My point is that Markham, as the WC's "star" witness in the Tippit shooting, was an utterly unreliable witness.
I take issue with your characterization of Mrs. Markham as the Commission's "star" witness. According to the Warren Report, "...even in the absence of Mrs. Markham's testimony, there is ample evidence to identify Oswald as the killer of Tippit."
To wit, she is the only witness who claimed to have seen Oswald actually shoot Tippit.
First, I note that your story has changed from "[t]he only person said to actually witness the shooting" to the above. You are attempting, by handwaving, to explain away all the other witnesses' testimony by implying that the fact that Mrs. Markham was the only person who both a) actually saw the shooter pull the trigger, and b) positively identified Oswald in a line-up, somehow casts doubt on the other witnesses' testimony.
Direct question,
turbonium. The Davis sisters (actually sisters-in-law) both heard the shots, both heard Mrs. Markham screaming, looked outside and saw a man cut across their lawn and empty shell casings from a revolver into some bushes. That same evening, having seen no photographs or video of Oswald, they both picked him out of a line-up. Please explain, if you can, how this testimony can possibly fit any scenario other than "Oswald (or his purported CIA double
) murdered Patrolman Tippit." Please explain also, in view of the foregoing, why there is any reason whatsoever to question Mrs. Markham's identification of Oswald as the shooter.
But her testimony conflicted with other witnesses - she said she was the only bystander for 20 minutes, and said she talked to Tippit until he was placed in the ambulance. Other witnesses said they were at the scene - and that is why they said they saw the shooter leaving the area immediately afterwards. The others also said Tippit had died basically after being shot - certainly not alive and talking for 20 minutes afterwards.
Quote:
Helen Markham (WC)
Mr. DULLES. Were there many other, or other people in the block at that time, or were you there with Officer Tippit almost alone?
Mrs. MARKHAM. I was out there, I didn't see anybody. I was there alone by myself.
Mr. DULLES. I see. You didn't see anybody else in the immediate neighborhood?
Mrs. MARKHAM. No; not until everything was over--I never seen anybody until I was at Mr. Tippit's side. I tried to save his life, which was I didn't know at that time I couldn't do something for him.
Mr. DULLES. Mr. Tippit, Officer Tippit, didn't say anything to you?
Mrs. MARKHAM. He tried to.
Mr. DULLES. He tried to?
Mrs. MARKHAM. Yes, sir.
Mr. DULLES. But he didn't succeed?
Mrs. MARKHAM. No, I couldn't understand. I was screaming and hollering and I was trying to help him all I could, and I would have. I was with him until they put him in the ambulance. [emphasis added]
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Evidently you got this "factoid" from the Sparticus web site.
Quote:
Spartacus
On 22nd November, 1963, Markham was in the Oak Cliff area when she saw Officer J. D. Tippit killed. She later described the killer as being short and somewhat on the heavy side, with slightly bushy hair." Later, Markham identified Lee Harvey Oswald in a police lineup, but this was after she had seen his photograph on television.
Although considered the star witness, her testimony was full of mistakes. She said he was alive when the ambulance arrived, but the other witnesses say he died immediately. She also falsely claimed that for the first twenty minutes she was the only person to attend the body. Once again, the other witnesses disagreed with her. [Emphasis added]
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Quote:
Helen Markham (WC)
Mr. BALL. Before you went into this room were you shown a picture of anyone?
Mrs. MARKHAM. I was not.
Mr. BALL. Did you see any television?
Mrs. MARKHAM. I did not.
Mr. BALL. Did a police officer say anything to you before you went in there, to tell you--
Mrs. MARKHAM. No, sir.
Mr. BALL. That he thought "We had the right man," or something of that sort? Anything like that?
Mrs. MARKHAM. No, sir.
Mr. BALL. No statement like that?
Mrs. MARKHAM. No, sir.
Mr. BALL. Did anybody tell you that the man you were looking for would be in a certain position in the lineup, or anything like that?
Mrs. MARKHAM. No, sir. [Emphasis added]
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Yet again, you uncritically parroted a conspiracist factoid without bothering even to check Mrs. Markham's testimony. You quoted from her actual testimony in a previous post when that testimony appeared contradictory, yet in this case you paraphrased a factoid that is clearly a grossly inaccurate characterization of that testimony.
I didn't say Markham's unfounded and contradictory testimony proved there was a conspiracy. But it takes away the prime witness to the Tippit shooting as being even remotely reliable evidence against Oswald.
Now,
turbonium, please explain exactly what testimony of Mrs. Markham's is "unfounded" or "contradictory," citing actual excerpts rather than paraphrases. Please explain also how any of that testimony is both a) material to the case against Oswald, and b) in conflict with the testimony of other witnesses. Also please discuss how any of her documented misstatements cannot be explained as honest mistakes or understandable misperceptions due to her being extremely distraught.
Yet again, it is blatantly obvious that you and other conspiracists will alter data points as necessary rather than admit to the dreadful possibility that
there might not be a conspiracy.