WE CAN SEE HERE THE DOINGS OF THE AUTOPSY THAT WERE IN REALITY OCCURRING STEP BY STEP BY THE PERMISSION OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY PRESENT BEING MRS. J. F. KENNEDY (JACKIE) AND BROTHER U.S. ATTY. GEN. ROBERT F. KENNEDY....
http://www.jfk-online.com/jfk100autopsy.html (SEE SYNOPSIS BELOW / DIRECT EVIDENCE TESTIMONY)
Now upon verifying all these - it gives a VERY GREAT dismissal of many, many instances of reference to the "autopsy was contolled by conpsirators". That is really important as putting together the over all view of the Parts of the Conpiracy and those of suspicion or report or fact.
Let's start with one person "ordered the hit".....
We have the later screwball lack of security of the Parade Route circumstance under complete suspicion and slight bewilderment. We have the "insider" Col. Prouty giving us the information missing on the actual intelligent factual read out about the normal Presidential Security doings for these Public Events and like events. I myself signed the Petition that was going around in the mid-1970s to reopen the case on the basis of the Military being stopped from performing their normal procedures for the Dallas Presidential Parade Route.
Much the Public was being "turned on to" was from the basically first original publication that shot accross the Nation like wildfire that everyone was reading or being told about that was the book 'Six Seconds In Dallas'. The Parade Route beginnings of "conspiracy theories" also was being the great puzzle as the story went that the Parade Route knowledge was not legally released until just two weeks before the actual event Nov. 22 1963. How did Oswald the assassin know to be on the Parade Route in the "kill zone" at least one month before, getting employment there - and two weeks before the Parade Route could have possibly have been known by anyone in Dallas including Authorities ? It is found it is leaked and there was the "persuading" of the entire trip to President Kennedy and all involved for the trip - the parade route itself of this being a trivial detail to him/them in the overall actual decision to go to Dallas and the politicking involved and the Public appearances.
So the HIT......
Presuming one person ordered the murder, they needed to be THAT inside of the U.S. Government itself. We have the presumed several parts of that.
# The Military part involving Parade Route Security and all logistics of that. A major preeminent part of this is the Secret Service had the legal authority for any call up for additional protections and there was the "stand down order" to the 113th for Parade Route security.
# The personnel such as assassins and contacts and meetings and persuassions and all involved of putting the hit together would lean towards C.I.A. type tactics - these professionally trained in these type orders.
# Evidence tamperings and plants and all involved suggest the F.B.I. as being professionally trained in this area as well as investigations.
So one person ordering the hit would apparently logically begin at the top - the military. This would also coordinate all things such as arrangements and who among persons through CIA abilities and then FBI as far as all evidence securing ALL EVIDENCE TO POINT TO THE COMMITTMENT - the "lone assassin" with Communist background shooting from the REAR - 3 shots ONLY - that indeed was in place virtually within the hour.
As you may be already percieve, my conclusions are based almost entirely on the witnessing of Col. Prouty. BUT there is a religious aspect I don't believe has ever been considered and is why I point all to "one person ordered the hit". There are/were two underground kings involved at the time. These both would/will have total rulership over the ENTIRE worldwide organized crime. A "Godfather" would simply be a "corner boy" to either and both of these kings. These are defined as the 6th and 7th Kingdoms with world dominion found in the Book Of Revelation of the Authorized King James Holy Bible and IN DETAIL HERE.....
eChurchOfPhiladelphia.Org eChurch Forums http://churchphilaforums.freesmfhosting.com/index.phphttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianEministry/http://echurchofphiladelphia.org/http://christianeministry.com/The 6th King is the head of "Red Communism" which attempted world dominion and was strategically put down by President John Fitzgerald Kennedy at the Cuban Missle Crisis. The 7th King is who defeats the 6th King (US - only available super power ability to do such) BUT the 6th King ("of the seven") becomes the 8th King who we all have heard about as called the Beast and 666 and the Devil's Champion and all the like who will rule 70 years including the years as underground ruler of Russia as the 6th and 8th King (underground - murder, bribery, assassination, paid votes, etc. - illegal activities to control) .
Now we have the Allies defeating Hitler's Germany and world dominion attempt via false prophecy (dirt mountain - earthy) - as they are crying at defeat "Fall on Us - it is the Wrath of the Lamb [Jesus Christ second Coming] upon us"..... so that this "Mountain thrown into the sea" [defeat of their king of the mountain Adolph Hitler] shows two things. One, ironically is the event of false prophecy by Hitler [kill all Jews and God will not return] which later rests in the actual False Prophet under the Beast 666. Hitler uniquely was able to deceive the 7 kingdoms that will sit on the 7 mountains [underground kings and dominions in succession since the death of Jesus Christ to the End of Time] by practically indecipherable Scriptures interpretation and teaching [master race, eugenics, etc] which the 7 Kings are the witchcraft that rules. Two, is that though this is beyond the Prophecy revealed about the 7 kingdoms but included, it is understood that Christianity destroyed the evil and again at the Cuban Missle Crisis so that the obvious as saying JFK was operating at the instructions of the 7th King of the devil is not implied at all.
I think now you may understand my Premise that indeed "One Person Ordered The Hit" - and this is now the Religious Mystery included and introduced as to whether the obvious being the 6th King of Red Communism [undergound rulers of Communism worldwide] ordering JFK dead for the two reasons of reciprocity for the public embarressment of the Cuban Missle Crisis and the destruction of the World Peace Plan that the Honorable President John F. Kennedy introduced and continually attended from day one at the Innaugural Speech - OR whether the 7th Kingdom (US) ordering the assassination as preventing that very Peace Plan who "shall continue a short space ...." [14 years give or take]. WHY is this the ACTUAL TRUTH ? ......
