but you might not be. You could be just another dummy with a computer. That’s fairly common in forums and newsgroups.

But what matters is not Dave Perry or RJS/JRS or Bob Vernon. What matters is the truth, something Dave Perry has never approached nor is he near now. His limited knowledge of insurance investigations are no comparison to the over 250 years of combined FBI professional investigative expertise assembled by retired agent Shelton and his associates. Dave can’t carry their shoelaces, let alone walk on the same street with them.

The new evidence Zack and his pals have uncovered is earth-shattering….for America, for the CIA, for the FBI, for the evil minions like Dave Perry and his pal, Gary Mack. After all, they both WANTED White to be real so their "Badgeman" find would be supported. Joe West never put any faith in shadows, Dave. Nor did he put any faith in spooks. So that leaves you out on both counts. Sorry. But what really interested me here is the line where PERRY said: "For years all of us who get involved in helping the media with their stories know this is a sure sign of someone perpetrating a fraud." You see, that is one of the main problems. The media comes to the likes of Perry and Mack for they DON’T KNOW ANY BETTER. The last thing in the world that any SERIOUS reporter or investigative journalist should do is contact either of these men about JFK. It’s a joke. For when it’s all said and done and Zack Shelton has completed his task, there will be no more need for lies and disinfo like Dave and his buds peddle. And they will be standing in a field, looking out at the sunset of their life….alone. But, that’s the path they chose. Or the agenda they are following. It matters not for it all boils down to they are wasting your/our/my and their time.

There has been no fraud perpetrated here, Dave. The only fraud is you. Goodnight, Dave.

P.S. To RJS or whatever your name is…..by posting things for Dave Perry and depending on what he says to be true, you are making a bigger fool out of yourself than you have already exhibited on the Lancer forum. Take heed.

Mr. Vernon volunteered an additional comment to me in a later email: Subject: Dave Perry BOLD FACED LIAR

You're doing good with Perry...now you need to put the last nails in his coffin.

First of all...NEVER...I repeat...NEVER did Perry ask me to pay for his investigator's license. That's an outright lie. Didn't happen. He's grasping for straws and now he's lying through his asshole and his teeth at the same time.

Second...Kathy Marvin Vernon is my wife! She is an officer of the court and a MUCH stronger legal mind than most lawyers AND judges, particularly stronger than a bogus insurance investigator. Whatever she wrote back in 95 on a forum, she wrote on her own.

Dave Perry moved to Texas from Langley, Virginia, home of the CIA. Does that give you any clues? COOK THE LYING BASTARD THEN TURN HIM OVER AND RAISE THE FLAME!!!!!! Then throw him out in the pasture to die. He's a total piece of shit and GUESS WHAT...he's worse now than he was in 1993....!!!!

From another acquaintance of Joe West I received the following comment:

I can tell you Dave Perry is either unintentionally or intentionally mistaken about dates and occasions.

I can tell you he is lying or greatly mistaken enough to affect his information that he so honorably contends is the unvarnished truth.

"Seventeen months of searching for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The evidence that I've gathered concludes beyond any reasonable doubt that there was a firing squad in Dealey Plaza on November the 22nd, 1963. Beyond a reasonable doubt that Roscoe Anthony White was one of the members of that firing squad."

Another person at the press conference head table was retired CIA agent John Stockwell. I am not sure which but sometime before, during, or shortly after the event he advised West that he had serious doubts about a diary attributed to Roscoe White. Stockwell thought this item, that detailed White’s involvement in the assassination and was purported to be in White’s handwriting, was a potential hoax.

On February 1, 1991 Texas State Attorney General aide Ron Dusek issued a statement concerning the material provided the Attorney General’s office by West and the JFK Assassination Information Center:

"So far everything we have looked at has not given any credibility to anything these people have been trying to say about the documents and that whole affair."

By May of 1991 most local researchers knew I was working on an article about Roscoe White’s lack of involvement in the Kennedy assassination and that my account answered point by point many of the questions posed by those who still clung to the belief that White was the shooter. In November of 1991 The Third Decade published my article "Who Speaks For Roscoe White." The entire text can be found on my web site.

None of this mattered to West. Even as late as February 16, 1992 West was quoted in the Houston Post as still believing in the White story. West claimed that even though some of the White evidence was faked he ". . . still believes the essence of Geneva White Galle’s story." The widow of Roscoe White, Geneva Galle claimed that her late husband fired the fatal shot from behind the picket fence near the Grassy Knoll.

Mr. Vernon seems to enter the picture around November 26, 1993. At that time he wrote a letter to John Bolt of the Associated Press, "In 1992, I met a Certified Legal Investigator who convinced me to assist him in his personal investigation of the assassination of John F. Kennedy." The Certified Legal Investigator turned out to be Joe West.

Next I looked for additional corroboration of Mr. Vernon’s commitment to the project and how SA Shelton became involved. I found much information on page 1B of the April 11, 1994 Beaumont Enterprise. The article by Steve Brewer is entitled, "TV producer says P.I. solved Kennedy killing."

To paraphrase in part, it appears Houston attorney Don Ervin was looking for an offer of immunity for a client. The client, claimed by West to live in Austin, TX, "contended he participated in the Kennedy assassination and some gangland slayings." West identified this individual to several researchers, including myself, using the pseudonym "The Black Ace."

At a later date Kathryn Marvin, a member of Mr. Vernon’s team, expanded upon this information. Using CompUServe ID # 75771, 3122 she joined the CompUServe JFK debate forum on May 27, 1995. She indicated this individual was identified in November 18, 1994 testimony by West’s firm Truth, Truth, Truth, Inc. to the Assassination Records Review Board as a "male African-American named Q. D. Urdy."

Brewer’s article continues, "FBI agent Zack Shelton contacts West and requests a meeting at a rest stop on Interstate 10 between Beaumont and Houston." Prior to the April 11th article there had been another. The March 22, 1992 edition of the Beaumont Enterprise had a story about West and his investigation of Ervin’s client. It appears SA Shelton saw the article and since he was interested in obtaining information about organized crime in the area, contacted Joe West.

