2.1 Autopsy ControlledControlled by Who?
Just as introduction, basically 1963 was void of many, many, many taken-for-granted practical inventions and lifestyle today. Color TV was not even invented yet ! There were no personal computers - and possibly not even dreamed of yet. No cell phones or smart phones. No Satellite TV or internet - and of course no internet at all or even dreamed of yet probably. The Presidential Assassination on November 22, 1963 is sometimes referred to as the first "media circus" in America - and as giving birth to the modern Live News casts on location.
Because the assassination was obviously the "crime of the century" - and especially upon knowledge of the death of the President, all newscasts were broadcasting all tidbits blow by blow, minute by minute, of all the events unfolding. There was the initial witnesses pointing to a man seen in the 6th Floor window of the Schoolbook Depository and the Police rushing in there. And rapidly, events unfolded to the broadcast for a possible suspect and the finding of the apparent murder weapon and finding the suspect after minutes before of a local Dallas Police Officer gunned down in the streets involved in a possible arrest or questioning - whether related yet unknown. There were some processed movie clips being shown - and the famous Abe Zapruder being interviewed and the suggestion to get his home film processed as fast as possible.
So we all know the history - as literally with in a handful of hours that some 'lone assassin" with a Communist background was arrested who worked in the Schoolbook Depository and was found to be the owner of the rifle found on the 6th Floor where he was working which included the three spent cartridges on the floor beside the window a man was seen in with a rifle - and as well was charged with the Police Officer homicide. And then the bizarre occurrence of the suspect murdered in the Police Building live on Television during the funeral of President J. F. Kennedy while he (Oswald) was in transport and by some supposed 'mafia' figure.
Since it is known a conspiracy occurred, the most important event of that aspect here is commitment.....
The overall Conspiracy has engaged very early on to commitment. They committed to the murder weapon and the murderer and most importantly that the fatal shot occurred from the 6th Floor of the Depository Building - behind the President. All the evidence now going on immediately after the fatal shots have to agree with the shot from behind from the 6th Floor and that Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots - only 3 - with the murder weapon found and spent shells beside it, 3. As to who knew what that was involved in the conspiracy can be arrived at with the intense conclusion of the case, all told. What immediately occurring after the assassination and pronounced death of the President was one of the first evidence tamperings by the illegal seizure of the dead president's body at Parkland Hospital to prevent a legal Autopsy under Texas Law and Jurisdiction. This was quite necessary as we find that part of the over all Conspiracy as persuading the Kennedy Family present - Widow Mrs. Kennedy and brother U.S. Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy - to the hope of offering the limited findings to archives that "locked up" the evidence for that time period (see the Gift Law and either 25 or 50 years in Archives) - limited as also the knowing and suggesting towards the Kennedy Family to not allow some procedures of the Autopsy because of the "health secrets' of the President.
The autopsy "directed" by the Kennedy Family members, Jackie and Bobby......
We can see here (link below) the doings of the Autopsy that were in reality occurring step by step by the permission of the Kennedy Family present - Mrs. Jackie Kennedy (First lady) and Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy (President's brother).
http://www.jfk-online.com/jfk100autopsy.html(See the 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 controlled by conspirators". That is really important as putting together the over all view of the Parts of the Conspiracy and those of suspicion or report or fact.
===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...]
(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....Huh?
(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=> I pose direct questions (Q.) that should have been asked in a direct manner. Answers (A.) are from direct testimony.....
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 for disobeying orders?
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 decision making 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;
3. The remarks of others to expedite the autopsy were probably the reason for the decision to perform a less than complete autopsy.
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Volume 7 of the HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS:
SECTION II.--PERFORMANCE OF AUTOPSY
PART I. INTRODUCTION
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/autopsy3.txt
