Saint Fletcher the Obscure

[Seamus Coogan]

One of the most memorable scenes in Oliver Stone's JFK movie features the Fletcher Prouty character (as mysterious Mr X) describing how he was in New Zealand at the time of the assassination and read a report of it in the Christchurch Star. He claims the news report appeared before Oswald had even been charged with the President's murder.

Is there a consensus among the JFK research community about this claim? Does it stand up to scrutiny? in view of the clear evidence of media scripting during 9/11 it would be interesting to know.

This is a rough transcript of the relevant section:

Mister X : Oswald was charged 7pm Dallas time with Tippit's murder. That's 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the next day, New Zealand time. But already their papers had the entire history of this 24 year old unknown man Oswald. Studio picture, detailed biographical data, Russian information and were pretty sure of the fact that he killed the President alone although it took them four more hours before they even charged him with that crime in Dallas. It felt to me as if…well like a cover story was being put out…

Thanks for the private e-mail and it's awesome to meet you.

Remember Prouty said 'felt'. He was never really totally sure there was a cover story. Nor that he could prove it. Sometime his opinion was definite that there was, some other times he was more coy. As it stands Prouty's notion of there being potential for a cover story.....well (phew) after going on six years of research in the topic now (or is it seven?) is in my opinion very potential .

Remember people that Prouty never, ever said NZ got news ahead of the rest of the world. His interviews were often been spliced and his words minced by both pro conspiracy and anti the idea that he believed the Chch Star was an oracle of evil intent. Prouty believed a cover story could have been enacted world wide. NZ just happened to be where he was when picked up the paper. He could have been in the Congo.

Where Prouty scores marks is that Oswald was well known to US intelligence before the assassination. Combine this Operation Mockingbird and bingo. Prouty may have been of with the photo of Oswald. But the issue is 'who the hell took it! And where for what purpose? Its a total rabbit hole.

I hope this was in someway useful Malcom and others.