 Mr. Ayton of this mistake, simply pointing out that it tends to be one that many with an interest in this case tend to make.
As for the money, in my opinion it is fairly certain that the $400 was what Sirhan had left from his medical settlement from his injury after falling off a horse.
Jimmy Geyman - 5/19/2007
At an early point in this article Mel Ayton states, "Conspiracy advocates have promoted the idea that the convicted murderer of Robert Kennedy, Sirhan Sirhan, had been a 'hypnotised assassin'...." As there is no qualification to this, it strongly suggests anyone who believes Sirhan could have been involved in a conspiracy also believes Sirhan was a "hypnotized assassin."
That some people have promoted a "programmed assassin" idea is true; but it is not the only option. When arrested, Sirhan Sirhan had four one-hundred dollar bills in his pocket. This was a substantial sum of money in 1968, particularly for a man of the lower classes who worked at a health food store. For some it's a substantial sum even today, as I suspect there are many people like myself who don't often see a hundred dollar bill (at least not for long). Sirhan Sirhan had four of them. There are a number of issues about where the money came from, and what it might have been used (or useful) for, but the simple hard fact is that Sirhan had quite a bit of money on him the night Robert Kennedy was attacked.
In this article Mr. Ayton proposes a possible identification for the elusive girl in the polka dot dress and a possible explanation for allegations that such a woman was seen in the company of Sirhan Sirhan on the night of the attack on Robert Kennedy. This possible identification and explanation being a brief glimpse of a woman in proximity to "a Sirhan look-alike." In proposing this, Mr. Ayton fails either to recognize or to acknowledge that his suspected woman's attire is not a match for consistent and mutually corroborative witness statements as to the color of the dress worn by the elusive woman. Mr. Ayton also fails to inform the reader that, whatever we might make of his "Sirhan look-alike," there's a better resemblance to Sirhan in the person of Michael Wayne. But maybe Mr. Ayton is unaware of that, as he may not have done much research on Michael Wayne.
In an article of 40 paragraphs it is noticeable how often Mr. Ayton makes reference to "conspiracy advocates" or some variation thereof:
"...claims by conspiracy advocates...."
"Conspiracy advocates have promoted the idea....They claim...."
"Author's Note: Conspiracy advocate Philip Melanson said...."
"In building their conspiracy scenarios most writers fail to...."
"...as conspiracy advocates repeatedly made reference...."
"...as conspiracy advocates noted...."
"...did not prevent conspiracy advocates from claiming...."
"...conspiracy advocates have used...."
"...conspiracy theorists still insist...."
"...continues to be embraced by conspiracy theorists as proof...."
"...the modus operandi of RFK conspiracy advocates...."
Is there reason to think Mr. Ayton's inspiration for writing comes mainly in reaction to what "conspiracy advocates claim"?
In the last paragraph of this article Mr. Ayton refers to "...an understanding of the modus operandi of RFK conspiracy advocates who carefully select eyewitness testimony outside the restrictions created by the preponderance of evidence in the case." Without casting aspersions on Mr. Ayton and his own possible "modus operandi," one can hope that someday he and others will recognize and acknowledge that in the case of the woman in the polka dot dress the eyewitness testimony IS "the preponderance of evidence in the case." One can also hope that a new generation of Americans will be inspired by Estevez's movie --- not so much "to look again at claims by conspiracy advocates," but to learn more about Robert Kennedy and to ask honest questions about his murder and its investigation(s).
Leonard Robinson - 5/16/2007
My view is that political motivation is a necessary component of terrorism, but on its own it is not sufficient proof that an act should co