With Malice: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J.D. Tippit (Hardcover)

by Dale K. Myers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...With Malice by Dale Myers has finally cut through the veneer of insinuations and innuendoes applied by the conspiracy buffs for the past thirty odd years. He has cleared up the points of confusion brought on by the rumors and hearsay that had no basis of facts. This book will clear up many questions for the reader about the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit and the assassination of President Kennedy." -- James R. Leavelle, former Dallas police homicide detective

"...With Malice is an exhaustive, multi-dimensional study of this key episode of November 22, 1963. Myers has gathered and reexamined the voluminous primary sources, has uncovered new information and material - and for the first time - has melded this material to come up with a credible conclusion of the guilt of Lee Oswald in the murder of J.D. Tippit. Scores of documents, diagrams and photographs add to the clarity of Myers' text and assist in making this 700 page volume both attractive and useful. While Myers cannot answer all the questions relating to this incident, since the murder of both chief participants silenced motives and previous actions, the author is able to dispel much previous incorrect speculation and clear up numerous controversies. Dale Myers has written the authoritative book on the murder of Officer Tippit. His book will stand as a major contribution to the truth of the events in Dallas on November 22, 1963." -- Richard B. Trask, archivist and author of Pictures of the Pain and That Day in Dallas

"...With Malice is by far one of the best and most interesting books surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that I have read. No doubt Myers put in many years of research to write such an outstanding book." -- Paul Bentley, retired Dallas police detective who helped arrest Oswald

"...With Malice is unquestionably the definitive book on the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit. Because of the umbilical cord between this murder and that of President Kennedy, Myers has made a very significant contribution to the literature on the assassination of JFK. Absolutely 'must reading' for any student of this national tragedy. A superb true crime book which I recommend highly." -- Vincent T. Bugliosi, author of Helter Skelter

"As I read With Malice, I found myself once again caught up in the tragic events of that day in Dallas, reliving the capture of Oswald. With Malice is thoroughly researched and well organized, including photographs and illustrations I have never seen. An orderly exploration of the true facts." -- M.N. "Nick" McDonald, retired Dallas police officer who arrested Oswald

"At last a comprehensive study of an often overlooked aspect of the Kennedy assassination: the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit. Dale Myers has conducted exhaustive research on the subject and used logical reasoning in his conclusions. He has mastered the art of blending documented evidence and personal interviews into resolving an often debated murder mystery. Though there will always be doubters, Myers has conclusively answered most of the questions regarding the guilt of Lee Harvey Oswald in the murder of Officer Tippit. Supplemented with an impressive array of photographs and endnotes, With Malice is the definitive study on the subject and should remain so for many years to come." -- Larry A. Sneed, author of No More Silence: An Oral History of the Assassination of President Kennedy

"One does not have to accept all of Dale Myers' findings to recognize the value of this, the first serious study of the Tippit murder, a vital element in the assassination story long neglected by official and unofficial probers alike." -- Anthony Summers, author of Conspiracy

"Without a doubt, [With Malice] is one of the best books on the JFK assassination I've ever read. It is thoroughly researched, well-written and filled with many new details - all and all, a very scholarly and extremely interesting work...I expect that this will be the definitive work on the Tippit case...definitely a 'must read'..." -- Jean Davison, author of Oswald's Game

From the Author
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the events that surround it have been examined and dissected like no other event in American history. Yet the shooting of J.D. Tippit remains one of the most overlooked, misunderstood - and often twisted - aspects of this horrific crime. Perhaps, that is why I was drawn to the murder of this Dallas Patrolman.

For more than twenty years, I sifted through documents and testimony in an attempt to piece together the truth about Tippit's murder. Although the story they told was fascinating, I soon found the 'human element' the key to unraveling many of the myths and rumors that have sprung up around this case. Interviewing many of those involved in this story was an unexpected eye-opener. Their recollections flushed out many of the details that have puzzled students of the assassination over the years. Their stories put a human face on the Tippit drama, and supplied emotion where cold fact had once stood guard. In an effort to capture at least some of this essential human ingredient, much of the dialogue and memories in this book are verbatim from transcripts, testimony, and recollections. This is their story, in their own words.

