Some FBI Documents on Clay Shaw
From: jpshinley@my-deja.com
Date: 5/7/00 12:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <8f45to$lo9$1@nnrp1.deja.com>
RIF : 124-10047-10284
FBI # : 62-109060-4584
Teletype New Orleans to Director 2-25-67
FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, NO ONE THREE ZERO NINE DASH C ADVISED ON FEBRUARY TWENTYFOUR, NINETEEN SIXTYSEVEN, THAT HE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THE INDIVIDUAL USING THE NAME CLAY BETRAND IS ACTUALLY CLAY SHAW. INFORMANT STATED HE CALLED LOUIS IVON, INVESTIGATOR FOR GARRISON, AND TOLD IVON THAT HE HAD HEARD THAT CLAY SHAW AND CLAY BERTRAND WERE ONE AND THE SAME, AND ALTHOUGH IVON WOULD NOT CONFIRM THIS INFORMATION, APPEARED VERY UPSET AND WANTED TO KNOW WHERE INFORMANT DEVELOPED THIS INFORMATION.
AARON KOHN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, METROPOLITAN CRIME COMMISSION, ADVISED FEBRUARY TWENTYFOUR, HE HAD RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT CLAY BERTRAND AND CLAY SHAW WERE ONE AND THE SAME. KOHN ADVISED HE PICKED THIS INFORMATION UP FROM ONE OF EIGHTYNINE NEWS SOURCES THAT CONTACTED HIM ON FEBRUARY TWENTYFOUR, NINETEEN SIXTYSEVEN.
KOHN ADVISED THAT HE ALSO RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THERE IS A MAN NAMED CLAY BERTRAND LIVING IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, A REAL ESTATE BROKER THAT LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY. KOHN UNABLE TO SUPPLY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE CLAY BERTRAND OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.
BOTH NO ONE THREE ZERO NINE DASH C AND AARON KOHN ADVISED THAT CLAY SHAW WAS THE FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE MART, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. BOTH KOHN AND NO ONE THREE ZERO NINE DASH C ADVISED THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM LEAD THEM TO BELIEVE THAT SHAW WAS HOMOSEXUAL TENDENCIES.
NO ONE THREE ZERO NINE DASH C ADVISED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM A PERSON THAT IS A FRIEND OF BILL REED OF WWL TV NEWS SERVICE, NEW ORLEANS. THIS FOURTH DASH HAND INFORMATION IS THAT SAM QUOTE MONK UNQUOTE ZELDEN, PROMINENT NEW ORLEANS ATTORNEY, HAS IN HIS POSSESSION AN APPLICATION, NOT OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED, IN WHICH OSWALD USED AS A REFERENCE JACK RUBY. NO ONE THREE ZERO NINE DASH C DOES NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF AN APPLICATION OR IF THIS IS EVEN TRUE.
NO INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED. INFORMATION BEING RECEIVED FROM ESTABLISHED SOURCES.
RIF : 124-10058-10074
FBI # : 62-109060-4608
Memorandum W. A. Branigan to W. C. Sullivan March 2, 1967
[routed to DeLoach, Wick, Felt, Rosen, Lenihan]
New media during the evening of March 1, 1967, reported the arrest of Clay Shaw, 54 years old, the former managing director of the International Trade Mart in New Orleans, Louisiana, that date. According to United Press International, District Attorney Garrison arrested Shaw in his investigation of the assassination of President Kennedy and booked him on a charge of "conspiracy to commit murder."
According to the news media, Shaw spent some time in New York City where he was engaged in advertising and public relations work. During World War II he reportedly served in the United States Army in Europe attaining the rank of major. He received the Croix de Guerre of France and the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star from the United States. Following the war, he returned to New Orleans in 1946 at which time he became managing director of the International Trade Mart. He resigned this position in August, 1965. He is currently engaged in the remodeling and sale of real property in the French quarter of New Orleans.
A check of our files disclosed that we received allegations as early as 1954 that Shaw was a homosexual. HO 1218-C advised on March 19, 1964, that he has had relations of a homosexual nature with Clay Shaw. The informant described Shaw as a brilliant and powerful man, given to sadism and masochism in his homosexual activities. On February 24, 1967, we received information from Aaron Kohn, Managing Director, Metropolitan Crime Commission, New Orleans, and from NO 1309-C that information available to them led them to believe Shaw has homosexual tendencies.
On February 24, we received information from Aaron Kohn and from NO 1309-C that Clay Shaw is identical with an individual by the name of Clay Bertrand who allegedly was in contact with Dean Andrews, New Orleans Attorney, in coonection with Lee Harvey Oswald, the facts of which are as follows:
On November 25, 1963, Mr. Andrews informed Agents of our New Orleans Office that he had met Lee Harvey Oswald in late June, 1963, at which time Oswald appeared at his office with several individuals who impressed him as being homesexuals. Andrews claimed that Oswald requested assistance in making inquiries concerning his bad conduct discharge from the United States Marine Corps. Andrews also indicated that Oswald asked him questions concerning the citizenship status of he and his wife.
Andrews further stated that on the evening of November 23, 1963, at which time he was in the hospital in New Orleans under heavy sedation, he received a telephone call from an individual who said his name was Clay Bertrand who asked him if he would be interested in handling the defense of Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas, for the murder of President Kennedy.
We conducted extensive investigation concerning the data furnished by Andrews and could find no supporting evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald had ever visited Andrews' office. There was no record of Oswald in Andrews' files and his secretary could not recall Oswald ever having been to the office. In addition, we determined from Andrews's doctor that during the period Andrews was in the hospital he was under extreme sedation and he did not believe Andrews was capable of using a telephone on November 23, 1963, Andrews was questioned again on December 3, 1963, concerning his alleged association with Lee Harvey Oswald and Andrews stated after considering the facts in discussions with his office staff he believed the entire incident could have been dreamed by him in view of the physical condition he was in at the time.
We conducted extensive investigation in an effort to locate an individual by the name of Clay Bertrand but were unable to do so. Results of our investigation were furnished to the Warren Commission and Andrews was called as a witness before the Commission. In the Warren Commission report his testimony was noted with emphasis upon the facts tending to show the unlikelihood of his having contact with Lee Harvey Oswald. A review of the records of the Identification Division disclose no criminal record for Clay Shaw.
ACTION:
There is attached a letter to the Honorable Marvin Watson of the White House and to the Attorney General summarizing the facts available in our files concerning Clay Shaw.
[I don't have these.]
RIF : 124-10040-10311
FBI # : 62-109060-4720
Letterhead Memorandum March 2, 1967
This Bureau received allegations as early as 1954 that Clay Shaw, former managing director of the International Trade Mart in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a homosexual. One source informed the bureau on March 19, 1964, that he had relations of a homosexual nature with Clay Shaw. The source described Shaw as a brilliant and powerful man, given to sadism and masochism in his homosexual activities. On February 24, 1967, we received information from two other sources that information available to them led them to believe Clay Shaw has homosexual tendencies.
On February 24, 1967, we received information from two sources that Clay Shaw reportedly is identical with an individual by the name of Clay Bertrand, who allegedly was in contact with Dean Andrews, a New Orleans attorney, in connection with Lee Harvey Oswald, the facts of which are as follows:
[And are remarkably similar to the previous memo, so I will omit them.]
RIF : 124-10040-10147
FBI # : 62-109060-4635
Memo C. D. DeLoach to Clyde Tolson 3/2/67
The Attorney General called at about 9:50 this morning and made reference to one Clay Shaw, a businessman in New Orleans whom District Attorney James Garrison has arrested in connection with the captioned matter. The AG asked for details concerning this matter.
I told the AG the Director was forwarding a letter to him this morning concerning this matter. I stated the Director had given specific instructions that letters be forwarded both to the AG and to the White House, on an expeditious basis. The AG inquired whether he would receive this communication within the next thirty minutes and I told him I felt certain he would.
The AG then asked whether the FBI knew anything about Shaw. I told him Shaw's name had come up in our investigation in December, 1963, as a result of several parties furnishing information concerning Shaw. I stated we had attempted to ascertain the identity of an individual by the name of Clay Bertrand, but to no avail. I mentioned it had been alleged that this was an alias used by Shaw. I stated also that we had conducted considerable investigation regarding a man whose name was Andrews.
The AG inquired whether FBI information reflected that Shaw had anything to do with the assassination, I told him that, while I had not reviewed the matter sufficiently, I knew of no connection. I stated perhaps he might desire to read the Director's communication. He replied he was going up on the Hill shortly and would wait for the communication.
I checked with Miss Gandy who indicated at that particular time that the communication had already been sent to the AG. I called the AG's secretary back and stated the communication was on the way and she might want to be alert for it. She stated that she would take it into him immediately.
ACTION -
For information.
[Handwritten by Hoover:]
I hope A.G. isn't
going to peddle
this information
we send him.
H
RIF : 124-10040-10140
FBI # : 62-109060-4628
Memorandum C. D. DeLoach to Clyde Tolson 3/2/67
Assistant Attorney General Barefoot Sanders called me at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon and made reference to United Press International tickler item of 11:44 a.m. this morning which reflected that the Attorney General had told reportes that Clay Shaw had been "cleared by the FBI" in connection with the assassination investigation.
Sanders stated the Attorney General had instructed him to call us to advise that he had not under any circumstances mentioned the words "cleared by the FBI" in response to questions given him by reporters while up on the Hill today. Sanders stated that the Attorney General was cornered by reporters in the corridor after his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.
Reports asked him about the latest arrest by District Attorney Garrison. Sanders stated the Attorney General simply replied the FBI had received information on Shaw back in 1963 and that Shaw seemed not to be involved in the assassination. Sanders stated that reports had completely garbled the Attorney General's remarks by insinuating that the "FBI had cleared Shaw."
ACTION:
For record purposes.
[Handwritten by Hoover:]
This is the danger
of telling Clark any-
thing. He can't re-
frain from talking
to the press.
H
Jerry Shinley
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