Winter Auction 2016 Closing January 30th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/31/2016
This framed display showcases one of the most interesting artifact from John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963: the key that locked away both John Kennedy's murderer and his avenger. This 4 1/2" long metal key stamped “T.J. Tysdale Jail Co. St. Louis, MO. 104” was used to open and close cell block F of the Dallas City Jail. Cell Block F contained cell F-2 which housed Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby in the days after the assassination. The key shows great use and has taken on a brownish-gold patina with age. It is mounted along side a color photo of cell F-2 and a black and white 8x10 of Dallas Assistant Jailer Henry Ellison who job it was to carry this key. Ellison's signed letter describing the provenance and significance of the key is mounted along side the other artifacts. The 1998 letter states in part “This letter is to certify that this jail key is from the Dallas City Jail and was used to open cell block F on the fifth floor jail which contained cell F-2, the same cell where Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby were incarcerated. I was on duty as Assistant Jailer of the Service Division of the Dallas Police Department November 22, 1963 when Oswald was brought into jail from the Texas Theatre capture, I searched him, unlocked the handcuffs, and helped place him in cell F-2…Cell Block F had only one lock box. Using this key would unlock the lock box, set a lever to the door that we wanted to open and then raise a large lever that would cause the door to slide open…Oswald was in cell F-2 Friday, November 22nd, Saturday, November 23rd, and Sunday, November 24th, 1963, and after Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby during the transfer from the City Jail to the County Jail, Jack Ruby was then placed in that same cell F-2 Sunday, November 24, 1963.” Professionally matted and framed to 14 1/2" x 24".