The Curtain Rod Story

Revisited

This is from a September 6 1964 memo by Warren Commission attorney Wes Liebeler outlining concerns about the commission’s final report.

Liebeler’s concerns are absolutely valid. Whilst one could possibly put Frazier’s use of the word “apartment” down to misspeaking, when factored in, Ruth Paine’s testimony that Oswald was talking about and saving for an apartment to rent in order to reunite his family by Christmas, it rings as not a mistake in language at all. In fact, there is very good evidence that Ruth Paine had been helping Lee look for an apartment in Oak Cliff on November 15 and making phone calls about renting a washing machine for Marina.

But did Lee actually bring curtain rods to work on Nov 22?

Apparently not. I believe the plan to hang them had been for the previous week as outlined in the above link, but that this got changed at the last minute, perhaps because the apartment fell through. This is suggested by Oswald telling his interrogators, in response to what Buell had told police about curtain rods; he must be thinking about some other time when he picked me up.

Lee instead, was planning on meeting Ruth and Marina to go shopping in Oak Cliff. There were three shoe stores near the Texas Theatre. Ruth Paine testified that Lee had given Marina $10.00 to buy herself some shoes and that they had planned on going shopping for them on the afternoon of Nov 22. The arrival of police stopped that from happening. Meanwhile Lee took in a movie while awaiting their arrival , oblivious to what was happening back in the ranch house.

Mrs. PAINE – He did give her, I think, $10, just prior, or some time close to the time of the assassination, because she planned to buy some shoes.

Mr. JENNER – Shoes for herself, or her children?

Mrs. PAINE – For herself, flat s. But when he gave that to her I am not certain. I do know that we definitely planned to go out on Friday afternoon, the 22d of November, to buy those shoes. We did not go.

Mr. JENNER – That is you girls planned to do that?

Mrs. PAINE – She and I did; yes.

Lastly, the whole curtain rod saga is not without precedent. His landlord at 2703 Mercedes St., Chester Riggs, told the FBI that the one and only conversation he had with Oswald after renting the place to him, was in regard to Oswald wanting… that’s right… curtains for the place…

From late September through to his death, there is very little in the assassination investigation that is factual when it comes to Oswald.

Believe nothing on face value. Investigate the living shit out of everything.

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