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Post by Michael Capasse on May 11, 2021 10:36:51 GMT -5
Check Out This BookBy the end of summer of 1980, Chapman was struggling both mentally and financially. He had accomplished very little in the the last four years, and was left with less than a menial security job. Mentally he dove into "Catcher in the Rye" like never before, quoting from it, and at one point suggesting to Gloria, he might change his name to Holden Caulfeild. What a strange and sudden change to come over. He had read the book in school, never affected him, when he read it again at the YMCA, it had some effect, he recommended it to others around him. That was all there ever was. Through long psychiatric sessions with Anna Jones, three years before, she did not recall him mentioning it and told Bresler, "It was certainly no big deal for him then.." It is very odd and there is no evidence of anyone in direct contact with Mark. That was August 1980, within a month, Mark had taken a book out the library by Anthony Fawcett, "One Day at a Time". Fawcett was an "Art Adviser" to the Lennons from 1968-1970, he released his memoirs in 1976 and updated the book in 1980. The biography also recounts quotes telling the John & Yoko story, describing their penthouse life style, and good fortune. Gloria said that once he read that book, "He would get angry that Lennon would preach love and peace, but yet have millions."Timing then, becomes essential. Recording for "Double Fantasy" was secret because the Lennons were unsigned to a record label. Sessions ran from August 7 th - October 19 th 1980. There was nothing said publicly until John & Yoko were satisfied with the sound. They signed to Geffen Records on Sept 22, 1980. Elton told the crowd at the Great Lawn on Sep 13 th, that his friend was recording. It was not until mid Sept. that any public statement was made. What an odd time for a Todd Rundgren fan to check out this book. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cash Off the WallMark suddenly felt an immediate need for cash, and decided to sell his Rockwell lithograph. He contacted Pat Carlson at the gallery, but she wasn't interested and could not find a buyer. Luckily, Mark found a buyer on his own to pay full price $7,500, and settled the matter by Oct. 10 thBut why the sudden need for cash, it wasn't his anyway, and the "creditors" were not asking. Mark told author Jim Gaines, he borrowed $2,500 from his mother, and $5,000 from his father-in-law. But after the murders, Pat Carlson told the "Honolulu Adviser", it was, $2,500 from his mother, $2,500 from his father-in-law, and $2,500 from a credit union, and when he received the cash, he paid his mother and credit union, but kept the in law's $2,500. The payoff was disclosed in court record examination of Dr. Daniel Schwartz by DA Allan Sullivan in one of Mark's appeal briefings.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 11, 2021 10:37:26 GMT -5
Esquire MeansAnother misconception is; What is the article that set Mark off to want to kill Lennon? Albert Goldman claims it was in the Nov. 9 th 1980 issue of "Esquire" magazine, but that would not have hit HI before Oct. 20 th. "John Lennon, Where Are You?" In search of the Beatle who spent two decades seeking true love and cranial bliss only to discover cows, daytime television, and Palm Beach real estate" November 1 1980 | by LAURENCE SHAMESAccording to the article, Lennon was just a 40 yr. old businessman, worth $150 mil, doting to his baby boy, while his wife screens his calls. Goldman said, once Chapman read this article, he knew whom he must kill. This is total BS, Chapman did not read this before leaving HI. It was not any inspiration in planning. NYPD Steven Spiros, was 95% sure Mark said he had bought the magazine after he arrived in NY. There is no proof of any article, book, statement or photograph, that prompted a frenzy in some existing obsession that ended in murder. Capt Louis Souza, Honolulu Police Dept."Chapman is not insane. I am not a physician but I had 18 years in the service then, and I wouldn't consider him a nut. I believe he was well aware of what he was doing in relation to John Lennon's death. His actions here, to my investigation, didn't find that he was "nuts". To me, he was a slightly below average guy. If you are rating him from one to ten, I would say a four."++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Special MissionIn the 3rd week of Oct. 1980 Mark quit his job at 444 Nahua St. When asked why, he told his friend, Fue Liva, he had some personal problems he needed to settle. He told the building manager, Joe Bustamente, "...he was going to London to take a trip."Whatever the reason, he didn't do anything for the next three days. On the 27th he bought the gun. On the 23rd when he signed himself out the last time, he did not pen the usual "Chap", he wrote, "John Lennon". Defense psychiatrist, Dr Daniel Schwartz, and media press, said this was where, "Lennon had taken over his personality." But most articles fail to mention that right after signing that name, Mark crossed it off in double lines. He was not an obsessed Lennon or Beatles fan, he never had shown any tendency to identify with John. There isn't any Beatles/Lennon fanatical background, friends around him said he had a few Beatles albums. No obsession to be Lennon, but to suddenly "rub him out". There is no explanation where this came from. He told Rev. Charles McGowen, after the murder, "He was on a special mission to kill John Lennon"
