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Kennedy's Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy, and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby
Coming soon! Kennedy's Avenger by Dan & David Abrams & Fisher will be available Jun 01, 2021.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2021
285 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Dan Abrams
10 books200 followersDan Abrams is an attorney, author, Legal Analyst for ABC News, and substitute anchor for Good Morning America.
Early Years
Before joining NBC News, Dan worked as a reporter for Court TV where he became well known for his coverage of the OJ Simpson case. He covered most of the high profile trials of that decade including the International War Crimes Tribunal from The Netherlands, and the assisted-suicide trials of Dr. Jack Kevorkian from Michigan. Dan’s first job was working as an intern for the Manhattan Borough president.
Career Highlights
Dan is probably best known for hosting the programs Verdict with Dan Abrams and The Abrams Report as well as his coverage of the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court battles (where he was one of the first reporters to correctly interpret the opinion). He was also the Chief Legal Analyst for MSNBC before leaving to be an analyst for ABC News in March 2011. He is currently the Chief Legal Analyst for ABC News.
Author
Dan has published articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The American Lawyer, Yale Law & Policy Review, and is a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine. His first book, “Man Down: Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers, And Just About Everything Else” was published in March 2011.
Personal Life
Dan was born in Manhattan.
Dan’s father is Floyd Abrams, the renowned First Amendment attorney (read his bio). Read the article about the Abrams family in the New York Observer
Books by Floyd Abrams
Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Amendment – 2005
Kampuchea After the Worst: A Report on Current – 1985
The Right to Know – 1985
Early Years
Before joining NBC News, Dan worked as a reporter for Court TV where he became well known for his coverage of the OJ Simpson case. He covered most of the high profile trials of that decade including the International War Crimes Tribunal from The Netherlands, and the assisted-suicide trials of Dr. Jack Kevorkian from Michigan. Dan’s first job was working as an intern for the Manhattan Borough president.
Career Highlights
Dan is probably best known for hosting the programs Verdict with Dan Abrams and The Abrams Report as well as his coverage of the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court battles (where he was one of the first reporters to correctly interpret the opinion). He was also the Chief Legal Analyst for MSNBC before leaving to be an analyst for ABC News in March 2011. He is currently the Chief Legal Analyst for ABC News.
Author
Dan has published articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The American Lawyer, Yale Law & Policy Review, and is a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine. His first book, “Man Down: Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers, And Just About Everything Else” was published in March 2011.
Personal Life
Dan was born in Manhattan.
Dan’s father is Floyd Abrams, the renowned First Amendment attorney (read his bio). Read the article about the Abrams family in the New York Observer
Books by Floyd Abrams
Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Amendment – 2005
Kampuchea After the Worst: A Report on Current – 1985
The Right to Know – 1985
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
June 6, 2021
Not written that well, and too many added facts/info that doesn't need to be there and the story drags on too long. An interesting story though.
March 18, 2022
This book covers the 1964 trial of Jack Ruby. It is straight reporting with direct quotes, short commentary on the legal strategy behind the quotes and (ok but extraneous) history of aspects of jury selection, the insanity defense, self incrimination and pretrial (and during the trial) publicity to name a few.
The lead prosecutor, Henry Wade, (later to prosecute another high profile case: “Roe vs. Wade) charged Ruby with murder which, if intent was shown, meant the death penalty. Melvin Belli, known for big settlement medical liability and divorce cases, presented an insanity defense for Ruby. Judge Joseph Brown ran and idiosyncratic courtroom filled with cigar and cigarette smoke. He refused a change of venue and made calls on objections that guaranteed an appeal.
The selection of Belli as Ruby’s attorney and then Belli’s selection of the insanity defense are highly questionable. Did Ruby’s family, which supposedly chose Belli, pay him? Why did Belli risk the insanity defense when a guilty (and it is evident that Ruby shot Oswald) plea might have 3 – 5 year sentence? The stakes for Ruby were, literally, life and death.
What little you learn about Ruby is only revealed through the testimony, mostly trumped up to build the insanity defense. There are interesting asides about how the jury lived in the court house’s jail cells and while they were there inmates escaped. The book concludes with the appeal, Ruby’s interview with Earl Warren and some members of his Commission and Ruby’s death in January 1967.
While the authors steer the text away from conspiracy theories (there has to be a better name for this when applied to JFK) there is plenty to fuel them. How is it that Ruby had access to the police station? What of the many reports that Ruby and Oswald had met? Are not the death and alleged suicide of two of Ruby’s dancers at this time suspicious? Who paid Belli and why did he present such a risky defense? This is the trial that aroused the suspicions of Dorothy Killgallen an early critic of the Warren Report. Killgallen had covered Belli’s previous trials (and was able to convince Belli to allow her to interview Ruby). She died under suspicious circumstances after writing of a bombshell to come.
This book does what the authors planned – it reports on the trial. It will be of interest to those interested in legal aspects of the JFK assassination. The reporting is dry and not user friendly. Chapters should be named and breaks between the reports on the different witnesses would help. A list of the lawyers and witnesses with short descriptions would be helpful.
The book breaks little new ground, other than show Marvin Belli as an overpriced peacock (didn’t he know his theatrics would never go over in Dallas?). I hope this book inspires a full treatment of Jack Ruby.