Authorized King James Holy Bible
New Testament
Book Of Revelation
Chapter 17 Verse 18
"And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. " .
C.18 V. 24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth".
GOD SAID IT - I BELIEVE IT .... is a common saying of those of Faith.
THE IMPORTANCE..... is that all Christianity is taught, instructed, and believes BEYOND the shadow of a doubt that President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was martyred by the king of this evil City engaging antichrist world dominion. This ONLY means that ONE PERSON - the one king ordered his "execution".
Looking over the Autopsy revealation that actually the Kennedy family was "controlling" this - it takes away a lot of a conpiracy as far as having to control those present and evidences as well - as quite easily simply maneavering them into restricting the autopsy hiding JFK health history and sealing up the actual evidence into the National Archives for them. So, the point is the "size of the conspiracy" is really shrunken here by these events of the Kennedys themselves.
Like the implication "could Organized Crime control the parade route and Wash. DC and the Secret Service and the Officers and the autopsy ? No, it is much bigger. " ---- in other words it is that lighter of all that were in on it or controlled by it - the assassination conspiracy.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT ? .......
The importance is it would OBVIOUSLY be the 7th King (USA Undergound) who ordered the assassination of JFK if THAT MUCH of the American Gov't was being controlled or "on the payroll" and they all would have to have been THAT EVIL obviously to agree to it. It is simply that UNBELIEVABLE that the USSR Underground governement controlled THAT MUCH of America.
HOWEVER - if it is just the handful of persons making arrangements (here dismissing for instance any outside control of the autopsy via conpirators thus the Medical Officers are not included as suspects ) - THEN these fewer could certainly have been approached from international sources as those of the undergorund Soviet Russia (USSR). This is along the same lines that US Organized Crime could not have reached that far into the American Gov't. and so the other side of the coin - neither could have the USSR.
In shorter terms, the actual conspiracy then to assassinate President Kennedy simply involved the ordered 'contract hit' by this head of "Red Communism" (Jackie Kennedy - "They killed him..." ) and those handful, only a handful, of traitors of the USA in those necessary strategic places to carry it out. The real conspiracy is then much smaller than imagined in size of persons, as some wild theories simply snowballed to almost the entire USA Governement was "in on it" - being that absurd. However, let us not forget here that President Kennedy and the USSR President et al were negotiating and seeing the day very imminent in the very near future to achieve, finally, Nuclear Disarmament. Now we look to President LBJ addressing the US Congress saying to "let's pass all these laws to honor President Kennedy" - which were a lot of the civil things and more. BUT, now President, Pres. L.B. Johnson NEVER moved to continue the Nuclear Disarmament hopes of President J. F. Kennedy - but rather ushered the USA into the Viet Nam War with Communism into the millions of troops rotated throughout.
However, when we get rid of all the Public Panic and fire of wild eyed conspiracy theories and vain misinformed beliefs that prevailed for all these years - it finally is melted down to the small handful of Government Insiders that indeed could and did pull this off who could have been hired by either side - American or Russian "evil empires" members and rulers.
========ADDING HERE DIRECT TRANSCRIPT \ AUTOPSY ORDERS.... ====
SYNOPSIS: [After the Warren Commission Report and now Committee, you see the pattern of the back handed interrogation methods and receiving answers that are apparently for a different question and the left handed questioning and so on. Further is jumbled with he said\she said etc. This Synopsis should direct the crux of the matter and results of questioning to simply ask a question and get an answer... DRAWN FROM THE FULL TEXT BELOW... ](29) The committee conducted a review of all documentary evidence and contacted almost all persons still alive who had attended the autopsy. The Department of the Navy agreed to rescind the orders of silence issued to the autopsy personnel.
(31) The evidence indicates that while the pathologists were given authority to perform a complete autopsy, the autopsy was not complete according to established medicolegal standards.
(83) This evidence indicates that:
1. Commander Humes had full authority to perform a complete autopsy, and indeed, that Admiral Galloway told him to do so;
2. Commander Humes, not anyone else, made any decision that resulted in a deviation from a complete forensic autopsy; and
3. The remarks of others to expedite the autopsy were probably the reason for the decision to perform a less than complete autopsy.
(The "Others".... (49) The belief that Dr. Humes had authority for only a partial autopsy derived from several factors. Special Agent O'Neill told the committee that he recalled that Mrs. Kennedy had
given permission for a partial autopsy and that Dr. Burkley, the President's physician, reiterated her remarks in the autopsy room. (36) He believed there was no question that Dr. Burkley was
conveying the wishes of the Kennedy family regarding a full-versus-partial autopsy.(37) Special Agent Sibert told the committee that he, too, had the impression the Kennedy family was somehow transmitting step-by-step clearances to the pathologists. (38)
(50) John Stringer, the medical photographer, likewise recalled some discussion at the beginning of the autopsy concerning the scope of the autopsy. He said he believed Dr. Burkley played a central role in the discussions and seemed to be acting on behalf of the Kennedy family.(39) He specifically
recalled Dr. Burkley indicating to the doctors that they should not conduct a full autopsy,
saying, "* * * (you) shouldn't do a complete one if (you) don't have to."(40)
(51) Adm. David Osborne (then captain) stated that at the beginning of the autopsy there was tremendous pressure to perform a "quick post" and to leave the hospital.
(41)
Following arrival at the Naval Medical Center and preparation of the President's body for inspection and autopsy, to be performed by Dr. Humes, chief pathologist and commander, U.S. Navy, Admiral Burkley, the President's personal physician advised that Mrs. Kennedy had granted permission for a limited autopsy and he questioned any feasibility for a complete autopsy to obtain the bullet which had entered the President's back.
