Sean Murphy's research deserves more

[Tracy Riddle]

The bigger problem I have with this theory is that it means the plotters were't controlling their patsy at all (telling him to wait for a phone call in the first floor warehouse, for example). Which means he could have been standing out there on Elm Street captured by half the photographers that day.

[Gordon Gray]

The bigger problem I have with this theory is that it means the plotters were't controlling their patsy at all (telling him to wait for a phone call in the first floor warehouse, for example). Which means he could have been standing out there on Elm Street captured by half the photographers that day.

As it was the plotters didn't do such a hot job controlling their patsy,
letting him get arrested before they could eliminate him. They probably weren't that worried about him being seen out front. They had a Castro commie connected to the rifle, and so part of the pro Castro conspiracy. They didn't need him to be the shooter, the WC did.

[Michael Cross]

I agree that Sean is doing some good work; it's more than the frames from the film. He's done a nice job demonstrating the evolution of witness statements from the day of the assassination until they were deposed by the WC.

[Albert Doyle]

The bigger problem I have with this theory is that it means the plotters were't controlling their patsy at all (telling him to wait for a phone call in the first floor warehouse, for example). Which means he could have been standing out there on Elm Street captured by half the photographers that day.

Right. Good point. There's a huge contrast between Fetzer's micromanagement of the assassination in the Plaza and those same managers allowing Oswald to wander out front during the shooting. Truth is they got him into the lunch room where he would be out of the way of everything.

[Marlene Zenker]

The bigger problem I have with this theory is that it means the plotters were't controlling their patsy at all (telling him to wait for a phone call in the first floor warehouse, for example). Which means he could have been standing out there on Elm Street captured by half the photographers that day.

Right. Good point. There's a huge contrast between Fetzer's micromanagement of the assassination in the Plaza and those same managers allowing Oswald to wander out front during the shooting. Truth is they got him into the lunch room where he would be out of the way of everything.

I think one of the most interesting questions, which after 50 years we can't answer with certainty, is what the hell did Oswald think was going on? His behavior after the assassination while still in the TSBD is strange to say the least. He either is outside and goes back in to get a Coke, not the first thing most people would do after what just happened, or he is in the lunchroom and doesn't go outside like any normal curious person would do or maybe he does (ala Prayer Man). He tells the police that he left because he didn't think there would be anymore work that day. (ok, he needed to tell them something about why he left so quickly after the assassination). Another interesting thing, assuming more than one Oswald, he says he took the bus and a cab though he doesn't admit to the cab at first, so he knows there is another Oswald and he is privy to the cover story. Hell, many if not most researchers at this point don't think he took either. When he is questioned about getting into a car he assumes they are talking about Ruth Paine's car. Why would she or anyone using her car be there to begin with if Oswald has no idea what is going on?

So many questions, so few answers.

[Ivan De Mey]

Back to Prayer Man. If it is not Oswald, who is he? It's obviously a white male, and most likely an employee of the TSBD.
From the people in bold on Tracy's list we can erase the women and non-whites. That leaves:

Campbell, Ochus Virgil Vice president of the TSBD On Elm in front of TSBD
Frazier, Buell Wesley Order filler at TSBD TSBD, front steps with William Shelley, Lovelady
Lovelady, Billy Nolan Stock clerk, first floor, probably man seen in doorway in Altgens photo TSBD, front steps (with William Shelley, Sarah Stanton)
Molina, Joe R. Credit Manager at TSBD, second floor TSBD, front steps with Otis Williams and Pauline Sanders
Shelley, William H. 37 years old, Oswald's supervisor TSBD, front entrance (Billy Lovelady in front of him, also near Frazier, Sarah Stanton and Carolyn Arnold)
Truly, Roy Sansom Superintendent TSBD TSBD, front entrance (with Ochus Campbell)
Williams, Otis Neville Bookkeeping supervisor, TSBD Front steps TSBD

Roy Truly wore a suit, no match
Lovelady can be seen together with Prayer Man in certain frames, so it can't be him
And Buell Wesley Frazier is standing next to Prayer Man:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5554[/ATTACH]

That leaves:
Ochus Campbell
Joe Molina
William Shelley
Otis Williams

[Tracy Riddle]

As I said, we can't be certain that it's a male. We can only see the person from the waist up, and it's very fuzzy and blurry. I don't know about you, but I've worked with some pretty masculine-looking women.

[Albert Doyle]

It's not a woman. A sharp eye will detect a male receding hairline and side part of the hair.


There's something that tells me this person has slightly thicker features than Oswald but I could be wrong.

[Albert Doyle]

I think one of the most interesting questions, which after 50 years we can't answer with certainty, is what the hell did Oswald think was going on?

My guess would be something close to CIA composure after realizing he had been set-up to be in the lunchroom and something had happened. He then needed to go to the Texas Theater failsafe rendezvous.

[Ivan De Mey]

It doesn't look like a woman to me at all. Also, Prayer Man seems to be standing on his own. Weren't the women on Tracy's list all in the company of another woman? Anyway, a high resolution scan of the Darnell film might bring out more detail. All I have are low resolution gifs and jpegs. And I guess we don't have pictures of every person on Tracy's list for comparison. Pictures taken at the time I mean.