JFK Assassination System Date: 10/21/20 . Identification Form Agency Information Peleased under the John AGENCY: HSCA . Kennedy RECORD NUMBER: — 180-10110-10189 Lssassination Records Ollection Act of 1992 RECORD SERIES: SECURITY CLASSIFIED FILES (44 USC 2107 Note). asef# iN 54756 Date: AGENCY FILE NUMBER : , HO-31-2017 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: TO: TITLE : DATE: 06/27/1968 PAGES: 8 SUBJECTS : . OSWALD, LEE, PRE-RUSSIAN PERIOD, ASSOCIATES AND RELATIVES DOBKINS, JAMES EDWARD DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Confidential RESTRICTIONS: 3 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 06/09/1998 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Box 2. v9.1 1 HAW 54756 Docld:322763594 Page 1
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wo cn aca mS ‘ alte ee a eee ey Bpe PAR ow. 8-22-66 ™ “ Transmit the following in Tipe in plainte , aaa BY wuye ~~ a . Enclosed LHM is being prepared by Indianapolis in oe -aecordance with instructions set forth by Bureau 07 Form ‘dated 6/5/68. These instructions also stated to furnish ~ ‘San Francisco with extra copies for < dissemination to u. S.: Secret Service. ce ie ele ee _ 4 PSA Meise . , —" F 4 a i) we — . if “0 Ss anEnaneeeR wwe eee eee pee en ee —— ——L. fb 7 oe “GiSHEG 2970 ___~ EXEMPT FROM RDB CATES ; TO DIRECTOR, FBI (105-160761) . : DATE “e eee Ag iF no BP oo FROM SAC, Indianapolis (105-4896) o or mapers ET saves EDWARD DOBKINS C. oan A BY PWS TASK FORCE Pats ’ IEALLLN 1d org 3 Wo7-A ; -| 00: San Francisco i & Re Sen Francisco letter to Bureau fileoun ‘ : a | | There are enclosed herewith for the Bureau the original i. “ee N ‘ K\ | -gnd 10 copies of an LHM dated and captioned as above. Two © as I copies each are enclosed for Pittsburgh a and El Paso and four ok be id v “i copies for San Francisco. a oa : =X R 8 4-2 Pp ee os : oo AND PIFLD OFFICE ; >= =~ Nw 5 toa’ RECLOSURB oo Two copies of enclosed LM are , being disseminated to a m is i : . QR Pittsburgh in view of their file 76-2515 entitled "TERRY LEE E SX. | BERG, aka - FUGITIVE; PAROLE VIOLATOR". | In this regard, | o£ an Francisco should 1 note that the Pittsburgh Division may. at C)C.- Bishop ~ Ie oan é Bureau (RM) (Enc. : “, ENCLOSUL o -(1 - 76-TERRY LEE BERG) 2 | 2 + Pittsburgh (RM) (Enc. + 2) (76-2515) (| 52.6 El Paso (RM) (Ene. - 2) (105-1777). ve | hs ‘« San Francisco (RM) (Enc. - 4) (105- 22877) rn “1 SC. . 76-TERRY LEE BERG) — (,.2-/ pea — , - ay - Indianapolis (1 - 105- cae 04060 - ae ; ee @ ee (Seem ecret-Service; init ‘t o Crd, ley fo a -
SOE eT ere seedy + mtg LN ent tn exists that this subject had been traveling with JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS on DOBKINS' return trip from Washington, D. C., in _ J. MC LAUGHLIN on 1/19/67, He was eiso identified in this © regard through photographs ty. attorney: GARLAND CASEBIER at: "Midland, Texas, on 2/27/67. _ University. BL paso and s San’ Francisco of any additional pertinent information | ae CHW 54756 - DocId:32263594 Page 4 LP 105-4896 request consideration of an interview with subject JAMES EDUARD DOBKINS in connection with this case since the possibility December, 1966, and possibly BERG was transported by DOBKINS » ne a - to South Bend, Indiana, where BERG stole a vehicle on — Paes “12/23/66.- Subject was identified entering the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D. C., on 12/19/66 while driving a Volkswagen bearing 1966 Texas license CZH 730, through photographs by SA DONALD | - All contacts at rndtena’ University, Bloomington, ~ Indiana, in this case were made through established sources ‘only. Records of the University were made available by Miss BEULAH YOUNG, Office of Records and Admissions,. Indiana won Information regarding WILLIAM RAY DOBKINS, brother of ge “the subject, has evidently been disseminated previously to ~U. S. Secret Service, but is summarized herein to complete the ee  .: background of subject JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS. No description = )2°) 00.) is being set forth in this LHM for JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS since _° insufficient data is available to the Indfanapolts Division in ae this regard at this time, | ee i = } i ry ‘. : FD- 128 has been submitted with appropriate Serials to: ee change, Office of Origin in this captioned matter to San Francisco.” i At El hot Texas oo es & ©°WLll review enclosed LHM upon receipt and ‘advise Buré
