Assassination of President Kennedy*

nation of President John F. Kennedy, scant attention has been given -to

limited to only a few, ignored, facets of the crime.

DESPITE the medical and scientific aspects of the murder. This brief account is

As the motorcade passed through Dealcy Plaza, Dallas, Texas (fig. 1), at

22. 1963, the lead car, containing the President and his wife, and John

movie camera. (This film was purchased by 12,30 hours Central Standard time [I8.30 hours London time] on NoveMber Connally, Governor of Texas, and his wife, was being photographed at 18•3 frames per second by Abraham Zapruder with a hand-held 8-mm.

scholars'. Some key frames, including those mentioned here, were published Warren Commission copy is now in the Archives but is not available to

the public. It may—but Only after heroic efforts--be studied by 'serious

behind, and to the right in a sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book allegedly, three shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, located above,

his right hand raised in a gesture to the crowd, when he was temporarily Depository Building. The President was looking slightly to the right, with

obscured from Zapruder's camera at frame 218. When he reappeared at

and Turner, to71, have adducted evidence that the first shot was fired much

earlier). Thus the first shot at a depressed angle of 20° 23' and a distance of frame 224 the President showed pain and was reaching for his throat. (Olson

neck without striking hone, and emerged from the front in the midline

between tracheal rings three and four. By the conclusions of the Warren 1SS feet (57.3 m.) is alleged to have'entered from the rear, traversed his

Commission, the bullet continued without deflection, fractured Connally's

later to fall out at Parkland Hospital. The second shot (three empty cart- fifth rib lateral to the scapula, emerged beneath his right nipple, and

ridge cases were found) is presumed to have missed. The third and fatal

fractured his distal right radius to become entangled in his clothing, only

shot came 5.6 seconds later at frame 313 when the right side of the Presi-

dent's head exploded. (After publication of the Warren Report it was noted

that, by superimposing frame 314 on frame 313, the President's head,

* The work reported

November

Governor Connally was seated directly in front of the President 'when,

Lik

organization.

the

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY*

extensive world press coverage and numerous books on the assassi-

in 19(16).

opinions expfessed (hi not reflect the approval of any other person or

1973

Isy

Jt )11N NICIIDLS,

VOL

University

herein was

„Issociate Professor of Pathology,

211

THE ASSASSINATION

done at the personal expense of the author and

Kansas .updicat Center

((125)

Life

and copyrighted. The

confirming this (1

grossly apparent on view ing the movie, is

neck and shoulders jerked backwards within this 0.054 second. The author.

the front.)

by a tracheotomy

hole in the back of the neck escaped notice. It must be remembered that the

assassin had nut violated any federal law and therefore had not committed a crime against the people of America ;te had violated Texas State law and

committed a common law crime against the people of Texas. Therefore, all any subsequent proceedings would have to he pursuant to Texas law, except

body was forcefully removed by a small group of Secret Service and FI31

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The first breach came when tit(

agents despite the violent physical protests of the coroner of Dallas County

nectrary burial-removal permit which is issued only after release by thi Earl Rose, now Professor of Pathology in the University of Iowa. The body

coroner and after the death certificate has been filed. These requirements art After arrival at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland,. the necrops: was thus illegally removed _1,375 miles from the State of Texas without tlm

common to all states.

Upon arrival at Parkland I lospital, Iite minutes later, the bullet hole in

front of the neck, then considered to be a hole of entry, w

s conducted primarily by two naval pathologists in a crowded room with

position of Oswald and presumed trajectory of three shots.

Assistance

t.--Pcisteard view of Dealey Plaza showing route of the

requested by Texas authorities from federal agencies such as

'Ibsen ation. testified that this backward movement, also

incision. The body was not turned over and the bullet

11 E

THE NECROPSY

r ()

eon/pal/hie

N E

with a gunshot from

motort ade.

obscured

alleged

have (separately) studied them, and both decided decided both and them, studied (separately) have

of Forensic Sciences, and F. F. Chapman, Coroner of Wayne County, Michigan, Michigan, County, Wayne of Coroner Chapman, F. F. and Sciences, Forensic of

Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Past President of The American Academy Academy American The of President Past and Jurisprudence Medical of Professor estate. I have repeatedly been denied permission to study them, but John K. K. John but them, study to permission denied been repeatedly have I estate.