The lead prosecutor, Henry Wade, (later to prosecute another high profile case: “Roe vs. Wade) charged Ruby with murder which, if intent was shown, meant the death penalty. Melvin Belli, known for big settlement medical liability and divorce cases, presented an insanity defense for Ruby. Judge Joseph Brown ran and idiosyncratic courtroom filled with cigar and cigarette smoke. He refused a change of venue and made calls on objections that guaranteed an appeal.
The selection of Belli as Ruby’s attorney and then Belli’s selection of the insanity defense are highly questionable. Did Ruby’s family, which supposedly chose Belli, pay him? Why did Belli risk the insanity defense when a guilty (and it is evident that Ruby shot Oswald) plea might have 3 – 5 year sentence? The stakes for Ruby were, literally, life and death.
What little you learn about Ruby is only revealed through the testimony, mostly trumped up to build the insanity defense. There are interesting asides about how the jury lived in the court house’s jail cells and while they were there inmates escaped. The book concludes with the appeal, Ruby’s interview with Earl Warren and some members of his Commission and Ruby’s death in January 1967.
While the authors steer the text away from conspiracy theories (there has to be a better name for this when applied to JFK) there is plenty to fuel them. How is it that Ruby had access to the police station? What of the many reports that Ruby and Oswald had met? Are not the death and alleged suicide of two of Ruby’s dancers at this time suspicious? Who paid Belli and why did he present such a risky defense? This is the trial that aroused the suspicions of Dorothy Killgallen an early critic of the Warren Report. Killgallen had covered Belli’s previous trials (and was able to convince Belli to allow her to interview Ruby). She died under suspicious circumstances after writing of a bombshell to come.
This book does what the authors planned – it reports on the trial. It will be of interest to those interested in legal aspects of the JFK assassination. The reporting is dry and not user friendly. Chapters should be named and breaks between the reports on the different witnesses would help. A list of the lawyers and witnesses with short descriptions would be helpful.
The book breaks little new ground, other than show Marvin Belli as an overpriced peacock (didn’t he know his theatrics would never go over in Dallas?). I hope this book inspires a full treatment of Jack Ruby.
December 26, 2024
Dan Abrams and David Fisher present readers with one of the most intriguing legal cases of the 20th century. In a crime witnessed by millions on live television, Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald just outside the jailhouse in Dallas, Texas on November 24, 1963. Told with amazing detail and summarising the events of the time, Abrams and Fisher educate the reader completely and present key aspects of the courtroom battle over Ruby’s culpability. A great story to complement many of the Kennedy assassination books I have read over the years, Abrams and Fisher deliver a captivating piece.
On the afternoon of November 24, 1963, millions tuned in to watch the transportation of accused presidential assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald from the Dallas jailhouse. At a time when the world was still trying to come to terms with the death of John F. Kennedy, no one expected Jack Ruby to appear out of nowhere to shoot Oswald in the stomach. The crime that had so many eyewitnesses appeared to be open and shut, as Dan Abrams and David Fisher present the evidence to the curious reader. Was Ruby involved in part of the JFK assassination, sent to quiet Oswald before he could spill the beans? Was there any way that Ruby’s actions could be justified or at least explained away to a jury? These questions and more arise in the book that is full of amazing details.
At a time when justice was swift and courtroom drama unravelled without media supersaturation, the case against Jack Ruby played out in the spring of 1964. With millions having seen the crime on their television sets, it would have hard to get a jury of his papers to try the case and leave Ruby’s chances of being exonerated at close to nil. A media-savvy lawyer descended on Dallas to try his best to find a crack in the case to help Ruby go free, but the monumental task of locating a group of locals who could listen to the case without bias would be tough. Abrams and Fisher depict the difficulty as they recount the countless days it took to find a cast of twelve who fit the bill.
Once the jury was empaneled, the case began and Ruby’s fate was in their hands. The premise to the defence would be to argue insanity due to a little understood medical concept at the time. Epilepsy and all its nuances were also on trial, as Ruby sat quietly to let the legal minds present their cases. The trial would be detailed and yet focus on the medical (read: psychiatric) testimony, as there was little way anyone could argue that Ruby could deny pulling the trigger than Sunday afternoon in Dallas. As many witnesses presented their views, the world waited to see what would happen and which way the wind was blowing in the courtroom. Told in great detail, the book depicts the legal matters from the trial, as well as glimpses into the American psyche in the immediate aftermath of coming to terms with their slain leader. Don Abrams and David Fisher breathe new life into events. This is a wonderful addition to my JFK assassination reading over the last number of years and taught me so much.
While there is no doubt, history comes to life under the control of a great author, these two exemplify why attention to detail can be so very important. Dan Abrams and David Fisher offer a great look into a courtroom case that likely had the country gripped as they awaited some results. Abrams and Fisher deliver a great story, set over a handful of detailed chapters. Their attention to the facts and various perspectives add depth to an already intriguing piece, something I knew little about, save for the end result. With a cast of stunning characters and detailed depiction of the facts of the case, the authors leave the reader to feel as though they are in the middle of the action. I could not ask for more and hope to look for some of the other legal stories these two have brought to life with their research. I am happy to have found this book and have something that will complement it well to come soon during the last part of my reading journey of 2024!