Immunity was to be proffered to Ervin’s client by former US Attorney Bob Wortham. For the April 11th article, Steve Brewer contacted both Wortham, who was by then in private practice, and FBI Resident Agent in Charge Ron Kelly for comments. Both agreed "It’s routine to check such contentions out." Kelly added ". . . the FBI looked into West’s contentions and debunked them." (Emphasis mine) Of Joe West’s investigation, Kelly concluded "This is just a classic case of someone trying to get a little credibility by using the FBI’s name." I cite this as more proof that Mr. Vernon does not provide interested parties with the full picture.

So how did Vernon manage to spin the story? In 1992 he simply claimed it was Joe West who debunked the Roscoe White incident. Mr. Stockwell’s concerns about the diary were attributed solely to West. Attorney General aide Ron Dusek ‘s statement was never brought up. No mention was made of my Third Decade article nor the February 16, 1992 West quotes found in the Houston Post. White was conveniently removed from the Grassy Knoll and replaced with James Files. We also discovered some alleged verbal statements made by imagined or supposed real co-conspirators whether living or dead replaced White’s name with that of Files. West, who died on or about February 13, 1993, was elevated by Bob Vernon to the status of an American patriot for his efforts to solve the case. Of course this meant anyone who questioned West’s investigative credentials, abilities or motives was labeled unpatriotic or worse.

To recap, in early 1992 Shelton saw an article about West in the Beaumont Enterprise. In part it revealed information about Ervin’s client who claimed connections with organized crime. Shelton contacted West and they met. In the end US Attorney Bob Wortham and FBI Resident Agent in Charge Ron Kelly found West’s allegations about Ervin’s client groundless.

It does not end there. The article continues, "The producer, Bob Vernon said an FBI agent in Beaumont (Shelton’s office was located in Beaumont) gave West the name of a prison inmate in Illinois who is the self-professed hit man who contends he fired the head shot November 22, 1963, that killed Kennedy."

It would seem that now retired FBI Special Agent Shelton was working with Mr. Vernon’s team long before he was made lead investigator. In continuing to read Mr. Vernon’s November 26, 1993 letter to John Bolt I found the following

Yes, Mr. Shelton was the FBI agent, at that time still on active duty, who gave Mr. West the lead on James Files. Given the fact that the FBI, under direction of Mr. Hoover, intentionally suppressed the truth about JFK’s death, it is clearly understandable that Mr. Shelton preferred to stay anonymous. He became our lead investigator when I came on board with the finances to compensate for his services. What is the point here?

"Our most startling discovery occurred in mid-summer of 1992. After receiving a call from a FBI agent (Shelton), the investigator (West) met with the agent at the

agent’s request (emphasis mine). The FBI agent gave the investigator a lead on a man that had a long history of organized crime and who was a known driver and bodyguard to a known Mafia hit man."

Notice the adjustment of Vernon’s remarks to Bolt when compared to the description found in the Beaumont Enterprise. Also note Vernon never mentions "self-professed."

Why should he? What’s the point? And if Mr. Perry really believes that the FBI doesn’t know that James Files is a mafia hitman, I wish him more sweet dreams.

This individual later became known to researchers as James Files. A few sentences later we discover that during an August 17, 1992 meeting between the investigator (West) and the prisoner (Files), ". . the prisoner confessed as to his participation in the assassination of JFK."

James Files was born James Earl Sutton on January 24, 1942 in Oakman, Alabama and as mentioned before is incarcerated at the Illinois’ Stateville Correction Center in Joliet. He is serving a fifty-year sentence for the 1991 attempted murders of two Round Lake Beach police officers.

What of the input and consultations SA Shelton obtained from almost one dozen retired FBI Special Agents? It actually means little unless we know what the results were.

As mentioned before, in my opinion, Mr. Vernon is prone to exaggeration. In the past he has claimed "I’m the guy that busted Jimmy Swaggart." The extent of Mr. Vernon’s involvement in the Swaggart saga appears in the July 1988 Penthouse magazine on page 123. TV evangelist Swaggert got into trouble by involving himself in a tryst with a New Orleans prostitute named Debra Murphree.

I think Mr. Vernon would have a very different opinion on this and I know he can prove it too. But I won’t even ask him to respond, since for once I would agree with Mr. Perry that the Jimmy Swaggart case has no relevance whatsoever to our findings on the JFK assassination.

To quote from the article, "And so it came to pass: A meeting was convened at Don’s Seafood House in Lafayette early last March with Murphree, flanked by her agent, fast-talking New Orleans music promoter Bob Vernon." This is the only instance I can find where the representative of a know prostitute is called an "agent."

Another example of embellishment can be found in his November 26, 1993 letter to John Bolt. Mr. Vernon claimed that "Our team has now completed over 42,000 combined hours of research and investigative time." The statistic looks impressive but the math may not work. Mr. Vernon states he first heard of Files though Joe West in the summer of 1992. If we start summer on June 21 - 22, 1992 and count the number of days until we reach November 26, 1993 we have approximately 533 days. Dividing this into 42,000 hours we come up with undisclosed number of team members working a collective 78.8 hours a day every day.

"Over the course of the investigation, Mr. Shelton has uncovered a number of actual persons involved in various capacities in the assassination including James Earl Files, Robert "Tosh" Plumlee, Chauncey Holt, Charles Nicoletti, John Rosselli, Sam Giancana and Marshall Caifano. While Holt, Nicoletti, Rosselli and Giancana are all deceased, Files, Plumlee and Caifano are still alive and reside in the United States."

This is more puffery. As with West, Mr. Vernon is giving SA Shelton unearned credit for previous investigations and/or investigators. SA Shelton has not "uncovered" any new persons. With the

exception of James Files all the individuals mentioned including Marshall Cailfano (Mr. Vernon misspells his name.) have long been claimed or themselves claimed to be involved in some facet of the assassination. They surfaced before SA Shelton became involved.
 

Name

Mentioned by:

When

Robert "Tosh" Plumlee

Kathryn Marvin in a 05/27/95 posting to CompUServe

1970

Chauncey Holt

indicated that Plumlee testified before the Church

Committee in 1970 and the Senate Foreign Relations

Committee on 08/02/90. She claimed "His testimony

under oath has been classified as TOP SECRET."

Self professed to Ken Harrell in The Globe

01/14/92 p. 5

Charles Nicoletti

House Select Committee on Assassinations

1977

John Rosselli

House Select Committee on Assassinations

1977

Sam Giancana

House Select Committee on Assassinations

1977

Marshall Cailfano

David E. Scheim in Contract on America

1988
 
 
 
 

Of the seven names on the list only three are still living. I’m not sure about Califano but Files and Plumlee both have self-professed their involvement in the assassination.

