top of page
Search
Writer's pictureFred Litwin

Is this Document the Smoking Gun on the Richard Case Nagell Story?

Updated: Oct 11, 2021


Dick Russell did include one page from the military intelligence file in his book The Man Who Knew Too Much.


Russell discusses the need to find a "smoking gun" to convince people that Nagell "was indeed someone worthy of serious attention." (page 53)


In May 1986, Nagell sent Russell page 2 from a Military Intelligence "Agent Report" dated May 2, 1969. I reproduced that page 2 in my first blog post on Nagell. Russell writes that: (page 54 in the first edition)

"What was so striking about this report was that, unlike any other government file I had seen about him, it stated directly that Nagell had been monitoring the activities of Oswald, his wife, and "Anti-Castro organizations" on behalf of the CIA. The beginning sentences of the report were not phrased in a manner attributable to Nagell. In other words, they did not say "SUBJECT alleged" or "claimed" or "stated"; the facts about Nagell were simply stated as facts."

Just looking at page two, it seems obvious that the material was coming from Nagell. However, here is the complete document:



Just have a look at the opening sentence of page one:

"On 11 April 1969, SUBJECT appeared as a walk-in at Berlin Station and stated in substance as follows:"

No wonder Nagell only sent page two to Dick Russell. Of course, he never would have sent Russell page four which has the agent's notes:

"AGENT'S NOTES: It was obvious throughout both interviews with SUBJECT that HE was mentally disturbed. SUBJECT broke down and cried on numerous occasions, usually when the conversation concerned HIS attempts to locate HIS family. SUBJECT'S allegation that HE received no cooperation from VA Hospitals or the State Department could quite possibly stem from SUBJECT's extreme emotional state and HIS propensity to interpret anything but immediate response to HIS demands as an indication of non-cooperation. Subsequent investigation revealed, in fact, that measures have been taken to fulfill the promises made to SUBJECT."

This "smoking gun" clearly was using smokeless powder. If this is the only document Russell can cite as direct evidence about Nagell, well, his whole case is blown apart. Everything allegation about Nagell just comes from Nagell (and Russell). There is no underlying documentation.


At some point Russell apparently realized that the document didn't quite substantiate his allegations because he did not include this "smoking gun" in his second edition.




Richard Case Nagell Blog Posts



The Importance of Richard Case Nagell to Some Conspiracy Theorists


Jim Garrison and a few conspiracy theorists think Nagell is a very important witness. But is he really?



Genesis of the Richard Case Nagell story


David Kroman met Richard Case Nagell at the Springfield Medical Center for Federal Prisoners. Stephen Jaffe, a Garrison volunteer, wrote a memo, relating Nagell's story through the eyes and ears of David Kroman.


Nagell was convicted of armed robbery and was sentenced to ten years, but his conviction was overturned because of startling new evidence.


Richard Case Nagell and the JFK Assassination


There is no credible evidence that Nagell had any foreknowledge of either Lee Harvey Oswald or the JFK assassination.


Nagell claims he met Oswald in Japan, Texas, Mexico City, and New Orleans. There is no credible evidence that he ever met Oswald.


Nagell went to Cuba and met with Fidel Castro and even played ping-pong with the man.



Insane Conspiracy Theories about Richard Case Nagell


Richard Case Nagell said that he knew the two Oswalds - Lee Harvey and Leon. Some conspiracy theorists believe this madness.


Combine one part crazy and one part ridiculous and what do you come up with? An early attempt at a unified conspiracy theory of the JFK assassination.


Two Smoking Guns of the Richard Case Nagell Story


Nagell sent conspiracy theorist Dick Russell one page of a military intelligence file which seemed to indicate that he was monitoring Oswald and his wife on behalf of the CIA. But does the whole document really show that?


Did Richard Case Nagell had an Oswald Military ID in his possession when he was arrested in September 1963?


Richard Case Nagell and Jim Garrison


Richard Case Nagell believes that he wasn't called to testify at Clay Shaw's trial because his testimony would have blown up Jim Garrison's case.


At a conference in September 1968, Garrison and his investigators discuss his face-to-face meeting with Nagell in New York City.


William Martin, an Assistant District Attorney working for Jim Garrison, tried to retrieve a tape that Nagell said contained the voices of three JFK assassination conspirators.


Richard Popkin, author of "The Second Oswald," writes Jim Garrison about Richard Case Nagell. Garrison staffer Tom Bethell thought the Nagell lead was useless.


Richard Case Nagell's Mental Health


Nagell won a full disability pension in 1982 and the 60+ page court case provides complete details on his mental problems.


Richard Case Nagell told a psychiatrist why he shot up the bank in El Paso in 1963.


The FBI spoke to Nagell's ex-wife, his mother, his sister, and one of his friends. They all agreed that Nagell had significant mental health problems.


Nagell visited the American consulates in Zurich and Barcelona in 1969. He was a deeply disturbed man.



Richard Case Nagell's Evidence


None of the so-called evidence that Nagell promised would materialize on his death has shown up. Did this evidence ever exist?



309 views

Recent Posts

See All
Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page