Winter Auction 2016 Closing January 30th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/31/2016
On the afternoon of November 22, 1963, Dallas Police Assistant Jailer Henry Ellison took possession of a prisoner unlike any he had before: this was the murderer of the President of the United States. Lee Harvey Oswald was brought to the Dallas City Jail after being apprehended in the Texas Theatre. When the prisoner was turned over to Ellison he unlocked the handcuffs in which he was restrained with this 1 1/2" metal key. The key is mounted along with a dramatic black and white 8x10 of Oswald in the handcuffs this key unlocked and a copy of Assistant Jailer Henry Ellison's Dallas Police identity card. Also mounted is a 1998 signed letter from Ellison that states in part “This was my personal handcuff key that I used to unlock the handcuffs that were holding Lee Harvey Oswald when he arrived at the Dallas City Jail on the fifth floor November 22, 1963…I was on duty working as an assistant Jailer of the Service Division of the Dallas Police Department. Lee Harvey Oswald was captured at the Texas Theatre, handcuffed and transferred to the Dallas City Jail…I searched him, and unlocked the handcuffs that he had on with this key.” This incredible historical artifact is professionally matted and framed to 18 1/2" x 25".