Kudos, Messrs. Abrams and Fisher, for a great legal glimpse into a historical event.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
On the afternoon of November 24, 1963, millions tuned in to watch the transportation of accused presidential assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald from the Dallas jailhouse. At a time when the world was still trying to come to terms with the death of John F. Kennedy, no one expected Jack Ruby to appear out of nowhere to shoot Oswald in the stomach. The crime that had so many eyewitnesses appeared to be open and shut, as Dan Abrams and David Fisher present the evidence to the curious reader. Was Ruby involved in part of the JFK assassination, sent to quiet Oswald before he could spill the beans? Was there any way that Ruby’s actions could be justified or at least explained away to a jury? These questions and more arise in the book that is full of amazing details.
At a time when justice was swift and courtroom drama unravelled without media supersaturation, the case against Jack Ruby played out in the spring of 1964. With millions having seen the crime on their television sets, it would have hard to get a jury of his papers to try the case and leave Ruby’s chances of being exonerated at close to nil. A media-savvy lawyer descended on Dallas to try his best to find a crack in the case to help Ruby go free, but the monumental task of locating a group of locals who could listen to the case without bias would be tough. Abrams and Fisher depict the difficulty as they recount the countless days it took to find a cast of twelve who fit the bill.
Once the jury was empaneled, the case began and Ruby’s fate was in their hands. The premise to the defence would be to argue insanity due to a little understood medical concept at the time. Epilepsy and all its nuances were also on trial, as Ruby sat quietly to let the legal minds present their cases. The trial would be detailed and yet focus on the medical (read: psychiatric) testimony, as there was little way anyone could argue that Ruby could deny pulling the trigger than Sunday afternoon in Dallas. As many witnesses presented their views, the world waited to see what would happen and which way the wind was blowing in the courtroom. Told in great detail, the book depicts the legal matters from the trial, as well as glimpses into the American psyche in the immediate aftermath of coming to terms with their slain leader. Don Abrams and David Fisher breathe new life into events. This is a wonderful addition to my JFK assassination reading over the last number of years and taught me so much.
While there is no doubt, history comes to life under the control of a great author, these two exemplify why attention to detail can be so very important. Dan Abrams and David Fisher offer a great look into a courtroom case that likely had the country gripped as they awaited some results. Abrams and Fisher deliver a great story, set over a handful of detailed chapters. Their attention to the facts and various perspectives add depth to an already intriguing piece, something I knew little about, save for the end result. With a cast of stunning characters and detailed depiction of the facts of the case, the authors leave the reader to feel as though they are in the middle of the action. I could not ask for more and hope to look for some of the other legal stories these two have brought to life with their research. I am happy to have found this book and have something that will complement it well to come soon during the last part of my reading journey of 2024!
Kudos, Messrs. Abrams and Fisher, for a great legal glimpse into a historical event.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 18, 2021
Indeed little attention has been paid over the years to the actual trial of Jack Ruby. The book is interesting but contains more detail than necessary so was somewhat a dry read and boring in places.
June 28, 2021
The trial no one remembers, for the murder no one forgets.
I had no idea how much time or how much effort went into the trial of Jack Ruby. When I learned about the man, it was in passing. He killed Lee Harvey Oswald. That was it.
In the case of this book, there’s a lot more to the story. Abrams and Fisher mention the insanity defense that was used, the epilepsy defense and Ruby’s odd behavior to explain why he committed this murder.
This isn’t a short book and one must be interested in the topic, otherwise in places, it drags. One must be a student of history or at least like history, or again, the overwhelming details can make this book a bit of a trudge. If you’re interested in the case, then it’s fascinating stuff.
I’d suggest reading this book like you might a crime novel. It’s packed with details, makes one have to wonder if everyone is telling the truth and covers THE crime of the 20th century.
If you’re interested in a crime novel, then this might be the one for you.
I had no idea how much time or how much effort went into the trial of Jack Ruby. When I learned about the man, it was in passing. He killed Lee Harvey Oswald. That was it.
In the case of this book, there’s a lot more to the story. Abrams and Fisher mention the insanity defense that was used, the epilepsy defense and Ruby’s odd behavior to explain why he committed this murder.
This isn’t a short book and one must be interested in the topic, otherwise in places, it drags. One must be a student of history or at least like history, or again, the overwhelming details can make this book a bit of a trudge. If you’re interested in the case, then it’s fascinating stuff.
I’d suggest reading this book like you might a crime novel. It’s packed with details, makes one have to wonder if everyone is telling the truth and covers THE crime of the 20th century.
If you’re interested in a crime novel, then this might be the one for you.
July 11, 2021
Jack Ruby is one of the most fascinating criminals in US history - although you’d never know that from this drab book. Having shot the alleged killer of the President, Ruby’s subsequent legal history has long remained unexplored. With literally thousands of books focussed on Kennedy and Oswald, a book comprehensively exploring Ruby has been long overdue. But this is not that book, and, regretfully it is merely a lost opportunity. The bulk of the book covers Ruby’s trial for killing Oswald, but it quickly becomes bogged down in the dull medical minutiae of the trial and rarely mentions Ruby’s reactions, motivations, or general sensibility. It is imperative to the Kennedy assassination that we understand Jack Ruby but, frustratingly, this book fails in that regard.
