Orleans Parish District Attorney Jim Garrison is driven away from the criminal Courts Building on March 15, 1967, after the first day of preliminary hearings for Clay Shaw, who was accused by Garrison -- and later acquitted -- of participating in a conspiracy to murder President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- P. H. GUARISCO
Clay Shaw leaves the courthouse on Feb. 14, 1968, after the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office attacked the legality of a defense motion to have Shaw's conspiracy trial moved to another jurisdiction. Shaw was charged, and later acquitted, with criminal conspiracy in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- The Times-Picayune
Charles I. Spiesel (right) a New York accountant, leads the Clay Shaw jury on a tour of several French Quarter apartments in February 1969 as he attempted to point out the building where he testified he was introduced to Clay Shaw by the late David Ferrie in the summer of 1963. Standing in the doorway at upper left is Clay Shaw, who was charged, and later acquitted, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kenned. At center facing the apartment is Judge Edward Haggerty Jr. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
Defendant Clay L. Shaw (left) and his attorney, Edward Wegmann, examine a copy of the Warren Report which says Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President Kennedy. A preliminary hearing, in which a witness testified that Shaw was part of an assassination conspiracy, concluded on Friday, March 17, 1967. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (left) and defendant Clay Shaw pass briefly outside federal court in New Orleans where Shaw was seeking to block Garrison's perjury case against him. In 1969 Shaw was acquitted of charges filed by Garrison that he conspired to kill President Kennedy but two days later was charged by the district attorney with perjury. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clay L. Shaw, on way to court to take witness stand in February 1969. Accompanied by defense attorney Albert F. Wegmann. Shaw was accused, and later acquitted, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
A carbon copy of Clay L. Shaw's booking record at Central Lockup in New Orleans the night of March 1, 1967. Shaw was accused, and later acquitted, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
Members of the jury hearing the Clay Shaw conspiracy case took the day off to watch a Mardi Gras parade from a balcony in New Orleans, in a photo published Feb. 19, 1969. The gesturing juror at center is William Ricks Jr. (The Times-Picayune archive)
Nearly two years after he was indicted, Clay Shaw was found not guilty in March 1969 of conspiring to murder President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
Being toasted in March 1969 by the lawyers who waged the battle that won his freedom is Clay L. Shaw, center. Also pictured are F. Irvin Dymond, left, his chief counsel, and Edward F. Wegmann, right. (The Times-Picayune archive)
1 min to read
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jim Garrison is driven away from the criminal Courts Building on March 15, 1967, after the first day of preliminary hearings for Clay Shaw, who was accused by Garrison -- and later acquitted -- of participating in a conspiracy to murder President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- P. H. GUARISCO
Clay Shaw leaves the courthouse on Feb. 14, 1968, after the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office attacked the legality of a defense motion to have Shaw's conspiracy trial moved to another jurisdiction. Shaw was charged, and later acquitted, with criminal conspiracy in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- The Times-Picayune
Charles I. Spiesel (right) a New York accountant, leads the Clay Shaw jury on a tour of several French Quarter apartments in February 1969 as he attempted to point out the building where he testified he was introduced to Clay Shaw by the late David Ferrie in the summer of 1963. Standing in the doorway at upper left is Clay Shaw, who was charged, and later acquitted, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kenned. At center facing the apartment is Judge Edward Haggerty Jr. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
Defendant Clay L. Shaw (left) and his attorney, Edward Wegmann, examine a copy of the Warren Report which says Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President Kennedy. A preliminary hearing, in which a witness testified that Shaw was part of an assassination conspiracy, concluded on Friday, March 17, 1967. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (left) and defendant Clay Shaw pass briefly outside federal court in New Orleans where Shaw was seeking to block Garrison's perjury case against him. In 1969 Shaw was acquitted of charges filed by Garrison that he conspired to kill President Kennedy but two days later was charged by the district attorney with perjury. (The Times-Picayune archive)
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clay L. Shaw, on way to court to take witness stand in February 1969. Accompanied by defense attorney Albert F. Wegmann. Shaw was accused, and later acquitted, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
A carbon copy of Clay L. Shaw's booking record at Central Lockup in New Orleans the night of March 1, 1967. Shaw was accused, and later acquitted, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
Members of the jury hearing the Clay Shaw conspiracy case took the day off to watch a Mardi Gras parade from a balcony in New Orleans, in a photo published Feb. 19, 1969. The gesturing juror at center is William Ricks Jr. (The Times-Picayune archive)
Nearly two years after he was indicted, Clay Shaw was found not guilty in March 1969 of conspiring to murder President John F. Kennedy. (The Times-Picayune archive)
Being toasted in March 1969 by the lawyers who waged the battle that won his freedom is Clay L. Shaw, center. Also pictured are F. Irvin Dymond, left, his chief counsel, and Edward F. Wegmann, right. (The Times-Picayune archive)
The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and reflecting on the people and moments that have connected and inspired us. Today, the series continueswith a look back at the trial -- and acquittal -- of Clay Shaw.
THEN: Clay Shaw, the dapper director of the International Trade Mart, was found not guilty on March 1, 1969, of a charge that he had been part of a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. The jury's verdict came two years to the day after Shaw's arrest as part of an investigation led by Orleans Parish District Attorney Jim Garrison. Shaw was the only person ever prosecuted in connection with the Kennedy assassination.
NOW: Because the major participants are dead and because there were no convictions, the inquiry -- which The New York Times called "one of the most disgraceful chapters in the history of American jurisprudence" -- probably would have been forgotten had it not been for the feature film "JFK." Directed by Oliver Stone, the movie filmed for 10 weeks in New Orleans in 1991, rehashing and reviving the whole episode without really establishing that a plot existed.
- The trial in Criminal District Court lasted 40 days. The jury, which heard from a bizarre array of witnesses, acquitted Shaw after deliberating only 54 minutes.
As sensational as it was, "JFK" won Oscars for cinematography and editing. Given the debate it revived, it remains one of the most influential and controversial films ever shot locally. Many locals, however, especially those who knew Shaw -- or his story -- see it as nothing but a continuation of a great travesty that would almost be funny if not so cruel. "JFK," a NOLA.com commenter identified as "germancoasttiger" wrote
, "should be thrown back into the dumpster they found it in."
By: John Pope, contributing writer
Sources: The Times-Picayune archive; NOLA.com; lgbtccneworleans.org; "False Witness," by Patricia Lambert
NEXT:
More on 300 for 300:
- Learn about the 300 for 300 series
