Incredible Mysteries: Conspiracy Theories Vol. 1

By Julian Hawthorne

"Incredible Mysteries: Conspiracy Theories Vol. 1" takes you on a thrilling journey into the world of the unknown and the unexplained. This book delves into the depths of some of the most fascinating and controversial conspiracy theories that have captivated minds and sparked debates for decades. Each chap

• Language: English
• Publisher: Incredible Mysteries
• Release date: Dec 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798869040275

Book preview

Julian Hawthorne

Incredible Mysteries

Conspiracy Theories Vol. 1

Copyright © 2023 by Julian Hawthorne

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

Contents

Introduction

Assassination of John F. Kennedy

New World Order

Korean Air Lines Flight 007

September 11 Attacks

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

Human nature harbors an unquenchable desire to seek the truth, leading us down unconventional paths. This drive is evident in our fascination with conspiracy theories, which are not mere fabrications, but portals into the complex interplay of belief and skepticism. These theories, born from distrust in mainstream narratives or an innate curiosity, are not delusions but integral to our culture. They help us navigate a seemingly chaotic world and have shaped history, politics, and events.

Understanding the evolution, spread, and occasional validation of conspiracy theories is key. This exploration is not about proving or disproving, but about appreciating their role as mirrors of collective consciousness. Conspiracy theories significantly impact society, challenging beliefs, eroding trust in institutions, and fostering critical thinking. They blur the lines between reality and fiction, weaving a rich tapestry of intrigue.

Engaging with these theories celebrates the human spirit’s relentless quest for truth. They invite us to open our minds, question established truths, and embrace diverse perspectives. The value of conspiracy theories lies in their power to provoke thought and challenge norms, enriching our understanding of the world.

Conspiracy theories remind us that multiple perspectives exist in a world often dominated by a singular narrative. They underscore that truth can be stranger than fiction and that the journey to understanding is perpetual and thrilling. The captivating world of conspiracy theories beckons, offering a path to deeper mysteries and endless possibilities in our age-old quest for truth amidst a world veiled in enigma.

Assassination of John F. Kennedy

November 22, 1963, marked a day of tragedy and intrigue in American history with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States. In a scene that has been etched into the collective memory, Kennedy was fatally shot while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in a presidential motorcade. Beside him were his wife, Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife, Nellie. The assassin, former U.S. Marine Lee Harvey Oswald, fired from the Texas School Book Depository, striking a deadly blow. The motorcade, in a frenzied rush, sped to Parkland Memorial Hospital, but Kennedy’s life could not be saved. Connally, though wounded, survived.

In the chaotic aftermath, Oswald, armed with a pistol, encountered and killed Dallas policeman J. D. Tippit. Within 70 minutes of the national tragedy, Oswald himself was apprehended, charged with the dual murders of Kennedy and Tippit. In a shocking twist, as live television cameras rolled, Oswald was gunned down in the Dallas Police Headquarters by nightclub operator Jack Ruby, turning the assassin into a victim. Both Oswald and Ruby’s lives ended in the same hospital where Kennedy had been pronounced dead.

The Warren Commission, after a 10-month probe, declared Oswald the lone assassin, dismissing any notion of a wider conspiracy. However, the saga continued. In 1967, New Orleans DA Jim Garrison brought forth the only trial related to Kennedy’s assassination, accusing businessman Clay Shaw, who was ultimately acquitted. Despite subsequent investigations, like the Rockefeller Commission and Church Committee, supporting the Warren Commission’s findings, the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) in 1979 stunningly suggested a possible conspiracy, hinting at the likelihood of two gunmen. This conclusion, based on a police Dictabelt recording, was later discredited by the U.S. Justice Department, leaving the truth of that fateful day in Dallas a subject of enduring mystery and debate.

Theories

The aftermath of Lee Harvey Oswald’s death unraveled a web of intrigue and governmental concerns, casting shadows over the official narrative. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, in a revealing memo, expressed worry over convincing the public that Oswald was indeed Kennedy’s lone assassin. This memo, underscoring a collaboration between the FBI and the Dallas Police, hinted at the precariousness of the case against Oswald without the FBI’s input.

But the plot thickens. Top government and intelligence officials stumbled upon a startling revelation: CIA intercepts indicated that in the weeks leading up to the assassination, someone had been impersonating Oswald in communications with the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City. This discovery, seeping with Cold War espionage undertones, became one of the CIA’s most tightly held secrets concerning the Oswald case for the next four decades.

In a dramatic turn, Anne Goodpasture, a seasoned CIA officer, confessed in sworn testimony that she had been responsible for disseminating the tapes of these mysterious phone calls. This admission starkly contrasted her previous denials to congressional investigators in 1970, adding layers of complexity and suspicion to an already convoluted saga. The Kennedy assassination, with each new revelation, continued to unravel like a spy novel, full of twists, turns, and deepening mysteries.

In the tense aftermath of President Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson grappled with a geopolitical powder keg. He feared public suspicion might point towards Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev or Cuban leader Fidel Castro as being behind the assassination, a belief that could potentially escalate into a catastrophic war, one that Johnson grimly predicted could cost 40 million American lives in just an hour. In a move to quell such dangerous speculation, Johnson reached out to two key figures: Chief Justice Earl Warren and Senator Richard Russell. He implored them to join what would later be known as the Warren Commission, underscoring their role in serving America by investigating the assassination.

Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach was also in motion. He penned a memorandum to Johnson’s aide, Bill Moyers, advocating for the public release of the FBI’s investigation findings. Katzenbach further proposed the formation of a commission, staffed by individuals of impeccable integrity, to conduct a thorough inquiry. In his memo, he emphasized the urgency of dispelling rumors of a Communist conspiracy or, as speculated by the Iron Curtain press, a right-wing plot to frame the Communists. He stressed the necessity of convincing the public that Oswald was the lone assassin, without accomplices, and that the evidence against him was overwhelming.

Just four days following Katzenbach’s compelling memo, Johnson took decisive action. He established the Warren Commission, appointing Earl Warren as its chairman and including Senator Richard Russell among its members. This was a strategic move, aimed at guiding the nation through a tumultuous period and steering it away from the brink of potential international crisis.

The findings of the Warren Commission, tasked with investigating the assassination of President Kennedy, have long been a magnet for skepticism and controversy. A host of researchers and authors, including Mark Lane, Henry Hurt, Michael L. Kurtz, Gerald D. McKnight, Anthony Summers, and Harold Weisberg, have raised alarms over what they perceive as a myriad of inconsistencies, oversights, and possible manipulations within the official investigation. These alleged flaws range from exclusions and errors in evidence to alterations in witness testimonies, fueling theories of a possible cover-up.

Legendary CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite added his voice to the chorus of doubts. He critiqued the Commission for allowing the FBI and CIA to essentially investigate themselves, a decision that, in his view, cast a long and dubious shadow over the Commission’s conclusions.

The notion of a cover-up gained further traction with statements from U.S. Senator and Intelligence Committee member Richard Schweiker. He criticized the Warren Commission’s reliance on CIA and FBI personnel, suggesting it played into the hands of those orchestrating a cover-up. In a bold claim to author Anthony Summers in 1978, Schweiker even posited that the Commission was established to pacify the public, part of what he considered one of the biggest cover-ups in the history of our country.

However, not everyone was convinced of a conspiracy. In 1966, columnist Roscoe Drummond expressed skepticism about such a grand-scale cover-up. He argued that for such a conspiracy to exist, it would need to involve an implausibly large and diverse group, including the Chief Justice, members of the Commission from various political backgrounds, multiple intelligence agencies, and even the White House. Drummond posited that a conspiracy of such magnitude and complexity would likely collapse under its own weight, suggesting a more straightforward explanation of the events surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

In a riveting exploration of the shadows cast by the Kennedy assassination, Richard Buyer and others delve into a web of intimidation and silence that surrounded key witnesses. Their stories, largely overlooked or dismissed by the Warren Commission, paint a chilling picture of coercion. In JFK: The Last Dissenting Witness, Bill Sloan highlights the ordeal of Jean Hill, who faced intense pressure from assistant counsel Arlen Specter to alter her account, alongside harassment from the Secret Service, the FBI, and ominous death threats.

Sloan’s follow-up work, JFK: Breaking the Silence, further amplifies these voices, revealing how Warren Commission interviewers systematically shut down any testimony that questioned the lone gunman theory. Jim Marrs’ Crossfire adds another layer to this narrative, recounting the experiences of individuals like Richard Carr and Sandy Speaker, who were allegedly pressured by the FBI or unknown agents to change or withhold their knowledge about the assassination.

The story of Warren Reynolds stands as a stark example. After witnessing the shooting of Officer J. D. Tippit and cooperating with the FBI, Reynolds himself was shot and narrowly escaped death. He later disclosed an attempt to kidnap his daughter, adding to the growing list of alarming incidents that suggest a concerted effort to stifle the truth about one of America’s most pivotal moments.

Vincent Bugliosi labeled this phenomenon as one of the very most popular and durable myths. The origin of these allegations can be traced back to journalist Penn Jones Jr., who, on the third anniversary of the assassination, penned a thought-provoking editorial for Ramparts. He spotlighted a curious meeting at Jack Ruby’s apartment, noting the subsequent mysterious deaths of three attendees: reporters Jim Koethe, Bill Hunter, and Ruby’s lawyer Tom Howard.

