Oswald's actions after the assassination were indicative of a person who knew what he had done. But didn't really have a plan or firm idea in his mind as to what he was going to do or what the end point was or would be or even what it would look like. Because fate had landed the opportunity of his lifetime right into his lap and he had just a few days to make his decision and form a plan. In end he decided he could not just pass it up. Whatever the cost.
So, he leaves $169 cash, nearly five week's pay after payroll withholding, with his wife and goes to work on 11/22 without his revolver, carrying a paper bagged "package" that the only two witnesses who claimed to have seen Oswald carrying it, stubbornly swore under oath was less than 30 inches long, despite "encouragement" from LEO interrogators.
Their story is that Oswald broke his rifle down to reduce the length from 40 inches to ??? inches
(see page 32 -
http://www.jfklancer.com/pdf/moyer.pdf )
and reassembled it using a dime during the morning portion of his work day, and despite describing the rifle as "well oiled", neither Dallas police or the FBI forensics lab found any of that gun oil on the interior surface of the paper bag or fresh scratches or dings on the disassembled rifle parts allegedly carried in that bag.
If he wasn't shot while handcuffed to one Dallas homicide detective in the basement of police HQ while surrounded by a full compliment of other Dallas officers, and somehow received a fair criminal trial, convicting him beyond a reasonable doubt would have been quite a challenge. There was no record of Oswald picking up a mail ordered rifle at a Dallas post office or of anyone picking up a revolver allegedly orderd by Oswald, at REA.
Chapter 4: The Assassin Introduction Ownership and Possession of Assassination Weapon Purchase of Rifle by Oswald Oswald's Palmprint on Rifle Barrel Fibers on Rifle Photograph of Oswald With Rifle Rifle Among Oswald's Possessions Conclusion The Rifle in the Building The Curtain Rod Story The...
www.archives.gov
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Page 121
FBI testified that the signature and other writing on the application for that box were in the handwriting of Lee Harvey Oswald,15 as was a change-of-address card dated May 12, 1963,16 by which Oswald requested that mail addressed to that box be forwarded to him in New Orleans, where he had moved on April 24.17 Since the rifle was shipped from Chicago on March 20, 1963, it was received in Dallas during the period when Oswald rented and used the box. (See Commission Exhibit No. 791, p. 120.)
It is not known whether the application for post office box 2915 listed "A. Hidell" as a person entitled to receive mail at this box. In accordance with postal regulations, the portion of the application which lists names of persons, other than the applicant, entitled to receive mail was thrown away after the box was closed on May 1963. 18 Postal Inspector Harry D. Holmes of the Dallas Post Office testified, however, that when a package is received for a certain box, a notice is placed in that box regardless of whether the name on the package is listed on the application as a person entitled to receive mail through that box. The person having access to the box then takes the notice to the window and is given the package. Ordinarily, Inspector Holmes testified, identification is not requested because it is assumed that the person with the notice is entitled to the package.19
Oswald's use of the name "Hidell" to purchase the assassination weapon was one of several instances in which he used this name as an alias. When arrested on the day of the assassination, he had in his possession a Smith & Wesson 38 caliber revolver purchased by mail-order coupon from Seaport-Traders, Inc., a mail-order division of George Rose & Co., Los Angeles. The mail-order coupon listed the purchaser as "A. J. Hidell Age 28" with the address of post office box 2915 in Dallas. 21 Handwriting experts from the FBI and the Treasury Department testified that the writing on the mail-order form was that of Lee Harvey Oswald.22
.....
Heinz W. Michaelis, office manager of both George Rose & Co., Inc., and Seaport Traders, Inc., identified records of Seaport Traders, Inc., which showed that a ".38 S and W Special two-inch Commando, serial number V510210" was shipped on March 20, 1963, to A. J. Hidell, Post Office Box 2915, Dallas, Tex. The invoice was prepared on March 13, 1963; the revolver was actually shipped on March 20 by Railway Express. The balance due on the purchase was $19.95. Michaelis furnished the shipping copy of the invoice, and the Railway Express Agency shipping documents, showing that $19.95, plus $1.27 shipping charge, had been collected from the consignee, Hidell.588 (See Michaelis Exhibits Nos. 2, 4, 5, p. 173.).."
The revolver was ordered "C.O.D.". It was not shipped to the U.S. post office. If anyone has presented a detailed explanation of
how (the steps, procedures) the revolver parted custody of Railroad Express and into the hands of any person, I haven't found it.