One can find details of Plumlee’s association through Kathryn Marvin’s CompUServe postings to the JFK debate forum. In her message of May 27, 1995 she claims Plumlee was the co-pilot on a "CIA supported flight." She continued "Mr. Plumlee testified that he was informed that the flight was an ‘abort mission’ and that their mission was to stop the assassination attempt on Kennedy’s life." Additionally, he testified according to Marvin that he "was present in Dealey Plaza on the south knoll at the time of the assassination." If true I should think his appearance at that location could easily be confirmed by viewing the Frank Cancellare photographs showing the south knoll at the time of the assassination. You may wish to check this out for yourself but I fail to see Plumlee in any of these photographs.

This is the problem for anyone making allegations without checking the facts. In fact, we have posted the Cancellare photograph on our website and make a point of showing at least one human figure in it. Right here:

http://jfkmurdersolved.com/southknoll.htm

All this makes the veracity of the duo’s testimony in court proceedings highly questionable. If this is the best sort of "witnesses" Mr. Vernon can come up with, it would surely make the holding of the trial he so desperately wanted doubtful if not impossible.

"I am hereby submitting to you and the United States Department of Justice, retired FBI Special Agent Zechariah Shelton’s written report of his findings in his JFK investigation (See attached). In addition, copies of this letter to you and Mr. Shelton’s report are being sent to the District Attorney of Dallas, Texas (Mr. Bill Hill) and to the Attorney General of Texas (Greg Abbott)."

Since Mr. Vernon has sent copies of SA Shelton’s investigation in the hopes of reopening the case we will review the report in due course.

"Commencing on April 29, 2003, we will be broadcasting these findings to the world via the Internet through a subscription only broadcast available for review at www.jfkmurdersolved.com. I believe you may find our presentation of great value and we hope you and members of your team tune in."

Mr. Vernon claims he with the aid of his team have solved the crime of the last century. Mr. Vernon wants government officials to take him seriously. However, he requires these government administrators and their respective staffs to tune in to the web site. I guess it is more important to have these officials pony up $10.95 a month than have them get to the truth.

I agree that Mr. Vernon could have formulated this differently. Nevertheless, the relevant information is in Mr. Shelton’s report and our FREE website. Mr. Vernon would have been happy to provide any of these government officials with the special video presentation, either by sending them a tape or providing them with a free password. What Mr. Perry wants to ignore is that this is a PRIVATE investigation involving many man hours and expenses that is not paid for by the tax payer, who wasted enough involuntary money on government investigations, designed to cover up the truth.

For years Mr. Vernon has been trying to get someone, anyone to invest in this failed project. The advertisement reproduced below now over eight years old shows the extent of his attempts to make a profit. The text appears below the actual advertisement.
 

Cattle Call

ATTENTION: INVESTORS INTERESTED IN JFK MURDER SOLVED

HEAD’M UP MOVE’M OUT! JFK: MURDER SOLVED is headed for
production and broadcast on Pay-per-view television in November of 1995.
We’ve had over 150 inquiries into our television program of the century and we
are sending this note to all of the interested parties to let you know:

IT’S SHOWTIME!

There are 30 shares available at $20,000 per share. The investment
shall be recouped from the first proceeds realized from the broadcast revenue, IN
PERPETUITY. The 30 shares will divide 40% of the profits equally per share.
Please fax your intent to participate to INVESTIGATIVE CONCEPTS
UNLIMITED. Phone and Fax: (510) 228-3858.

The final broadcast agreement is near completion. A production escrow
account is being established at a California bank and escrow information will
be provided to all active participants.

SOPHISTICATED QUALIFED INVESTORS ONLY!
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: BOB VERNON (510) 228-3858

NOTICE: This document is not to be construed as any type of financial offering nor is any such
offering being made. This document is for informational purposes only. No one has been authorized
to represent this information to anyone with the exception of Investigative Concepts Unlimited
 

Back to Mr. Vernon’s letter:

"I trust that you and the United States Department of Justice and the officials of the State of Texas will act accordingly on retired Special Agent Shelton’s findings."

Respectfully yours, Robert G. Vernon

Attachment: Report of retired FBI Special Agent Zechariah Shelton cc: Bill Hill, Dallas District Attorney

Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General

Zechariah Shelton, Licensed Texas Private Investigator Don Ervin, Esq.

 

To sum up again for years Vernon’s goal has been to get his "evidence" of Files’ guilt before a Grand Jury. With this in mind and before we get into the details of the Shelton report let’s review some basics of the legal system in the United States pertaining to criminal activity.

Generally under our legal system the police conduct an investigation of a crime. The police may already have a suspect or suspects under arrest, under surveillance through court order, out on

bail, etc. The police provide their evidence to the District Attorney. The District Attorney presents the evidence provided by the police to the Grand Jury. If the Grand Jury feels there is sufficient evidence the case goes to trial. This scenario is played out almost weekly on TV’s Law & Order.

In all instances the person charged is entitled to legal representation. If the accused cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed by the courts for him or her. The purpose is for the accused to present a defense. The rule is the individual is innocent until proved guilty.

The attorney representing the accused will attempt to discredit the police investigation, provide witnesses supporting the persons’ innocence, and attempt to prove the local, state, or Federal government’s attorneys have a flawed investigation and therefore no case.

The problem with the James Files’ incident is that Files has already confessed to the crime. He does not want anybody to prove him innocence. He has managed to surround himself with people who furnish his or their evidence, some of it fictitious, about his alleged crime.

I believe Mr. Shelton and Mr. Vernon know very well how the US legal system works, Mr Shelton was a 28 year career law enforcement officer, so I will refrain from commenting on Mr. Perry’s lecture., but I have to correct him here again on a blatant mistake. Mr. Files has never managed to surround himself with people "who furnish his evidence". In fact, Mr. Files has never asked for them, Mr. Files was located by Mr. West based on a lead from FBI agent Zack Shelton. Mr. Files told Mr. West that Mr. West was mistaken and that he had the wrong person. Mr. West has never heard the full confession of James Files, which Mr. West was trying to get under the CONDITION that he could arrange immunity for James Files.