ever, did have total body x-ray films exposed as well as gross photographs, photographs, gross as well as exposed films x-ray body total have did ever, were deposited with the Archivist of the United States with, later, a stipulation that that stipulation a later, with, States United the of Archivist the with deposited were

pancies pancies

by a radiologist but, together with the gross photographs, were not seen by by seen not were photographs, gross the with together but, radiologist a by the the

both black and white and colour. The x-ray films were developed and read read and developed were films x-ray The colour. and white and black both

unidentified major-general, a public relations officer. Colonel Find:, how- Find:, Colonel officer. relations public a major-general, unidentified

they may he studied only by scholars approved by the executor of the Kennedy Kennedy the of executor the by approved scholars by only studied he may they

the pathologists during the necropsy or preparation of the protocol. protocol. the of preparation or necropsy the during pathologists the

for hack wounds, it was necessary for him_ to obtain permission from an an from permission obtain to him_ for necessary was it wounds, hack for

Secret Service and I and Service Secret

Medically qualified. X-ray films of the head revealed multiple bullet frag- bullet multiple revealed head the of films X-ray qualified. Medically

ments. Before completion of the necropsy Lientenant-t'olonel l'ierre l'ierre Lientenant-t'olonel necropsy the of completion Before ments.

'observer' in this naval owl:ivy naval this in 'observer'

Pinsk, a student of missile wounds, arrived in the capacity of an army army an of capacity the in arrived wounds, missile of student a Pinsk,

.. ..

973). 973).

attimer, attimer,

. .

rapidly changing array of admirals, generals, colonels, natal captains, captains, natal colonels, generals, admirals, of array changing rapidly

The The

Warren Commission Commission Warren

history of these x these of history

in the conclusions of the the of conclusions the in

Fin. Fin.

.1's!sISSIN.1 I II/.\ II/.\ I .1's!sISSIN.1

Professor of Urology in Columbia University, has and concluded that that concluded and has University, Columbia in Urology of Professor

399)• 399)•

2.—(a) The base, (b) the body, and (c) the nose of the bullet (CE (CE bullet the of nose the (c) and body, the (b) base, The 2.—(a)

(a) (a)

III agents, and others, only only others, and agents, III

ray ray

made no errors (Lattimer, 1972). 110wever, Cyril Wecht, Wecht, Cyril 110wever, 1972). (Lattimer, errors no made

for..13=ansmadtentiom for..13=ansmadtentiom

films and photographs is nebulous. In April 1965 they they 1965 April In nebulous. is photographs and films

: :

I lis status was such that, in order to examine examine to order in that, such was status lis I

(b) and (c) (c) and (b)

Warren Commission Commission Warren

(a) 1968; 1968; (a)

(h) (h)

PRESIDEN I Isl'NNI If If Isl'NNI I PRESIDEN

1971 1971

that that

there were major discre- major were there

(Wecht, 1972; Chapman, Chapman, 1972; (Wecht,

a a

few of whom acre acre whom of few

1)27 1)27

A. A.

1)2K 1)2K

Earl Warreo, Chief Justice of the United States. The main conclusion of of conclusion main The States. United the of Justice Chief Warreo, Earl

anti the tiol 'der of the alleged a: alleged the of 'der tiol the anti

the Warren CommiSsion was that Oswald acted alone and fired, within 5.6 5.6 within fired, and alone acted Oswald that was CommiSsion Warren the

created the 'President's Commission on the .‘ssassination of President President of .‘ssassination the on Commission 'President's the created

seconds, three shots, the first bullet passing through Kennedy's neck neck Kennedy's through passing bullet first the shots, three seconds,

Kennedy', popularly known known popularly Kennedy',

radiologist to review the gross photographs and x-ray films taken at necropsy necropsy at taken films x-ray and photographs gross the review to radiologist

ary 1968, an expert panel of three eminent forensic pathologists and a a and pathologists forensic eminent three of panel expert an 1968, ary but not seen by the pathologists before submission of the necropsy protocol. protocol. necropsy the of submission before pathologists the by seen not but

only later to fall from his clothing at Parkland llospital. This bullet was was bullet This llospital. Parkland at clothing his from fall to later only

