Did James Simmons See Smoke from a Rifle on the Grassy Knoll?

[Fred Litwin]

Did James Simmons See Smoke from a Rifle on the Grassy Knoll?



Another one of Mark Lane's witnesses to support his theory that a gunman was firing from the grassy knoll was James Simmons: (page 40 of Rush to Judgment)

In filmed interviews, both James L. Simmons and Richard C. Dodd told me that they had seen smoke near the bushes and trees at the corner of the wooden fence. Simmons said the sound of the shots 'came from the left and in front of us, toward the wooden fence, and there was puff of smoke that came underneath the trees on the embankment.'

Here is what Simmons said in 1964 to the FBI:



Simmons said that "he thought he saw exhaust fumes of smoke near the embankment in front of the Texas School Book Depository," and that "it was his opinion the shots came from the direction of the Texas School Book Depository."


Now, here is what Simmons told Mark Lane in 1966:


LANE. What did you see and what did you hear?


SIMMONS. As the presidential limousine was rounding the curve on Elm Street, there was a loud explosion. At the time I didn't know what it was, but it sounded like a loud firecracker or a gun shot. Ann it sounded like it came form the left and in front of us towards the wooden fence. And there was a puff of smoke that came underneath of the trees on the embankment.


LANE. Where was the puff of smoke Mr. Simmons in relation to the wooden fence?


SIMMONS. It was right directly in front of the wooden fence....


LANE. After you heard the shots and saw the smoke, what did you do?


SIMMONS. I was talkin with Patrolman Foster at the time. And as soon as we heard the shots we ran around to the wooden fence. And when we got there there was no one there. But there was footprints in the mud around the fence, and there was footprints on the wooden two by four railing on the fence.


LANE. Were you questioned by Dallas Police that day?


SIMMONS. Yes, I was.


LANE. Did you give your name to the Dallas Police?


SIMMONS. Yes, I did.


LANE. Did you tell them what you just told me?


SIMMONS. Yes, I did.


LANE. Were you subsequently questioned by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


SIMMONS. About a month later I was questioned by the FBI.


LANE. Did you tell them what you told me and what you told the Dallas Police?


SIMMONS. Yes, I did.


So, Simmons changes the location of the smoke from "near the embankment in front of the depository" to "underneath the trees on the embankment." Lane doesn't ask him about the change in the location of the smoke, nor does he ask him about whether the smoke was "exhaust fumes."


And Lane doesn't dare tell his readers that Simmons initially thought the shots came from the Texas School Book Depository. In fact, Lane doesn't tell his readers anything about what Simmons said in 1964, although he does provide a footnote to Simmons' statement -- so we know that Lane knew about it.

[John Corbett]

It couldn't have been rifle smoke on the GK because there was no rifle on the GK.

[Royell Storing]

It couldn't have been rifle smoke on the GK because there was no rifle on the GK.

    "Rifle" Smoke?  Who specifically attached this alleged smoke to a "Rifle"?

[John Corbett]

" "Rifle" Smoke?  Who specifically attached this alleged smoke to a "Rifle"?"

Apparently, Mark Lane.

[Royell Storing]

" "Rifle" Smoke?  Who specifically attached this alleged smoke to a "Rifle"?"

Apparently, Mark Lane.

   "Apparently"?  This is exactly the way JFK Assassination Urban Legends are created. Somebody, (such as yourself), hears/reads something, they mynah bird it, and then on down the line it goes. Do your own JFK Assassination research and avoid having to make snappy retorts such as "Apparently".     

[Tommy Shanks]

Maybe Royell Storing will next tell us that "James Simmons" was being impersonated by a railroad worker wearing only one glove 

[Royell Storing]

Maybe Royell Storing will next tell us that "James Simmons" was being impersonated by a railroad worker wearing only one glove 

   My challenge is open. Even to you. All you gotta do is prove that the "One Glove Cop" is Officer Haygood.  The documented police radio transmissions of Haygood and Harkness and now the recently discovered Darnell Film snippet showing the Elm St Extension to be jam packed with people are 3 Rock Solid Facts. It is tough to defeat "3 of a kind". But, you just go ahead and have at it.