April 19, 2022
A very well researched piece of legal history. This book narrates the trial of Jack Ruby with an almost day-to-day level of detail. Great to see how this highly unusual trial developed, from the link to the JFK assassination to the issues related to how mental health issues would translate in the court, to the strategies followed by the DA and by the defense.
What you won't get from this book is a lot of information about Jack Ruby, in case you are looking for that, and you also won't get any support for the JFK assassination conspiracy (despite the title), because the author does not believe in a conspiracy.
What you won't get from this book is a lot of information about Jack Ruby, in case you are looking for that, and you also won't get any support for the JFK assassination conspiracy (despite the title), because the author does not believe in a conspiracy.
May 7, 2021
It seems each time there is a trial that the entire nation is watching, whether it be via newspapers, radio or television, it’s called “the trial of the century.” The 20th Century had a number of the sensational trials.
First it was the 1905 trial of Henry K. Thaw, heir to coal and railway fortune, for the murder of renowned architect Stanford White. Following that was the 1924 trail of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb for the murder of fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks and their attempt to commit “the perfect crime.” Others that followed were the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping and murder (1932); the espionage trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg (early 1950s) and the O. J. Trial (1995).
Those are the ones that come easily to mind; I’m sure there were others. However, there is one forgotten “the trial of the century.” One that had millions of eyewitnesses: The murder of JFK assassinator Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby. Television cameras showed Ruby step out of crowd, shove a pistol into Oswald’s stomach and pull the trigger.
The writing team of Dan Abrams and David Fisher explores this trial in their new book, “Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby.”
I admit that I have a rather morbid fascination with JFK and his death. One of the top questions I have on my to-ask-God list when I get to heaven is “who was behind the JFK murder?” There seems to be so many right answers to that question that they are all suspect.
Abrams and Fisher’s book opens with an overview of the assassination. Fortunately they do not rehash JFK’s death all over again or Oswald’s reasons. They do a fabulous job staying focused on what Jack Ruby did and his attempt for justice both behind the gun and behind bars.
Readers get a solid look at Jack Ruby and his life. I knew he was a nightclub owner and operator. He had bouts with depression and mental illness ran rampant through his family. To me, getting to know Ruby was far more interesting than the trial.
And the trial! What a circus! It makes the O.J. Trial look like a church picnic. All during the trial, Ruby sat staring straight ahead, seemingly detached and not much interested. For the defense was the Melvin Belli, “the nation’s most flamboyant lawyer.” For the prosecution, the “tough-as-Texas” Henry Wade. Presiding over the shenanigans was Judge Joe B. Brown, who “had been elected (to) his position. He was not a lawyer and lacked legal knowledge.” Can you imagine someone with that lack of qualifications presiding over a high profile case today? Me either.
The antics that went on in that truly gave me a headache. I cannot imagine being on that jury. Heck, it took Judge Brown seventeen minutes just to read the charge against Ruby. How they were able to return a verdict in two hours and nineteen minutes is beyond me. I would still be trying to look pass the all the antics.
One thing that I did not care for, and subsequently glossed over, was when the authors gave a history of different things about and during the trial. That happened about five times, I believe. Therefore “Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
First it was the 1905 trial of Henry K. Thaw, heir to coal and railway fortune, for the murder of renowned architect Stanford White. Following that was the 1924 trail of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb for the murder of fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks and their attempt to commit “the perfect crime.” Others that followed were the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping and murder (1932); the espionage trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg (early 1950s) and the O. J. Trial (1995).
Those are the ones that come easily to mind; I’m sure there were others. However, there is one forgotten “the trial of the century.” One that had millions of eyewitnesses: The murder of JFK assassinator Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby. Television cameras showed Ruby step out of crowd, shove a pistol into Oswald’s stomach and pull the trigger.
The writing team of Dan Abrams and David Fisher explores this trial in their new book, “Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby.”
I admit that I have a rather morbid fascination with JFK and his death. One of the top questions I have on my to-ask-God list when I get to heaven is “who was behind the JFK murder?” There seems to be so many right answers to that question that they are all suspect.
Abrams and Fisher’s book opens with an overview of the assassination. Fortunately they do not rehash JFK’s death all over again or Oswald’s reasons. They do a fabulous job staying focused on what Jack Ruby did and his attempt for justice both behind the gun and behind bars.
Readers get a solid look at Jack Ruby and his life. I knew he was a nightclub owner and operator. He had bouts with depression and mental illness ran rampant through his family. To me, getting to know Ruby was far more interesting than the trial.
And the trial! What a circus! It makes the O.J. Trial look like a church picnic. All during the trial, Ruby sat staring straight ahead, seemingly detached and not much interested. For the defense was the Melvin Belli, “the nation’s most flamboyant lawyer.” For the prosecution, the “tough-as-Texas” Henry Wade. Presiding over the shenanigans was Judge Joe B. Brown, who “had been elected (to) his position. He was not a lawyer and lacked legal knowledge.” Can you imagine someone with that lack of qualifications presiding over a high profile case today? Me either.
The antics that went on in that truly gave me a headache. I cannot imagine being on that jury. Heck, it took Judge Brown seventeen minutes just to read the charge against Ruby. How they were able to return a verdict in two hours and nineteen minutes is beyond me. I would still be trying to look pass the all the antics.