# At this point, it will be noted Dr. Humes, as the physician conducting the autopsy, stated it was his opinion that the bullet was still in the President's body and could only be extracted through a complete autopsy, which he proposed to do.
# Special Agent Roy Kellerman, Secret Service, in conference with Special Agents Sibert and O'Neill, from an investigative and protective standpoint, advised Admiral Burkley that it was felt the bullet should be located.
# At this point, Adm. C.B. Galloway, Commanding Officer of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., told Commander Humes to perform a complete autopsy.
==EDIT=> "Federal Agent" interferes with autopsy....
(57) Stringer also stated that a Federal agent took a camera from Riebe and exposed the film. (52) This apparently occurred because the agent felt Stringer was the only person authorized to photograph the body and that Riebe was only to assist Stringer and not take photographs on his own initiative. ==EDIT=> Q. It should have been asked - who is in charge?
A. "Adm. C.B. Galloway, Commanding Officer of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. "
Q. What were his orders?
A. "to perform a complete autopsy."
Q. Were his orders followed?
A. (31) The evidence indicates that while the pathologists were given authority to perform a complete autopsy, the autopsy was not complete according to established medicolegal standards.
Q. What is the defense statement/position against Court Martial?
A. (76) Although Dr. Humes had authority to perform a complete autopsy, the committee still had to resolve the issue of the actual scope of the autopsy. Specifically, Dr. Humes may have decided on his own initiative to limit the autopsy in certain respects or, despite the initial grant of authority, some factors may possibly have surfaced during the course of the autopsy which may have impinged on the independent decisionmaking of Dr. Humes.
(77) Dr. Pierre Finck, one of the pathologists, asserted in a sworn statement to the committee that he believed the autopsy was incomplete. Because of the restrictions I suggested or said I felt it was not complete, but Dr. Humes then said that the autopsy had accomplished the purposes as stated-the number of wounds, the direction of the projectiles and the cause of death so I was actually satisfied. (98)
Dr. Finck later stated that restrictions from the family (were) the reason for limiting our actions.
(99) Specifically, Dr. Finck contends that someone ordered them (the pathologists) not to dissect the missile track that began in the upper back and progressed forward into the neck region. When questioned about the source of this order, Dr. Finck stated:
I cannot say that it was this army general, I can't
recall that precisely. I remember the prosecutors and
Admiral Galloway. As far as saying now so and so told
me that or didn't tell me that, it is extremely
difficult. There was an army general in that room and I
cannot readily pinpoint the origin of those
instructions to comply with those family wishes. (100)
(78) The committee determined that it was Dr. Humes and not
any army general or other person who made the decision not to
dissect the back entry wound. The following exchange between one
of the medical consultants for the committee and Dr. Humes
supports this conclusion:
Dr. BADEN. Now, for example, not exploring the wound from
the back to the neck, that was not done. I mean, cutting it
open completely. That wasn't done specifically; was that
because somebody said, "Don't do it"?
Dr. HUMES. Now wait a minute, that wound was excised.
Dr. BADEN. The back wound?
Dr. HUMES. Yes, sir. The back of the neck, and there are
microscopic slides of that wound.
Dr. BADEN. I see. The skin was taken out. And then was --
Dr. HUMES. It was probed.
Dr. BADEN. Was it opened up?
Dr. HUMES. It was not laid open.
Dr. BADEN. Now that was your decision as opposed to somebody
else's decision?
Dr. HUMES. Yes. It was mine. (101)
(79) The committee also investigated the possibility that the Kennedy family may have unduly influenced the pathologists once the autopsy began, possibly by transmitting messages by
telephone into the autopsy room. Brig. Gen. Godfrey McHugh, then an Air Force military aide to the President, informed the committee that Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth O'Donnell, a presidential aide, frequently telephoned him during the autopsy from the 17th floor suite.
(102) McHugh said that on occasions, Kennedy and O'Donnell asked only to speak with
him.(103) They inquired about the results, why the autopsy was consuming so much time, and the need for speed and efficiency, while still performing the required examinations.
(104) McHugh said he forwarded this information to the pathologists, never stating or implying that the doctors should limit the autopsy in any manner, but merely reminding them to work as efficiently and quickly as possible.(105)
(80) While General McHugh or others may not have stated or implied that the doctors should limit the autopsy, their remarks no doubt caused consternation, although they may not have substantively affected the autopsy. The following passage explains this view:
(81) Dr. HUMES. There were no questions but we were being urged to expedite this examination as quickly as possible, that members of the President's family were in the building, that they refused to leave the premises until the President's body was ready to be moved; and similar remarks of the vein which we made every effort to put aside and approach the investigation in as scientific a manner as we could. But did it harass us and cause difficulty--of course it did, how could it not!
Dr. BOSWELL. I don't think it interfered with the manner in which we did the autopsy.
Dr. HUMES. I don't either. (106)
(82) Dr. Boswell further stated that there were no constraints. (107) Dr. Ebersole, the radiologist, likewise informed the committee that "to the best of my knowledge there were absolutely no restrictions and it was Dr. Humes' decision as to the extent of the autopsy."(108) Stringer, one of the medical photographers, also could not recall anyone issuing any orders. (109) He stated specifically that while McHugh manifested a great deal of emotion, he did not issue any orders. (110)
(83) This evidence indicates that:
1. Commander Humes had full authority to perform a complete
autopsy, and indeed, that Admiral Galloway told him to do
so;
2. Commander Humes, not anyone else, made any decision that
resulted in a deviation from a complete forensic autopsy;
and
3. The remarks of others to expedite the autopsy were
probably the reason for the decision to perform a less than
complete autopsy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is from Volume 7 of the HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
ASSASSINATIONS:
SECTION II.--PERFORMANCE OF AUTOPSY
PART I. INTRODUCTION
(27) Throughout the last 15 years, many critics have
questioned the competency and validity of the autopsy of
President Kennedy. The efforts of the U.S. Department of the Navy
and other Government sources to insure privacy with respect to
the autopsy procedures and other events that took place at
Bethesda Naval Hospital have contributed in part to much of the
uncertainty and skepticism. Included in these efforts was an
order of silence issued to the participants in the autopsy. (1)
(28) Because of this skepticism and in accordance with its
mandate to conduct a full and complete investigation into the
circumstances surrounding the death of President Kennedy, the
committee decided to investigate the performance of the autopsy.
