The State of Texas Vs. Jack Rubenstein, alias Jack Ruby, Ruby’s criminal trial for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, starts in Dallas after a series of pre-trial hearings and three weeks of jury selection. Ruby’s defense attorney, flamboyant San Francisco lawyer Melvin Belli, argued that his client suffered from a rare type of epilepsy and was not aware of his actions when he pulled the trigger. After closing arguments that extended past midnight on March 14, a Dallas County jury rendered its verdict shortly after 12:00PM, finding Jack Ruby guilty of murder with malice and assessing his punishment as death.

Image of Jack Ruby in handcuffs escorted by police. Bill Winfrey Collection, The Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza