SHAW HEARING BEFORE PANEL

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 10

SHAW HEARING BEFORE PANEL

(N.Z. Press NEW ORLEANS, March 13. The New Orleans businessman, Mr Clay Shaw, appears before a panel of three Judges today in a new move to topple the claim of the District Attorney, Mr Jim Garrison, that Mr Shaw plotted with Lee Harvey Oswald and others to assassinate President Kennedy.

The main legal battle will be tomorrow when the same three District Court Judges hear both sides to decide if Mr Garrison has enough evidence to hold Mr Shaw for trial on conspiracy charges. Mr Shaw, a decorated Army Major in the Second World War. and a retired managing director of the New Orleans International Trade Mart, has been booked, but not charged, for alleged conspiracy. Mr Shaw denies all charges and denies knowing anything about a plot to kill the President The Judges have cautioned the press that cameras, recording devices and even sketches will not be allowed.

Mr Raymond Cummings, aged 35, a former taxi driver from Dallas, was due in New Orleans today to tell Mr Garrison what he knew of an alleged link between Oswald, David Ferrie, who died on February 22, and Jack Ruby the Dallas nightclub owner who killed Oswald and later died in prison of cancer. Mr Cummings, whose story was not given much credit by the Dallas District Attorney, Mr Henry Wade, said that he picked up three fares including Oswald and Ferrie, near Ruby’s apartment and drove them to the club owned by Ruby.

In an affidavit Issued to obtain a search warrant for Mr Shaw’s apartment, Mr Garrison alleged that Mr Shaw, Oswald and Ferrie met in Ferrie’s New Orleans apartment to talk about killing President Kennedy. He said a confidential informant was present, along with others. Under Louisiana law, a preliminary hearing ia held to

determine, in a court of record, whether a crime has been committed. The Judges must decide whether the State has enough evidence to go to trial, but if th evidence is considered insufficient the defendant may be released.