The focus was to be on the following issues:
1. The possibility that someone ordered or
otherwise strongly suggested that the autopsy
doctors perform a limited or incomplete
autopsy;
2. The question of the competency and validity of
the autopsy; and
3. The documentation of the events that occurred,
how they occurred, and when they occurred.
(29) The committee conducted a review of all documentary
evidence and contacted almost all persons still alive who had
attended the autopsy. The Department of the Navy agreed to
rescind the orders of silence issued to the autopsy personnel.
(30) The following material relates the issues and
corresponding facts chronologically (part II) and then presents
the conclusions of the committee.
(31) The evidence indicates that while the pathologists
were given authority to perform a complete autopsy, the autopsy
was not complete according to established medicolegal standards.
PART II. FACTS AND ISSUES
Background
(32) At 1:30 p.m., eastern standard time (e.s.t.), on
November 22, 1963, President Kennedy and Governor Connally were
shot while riding in a Presidential motorcade, through the
streets of Dallas, Tex. The driver of the Presidential limousine,
Secret Service Agent William Grier, immediately drove the
limousine at high speed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas,
Tex. arriving at approximately 1:35 p.m., e.s.t.(2) Having been
alerted to the emergency by radio, Parkland Hospital personnel
quickly escorted the wounded President and Governor into the
emergency treatment facilities.
(33) Drs. Malcolm Perry and Charles J. Carrico were two of
the first doctors to attend the President. In addition to a
massive head wound, both observed a small, circular wound
situated in the region of the neck below the adam's apple, which
they subsequently characterized as an entry wound. (3) To combat
the President's failure to breathe, Dr. Perry decided to perform
a tracheotomy.(4) In doing so, he cut through the small, circular
neck wound, making it difficult to identify the missile wound.
(34) With respect to the head wound, Dr. Robert McClelland,
another the doctors who attended the President, said in his
testimony before the Warren Commission, that the right posterior
section of the skull had been blasted. (6) Dr. Kemp Clark, who
also assisted with the President, similarly described the wound
as being in the back of the President's head--in the right
posterior part. (7)
(35) The Parkland doctors soon realized their efforts to
save President Kennedy were fruitless. Dr. Clark pronounced him
dead at 2 p.m., e.s.t.( 8 )
(36) The total time that the doctors had observed or
treated the President was approximately 20 minutes. They had
been concerned only with administering emergency treatment. Their
primary concern was to restore the breathing and stop the
bleeding. None examined the President's back--and so did not
discover any wound there. Further, none observed any wound to the
head other than the one massive wound. Nor was their job to
measure precisely the location of the wounds or to examine the
body for all possible wounds. When the President died, the
Parkland doctors' functions also ended. (9)
(37) Drs. Robert Shaw, Charles Gregory, and George Shires
treated the wounds of Governor Connally. (10) In their medical
reports, they described wounds to his chest, wrist, and thigh.
(38) Soon after Dr. Kemp Clark of Parkland Hospital,
Dallas, Tex., pronounced the President dead, the Secret Service
and other personnel proceeded to transport the body from Texas to
Washington, D.C. While in flight, Mrs. Kennedy chose Bethesda
Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., as the site for the autopsy,
since the President had served in the Navy. (11)
(39) The Secret Service and the Navy Department made
arrangements for the performance of the autopsy. (12) The surgeon
general the Navy and the commanding officer of the Naval Medical
School advised Comdr. James J. Humes, the director of
laboratories of the National Medical School, (13) Naval Medical
Center, Bethesda, Md., that the Secret Service was transporting
the body of the President to Bethesda and that he was to
ascertain the cause of death. (14)
(40) The FBI authorities contacted their Baltimore field
office and advised that arrangements should be made for Bureau
agents to proceed to Andrews Air Force Base, Camp Springs, Md.,
to meet Air Force One and to handle any matters that would fall
within FBI jurisdiction.(15) Consequently, Special Agents Francis
X. O'Neill, Jr., and James W. Sibert proceeded to Andrews Air
Force Base. Their specific instructions were to accompany the
body at all times, ride in the motorcade to Bethesda Naval
Hospital, witness the autopsy, preserve the chain of custody of
any evidentiary material, and transport any bullets that might be
recovered to the FBI Laboratory.
(41) On arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, a motorcade
transported the body of the President to the Bethesda Naval
Hospital, (17) with Special Agents Sibert and O'Neill traveling
in the third car. (18) At Bethesda, the ambulance first stopped
at the main entrance; Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy and Attorney
General Robert F. Kennedy got out (19) and joined other members
of the Kennedy family on the 17th floor of the hospital to await
the conclusion of the autopsy. (20) The ambulance then proceeded
to the rear of the building, arriving at approximately 7:35
p.m.(21). Personnel carried the body into the hospital. (22)
(42) Dr. Humes chose J. Thornton Boswell, M.D., chief of
pathology at Bethesda, (23) and Pierre A. Finck, M.D., chief of
the military environmental pathology division and chief of the
wound ballistics pathology branch at the Armed Forces Institute
of Pathology at Walter Reed Medical Center, (241) to assist him
in performing the autopsy. During the autopsy, Special Agents
Sibert and O'Neill recorded the names of what they believed were
all the persons in attendance at any time. (25) In a report they
submitted subsequent the autopsy, they included: (26)