be bb nae 5 beatin ate tmnt dimt RE Niet MACROS CO ARCELOR EA CAA EOE A NN — . a . . - rn y « ° ’ ‘ J 4 - :, oc .- . * - . : _ DONFIDENTIAL ‘\e 7 _, Tz 105-4896 concerning the subject or members of his family, not available - “to the Indianapolis Division. In event such information is — __ available, will submit in Letterhead Memorandum suitable for. ~~ *- -- dissemination with appropriate copies to U. S. Secret Service, =" - "+ PITTSBURGH | | At Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Will furnish the Bureau and San Francisco with ©. | sufficient background information concerning the case entitled . , “TERRY LEE BERG, aka Maurice Edwin Coliins - FUGITIVE; PAROLE . - VIOLATOR" for consideration of Bureau authority to contact — . subject concerning BERG. | oo . nt te einen nent ae rn ~ (Se aoa te ' i HW 54756 DocId:32263594 Page 5-
YON SEP NE IE TENN Oe a It oT Me pE EE NE mere 05, semen TES EE pee naga heehee a Saya Som OME RES TIE |W 5a b56 TOTAL aDEMMAL 594 Page '- Pecos, Texas, under Selective Service Number 41-105-40-81. 7 au ajulsa de gy . jeouHoenria. eh on dah eta Rar i Be rt cg saat eR sien Ea sae Aaa Ranch thats thin SEERA ine a SIR Enda in Bt Da ani Rin Pain at hh a EIEN SE DAE ETRE IEEE LE TREY CO OE GOEL NE A A A @ courbdara(@ = UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Indianapolis, Indiana OF EEE pEstg DO aT, ib Pe _ DECLASSIFIED BY 1) 7 pate 0 6 tO WS op sll om JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS | Are \ _ James Edward Dobkins was positively identified as — a person who visited the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D. C.,° on December 19, 1966. At the time of this visit, he was. driving a Volkswagen Sedan bearing 1966 Texas license — CZH 730. oo Records of Indiana University (IU), Bloomington, indiana, reflected on January 3, 1967, that James Edward Dobkins was born on March 9, 1940, place not given. He drives a 1959 black Volkswagen sedan bearing Texas license CZH 730. His Social Security Number is listed as mo 459-64-0853 and his parents were listed as Charles Martin Dobkins, Sr., and Nonis Lillene Reed Dobkins, 415 South Main | Street, Monahans, Texas. On his registration form at Indiana .- University, he listed his marital status as single and ee stated that he had no church preference. He stated that ~0-..80000 he was employed last semester for twenty hours a week at) owe _.the University of Texas, Steno Bureau, Campus Mail Delivery. “He stated that he was registered with Local Board 105,00, _ Dobkins registered at IU in Bloomington, Indiana, on September 15, 1966, as a Graduate Student in the ...: Department of Linguistics, stating that he expected to- receive a M.A. Degree in June, 1968. During this time ~ he was residing at Post Office Box 356, Graduate Residence "Center, a men's dormitory for Graduate Students at IU. © “Im connection with a possible trip to Washington, Gay on. December Aen 966 » it was noted that the Christmas “fa RELEASE IN FULL. C) RELEASE IN PART L {) potato: A wy f}
Late Sint sw ived mine Lat Saw ste Sl ev bak ei aps att in asant Mtn its AL Ss Stet a 28 BADE A MAST AAA mit BARB ASAE ELA RDA NA RON RR I q ) C OSE Ones a OES e COUFIDENTIAL JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS age vacation recess at IU was officially from December 21,1966, DBs to January 4, 1967, nd Dobkins had a fellowship with the Linguistics 0°) °°": _. Department, but gave the fellowship up and left Indiana ~. University sometime during the beginning of the second we Bo, semester of the 1966-1967 academic year, exact date unknown. 20 He left his residence without reason and without leaving a ae a forwarding address. The date of his leaving this residence © <2). was not recorded in the records of Indiana University. 92.0005 o> on On May 31, 1967, George Weisheit, Secret Service Agent at El Paso, Texas, advised that William Ray Dobkins, = = - brother of James Edward Dobkins, was interviewed by an Agent 9. of his Agency at St. Elizabeth's Hospital at the request of as the attending psychiatrist, Dr. David Grodsky, on May 24, 9 1967. At this time, William Ray Dobkins expressed an extreme .. ~ 7 dislike for the President, blaming him for being part of ao... . group who instigated to have his ranch taken away from him, 0 Although the subject denied desiring the President dead, he 9 ee indicated that his brother, James Dobkins, may possibly have 200°"; intentions of assassinating the President. As a result, the 22°. 2). medical staff at St, Elizabeth's Hospital recommended subject . -. be held for further treatment; however, subject was released =: by the D. C. Mental Health Commission on May 25, 1967, to the .° - eustody of his family for his return to the address of his -°>-: - brother, James Dobkins, at 211 Emerson, Houston, Texas, 0) =... Minne annie! eye Abseee gt et ee a, Concerning William Ray Dobkins, the brother of . |. James Edward Dobkins, the following information is set. --* La eee Ba SELLS as ta EET aL Sah Ot a Sa ee aS 7 w. he . Lota hobo oe . . So William Ray Dobkins sent a letter to the Odessa _.:; American Newspaper, Odessa, Texas, which was received by _ “that newspaper on March 6, 1967, containing a partially - d draft card, which belonged to him. A reporter for eke MW 54756 Docld: 32263594 Page 7
