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TESTIMONY OF LYNDAL L. SHANEYFELT beginning at 15H686...
The testimony of Lyndal L. Shaneyfelt was taken at 10:45 a.m., on
September 1, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C., by Mr. Norman Redlich,
assistant counsel of the President's Commission.
Mr. REDLICH. The purpose of today's deposition is to take the testimony
of Lyndal L. Shaneyfelt, special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Shaneyfelt, you have previously testified in connection with the
Commission proceedings on April 23, 1964, and June 12, 1964, is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. You still consider yourself under oath?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I do.
Mr. REDLICH. You also appeared on one other occasion; is that correct,
Mr. Shaneyfelt ?
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Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. And that was the date when you testified in connection
with the reenactment that was conducted in Dallas?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. During your previous testimony, Mr. Shaneyfelt, you
testified concerning the retouching which, according to your testimony, had been performed
on the photograph which has heretofore been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 133-A; is
that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibits Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 were so marked and
introduced. )
Mr. REDLICH. I hand you now an exchange of correspondence between the
Commission and Life magazine, which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibits Nos. 8, 9,
10, 11, and 12, together with a photograph furnished to the Commission by Life magazine
which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13, and I asked you to review this
correspondence.
For the record, Mr. Shaneyfelt, have you read this correspondence?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I have.
Mr. REDLICH. This correspondence will show that the Commission advised
Life magazine of your prior testimony, and requested of Life magazine the original
photograph upon which the retouching was performed. Does Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13 purport
to be that original photograph, Mr. Shaneyfelt?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; it does.
Mr. REDLICH. And Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13 was forwarded to you by the
Commission for examination; was it not?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. The Commission asked you to examine that photograph in
order to describe in greater detail the actual retouching which was performed on that
photograph preparatory to publication; is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is right.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14 was marked and introduced. )
Mr. REDLICH. I now hand you another exhibit which is designated as
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14, and ask you to describe how it was made, and what it purports
to demonstrate?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14 is a chart that I prepared to
illustrate the retouching that I found in my examination of the Life magazine photograph
which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13. This chart consists of three different photographs.
Photograph A is a normal print of Commission Exhibit No. 133-A. Photographs B and C are
photographs of the Life magazine picture, which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13, made using
special lighting technique in order to portray the retouching that has been added to the
Life magazine photograph, Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13.
Mr. REDLICH. On each of these three photographs there appear a series
of numbers starting with No. 1, and running consecutively through No. 11; is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. Can you describe the significance of these numbers ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. The numbers with red arrows were placed on the
photographs to point to specific areas of retouching, and relate them to these same areas
of the photograph which is Commission Exhibit No. 133-A.
Mr. REDLICH. And as I understand it, using No. 1 as an example, the
arrow next to No. 1 in photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14, points to the stock of
the rifle as it appeared in the picture which has heretofore been designated as Exhibit
No. 133-A.
The arrow next to No. 1 in photograph B of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14
points to the same spot on the stock of the rifle and points to a specific indication of
retouching which you will subsequently describe?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. And the arrow next to No. 1 in photograph No. C of
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14 points to the same spot on the rifle; namely, the stock, and is
placed here in order to indicate in more specific detail the type and manner of retouching
which was done at this particular location?
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Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. Starting with No. I and going through No. 11, would you
describe the points on the picture and the type of retouching which was performed ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes. Point No. 1 on all photographs, A, B, and C,
points to the stock of the rifle, particularly the top area of the stock running from butt
of the rifle to the breech.
On photograph A this No. 1 area is rather indistinct but shows that the
rifle stock runs in a straight line from the butt up about two-thirds of the way to the
breech, where it curves down around a highlight that is clearly visible on photograph A of
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14. It curves around that highlight and then recurves up to the
breech.
In this same general area of No. 1 of photograph B, there is a dark
area which, is an area of retouching that is on the photograph which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit
No. 13, that runs from the butt of the rifle all the way to the breech without curve or
recurve around the highlight.
The highlight is still present on this photograph. However, the
retouching line runs straight past and is a straight line of retouching and does not
follow the actual configuration of the rifle stock in that area.
Mr. REDLICH. Just so the record is completely clear on this, Mr.
