Lieutenant John Day
J.C. Day
Lieutenant J.C. Day of the Dallas Police Department was a part of the JFK investigation, specifically in the Texas School Book Depository building. Day, along with Studebaker played a key, pivotal role in collecting the evidence that ultimately incriminated Lee Harvey Oswald. One of the main parts of the investigation that Day handled was the four cardboard boxes.
Investigation Involvement
Lieutenant J.C. Day was heavily involved in the investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald's alleged assassination of President John F. Kennedy. As a lieutenant of the Dallas Police Department, Day played a key role in the investigation that took place at the Texas School Depository Building. From recording fingerprints to handling the rifle, Day was heavily involved in this investigation. For instance, he had complete access to the crime scene within one hour of the assassination taking place. In his testimony, Day stated that as a lieutenant, he had the capability of going "to the scene of the crime [to] take photographs, check for fingerprints, collect any other evidence that might be available, [and] to assist the investigators with certain technical parts of the investigation." Throughout his testimony, Day discussed that he was well equipped to handle the equipment they used for the investigation, after having over 15 years of experience with the equipment.
Warren Commission Testimony
In Lieutenant J.C. Day's Warren Commission Testimony, Day spoke a lot about the cardboard boxes in which he investigated and took the fingerprints of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Displaying the Mannlicher-Carcano Rifle.
Lieutenant J.C. Day displaying the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle that Lee Harvey Oswald used to kill President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
Discovering Fingerprints
In his testimony Day stated:
Mr. DAY: I placed a piece of transparent tape, ordinary Scotch tape, which we use for fingerprint work, over the developed palm print.
Mr. BELIN: And then what did you do?
Mr. DAY: I tore the cardboard from the box that contained the palm print.
Mr. BELIN: Then what did you do?
Mr. DAY: The box was left in its position, but the palm print was taken by me to the identification bureau.
Mr. BELIN: Did you make any identification of it?
Mr. DAY: Yes, sir. Later that night when I had a chance to get palm prints from Lee Harvey Oswald. I made a comparison with the palm print off of the box, and determined that the palm print on the box was made by the right palm of Lee Harvey Oswald.
The Cardboard Boxes
In his testimony, Lieutenant J.C. Day implied that the cardboard boxes were a resting place for Lee Harvey Oswald when he shot President John F. Kennedy. This picture illustrates the cardboard boxes that Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly leaned on to shoot the President.
Tampering with Photogenic Evidence
"Lieutenant DAY stated that on Saturday, November 23, 1963, many persons unknown to him had apparently been on sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building and had taken a lot of photographs, in view of the fact that he noticed many empty film pack cartons near where the boxes were located, and the boxes had been re-arranged, apparently for the purpose of taking photographs."
During his investigations, Day noticed that the crime scene was tampered with for the sake of photographs. Since Day consistently worked at and investigated the Texas School Depository, he soon realized that there was an apparent change in the crime scene. Day also noted that these photographs were not for the sake of the investigation but rather for press and news reporters who were documenting the crime scene. It was confirmed on the afternoon of November 22, 1963, that Lieutenant Day did not know who these men were.
Six Degrees of Separation
Throughout the transcription, Lieutenant J.C. Day has relationships and connections with other police officers, special agents, etc. This display illustrates the connections of these people with Lieutenant J.C. Day. It is clear that Lieutenant J.C. Day and Jack Ruby (J. Ruby), Lee Harvey Oswald's killer, knew each other. Although J. Ruby was familiar with many of the Dallas Police Officers, this adds to the suspicion that police officers were aware of J. Ruby's plans of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald.
November 22, 1963
Mr. BELIN: Were you on duty on November 22, 1963?
Mr. DAY: Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN: Could you describe your activities from about noon on of that day?
Mr. DAY: I was in the identification bureau at the city hall. About a quarter of one I was in the basement of the city hall, which is three floors under me actually I am on the fourth floor--and a rumor swept through there that the President had been shot. I returned to my office to get on the radio and wait for the developments. Shortly before 1 o'clock I received a call from the police dispatcher to go to 411 Elm Street, Dallas.
Mr. BELIN: Is there any particular building at that particular location?
Mr. DAY: The Texas School Book Depository, I believe is the correct name on it.
Mr. BELIN: Did you go there?
Mr. DAY: Yes, sir; I went out of my office almost straight up 1 o'clock. I arrived at the location on Elm about 1:12.
Mr. BELIN: What did you do when you got there?
Mr. DAY: I was directed to the sixth floor by the police inspector who was at the front door when I arrived.
