Shaw was a businessman (1913–1974) who was the only person prosecuted in connection with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The charges were brought by District Attorney Jim Garrison, and Shaw was ultimately found not guilty. TLS signed “Clay,” one page, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, no date but bears a pencil notation of April 1968. Letter to a friend. In part: “As for me, I continue to lead the even tenor of my ways. The supreme court has refused to overrule the lower court in denying my motion for change of venue. I am now faced with going to trial within the near future…June I should think. Or I may make application to have the whole matter removed to Federal court. Whether successful or not, this would have the effect of further delay…Meanwhile, life continues to go on agreeably enough for me. There are, of course, hours and even days I feel depressed. But these are rare, and I seem to be learning techniques for exorcising the black incubi to which we all are, from time to time, vulnerable. Jimmie Kirkwood called last night to say that Esquire is interested in his doing a pre-trial piece on me. No comments on the case by me, but simply what it is like to be under arrest for fifteen months, charged with the crime of the century. Again the lawyers have to decide…Keep a sharp eye out on the New Yorker in May. Epstein, who started all this with his book Inquest, has done a piece for the New Yorker called The Tangled Web: Jim Garrison’s Assassination Investigation, and it is fantastically good. He examines with cool and lucid intelligence the whole course of Big Jim’s investigation over these past fourteen months and concludes the entire thing is a fraud from beginning to end. He takes the jolly green giant apart with surgical precision. I have seen the manuscript but the only publication date I’ve heard is early May…I would very much like to have Buddy come by for a drink if he is not leery of involvement with presidential conspirators.” In fine condition. A deeply personal letter that reveals Shaw’s innermost thoughts while awaiting his fate. Certainly one of the most interesting conspiracy-related items we have encountered. RR Auction COA.
