Detective for the Dallas Police Department who was one of the officers escorting Oswald through the jailhouse basement at the time of his murder. Handwritten firsthand account of Watson’s experience as a Dallas police officer after the assassination, three lined pages, 8 x 10.5, signed at the conclusion in ballpoint, “James C. Watson, Badge #631.” In part: “I was one of about 40 officers assigned to guard Lee Harvey Oswald as he was being transferred from the Dallas City Jail to the County Jail & Court Bldg. As we came off the elevator from jail to basement to put Oswald in the paddy wagon (van for transferring prisoners) no one knew what was about to take place…As officers with Oswald came off the elevator to a group of officers, a man later identified as Jack Ruby came forward apparently holding a gun to his side then raised gun & fired from approx. 10–12 ft. at Oswald…As I stood over Oswald, officers raised his shirt & opened belt area & I saw a black or dark spot in the lower part of his stomach where the bullet apparently entered his body. At that time I had no idea the wound was to be fatal." Also includes a ballpoint signature on an off-white collector’s sheet. In fine condition. RR Auction COA.