The people corroborating the confession of James Files, like Chauncey Holt and Tosh Plumlee, had come forward INDEPENDENTLY from James Files and BEFORE James Files made his confession. As a matter of fact, they had never heard of James Files. The alledged management skills that Mr. Perry attributes to James Files (to surround himself with these people), are truly remarkable !! Mr. Granata corroborates his confession after the fact, to my knowledge Mr. Files does not even know who he is, but he has a reputation of a reliable witness for the FBI., but we’ll get to that in dealing with yet another false claim of Mr. Perry.

Anyone wishing to take on the role of investigating Files’ truthfulness or comparing his claims to historical reality is immediately castigated by his group of supporters. Additionally, some of these patrons, including Mr. Vernon, would reap a financial reward if they can provide a positive result.

Our basic goal is uncovering the truth, which unfortunately does not come without a financial sacrifice. I am not sure if I will recoup my investment, but if I will, I will certainly not be ashamed of it, for I believe it is for a noble cause. If Oliver Stone can make a fortune from a movie that offers a more plausible alternative for the still official – and now disproved - version about Lee Harvey Oswald, yet is still a mixture of facts and FICTION, but mobilized the public opinion into pressure to form the Assassinations Records Review Board, then why should I be ashamed for recovering my investment by uncovering the TRUTH? I thought this is the american way! Apparently fiction can be charged, but the truth must be for free! That’s what the american taxpayers thought of the Warren Commission, yet it turned out they paid for a LIE.

In reality, Files and Vernon are trying to turn the legal system on its head. In this case Files is guilty and no one should check the facts for authenticity.

If that were true, then why have we presented our findings to the proper authorities? If only the legal system WOULD check the facts ! Let us come to that later on when addressing the FBI interview with James Files,

The need to succeed is so pervasive that Mr. Vernon has developed a reputation for the use of profanity in his correspondence when dealing with those opposed to his or his team’s views.

I guess Mr. Perry has just solved his "problem" in dealing with me.

In my view, Files’ assertions are somewhat similar to those of Lloyd Jowers. For years Jowers professed involvement in the Martin Luther King assassination. A chronic alcoholic, he constantly embellished his non-existent role in King’s death telling his friends he "was going to have a movie made about the King assassination."

Funny, how I come to learn that Mr. Files is suggested to be a chronic alcoholic and wanting to make a movie about an assassination. I guess I need to check my records again.

In the end Jowers’ statements did not withstand the scrutiny of investigators let alone history. He was eventually dismissed as a crank.

I don’t know about Jowers, I thought Mr. Perry wanted to discuss James Files, Chauncey Holt, Tosh Plumlee and the rest of our evidence?

We should actually be happy that most facets of law enforcement are skeptical when it comes to this type of high profile crime and the lack of any real proof. Public policy requires elected officials to prevent the waste of taxpayer’s dollars on frivolous projects.

We should probably be happy about law enforcement being skeptical about obvious cranks and hoaxes that cannot withstand the scrutiny of investigators. But we should be greatly concerned about unwillingness to check on evidence and people that CAN withstand such scrutiny of investigators, who in this case are EX LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS !From the onset and continuing there seems to have been problems with the lead investigators. The first, Joe West was dismissed by FBI Agent Ron Kelly with the comment that "This is just a classic case of someone trying to get a little credibility by using the FBI’s name."

I have never heard about Ron Kelly and I don’t think his conjecture is relevant, but the reader is now familiar with my thoughts about Mr. Perry trying to discredit the deceased Joe West.

I assumed Mr. Shelton would be one person who could investigate the case impartially. However, during his 1992 tenure as a Special Agent in Beaumont he provided a private citizen (Joe West) having no official ties to law enforcement with information on James Files. Although Files is in prison he is also a private citizen. A question - do FBI agents have the legal right to channel unconfirmed intelligence about US civilians living outside the agent’s jurisdiction to the general public?

As a dutch citizen I would not know the answer, but I fail to see the relevance of the question. And besides, whatever information Zack Shelton gave to Joe West, was not classified and he didn’t give it to the general public. I wonder what Mr. Perry wants to say. That Mr. Shelton should have kept his mouth shut, so that the world would never have learned about James Files? I can see his wish. I guess it wasn’t too late to shut up Mr. West, but it’s too late to shut up Mr. Shelton now….. although Mr. Perry is still giving it his best shot.

Six years later in 1999 SA Shelton became the "lead investigator" for Mr. Vernon’s group who sponsored a for profit web site. I feel Shelton’s findings should be scrutinized carefully for bias and lack of objectivity.

No problem. Mr. Sheton has gathered his findings from public records, exchanges with witnesses and other impecable law enforcement officers. Mr. Perry ‘s displays a classic rule in disinfo that Jim Garrison taught us: If you can’t discredit the message, discredit the messenger.

Some may not be aware that the FBI already looked into Files’ story and dismissed it. An investigation was conducted on or about August 8, 1993 at Stateville Correction Center in Joliet. I was able to obtain a copy of the nine page report under P.L. 102-536 (The JFK Act). You can obtain a copy of this report by writing the National Archives and requesting the FBI investigative report of James Files. Prepared by Special Agents Robert C. Deodano and Wayne F. Zydronik and transcribed on August 16, 1993 it is filed under number 89A-DL-60/65J. If you send me a self-addressed stamped envelope with two first class stamps affixed I will be happy to provide a copy.

Actually, I am glad Mr. Perry brings this report up. I doubt if wasting postage on an envelope to Mr. Perry is necessary, because his partner in disinfo (and probably his source for the report) John Mcadams, was kind enough to post the FBI interview with James Files on his own newsgroup, right here:

 

http://groups.google.nl/groups?q=James+Files+Kenny+Larry&hl=nl&lr=&ie=UTF8&selm=3b8714f2.9052466%40mcadams.posc.mu.edu&rnum=1

 
I encourage everyone to read it, for it is actually quite supportive of James Files.

Mr Perry fails to mention the grounds on which the FBI dismissed the confession of James Files as non credible. There is good reason for this: THERE ARE NONE!