1. Adm. Calvin B. Galloway, commanding officer of the U.N.
[sic] National Naval Medical Center;
2. Adm. George C. Burkley, White House physician to the
President;
3. Comdr. James J. Humes, director of the laboratories of
the National Medical School, Naval Medical Center,
Bethesda, Md.;
4. Capt. James H. Stover, Jr., commanding officer of the
Naval Medical School;
5. John Thomas Stringer, Jr., medical photographer;
6. James H. Ebersole, assistant chief radiologist at the
Bethesda Naval Medical Center;
7. Floyd Albert Riebe, medical photographer;
8. J. Thornton Boswell, chief of pathology at Bethesda;
9. Jan Gail Rudnicki, laboratory technologist, assisting Dr.
Boswell;
10. Pierre A. Finck, M.D., chief of the military
environmental pathology division and chief of the wound
ballistics pathology branch at Walter Reed Medical
Center; (27)
11. Paul K. O'Conner, laboratory technologist;
12. Jerrol F. Custer, X-ray technician;
13. James Curtis Jenkins, laboratory technologist;
14. Edward F. Reed, X-ray technician;
15. James E. Metzler, hospital corpsman third-class;
16. Capt. David Osborne, chief of surgery;
17. Brig. Gen. Godfrey McHugh, Air Force aide to the
President;
18. Lt. Comdr. Gregory H. Cross, resident in surgery;
19. Gen. Philip C. Wehle, commanding officer of the U.S.
Military District, Washington, D.C.;
20. Chester H. Boyers, chief petty officer in charge of the
pathology division;
21. Dr. George Bakeman, U.S. Navy (the committee could not
locate this person);
22. Secret Service Agent Roy Kellerman;
23. Secret Service Agent William Greer; and
24. Secret Service Agent John J. O'Leary. (28)
(43) Through its own investigation, the committee
determined that the following persons also attended the autopsy:
1. Richard A. Lipsey, personal aide to General Wehle;(29)
and
2. Samuel Bird,(30) in 1963, a lieutenant stationed at the
ceremonial duties office, Fort Myers, Va., 3d Infantry
Division.
(44) Additionally, Sibert and O'Neill reported that,
following the autopsy, four persons from Gawler's Funeral Home in
Washington, D.C., entered the autopsy room to prepare the
President's body for burial. They were:
1. John Van Haeson;
2. Edwin Stroble;
3. Thomas Robinson; and
4. Mr. Hagen.(31)
(45) These persons, together with Sibert and O'Neill, were
the only ones present at any time in the autopsy room with the
body of the President.
(46) In their report, Sibert and O'Neill noted that the
body of the President was removed from the casket in which it
arrived and placed on the autopsy table.(32) They said that a
sheet covered the entire body; an additional wrapping, saturated
in blood, surrounded the head. (33)
(47) Dr. Humes had testified previously to the Warren
Commission that the body was received in a casket, was wrapped in
a sheet, and was unclothed.(34) James Jenkins, a student
laboratory technician, whose normal duties included admitting a
body to the morgue and conducting an initial examination,
likewise stated that the body of the President was unclothed and
that it may have been wrapped in a sheet. (35)
(48) A major issue in the initial stages of the autopsy was
whether Dr. Humes had authority to perform a full or partial
autopsy.
(49) The belief that Dr. Humes had authority for only a
partial autopsy derived from several factors. Special Agent
O'Neill told the committee that he recalled that Mrs. Kennedy had
given permission for a partial autopsy and that Dr. Burkley, the
President's physician, reiterated her remarks in the autopsy
room. (36) He believed there was no question that Dr. Burkley was
conveying the wishes of the Kennedy family regarding a
full-versus-partial autopsy.(37) Special Agent Sibert told the
committee that he, too, had the impression the Kennedy family was
somehow transmitting step-by-step clearances to the pathologists.
(38)
(50) John Stringer, the medical photographer, likewise
recalled some discussion at the beginning of the autopsy
concerning the scope of the autopsy. He said he believed Dr.
Burkley played a central role in the discussions and seemed to be
acting on behalf of the Kennedy family.(39) He specifically
recalled Dr. Burkley indicating to the doctors that they should
not conduct a full autopsy, saying, "* * * (you) shouldn't do a
complete one if (you) don't have to."(40)
(51) Adm. David Osborne (then captain) stated that at the
beginning of the autopsy there was tremendous pressure to perform
a "quick post" and to leave the hospital. (41)
(52) The evidence supports the above recollections. They
reflect the general nature of the initial stages of the autopsy:
somewhat confused at the beginning with discussions concerning
the extent and nature of the autopsy to be performed. The
evidence also indicates, however, that these observations do not
reflect the total picture and that Dr. Humes ultimately received
permission to perform a complete autopsy. The following
memorandum is a primary source:
DATE: NOVEMBER 26, 1963.
SAC, Baltimore.
From: SA's James W. Sibert and Francis X. O'Neill, Jr.
Subject: Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Following arrival at the Naval Medical Center and
preparation of the President's body for inspection and
autopsy, to be performed by Dr. Humes, chief
pathologist and commander, U.S. Navy, Admiral Burkley,
the President's personal physician advised that Mrs.
Kennedy had granted permission for a limited autopsy
and he questioned any feasibility for a complete
autopsy to obtain the bullet which had entered the
President's back.
At this point, it will be noted Dr. Humes, as the
physician conducting the autopsy, stated it was his
opinion that the bullet was still in the President's
body and could only be extracted through a complete
autopsy, which he proposed to do.
Special Agent Roy Kellerman, Secret Service, in
conference with Special Agents Sibert and O'Neill, from
an investigative and protective standpoint, advised
Admiral Burkley that it was felt the bullet should be
located.