Mr. BELIN: Do you know who that was?
Mr. DAY: Inspector Sawyer.
Mr. BELIN: What did you do when you got to the sixth floor?
Mr. DAY: I had to go up the stairs. The elevator--we couldn't figure out how to run it. When I got to the head of the stairs, I believe it was the patrolman standing there, I am not sure, stated they had found some hulls over in the northeast corner of the building, and I proceeded to that area excuse me, southeast corner of the building.
Life Prior to November
J.C. Day was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He attended and graduated from Sunset High School. After graduation, Day worked various jobs until applying to the Dallas Police Department in 1940. Shortly after, Day enlisted into the army for World War II. When the war ended, Day returned to the Dallas Police Department where he worked with the Burglary and Homicide Department. He worked in this department until 1948 when he transitioned to the Identification Bureau. This bureau essentially became a modern crime lab. This is where Day gained experience in the field that ultimately set him up for the investigation of a lifetime.
The Fingerprints
Mr. BELIN: Who held the rifle while you looked at it with the glass?
Mr. DAY: I held it.
Mr. BELIN: In one hand?
Mr. DAY: One hand, using the glass with the other.
Mr. BELIN: How did you try to process the live round for prints?
Mr. DAY: With black fingerprint powder.
Mr. BELIN: Let me ask you this in an effort, perhaps, to save time. In all of your processing of prints did you use anything other than this black powder at the scene that day?
Mr. DAY: No, sir.
Mr. BELIN: So whenever you say you processed for prints you used black powder, is that correct?
Mr. DAY: Yes, sir.
Mr. McCLOY: When was the rifle as such dusted with fingerprint powder?
Mr. DAY: After ejecting the live round, then I gave my attention to the rifle. I put fingerprint powder on the side of the rifle over the magazine housing. I noticed it was rather rough. I also noticed there were traces of two prints visible. I told Captain Fritz it was too rough to do there, it should go to the office where I would have better facilities for trying to work with the fingerprints.
Mr. McCLOY: But you could note with your naked eye or with a magnifying glass the remnants of fingerprints on the stock?
Mr. DAY: Yes, sir; I could see traces of ridges, fingerprint ridges, on the side of the housing.
Lieutenant J.C. Day on 11/22/63
- 12:45pm Day is working in the basement of City Hall
- 12:50pm Day goes back to his office in City Hall on the 3rd floor after hearing rumors about the President getting shot
- 12:55pm Day receives a call from the police department to show up to 411 Elm Street, Dallas. (Texas School Book Depository)
- 1:12pm Day arrives at the Texas School Book Depository
Aftermath
After J.C. Day's involvement in the investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Day continued as a police officer at the Dallas Police Department. He stayed with the police department until 1977 when he retired and then proceeded to enjoy his retirement with his wife. Years after the investigation, Day expressed his embarrassment at holding the weapon the night of the crime which had caused many people to believe that he was holding the rifle as some sort of trophy which was not true.
Was He Effected?
Many people who were involved in the President's assassination, whether in the investigation or as a bystander, were affected later in life. Many people suffered trauma from this event and it remained with them until they died. Many people retired early from their positions because of the constant criticism they received from the public regarding their performance in the investigation. Lieutenant J.C. Day was unlike the others in this situation since he went on to live a fulfilling life. Around 10 years after the investigation, Day retired in 1977 at the age of 63. He then lived the remainder of his life with his wife and children and eventually passed away in 2008 at the age of 94.
Bibliography
Day, C.J., 11/30/1963 - 9/24/1964, Container 9, Series: Records Relating to Key Persons, 11/30/1963 - 9/24/1964 Record Group 272: Records of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, 1954 - 1965, National Archives at College Park, Maryland. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7460462.
Final TV Interview (May 1999) HD Poetic Zenith Recommended for You On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald 1 of 4 Welton Hartford 34K Views Lieutenant John Carl Day of the Crime Laboratory of the Dallas Police Department, Dallas, Texas. Youtube.com. September 18, 2017. Accessed April 23, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-L8ZBnJxU.
"John C Day (1914-2008) - Find A Grave Memorial." Find A Grave. July 4, 2011. Accessed April 23, 2018. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72595102.
Myers, Dale K. "J. Carl Day Dead at 94: Investigated Scene of JFK Shooting." JFK Files. January 01, 1970. Accessed April 23, 2018. http://jfkfiles.blogspot.com/2008/10/j-carl-day-dead-at-94-investigated.html.