A few sentences back Mr. Perry was preaching about bias and objectivity. Let’s have a look at how the FBI agents, marvelled by Mr. Perry, start out their interview with James Files (quotes in italics):

Investigation on 8/9/93 at Joliet, Illinois File # 62-0 by SAs Robert C. PECORARO & WAYNE F. ZYDRON:kf Date dictated 8/9/93 62-0 Continuation of FD-302 of JAMES FILES, On 8/9/93,

Page 2 Agents then told FILES that Agents further understood from IRVIN that he (FILES) was cognizant of his contradictions with the WARREN COMMISSION findings and that he (FILES) wanted to make available the "true story" of the JFK assassination out of respect to the deceased JOE WEST. Agents told FILES that in view of his obvious conflicts with the WARREN COMMISSION findings, he would unlikely be afforded subsequent opportunities for interview by the FBI or the U.S. Attorney in regard to the JFK assassination unless he established his credibility with the government. FILES was told that credibility could sometimes be established through corroboration of facts furnished by an individual during an interview. Agents told FILES that the purpose of the interview was to obtain additional information from him in an effort to establish him as a credible person rather than to build a murder case on him. FILES was told that the JFK assassination took place almost 30 years ago and it would take extraordinary corroboration to make recollections credible in view of the WARREN COMMISSION findings.

Basically, what the FBI agents say here to James Files: "We have a problem with your story because it contradicts the Warren Commission" !! This is before they even begin discussing any substance of Mr. Files’ information ! Only an uninformed 10 % of the American people still

accept the clearly ludicrous and demonstrably false conclusions of the Warren Report. It’s conclusions were also easily refuted in a less publicized government investigation in 1977/78. The House Select Committee on Assassinations, DID conclude that JFK was killed as a result of a conspiracy which included more than one gunman.

I think Mr. Perry could not have done a better job on showing the kind of bias and lack of objectivity, he demands for this investigation.

Now let’s have a look at the fragments that Mr. Perry picked out: Actual FBI comments are in GREEN.
 

"At the onset of the interview, FILES stated that through conversation with Attorney DON IRVIN, he understood that he was to be interviewed by the FBI but that the interview would be conducted in the presence of IRVIN. FILES was told that Agents were unaware of any arrangements made in that regard."

"Files expressed his desire to talk to the FBI but stated his reluctance to submit to an interview without IRVIN being present. FILES also advised that he wanted a grant of immunity before submitting to an interview. FILES advised that in the unlikely event he won his appeal, he did not want exposure to additional charges."

"Agents told FILES that Agents were not authorized to grant him immunity and that such a procedure was the responsibility of the U.S. Attorney. Agents further told FILES that the U.S. Attorney does not extend immunity grants to individuals without some logical foundation."

Does this theme have a familiar ring? You may remember Mr. Ervin also represented the Austin man, West’s "Black Ace", who sought immunity because he "contended he participated in the Kennedy assassination and some gangland slayings."

Don Ervin is a reputable criminal attorney of Houston, Texas. Mr. Ervin has done high profile cases and represented Charles Harrelson at one time. Mr. Perry’s futile attempt to discredit the man is truly laughable and he needs false statements to even try: The "black ace", or better Mr. Urdy, NEVER, repeat NEVER, contended that he participated in the Kennedy assassination. He contended that obtained knowledge about the Kennedy assassination from a third party, which knowledge was most likely reliable, because it is from Mr. Urdy that Joe West learned about the involvement of John Roselli and Charles Nicoletti, which eventually led him to James Files. This was after Zack Shelton had learned about the possible involvement of Nicoletti and Roselli, both crime figures that Zack knew from his duty on the Organized Crime Task Force in Chicago. Zack Shelton also knew that James Files had been an associate of Charles Nicoletti and had made an off hand remark to a an FBI informant, while driving over Dealey Plaza to the effect that If the american people would know what really happened here, they wouldn’t be able to handle it.

As you will see below although the FBI agents were unable to grant immunity and even though Attorney Don Irvin was not present, Files decided to babble on concerning his involvement with organized crime.

The qualification "babble" is completely subjective on Mr. Perry’s part and illustrative of the so called "lack of bias" that he promotes so much. .

"Agents then furnished FILES with a handwritten list of names. FILES was told that this list contained names of Chicago mobsters known to have been associated with NICOLETTI. It is noted that unbeknownst to FILES, some of the names were derivative names of FBI employees. FILES was asked if he had known LEE FABRIZIO (FBI employee). Agents represented FABRIZIO as a close associate of NICOLETTI. FILES stated that he had heard of FABRIZIO but never met him. FILES also stated vague familiarity with individuals known as JOE GIARRUSSO, MIKE PAVIA, PATRICK SCALZETTI and DOMINICK PEZOLI (all FBI derivative names) but could not recall ever meeting them."

Mr Perry tries to show the reader that James Files failed the test, put forward by the FBI agents, of trying to catch him in corfirming fake names as real persons. The alert reader can see that Files NOWHERE and NEVER fails that test. He states that some of the names sound vaguely familiar to him, but he states HE HAS NEVER MET THEM. It is of course very logical that some of those fictitious names sounded familiar to him, given the preponderance of Italian names that Files knew as associates of the Chicago crime family. Scalzetti for example is the real name of notorious mobster Richard Cain.

In the end the FBI discounted Files’ claims. Why? Because Files professed he new of various mob figures when the reality was those individuals were fictitious made up derivative names of FBI agents.

As we have seen repeatedly, we now know that Mr. Perry’s conclusion is wishful thinking or better yet: simply FALSE. His conclusion would make a better read as follows:

In the end the FBI discounted Files’ claims. Why? I have no idea, because when the FBI tried to catch Files in a lie, to confirm his affiliation with fictitiuous individuals, they were NOT succesful.

Additionally the report states:

"FILES denied that he was interviewed and/or sought interview with the media in an effort to publicize his recollections of the KENNEDY assassination."

An absolutely truthful statement of James Files, like we have always seen from him.

However:

"It was noted that when FILES was made available for interview, he carried several items of written material. A quick review of this material revealed it to be correspondence between FILES and JOE WEST and written material in regard to the Kennedy assassination."

 

Aside from the fact that Mr. Files gave his video-confession to Bob Vernon, in march 1994, almost 8 months later than this interview with the FBI, HOW on earth does a "quick review" of "correspondence between FILES and JOE WEST and written material in regard to the Kennedy assassination", show that "he was interviewed and/or sought interview with the media in an effort to publicize his recollections of the KENNEDY assassination."??

