Warren Commission (02 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (02 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. SPECTER. And what is your best estimate of the speed of the
President's automobile at the time of the second shot?
Mr. HILL. Approximately the same speed as that of the first--although
at the time that I jumped on the car, the car had surged forward. The
President at that time had been shot in the head.
Mr. SPECTER. When, in relationship to the second shot, did the car
accelerate--that is, the President's car?
Mr. HILL. Almost simultaneously.
Mr. SPECTER. You testified just a moment ago that the President grabbed
at himself immediately after the first noise which you described as
sounding like a firecracker.
Mr. HILL. Yes, sir.
Mr. SPECTER. Would you tell us with more particularity in what way he
grabbed at himself?
Mr. HILL. He grabbed in this general area.
Mr. SPECTER. You are indicating that your right hand is coming up to
your--to the throat?
Mr. HILL. Yes, sir.
Mr. SPECTER. And the left hand crosses right under the right hand.
Mr. HILL. To the chest area.
Mr. SPECTER. To the chest area. Was there any movement of the
President's head or shoulders immediately after the first shot, that
you recollect?
Mr. HILL. Yes, sir. Immediately when I saw him, he was like this, and
going left and forward.
Mr. SPECTER. Indicating a little fall to the left front.
Mr. HILL. Yes, sir.
Representative BOGGS. This was after a head wound?
Mr. HILL. No, sir.
Representative BOGGS. Before the head wound?
Mr. HILL. Yes, sir; this was the first shot.
Mr. SPECTER. Now, what is your best estimate on the timespan between
the first firecracker-type noise you heard and the second shot which
you have described?
Mr. HILL. Approximately 5 seconds.
Mr. SPECTER. Now, did the impact on the President's head occur
simultaneously, before, or after the second noise which you have
described?
Mr. HILL. Almost simultaneously.
Representative FORD. Did you see the President put his hands to his
throat and chest while you were still on the followup car, or after you
had left it?
Mr. HILL. As I was leaving. And that is one of the reasons I jumped,
because I saw him grab himself and pitch forward and to the left. I
knew something was wrong.
Representative FORD. It was 5 seconds from the firecracker noise that
you think you got to the automobile?
Mr. HILL. Until I reached the handhold, had placed my foot on the left
rear step.
Mr. SPECTER. When, in relationship to the second shot, did Mrs. Kennedy
move out of the rear seat?
Mr. HILL. Just after it.
Mr. SPECTER. You say that it appeared that she was reaching as if
something was coming over to the rear portion of the car, back in the
area where you were coming to?
Mr. HILL. Yes, sir.
Mr. SPECTER. Was there anything back there that you observed, that she
might have been reaching for?
Mr. HILL. I thought I saw something come off the back, too, but I
cannot say that there was. I do know that the next day we found the
portion of the President's head.
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