Shaneyfelt, the retouching marks which. appear in pictures B and C of Shaneyfelt No. 14,
are the retouching marks which appear on the photograph furnished to the Commission by
Life magazine and which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13 ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct The retouching does not appear as
prominent in the Life magazine photograph, which is Commission Exhibit No. 13, as it does
in the photographs B and C of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14, because photographs B and C were
made with special lighting to bring out this retouching, but they are nevertheless, the
points of retouching are nevertheless, there on the Life magazine photograph.
Mr. REDLICH. And photographs B and C of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14
actually made from the photograph which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13 ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. Will you continue?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Photograph C of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14 shows at
point 1, which is the area of the upper edge of the stock of the rifle, this straight line
retouching going directly from the butt to the breech without a recurve, and not in
conformity with the actual contour of the stock of the rifle in that area.
Points No. 2 in all photographs A, B, and C, point to the telescopic
sight of the rifle. In photograph B retouching is shown around this point No. 2 where
retouching has been added to enhance the detail around the rifle scope. This, is also
shown clearly as retouching at point 2 in photograph C.
Point No. 3 in photographs A, B, and C, in Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14,
the area along the top of the rifle beyond the breech just above Oswald's left hand. There
is a retouching line that runs from Oswald's hand to the where the gun protrudes past his
shoulder. This is clear in photographs B and at point No. 3.
Photograph A at point 3 shows how the photograph appears in that area
on Commission Exhibit No. 133-A
Point No. 4 refers to the retouching along the lower edge of the right
Oswald, and that area No. 4 of photographs B and C clearly show this retouching along the
edge of the elbow and a large spot just below the elbow where a shadow between two fence
posts has been removed in order to show the contour of the elbow in better detail.
Point No. 5 refers to the shoulder area of the photographs A, B, and C
in Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14. The photograph A, point 5, shows the shoulder it is in
Commission Exhibit No. 133-A, and point 5 in photographs B and shows the retouching along
Oswald's right shoulder.
Point No. 6 in photographs A, B, and C refers to the right side of neck
and chin area, and point 6 in photographs B and C clearly shows the retouching along the
right side of Oswald's neck, and around his chin and slight retouching into, slightly
into, his cheeks.
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Point No. 7 in photographs A, B, and C, shows the area of the left side
of Oswald's head where retouching has been added to the Life magazine photograph,
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13----
Mr. REDLICH. May I interrupt you there? You said where retouching has
been added to the Life photograph. Did you mean that or did you mean that the Life
photograph as published contained this retouching?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. I mean that the Life photograph as published contains
the retouching. That the retouching has been added prior to publication.
Point No. 7 refers to the retouching along the left side of Oswald's
head in the hair area, and is clearly visible as retouching in the photographs B and C at
point No. 7.
Point No. 8 refers to an area of background to the right of Oswald's
head, to the left of his head as the viewer looks at the picture. This is an area that has
been airbrushed in order to lighten the background so that the detail of the photograph in
that area will be better.
Point No. 9 in photographs A, B, and C of Shaneyfelt EXhibit No. 14,
shows an area directly below the rifle butt to the side of Oswald's right thigh where
retouching has been added to decrease the darkness of the shadow between two fence posts
in that area.
This is evident in area 9 of photographs B and C. It is more clearly
shown in 9-C.
Point No. 10 in the three photographs on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 14
shows the retouching between the thighs of Oswald. Photograph A shows quite a dark area
between the thighs, and this has been eliminated by retouching as shown in 10-B and 10-C,
and the retouching clearly shows in 10-C.
Likewise, there is a dark shadow along the side of Oswald's left knee
that has been eliminated by retouching or softened by retouching, and this retouching
shows in Exhibits B and C at point 11.
This represents the primary or outstanding areas of retouching that I
found from an examination of the Life magazine photograph, which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit No.
13.
Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt, when you discussed this photograph in your
prior testimony, you expressed your opinion to the effect that the retouching which was
done preparatory to the publication of the photograph on the cover of Life magazine was
normal and customary. On the basis of your detailed examination of the retouching made
from the photograph as submitted to the Commission by Life magazine, would you now care to
state your opinion as to whether this is customary and normal retouching in connection
with the publication of a photograph?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes. It is my opinion, based on my examination of the
photograph, Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 13, that all of the retouching that I found on this
photograph I would consider to be normal, routine retouching that is a normal part of the
reproduction process.
Mr. REDLICH. In your prior testimony, you stated that on the basis of
your examination of the photograph which had been published in Life magazine, it was your
opinion that this photograph published in Life magazine was the same photograph which has
heretofore been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 133-A, with the retouching that you
have described.