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 11, 2021 10:37:54 GMT -5
Goin' to New YorkOct. 27 th 1980, Chapman walked into J & S Enterprises Ltd. and picked out a five-shot, two inch barrel, Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special revolver, serial number 577570. He filled out some additional paperwork, then went around to the local police station, showed some identification and completed an application for a gun permit. A brief background check found no felonies. He took that paperwork back to J & S, handed in his $169, and walked out with the gun. Next, he bought a one way ticket to NY. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Forgot to RememberHe arrived at Newark International Airport, in the last week of Oct., probably around the 30 th or 31 st. Newark NJ, is one of three major NY Metropolitan airports, accessible to mid-town by subway train. He first booked himself into the luxurious Waldorf Astoria, and just like when he first arrived in Hawaii, he treated himself to the tourist's life. He was able to pick up a date when he visited the Empire State Building, he took the "Circle Line" cruise around Manhattan, then just like Hawaii, he realized he was spending too fast and checked into the YMCA at East 47th St. Oddly, he didn't bring any bullets. The reason given was not that he forgot, a more bizarre explanation was derived. Mark thought bullets were at risk of exploding in the air. Yet, before leaving, Chapman checked with the authorities at Honolulu Airport and was told "...it was legal to carry both weapon and ammunition on an airplane, they must be separated, and not within the passenger cabin..", and no, bullets do not explode under the high pressure of air travel. Perhaps it was the forms he didn't want to fill out, but he carried unloaded in the cabin anyway, and figured he'd buy some bullets in NY. He figured wrong. NY State Law requires a NY State Gun License to buy ammunition. There was nothing he could do. He flew to Atlanta.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 11, 2021 10:38:38 GMT -5
Hot 'LantaAuthors have written, this is where Mark went to connect with old friends before saying goodbye and committing the act. Yes, he did speak with the Blankenships one last time, his ex girlfriend Jessica had just gotten her tonsils out and he bought her a small flower arrangement, which was typical kindness from Mark. When Jessica's mother asked if he was going back to HI, he told her he was going to NY, June figured he was referring to a grandmother he had up North. The actual reason in Atlanta, was Gene Scott, for the bullets he needed. He specifically requested the deadly hollow-point missiles. In a strange twist of events, not only did Scott get the ammunition requested, but to gain proficiency with the weapon, he took Mark out into the woods for some target practice and instruction. Mark told him he needed it for protection in NY. A few people questioned why Mark suddenly wanted to go to NY, he did tell Gloria and his mother, that he needed to "clear his head" Then suddenly, there was an immediate need to go to Atlanta without checking into ammo from nearby states or some other means. Before he left Atlanta, he took a photo with his friends at the airport. "No one got the impression he was contemplating anything like murder. He was not distressed or wild eyed. He was just the same old Mark Chapman."++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Lethal ProtectionIf Chapman needed the bullets for protection, it should have been easy for Gene to say so. When Bresler interviewed Scott in 1988, he was brusque, though he was called out of the blue, he only answered 2 questions. The two inquiries were simple and open to a clear explanation, "bullets were needed for protection". Scott did not answer in this manner. Q. Did Chapman give you any explanation for wanting the bullets or getting his marksmanship sharpened up?A. No. Do you think he told me he was going to kill John Lennon? Q. Did he give any explanation for being in Atlanta?A. Not that I recall - but what do you want? This was eight years ago! The NY authorities believed Scott, and took no further inquiry of the issue, NY DA, Allen Sullivan, said it would seem reasonable. When Wesley Nunn, of the Georgia Investigation Bureau interviewed Gene, he told Bresler, it was difficult to get answers. Regardless, Gene was cleared by all authorities, Mark got the bullets he wanted and was back in the air, on his way to NY. "When we interviewed Gene, he was I guess shocked by the whole thing. It was almost like pulling teeth, he didn't want to talk about anything. I guess he was very scared of us. He understood the magnitude of what had happened.
