Jazz and The Gemstone FIle

Jazz guitarist Larry Coryell performs a piece he calls the Gemstone File. Listen here.

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Weekly World News: JFK Photographed at Secret Hideout

Playwright Ken Campbell on the Skeleton Key

In The Independent he tells of a visit he had in 1976.

One morning I answered the door to a man I didn't know. We chatted a bit about people we possibly had in common, then he asked whether he could smoke a joint, and told me he was a roving reporter for High Times [the marijuana enthusiasts' magazine]. He had heard I was interested in conspiracy, and brought out something like 23 pages of closely typed carbon copy called The Gemstone File. He had been carrying it around for some time, unable to work out what to do with it. He left it with me, and I never saw him again.

The Gemstone File was the entire background of the Kennedy assassination; names and addresses, who had done it, and the historical perspective. Back in 1976 newsagents didn't have copiers, and the nearest one was Swiss Cottage library. But I opened the door to go there and then thought, who was that man? In the great conspiracy web, the problem is that you don't know who or what people are working for. The curtains twitched in the house opposite. I remained inside the whole day, unable to work out how to get the manuscript photocopied without arousing suspicion. Finally, I rang Martin Walker and he made 40 copies, 20 for each of us to send out. To have your own copier is a comfort. I can still recall the irrational paranoia of that day.

JFK is Alive: A Modern Legend

Miss Smith states that she heard the story from F. Lee Bailey, the noted criminal attorney, when he spoke at the Lycea dinner at I.U. The legend has also been attributed to Truman Capote, who of course knew the Kennedy family and in fact lived in the same apartment complex as Senator Robert Kennedy. The "Capote" version received considerable notoreity in March, 1969 when it was picked up and broadcast by right-wing Chicago radio personality Howard Miller (see the Chicago Sun-Times, March 8, 1969, pp. 1,32). One of Miller's listeners had sent him a copy of a mimeographed letter apparently then being circulated and attributed to Capote's authorship which Miller subsequently read over the air, The broadcast caused much excitement and was soon denounced by Albert E. Jenner Jr., who had been senior counsel for the Warren Commission. Capote senior editor at Random House issued a disclaimer when questioned, At around the same time a similar story about Kennedy and Jackie-Onassis was being run by the National Informer, a garish tabloid published out of Chicago.

Citation: de Caro, F.A. 1969. "J.F.K. Is Alive: A Modern Legend." Folklore Forum 2(2):54-55.

Cincinatti Post (August 16, 1978)

Hustler magazine owner Larry Flynt says whoever tried to kill him on March 6 was working either for the CIA or the FBI, and they still want him dead because he knows who really assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Flynt, under treatment in Columbus, Ohio, for the bullet wound that paralyzed his legs, posted $1 million reward for information in the Kennedy slaying. He says it paid off; he'll do his expose in October, November and December issues of his magazine, whether he lives or not. Said he, "I know my life may be in jeopardy. If they killme, they kill me, but I must give the public the facts.

True Ott and the Gemstone File #5

This is from his online manuscript titled Free at Last available in PDF format. Download entire book in PDF format. Most of the book, which I have not read seems to be about Mormonism.

The “Las Vegas” Files are Examined

In 1995, I was going through my safe and file cabinets, and came across the sealed, manila envelope that had been placed in my trust by my financial planning client a decade earlier. I had completely forgotten about it. I called his home to see what he wanted me to do with it. His wife informed me that Mr. C. had suffered a stroke a year earlier, and was confined to a nursing home. He was in his 70’s now, and was not doing very well. In short, she didn’t know anything about the “file” and suggested that I could just dispose of it.

I tossed it into the trash bin, but then thought that I should at least see what all the fuss was about. In many ways, I wish I had never opened it. It was a true “Pandora’s Box”, and I was shocked to read its contents. It was “file #5” of a group of 7 files called the “Gemstone” files. I don’t know what the other six files contained, but this one was a literal ball-buster. It was the FULL STORY of the CIA-planned and executed contract “hit” of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, president of the United States. It was full of very complete specifics, including such things as photostats of cancelled checks, travel vouchers, orders on CIA letterhead, personnel “lists” of participants, disposition of witnesses and evidence, etc. The problem was, I recognized the names of many of the key men who participated in the assassination, as well as the massive cover-up that followed.