CONFIDENTIAL - JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS the Odessa American interviewed William Ray Dobkins at Monahans, Texas, March 6, 1967, at which time Dobkins admitted burning his card and claimed that he burned same because he did not agree with the Vietnam War. William Ray Dobkins was born January 16, 1937, at ie McCamey, Texas, and resides with his parents at 307 South Doris, Monahans, Texas. In November, 1966, he was in contact with the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City and in 1964 arene ’ he sent a letter to the Chairman of the Texans for poldeater saree containing a threat against President Lyndon B. Johnson, 90002. the Governor of the State of Texas, and the Texas Railroad == ww Commissioner, James Langdon. Upon interview by FBI Agents, 1964, William Ray Dobkins claimed to have met Lee Harvey Oswald in California, while both were in the Marine Corps, . talked with Oswald about killing President Johnson, Governor Connally, and James Langdon. William Ray Dobkins claimed to - have traveled to Mexico after his discharge from the Marine Corps, in order to arrange a defection to the Soviet Union, On May 8, 1967, William Ray Dobkins appeared _ at the U. S. Department of State, Washington, D. C., attempting to obtain a passport for travel to the Soviet ‘Union and other "black-listed countries" for the purpose --—_-.- . of defection. The following day, May 9, 1967, the Metropolitan Police Department transported William Ray Dobkins to wt St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D. C., when he . . attempted to elinb the iron fence around the White House. re The following additional information concerning . ae William Ray Dobkins was furnished on May 31, 1967, by _.:-.- George Weisheit, U. S, Secret Service, El Paso, Texas: coe ee ‘Dr. Grodsky of St. Elizabeth's Hospital ie of oe ~-. * the opinion that William Ray Dobkins is diagnosed asa “i Senizophrenic, paranoid type, and that he considers the Pe - cou DEMTIAL ) po a ; ne ; AW 54756 Docld:322763594 Page 6 Be a
f Es William Ray Dobkins to the custody of his mother and two - brothers on May 25, 1967, for return to. ‘Houston, Texas, for additional peychiatric treatment. a . “eg oe pm eo heaps needa ne ct tees na et ps rien eee wiry “Service ‘continued that according to information received ~ _ with William Ray Dobkins by an Agent of Secret Service-in’ “Washington, | William remained. calm and collected during t the ¥ a. | i a <inW 54756 Docld:32263594 Page.9 ©. 9° °° 07+ — GOMFIDEMTIAL ae JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS subject dangerous. William Ray Dobkins' family came to Washington, D. C., to be present at the D. C. Mental Health Commission hearing and requested that William Ray Dobkins be © released to their custody for return to Texas. Dr. Grodsky . recommended that due to William Ray Dobkins' profound dislike ("= of the President and his paranoid ideas, that he be held for ——. further treatment and eventually transferred to an institution oa in his state of residence. ST LS At the Mental Health Commission hearing in ae Washington, D. C., on May 25, 1967, Dr. Grodsky derived the - opinion that William Ray Dobkins' mother, who was present, was also mentally i111 and expressed a profound dislike. for the President regarding their land problem. Regarding William's two brothers, both of vhom attended the hearing and one whose name was James Dobkins of Houston, Texas, Dr. Grodsky explained that the limited interview he had with them, no evidence of mental illness was detected, although they both have similar complaints about the President regarding their land being taken away. He stated ele that in addition, the brothers indicated that they realize = ; ' that William Ray Dobkins was mentally ill, that he had gone - too far this time by visiting the White House, that they would © return him to Houston for additional ‘Paychtatric treeements i - Agent Weisheit of the El Paso Office of ‘Secret from his Washington Office, which covered the interview ”” ain ere TERE
