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[[ by Martin Shackelford ]] POSNER (p. 141): "There simply is no credible evidence that Oswald ever had an office at 544 Camp Street or, much less, that he knew Guy Banister." Posner notes:
1. The HSCA "questioned six other individuals who worked for Guy Banister during the summer of 1963, and none of them recalled seeing Oswald at 544 Camp." (p. 139). The HSCA (X p. 128) lists seven witnesses who didn't see Oswald there: 4 worked there in the summer of 1963, one left in 1958, one left in January 1962, and one was a visitor who visited only through 1962. "Several witnesses recommended the Committee speak with Jack Martin or Delphine Roberts since they were in most contact with Banister." (HSCA X p. 129)Posner dismisses the following: 1. Oswald's leaflets were stamped "544 Camp St.," the address of the building in which Banister's office was housed. Posner correctly notes that Sam Newman, the building's owner, told the FBI he never rented to Oswald (HSCA X p. 123). This avoids the question of whether someone else rented an office for him, which is what might be expected if Oswald was working for Banister. 2. The testimony of Jack Martin, who said he saw Oswald with David Ferrie in Banister's office in 1963 (HSCA X p. 130). He was a not particularly reliable drunk who worked as an investigator for Banister. Sam Newman told HSCA that Martin was in Banister's office "90 percent of the time; every day almost" and he "kept up with all that stuff."(HSCA X p. 135, note 104) 3. The testimony of Delphine Roberts, Banister's secretary and mistress, that Banister kept a file on Oswald that "was kept out of the original files" (the Louisiana State Police confirmed Banister had a file on the FPCC and Oswald: HSCA X p. 131), that Banister was angry Oswald stamped 544 Camp St. on his leaflets, and that Oswald came into the office "on several occasions."(HSCA X p. 129) She also said Banister told her, when she reported Oswald's leafletting to him, that "He's with us. He's associated with the office." (Anthony Summers, Conspiracy, 1991 ed., p. 295) Posner notes that she is extreme right-wing, a religious nut and was paid for her interview with Anthony Summers (pp. 140-41), none of which proves she was lying. Banister friend and associate Ivan Nitschke told HSCA:"If you were trying to explore this to the fullest extent, I would say that Delphine would be No. 1."(HSCA X p. 135, note 104). Roberts told Summers Oswald worked for Banister. (Conspiracy, op. cit., pp. 294-5).He ignores the following: 1. James Arthus' statement to the Secret Service that a man whose name he didn't recall had tried to rent an office at 544 Camp Street. (HSCA X p. 125); he gave them the name of the woman who had dealt with the man, but she was never questioned. (Just as Banister was never asked about Oswald.)
2. The statement of Ross Banister, Guy's brother, that he knew Guy had an interest in Oswald, though he didn't think they were connected (HSCA X p.128).
3. The statement of Ivan Nitschke, the Banister friend and associate, that Banister had some of Oswald's handbills in his office (HSCA X p. 128).
4. Banister's widow Mary confirmed this to Andrew Sciambra of Jim Garrison's office (Anthony Summers, Conspiracy, op. cit., p. 292). She found a supply of the leaflets in her late husband's storeroom (Warren Hinckle and William Turner, Deadly Secrets, p. 234).
5. Banister employees Allen and Daniel Campbell. Daniel reported that Oswald came into Banister's office and used the desk phone. Allen reports that instead of reacting with his usual anger at pro-Castro activities, Banister merely laughed when Oswald's leafletting was mentioned. (Conspiracy, op. cit., p. 293).
6. Another young Banister employee, George Higginbothan, said he kidded Banister "about sharing a building with people papering the streets with leftist literature." Banister responded:"Cool it--one of them is mine." (Hinckle and Turner, Deadly Secrets, pp. 234-5)
7. Adrian Alba, whose office Oswald regularly visited, reported seeing Oswald in Mancuso's restaurant, on the ground floor of 544 Camp St. (Conspiracy, op. cit., p. 296). The restaurant was frequented by Banister. The restaurant's owner described Banister, David Ferrie and Jack Martin as regular customers.(HSCA X p. 125).
8. CIA operative William George Gaudet reported seeing Oswald with Banister. (Conspiracy op. cit., p. 444).
9. Southern Louisiana University historian Michael Kurtz knew that Oswald and Banister twice visited the Louisiana State University campus together and engaged in heated discussions with students; he was, at the time, one of the students. He also saw the two together at Mancuso's (Kurtz, Crime of the Century, 1993 edition, p. 203, xxxix). Witnesses he interviewed for an earlier article reported seeing Oswald and Banister together at Mancuso's "with David Ferrie and Carlos Quiroga"; Oswald was seen entering Banister's office "several times"; one of Oswald's co-workers at the Reily Coffee Co. saw Oswald and Banister walking together on Camp St.; another witness reported the two attended a White Citizens' Council meeting (reminiscent of the meetings Oswald is known to have attended in Dallas). (Kurtz, "Lee Harvey Oswald in New Orleans: A Reappraisal," Louisiana History vol. 21, Winter 1980).
10. Another intriguing confirmation comes from Chuck Giancana, brother of Chicago Mafia boss Sam Giancana, who reported Sam told him that Banister was affiliated with the Chicago Mob from his FBI days in Chicago: "We know [him]...real well." (Sam and Chuck Giancana, Double Cross, p. 211) He was transferred to Marcello in New Orleans (ibid., p. 255), where the Chicago-affiliated roving Mob ambassador Johnny Rosselli kept in touch with him and approved his manipulation of Oswald (ibid., pp. 332-3).
11. Further confirmation comes from Through the Looking Glass: The Mysterious World of Clay Shaw by William Davy: New Orleans attorney Tommy Baumler, formerly an infiltrator of left-wing college groups for Banister, told interviewers in 1981 that "Oswald worked for Banister."