One thing that I did not care for, and subsequently glossed over, was when the authors gave a history of different things about and during the trial. That happened about five times, I believe. Therefore “Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
August 9, 2021
I have always been interested in the Kennedy assassination, but had never really spared a thought for Jack Ruby. We all know that Ruby killed Oswald. I had no idea of the complexity of his trial. This book was oddly mesmerizing, and quite frankly, very affecting. I’m very glad I read it. If Kennedy/Oswald/Ruby is at all of interest to you, recommended reading.
August 10, 2021
On Nov. 24, 1963, Jack Ruby sprung from a crowd and into the history books.
On that day in a Dallas police station, Ruby pumped one shot into the stomach of Lee Harvey Oswald, the suspected assassin of JFK, and killed him. Millions saw it on live TV, hundreds of millions have seen it since.
A clearcut case of murder, right? We all saw it. But no. Ruby's trial was long and bizarre, putting the worst of the American judicial system on full display.
Ruby's lawyer was a guy named Melvin Belli, one of the uniquely American breed of celebrity lawyers. A shameless showboat and attention seeker, Belli argued that Ruby was insane. The trial went on for weeks, with genuine animosity developing between the down-home Texas prosecutors, the laid-back, over-his-head judge, and the bombastic Belli.
Kennedy's Avenger is at times riveting, at times rather dull. Abrams delves deep into the trial transcript, resulting in some rather long and pointless passages. I admit to skimming quite a few pages as I got deeper into the book. But overall, it's an amazing story that could only happen in the U. S. of A.
(Spoiler alert: after a marathon trial, jurors took only a few hours to find Ruby sane, guilty, and sentenced to death. The verdict was thrown out on appeal, but Ruby died of cancer before he could be tried again.)
On that day in a Dallas police station, Ruby pumped one shot into the stomach of Lee Harvey Oswald, the suspected assassin of JFK, and killed him. Millions saw it on live TV, hundreds of millions have seen it since.
A clearcut case of murder, right? We all saw it. But no. Ruby's trial was long and bizarre, putting the worst of the American judicial system on full display.
Ruby's lawyer was a guy named Melvin Belli, one of the uniquely American breed of celebrity lawyers. A shameless showboat and attention seeker, Belli argued that Ruby was insane. The trial went on for weeks, with genuine animosity developing between the down-home Texas prosecutors, the laid-back, over-his-head judge, and the bombastic Belli.
Kennedy's Avenger is at times riveting, at times rather dull. Abrams delves deep into the trial transcript, resulting in some rather long and pointless passages. I admit to skimming quite a few pages as I got deeper into the book. But overall, it's an amazing story that could only happen in the U. S. of A.
(Spoiler alert: after a marathon trial, jurors took only a few hours to find Ruby sane, guilty, and sentenced to death. The verdict was thrown out on appeal, but Ruby died of cancer before he could be tried again.)
June 15, 2021
I have been fascinated with all things Kennedy assassination for some time now. I was so excited to get a copy of this book shortly after its release.
It was an easy read that really laid out all of the players and information in a terrific and entertaining way. I felt like I was in the courtroom for every question and rebuttal.
It was an easy read that really laid out all of the players and information in a terrific and entertaining way. I felt like I was in the courtroom for every question and rebuttal.
July 15, 2021
This non-fiction book is the in depth account of the trial of Jack Ruby, the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, who had assassinated President John F. Kennedy, in Dallas on November 22, 1963.
The events of that day, and those immediately following it will never be forgotten by anyone who was alive then, and old enough to feel the horror that gripped the nation, if not the world.
There was no possible doubt of Ruby's guilt, as the incident took place on camera and was broadcast live as it happened-to every TV set in America, and subsequently on televisions and in newspapers world-wide.
Like everything connected with the Kennedy Assassination, Ruby's trial was controversial, the verdict was controversial, and it fueled the conspiracy theories that continue .
This book shines the spotlight on the trial, with an almost word for word recitation of the witnesses testimonies, and the words of the judge, and the lawyers for both defense and prosecution.
Ruby himself did not testify at his own trial, but the book offers plenty of insight into his life, his personality and his possible motives.
Although at times the amount of detail, and the legal viewpoints can be tedious, it's worth reading because it evokes the atmosphere of the times--the early 60s--the "Camelot" days of the charismatic Kennedy and his glamourous wife, Jacqueline, the absolute shock and horror following the event that seemed like a bad dream shared by an entire country, as well as explaining as nearly as possible, the motive and mindset of Jack Ruby, the assassin of the assassin.
Considering the preponderance of conspiracy theories still surviving more than five decades after that day in Dallas, I, as someone who does remember that day, and the sense of unreality that followed, found this factual book answered some of my questions.
The events of that day, and those immediately following it will never be forgotten by anyone who was alive then, and old enough to feel the horror that gripped the nation, if not the world.
There was no possible doubt of Ruby's guilt, as the incident took place on camera and was broadcast live as it happened-to every TV set in America, and subsequently on televisions and in newspapers world-wide.
Like everything connected with the Kennedy Assassination, Ruby's trial was controversial, the verdict was controversial, and it fueled the conspiracy theories that continue .