This expert panel reported several important new findings, only three of of three only findings, new important several reported panel expert This

The ensuing furore and criticism of the Warren commission Report by by Report commission Warren the of criticism and furore ensuing The the pt5)lic prompted Attorney General Ramsey Clark to convene, in Febru- in convene, to Clark Ramsey General Attorney prompted pt5)lic the

and 2.5 cm. to the right of the external occipital protuberance. protuberance. occipital external the of right the to cm. 2.5 and

lying in the base of the brain; not previously noticed. noticed. previously not brain; the of base the in lying

protuberan4, whereas the pathologists reported a bullet hole hole bullet a reported pathologists the whereas protuberan4, designated commission exhibit (CE) 399. 399. (CE) exhibit commission designated

without hitting bone and, without deflection, inflicting Connally's woun ds, ds, woun Connally's inflicting deflection, without and, bone hitting without

which will he considered: considered: he will which

(1) (1)

(2) (2)

Nin emhcr 29, loll:, set set loll:, 29, emhcr Nin

A bullet hole of entry in the skull too mm. above the external occipital occipital external the above mm. too skull the in entry of hole bullet A

A grey-brown unidentified rectangular object.measuring 14 ;< 20 20 ;< 14 object.measuring rectangular unidentified grey-brown A

Flu. 3. 3. Flu.

trate 47 inches of laminated pine before its energy is.: is.: energy its before pine laminated of inches 47 trate

spent (see text). The first person shown on the Icit of of Icit the on shown person first The text). (see spent

as President Kennedy: height 6 feet I inch; weight weight inch; I feet 6 height Kennedy: President as

this illustration has the the has illustration this

t pounds (83 kg.): neck circumference IF4 inches. inches. IF4 circumference neck kg.): (83 pounds t

TIIE TIIE

bullet front authentic ammunition will pene- pene- will ammunition authentic front bullet

1 1

47 1%CHFS 113 CENTIMETERS CENTIMETERS 113 1%CHFS 47

III' III'

as tic tic as

EXPERT EXPERT

•••

kultEN kultEN

■■

• •

l' I( .11 I( l'

John Nichol /968 /968 Nichol John

s.issin, the new ! new the s.issin,

days alter alter days

kVarren Commission front its chairman, chairman, its front Commission kVarren

tarns' tarns'

t'o'il ItsSH)N ItsSH)N t'o'il

1 1 T I I T 1 1

PANE/. PANE/.

measurements and weight weight and measurements

the assassination the

• •

N N

resident, I ,yndon Johnson, Johnson, ,yndon I resident,

It It

7 7

1.1 • • 1.1

y y

, ,

and l and

slightly slightly

re daYs daYs re above above R ("I. I I. IONE AssAssl NATIttN OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY 629 ()30 .1 II

in the base of the brain. (3) A delicate tract of metal particles in the soft tissues of the neck region (5) Thr Ile01 IV found t4 - 20 mni. 116/CC( The heal wound, I)V csaminatom of the necropsy photographs and x-ray not seen by the radiologist who examined the x-ray films during the (01 films. . • necropsy. BALLISTICS CE 399 is a military bullet, fully jacketed, with a 0.64-min.-thick alloy Figure 2 shows the base, body, and nose of CE 399. Ballistic examination :of 93 per cent. copper and 7 per cent. zinc. Such jacketed bullets usually established that this bullet was fired from Oswald's weapon. The person ' ..do not leave particles of metal in soft tissue when bone is not struck (in fact who found the bullet, on a stretcher on which Connally was presumed to naked lead bullets usually do not leave metal particles in soft tissue when have been transported, omitted to mark the bullet, which subsequently bone is not struck). passed through the custody of at least two additional hospital employees PUBLIC DISQUIET '..Much of the public disquiet has centred on the fact that, according to his Marine Corps records, Oswald was only a mediocre rifleman, and on the

