22nd November 1963
Beckley Rooming House Investigation Ordered
Fritz directed officers to investigate Oswald's rooming house at 1026 North Beckley and report what they found about his residence and belongings.
Dallas Police · homicide investigation · Oswald interrogation
J. Will Fritz
Captain J. Will Fritz in the JFK assassination record: the Dallas Police homicide investigation, Lee Harvey Oswald interrogations and the murder complaints signed on 22 November 1963.
35matching archive records
Historical context
J. Will Fritz and the JFK assassination record
J. W. “Will” Fritz was captain of the Dallas Police Department's Homicide and Robbery Bureau in November 1963. The Warren Commission reported that he arrived at the Texas School Book Depository shortly before 1 p.m. on 22 November and took charge of the homicide investigation there.
After Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested, Fritz conducted most of the police interrogations between the afternoon of 22 November and the morning of 24 November. He also signed complaints charging Oswald with the murders of Patrolman J. D. Tippit and President Kennedy. The National Archives later received Fritz's assassination-related papers through the Assassination Records Review Board.
Archive records
J. Will Fritz timeline
These matching records are rendered directly from the site's 1,932-record JFK assassination archive.
22nd November 1963
Departure from Depository Questioned
Fritz asked why Oswald left work after the shooting; Oswald claimed he had spoken with foreman Bill Shelley before departing for home.
22nd November 1963
Depository Investigation Command
Fritz arrived shortly before 1:00 p.m. and took charge of the Dallas Police homicide investigation inside the Texas School Book Depository.
22nd November 1963
FBI Contact Complaint Examined
Fritz asked Oswald to explain his accusation that FBI agent James Hosty had mistreated or accosted Marina Oswald during earlier contacts.
22nd November 1963
Foreign Travel and Cuba Questions
Fritz questioned Oswald about recent foreign travel and political associations as Dallas investigators tried to reconstruct his contacts before the assassination.
22nd November 1963
Irving Residence Investigation Ordered
Fritz dispatched detectives to the Paine residence in Irving to investigate Oswald's family residence and search for information and property connected with him.
22nd November 1963
Kennedy Murder Complaint Signed
After reviewing the developing evidence with prosecutors, Fritz signed the complaint charging Oswald with murdering President Kennedy at 11:26 p.m.
22nd November 1963
Live Cartridge Ejected from Rifle
While Lieutenant J. C. Day held the recovered rifle by its stock, Fritz opened the bolt and ejected the live cartridge remaining in the weapon.
22nd November 1963
Mexico City Travel Questioned
During questioning attended by federal agents, Fritz's investigation addressed Oswald's foreign travel; Oswald denied having been in Mexico City.
22nd November 1963
Missing Depository Employee Report
Roy Truly told Fritz that warehouse employee Lee Harvey Oswald was missing and supplied his name, address, and general description.
22nd November 1963
O. H. Lee Registration Questioned
After officers reported the rooming-house registration, Fritz asked why Oswald was living there under the name O. H. Lee.
22nd November 1963
Oswald Assassination Alibi Questioned
Fritz asked Oswald to account for his location when the President was shot, beginning detailed questioning of his movements inside the Depository.
22nd November 1963
Political Affiliations Questioned
Fritz questioned Oswald about his political beliefs, Fair Play for Cuba Committee activity, and support for the Cuban Revolution.
22nd November 1963
Return to Police Headquarters
Fritz left the Depository after receiving Oswald's details and returned to headquarters so detectives could locate the missing employee.
22nd November 1963
Revolver Possession Questioned
Fritz asked Oswald why he had been carrying the revolver seized during his arrest at the Texas Theatre.
22nd November 1963
Revolver Purchase Account Questioned
Fritz questioned Oswald about the revolver's origin after Oswald claimed that he had bought the weapon in Fort Worth.
22nd November 1963
Rifle Identification Recorded
Fritz and Lieutenant Day examined the recovered weapon as its serial number C2766 and 6.5-millimeter Italian markings were recorded.
22nd November 1963
Rifle Scene Supervision
Fritz supervised the examination of the rifle after officers found it concealed among boxes on the sixth floor and waited for photographs before it was handled.
22nd November 1963
Right to Counsel Discussed
When Oswald asked about an attorney, Fritz told him he could obtain counsel and use the jail telephone to contact the lawyer he wanted.
22nd November 1963
Second-Floor Encounter Questioned
Fritz questioned Oswald about his movements after lunch, including his account of obtaining a Coca-Cola and encountering a police officer on the second floor.
22nd November 1963
Sniper's Nest Evidence Preservation
After cartridge cases were located near the southeast sixth-floor window, Fritz ordered that nothing be moved until crime-scene technicians photographed and examined the area.
22nd November 1963
Theatre Suspect Linked to Depository
At headquarters, Fritz learned that the man arrested at the Texas Theatre was the same Lee Harvey Oswald reported missing from the Depository.
22nd November 1963
Tippit Murder Complaint Signed
Fritz signed the complaint charging Oswald with the murder of Patrolman J. D. Tippit shortly before the 7:10 p.m. arraignment.
23rd November 1963
Backyard Photograph Confrontation
Fritz showed Oswald a photograph recovered under search warrant depicting him holding a rifle and pistol; Oswald claimed the image had been altered.
23rd November 1963
Bus Journey Reconstructed
Fritz questioned Oswald about leaving downtown by bus and examined the bus transfer found among his possessions.
23rd November 1963
Curtain Rod Account Challenged
Fritz challenged Oswald about Buell Wesley Frazier's statement that Oswald had explained his unusual Thursday trip to Irving by mentioning curtain rods.
23rd November 1963
Long Package Account Challenged
Fritz questioned Oswald about the long package seen by Frazier and Linnie Mae Randle; Oswald denied carrying such a package to work.
23rd November 1963
Mexico and Cuba Questions
Fritz's interrogation covered Oswald's political associations and foreign travel as investigators examined his recent Mexico City contacts.
23rd November 1963
Rifle Ownership Confrontation
Fritz confronted Oswald with information linking him to a rifle purchased under the Hidell name; Oswald continued denying ownership of the weapon.
23rd November 1963
Taxicab Journey Admitted
When Fritz asked about a taxi, Oswald acknowledged leaving the stalled bus, taking a cab toward Oak Cliff, and paying an eighty-five-cent fare.
24th November 1963
Final Interrogation Extended
Fritz continued questioning beyond the planned transfer time because Oswald was still answering some questions and investigators hoped to obtain further information.
24th November 1963
Hidell Identity Challenged
Fritz confronted Oswald again with the Alek J. Hidell identification card while investigators examined the relationship between the alias and weapons purchases.
24th November 1963
Marxist Beliefs and Cuba
Fritz questioned Oswald about communism and Marxism; Oswald described his political views and discussed his Fair Play for Cuba position.
24th November 1963
Marxist Beliefs Questioned
Fritz asked whether Oswald was a Communist; Oswald described himself instead as a Marxist and discussed his Fair Play for Cuba views.
24th November 1963
Photograph Location Questioned
During the final morning interrogation, Fritz repeatedly asked Oswald to identify where the backyard rifle photograph had been taken, but Oswald refused.
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