Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Confrontation at Sol’s Turf Bar

Shortly after 3 p.m., Ruby went to Sol’s Turf Bar on Commerce Street, staying for roughly 45 minutes. A nondrinker, Ruby said he visited to speak with his accountant, who normally prepared the bar’s payroll on Saturday afternoons, though the accountant only saw Ruby briefly and reported no business conversation. Jeweler Frank Bellochio, who first noticed Ruby at the bar, began berating Dallas residents for the assassination; Ruby disagreed and tried to calm Bellochio when he said he might close his jewelry business and leave the city, arguing there were many good citizens in Dallas. Bellochio pointed to a copy of the Bernard Weissman advertisement, and Ruby claimed the ad was designed to stoke anti-Semitic sentiment in Dallas, saying he learned from the Dallas Morning News it was paid for partly in cash. Ruby then showed Bellochio photos he had taken that morning of the “Impeach Earl Warren” sign and railed against the sign, seemingly taking contradictory sides and appearing incoherent to Bellochio. When Bellochio asked for a copy of the photos, Ruby refused, calling them a “scoop,” then left without saying goodbye.

Ruby’s Call to Attorney Stanley Kaufman

Ruby likely left Sol’s Turf Bar to call Stanley Kaufman, a friend and attorney who had represented him in civil matters. Kaufman testified that around 4 p.m., Ruby called about the Bernard Weissman advertisement, saying he was particularly struck by the ad’s black border as a potential tipoff that the assassin knew of the planned assassination. Ruby told Kaufman he had tried to locate Weissman by visiting the post office, and that he was attempting to assist law enforcement authorities.

Confusion Over Ruby’s Whereabouts

Significant confusion exists about where Ruby placed the call to Kaufman and his activities after leaving Sol’s Turf Bar. Eva Grant stated the call was made from her apartment around 4 p.m., but Ruby believed it was placed from the Turf Bar. Ruby said he went from the Turf Bar to the Carousel Club then home, and provided no further details of his activities between 4 and 9:30 p.m. Robert Larkin saw Ruby downtown around 6 p.m., and Andrew Armstrong testified Ruby visited the Carousel Club between 6 and 7 p.m., staying for roughly an hour.

Saturday Evening at Eva Grant’s Apartment

Eva Grant testified that for most of the period between 4 and 8 p.m., Ruby was at her apartment. Grant said Ruby was still upset about the Weissman ad when he arrived, showed her the photo of the “Impeach Earl Warren” sign, and recounted his argument with Bellochio about Dallas. When Grant asked if he had found Bernard Weissman in the Dallas city directory, Ruby said he had not, and the pair speculated the ad and Warren sign were the work of “Commies or the Birchers” designed to discredit Jewish people. Mid-conversation, Ruby called KLIF’s Russ Knight to ask who Earl Warren was. Grant testified that Ruby later retired to her bedroom to make phone calls and sleep.

Karen Carlin’s Request for Money

At 9:30 p.m., Ruby was back at his apartment when he received a call from striptease dancer Karen Bennett Carlin, who had been driven to Dallas from Fort Worth with her husband by fellow dancer Nancy Powell; the trio had stopped at the competing Colony Club earlier. Carlin testified she called Ruby to ask if the Carousel would be open that night and to request part of her salary. Ruby became angry at the suggestion the Carousel might be open for business, but said he would come to the club in about an hour. After waiting a long time for Ruby, the Carlins returned to the Nichols Garage, where Mr. Carlin called Ruby to say they needed money to return to Fort Worth. Ruby agreed to advance a small sum, asked to speak to Mrs. Carlin, and told her to call him on Sunday if she needed more money. At Ruby’s request, garage attendant Huey Reeves gave Mrs. Carlin $5, and she signed a receipt under her stage name “Little Lynn” timestamped 10:33 p.m. November 23.