Bidding For Oswald's Original Coffin Reaches $25K

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The simple wooden coffin that was supposed to be the final resting place of the man who killed President John F. Kennedy will soon have a new resting place of its own.

The coffin was put up for auction last month by a Texas funeral home owner who swapped it with Oswald's family for a new one when the body was briefly exhumed in 1981.

With the auction just a few hours away from closing Thursday, bidding had reached $25,548, according to Nate D. Sanders Auctions of Santa Monica. Auction house spokesman Sam Heller says about 30 bids have been received.

Funeral home owner Allen Baumgardner said he felt it was time for the coffin to have a new owner.

It was dug up in 1981 so Oswald's body could be positively identified.

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