Most of the mystery that shrouds the Kennedy assassination has been unwittingly preserved by a populace unable or unwilling to look for the answers. The fact that the official record remains scattered in government files around the country has not made it easy to challenge what has been written in the past. Yet, the truth is there, waiting to be discovered. Some mysteries remain, of course. That's to be expected in a case that has lain forgotten and neglected for more than three decades. Because many of the participants are now deceased, including several interviewed for this book, there are some answers that are destined to remain elusive. Still, the picture that emerges from this weave of human recollection is remarkably clear and consistent. More than anything, it is the ease with which these multiple perspectives mesh together that feels the most like truth.

In many ways, this book represents the investigation that Oswald's own untimely death cut short.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 704 pages
• Publisher: Oak Cliff Press; 1 edition (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966270975
• ISBN-13: 978-0966270976
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,016,306 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling. , February 2, 2007

By	Patrick Collins "pcollins114" (England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Tippet murder has received less than the attention it probably deserves in the published body of work on the Kennedy assassination. Described as the Rosetta Stone of the case, one asks that if it were Oswald who shot Tippet, does it really indicate that Oswald shot the President or that he was implicated ? The answer to that question is almost certainly yes. The other side of the coin is of course, if some else shot Tippet and the DPD concluded Oswald did it, then there are severe consequences for the whole case.

This book sets out to establish that Oswald was at the scene and shot Tippet and makes a good job of that aim. If you believe Oswald shot Kennedy or was involved in some way, you will have an easier job of accepting his guilt in the Tippet shooting. If however you believe Kennedy was shot by other assassins, you will no doubt tend to look for other assassins in the Tippet case. This book goes a long way to providing a reasonably balanced case history on the subject and may help you make up your mind. In that sense it is to be thoroughly recommended.

On first appearance this book impresses - it is a heavy weight for sure. However as has been pointed out in other reviews, a significant chunk of the book is given over to appendices and notes and is therefore not quite as comprehensive as one might think. Myers is well known for his work on animating the Zapruder film and as serious assassination researcher. So you can depend on an informed view in this book - even if you disagree with his conclusion that Oswald alone shot Tippet. However in the context of what is printed in the book, it is difficult to accept Oswald's innocence - you need to go elsewhere to find more compelling reasons to doubt his guilt. If you do you'll have a hard job to find them as no one else has done such a through job on this case. Yes you can find fault in the chain of evidence, yes you can indeed find fault with some of the reliability of the witnesses and their changing stories, but the fact is that if this had just been a normal everyday cop murder, Oswald would have been found guilty. Of that there can be little doubt.

Myers is worth reading. If you are an assassination researcher, this book is a must have. If you are new to the case, this book should be high on your list.

33 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Other" Murder in Dallas, June 24, 2000

By	William T. Parnell (Sherman, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One aspect of the JFK assassination story often overlooked by conspiracy theorists is the alleged murder of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit by Lee Harvey Oswald. The late Warren Commission Attorney David Belin called it the Rosetta Stone of the assassination; that is, if you accept the fact that Oswald killed Tippit, it doesn't require a huge leap of logic to find him guilty of the death of JFK as well.

In With Malice: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J.D. Tippit, Dale Myers provides the first in-depth study of the "other" killing in Dallas that fateful November day. Myers, a twenty-year veteran of the Radio and Television industry who has won three Emmy awards, succeeds in proving Oswald's guilt in that crime beyond any reasonable doubt.

First Impressions

This fine book makes a powerful first impression. The hardcover volume is an oversize 10 and one fourth by seven inches. The beautiful dust jacket, designed by Myers, features a collage of important evidence with Oswald's eyes watching in the background. The 702 page book contains 157 photographs embedded in the text as well as 16 color plates and 13 maps and illustrations. For documentation, Myers provides over 1,000 endnotes and 182 pertinent documents. With Malice also gives researchers a first look at the Tippit autopsy photos with the facial features tastefully (and properly) obscured by computer graphics. Also included in this researcher-friendly volume is a list of principal figures and an excellent chronology.

