On November 22, 1963, the world was forever changed when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. While Lee Harvey Oswald is often considered the lone gunman, there are many other characters involved in this complex story. One such person is Buell Wesley Frazier, a young man who played a small but significant role in the events of that fateful day. In this article, we’ll explore Frazier’s background, his involvement in the case, and the intriguing nickname that may shed light on his character.
Who is Buell Wesley Frazier?
Buell Wesley Frazier was a 19-year-old man who worked at the Texas School Book Depository alongside Lee Harvey Oswald. He became an important figure in the JFK assassination case because he gave Oswald a ride to work on the morning of November 22, 1963.
The Ride That Changed History
Frazier regularly drove Oswald to work on Fridays so that Oswald could visit his wife and children, who were living with a woman named Ruth Paine in Irving, Texas. On that particular Friday morning, Frazier noticed Oswald carrying a large package, which Oswald claimed contained curtain rods. This package would later become a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation.
The Weasel: A Telling Nickname
One of the most intriguing aspects of Buell Wesley Frazier’s story is his childhood nickname: “The Weasel.” This nickname, which Frazier himself mentions in his autobiography, offers a glimpse into his character and may have implications for his role in the JFK case.
The Origin of the Nickname
In Frazier’s own words from his autobiography, he explains the reason behind his nickname:
“I had the uncanny ability to do something bad to someone and not get caught.”
This admission is particularly striking, given that Frazier was only 19 years old at the time of the assassination. It suggests a history of deceptive behavior that may have continued into his adult life.
Frazier’s Involvement in the JFK Case
Buell Wesley Frazier’s role in the JFK assassination case goes beyond simply giving Oswald a ride to work. His testimony and actions in the aftermath of the shooting raised questions and contributed to the ongoing mystery surrounding the events of that day.
The Curtain Rod Story
One of the most controversial aspects of Frazier’s involvement is his claim that Oswald told him the package he was carrying contained curtain rods. This story became a key piece of evidence in the investigation, as investigators believed the package actually contained the rifle used to shoot Kennedy.
However, there are several problems with this story:
- The size of the package described by Frazier and his sister doesn’t match the size of the disassembled rifle.
- Oswald already had curtain rods in his apartment, making the story seem unnecessary.
- Other witnesses, including Frazier’s mother and a man at the Book Depository, claimed Oswald’s hands were empty that morning.
Frazier’s Arrest and Interrogation
In the chaos following the assassination, Frazier himself became a suspect. He was arrested and charged with the murder of President Kennedy, making him one of only three people (along with Oswald and later Clay Shaw) to face such charges.
During his interrogation, Frazier faced intense pressure from the Dallas police:
- He was threatened with the electric chair in Huntsville, Texas.
- He was accused of being part of the plot due to his work at the Texas School Book Depository.
- The police tried to force him to sign a confession, which he refused to do.
The Power Outage Mystery
One intriguing detail that adds to the suspicion surrounding Frazier is his location during the assassination. According to his own account, Frazier was eating lunch alone in the basement of the Texas School Book Depository, near the building’s power switch.
Mysteriously, at the time of the assassination:
- The power in the building went out for about 2-3 minutes.
- The phones in the building went dead.
This power outage has never been fully explained, and Frazier’s proximity to the power switch raises questions about his potential involvement.
Changing Stories and Contradictions
Over the years, Frazier’s story has changed in significant ways, adding to the mystery surrounding his role in the events of November 22, 1963.
The Missing Job
In his Warren Commission testimony, Frazier claimed to have worked in a department store as a teenager, handling curtain rods. This experience, he said, made him familiar with how curtain rods were packaged and transported. However, this job is notably absent from his autobiography, raising questions about the truthfulness of his testimony.
Frazier’s Changing Beliefs
Perhaps most surprisingly, Frazier has changed his stance on Oswald’s guilt. In recent years, he has stated that he no longer believes Oswald was responsible for shooting Kennedy. This shift in perspective adds another layer of complexity to Frazier’s already puzzling role in the case.
The Thin Blue Line Connection
The story of Buell Wesley Frazier becomes even more intriguing when we consider a seemingly unrelated case that occurred years later. In 1977, a Dallas police officer was murdered during a traffic stop, leading to a controversial investigation and trial. This case was later featured in Errol Morris’s award-winning documentary “The Thin Blue Line.”
What connects this case to Frazier and the JFK assassination? The lead detective in both cases was a man named Detective Rose. In “The Thin Blue Line” case, Rose was accused of using coercive tactics to obtain a false confession, including threatening the suspect with a gun. These allegations bear a striking resemblance to the tactics reportedly used against Frazier during his interrogation following Kennedy’s assassination.
This connection raises troubling questions about the investigative methods used by the Dallas police in high-profile cases and adds another layer of doubt to the official narrative of the JFK assassination.
The Prototype Bag Mystery
One of the most puzzling aspects of the JFK assassination investigation involves the bag that supposedly contained the rifle Oswald used. According to the official story, Oswald carried the rifle into the Book Depository in a homemade paper bag. However, there are several problems with this claim:
- No photographs exist of the actual bag.
- The FBI admitted that the bag entered into evidence was a “prototype” of what the bag would have looked like.
- When questioned about the bag, Dallas police officers gave conflicting accounts, each claiming someone else had possession of it.
This lack of concrete evidence regarding the bag that supposedly contained the murder weapon casts further doubt on the official narrative and raises questions about Frazier’s role in corroborating the “curtain rod” story.
Frazier’s Post-Assassination Life
After the tumultuous events of 1963, Buell Wesley Frazier’s life took some interesting turns:
- He joined the army and spent two tours of duty in Germany.
- He was mysteriously protected from being sent to Vietnam by an officer, for reasons unknown even to Frazier himself.
- In recent years, he has been brought out of relative obscurity to speak at Kennedy assassination conferences and events at the Texas School Book Depository Museum.
These appearances at official events, coupled with his change of heart regarding Oswald’s guilt, have led some to question whether Frazier is still being “handled” by those with a vested interest in controlling the JFK assassination narrative.
The Weasel’s Legacy: Unraveling the Truth
As we look back on the role of Buell Wesley Frazier in the JFK assassination case, we’re left with more questions than answers. His childhood nickname, “The Weasel,” seems eerily fitting for a man whose testimony has been central to one of the most controversial aspects of the case – the transportation of the alleged murder weapon into the Texas School Book Depository.
Frazier’s changing stories, his proximity to key events like the mysterious power outage, and the harsh treatment he received from investigators all point to a more complex role than simply being Oswald’s co-worker and occasional chauffeur. The connections to later cases of police misconduct in Dallas add another layer of doubt to the official narrative.
As we continue to seek the truth about what really happened on November 22, 1963, the tale of “The Weasel” serves as a reminder that even the smallest players in historical events can hold keys to unlocking much larger mysteries. Whether Buell Wesley Frazier was an unwitting pawn, a skilled deceiver living up to his nickname, or something in between, his story remains an important piece of the JFK assassination puzzle – one that may never be fully solved.
