Here’s some bits that are difficult to reconcile for a ‘lonewolf’ with no CIA or FBI handlers:
Ruth Paine and Michael Paine have long been viewed as likely participants in a wider plot to frame Lee Harvey Oswald. Ruth, in particular, is viewed as complicit in a vast and ongoing cover-up. For decades, JFK assassination researchers have suspected the Paines, especially Ruth, of some role ‘handler’ in a conspiracy.
The Paines were friends of Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife Marina. At the time of the assassination, Marina Oswald was living with Ruth Paine and the Oswald’s belongings, including the alleged murder weapon were stored in her garage.
After testifying against Oswald and providing some of the most crucial evidence against him, Ruth and Michael Paine have continued to be outspoken supporters of the official story. Many believe that Ruth helped to set up Oswald, but that she likely didn’t know about the assassination plot beforehand.
There are many curious facts about the Paines, that depending on your perspective may either be damning evidence, or simply coincidence. When some people watch interviews with Ruth Paine, they see a lying CIA agent, others an innocent elderly woman.
The Paines have confirmed connections to the CIA through their immediate family. Ruth’s sister and brother-in-law were CIA employees and her father had frequent contacts with the agency. Michael Paine’s parents were friendly with CIA director Allen Dulles & his mistress Mary Bancroft. Michael’s mother even invited Dulles to stay at the Forbes private island near Cape Cod where Ruth and Michael spent their summers. They came from very well-connected families. Michael Paine is a member of the Forbes family and he received a trust fund from the family fortune. While Michael was an avowed pacifist, he had top security clearance working for defense contractor: Bell Helicopter.
Ruth Paine answered over 5000 questions from the Warren Commission, more than any other witness. Her testimony was critical in establishing Oswald as the likely assassin. She produced one of the most important pieces of evidence against Oswald; the “Walker Note,” (Warren Commission Exhibit 1) which the government used to show that he had a propensity toward violence. The authenticity of this note is still debated today.
Ruth Paine first met the Oswalds at a party in Dallas in February 1963. After that time period her husband moved out and she wrote several notes to Marina to encourage her to live in their home. Ruth drove Marina Oswald and the Oswalds’ belongings back to Dallas from New Orleans in September 1963. Oswald and her children lived in Ruth Paine’s house from September 1963 - November 22, 1963.
Weeks before the assassination, Ruth found Oswald his job at the Texas School Book Depository, the building from which he allegedly shot President Kennedy.
The Paines’ are suspected of collusion with the FBI in the destruction of evidence. Dallas PD found and inventoried a tiny hi-tech Minox camera amongst Oswald’s personal effects during the search of Paine’s home. This camera was later omitted from an inventory list once the FBI took over the investigation. What is not generally known is the Paines’ role in the collusion of evidence tampering.
In relation to photographic evidence: “The items ranged from #1 - #455 and required 5 rolls of film. the FBI Lab would develop these 5 rolls of film and furnish a set to Police Chief Curry. This intact set of photos from the original 5 rolls have disappeared from the National Archives - assuming that the FBI even turned them over to the Warren Commission or the Archives in the first place.”
https://kennedysandking.com/john-f-kennedy-articles/the-paine-s-participation-in-the-minox-camera-charade
About that Minox camera:
Minox is a former Latvian, now German, manufacturer of miniature cameras. They are most famous for their range of subminiature espionage cameras such as the Minox-B that became extremely popular during the Cold War when it was used on both sides of the Iron Curtain. The CIA used Minox cameras from WWII to 1974 and the Soviets even used them until the late 1990s.
During WWII, it was so popular that it was difficult for the various intelligence agencies to obtain enough Minox cameras for their tasks. Ironically, they were first built in Latvia under Russian control, then under German occupation and then under Russian control again. After WWII, production was moved to Germany, where the first Minox-B cameras were built.
It really is a very tiny camera and has been featured in several post WWII spy movies. With regard to Oswald possessing one...at that time they weren't easy to come by as well as being very expensive. The tiny 8mm film cassettes, in addition to being very uncommon, usually had to be sent off for special processing. For the true enthusiast a tiny enlarger, film developing tanks, special chemistry kits and othe accessories were necessary to make home prints. All in all a very surprising and remarkable camera to be found in the possession of a man unable to support his family and essentially homeless. Not one to make snaps juniors first steps. Because of their rarity, a check of the serial number would have easily traced its path back to its source. A good reason for it to have "disappeared". Wonder if the SN was recorded.
I have 3 models from my dads collection along with the enlarger and full accessory kit. An interesting feature was the slender carry chain which had beads with which to measure the proper focusing placement of the camera for document photography. Genuine spy stuff. ;>)