And even if it would show that (which it does NOT of course), SO WHAT?

Maybe the FBI didn’t know that by 1992 Mr. Vernon had already injected himself into the case and had big plans no matter what the reality. By late 1993 and on through 1997 he was pitching the story to any media outlet that would listen. Mr. Vernon when asked about the Files’ case could be counted on to claim as he did for Michael Sneed’s August 17, 1994 Chicago Sun-Times column:

I thought good researchers try to stay away from "maybe’s" and speculations. This must have been a one-time slip of Mr. Perry. Unless you believe what I believe: That Mr. Perry is not a good researcher.

Now, let me choose a fragment of the report that Mr. Perry chose to ignore:

Agents asked FILES to name persons who could verify his relationship with NICOLETTI. FILES named JERRY ESPOSITO, COSMO IASCO, DOMINICK CIMINO, RONNIE BELL, RUPI REGO, KENNY LARRY, STEVE ANSELMO, JOE BUA and MARSHAL CAIFANO as some of the individuals who could verify his relationship with NICOLETTI.

Please, let’s make sure we understand this: The agents ask Files for corroboration of his association with Nicoletti. Files gives them a flurry of names, almost a dozen. He could have named many more, like Zack Shelton for one, but the thought ten were enough. What Mr. Perry does not know, but we do, is that at least half of these individuals were POLICE OFFICERS ! If this were a newsgroup or forum I would add FCOL (For Crying Out Loud). In addition, most of these people would confirm that Files was a mafia hitman, as will many others, but Mr. Perry prefers the word "self professed" mafia hitman.

Now, perhaps Mr. Perry would like to answer the question why the FBI did not check with ANY of these persons that Files GAVE them? Instead they chose to declare him "non-credible".

As for the willingness to check evidence not pointing to Oswald, it appears that like little has changed within the FBI since Mr. Hoover "solved’ the case on the day of the assassination, when he wrote "Not necessary to cover as true subject located". See document hereunder.
 
 

"It’s the story of the century."

Review Of The Shelton Report

Z. SHELTON & ASSOCIATES, INC.
851-10 NORTH, SUITE 207 • BEAUMONT, TEXAS 77707 • (409) 212-9131
 

February 22, 2003

Mr. Robert Vernon

JFK MURDERED SOLVED - THE PROOF 2609 Coffee Tree Ct.

Antioch, CA 94509

RE: JFK Assassination Dear Mr. Vernon:

In my investigation of the JFK assassination, I evaluated the facts and not theories. I would like to point out the irrefutable facts that have surfaced in my investigation that show that there was a conspiracy to kill the president. I have addressed the events that led to the assassination, the events of the day and the cover-up.

April - November 21, 1963

Chauncey Holt Approximately April of 1963 — Holt begins to produce ID’s for Lee Harvey

(CIA Operative) Oswald including all of his aliases.

June - Travels to New Orleans, LA to deliver the ID to Guy Bannister. He is photographed by news reporters in the same picture with Oswald.

September - October - He is instructed by his handler to prepare Secret Service Pins for the President’s trip to Dallas.

November 16 - He receives a letter from Peter Licavoli stating that Chuck Nicoletti is at the Grace Ranch in Arizona and for him to come and drive Nicoletti to Dallas.

November 21 - Drives Nicoletti to Dallas.

For someone claiming to have facts and not theories this has little value. Holt was the one providing the information. There is no proof he was a "CIA operative." Not only is Holt deceased but his story cannot be corroborated by factual evidence.

Mr. Perry knows so little! For now, it is probably best to keep Mr. Perry reaching and producing these grave errors like "his story cannot be corroborated by factual evidence". That’s the risk if you want to write a story about something you have no knowledge of.

What proof is there that Holt EVER produced ID's for anyone or that he had the ability to do so? If Holt made fake pins, how could he know in advance which color-coded pin the Secret Service would choose to use that day in Dallas?

We had hoped – but not expected - that the authorities receiving Mr. Shelton’s report, would have asked us exactly the same questions, so we would get an opportunity to answer them. I

have said before that I do not believe Mr. Perry intends to engage into a constructive debate over our evidence. Therefore I will not answer his questions here.

The photograph "by news reporters" is actually a frame blowup of WDSU-TV (New Orleans) news footage of men handing out Oswald's leaflets WITH Oswald. All but one man was identified. Oswald had hired them off the street. There is no evidence Holt happened to be on the street and happened to have been hired. Incidentally, Holt bore little resemblance to the unidentified man.

Obviously, Mr. Perry hopes that the reader will not bother to ask for his sources to base his statement on. He hopes that it goes undetected that Mr. Holt himself was the source for this information. Even more Mr. Perry hopes the reader will not ask him to post the said picture on his website, along with one of Holt of 1963. He doesn’t want us to see the remarkable resemblance. Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Perry does not even have them. What I am sure of he does not have, is the presentation of Lois Gibson, probably the most respected forensic artist in the world, working for the Houston Police Department and just awarded for her work by the Guinness book of records.

Either Holt is inaccurate about the pins or SA Shelton has misreported what Holt said. If the former is true Holt’s involvement falls into question. If the latter SA Shelton is in my opinion guilty of sloppy work which Mr. Vernon has turned over to the authorities as factual evidence.

At this stage, I prefer to have Mr. Perry reaching with his "eithers" and "if’s "

Why not provide law enforcement with Holt’s letter from Peter Licavoli stating that Chuck Nicoletti is in Arizona and for Holt to come and drive Nicoletti to Dallas?

Yes, why not? We are happy to do so, if the authorities would show a genuine willingness to CHECK further on our evidence. By the way, the letter does not state that Holt should drive Nicoletti to Dallas. The original plan was to FLY Nicoletti to Dallas, Mr. Nicoletti’s heavy baggage prevented that. But then again, Mr. Perry has no way of knowing that, so we’ll forgive him for that one. But Mr. Perry undoubtly knows that we have ample additional materials to back up our evidence and that we intend to bring it to the world. The question that arises then is: Why must Mr Perry make such a big effort of discrediting it before he has seen it all? A derivative question is: Why does he need so many LIES to discredit the evidence that IS available to him?

Many who have reviewed the myriad interviews, memos, letters, press releases, advertisements, and e-mails spewed forth by Mr. Vernon and his staff have noticed how the plot changes when outside sources provide historically accurate facts that contradict the story.