© John Nichols 1968 (a) (b) 5.—Bullet from authentic ammunition shot through a rib and wrist from a recently amputated arm and collected in mattresses showing (a) that the base remains pristine while (b) the nose becomes grossly mutilated. and two FBI agents before reaching the ballistics laboratory. Receipts were © John Nichols 1968 not given and records were not made."fhis is the only piece of evidence 4.—Three fragments (CE 842) of metal removed from Governor Connally's wrist (see text). connecting Oswald with the crime, and today the person who found CE 399 refuses to identify it. (Learned counsel opine that CE 399 is not ad- fact that the alleged weapon is a very poor specimen of a war-surplus bolt- missible as evidence in an American [Texas] Court.) action Italian army rifle. It has an inferior 4-power Japanese telescopic sight The iSiutilated nature of the base of CE 399 (fig-: za) is shown here for with an extremely narrow field. Most skilled persons cannot fire three aimed the first lime. This bullet could not have been fired in any gun in this con- shots from similar weapons within 5.6 seconds. Expert marine corps rifle- dition. The base of CE 399 llwrclorc became umlilaltd after firing; I have men, however, were able to fire the required three shots within the allotted placed my entire weight (zoo pounds [90.7 kg.]) on the base of such pristine • • 3.6 seconds, but at ground level at a stationary target and not from a height bullets without producing deformity. It can also be seen that metal has of sixty feet (18.28 m.) at a moving target. My investigations, and attempted been shaved from the nose for spectrographic analysis (the results of which • investigations, have included the following studies. the FBI refuse to divulge). (t) Identical ammunition fired in an identical weapon through ribs and wrists The mutilation of the lead core at the base must account for the loss of and other appropriate anatomical specimens and recovered from mattresses. - • (z) The kinetic energy and penetrating power of CE 399. grains'(162 mg.). CE 399 weighs 158.6 grains (10,277 mg.) whereas all (3) The lateral angle of Oswald's line of fire which has never previously been bullets removed from identical ammunition by the author bef,,r, ing • measured or calculated.4 I- 0.07 grain (standard error of the mean). (4) Trace metal content of the margins of bullet holes in the President's coat, weighed 161 grains : CE 399, and fragments CE 842, surgically removed from Connally's wrist. After reseating and firing directly into mattresses the bullets lose about

*Foot pounds of kinetic (triergy (triergy kinetic of pounds *Foot

showing the depressed angle of of angle depressed the showing

Figure 6 is the view through Oswald's telescopic sight at Frame Frame at sight telescopic Oswald's through view the is 6 Figure

obtained in all such bullets fired through ribs and wrists. wrists. and ribs through fired bullets such all in obtained

is is ------

recently amputated arm and collected in mattresses. The nose of the bullet bullet the of nose The mattresses. in collected and arm amputated recently

seconds. seconds.

for any person to fire four shots from Oswald's gun in the allotted 5.6 5.6 allotted the in gun Oswald's from shots four fire to person any for

must have participated in the murder because all agree that it is impossible impossible is it that agree all because murder the in participated have must

of CE 842 then a fourth shot must have been fired and another person person another and fired been have must shot fourth a then 842 CE of

reactor. Such results have been admitted in several trial courts of the world. world. the of courts trial several in admitted been have results Such reactor.

. presumed to have become entangled in Connally's clothing. The upholstered. upholstered. The clothing. Connally's in entangled become have to presumed .

men returns entirely to its normal condition shortly after removal from the nuclear nuclear the from removal after shortly condition normal its to entirely returns men

reliable method known for detection of these trace metal contaminants. The speci- The contaminants. metal trace these of detection for known method reliable

- pine pine -

analysis. Fortunately harmless neutron activation is the most sensitive and most most and sensitive most the is activation neutron harmless Fortunately analysis.

small small

Lead especially contains traces of arsenic, antimony, and bismuth in quantities too too quantities in bismuth and antimony, arsenic, of traces contains especially Lead

. .

both exhibits. exhibits. both

CE 399 inflicted both the neck wound of the late President and Connally's Connally's and President late the of wound neck the both inflicted 399 CE

wrist wound the trace metal composition must, perforce, be identical in in identical be perforce, must, composition metal trace the wound wrist

Two small unweighed fragments of of fragments unweighed small Two

CE CE

Metal reasonably accounted for for accounted reasonably Metal

Large fragment of CE 842 from Connally's wrist weighs weighs wrist Connally's from 842 CE of fragment Large

Loss of weight of CE 399 from friction in gun barrel generously generously barrel gun in friction from 399 CE of weight of Loss

from Connally's wrist. An unfired bullet identical wit:i CE 399 weighs weighs 399 CE wit:i identical bullet unfired An wrist. Connally's from

