Fascinating partly-printed document, unsigned, one page, 5 x 3.25, November 23, 1963, a day after Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed President John F. Kennedy in Dealey Plaza. A City of Dallas “Long Distance Messages” receipt with the following fields filled out in a secretarial hand: Phone No. “Jail,” Time “10:00 PM,” Personal calling “Lee Harvey Oswald,” Dept. “Jail,” To “New York AC 24611,” Person called “Ay C073110,” Date “11-23-63,” and Payment Received “Luise Swinney.” The upper and lower left corners are marked “Out collect, da 10:04, Ay C07-3110, da - 10”06 PM” and “AC 212.” In fine condition, with a vertical fold, and wear and toning to edges.
After his arrest and transport to the Dallas jail, Oswald repeatedly informed the press that he needed legal representation. During his interrogation by the Dallas Police, Oswald was more specific, requesting the services of New York lawyer John Abt. He is recorded as saying: ‘I want that attorney in New York, Mr. Abt. I don't know him personally but I know about a case that he handled some years ago, where he represented the people who had violated the Smith Act... I don't know him personally, but that is the attorney I want... If I can't get him, then I may get the American Civil Liberties Union to send me an attorney.’ Oswald made several phone calls from the Dallas jail in the two days before he, too, was gunned down, many of which were in an attempt to reach Abt. Abt, who was away on vacation with his wife at the time, later appeared before the Warren Commission and testified about the attempted phone calls by Oswald.
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