I am not aware of these "many" persons. Unless you would want to call persons like Mr. Perry "many". Indeed and unfortunately, there are a few more persons like Mr. Perry, intentionally polluting and obscuring the path to the truth.

Jack Ruby September through November - Numerous out of state telephone calls are

(David Scheim) placed by Ruby to well known Mafia figures. These calls are twenty-five the times of the amount of calls the rest of 1963. The last week before the assassination, he is visited by numerous well-known Mafia figures in Dallas.

Are there telephone records that support this claim?

The unwitting reader would tend to think this question is asked with a sincere motive. However, I think it is asked to leave the impression there are no such records. There are of course ! There is a slight chance Mr Perry doesn’t know that, but let’s not demolish his aura of a "good researcher"

 

The statistics look inflated and the language "the rest of 1963." convoluted. Since Ruby was in jail for the rest of 1963 he was placing little if any calls to anyone let alone "well known Mafia figures." For a minute let’s suppose SA Shelton meant from the beginning of the year. If Ruby placed at total of let’s say two calls per month from January through August we have a total of 18 calls. Therefore in the three months mentioned Ruby placed 25 times 18 or 450 calls. This averages to 150 calls per month!

Contrary to Mr. Perry, Mr Shelton stays away from "let’s suppose"

I challenge SA Shelton to provide the names of the "numerous well-known Mafia figures" who visited Ruby "in Dallas" between Wednesday, November 13th and Thursday, November 21st.

Mr. Shelton advised me not to waste my time on Mr. Perry, so I’m pretty sure he will not respond to Mr. Perry’s challenge. But maybe Mr. Perry would write about his urge to the Attorney General of the United States or the director of the FBI, because I know for a fact that if the challenge would come from either of these men, Mr. Shelton would be glad and honored to respond!

Carlos Marcello Jimmy Hoffa Santo Traficante (David Scheim)

Note that SA Shelton references David Scheim. Scheim is the author of the 1988 Kennedy assassination book Contract on America. Outside of Scheim all persons mentioned so far are deceased. There exists no official transcript of these individuals testimony confirming their involvement in the assassination.

It is stunning to note time and again the aura authority and certainty that Mr. Perry puts in his false statements. The greater his certainty, the greater his unpleasant surprise will be.

The "reliable Federal Sources" remain anonymous. In the report, and for Mr. Perry at this point, they do!

Anything Scheim states even under oath can be dismissed as hearsay. Hopefully he can produce his taped conversations if such tapes exist.

Hopefully? It is hard to believe that Mr Perry’s HOPES that our story is true. I see this as just another sarcastic remark. In fact, I believe he KNOWS it is true.

It is true Scheim quoted from government documents. Several mob figures told of how they would dispose of Kennedy - actually, Robert Kennedy - but we need to see Scheim’s evidence that Mob figures were plotting to kill either Robert or John F. Kennedy.

We hoped the Justice Department would want to see the evidence too. It appears we need to direct our hopes to the public.

James Files Approximately six months before the assassination, Files receives word from Chuck Nicoletti that they have a contract to kill President Kennedy. There was a meeting at Tony Accardo’s house and present were Accardo, Giacanna and Nicoletti. Nicoletti left the meeting and informed Files.

I have already mentioned the FBI report showing the agency believes Files is neither reliable nor truthful.

The reader who has read that report will now know this is yet again, another shamefully FALSE statement.

Jim Wagner In September of 1963, a reliable informant stated that Tony Accardo sent $100,000.00 to Mexico City to finance an operation. This comes from the files of the FBI. Jim Wagner is a retired FBI Organized Crime Supervisor from Chicago.

Unless Shelton can produce a sworn affidavit or testimony under oath the "reliable informant’s" information is useless. "An" operation is not "the" operation unless there is some corroboration. Can retired agent Wagner provide the provable link between Tony Accardo, the $100,000.00 and the John F. Kennedy assassination?

Mr. Perry is reaching again. All I will say, is that Mr. Shelton does not make a habit of making claims he can’t backup.

November 22. 1963

Chauncey Holt Drove Chuck Nicoletti into Dallas. According to Files, Nicoletti was one of the three on the hit team. Holt delivers the Secret Service Pins. He drives into the railroad yard in a white 1959 Oldsmobile Station Wagon. This is corroborated by the testimony of Bowers. Holt was instructed to go into Dealey Plaza and participate in an anti-Castro Demonstration and if there was a problem, he was to report to a designated boxcar. He stated that Dealey Plaza looked like "Old Home Week". This meant that there was a lot of CIA Operatives in Dealey Plaza. Files also mentioned some of the names that he mentioned. When the shots rang out, he reported to the boxcar as instructed and meet with Charles Harrelson and Montoya aka Rogers. All three of these individuals were detained by the Dallas Police Department and later released. Several photographs were taken of these three men and they are known as the three tramps. Lois Gibson verifies the three.

SA Shelton’s research is flawed. Bower’s testified about three cars in the area, none of them a station wagon. The first, which he could not identify by make or model arrived at "approximately 12:10." Bowers testified "The car proceeded in front of the School Book Depository down across 2 or 3 tracks and circled the area in front of the tower, and to the west of the tower, and, as if he was searching for a way out, or was checking the area, and then proceeded back through the only way he could, the same outlet he came into." Next was "a 1957 black Ford" and finally "a 1961 or 1962 Chevrolet, four door Impala, white." (6H 285 – 286)

Mmm, "none of them a station wagon"? Some researchers believe and caution others that you can’t trust Warren Commission testimony transcripts. Maybe Mr. Perry just proved them right:

Mr. BALL. What was the description of that car? r. BOWERS. The first car was a 1959 Oldsmobile, blue and white station wagon with out-of-State license. r. BALL. Do you know what State? r. BOWERS. No; I do not. I would know it, I could identify it, I think, if I looked at a list. r. BALL. And, it had something else, some bumper stickers? r. BOWERS. Had a bumper sticker, one of which was a Goldwater sticker, and the other of which was of some scenic location, I think.

From: http://www.jmasland.com/testimony/dealey/bowers.htm

However, there is of course another possibillity other than this transcript being false. And that is that NOT Mr. Shelton’s research is "flawed", but Mr. Perry’s ! I put my bet on the last option.