He was scared of being a police officer, having the bullets and going out shooting with the guy. He gave me the box of bullets he had purchased to go out with Mark and practice shooting, out of which Mark took five or six bullets back to New York with."
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 11, 2021 10:38:57 GMT -5
Check it TwiceChapman arrived back in NY on Nov. 8 th, this time he checked into the Hotel Olcott, on W 72 St. less than 200 yards from The Dakota. On the morning of the 10 th, he walked down the street to the building, and joined the usual small group of fans hoping for a glimpse. He was there all day, and most of the next. He finally got the answer he wasn't looking for from the Dakota doorman, Jose Perdomo. The Lennons were out of town. It is unclear whether Lennons actually were, or if he gave that line to scruff off annoying fans. Perdomo will be discussed later. His specific involvement and background cannot be overlooked in this case. It is odd that Nov 9 th, was unaccounted for, that Mark waited a day to walk down the street. Now what? It had all been a waste of time and money, and he had no idea when Lennon would return. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wash That AgainAuthors and press clippings on the case said Mark had a hit list of other celebrities. If he did, he doesn't remember them anymore. In 1987, People Magazine's Jim Gaines, and the NY Post, in June 1981, printed that Mark had a list of other celebrities he might kill. Both articles failed to mention that there was no such actual printed list when Mark was arrested, there is nothing in his questioning or early statements that he wanted to kill anyone but Lennon. An authoritative list was created by psychiatrists and psychologists under defense attorney Jonathan Marks working toward a plea of insanity. That list contained only 4 names, Johnny Carson, Walter Cronkite, George C. Scott, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. A later longer list included, Paul McCartney, Elizabeth Taylor, (then Hawaii Gov) George Ariyoshi, and Ronald Reagan. At the 2010 parole hearing, Chapman had forgotten most of the names, and could only recall two. In a bizarre demonstration conflated over time, he did remember there were 4 names on a list, though he never wrote it. He named Johnny Carson and Liz Taylor, he lost memory of the other two. Meanwhile, Carson was the one on the authoritative list. "I was going through that in my mind the other day; I knew you would probably ask that... I lose memory of perhaps the other two...""..."I had a list of people and he was at the top of the list, and he seemed more accessible to me. If it wasn't Lennon, it could have been someone else."
"I saw a movie. I can’t remember the title of it, it was an important movie... and I came out of the movie theater and called my wife and told her... I’m coming home."He went after no one else. After mopeing around the city, Chapman decided to kill himself at the Statue of Liberty, but lost his nerve. Instead, he went to the movie, "Ordinary People". He called it an important film, though he could not remember the title at the 2010 hearing. After the showing, he told Gloria he was coming home and was soon on a plane to Honolulu. It was his 4 th flight since deciding to kill Lennon.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 15, 2021 9:51:28 GMT -5
Catch or TossedAll of the authors have written, when Mark returned to Hawaii, he was severely depressed. He told Gloria about his intention to kill John Lennon, but that her love had saved him. Albert Goldman, wrote that Chapman spend the next 3 weeks watching television, then told his wife, he wanted to go back to NY, but she needn't worry about what he told her, because he had thrown the gun and bullets into the ocean. Once again, he needed to get away for while and convinced Gloria to borrow another $2,500, this time, from her Credit Union. He had thrown away his copy of "Catcher" while in NY. If he is telling the truth about the gun, it changes the entire case. The police report does not give the serial number of the weapon in evidence, but it currently sits behind bullet proof glass at the Forensic Investigative Division in Queens, New York. A check of the ID number would confirm the gun as the murder weapon. Actually throwing that gun away would be a confirmation of conspiracy and another one would be needed. Assistance required. If "Catcher" and this "gun" are used upon him - then perhaps by tossing them, the "good" Mark won, for awhile, but he was not left alone. He told his pastor after the murder, he was tormented over the past few months, like a battle between right and wrong. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rev. Charles McGowan"I would say he was very lucid very rational, He had a clear memory of everything he had done." And he said, '...although I understand what I've done, and although it was well-planned by me, I do not understand why I did it.' "He said it was a struggle and that he went through a torment." 'I've been through a torment for the last two or three months, and it's a struggle between good and evil and right and wrong..' 'I just gave in, it was as almost as if I was on some kind of a special mission that I could not avoid.'" These sound like the words of someone being controlled, because he doesn't have a history of psychotic behavior in his past. No evidence of him wanting to hurt anybody but himself, and even then it was diagnosed as neurotic depression. He doesn't have any history of a Beatles fanatic, no extensive record collection form the group, or pictures on a wall. "Catcher in the Rye", did not have an effect when he read it as a kid in school, and although most young people can relate to some aspect of the rebel Holden Caulfield, Chapman has no history of any hypnotic consequence it may have had on him. Notice, it all has happened in the last 2-3 months, it has never happened before, in all the years, no sign of it.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 15, 2021 9:52:04 GMT -5