161.97 grains (see p. 630: 630: p. (see grains 161.97

partition between the passenger and driver compartments, next in line of of line in next compartments, driver and passenger the between partition

.Apart from this, such bullets are always recovered pristine. pristine. recovered always are bullets such this, from .Apart

equivalent to several necks, several ribs, and several wrists. Yet Cl 399 is is 399 Cl Yet wrists. several and ribs, several necks, several to equivalent fire, was not even scratched. scratched. even not was fire,

• • and 1,373 foot-pounds* of energy, will penetrate 47 inches of laminated laminated of inches 47 penetrate will energy, of foot-pounds* 1,373 and

(When (When

-• estimated to he he to estimated -•

Figure 5 shows shows 5 Figure

-generously estimated to weigh weigh to estimated -generously

If the trace metal content and ratios of CE 399 are different from those those from different are 399 CE of ratios and content metal trace the If

Even highly rented metal contains contaminants characteristic of a particular lot. lot. particular a of characteristic contaminants contains metal rented highly Even

grossly deformed and the base remains pristine. Similar results were were results Similar pristine. remains base the and deformed grossly

Therefore the metal unaccounted for is approximately 1.5 grains. If If grains. 1.5 approximately is for unaccounted metal the Therefore

Figure 4 shows three fragments (CE 842) of metal surgically removed removed surgically metal of 842) (CE fragments three shows 4 Figure

grain (16 tug.) due to friction in the gun barrel and in the mattresses. mattresses. the in and barrel gun the in friction to due tug.) (16 grain

Figure 3 shows that such bullets, with a speed of 1,96o feet per second second per feet 1,96o of speed a with bullets, such that shows 3 Figure

399 399

for for

(Pines ponderosa) ponderosa) (Pines

weighs weighs

velocity is is velocity

detection by by detection

ASS ASS I NA 1 ION 01. PRES! OEN T I:I.:NNE', I:I.:NNE', T OEN PRES! 01. ION 1 NA I ASS ASS

t,96o t,96o

a a

destructive chemical chemical destructive

bullet which I shot through a rib and a radius of of radius a and rib a through shot I which bullet

feet per second and the weight is 161 grains ) ) grains 161 is weight the and second per feet

before the energy is spent. spent. is energy the before

ANGLE OF FIRE FIRE OF ANGLE

(yelocity)= x weight in grains grains in weight x (yelocity)=

0 0

CE CE

23' 23'

(32.16) (32.16)

842 from Connally's wrist wrist Connally's from 842

prevailing at the first shot as meas- meas- as shot first the at prevailing

analysis and destructive spectrographic spectrographic destructive and analysis

X 2 X 7000 7000 X 2 X

This, This,

• •

of course, is is course, of

159.5 159.5

158.6 grains. grains. 158.6

,373 ,373

0.5 grain grain 0.5

o.1 grain grain o.1

0.3 grain grain 0.3

grains grains

222, 222,

(t3 (t3

a a

I I

emerge in the midline is 28 ; this is obviously impossible from Om% ald's ald's Om% from impossible obviously is this ; 28 is midline the in emerge

lateral angle at this frame to he 9 21'. Elementary anatomy indicated that that indicated anatomy Elementary 21'. 9 he to frame this at angle lateral

the minimum lateral Ingle for the bullet to miss the transverse processes and and processes transverse the miss to bullet the for Ingle lateral minimum the

tired in the EDI re-nactment. I have both measured and calculated the the calculated and measured both have I re-nactment. EDI the in tired ('32 ('32

(CE (CE

6.--View through Oswald's Oswald's through 6.--View

t t

Fit:, Fit:,

895, photograph by courtesy of C. 1. Kelley, Kelley, 1. C. of courtesy by photograph 895,

tuberance (see text). text). (see tuberance

the skull too mm. above the external external the above mm. too skull the

7.—Showing required location of a bullet wound in in wound bullet a of location required 7.—Showing

II II

(t) John Nichols 1971 1971 Nichols John (t)

telescopic sight at at sight telescopic

I' ACTITION F. F. ACTITION I'

Frame 222 222 Frame

occipital pro. pro. occipital

Director FBI). FBI). Director of film (sec text). text). (sec film of