At this point, Adm. C.B. Galloway, Commanding
Officer of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda,
Md., told Commander Humes to perform a complete
autopsy.
(53) Special Agent O'Neill corroborated the information in
this memorandum in an affidavit and in his interview with the
committee.(42) In addition, Admiral Osborne (the Captain) stated
in a committee interview that Dr. Humes was successful in
resisting pressure to perform an incomplete autopsy and that no
one issued any orders limiting it. (43) Admiral Galloway also
stated that no one transmitted any orders to limit the autopsy in
any manner and that this memorandum was consistent with his
recollections.
(54) For these reasons, it may be concluded that Dr. Humes
possessed authority to perform a complete autopsy.
(55) During the initial stages of the autopsy, when the
discussion over a full-versus-partial autopsy occurred, the
pathologists conducted an examination of the exterior of the body
and took photographs and X-rays before making any incisions. (45)
This is when the pathologists observed that a tracheostomy had
been performed on the President.(46)
(56) Stringer(47) and Riebe(48) took the autopsy
photographs under the direction of Dr. Humes. Stringer told the
committee that his equipment included a 4- by 5-inch graphic view
camera that had standard lens and used film holders which
contained one segment of film on each side.(49) He also stated
that as he photographed the body, he would give the film to a
Secret Service agent standing adjacent to him who later signed a
receipt to Captain Stover to obtain formal custody of the
film.(50) Such a receipt--from Capt. J. H. Stover, Jr.,
commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Medical School to Roy H.
Kellerman, assistant special agent in charge, U.S. Secret
Service--does exist. (51)
(57) Stringer also stated that a Federal agent took a
camera from Riebe and exposed the film. (52) This apparently
occurred because the agent felt Stringer was the only person
authorized to photograph the body and that Riebe was only to
assist Stringer and not take photographs on his own initiative.
(58) Special Agents Sibert and O'Neill confirmed that the
pathologists had X-rays taken before and after making
incisions.(53) Dr. Ebersole, the acting chief of the radiology
department that evening, stated in a deposition to the committee
that prior to commencing the autopsy he took several X-rays of
the skull, chest and trunk of the body. (54) He stated that he
used portable X-ray equipment (55) and did not take X-rays of the
hands and feet.(56) Dr. Ebersole further told the committee that
he hand carried these films in their cassettes to the fourth
floor of the hospital, where a darkroom technician developed them
and then returned them to him. Ebersole then hand carried them
back to the autopsy room. (57)
(59) After completion of the autopsy, before releasing the
X-rays, Dr. Ebersole received a receipt from Roy H. Kellerman
acknowledging possession of them.
(60) Sibert and O'Neill observed that, on the basis of the
preliminary X-rays, the pathologists concluded that:
* * * no complete bullet of any size could be located in the
brain area and likewise no bullet could be located in the
back or any other area of the body as determined by total
body X-rays. (59)
(61) At approximately 8:15 p.m., e.s.t, Dr. Humes made the
first incision. (60) In his Warren Commission testimony, he
stated that he used a routine incision:
Which is a Y-shaped incision from the shoulders over the
lower portion of the breastbone and over to the opposite
shoulder and reflected the skin and tissues from the
interior portion of the chest. (61)
(62) Dr. Humes then began examining the missile wounds.
Sibert and O'Neill noted that he located the track of a missile
that appeared to enter the rear of the head and progress forward.
(62) The X-rays of the skull revealed numerous minute fragments
widely distributed throughout the skull, as well as two larger
fragments. The pathologists commented that this indicated the
missile had fragmented on passing through the skull. (63)
(63) Dr. Humes located the entrance of the missile track in
the head as approximately 2.5 centimeters laterally to the right
and slightly above the external occipital protuberance. (64)
(64) In the autopsy report, Dr. Humes described the exit
as:
A large irregular defect of the scalp and skull on the right
involving chiefly the parietal bone but extending somewhat
into the temporal and occipital regions. (65)
He further stated that:
n this region there is an actual absence of scalp and
bone producing a defect which measures approximately 13
centimeters in greatest diameter. (66).
(65) Sibert and O'Neill observed that Dr. Humes removed two
fragments from the right side of the skull; one 7 by 2
millimeters in size, the other 1 by 3 millimeters.(67) Special
Agents Sibert and O'Neill signed a receipt for custody of these
fragments and immediately following the autopsy transported them
to Special Agent Kurt Frazier at the FBI Laboratory. (68)
(66) The receipt for the fragments has been a continuing
source of controversy. It states that Bureau agents received a
"missile," (69) as opposed to two fragments. Chester H. Boyers,
the corpsman who typed the receipt,(70) submitted an affidavit to
the committee which stated that the receipt was for two fragments
that Dr. Humes removed from the skull, despite the receipt's
caption of "a missile." (71) Boyers emphasized that he gave
Sibert and O'Neill only missile fragments.
In affidavits and committee interviews, Sibert and O'Neill
also stated that Dr. Humes had retrieved two fragments and that
they received these fragments and not a missile. (73)
(67) The evidence indicates that the receipt was in error
and that Boyers transferred only fragments to Sibert and O'Neill.
(68) Sibert and O'Neill next observed in their report that
Dr. Humes examined a wound situated below the shoulders and 2
inches to the right of the middle line of the spinal column.(74)
In the autopsy report, Dr. Humes characterized this wound as an
entrance wound and located it 14 centimeters from the tip of the
right acromion process and 14 centimeters below the tip of the
right mastoid process. (75) Dr. Humes probed this wound with his
finger and concluded that the missile had only traveled a short
distance because he could feel the end track with his finger.(76)
During the autopsy, Dr. Humes stated that he and his colleagues
opened the chest cavity and carefully examined the lining of the
chest cavity and both lungs.(77) Admiral Galloway told the
committee that the pathologists examined the brain and all of the
internal organs and structures. These included the liver, heart,
lungs, spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands.(78) The autopsy
protocol and supplemental report state that the doctors examined
the chest cavity, lungs, heart, abdominal cavity, skeletal
system, liver, spleen, kidneys, and brain, but did not list the
adrenal glands.(79)
(69) In regard to the examination of the chest cavity, Dr.
