Fascinating autograph manuscript entitled "The Arrest and Capture of Lee Harvey Oswald, By Officer M. N. 'Nick' McDonald, 11-22-63," five pages, 8.5 x 11, signed at the conclusion, "Officer M. 'Nick' McDonald, Captor of Oswald, 11-22-63." The remarkable firsthand account describes his apprehension of Oswald—"a suspect in the murder of Officer J. D. Tippit"—inside the Texas Theatre. In part: "I started walking unhurriedly up the aisle toward him. Slowly, deliberately, I was closing the distance between us. Maybe, just maybe, I could prevent a stand-off and a shoot-out, if I could only get close enough…I turned quickly into his row! Moving closer, I saw his empty hands were folded in his lap. As he calmly looked up at me, I spoke with a strong voice of authority, 'Get on your feet!' He realized he has waited too long to make a free and open move of aggression. He stood slowly, as if in slow motion, facing the movie screen, blinking and turning his head to me. We were face to face. I looked into his cold, steel blue eyes. In an attempt to conceal his guilt, his expression changed to surprise and innocence, like that of a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar. Without a command, he started bringing up both hands and in a voice of resignation, he spoke softly, 'Well, it's all over now!' I thought he was giving up…Suddenly, his left hand made a tight fist and it exploded between my eyes. I thought, 'My God, this is it! He is not giving up after all!'…
With the same darting movement, his right hand went to his waist. With my left hand, I felt him pulling a pistol from underneath his shirt…I grabbed for it with my left hand and grasped his pistol over the cylinder and hammer, with all the strength I could muster…the firing pin struck the flesh of my hand, between the thumb and forefinger. Bracing myself, I stood rigid, waiting for the bullet to penetrate my chest. Somehow, the miracle of my strength retarded the action of the cylinder and hammer…I pivoted his pistol to the side and away from my body, and realized I was not shot. With a clutched first, I hit him over his left eye, knocking him into the seat. With a lunge of desperation, I fell on top of him to cover him with my body…Our arms and elbows were entangled with our twisting and turning bodies. My life depended on gaining complete control of his weapon. I somehow managed to grasp the handle of his pistol with my right hand…I shoved the muzzle into his stomach, and for a fleeting moment, I thought, 'He tried to kill me and I'd be justified in killing him!' But on second thought, 'There is no need to shoot him, now that I have control of his weapon.' I pulled the pistol away and handed it to a detective standing in the aisle. I called out to my fellow police officers, 'I've got him!!!!!!'" In fine condition.
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