Jones didn’t stop there. In a subsequent article, he listed seven more individuals whose deaths within three years of the assassination also carried an air of mystery. This gripping narrative, once published, quickly spread through news outlets like Reuters, igniting widespread speculation.

The narrative took a dramatic turn in 1973 with the release of Executive Action, a movie that thrust these suspicious deaths into the national spotlight. Jim Marrs later escalated this intrigue in 1989, identifying 103 people whose convenient deaths seemed more than coincidental, closely tied to key investigations into the assassination.

The saga continued into the new millennium. In 2013, Richard Belzer’s Hit List delved deep into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 50 individuals linked to the assassination, suggesting a sinister plot to silence the truth. This labyrinth of mysteries and allegations continues to fascinate.

Vincent Bugliosi, in his meticulous book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, dedicates two intriguing pages to challenging the assertions of journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. Known for her bold skepticism of the official accounts of President Kennedy’s assassination and the subsequent shooting of Lee Oswald by Jack Ruby, Kilgallen was a prominent voice in the 1960s. Her articles and daily columns, particularly her work for the New York Journal-American, where she had been a stalwart since 1937, often delved into these contentious issues.

One of Kilgallen’s most notable pieces, published on February 23, 1964, revolved around a conversation she claimed to have had with Jack Ruby during a court recess. The mystery deepens with the disputed claim of a second, more private conversation between Kilgallen and Ruby in the Dallas County courthouse. Her biographer, Mark Shaw, suggests that even without a direct disclosure from Ruby, Kilgallen might have uncovered sensitive information during a trip to New Orleans shortly before her untimely death.

Kilgallen’s tenacious pursuit of the truth is epitomized in her last written words on the subject, published on September 3, 1965: That story isn’t going to die as long as there’s a real reporter alive – and there are a lot of them alive. Tragically, just two months later, Kilgallen was found dead in her Manhattan townhouse, a combination of alcohol and barbiturates cited as the cause. Bugliosi highlights her death as the most prominent among those considered mysterious by assassination researchers. He argues against the possibility of murder, pointing out that her husband and son were in the townhouse that night, which would have made any intrusion likely to be detected.

Jerome Kroth’s narrative weaves a tale of dark intrigue, suggesting that key Mafia figures like Sam Giancana, John Roselli, and Jimmy Hoffa, among others, met their untimely deaths to seal their lips about the Kennedy assassination. Similarly, Matthew Smith points to a series of suspicious demises, extending from Lee Bowers to Jack Ruby and his showgirls, hinting at a sinister pattern of silencing those with insider knowledge.

Amidst these shadowy accounts, the story of Rose Cheramie, real name Melba Christine Mercades, stands out. Investigated by the House Select Committee on Assassinations, her tale begins on a foreboding note two days before the assassination. Lt. Francis Fruge’s encounter with Cheramie, injured and en route to the hospital, unveiled a chilling premonition. She spoke of a journey from Florida to Dallas with two men, a trip with a dark purpose: to collect money, retrieve her baby, and, most shockingly, to partake in a plot to kill Kennedy.

Cheramie’s subsequent admission for alcoholism and heroin addiction didn’t diminish the significance of her words. Post-assassination, Lt. Fruge’s attempt to relay her forewarnings to the Dallas Police was met with disinterest, a baffling response that only deepened the mystery.

Further intrigue was added in the 1970s when Dr. Victor Weiss recounted a colleague’s report: Cheramie had predicted Kennedy’s assassination before it happened. Her claimed connections to Jack Ruby and her assertion that her knowledge stemmed from word in the underworld added layers to the conspiracy theories swirling around the assassination.

The final, tragic chapter of Cheramie’s life came on September 4, 1965, when she was found dead near a highway in Big Sandy, Texas, the victim of a hit-and-run.

The intricate web of the Kennedy assassination extends to the shooting of Officer Tippit, where the Warren Commission identified 12 key witnesses. Among them was Warren Reynolds, who survived a gunshot to the head two months after witnessing the Tippit shooting. Another witness, Domingo Benavides, experienced a personal tragedy when his brother was fatally shot in the head in a bar, 15 months post the Tippit incident.

The House Select Committee on Assassinations delved into the theory that an unusually high number of individuals connected to the Kennedy assassination met untimely deaths, fueling conspiracy speculations. However, the committee concluded that there was no substantial evidence linking these deaths directly or indirectly to the assassination or its subsequent investigations.

Gerald Posner brings a critical perspective to this debate. He highlights that Jim Marrs’s list of suspicious deaths was drawn from a vast pool of about 10,000 people, loosely connected to the assassination. This group spanned from official investigation figures to names cited by conspiracy theorists.