Biography

Jack Ruby was born to Polish immigrants and was raised in the Jewish faith in Chicago's Maxwell Street Market area; he later became violent in the face of antisemitism. His parents separated when he about 10 years old, and his already turbulent home life became increasingly unstable. A juvenile court placed Ruby with foster parents in 1923, but he was returned to his mother's care the following year.

Ruby moved to California in about 1933 but apparently returned to Chicago four years later. His employment continued to be varied. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. In 1947 Ruby moved to Dallas to help run the Singapore Supper Club, which was owned by one of his sisters. During this period, Ruby engaged in numerous violent incidents, which often involved employees and club patrons. In addition, he was arrested for a number of minor offenses, such as carrying a concealed weapon, though he was never convicted of a crime.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was fatally shot during a motorcade in Dallas. According to reports, Ruby was deeply upset by the assassination, and he attended the press conference that was held following the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald. On November 24 Ruby went to a Western Union office in order to wire money to an exotic dancer who worked at one of his clubs. Immediately thereafter he walked to Dallas City Hall, where Oswald was being transferred to the county jail. Ruby entered the basement area, which was filled with police officers and media members. As Oswald was led out, Ruby shot him in the stomach at close range before being restrained.

Ruby's trial began in February 1964, and his defense attorney, Melvin Belli, argued that he had been temporarily insane when he shot Oswald. The following month, however, a jury found Ruby guilty of murder with malice, and he received the death penalty. Ruby appealed, and in October 1966 a Texas court overturned the conviction, ruling that illegal testimony had been allowed at his trial. before a new trial could be held Ruby died.