These were not all Jewish organized crime bosses, some were men linked to my LDS church authorities and some were nationally prominent politicians in my beloved Republican Party! The file was extremely damning towards George HW Bush, who in 1963 was the CIA head in Dallas. The obvious involvement of the FBI and Dallas PD, and their subsequent squelching of information as outlined in the file made me physically sick. There was no person in Federal Law Enforcement that I could trust with this information, that is, IF IT WAS INDEED LEGITIMATE! At first, I refused to believe it could be legitimate at all. My paradigm of perception refused to believe it could possibly be factual.

However, I could not understand WHY my “client” would have such a file, and WHY would he want it sent to Beverly Hills CA, as well as a notice sent to Hank Greenspan ofthe Las Vegas Sun newspaper, if my client happened to “die suspiciously?” Like I said, it was a definite “pandora’s box”, one that I soon realized was too big forme. I kept thinking I ought to shred its contents, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

The File Goes Home to John John.

During the summer of 1998, I was involved in actively protesting the expansion of Circle 4 Farm’s gigantic hog factory farm into Iron County. My grass-roots citizen’s organization CRSA (Citizens for Responsible and Sustainable Agriculture) had received a bit of national notoriety, with a number of AP wire stories circulating the nation. One such story caught the eye of a publication called George Magazine. The editor and staff contacted me and scheduled an appointment to meet and review my story.

The editor of George Magazine flew into Cedar City in his private jet to meet me, and shoot a photo spread. We spent the entire day, a Saturday, together.

At the end of the day, at a local steak house, we sat down for a concluding meal. Over salad, I had to confess to the editor that I had never even heard of, much less read a copy of George Magazine until he had called me. He reached into his briefcase and produced a copy. Looking at it, I was surprised to see that it was owned and founded by John Kennedy Jr.

I asked him about “John, and his politics.” I was told that John was a real “champion of the under-dog” and that was why they were producing the story on CRSA and me.

I commented: “I believe that my image of John is like most Americans. The enduring image of little ‘John-John’ courageously stepping forward and giving his best salute as the caisson carrying his father’s body slowly rolled by. Tell me, does John accept the ‘official Warren Commission’account of the assassination, or does he think there was more to it? At this late date, does it even matter?”

The editor nodded and said: “Of course he doesn’t accept the Warren Commission, but there is not a lot he, or anyone else can do about it! And I guarantee you, it DOES INDEED matter, at least to him. It is one of his major goals in life to find out the Truth!”

I replied: “Has he ever heard of something called the ‘Gemstone Files’?”

With that, the air became electrified. The editor laid down his salad fork and said: “What do YOU know about the ‘Gemstone’?”

“Oh, it just might be that I have a copy of file # 5. Does that interest you?” I casually volunteered.

“You can’t be serious! Are you serious? Don’t kid about something like that! Where did you get it?” he almost screamed.

The dinner was immediately over, even though our steaks were just coming in from the kitchen. We had them placed into containers to take with us. The editor had to SEE the infamous Gemstone immediately. He couldn’t wait until the meal was finished.

It was late on a Saturday night in Cedar City, Utah. I handed him the file, and he offered to compensate me for it. I refused. I asked him only one thing in return; if the information proved out to be genuine, that I needed to know. I just wanted justice to be served, and the guilty parties prosecuted.

I was awakened the next morning at 5:00. John’s editor explained that he had been up all night reading the file. He had called John directly, and he was told to fly it immediately back to John. John had again offered to compensate me up to $10,000 for the lead. He felt it was that good. I politely refused, and gently
reminded him of my earlier request. I just wanted to know if the information was genuine. To me, that would be payment enough.

The rest of 1998 went by quickly. The national political stage was being set. It looked like George W. Bush was seeking to secure the nomination to run against Al Gore.

On the 5th of July, 1999, my home phone rang. Joan answered it and said:

“True, it’s for you.” As I answered it, a very polite masculine voice on the other end said: “Hello, True Ott, do you have a moment to speak? This is John Kennedy calling!”

