JFK Assassination System Date: 6/4/2015 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: = 124-90129-10083 RECORD SERIES: DL AGENCY FILENUMBER: _105-1280-80 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: DL TO: HQ TITLE: DATE: 04/01/1964 ‘ PAGES: 36 ~ SUBJECTS : MINUTEMEN DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS:  Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 09/15/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : MEMO LRN v9.1 : 22 HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 1
DL 108-4260 | ~ permitted interview On advice of his attorneys and has- even declined to interview by parole. authorities. ‘On. 3/17/64, ELLSWORTH advised MASEN is. ‘still await= ing trial and MASEN's. trial will Probably” commence, about: the first of. May, 1964. Patrolman PRESTON SNOGA, Irving,» Texas ,. PD, was con- _tacted at his residence, 2517 DeWitt. Street, Irving, and fur- ~nished the following information to SA WIEHL On | 2/11/64: SNOGA advised he had known. JOHN MASEN since approxi- mately. February, . 1963 ,. and that during the last few months of this acquaintanceship had furnished information * ‘concerning MASEN’s activities to ATTU, Dallas, Texas. MASEN’s activities, . he advised, included changing semi-automatic : ‘weapons. to fully — - automatic: weapons. He advised MASEN isstrictly in the gun business for the money he can make. MASEN is. full. of a lot of "big talk" which he never substantiated. MASEN told SNOGA he had been contacted by Cuban revolutionists for the purpose. of supplying guns and ammunition, MASEN also advised‘him that "Minutemen" and John Birchers in the Dallas area had’. contacted him for the purpose of buying ammunition. MASEN never mentioned the names or locations of these individuals. MASEN never advised | | SNOGA that he was ‘himself a member of a John Birch Society or — ."Minutemen"™,: It. was SNOGA's. impression that MASEN was not a member of either of these organizations, if, in fact, he was in . contact with them. This impression “was based. primarily on ‘the fact that MASEN was more interested in money. than in political beliefs. ~ ' ' te ' ‘ ‘ On 2/28/64, SA JAMES P. HOSTY, JR. conducted the . following investigation: ’ “DONALD G. KEMP advised that he had no further. informa~ tion. concerning the activities of. "Minutemen" type organizations in the Dallas area; KEMP advised ever since the assassination. of former President JOHN. FITZGERALD KENNEDY. on 11/22/63, these " individuals. have been extremely. quiet and it: is: not. known whether they have’ ceased their activity, or. they are merely restricting their activities following - the assassination of President KENNEDY. It is noted in referenced Kansas City airtel to Bureau. dated 3/3/64, reference is made to the names of WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON .or ‘EARL JOHNSON and MORRIS TANNAHILL, ‘aka. JOHN MORRIS, who may be "Minutenen” in the Dallas, Texas, area. * , .2 Go HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 4
HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 5 DL 105-1280 ‘thereafter have photograph exhibited to T. V. STEPHENS, Altus, Oklahoma, to determine if TANNEHILL is the indiVidual who con- _tacted STEPHENS, Furnish Dallas results of this: contact. KANSAS CITY AT KANSAS CITY. Will consider reinterview with JERRY. _ BROOKS for the purpose of obtaining more identifying information concerning WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON or EARL JOHNSON, Dallas, : _ DALLAS _ AT LUFKIN, TEXAS, Will expeditiously recontact "Sheriff LEON JONES, Angelina County, and Mr..A. C,. CHILDS in an effort to determine if local ammunition storage may have "Minutemen" connections. . | _ AT DALLAS, TEXAS. Will contact former DL-18-S for. information he may able to furnisW at this time relative to the possibfe activity of captioned rganization in the Dallas. Division, - : . -
OPTIONAL FORM NO, 10 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MEMORANDUM TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-107261) DATE: 4/1/64 FROM: SAC, DALLAS (105-1280) (P) SUBJECT: "MINUTEMEN" ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED Po CINTERNAL SEcURTE) *? HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED (INTERNAL SECURITY) DATE <Joolee BY Sereselaue 996,590 Re Dallas letter to Bureau, 2/14/64; Bureau airtel to Denver, et al, 2/24/64; Kansas City airtel to Bureau, 3/3/64; Oklahoma City letter to Dallas, 3/11/64. 00: KANSAS CITY Investigation conducted to date thragh reliable con- tacts, informants and sources has reflected no evidence of any organized activity on the part of subject organization in the Dallas Division. Therefore, no report is being submitted at this time; however, investigation is continuing in an effort to deter- mine specifically whether captioned organization is active or has adherents in this territory making efforts to establish units. There follows the results of investigation conducted throughout the Resident Agency territories as to the existence of captioned organization, . The following investigation was conducted by SA WILLIAM R. JENKINS: . “i 4 i X “ Kot AT AMARILLO, TEXAS ae TOn 2/7/64, JA ‘Sear, Xogtona1 Coordinator, John Birch Society, 319 Oak Street) advised¥as far as he knew there were no members of the above organization atiywhere in the Panhandle area of Texas. He advised that a few members of the John Birch Society had received some of their literature but stated as far as he knew this literature was unsolicited or merely for study purposes. He advised he would notify SA JENKINS should he receive any informatic«: indicating the above organization had any members in the Amarillo area, A ; . f ’ Sl | fn At af, a — Bureau (RM) ° 7 - Dallas . uffPX_Kansas City (62-7797) (RM) . (2. = DL 105-1686) Dy "2 = Oklahoma City (100-6949) (RM) (8.- DL 105-1280) ee ‘y ~ 4 {l-=-Houston (62-1802) (RM) (2 - DL 157-218) \f ; Ame: ~ El Paso (8M) ; RLW: rmb ) oh "1 ~ San Antonio (105-2356) (RM) (16) far® ——— UL eae y ae oe - Sy ore (6 $2 {250.50 HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 6
ae DL 105-1280 | FRANK CHAPMAN, PD, Hamlin, Texas The following were contacted by SA DEL D, LOYD. MATHEWS, Detective, PD, Paris, Texas — JIM N, THOMPSON, County Attorney, Paris, Texas , Vv. E. STEWART, ‘Vice President, Liberty ational Bank, Paris, Texas ee PCI, Paris » Texas MELVIN THEILMAN, - PCI, Paris, Texas 1 /DL~124-C, Paris, Texas | (identity known re orrer—sn PCI, Paris, Texas r IVEY, Sheriff, Fannin County, Bonham, "Texas O. R. MC KISSOCK, Chief of Police, Bonham, Texas R. A. HULEN, Sheriff,,. ‘Red River County, Clarksville, Texas T. L. HOPKINS , Sheriff, Delta County, Cooper, Texas TRUMAN RATLIFF , Delta County Attorney, Cooper, Texas BENNIE WARREN, Chief of Police, Greenville, Texas BILL PEMBERTON, Hunt County Attorney. Greenville, Texas PAUL RAY JONES, Sheriff, Hopkins. County, Sulphur’ Springs, Texas JOHN TITTLE, Sheriff, Franklin. County, Mt. ‘Vernon, Texas BERT MC KEOWN,: Sheriff, ‘Rains County, _ + Emory, Texas ; ‘ H, L, EVANS, Sheriff, Kaufman County, Texas Deputy. 0. O. PICKERING, | Navarro County, Texas Chief BILL ONSTOTT, Corstana, Texas, PD OBIE FREEMAN , ‘Chief of Police, Ranis, Texas -3- Qa HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 7? The following were contacted by SA JOE B. 1/28/64 DRAKE, JR.: ‘1/24/64 1/24/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/3/64 2/3/64 2/8/64 ~ 1/23/64 1/23/64 1/23/64 2/6/64 1/23/64 2/7/64 2/6/64 ABERNATHY ; 1/28/64 2/3/64 2/3/64 2/7/64 br | t ! ' i t ‘ '
DL. 105-1280 | a | - oe permitted interview on advice of his attorneys and has even declined. to interview by parole authorities. ‘On: 3/17/64, ELLSWORTH advised MASEN is” still await: _ing. trial and ‘MASEN's trial will: probably commence about: the — first of. May, 1964, Btrelsan ‘PRESTON. SNOGA, ‘Irving, Texke,, PD, was con- tacted at his residence, 2517 DeWitt: Street, Irving, and fur- nished the following information to SA WIEHL on_ (2/11/64: _SNOGA advised ‘he had known JOHN. MASEN since: ‘approxi- mately February, 1963, and. that: ‘during the last: ‘few months of this’ acquaintanceship had furnished information: ‘concerning: MASEN's activities to ATTU, Dallas, Texas. ‘MASEN‘s. activities ,; he advised, included ‘changing semi-automatic weapons to: fully | ~ automatic: weapons. He advised MASEN isstrictly in the gun bus iness: for the. money -he