Note that Chauncey Holt and Charles Nicolletti had driven the car from Arizona and that Barry Goldwater, a senator from that state, was running for President. By the way, it’s remarkable that Mr. Ball asks that question about the bumber sticker since Mr. Ball was one of Mr. Holt’s CIA handlers.

At the time of the assassination, Harrelson was in a Houston restaurant with his girlfriend. Harrelson and his brother provided this information.

Ah, Interesting ! Sources are his girlfriend and brother? Are they still alive? Maybe Mr. Shelton could interview them.

In a May 1990 Reader’s Digest article entitled "I Just Want to Catch Crooks" Lois Gibson is featured. "Her pictures are successful in leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects about 40% of the time – good by most estimates." Does this mean they are unproductive 60% of the time?

At any rate, Lois Gibson’s verification of the "three tramps" was discounted in February 1992 when Mary LaFontaine discovered the arrest records of the actual three individuals. The tramps were Harold Doyle, John Gedney, and Gus Abrams.

Oh yes ! There they are: The famous arrest records that were "produced" in 1992, almost 30 years later, and without finger prints and mugshots of these three men. Note this was an "arrest" in connection with the murder of the President of the United States. Maybe Mr. Perry could do something what nobody else could untill now: Provide the public with contemporary photos from the sixties of these three men, in order to compare them with the photos of the tramps.

At least one tabloid television show featured an interview with Dolye and Doyle, as well as, the show’s investigators verified all three appeared in the "tramp" photographs.

Interesting again! Was the host clever enough to ask Mr. Doyle to bring a few pictures of himself from the 1963 timeframe?

Tosh Plumlee He states that he was a CIA pilot and flew John Roselli into Dallas on the morning of the assassination. This flight was a military flight. Files corroborates this when he says that Roselli arrived in Dallas on a military aircraft.

Remember Kathryn Marvin’s May 27, 1995 posting to CompUServe’s JFK Debate forum? She indicated that Robert "Tosh" Plumlee testified that he was the co-pilot on a "CIA supported flight (that) was an ‘abort mission’ and that their mission was to stop the assassination attempt on Kennedy’s life." Shelton claims Plumlee flew Roselli into Dallas to participate in the

assassination. We now have two versions of this flight both attributed to Plumlee. One to kill the President and one to save his life!

Where does Mr. Shelton state that Plumlee flew Roselli into Dallas "to participate in the assassination"? Perhaps Mr. Perry sees things that I don’t?

Early on Shelton intimated he investigated this case thoroughly. If accurate, his study should have led him to Kathryn Marvin’s CompUServe document. That document indicated that Plumlee originally testified under oath that he was the co-pilot for a team sent to save the President’s life. It would now appear from Shelton’s remarks that Plumlee’s story has changed. If Shelton’s assertions are correct, Plumlee, at some point in time, knew he provided transportation on November 22nd for at least one member of the assassination team. I can reach but two conclusions:

    • Plumlee’s original statement is accurate and he lied to Shelton.
    • Plumlee told Shelton the truth and his testimony to the government was a lie.

Since Shelton developed evidence only supporting my second conclusion I submit it was his duty as an FBI agent, retired or not, to arrest Plumlee for suborning perjury.

No need to address Mr. Perry’s speculation, that is based on a false statement to begin with

James Files He states that he drove into Dealey Plaza in Nicoletti’s vehicle, a 1963 Chevy Impala Super Sport, white over maroon. He drove Roselli and Nicoletti and parked face in, on the side of the Dal Tex Building. The Beztner film shows the vehicle parked where Files says. Files stated he took the head shot from the grassy knoll behind the picket fence. Where he says he stood, the House Select Committee puts a shooter by means of an acoustic test. Files smoked Pall Mall Cigarettes and there were the same brand found where he says he was standing. Bowers saw an individual by the picket fence. Files says Dealey Plaza looked like "Old Home Week" and mentions three or four names, as did Chauncey Holt. Files states he shot with a XP 100 Fireball with .222 Cartridges. He bit into a .222 casing and left it at the scene. John Rademacher found a .222 casing in 1987 that had a tooth mark in it. Files stated that it was he, Roselli, Nicoletti were the hit team that day.

James Files now contradicts his own videotaped "confession" by claiming he "parked face in, on the side of the Dal Tex Building."

Mr. Perry has a problem with the definition of the word quoting. Quoting means using someone’s EXACT words, like this:

"We got to Dealey Plaza shortly before ten o'clock. From there we parked the car...it had been drizzling rain that morning...kind of a cool morning out...I had parked the car beside the Dal-Tex building"

To quote from MPI Home Video’s Confession of an Assassin:

"When I exited the plaza, I walked to the edge of the stockade fence, I did not walk down the steps, I walked back over, crossed the grass to the dead end street that ends there by the

parking lot and I proceeded to, I believe that's Houston, crossed Houston, went into the DalTex parking lot (Emphasis mine). When I got into the car, Mr. Nicoletti was already in the car and so was Johnny Roselli. I got in the car and drove away."

Why has the story changed?

The story never changed. Files said he parked the car BESIDE the Dal-Tex buidling in a parking lot they had there.

Because Mr. Files and Mr. Vernon know there is a Dallas Times Herald aerial photograph taken December 4, 1963 by Squire Haskins. The photo clearly shows there was no parking lot associated with the DAL-TEX building.

If Mr. Perry would post a bigger photo than the one he is referring to, so that we can actually SEE there was no parking lot, then maybe he could start making a point.

And if Mr. Perry wants to point out that the story changed OVER TIME, based on new information that Mr. Vernon supposedly learned, why does he use two quotes (one of them is not even accurate) from ONE AND THE SAME confession, to alledgedly prove that the story has "changed"?

In yet a third version of this episode Mr. Vernon indicated that Files parked on the East Side of the building, but there was never a parking lot there at any time!

The Beztner film may show A vehicle, but where is the proof it is Files’ vehicle? There is none, nor does Mr. Shelton say there is.

We now know Files smoked Pall Mall cigarettes. However, we also need to know the type of crime scene dynamic that was used to identify the brand. Additionally, why would a twenty-one year old professional assassin call any attention to himself by smoking and blowing smoke prior to the assassination?

Let’s clear something else up. Holt claims he drove "a whit