I immediately asked him to hold while I went to the privacy of my home office to take his call. After a few minutes of small talk, he told me: “Well, I understand that you want to know what I think of your file. I want you to know that I have spent over six figures in private investigators to verify its contents. I can say to you without hesitation that its contents are indeed factual. As a matter of fact, because of this file, a federal grand jury will be convening within the next few weeks. It is my opinion, as well as my attorneys, that this federal grand jury will pass down an indictment against George Herbert Walker Bush for conspiracy to commit murder against my father, and will also indict others as the evidence unfolds. If George W. thinks he can run for dogcatcher after this grand jury convenes and his father indicted, he is sorely mistaken.”

I was thrilled, yet deeply saddened by John’s disclosures to me. I asked him how he felt about what he was about to do. Did he understand that it would shake American politics, especially the Republican Party to its very foundation?

He replied: “Yes, I do realize the gravity of the story and my accusations, but the guilty must be brought to justice.”

I pressed: “But Mr. Kennedy, how do YOU feel?”

The phone went silent for a minute or two. Then John replied: “I feel like a mighty weight has been lifted from my shoulders. For the first time in my life, I feel empowered. I feel my Father’s spirit beside me on this, and finally, I can exorcise a few demons from my life.”

He was definitely emotional, and very close to tears. I knew that I was. I was a part of American history. I had helped a brother’s search for truth.

I warned him to be careful, that such actions were potentially very dangerous. He agreed, and said that he was “taking every precaution.”

Then, in a quiet voice, he asked me for my banking information. He wished to wire $50K to my account. I told him thanks, but no thanks. “Give it to charity,” I said, “I don’t think it right to accept money for such terrible information. I am totally satisfied knowing that the file went to the very person that needed it the very most! Above all, John, please BE CAREFUL!”

John Kennedy Jr. thanked me profusely, and said that he wished there were more people in America like True Ott. He said that some day, he would somehow return the favor. I liked that. It was good to have made a friend such as John Kennedy.

A little over two weeks later, on July 16, 1999, John Kennedy Jr., along with his wife and her sister, were killed in a plane crash en route to Hyannisport for a family wedding. My new friend was gone, and the guilty involved in BOTH murders have still not been punished. I know the truth, however. There is no doubt whatsoever, why John was killed. It was NOT an accident!

SF Weekly on the Gemstone File

The Absolutely True, Somewhat Spurious and Totally Impossible

The Gemstone File

While Marks' thorough investigations of MKULTRA earned a place in the historical canon, more "theoretical" conspiracies still strive for legitimacy, such as the findings and extrapolations of a San Franciscan named Bruce Roberts. Encapsulated in a poorly mimeographed 22-page document titled A Skeleton Key to the Gemstone File, which was compiled by conspiracy maven Mae Brussell and her assistant Stephanie Caruana, this 1975 pamphlet portrays Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis as the ultimate global puppeteer.

Roberts' theory is extraordinarily reductionist, like those alleging that the Illuminati, the Freemasons, the Trilateral Commission or some other hyper-secret cabal at the acme of the sociopolitical pyramid controls everything. Reductionist conspiracies don't make much sense unless accompanied by willful suspension of disbelief, and A Skeleton Key is no exception.

A Skeleton Key claims Roberts worked for several years after WWII making faux baubles for Hollywood actresses; he began collecting evidence in the '50s for his own Unified Field Conspiracy Theory after he surmised that the Hughes Corporation, owned by Howard Hughes, stole several of his ersatz rubies to use in the corporation's new invention -- lasers. (Wouldn't it have been a lot simpler to just buy the gems? Rev up your suspended disbelief, it gets stranger.)

Piqued by Hughes' affront, Roberts began a freelance investigation that would consume the rest of his life. Swapping his synthetic gemstones for information, Roberts picked the brains of a loose network of intelligence spooks and diplomatic contacts; he accompanied each gem with a one-page "history" briefly outlining a piece of the enormous underworld puzzle he was constructing.

