J. Will Fritz Biography

Fritz directed officers to investigate Oswald's rooming house at 1026 North Beckley and report what they found about his residence and belongings.

Fritz asked why Oswald left work after the shooting; Oswald claimed he had spoken with foreman Bill Shelley before departing for home.

Fritz arrived shortly before 1:00 p.m. and took charge of the Dallas Police homicide investigation inside the Texas School Book Depository.

Fritz asked Oswald to explain his accusation that FBI agent James Hosty had mistreated or accosted Marina Oswald during earlier contacts.

Fritz questioned Oswald about recent foreign travel and political associations as Dallas investigators tried to reconstruct his contacts before the assassination.

Fritz dispatched detectives to the Paine residence in Irving to investigate Oswald's family residence and search for information and property connected with him.

After reviewing the developing evidence with prosecutors, Fritz signed the complaint charging Oswald with murdering President Kennedy at 11:26 p.m.

While Lieutenant J. C. Day held the recovered rifle by its stock, Fritz opened the bolt and ejected the live cartridge remaining in the weapon.

During questioning attended by federal agents, Fritz's investigation addressed Oswald's foreign travel; Oswald denied having been in Mexico City.

Roy Truly told Fritz that warehouse employee Lee Harvey Oswald was missing and supplied his name, address, and general description.

After officers reported the rooming-house registration, Fritz asked why Oswald was living there under the name O. H. Lee.

Fritz asked Oswald to account for his location when the President was shot, beginning detailed questioning of his movements inside the Depository.

Fritz questioned Oswald about his political beliefs, Fair Play for Cuba Committee activity, and support for the Cuban Revolution.

Fritz left the Depository after receiving Oswald's details and returned to headquarters so detectives could locate the missing employee.

Fritz asked Oswald why he had been carrying the revolver seized during his arrest at the Texas Theatre.

Fritz questioned Oswald about the revolver's origin after Oswald claimed that he had bought the weapon in Fort Worth.

Fritz and Lieutenant Day examined the recovered weapon as its serial number C2766 and 6.5-millimeter Italian markings were recorded.

Fritz supervised the examination of the rifle after officers found it concealed among boxes on the sixth floor and waited for photographs before it was handled.

When Oswald asked about an attorney, Fritz told him he could obtain counsel and use the jail telephone to contact the lawyer he wanted.

Fritz questioned Oswald about his movements after lunch, including his account of obtaining a Coca-Cola and encountering a police officer on the second floor.

After cartridge cases were located near the southeast sixth-floor window, Fritz ordered that nothing be moved until crime-scene technicians photographed and examined the area.

At headquarters, Fritz learned that the man arrested at the Texas Theatre was the same Lee Harvey Oswald reported missing from the Depository.

Fritz signed the complaint charging Oswald with the murder of Patrolman J. D. Tippit shortly before the 7:10 p.m. arraignment.

Fritz showed Oswald a photograph recovered under search warrant depicting him holding a rifle and pistol; Oswald claimed the image had been altered.

Fritz questioned Oswald about leaving downtown by bus and examined the bus transfer found among his possessions.

Fritz challenged Oswald about Buell Wesley Frazier's statement that Oswald had explained his unusual Thursday trip to Irving by mentioning curtain rods.

Fritz questioned Oswald about the long package seen by Frazier and Linnie Mae Randle; Oswald denied carrying such a package to work.

Fritz's interrogation covered Oswald's political associations and foreign travel as investigators examined his recent Mexico City contacts.

Fritz confronted Oswald with information linking him to a rifle purchased under the Hidell name; Oswald continued denying ownership of the weapon.

When Fritz asked about a taxi, Oswald acknowledged leaving the stalled bus, taking a cab toward Oak Cliff, and paying an eighty-five-cent fare.

Fritz continued questioning beyond the planned transfer time because Oswald was still answering some questions and investigators hoped to obtain further information.

Fritz confronted Oswald again with the Alek J. Hidell identification card while investigators examined the relationship between the alias and weapons purchases.

Fritz questioned Oswald about communism and Marxism; Oswald described his political views and discussed his Fair Play for Cuba position.

Fritz asked whether Oswald was a Communist; Oswald described himself instead as a Marxist and discussed his Fair Play for Cuba views.

During the final morning interrogation, Fritz repeatedly asked Oswald to identify where the backyard rifle photograph had been taken, but Oswald refused.