This book shines the spotlight on the trial, with an almost word for word recitation of the witnesses testimonies, and the words of the judge, and the lawyers for both defense and prosecution.
Ruby himself did not testify at his own trial, but the book offers plenty of insight into his life, his personality and his possible motives.
Although at times the amount of detail, and the legal viewpoints can be tedious, it's worth reading because it evokes the atmosphere of the times--the early 60s--the "Camelot" days of the charismatic Kennedy and his glamourous wife, Jacqueline, the absolute shock and horror following the event that seemed like a bad dream shared by an entire country, as well as explaining as nearly as possible, the motive and mindset of Jack Ruby, the assassin of the assassin.
Considering the preponderance of conspiracy theories still surviving more than five decades after that day in Dallas, I, as someone who does remember that day, and the sense of unreality that followed, found this factual book answered some of my questions.
June 26, 2021
I found this book interesting because it details aspects of our nation's history that uses transcripts to place the reader in the courtroom. My biggest complaint was that there was more information than necessary - there was an entire chapter and possibly more devoted solely to all the testimony pertaining to the defense's motion for change of venue. I personally didn't need to read all of it to get the point that this case shouldn't have been tried in Dallas. Testimony from minor, bit players shows how thorough and comprehensive the research was to write this book, but I would have preferred to have that edited out.
From a legal perspective, there was definitely some entertaining and extremely fine lawyering exhibited through the cross-examinations. It boggles the mind that the objections and accompanying barbs and arguments were allowed to be made in front of the jury. It showed that Judge Brown had absolutely no control over the proceedings and a high degree of unprofessionalism from both the prosecution and the defense.
I agree with Dan Abrams's opinion at the beginning that Melvin Belli did Jack Ruby a disservice with his theory of defense. He certainly did a commendable job of bringing in a cavalry of experts to support his claim that Jack Ruby was insane at the time of killing Lee Harvey Oswald. However, he shouldered an unnecessary burden and took an incredible risk by trying to make himself the spotlight of the trial to show his vast knowledge on the subject as opposed to a defense that would have mitigated the penalty and may have ultimately been in the best interests of his client.
From a legal perspective, there was definitely some entertaining and extremely fine lawyering exhibited through the cross-examinations. It boggles the mind that the objections and accompanying barbs and arguments were allowed to be made in front of the jury. It showed that Judge Brown had absolutely no control over the proceedings and a high degree of unprofessionalism from both the prosecution and the defense.
I agree with Dan Abrams's opinion at the beginning that Melvin Belli did Jack Ruby a disservice with his theory of defense. He certainly did a commendable job of bringing in a cavalry of experts to support his claim that Jack Ruby was insane at the time of killing Lee Harvey Oswald. However, he shouldered an unnecessary burden and took an incredible risk by trying to make himself the spotlight of the trial to show his vast knowledge on the subject as opposed to a defense that would have mitigated the penalty and may have ultimately been in the best interests of his client.
June 17, 2021
I remember where I was standing when the news came that President Kennedy had been assassinated. I was in high school. Perhaps for that reason, I bought this book when I first saw it. It is a well-written account of the trial of Jack Ruby, the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald the man accused of killing President Kennedy. It included information about all the theories about who was actually behind the murder of the President. I have read a lot of information about most of the conspiracy theories and personally, I am convinced that Lee Harvey Oswald, acted alone and that Jack Ruby acted alone when he shot Kennedy's assassin.
This book did not change my mind about anything that happened, but it did fill in many details that I had either totally forgotten or never knew. Most of the world paid attention to all the events following the killing of the President and lots of people are still convinced that there was a cover-up of the actual events. I am not one of them and this book will not bolster that case. I wonder how many people born long after the events will be interested in this book. Perhaps some children of conspiracy theorists who talked long and loud about their theories and some history buffs.
This book did not change my mind about anything that happened, but it did fill in many details that I had either totally forgotten or never knew. Most of the world paid attention to all the events following the killing of the President and lots of people are still convinced that there was a cover-up of the actual events. I am not one of them and this book will not bolster that case. I wonder how many people born long after the events will be interested in this book. Perhaps some children of conspiracy theorists who talked long and loud about their theories and some history buffs.
June 14, 2021
Non lawyers may get a little confused with some of the description and historical trial background throughout which at times reads like a text book for law students studying a criminal trial.
Readers who are familiar with the events during this period will probably not find out anything new but will get a more detailed explanation as to what occurred during Ruby's trail.
I found this to be an interesting and informative read but left me wanting for some information that would either promote or dispell any of those theories that have been surrounding this case since day one.
Readers who are familiar with the events during this period will probably not find out anything new but will get a more detailed explanation as to what occurred during Ruby's trail.
I found this to be an interesting and informative read but left me wanting for some information that would either promote or dispell any of those theories that have been surrounding this case since day one.
June 18, 2021
I thought the book was boring and it rambled. Too many unnecessary details.
June 25, 2021
Interesting reading for me, as I was in high school during the trial, and my parents were preparing to move to a different house, so I wasn't paying a lot of attention to it. During the appeal process, and it's aftermath, I was in the service, and when Ruby died, I was in Viet Nam. So not knowing much about the subject, this book satisfied my curiosity.
June 30, 2021
This would have been better as a magazine article. Wayyy too much minutea. Where was his editor?
DNF.
DNF.
September 10, 2021
Too much information! The book drag on too long!
February 7, 2022
This fact-filled book makes for an interesting read, providing a bird's eye view of the high-profile attorneys and intense media interest in Jack Ruby's 1964 trial. Abrams examines lawyer Melvin Belli's reasoning for seeking a temporary insanity approach to defending Ruby, who went into foster care at the son of 12. The son of an alcoholic father and schizophrenic mother, Ruby loved attention. Never married, the strip-club owner considered his dogs his wife and children.
Belli's defense didn't convince the jury, which in a little over two hours of deliberations concluded Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald with malice and recommended the death penalty.
The book makes it clear that Ruby, while mentally unbalanced and paranoid, wasn't part of a vast conspiracy. His motive for shooting Oswald was to spare Jackie Kennedy from having to return to Dallas for a trial.
An appeals court in 1966 overturned the conviction, in part citing the trial should have had a change of venue. A new trial was ordered, but by this time Ruby sat in his jail cell dying of cancer.
At nearly 400 pages, "Kennedy's Avenger" gets a bit too wrapped up in exchanges between lawyers during the trial and document details. While Abrams does a fine job describing both the key and minor players, the book could have used more photos of the parade of witnesses taking the stand.
Belli's defense didn't convince the jury, which in a little over two hours of deliberations concluded Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald with malice and recommended the death penalty.
The book makes it clear that Ruby, while mentally unbalanced and paranoid, wasn't part of a vast conspiracy. His motive for shooting Oswald was to spare Jackie Kennedy from having to return to Dallas for a trial.
An appeals court in 1966 overturned the conviction, in part citing the trial should have had a change of venue. A new trial was ordered, but by this time Ruby sat in his jail cell dying of cancer.
At nearly 400 pages, "Kennedy's Avenger" gets a bit too wrapped up in exchanges between lawyers during the trial and document details. While Abrams does a fine job describing both the key and minor players, the book could have used more photos of the parade of witnesses taking the stand.
January 2, 2022
Interesting story about the trial of the man who shot Lee Harvey Oswald, who shot President JFK.
Jack ruby was a nightclub owner in Dallas who loved the Kennedys and wanted to avenge JFK's assassination and spare Jackie a trial in Dallas. He had a well known lawyer named Belli whose case was temporary insanity due to epilepsy. But the jury didn't buy it and found Ruby guilty and the sentence was death. But they appealed, but before they could have another trial Ruby died in Cancer in prison. Actually at Parkland Hospital, the same hospital where JFK and Oswald died.
The conspiracy theories continue to this day, so I say, who knows what really happened and who was behind it all?
Jack ruby was a nightclub owner in Dallas who loved the Kennedys and wanted to avenge JFK's assassination and spare Jackie a trial in Dallas. He had a well known lawyer named Belli whose case was temporary insanity due to epilepsy. But the jury didn't buy it and found Ruby guilty and the sentence was death. But they appealed, but before they could have another trial Ruby died in Cancer in prison. Actually at Parkland Hospital, the same hospital where JFK and Oswald died.
The conspiracy theories continue to this day, so I say, who knows what really happened and who was behind it all?
January 4, 2022
Play by play of the Jack Ruby trial, but the authors maintain the stance that Oswald acted alone, which is nonsense.
October 26, 2021
Many reviews comment on the excessive details of the trial, but if you have served on a jury trial, are involved in the criminal justice system, or are a trial lawyer, the details are very interesting and entertaining. Additionally, the in depth details of Jack Ruby's life were enlightening.
October 23, 2021
The book needed patience in that the entertainment factor was sacrificed for the need to relate the court proceedings accurately and explain the precedents in law. However, it is a worthy contribution to the library of the happenings in Dallas in 1963/64.
September 19, 2021
The Trial of the Man Who Killed a Killer on Live TV
Please visit I. David’s blog at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
In Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy, and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby authors Dan Abrams and David Fisher tell the story of Jack Ruby’s trial for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald. That murder was broadcast live on television from the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters just two days after Oswald was arrested for the assassination of President Kennedy.
Jack Ruby’s trial was highly controversial at the time. It was held in Dallas, Texas, a city perceived by the broader public as somewhat lawless because of the Kennedy assassination, Oswald’s subsequent murder of a police officer and, finally, Ruby’s murder of Oswald. Reporters from hundreds of newspapers throughout the world attended and reported on each day of the trial. As reported by Abrams and Fisher, officials in Dallas hoped that those reporters would depict Dallas as a civilized city that could provide a fair trial to an accused murderer.
The facts in the case are clear. Ruby fired the shot that killed Oswald in the basement of Dallas police headquarters. But the circumstances surrounding those facts are not as clear. For example, why was Ruby at police headquarters? How did he know when Oswald was going to be moved? Was he carrying a gun with the intent to murder Oswald or did he regularly carry a gun and act on impulse when he saw Oswald? In their gripping description of the day by day testimony the authors continually reveal possible answers to these and other questions that are suggested by the prosecution and the defense.