Now, today, on the basis of your detailed examination of this
retouching, is it still your opinion that the photograph which appeared on the cover of
Life magazine is a retouched photograph of the photograph which has heretofore been
designated as Commission Exibit No. 133-A ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibits Nos. 15 and 16 were marked and introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt, I now hand you an exchange of
correspondence between the Commission and Newsweek, Inc., the publishers of Newsweek
magazine, which is marked Shaneyfelt Exhibits Nos. 15 and 16, and ask you if you have had
an opportunity to review this exchange of correspondence ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I have.
Mr. REDLICH. The record will show that in prior testimony appearing on
page. 414 of volume 7 of the hearings of the Commission, you testified concerning the
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retouching which had been performed on this photograph prior to its publication in
Newsweek magazine.
I may add that during the course of that prior testimony the page from
Newsweek containing a reproduction of that photograph was introduced into evidence as
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 5.
Having reviewed the correspondence between the Commission and Newsweek,
Inc., I ask you whether you have anything to add to or any testimony which you would like
to correct having compared the Newsweek correspondence and your prior testimony?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No; I have nothing to add or nothing to correct. I find
the correspondence from Newsweek to be consistent with my prior testimony.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibits Nos. 17, 18, and 19 were marked and introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt, I now hand you a letter from the New York
Times addressed to Mr. J. Lee Rankin, which has been marked as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 17,
and also hand you a photograph furnished by the New York Times which has been designated
as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 18, and some printed material designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit
No. 19, also furnished by the New York Times, which is a caption and other descriptive
material concerning this photograph as used by the New York Times when the photograph was
published.
I also wish to point out for the record that the reproduction of the
New York Times photograph has previously been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 6 and
was discussed by you on pages 416 and 417 of volume 7 of the hearings of this Commission.
Have you had an opportunity to review this letter from the New York
Times to Mr. Rankin?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I have.
Mr. REDLICH. Do you find that the letter from the New York Times is
consistent with the testimony you have previously given concerning the retouching which
was performed by the New York Times preparatory to the publication of this photograph?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I do.
Mr. REDLICH. Is there anything that you would like to add to or correct
in your previous testimony in connection with this photograph?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No; I have nothing to add or correct. I find the
correspondence and photograph to be entirely consistent with my previous testimony.
Mr. REDLICH. And through all of your examination of the retouching that
was performed on the photograph which has been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 133-A,
you are still of the opinion that all of the pictures which have been published and which
you have identified, were copies of Commission Exhibit No. 133-A, with the retouching
performed as you have heretofore described?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt, the record of the testimony before this
Commission will show that in Commission Exhibit No. 133-A Lee Harvey Oswald , appears to
be holding two newspapers.
The Commission asked the FBI, did it not, to examine Commission Exhibit
No. 133-A in order to determine the exact issues of the publications which appear in the
right hand of Lee Harvey Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 133-A, is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is right.
Mr. REDLICH. Did you perform the examination of Commission Exhibit No.
133-A in connection with this request of the Commission?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I did.
(Exhibits 20, 21 and 22 were marked and introduced. )
Mr. REDLICH. At this time, I would like to introduce into the record a
copy of the Militant, which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 20, and a copy
of the Worker, which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 21, a copy of a letter
dated June 29, 1964 from J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI, to Mr. J. Lee Rankin, which
is a discussion of the results of your investigation in connection with these two
publications; and Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22.
I ask you to describe at this time by making reference to the exhibits
which I
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have heretofore designated, the results of your investigation concerning the question of
the specific issues of the two publications held by Lee Harvey Oswald in Commission
Exhibit No. 133-A ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22 is a chart that I made better
to illustrate the results of my examination, and it consists of three photographs,
lettered A, B, and C. The center photograph, being photograph A, is an enlargement of the
newspapers being held by Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 133-A. By an examination of this
enlarged photograph, I find it is possible to see the headlines and certain portions of
the two papers being held, one of them being the Militant, and one of them the Worker.
I obtained copies of both of these papers for an extended period of
time, and went through them and found that the Militant for Monday, March 11, 1963, which
is volume 27, No. 10, and has been marked as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 20, conforms to the
copy of the Militant being held by Oswald in picture A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22.