Roberts allegedly made his contacts at a bar on lower Nob Hill called the Drift Inn at Bush and Taylor, today the site of Yong San Lounge. A Skeleton Key explains that the hootchery was a favorite hangout of the CIA and Naval Intelligence crowd. After a long day of supersecret work, the spies would descend on the joint to swap yarns and talk shop. What Roberts didn't overhear or cajole for himself, the bartender, Al Strom, provided by way of clandestine recordings he was making of the unusual barside banter. (Strom is now deceased -- his son denies any knowledge of his dad taping anyone.)

Roberts wove what he heard into a crazy quilt of conspiratorial skullduggery that "explains" almost every untoward political assassination and scandal of the last 50 years. Some highlights:

A Skeleton Key outlines Onassis' rise from lowly drugrunner to the Gnomes of Zurich's wonderboy thanks to lucrative shipping deals with maritime bigwig Joseph Kennedy. (Onassis agreed to run hooch into Boston for the booze-hound brahmin.) After WWII, movie-mogul Howard Hughes challenged Onassis' power by buying up every politician in sight. Onassis had him kidnapped in 1957, A Skeleton Key asserts, and then assumed control of Hughes' considerable assets -- including a recent acquisition: Vice President Richard Nixon. With Nixon in one pocket and Kennedy in the other, the winner of the 1960 presidential election was really a lusty Greek shipping tycoon.

Ah, but the best-laid plans ... After his stroke in 1961, Joe Kennedy lost control of both his bladder and his newly elected son. Jack and brother Bobby (being the righteous idealists every conspiracy theorist knows they were) clamped down on Onassis. The tycoon countered by wacking JFK in Dallas with mob guns and some CIA help.

Five years later, threatened with the prospect of another Kennedy in the White House, Onassis had a hypnotized dupe named Sirhan Sirhan ice RFK in Los Angeles.

With Bobby dead, Onassis' boy Nixon skated into the White House only to blow it all at the Watergate. A Skeleton Key asserts that during the months preceding the break-in, CIA spook E. Howard Hunt and "plumber" G. Gordon Liddy were regulars at the Drift Inn, where they encountered Bruce Roberts (Liddy would later name his White House domestic espionage scheme the Gemstone Plan). It further asserts that while sitting at the bar, Hunt and Liddy hatched their Watergate plot to retrieve information the Democrats had supposedly collected on Nixon and Onassis, and that barkeep Strom taped the conversations and passed them on to Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham.

A Skeleton Key claims that Graham then set a trap for the burglars with the help of famed San Francisco private detective Hal Lipset, and that Lipset, disguised as a mailman, retaped the door when the burglars returned a second time, ensuring their capture. Graham then fed the story, sans some important details, in the guise of Deep Throat to her own reporters, Woodward and Bernstein.

Today, Lipset laughs at the very mention of the Gemstone caper.
"I was supposed to be working for Graham. I was supposed to be working for Nixon. I did in fact work for the Watergate [Senate] Committee," Lipset says. "Boy, I must have been pretty clever to pull all of that off."

According to A Skeleton Key, Onassis' death in 1975 sent political shockwaves around the globe; Ford, Kissinger and Rockefeller were left "squatting like toads on the corpse of America."

Bruce Roberts died of lung cancer in 1976, shortly after A Skeleton Key to the Gemstone File surfaced. Hustler ran a heavily edited version of it in 1979, revealing that Brussell and Caruana compiled it. Brussell purportedly knew Roberts and possessed several hundred of his gemstone "histories."

More recently, two books -- Jim Keith's The Gemstone File (1992) and Gerald Carroll's Project Seek (1994) -- have explored the veracity of the Skeleton Key.

Since Brussell's death in 1988 (more about that later), her files have been kept in a secret location by KAZU-FM, the Pacific Grove radio station that still broadcasts reruns of her weekly rants. Radio personality and co-host of the station's conspiracy-addled Lighthouse Report, Marilyn Coleman, confirms the presence of Bruce Roberts' Gemstone "histories" in Brussell's files.

"Some of Gemstone may be credible," Coleman says. "But most of it is junk. You should see the Torbitt document."