Humes told the Warren Commission and the committee that he
specifically remembered the photographers taking Kodachrome
photographs of the interior of the President's chest. (80)
Stringer, one of the photographers, stated that he also thought
he had taken some interior photographs of the President's chest.
(81) Dr. Burkley, however, told the committee that no one took
any photographs of the interior of the chest. (82) There is no
evidence that such photographs exist.
(70) By this point in the autopsy, the pathologists had
closely examined the body and had still not located any missile,
particularly the one which entered the back. They could not
explain why they could not find any bullets.(83) They then began
speculating about bullets which fragment. Special Agent Sibert
decided to call Special Agent Charles L. Killion at the firearms
section of the FBI laboratory to inquire about fragmenting
bullets.(84) On receiving this call, Killion informed Sibert that
Secret Service Agent Richard Johnson had forwarded to the
laboratory a bullet which reportedly had been found on a
stretcher in the emergency room of Parkland Memorial Hospital in
Dallas, Tex. (85) Killion described the bullet as a
6.5-millimeter rifle missile with a copper-alloy full jacket.
(86)
(71) Sibert and O'Neill stated in their report that during
the autopsy Dr. Humes, concluded on the basis of this information
and knowing that the Parkland doctors had performed cardiac
massage that they may have forced the bullet out of the
President's back. (87) This theory would account for a missile
track with no bullet.
(72) During the latter stages of the autopsy, authorities
sent from Dallas three separate fragments of skull bone (88)
found in the Presidential limousine. There is no evidence to show
who sent these fragments to Bethesda. The pathologists concluded
they were from the skull. Dr. Humes directed the X-raying of
these fragments(89) and observed that one of the fragments
contained minute metallic fragments along a line which
corresponded with the large defect in the skull of the
President.(90) This particular bone fragment alone exhibited
beveling of the outer table which Pierre Finck said indicated
that a missile exited at that point.(91) Both Dr. Humes and Dr.
Burkley informed the committee that these fragments were placed
back in the skull of the President. (92)
(73) By the termination of the autopsy at approximately 11
p.m.,(93) the pathologist had formulated the following general
conclusions:
1. One missile entered in the rear of the skull of the
President and exited in the front of the skull; and
2. One missile entered the back of the President and was
apparently dislodged during cardiac massage at Parkland
Hospital.
(74) Admiral Galloway corroborated these statements before
the committee, saying that an assassin or assassins shot the
President from behind with two shots. (95)
(75) After completing the autopsy, Dr. Humes remained to
assist the morticians in preparing the President's body. (96)
Secret Service Agent Kellerman said that after the morticians had
prepared the body, the Secret Service agents and the Kennedy
family left the hospital at 3:56 a.m. and went to the White
House. (97)
Additional issues arising from
the performance of the autopsy
(76) Although Dr. Humes had authority to perform a complete
autopsy, the committee still had to resolve the issue of the
actual scope of the autopsy. Specifically, Dr. Humes may have
decided on his own initiative to limit the autopsy in certain
respects or, despite the initial grant of authority, some factors
may possibly have surfaced during the course of the autopsy which
may have impinged on the independent decisionmaking of Dr. Humes.
(77) Dr. Pierre Finck, one of the pathologists, asserted in
a sworn statement to the committee that he believed the autopsy
was incomplete.
Because of the restrictions I suggested or said I felt
it was not complete, but Dr. Humes then said that the
autopsy had accomplished the purposes as stated-the
number of wounds, the direction of the projectiles and
the cause of death so I was actually satisfied. (98)
Dr. Finck later stated that restrictions from the family (were)
the reason for limiting our actions. (99) Specifically, Dr. Finck
contends that someone ordered them (the pathologists) not to
dissect the missile track that began in the upper back and
progressed forward into the neck region. When questioned about
the source of this order, Dr. Finck stated:
I cannot say that it was this army general, I can't
recall that precisely. I remember the prosecutors and
Admiral Galloway. As far as saying now so and so told
me that or didn't tell me that, it is extremely
difficult. There was an army general in that room and I
cannot readily pinpoint the origin of those
instructions to comply with those family wishes. (100)
(78) The committee determined that it was Dr. Humes and not
any army general or other person who made the decision not to
dissect the back entry wound. The following exchange between one
of the medical consultants for the committee and Dr. Humes
supports this conclusion:
Dr. BADEN. Now, for example, not exploring the wound from
the back to the neck, that was not done. I mean, cutting it
open completely. That wasn't done specifically; was that
because somebody said, "Don't do it"?
Dr. HUMES. Now wait a minute, that wound was excised.
Dr. BADEN. The back wound?
Dr. HUMES. Yes, sir. The back of the neck, and there are
microscopic slides of that wound.
Dr. BADEN. I see. The skin was taken out. And then was --
Dr. HUMES. It was probed.
Dr. BADEN. Was it opened up?
Dr. HUMES. It was not laid open.
Dr. BADEN. Now that was your decision as opposed to somebody
else's decision?