Picture C of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22 is a photograph of the headlines
of that issue of that paper. In examining this material I found that the Militant portion,
printed on the upper right hand portion of the page, is in the same location as in the
photograph A of Oswald holding the papers, as it is in the copy of the Militant which is
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 20.
In addition, the general configuration of the headlines in the center
column which read "Miss.," abbreviation for Mississippi, "Racists Shoot
Down a Rights Worker," those headlines are not readable in the photograph of the
newspaper being held by Oswald, but the general configuration of the type is the same.
There is a photograph of Bertram Powers reproduced in the second column
near the top of the Militant for Monday, March 11, 1963, which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit No.
20. The top of this photograph is visible in the same location and has the same
characteristics in the newspaper being held by Oswald in photograph A of Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 22.
Mr. REDLICH. Before passing to the other publication, did you find that
in your examination of the prior issues of the Militant, that there was considerable
variation in the typography of the publication?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I found the name block for the Militant did not
always appear in the upper right-hand corner. It was sometimes in the left. Sometimes the
headlines ran across the top of the name block and there was great variety in the
typography of the headlines of the papers.
Mr. REDLICH. Do you recall the period of time of the issues that you
examined?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Approximately 1 year.
Mr. REDLICH. One year prior to what date?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Prior to November.
Mr. REDLICH. Would you say it was a period----
Mr. SHANEYFELT. End of November.
Mr. REDLICH. Approximately November 1962 to November 1963?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; through November 1963.
Mr. REDLICH. And it is your opinion that based upon an examination of
those issues and these photographs that the issue which appears in Commission Exhibit No.
133-A is the issue of March 11, 1963?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct
In the examination of the other newspaper held by Oswald in Commission
Exhibit No. 133-A, I reviewed issues of the Worker for approximately 1 year from November
issues of 1962 through all of the November issues for 1963, and found that the March 24,
1963, issue of the Worker, which is volume 28, No. 124, matches the newspaper being held
by Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 133-A.
Again, the enlarged photograph of this newspaper in photograph A of
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22, shows some of the type of the headlines and the block of the
title "The Worker."
B photograph of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22 shows this same area of the
headline of the March 24, 1963, issue of the Worker. The headline of that newspaper, which
has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22, is "War Hogs Fight At TFX Plane
Profit Trough."
In the photograph A of Oswald holding the paper on Shaneyfelt Exhibit
No. 22, you can clearly see the Worker and you can clearly see the "At TFX"
which
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is a part of the headline, and the bottom of the "W" of the word
"War," and based on these characteristics, it is my opinion that one of the
newspapers being held by Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 133-A is the March 24, 1963,
issue of the Worker which is the same issue as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 21.
Mr. REDLICH. Referring now, Mr. Shaneyfelt, to the letter which has
been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22, this letter indicates the mailing dates and
the approximate dates when these publications were received in Dallas.
As I understand it, you did not take part in the investigation which
led to that aspect of the letter which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 22?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct. That investigation was done by agents
in our Dallas and other field offices.
Mr. REDLICH. I would like to read into the record at this time the
following paragraph from the letter which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit. No.
22:
"It has been determined that the March 24, 1963 issue of The
Worker, was mailed on March 21, 1963 by second-class mail. It was also determined that the
March 11, 1963 issue of 'The Militant' was mailed on March 7, 1963 by second class mail.
Representatives of the U.S. Post Office in New York City have advised that the above
newspapers transmitted by second class mail would take from six to seven days to arrive in
Dallas, Texas, under ordinary delivery conditions."
The record will show that during the course of her testimony, Mrs.
Marina Oswald identified Commission Exhibit No. 2 as a photograph which she believed to
have been taken by her husband in connection with his attack on Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker,
which occurred on April 10, 1963.
The record will also show that investigation has established that
Commission Exhibit No. 2 is a photograph of an alley running behind the house of General
Walker through which cars are able to drive into the parking lot of a church adjacent to
General Walker's house.
It has also been established in prior investigation that the driveway
running off this alley to the left, as one looks at the photograph, is the driveway of
General Walker's house.
Investigation has also established the approximate date on which this
photograph was taken by reference to the construction work being performed on the large
building appearing in the background of this photograph.
Mr. Shaneyfelt, the Commission asked the FBI to examine this photograph
for the additional purpose of determining, if possible, the camera which used to take the
photograph. Did you perform this investigation for the FBI ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I did.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23 was marked and introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. I introduce into the record at this time an exhibit
designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23, consisting of two photographs, and I ask you to
describe the photographs and the results of your investigation undertaken pursuant to the
Commission's request.