can make. MASEN is. full. of a lot of "big talk" which he never substantiated. MASEN told SNOGA he © had: beén contacted by Cuban. revolutionists for the purpose. of supplying guns and ammunition. MASEN also advised him that |. "Minutemen" and John Birchers in the Dallas area had’ contacted -him for the purpose of buying ammunition. MASEN never. mentioned * r the names or locations of these individuals, MASEN never advised ee fe | SNOGA that he was himself’ ‘a ‘member. of a John. Birch Society or . "Minutemen", It ‘was SNOGA‘s impression that: MASEN was not a member of either of these organizations, if, in fact, he was in | : - contact with them. This impression was based. ‘primarily on ‘the fact that MASEN. was more interested in money than in political _ beliefs. j ; . wots te ys | fon 2/28/64, SA JAMES P. HOSTY , JR. conducted the following juvestigation: , ‘DONALD G, “feu advised that he had no (further) informa- tion concerning the activities of«u"Minutemen”" type organizations in the Dallas area, KEMP) advised ever since the assassination. _ of. former President JOHN. FITZGERALD KENNEDY. on 11/22/63, these ~ individuals have been extremely. quiet ‘and it. is ‘not known whether ‘they. have ceased their. activity; or they are merely restricting ~ their activities following- ‘the assane ination of. President KENNEDY § It is noted in referenced: Kansas City airtel to Bureau dated 3/3/64, reference is ‘made. to the names of WILLIAM ‘HENRY JOHNSON .or ‘EARL JOHNSON and MORRIS TANNAHILL, aka. JOHN MORRIS, who may be "Minutemen" in the Dallas, Texas, arCa. F = Ge HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 8
OPTIONAL FORM NO, 10 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MEMORANDUM TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-107261) DATE: 4/1/64 FROM: SAC, DALLAS (105-1280) (P) SUBJECT: "MINUTEMEN" ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED INFORMATION CONCERNING HEREIN | - (INTERNAL SECURITY) UNCLASSIFIED DATE _Af2c oY 00:KANSAS CITY Re Dallas letter to Bureau, 2/14/64; Bureau airtel to Denver, et al, 2/24/64; Kansas City airtel to Bureau, 3/3/64; Oklahoma City letter to Dallas, 3/11/64. Investigation conducted to date thragh reliable con- tacts, informants and sources has reflected no evidence of any organized activity on the part of subject organization in the Dallas Division. Therefore, no report is being submitted at this time; however, investigation is continuing in an effort to deter- mine specifically whether captioned organization is active or has adherents in this territory making efforts to establish units. - There follows the results of investigation conducted throughout the Resident Agency territories as to the existence of captioned organization, The following investigation was conducted by SA WILLIAM R, JENKINS: AT AMARILLO, TEXAS On 2/7/64, JACK SEALE, Regional Coordinator, John Birch Society, 319 Oak Street, advised as far as he knew there were no members of the above organization anywhere in the Panhandle area of Texas. He advised that a few members of the John Birch Society had received some of their literature but stated as far as he knew this literature was unsolicited or merely for study purposes. He advised he would notify SA JENKINS should he receive any informatic:: indicating the above organization had any members in the Amarillo area, foaveas (RM) x 7 - Dallas Kansas City (62-7797) (RM) (2 - DL 105-1686) 4 ‘Oklahoma City (100-6949) (RM) (3° - DL 105-1280) Pree [- Houston (62~1802) (RM) (2 - DL 157-218) _ Ne> El Paso (RM) RLW: rmb 'T - San Antonio (105-2356) (RM) (16) /b$-+1a SO-F§60 . “S . ‘ a .- HW 45880 DocId: 32335692 Page 10