sc ataciadier SS aetaat anindi binant Ae constibtte Cea hace at ined teen tt ona 1 ahha ai ate tehtoasiaas rt deaia atliinee maine haat Wnaninachimett tas Aneta gh dia et A ete ma ACEI EM TESA TEASE AFI AA AI Sone nt : “@ €@ | JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS initial stages of the interview. William Ray Dobkins related his extreme dislike of the President for being responsible ~“ a. for the loss of his mother's 7,000 acre ranch in west Texas. - William Ray Dobkins felt that the President and "his bunch", | which consists of Governor Connally and Judicial Officers © in Texas, were responsible for taking the ranch away from OSes them. Several times throughout the interview, William stated that he would not make any attempt to kill the President, ..... “since he was more good to him alive than dead. As the inter- ~~ -view continued, William displayed numerous signs of mounting | anxiety and nervousness and related evidence of paranoid-- ty type thinking. He closely associates himself in the image | of Lee Harvey Oswald, comparing Oswald's history with his “00. intentions of defecting to Cuba or the Soviet Union and his o-oo prior U. S. Marine Corps service. Sop See at ee William Ray Dobkins was queried about his adaittedly visiting the State Department in Washington, D. C., and the Soviet Embassy regarding intentions to defect. William claimed that his purpose for going to the Soviet Union or to - Cuba would be to publicize the injustice and the scheme of |. re the President "and his bunch" taking the land away from his ee, family. When asked if he had visited the Soviet Embassy in Or pepe December, 1966, he replied in the negative but volunteered . GQ :. .  . the information that his brother, James, had visited the aol Re, Embassy inquiring about visiting the Soviet Union. - me ge ey. 7 me, ‘When questioned of his feelings regarding the oe assassination of President Kennedy, he replied that he cy _ thought Oswald was a good man and that assassinating the - President was a “good thing" to do if it would prove his ... - °° point or bring to the attention of the Nation a particular’ aa problem. At this point, William reiterated that he had not ~ . ‘thought of assassinating the President, nor would he gain © ~. anything by doing so, and that he would furthermore advise i: oo¢ this Service if he hears of any "nut" with intentions of . >» icy -assassinating the President; however, if the President was i... killed, he certainly vould not. be remorseful about it. Sg ON ROT OI, EEE ae mee ; HW 54756 Docld:32263594 Page 10 &  —- me , _ aoee ee
= ne Ne nna naan aA te a ne 5 dot tect titi snw at aed Sean Sanne st aaa AE Oa in SLR i RNS STN EORTC ALE ALAA A I EIS - - . . JAMES EDWARD DOBKINS 7 with regard to his brother, James’, visit to ‘the . Soviet Embassy, William Ray Dobkins stated that when he left _ Texas to visit Washington, he told his brother James his intention of coming to Washington to find out about.a ~~". “Presidential land holder" which directed that his family’ 8. case regarding their land problem, be reviewed, and that he was leaving for the Soviet Union. His brother, James, 8: “ replied that he would think about the matter some more and, | _ 4£ necessary, what he (James) was going to do would be worse . ~°. - than defecting. William Ray Dobkins volunteered his impression Of his brother's statement that he was intending on - =.) - assassinating the President. He further stated that if his- - brother had any intention of assassinating the President, ..: _* he would not do anything to stop him, since he feels that - “his brother would ultimately be judged justifiable in his. actions in a subsequent trial after the country and jury . learn the true facts about their land plight. Se Tt was ‘the opinion of the Secret Service Agent, eS concurred to by Dr, Grodsky, that William was intelligent, _ cunning, defensive, and hostile, and when pushed or under > ees | stress, as exhibited by the interview, he exhibits underlying © --.;- paranoid ideas. It was also evidencedthat William was not... oe speaking out his full feelings. or Antentions, 90) yb: Lola ae “It was ‘also the opinion of the Secret. Service, _" Agent that William Ray Dobkins’:should be considered of _ / 2) extreme protective interest due to his profound ‘dislike of the President; his underlying paranoid ideas of his — @omparison with Lee Harvey Oswald, and his thoughts about os assassination to prove his plight; coupled ‘together with | os his cunningness, hostility, intelligence, and defensive | ms y Sttitude.- oe te found Be On May 20, “1968, Special Agent Larry D,. Newman, _ Secret Service, San ‘Francisco, California, advised rae | HW.54756 Docld:32263594 -Page 11.
that ‘he had located James Edward Dobkins at 1044 Guerrero | ‘Street, San Francisco, California but due to James Edward Dobkins uncooperative attitude, he was unable at that time to obtain any information concerning his employment, S ‘ ce g pik AWA. «ee hi ‘This document contains neither recommendations : nor conclusions <..of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is ‘loaned to. your agency; it and it contents are not to be distributed © <3 | uM ; a Sosegee, Po as, aw 54756. Docld:32263.594 * Page 123
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