“Take me to Cuba!”After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, there were frequent commercial airline hijackings to Cuba. Between 1961 and 1972, there were 159 US planes, taken to the island where the terrorists hoped to be welcomed as heroes. US Aviation, had to do something about it and introduced, a metal detector system in New Orleans in July, 1970. By 1973, all passengers were screened with a hand held device, while the bags ride along side with an X-ray of what is inside. The following year, a standard set of rules and regulations for screening was developed and installed. Five years after that, the first walk thru detectors were designed and delivered to US airports. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Screened & Checked AgainChapman was supposed to have put that gun thru airport screenings a number of times. He took it to NY in Oct. He took it to Atlanta, and then back to NY, along with the bullets. Then once again back to Hawaii, then back to NY. And there are change overs on the HI flights Any flight from HI to the east coast of the US, requires a stop for refuel, and for United, a change of plane was in Chicago. I don't think they screened the passengers again, already behind the gate, changing flights, unless there was a change of terminal. Still, it was a lot of screenings even if the bag was checked in. How do you hide a gun & bullets in a bag, and get it passed every time? If he left the gun with someone in NY, he would not worry about being detected.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 15, 2021 9:52:34 GMT -5
Ticket to RideDates that the airline tickets were purchased, the destinations, and the release of statements are all conflicted. Officially, Chapman was supposed to have bought his tickets on Nov 28 th for a flight Dec 6 th and then on to NY. But on that day, Mark actually bought United Airline ticket, 24-65607-252 and paid $459.86 for a return flight out of Honolulu. It was a round trip ticket for Chicago, leaving 6;10p, Dec 2 nd, with a return flight on Dec 18 th, at 11:20a. That is all. A separate excursion to NY would require an additional cost. Also, when Mark was arrested, he still had over $2000 in cash after expenses. Who purchased this additional ticket? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ United With GrandmaAuthor, Albert Goldman, was wrong about Gloria knowing Mark was going back to NY. Other writers incorrectly followed. Gloria, held a press conference thru her attorney on Dec 10 th and was clear, she did not know were he was going. Besides, could he repeat, "going back to NY, to get away" without raising any suspicion, having told her of his first intentions? Bresler, found that Mark had a grandmother in Chicago, he didn't know her name or what side of the family she was from. That was where Chapman was going when he bought a round trip ticket leaving on the 2 nd - and expecting to return on the 18 thIt makes no sense to kill and expect to use any return ticket, much less at such an arbitrary date as Dec 18 th An Article in the "Honolulu Advertiser", on Dec 10 th, quoted a friend of Gloria's that, Mark was visiting his grandmother in Chicago. Another piece from the Atlanta Constitution, "..he was supposed to be visiting his grandmother in Chicago, before going to New York..." DA Allen Sullivan also confirmed the grandmother under cross examination of Defense psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Schwartz. Bresler believes someone intercepted Mark in Chicago, and convinced him to fly to NY. The airline stub at the NY Precinct does not match the departure date on the original report from Capt Louis Souza, in Honolulu. An original departure date was verified as Dec 2 nd, with no further excursion to NY. It was a round trip ticket, he planned to come home. Even after his flight, hotels, and food, he had a little over $2,000 cash on him when arrested, that balances from the initial $2,500. His original ticket, with no NY excursion cost just under $500. It would seem someone else bought the NY extension.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 15, 2021 9:53:03 GMT -5
A Satchel Fact About 7:15p, Dec 06 th, Mark left his room at the "Y" on W. 63 rd St. walked about 8 blocks south and hailed a cab. The cabbie was Mark Snyder, a thirty year old, law graduate, part time driver. He told NY Post's, David Seifmam, Chapman was "very agitated", also he was carrying a satchel, which has never been explained or recovered. It would seem he was picking up or delivering something. Which is strange, because he's not supposed to know anybody. First stop was W. 62 nd St., one block from his hostel, perhaps he had walked the 8 blocks to retrieve the satchel. He disappeared in the building for a few moments, came back and asked for E. 65 th St. and 2 nd Ave. Once again he disappeared into the building and came back to offer Snyder a "snort of cocaine", the driver declined. He said he was a recording engineer, delivering cassette copies from Lennon's recording sessions to various parts of the city. The last stop on this 1/2 hour excursion was in the village at Bleeker St. and 6 th Ave. where he dropped Mark off. What is there to make of this? - Who could he know in the city, and how could he possibly know where to buy cocaine, if he did. And, where is the satchel? What was in it? Who told him where to go? Is this where he picked up a gun, or what did he drop off? Without a trial these questions were never asked, but if a conspiracy occurred, documenting these facts becomes essential.
