Authors: Gary M. Lavergne

Tags: #History, #United States, #General, #State & Local, #Southwest (AZ; NM; OK; TX), #True Crime, #Murder, #test

A Sniper in the Tower (72 page)

Page 251

"He said he had a nice supply of pornography," the merchant recalled. Whitman then took some pictures out of his pocket and showed them to the man. He told me there was tremendous profit in them. I said, "I don't think I am interested." He treated the whole darn subject as though it were imported sugar cane from South America. He was very technical about it. No sentiment whatever. I asked him what market he had in mind, college kids? "No," he said. ''High school and grade school children." He was like some guy trying to sell an ad in the Yellow Pages.
²¹

The story cannot be disproved, but it is suspect. At the time of the alleged incident Whitman was a NESEP scholar enjoying a relatively generous income from the marines and an allowance from his father. Additionally, his job as a counselor in Goodall-Wooten Dorm allowed him to lodge rent-free. Other than his tour of duty in Cuba, when there were no other job opportunities, it is the only period of his adult life where he sought no employment. He did not need the money. It was also during that period that he began to date Kathy. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Fort Lejeune, North Carolina, for the remainder of his hitch in the marines. More significantly, however, after an exhaustive investigation into his past, including very candid statements by his closest friends, the APD, Texas DPS, and FBI files on Whitman contain no reference to pornography. No pornographic materials of any type were found in his home or garage.

Further, there is more evidence that Whitman could be prudish. In his notes, diaries and numerous lists, he often chastised himself for cursing. On 31 January 1964 he wrote in his notebook, a precursor to his
Daily Record
, that he left the showing of a movie because "the animals [some other marines] make so much noise and comments that you can't enjoy anything."
²²Undoubtedly, the comments included vintage marine obscenities. Finally, the businessman was apparently never asked, nor was it ever explained why he failed to report an attempt to sell child pornography at the time the event took place.

A connection to child pornography would satisfy an urge to bring congruency to understanding Charles Whitman, since the evil of it

Page 252

would fit the enormity of his crime. But there is no hard evidence to support his involvement.

Another persistent rumor involving Charles Whitman was that on Thursday, 28 July 1966, Whitman entered the First National Bank Building in Dallas and signed the register on the forty-ninth floor. The implication was that he "scouted" the high rise. The rumor was patently false. On the day in question Whitman reported for work in the Experimental Science Building as usual. On that day a classmate, Tom Brightman, asked to see Whitman's notes from a class they were taking together. Additionally, Whitman attended classes and reported for work on the next day. Without question, Charles Whitman was in Austin on 28 July 1966. Moreover, the name on the bank register was "Chas. Whitman, University of Texas Campus, Austin." Whitman never signed his name in that manner. The incident was clearly a prank.
²³

One of the more ludicrous rumors involved a Volkswagen dealer from Memphis, Tennessee, named William C. Dewey. The 16 September 1966 issue of the
Memphis Press-Scimitar
prominently pictured a smiling Dewey holding a five dollar bill. Allegedly, before going out for coffee, he checked his wallet and found the bill with writing in blue ink that stated "I Charles Whitman have killed my wife and mother." In another place was written "Charles Whitman, Aug. 1, 1966." Also included on the bill was an official-looking stamp in black ink which read "August 1, 1966." But the real tip-off that the bill was a hoax was on the backside; the Lincoln Memorial had been labeled ''U. of Texas" and a tiny arrow pointed to the top of the monument next to the word "me."
²⁴

1
Austin American-Statesman
, 2 August 1966.

2
Dallas Morning News
, 2 August 1966.

3
Austin American-Statesman
, 2 August 1966.

4 Ibid.

5 APD Files:
SOR
by B. Landis, 1 August 1966;
Autopsy Protocol
.

6
Austin American-Statesman
, 6 July 1986.

7 FBI Files:
Cole Report
, 17 August 1966, p. 6;
Palm Beach Post
, 3 and 6 August 1966.

8 APD Files:
SOR
by R. C. Wilkes, 6 August and amended 7 August 1966.