On The Trail of Delusion, Episode 23 with Adam Gorightly
- Fred Litwin
- Sep 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Adam has written some very good books -- including two on Kerry Thornley. I highly recommend Caught in the Crossfire: Kerry Thornley, Lee Oswald and the Garrison Investigation:
This book is a goldmine -- full of primary documents and some original writing by Kerry Thornley. You won't be disappointed.
Adam is currently writing a book about Fred Crisman and when that book it out, I will interview him once again.
Here is some background information on Kerry Thornley, Fred Crisman, Thomas Beckham, and Raymond Broshears.
Kerry Thornley
Jim Garrison thought that Kerry Thornley was the second Oswald. He also indicted Thornley for perjury for his refusal to admit that he had met Oswald in New Orleans in the summer/fall of 1963.
Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Kerry Thornley
Clint Bolton was a friend of Kerry Thornley and he had a column in the Vieux Carre Courier, a local New Orleans newspaper.
Lifton circulated a memo he wrote on Garrison and Thornley in 1968. Here is his memo along with some exhibits.
My obituary for David Lifton includes a letter that he wrote to Mark Lane about Kerry Thornley.
A link to a tape recording of a phone call between Kerry Thornley and Andrew Sciambra.
James DiEugenio includes a clearly false story about Thornley in his book.
Garrison was obsessed about Oswald's height.
Garrison tells the HSCA all sorts of stories about Kerry Thornley.
Garrison tells the HSCA that Kerry Thornley might be the body in the backyard photographs.
Why was Kerry Thornley arrested in 1962?
The first writings from Thornley on November 27, 1963, about Oswald.
Jim Garrison was convinced that Thornley was the only Marine to describe Oswald's left-wing politics.
Sylvia Meagher was a big supporter of Kerry Thornley and here is some of their correspondence.
Garrison writes a memo to the HSCA alleging that Thornley was the second Oswald.
An interview with another prisoner is more evidence to Jim Garrison that Thornley is the second Oswald.
Was Kerry Thornley gay?
Fred Crisman and Thomas Beckham
Jim Garrison suspected that Fred Crisman and Thomas Beckham were somehow involved in the assassination. He learnt about them from two anonymous letters sent to his office. He subpoenaed both men to appear before the grand jury and they both testified. Later, Garrison told the HSCA that they should investigate Crisman and Beckham.
Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Fred Crisman
Brussell claimed that Crisman was one of the three tramps.
UFO guru Ray Palmer wrote to Garrison and discussed Fred Crisman.
A good overview of the life of Fred Crisman.
Jim Garrison was interviewed by the HSCA in 1977 and here is a link to a tape and a transcript and many relevant documents.
An article by Kenneth Arnold about Crisman and flying saucers.
Jim Garrison Identifies the "Cut-Out" of a "Professional, Highly Organized, Clandestine Operation."Â
A memo from Jim Garrison to the HSCA discusses Thomas Beckham and Fred Crisman.
Another memo from Garrison to the HSCA regarding Crisman and Beckham.
Accompanying exhibits to the above memo from Garrison to the HSCA.
For a while, Garrison was convinced that Crisman was one of the assassins.
A shadowy figure told Garrison investigator Bill Boxley about Fred Crisman.
Another memo from Garrison to the HSCA.
Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Thomas Beckham
Beckham has started a university.
In the early 1970s, Beckham spent some time in Mississippi and got in a heap of trouble.
Jim Garrison believed that the HSCA got a confession about the JFK assassination on tape.
Beckham's ever-changing claims regarding Oswald.
Garrison's search to find Thomas Beckham.
Some highlights from Beckham's book.
Garrison hand-wrote a long memo the HSCA about Crisman and Beckham. I provide a typed transcription.
Here are all the exhibits Garrison sent to the HSCA to support his memo.
Jim Garrison Identifies the "Cut-Out" of a "Professional, Highly Organized, Clandestine Operation."Â
Jim Garrison writes a memo to the HSCA about Beckham
Was Beckham with Oswald when he handing out his handbills in New Orleans?
Beckham told the HSCA about a package of documents that he had received and the trail led to a supposed map of Dealey Plaza.
Broshears and Beckham knew each other.
One witness from Clinton, Louisiana identified Thomas Beckham as one of the people with Clay Shaw.
A strange witness talks to a Garrison investigator about Thomas Beckham and Fred Crisman.
Two tips to Garrison mention Fred Crisman and Thomas Beckham.
Raymond Broshears
Raymond Broshears went on a talk show in Los Angeles and claimed that he channeled Lee Harvey Oswald at a seance. He also claimed that he was David Ferrie's roommate. That got him an invitation to New Orleans to talk to Garrison's investigators and he told them all sorts of stories. It didn't take them long to figure out that he was crazy. He then went on to tell the HSCA all sorts of stories as well.
Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Raymond Broshears
His entire Secret Service file as released by the ARRB.
Hal Verb interviewed Raymond Broshears and did not find him credible.
A link to a tape of his testimony and a transcript.
An audio recording of Broshears on the Bohrman Show.
Bill Turner sent a memo to Stephen Burton saying that he should find and interview Raymond Broshears. Here is Burton's memo.
Broshears revealed the plot to the LA Free Press
Lane and Jaffe pay the good Reverend a visit.
Broshears even identified the three tramps.
Of course, they had to fly Broshears to New Orleans to tell more stories.
Broshears outs a Garrison suspect.
Broshears' newsletter discusses his trip to New Orleans
Hard to believe but the HSCA actually interviewed Broshears.
For some reason, conspiracy theorists believe Broshears is credible.
James DiEugenio believes that Raymond Broshears corroborates the existence of a Leon Oswald.
Previous Episodes of On the Trail of Delusion:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 14
Episode 15
Episode 16
Episode 17
Episode 18
An interview with Phil Tinline about his book, Ghosts of Iron Mountain.
Episode 19
Episode 20
Episode 21
Episode 22