DL 165-1280 FRANK CHAPMAN, PD, Hamlin, Texas The following were. contacted by SA DEL D. LOYD MATHEWS , Detective, PD, Paris, Texas — JIM N, “THOMPSON , County Attorney, Paris, Texas Vv. E. STEWART, Vice President, Liberty tional Bank, Paris, Texas PCL, Paris, Texas MELVIN THEILMAN, PCI, Paris, Texas DL~-124-C, Paris, Texas (identity known PCI, Paris, Texas eriff, ‘Fannin County , Bonham, ’ Texas Oo. R. MC KISSOCK, Chief of Police, Bonham, Texas . R. A. HULEN, Sheriff, Red River County, Clarksville, Texas | T, L, HOPKINS, Sheriff, ‘Delta County, Cooper, Texas TRUMAN RATLIFF, Delta County Attorney, Cooper, Texas BENNIE WARREN, Chief of Police, Greenville, Texas BILL PEMBERTON, Hunt County Attorney Greenville, Texas PAUL RAY JONES, Sheriff, Hopkins County, Sulphur Springs, Texas. JOHN TITTLE, Sheriff, Franklin County, Mt. Vernon, Texas BERT MC KEOWN,: Sheriff, Rains County, ' Emory, Texas The following were contacted by SA JOE B, H. L. -EVANS, Sheriff, Kaufman County, Texas Deputy O, 0. PICKERING, Navarro County, Texas Chief BILL ONSTOTT, ‘Corstana, Texas, PD OBIE FRESMAN, ‘Chief of Police, Ennis, Texas HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 11 1/28/64 DRAKE, JR.: 1/24/64 1/24/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/4/64 2/3/64 2/3/64 2/8/64 1/23/64 1/23/64 1/23/64 2/6/64 1/23/64 2/7/64. 2/6/64 ABERNATHY : 1/28/64 2/3/64 2/3/64 2/7/64 OTHER «
B) DL: 105-1280 | — permitted interview on advice.of his attorneys and has even declined: to interview by. parole authorities. ‘On. 3/17/64, ELLSWORTH advised MASEN is still. await= ing trial and MASEN’s: trial will. ‘probably commence about: the first of ‘May, 1964. , : Patrolman: PRESTON SNOGA, Irving, Texas , PD, was con- tacted at his residence, 2517 Dewitt Street, Irving, and fur-— _ nished the following information ‘to SA WIEHL on 2/11/64: SNOGA advised ie had known JOHN. MASEN since approxi- mately. February.,. 1963,. ‘and that. during the last few months of this acquaintanceship had furnished information ‘concerning: . MASEN’s activities to ATTU, Dallas, Texas. MASEN's activities; . he advised, included changing semi-automatic | Weapons to fully ~ automatic. ‘weapons. He advised. MASEN isstrictly in the gun bus iness for the money he can make. MASEN is. full. of a lot of - "big talk" which he never substantiated. MASEN told SNOGA he bo had beén contacted by ‘Cuban revolutionists for the purpose: of so supplying guns. and ammunition, .MASEN also advised him that "Minutemen"'’ and John Birchers in the Dallas area had™ contacted | him for the purpose. of buying ammunition. MASEN never. mentioned the names or locations of these individuals, ‘MASEN never advised SNOGA that he ‘was. himself a member of a John. Birch Society or ."Minutemen",. It. was SNOGA's. impression that MASEN was not a member of either of these organizations, if, in fact; he was in - contact with them. This impression was- based. primarily. on ‘the fact that MASEN. was. more interested in money. ‘than in political beliefs. On 2/28/64, SA JAMES P. HOSTY, JR. conducted the following investigation: DONALD G, KEMP advised that he had no further: informa~ tion. concerning the activities of "Minutemen" type organizations | in the Dallas area, KEMP advised ever since the assassination of former. President JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY on 11/22/63, these " individuals have been extremely quiet and it is. not known whether ‘they have ceased their. activity, or they: are merely restricting -their activities | following. the assassination of President KENNEDY . It is noted ‘in referenced Kansas . City airtel to Bureau dated 3/3/64, reference is made to the names of WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON .or ‘EARL JOHNSON and MORRIS TANNAHILL, aka. JOHN MORRIS, who - may be. “Minutemen” in the Dailas;, Texas, ALC « a ; \ z 45880 DocId: 32335692 Page 12
_DL 105-1280 thereafter have photograph exhibited to T, V, STEPHENS, Altus, Oklahoma, to. determine if TANNEHILL is the individual who con- tacted. STEPHENS, Furnish Dallas results of this contact.: KANSAS. CITY ‘AT KANSAS CITY, Will consider reinterview with JERRY. BROOKS for the purpose of obtaining more identifying information concerning WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON or EARL JOHNSON, Dallas. DALLAS AT LUFKIN, TEXAS. Will expeditiously recontact - Sheriff, LEON JONES, Angelina County, and Mr. A. C. CHILDS in an effort to determine if local ammunition storage may have "Minutemen" connections. . AT. DALLAS, TEXAS, Will contact former. DL-18-S for information he may be able to furnish at this time relative to- the possibge activity of captioned organization in the Dallas Division... : - 12 = HW 45880 DocId:32335692 Page 13 { } { \ | | |