Dr. HUMES. Yes. It was mine. (101)
(79) The committee also investigated the possibility that
the Kennedy family may have unduly influenced the pathologists
once the autopsy began, possibly by transmitting messages by
telephone into the autopsy room. Brig. Gen. Godfrey McHugh, then
an Air Force military aide to the President, informed the
committee that Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth
O'Donnell, a presidential aide, frequently telephoned him during
the autopsy from the 17th floor suite. (102) McHugh said that on
occasions, Kennedy and O'Donnell asked only to speak with
him.(103) They inquired about the results, why the autopsy was
consuming so much time, and the need for speed and efficiency,
while still performing the required examinations. (104) McHugh
said he forwarded this information to the pathologists, never
stating or implying that the doctors should limit the autopsy in
any manner, but merely reminding them to work as efficiently and
quickly as possible.(105)
(80) While General McHugh or others may not have stated or
implied that the doctors should limit the autopsy, their remarks
no doubt caused consternation, although they may not have
substantively affected the autopsy. The following passage
explains this view:
(81) Dr. HUMES. There were no questions but we were being
urged to expedite this examination as quickly as
possible, that members of the President's family were
in the building, that they refused to leave the
premises until the President's body was ready to be
moved; and similar remarks of the vein which we made
every effort to put aside and approach the
investigation in as scientific a manner as we could.
But did it harass us and cause difficulty--of course it
did, how could it not!
Dr. BOSWELL. I don't think it interfered with the
manner in which we did the autopsy.
Dr. HUMES. I don't either. (106)
(82) Dr. Boswell further stated that there were no
constraints. (107) Dr. Ebersole, the radiologist, likewise
informed the committee that "to the best of my knowledge there
were absolutely no restrictions and it was Dr. Humes' decision as
to the extent of the autopsy."(108) Stringer, one of the medical
photographers, also could not recall anyone issuing any orders.
(109) He stated specifically that while McHugh manifested a great
deal of emotion, he did not issue any orders. (110)
(83) This evidence indicates that:
1. Commander Humes had full authority to perform a complete
autopsy, and indeed, that Admiral Galloway told him to do
so;
2. Commander Humes, not anyone else, made any decision that
resulted in a deviation from a complete forensic autopsy;
and
3. The remarks of others to expedite the autopsy were
probably the reason for the decision to perform a less than
complete autopsy.
(84) In a committee telephone interview with Admiral
Osborne, another issue arose. He stated that he thought he
recalled seeing an intact slug roll out from the clothing of
President Kennedy and onto the autopsy table when personnel
opened the casket and removed the clothing from the body of the
President. (111)
(85) The committee reviewed thoroughly all documents and
recontacted those persons who moved the body of the President
from the casket onto the autopsy table and then prepared the body
for examination. Paul K. O'Connor, who along with James Jenkins,
had the duty of preparing the body for the autopsy, said the body
had arrived at about 8 p.m. and was wrapped in a body bag, the
head in a sheet. (112) O'Connor said he assisted in unwrapping
the sheet(113) and could not recall any foreign object,
specifically a missile, being discovered during the autopsy or
while unwrapping the sheets. (114)
(86) Jenkins likewise said he could not recall any foreign
objects being discovered or discussed and specifically could not
recall any missile or fragments of a missile falling out onto the
autopsy table or floor. (115)
(87) Throughout the committee's investigation, no one had
ever mentioned the discovery of a missile in Bethesda Naval
Hospital. The only bullet recovered was the one discovered at
Parkland Memorial Hospital.
(88) Following this investigation, the committee
recontacted Admiral Osborne and informed him that the body of the
President had not arrived in any clothes, but was wrapped in
sheets,(116) and that no one else recalled anything about the
discovery of a missile.(117) Admiral Osborne then said that he
could not be sure he actually did see a missile and that it was
possible the FBI and Secret Service only spoke about the
discovery of a missile. He did say he was positive only one
bullet was ever recovered, whether it was discovered at Bethesda
Hospital or Parkland Hospital. (118)
Post-autopsy events
(89) On Saturday morning, November 23, Dr. Humes informed
the committee that he fulfilled a religious commitment and then
met with the other two autopsy pathologists in the late morning
(119) to discuss the preparation of the autopsy report. Dr. Humes
said he then called Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas to speak
with the doctors who had administered emergency treatment to
President Kennedy.(120) Dr. Perry, one of the first physicians to
see and treat the President, told the committee that Dr. Humes
called him twice, separated by about a 30-minute interval. (121)
During the first call, Dr. Perry told Dr. Humes that due to the
President's failure to breathe, he had determined a tracheostomy
was necessary, then or never, and therefore made a transverse
incision straight through the bullet wound in the anterior aspect
of the neck at approximately the second or third tracheal ring.
(122) The second call involved a discussion of chest incisions
made on the President at Parkland. (123)
(90) As a result of these telephone calls, Dr. Humes
concluded that the missile which had entered the upper back had
traversed the body and exited in the anterior portion of the
neck,(124) although he had not observed the remains of any such
hole during his examination of the body.
(91) Following the telephone calls with Dr. Perry, Dr.
Humes went home and rested until late that afternoon and then
proceeded to write the autopsy protocol (autopsy report).(125) He
told the committee that after writing the report he destroyed the
original notes because they were stained with the blood of the
President and he felt it would be "inappropriate to retain [them]
to turn in to anyone in that condition" (126)
(92) In preparing the autopsy protocol, Dr. Humes did not
have access to the autopsy photographs or X-rays. (127) (This was
also the case with respect to his Warren Commission testimony.)
(93) After completion of the autopsy protocol(128). Dr.
Humes hand-carried the document to the Office of the White House
Physician at approximately 6 p.m. that evening.(129) The general
conclusions were that:
1. One missile entered in the rear of the skull of the
President and exited in the front of the skull; and
2. One missile entered the back of the President and exited
in the front of the neck. (130)
(94) The pathologists completed a supplementary report
approximately weeks later and delivered it to the White House
Physician on December 6, 1963. (