[Intelligence Report - Dallas Morning News Clipping, February 23, 1967] Part: 3 of 8
[4] p. ; 29 cm.View a full description of this clipping.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Probe Figure Found Dead
DA Says Arrest of Pilot in JFK Death Planned
NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP)—David W.
Ferric, an important and strange figure in
Digt. Atty. Jim Garrison's investigation of
the assassination of President John F. Ken-
nedy, was found dead in bed Wednesday^
Garrison said he had planned to arrest
Ferrie next week. ^
"The apparent suicide of David Ferrie
ends the life of a man who, in my judg-
ment, was one of history's most important
Related stories, Page 4A.
individuals," Garrison told a news confer-
ence.
Coroner Nicholas Chetta said Ferrie's
death was due to a ruptured blood vessel
in the brain, but that further tests were
being made.
Garrison said Ferrie, a pilot, had been
. under continual observation and his infor-
mation "had caused us to become increas-
ingly concerned . . . about the possibility
of his killing himself.
"Evidence developed by our office had
long since confirmed that he was involved
in events culminating in the assassination
of President Kennedy.
"Because of this, at a meeting at my
house this morning, we had reached a de-
cision to arrest him early next week. Ap-
parently we waited too long."
Dr. Chetta said a note was found in the
dining room of Ferrie's cluttered apartment
which said, in part:
"To leave this life is, for me, a sweet
prospect. I find nothing in it that is desir-
able and on the other hand everything that
is loathsome."
The coroner said Ferrie, about 45, was
born with a weakness of one blood vessel
at the base of the brain. When this rup-
tured, it caused massive hemorrhage, he
added.
However, because of the circumstances
and the note, a full autopsy was ordered to
check the possibility of suicide. The body
was found nude, with a sheet pulled up to
the chest.
Ferrie had told friends he was suffering
from encephalitis (sleeping sickness). Dr.
Chetta said he had hypertensive cardio-
vascular disease—high blood pressure.
Garrison told reporters the "primary
reason for the planned afrest of Ferrie was
because we felt we had reached a point
where we had enough information to move."
Ferrie became "increasingly more and
more nervous as the investigation pro-
gressed," said Garrison.
"Although my office has been investi-
gating Ferrie intensively for months, we
have not mentioned his name publicly up
to this point," Garrison added. "The unique
nature of this case now leaves me no other
course of action."
Asked if he had any reason to believe
anybody but Lee Harvey Oswald took part
in the actual assassination, Garrison rJ-
plied:
"I have no reason to believe at this
point that Lee Harvey Oswald killed any-
body in Dallas on that day."
^ /(*?
,5 - 73/3
Upcoming Parts
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This clipping can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this part or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current part of this Clipping.
Burnley, C. T. [Intelligence Report - Dallas Morning News Clipping, February 23, 1967], clipping, February 23, 1967; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth190918/m1/3/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Municipal Archives.