The Case Against Oswald

Myers begins his work by providing context and offering answers to the question of why so many people seem to doubt Oswald's guilt in the Tippit killing. He then uses a short biography of Tippit to provide insight into this "quiet cop" and to humanize him. Myers also carefully follows Tippit's last hours before the shooting.

In a book of this type, a thorough and accurate description of the crime and its aftermath is of paramount importance, and here Myers does not disappoint. Using Dallas Police radio transcripts, photographs, and his own computer-generated diagrams and interviews, Myers returns the reader to 1963 and places him/her inside the crime scene. Even veteran researchers may be surprised to learn something new. For example, I had never heard the story of Adrian Hamby, a 19 year-old student who nearly had a fatal encounter with police due to a case of mistaken identity. In a chapter called "Proof Positive", Myers uses hard evidence to link Oswald to the crime. He carefully discusses the autopsy, murder weapon and ballistics evidence, fingerprints (Oswald lucked out here), and jacket.

Hints and Allegations

In a section of the book sure to be of interest to conspiracy theorists, Myers discusses some of the allegations that have been made through the years by such theorists. In each case, Myers either debunks the allegation completely or casts sufficient doubt as to render it useless. The issues discussed are:

1. Oswald's Wallet 2. The Waitress 3. Igor Vaganov 4. Roscoe White 5. The Reynolds Shooting 6. Cecil Small 7. T.F. White 8. Gene Roberts 9. Dobbs House 10. Carousel Club Meeting

Profile of a Killer

It is in this chapter that Myers probably breaks the most new ground. He first uses a technique developed by the Behavioral Sciences Unit of the FBI Academy to classify the Tippit murder scene as a disorganized one. The picture that emerges is a veritable blueprint of Oswald's murder of Tippit. In such a crime scene, according to the FBI analysis, the following characteristics are found:

1. The crime was committed suddenly with no escape plan. 2. The killer attacks quickly, catching the victim off guard. 3. The murderer depersonalizes the victim by targeting specific areas of the body for excessive brutality. 4. The victim is left at the crime scene. 5. No attempt is made to conceal other physical evidence at the crime scene.

Additionally, the FBI found that the murderer of a disorganized crime scene was likely to be of below average intelligence and a high school dropout. He may also have a poor military record and employment history. The murderer was likely to use public transportation rather than drive a car and tends to be a sloppy dresser who enjoys solitary pursuits such as reading. He lives alone or with his parents and often has a physical handicap or speech impediment. Obviously, Oswald had many (although not all) of these characteristics. The remainder of this chapter continues in a similar vein, convincingly analyzing Oswald's actions using both insight from experts and Myers' own ideas in a fascinating and fresh manner.

Conclusion

In With Malice, Dale Myers offers the student of the JFK assassination an in-depth treatment of this vital aspect of the case. Myers pulls together and refines old information while providing new ideas and analysis in a readable and visually pleasing fashion. Whether you are a seasoned researcher looking for a comprehensive volume for reference purposes or a student who needs a solid introduction, this book fits the bill. Dale Myers is to be commended for writing what will be remembered as the definitive work on Lee Harvey Oswald's culpability in the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Closing the case on an American mystery, June 11, 1999

By	David Reitzes (New York City) - See all my reviews

Regardless of one's opinions on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, one MUST read this book and see the outstanding work Dale Myers has done on this long-neglected aspect of the case.

Myers does not give us speculation and innuendo: He gives us the cold, hard facts, and he gives us the most reasonable, compelling scenario ever advanced for exactly what happened at the crime scene and why.

Again, regardless of one's feelings about the assassination of JFK, if the Warren Commission had put together the evidence as effectively as Dale Myers does, there would never have been any room for doubt about who killed Officer J. D. Tippit that dark day in Dallas.