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23 consists of two photographs,
A and B. Photograph A is an enlargement of Commission Exhibit No. 2 which is the
photograph of the alley in back of the Walker residence.
Photograph B on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23 is an enlargement of a
negative which has previously been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 752 that I
personally exposed in the Duo Flex camera obtained from Oswald's possessions which has
previously been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 750.
This examination was based on the shadowgraph of the picture area of
the camera exposed on to the negative. This shadowgraph shows the imperfections and nicks,
etc., along the edges of the picture area of the camera that are individual and
distinctive to that particular camera, and would not be duplicated in any other camera.
Mr. REDLICH. Before you proceed to the specific points of reference,
Mr. Shaneyfelt, in your prior testimony you advised the Commission, that mission Exhibit
No. 133-B, which is a photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald holding a rifle, but in a slightly
different pose from Commission Exhibit No. 133-A; that
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Commission Exhibit No. 133-B was taken by the camera which has been designated as
Commission Exhibit No. 750.
You made that identification based on an examination of the negative
from which Commission Exhibit No. 133-B was produced. At that time you indicated that you
could not make such an identification of the source of Commission Exhibit No. 133-A
because the negative had not been recovered.
I would like to ask you two questions: First, to the best of your
knowledge has there been any recovery made of the negative from which Commission Exhibit
No. 133-A was made?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. REDLICH. The second question is, why are you able to make an
identification of the origin of Commission Exhibit No. 2 which is not a negative but a
print, whereas you are unable to make an identification of Commission Exhibit No. 133-A
which is also a print?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Because the identification of the origin of the
photograph or negative is based on the reproduction of the picture area of the camera or
the opening in the back of the camera where the negative is exposed.
This appears as a shadowgraph on the negative, and is the basis for the
identification. If a print is made from the negative that shows this shadowgraph, then the
print can be used as a basis for the identification.
In the case of Commission Exhibit No. 2, which is a print of the alley
in the back of the Walker residence, this shadowgraph appears around three of the edges of
this photograph and, therefore, it has been used for such a comparison Commission Exhibit
No. 133-A has been printed with a white border, and the shadowgraph portion of the
negative has been blocked. out and does not appear on Commission Exhibit No. 133-A.
Therefore, it was not possible to associate it with any specific camera.
Mr. REDLICH. Will you proceed now to indicate the points of reference
which enabled you to make the identification concerning Commission Exhibit No. 2?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
In Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23, in photograph B, point No. 1 is near the
lower left-hand corner of the picture, and shows a depression in the black edge and a
little point sticking out from the black edge into the white area of the picture.
This is caused by an irregularity in the camera area where the film
lies across the back portion of the camera. This characteristic, which is No. 1 on
photograph B of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23, appears in that same area which has been
labeled No. 1 on photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23.
It appears as a shallow depression and a little black point coming into
the white area. Farther along the right-hand side of the picture centrally located between
the top and the bottom, are points 2 and 3 in photographs A and B on Shaneyfelt Exhibit
No. 23. These refer to two small notches in the black area where the white of the picture
runs into the black line causing the appearance of two notches, one, the lower one, about
twice the width of the upper one. This same characteristic is present in both photographs
A and B.
Point No. 4 is an irregularity or a curve in the line on the right edge
of the photograph in both A and B of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23.
Point No. 5 is a long shallow depression in the black edge, of the
photographs A and B.
This point is located centrally on the right-hand border, and has the
same appearance in both of the photographs on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23.
Point No. 6 is a little black point that comes out into the white area
of the picture, and this, I found, in the lower right-hand corner of the photograph of the
alley in back of the Walker house, which is photograph A on Exhibit No. 23, and is also
present as point No. 6 in the photograph that I made from the camera which is photograph B
of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 23.
Based on these characteristics, it is my opinion that the photograph,
which is Commission Exhibit No. 2, is a print of a negative that was exposed in the Duo
Flex camera which is Commission Exhibit No. 750.
Mr. REDLICH. Is the scientific method which you have used to make this
identification sufficiently precise so that you are able to state that this negative was
exposed in Commission Exhibit No, 750 to the exclusion of all other cameras?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
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Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt, Commission Exhibit No. 150 is a shirt
which has been described in testimony as the shirt worn by Lee Harvey Oswald at the time
of his arrest on November 22, 1963.
