Warren Commission (04 of 26): Hearings Vol. IV (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (04 of 26): Hearings Vol. IV (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Dr. SHAW. By the fact of its size, the ragged edges of the wound. This
wound was covered by a dressing which could not be removed until the
Governor was anesthetized.
Mr. SPECTER. Indicating this wound, the wound on the Governor's chest?
Dr. SHAW. Yes; the front part.
Mr. SPECTER. Will you describe in as much detail as you can the wound
on the posterior side of the Governor's chest?
Dr. SHAW. This was a small wound approximately a centimeter and a
half in its greatest diameter. It was roughly elliptical. It was just
medial to the axillary fold or the crease of the armpit, but we could
tell that this wound, the depth of the wound, had not penetrated the
shoulder blade.
Mr. SPECTER. What were the characteristics, if any, which indicated to
you that it was a wound of entrance then?
Dr. SHAW. Its small size, and the rather clean cut edges of the wound
as compared to the usual more ragged wound of exit.
Mr. SPECTER. Now I hand you a diagram which is a body diagram on
Commission Exhibit No. 679, and ask you if, on the back portion of
the figure, that accurately depicts the point of entry into Governor
Connally's back?
Dr. SHAW. Yes. The depiction of the point of entry, I feel is quite
accurate.
Mr. SPECTER. Now, with respect to the front side of the body, is the
point of exit accurately shown on the diagram?
Dr. SHAW. The point is----
Mr. SPECTER. We have heretofore, may the record show the deposition
covered much the same ground with Dr. Shaw, but the diagrams used now
are new diagrams which will have to be remarked in accordance with your
recollection.
Dr. SHAW. Yes. Because I would have to place--they are showing here the
angle.
Mr. DULLES. Is this all on the record?
Mr. SPECTER. It should be.
Dr. SHAW. We are showing on this angle, the cartilage angle which it
makes at the end of the sternum.
Mr. SPECTER. That is an inverted =V= which appears in front of the body?
Dr. SHAW. Now the wound was above that. They have shown it below that
point so the wound would have to be placed here as far as the point is
concerned.
Mr. SPECTER. Would you draw on that diagram a more accurate depiction
of where the wound of exit occurred?
Dr. SHAW. Do you want me to initial this?
Mr. SPECTER. Yes; if you please, Dr. Shaw.
I hand you another body diagram marked Commission Exhibit 680 and I
will ask you if that accurately depicts the angle of decline as the
bullet passed through Governor Connally?
Dr. SHAW. I think the declination of this line is a little too sharply
downward. I would place it about 5° off that line.
Mr. SPECTER. Will you redraw the line then, Dr. Shaw, and initial it,
indicating the more accurate angle?
Dr. SHAW. The reason I state this is that as they have shown this, it
would place the wound of exit a little too far below the nipple. Also
it would, since the bullet followed the line of declination of the
fifth rib, it would make the ribs placed in a too slanting position.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account