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Post by Michael Capasse on May 15, 2021 9:53:24 GMT -5
Grounded at the SceneBresler considers the logistics of the ticket purchase as strong evidence for conspiracy. He does not believe the official story of flying out of Honolulu on Dec 5 th and then on to NY. It appears Chapman's intention was a round trip (expecting to return) when he left home on Dec. 2 ndGloria confirmed an earlier departure when she told the NY Post on Dec 10 th, Mark had left 8-10 days ago. There are 3 days in Chicago unaccounted for, before actually boarding the plane to NY on Dec 06 thCapt. Louis Souza, Honolulu Police Dept. confirmed to Bresler from an original report to NYPD. The ticket had a departure date of Dec 2 nd. - Bresler then asked again, are you sure? not the 5 th, "No, the date is Dec 2nd" Souza said, the airline had confirmed the date it was used at the time of the report. Unfortunately as of May 1988, United no longer kept records beyond 2 years, and the original receipt was destroyed. When Mark left his room the last time to kill Lennon, he left a display to found by the authorities. One of those items was the airline ticket and baggage claim he used to travel. Bresler described the ticket, "..It is a remarkable document for it is in every respect the same United airlines return ticket that Captain Souza told me about. The same number (24- 65607- 252), the same date of issue, (28 November 1980) the same return date from Chicago to Honolulu (18 December) but not an outward departure date of 2nd December. The date looking in inexorably up at one is 5th December!"The baggage ticket also reflects the official journey, "Destination LGA, Flight 904 TO ORD Flight 2"Honolulu on United Airlines Flight 2 to Chicago O'Hare Airport and then direct to LaGuardia Airport on United Airlines Flight 904. On sentencing day, NY DA Allen Sullivan, put in the record during cross examination of defense psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Schwartz, that Mark, "...made reservations and booked all the way through to New York by a variety of airlines to go through at a cheaper rate"That is nonsense and an outright lie. There is only one airline clearly shown on the baggage ticket: United. Furthermore, why did he only leave on display, the part of the ticket that got him there. Where is the return? Bresler said the return ticket disappeared because it may have been purchased in Chicago and not in Honolulu. In June of 1988, Bresler asked Sullivan if he could dig out the information from his files. He flat out refused. The author had been working with Asst DA Gerald McKelvey, on getting a sixteen page chronology on Mark, and was suddenly shut down. McKelvey told Bresler the chronology had been lost and DA Sullivan thought it too great an undertaking to recreate at this late stage. Asst DA said, "The case as you will recall had been closed for many years and the exhibits, what would have been the exhibits, had there been a trial, stored away" There was no need, the case was "grounded", a police term for solved at the scene of the crime. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Lt. Arthur O'Connor | NYPD "As far as you are trying to build up some kind of conspiracy, I would support you in that line. Like I said originally over the phone, if this gentleman [Mark] wanted to get away with it, he could have got away with it. There was a subway across the road and no one around to stop him. If there was a conspiracy, it never would have been investigated, and no conspiracy was investigated to my knowledge, and it would have come to my attention if it had. You've got to understand the human element involved. You are so happy to ground the case, you don't want to open Pandora's box because, you know, with investigations, one thing leads to another and another and another and manpower and money involved. And you have another human reaction - laziness! There could have been a conspiracy - but it was a hallelujah, to get this one grounded. You say you've got a copy of a ticket that got him to Chicago? Did I have any evidence of how he got from Chicago to New York? From memory, no! - and nobody cared to pursue it. I was not aware of that Chicago ticket and if I had been aware at the time, I honestly tell ya - so what? The case is grounded. A man acknowledged his guilt, he pleads guilty. That's it! If there was a conspiracy, I have no information of a conspiracy nor did I look for such information."
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