Hill at Oak Cliff

[Milo Reech]

Yet if we remember correctly, Ted Callaway took Tippit's pistol

Not likely although it's the usual story. Problem is the person who took Tippit's pistol had to be 1) young; 2) look like a cop; 3) unknown to Russell. Callaway fails at least two out of three. Hill not particularly youthful but a spring chicken compared to Callaway and looked every inch a cop. Russell's the real sticking point. How could he have failed to recognize Callaway?

Another detail that's almost universally accepted is that the fugitive ran down the west side of Patton. AFAIK only Callaway said so, Guinyard & Patterson both said east side. Even Armstrong may have erred in this respect.

[Harold Russell] saw a man hurrying south on the opposite side of Patton...
Harvey & Lee p.854

He cites Russell's 2/23/64 FBI interview, but it contains no reference to either side of Patton.

Patterson's 8/25/64 statement prepared by the FBI for Rankin explicitly states "east side of Patton."

Callaway provided the blind behind which the true identities of Tippit's assassins were concealed.