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

Oswald’s Landlady Gun Possession Testimony

Speculation suggested that Oswald’s landlady, Mrs. A. C. Johnson, said Oswald never had a gun in his room. The Commission found that Mrs. Johnson testified he “never brought that rifle in my house,” but acknowledged he could have had a pistol because they found the scabbard. As detailed in chapter IV, Oswald kept his rifle in the Paine garage in Irving while living in Dallas during October and November, and the pistol was small and easily concealed.

Gun Concealment in Oswald’s Roominghouse

Speculation claimed there was absolutely no place to hide a gun in Oswald’s room at 1026 North Beckley Avenue. The Commission found that police discovered a pistol holster during a search of Oswald’s room after his apprehension, and Mrs. Johnson stated she had not seen the holster before. There is no reason to believe Oswald could not have hidden both a pistol and the holster in the room, as Oswald’s pistol was small with the barrel cut down to 2¼ inches and could have been concealed in a clothing pocket.

Oswald’s 1 p.m. Revolver Retrieval

Speculation suggested Oswald did not pick up the revolver from his room at 1 p.m. The Commission found reason to believe Oswald did pick up the revolver from his room, probably concealing it beneath his jacket. This likelihood is reinforced by the discovery of the pistol holster in the room after the assassination, indicating that Oswald did not store the pistol at the Paine home where he spent the night before the assassination.

Oswald’s Entry into the Texas Theatre

Speculation claimed that no one saw Oswald enter the Texas Theatre. The Commission found that nearby shoe store manager Johnny C. Brewer and theatre cashier Julia Postal saw Oswald enter the lobby of the theatre, from where he proceeded into the theatre proper.

Eyewitnesses to Oswald’s Texas Theatre Arrest

Speculation claimed that none of the people in the Texas Theatre at the time of Oswald’s arrest came forward as eyewitnesses. The Commission found that Johnny C. Brewer, the shoe store manager, and two theatre patrons—John Gibson and George Jefferson Applin, Jr.—were present in the theatre and testified before the Commission about the circumstances of Oswald’s arrest. Only 6 or 7 people were seated on the main floor of the theatre at the time.

Witness Testimony of Oswald’s Arrest Gun

Speculation suggested there was no independent witness aside from the police who testified that Oswald was carrying a gun when arrested. The Commission found that Johnny Brewer testified before the Commission that he saw Oswald pull a gun and saw it taken away from him by a policeman.

Oswald After Arrest: Police Brutality Allegations

The Commission found that assertions that Dallas police treated Oswald brutally and denied him constitutional rights to legal counsel had no foundation in fact, and insinuations that police officials and District Attorney Henry M. Wade fabricated or altered evidence were baseless. While officials made errors in providing evidential information to the press, these were the result of misapprehensions or ignorance rather than intent. The Commission also addressed the alleged “Darryl Click” taxicab driver claim, finding that no such person existed; the attribution came from an error in transcription of a press conference where a reference to the “Oak Cliff” area was rendered as a person’s name. Regarding the brutality allegation specifically, the Commission found that Oswald resisted arrest in the Texas Theatre and drew a gun, receiving a slight cut over his right eye and a bruise under his left eye during his struggles, but was neither ill-treated nor abused while in police custody.

Oswald’s Formal Criminal Charges

Speculation suggested Oswald was never formally charged with the assassination of the President and was charged only with the shooting of Patrolman Tippit. The Commission found that Oswald was arraigned for the murder of President Kennedy before Justice of the Peace David Johnston on the fourth floor of the Police Department building at 1:35 a.m. on November 23, and had previously been arraigned before Johnston for the murder of Tippit at 7:10 p.m. on November 22.