Episode 159 The Garrison Investigation Part 9 The Clinton Witnesses

Episode 159 is  the ninth in a new series of episodes  that chronicle the story of the Garrison investigation in  New Orleans and the related trial of Clay Shaw.  Episode nine address the eight witnesses that testified at the Clay Shaw Trial who were from the Clinton/Jackson Louisiana area. In late August or early September 1964, Lee Harvey Oswald came to Clinton Louisiana in search of employment at the state mental hospital situated close to another nearby town Jackson, Louisiana.  His quest initially led him to speak to the local barber, a local politician and  take a trip over  to  the mental hospital in order to complete an application for employment and finally to the local voter registration office, after he was advised that registering to vote locally would improve his chances of employment at the hospital. His trip to the voter registration office in Clinton took place during a voter registration drive that was undertaken by CORE principally for the benefit of black voters in the area during a tense period of civil rights activity in an area where the Ku Klux Klan was highly influential.  Under the circumstances, his presence there and being a white man in the midst of what was primarily an all black event, contributed to he and his travel companions  becoming noticeably more visible to CORE volunteers as well as local officials. He was seen in the company of Clay Shaw and David Ferrie during the portion of the trip that involved his attempt to sign up and become a locally registered voter in the area.   This is the story of the witnesses who provided credible evidence at the trial  that was critical to proving that Clay Shaw, David Ferried and Lee Harvey Oswald were indeed known to one another and were engaging in activities together.  The testimony of the Clinton witnesses was a critical piece of evidence underpinning Garrison's overall attempt to prove that a conspiracy amongst these men to kill President Kennedy actually existed. This part of the trial was one of the few  that presented  substantial evidence  pertaining to the affiliation between these three men, even though Garrison overall  was unsuccessful in presenting additional evidence in support of a murder conspiracy.    Even as early as 1964, rumors and serious concerns over  the lone gunman theory and the evidence that might contravene it,  were becoming a major concern for the government and the commission. Conspiracy theories were contrary to the government's stated narrative from the very beginning. This  real-life story is more fascinating than fiction. No matter whether you are a serious researcher or a casual student, you will enjoy the fact filled narrative and story as  we relive one of the most shocking moments in American History. An event that changed the nation and changed the world forever.