In addition to the above issues surrounding the circumstances of the murder Abrams and Fisher also deal with broader issues involved in the case: For example, Was Ruby legally insane at the time that he committed the murder? Was Ruby part of a broader conspiracy to assassinate the President? Could Ruby receive a fair trial in the charged atmosphere of Dallas, Texas? The authors do not provide conclusive answers to any of these issues. They do, however, provide enough information for the reader to draw his/her own conclusions.
While this is clearly a well written and entertaining story about a controversial trial, it is just as much a story about the people in that trial. Ruby’s attorney Melvin Belli (known as the “King of Torts”) seemed to be more concerned with winning a trial using his esoteric legal theory than in acting in the best interests of his client. Judge Joe B. Brown appeared to be more concerned with his own opportunity to dispense “Texas” style justice than in making sure that Ruby received a fair trial. And Ruby, himself, appeared to be a highly troubled person who sinks deeper and deeper into a confused state as the trial proceeds around him.
I liked this book very much. It is a well written story of the trial of the man who is famous for killing the killer of a United States President on live TV. While the story has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, the authors manage to stay away from those theories and rely solely on the record to describe the trial and its participants. While I vaguely remember the trial and its aftermath I did not remember the specifics and I was genuinely surprised when the authors described its outcome. I give this book 5 stars and recommend it for everyone.
Please visit I. David’s blog at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
In Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy, and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby authors Dan Abrams and David Fisher tell the story of Jack Ruby’s trial for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald. That murder was broadcast live on television from the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters just two days after Oswald was arrested for the assassination of President Kennedy.
Jack Ruby’s trial was highly controversial at the time. It was held in Dallas, Texas, a city perceived by the broader public as somewhat lawless because of the Kennedy assassination, Oswald’s subsequent murder of a police officer and, finally, Ruby’s murder of Oswald. Reporters from hundreds of newspapers throughout the world attended and reported on each day of the trial. As reported by Abrams and Fisher, officials in Dallas hoped that those reporters would depict Dallas as a civilized city that could provide a fair trial to an accused murderer.
The facts in the case are clear. Ruby fired the shot that killed Oswald in the basement of Dallas police headquarters. But the circumstances surrounding those facts are not as clear. For example, why was Ruby at police headquarters? How did he know when Oswald was going to be moved? Was he carrying a gun with the intent to murder Oswald or did he regularly carry a gun and act on impulse when he saw Oswald? In their gripping description of the day by day testimony the authors continually reveal possible answers to these and other questions that are suggested by the prosecution and the defense.
In addition to the above issues surrounding the circumstances of the murder Abrams and Fisher also deal with broader issues involved in the case: For example, Was Ruby legally insane at the time that he committed the murder? Was Ruby part of a broader conspiracy to assassinate the President? Could Ruby receive a fair trial in the charged atmosphere of Dallas, Texas? The authors do not provide conclusive answers to any of these issues. They do, however, provide enough information for the reader to draw his/her own conclusions.
While this is clearly a well written and entertaining story about a controversial trial, it is just as much a story about the people in that trial. Ruby’s attorney Melvin Belli (known as the “King of Torts”) seemed to be more concerned with winning a trial using his esoteric legal theory than in acting in the best interests of his client. Judge Joe B. Brown appeared to be more concerned with his own opportunity to dispense “Texas” style justice than in making sure that Ruby received a fair trial. And Ruby, himself, appeared to be a highly troubled person who sinks deeper and deeper into a confused state as the trial proceeds around him.
I liked this book very much. It is a well written story of the trial of the man who is famous for killing the killer of a United States President on live TV. While the story has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, the authors manage to stay away from those theories and rely solely on the record to describe the trial and its participants. While I vaguely remember the trial and its aftermath I did not remember the specifics and I was genuinely surprised when the authors described its outcome. I give this book 5 stars and recommend it for everyone.
October 1, 2021
I was only in first grade when Kennedy was assassinated. I remember a little, but I didn't know anything about what happened to Jack Ruby. This book filled in the gaps nicely. It was also a very interesting court case. I don't think a trial like this could go on these days. So it was also interesting to see how trials have evolved since the 1960's.
October 3, 2021
3.2 I’m not sure what I expected, but I was intrigued after listening to Dan Abrams on the TV promotion circuit. It wasn’t bad, but I found myself bogged down by the authors’ procedural details. Not sure I took away any more than what I came with.
September 30, 2021
Well worth the 50% off sale at Barnes and Noble recently in Fort Myers. Learned a ton about the case. Read it, you will be further educated and informed on the case and it’s aftermath. Especially the appellate court decision. Not all questions were answered about Ruby or the entire JFK assassination.
October 1, 2021
Hmmmm, often interesting but if you're not going to entertain the notion of foul play in the deaths of either JFK or Oswald, the picture will always be incomplete.
September 22, 2021
Interesting book in parts. There were a lot of extra factoids about the world in general that seemed more like padding to me.
I couldn't tell you if there was much, if any, new info in this book. I was under a year old when the events happened, although I have read a few books on the assassination and the aftermath. I picked this one up at the library because it sounded interesting.
Sure seems like it must have been a show.
I couldn't tell you if there was much, if any, new info in this book. I was under a year old when the events happened, although I have read a few books on the assassination and the aftermath. I picked this one up at the library because it sounded interesting.
Sure seems like it must have been a show.
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