The Commission has forwarded to the FBI two photographs which have been
heretofore designated as Gerald L. Hill, Exhibit A, and Gerald L. Hill, Exhibit B, which
have been identified by the photographer as having been taken under the marquee of the
Texas Theater as Oswald was being removed from the theater on November 22.
Gerald L. Hill Exhibit A has been heretofore identified as having been
taken at a point of time very close to the time that Gerald L. Hill Exhibit B was taken.
Th Commission also forwarded to the FBI a photograph which has
heretofore been designated as Yarborough Exhibit A which appeared in the Saturday Evening
Post issue of December 14, 1963, page 26. .
For purposes of identification, the photograph appearing in Yarborough
Exhibit A has been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 1797, since Yarborough Exhibit A
consists of the entire Saturday Evening Post article.
The Commission asked the Bureau to examine the three photographs,
Commission Exhibit No. 1797, Gerald L. Hill Exhibit A, Gerald L. Hill Exhibit B, in order
to determine whether the shirt worn by Lee Harvey Oswald in these photographs was in fact
the same shirt which has heretofore been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 150.
Is that correct, Mr. Shaneyfelt? Did you perform the examination in
connection with this request by the Commission ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I did.
Mr. REDLICH. In connection with that examination, the FBI furnished to
the Commission an additional photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald. Would you please describe
that photograph in relation to any of the other photographs that we have furnished to the
Bureau?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
Mr. REDLICH. I would like to add that the photograph which the Bureau
furnished to the Commission has been designated as Commission Exhibit No. 1796.
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Commission Exhibit No. 1796 was furnished to the FBI by
the photographer who took the picture that has been designated as Commission Exhibit No.
1797. The photographer stated that the photograph, Commission Exhibit No. 1796, was taken
seconds before the photograph which is Commission Exhibit No. 1797.
Mr. REDLICH. On the basis of the photographs in your possession, which
you examined, would you please describe the nature of your investigation and the
conclusions which you reached ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes. I compared the shirt which is Commission Exhibit
No. 150 with the shirt being worn by Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 1796, and Commission
Exhibit No. 1797.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24 was marked and introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. And in connection with that comparison, you prepared a
chart which you have here today and which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No.
24, is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24 contains four photographs lettered A, B, C,
and D.
Photograph A on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24 is an enlargement of the
shirt being worn by Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 1796.
Photograph B is a photograph of the actual shirt, Commission Exhibit
No. 150, being worn by an employee of me FBI laboratory. The photograph was made with the
shirt in the same approximate position as the shirt being worn by Oswald in Commission
Exhibit No. 1796.
Photograph C is an enlargement of the shirt being worn by Oswald in
Commission Exhibit No. 1797.
And photograph D is a photograph made in the FBI laboratory of
Commission Exhibit No. 150 being worn by a laboratory employee, and the photograph was
made to show the shirt in the approximate position and contour of the shirt being worn by
Oswald in Commission Exhibit No. 1797.
The comparison of the shirt being worn by Oswald in Commission's
Exhibits Nos. 1796 and 1797, were made with the shirt itself, and it was found that
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photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24, shows at points that have been designated on
this photograph A as 1, 2, 3, and 4 little bits of foreign deposits that are adhering to
the shirt. These little specks of foreign material are present on the shirt now, and are
shown in the photograph in the same relative positions or locations at points numbered 1,
2, 3, and 4 in photograph B of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24.
In addition, it was found that in photograph A, points 5 and 6, that
two of the buttons are missing. The second button down from the collar and the third
button down from the collar are missing from the shirt in photograph A of Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 24. These buttons are also missing from the shirt and the torn condition of
the area where the button has been pulled away or removed has the same configuration in
both photographs A and B at points 5 and 6.
Point 7 indicates that the button on the shirt being worn by Oswald in
the photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24, is the same type and color and
configuration as the button in the photograph B at point 7.
Points 8 and 9 refer to areas of the shirt in photographs A and B, 8
being at the tip of the collar on the right side of the wearer, and 9 being the corner of
the left pocket nearest to the buttons. These two points indicate the similarity in
pattern at those specific locations and show that the pattern of the fabric in both shirts
at those points is identical. Two shirts cut from the same fabric would not logically have
an exact duplication of the pattern at cut or sewn edges of this type.
On photographs C and D on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24 points 10, 11, and
12 again refer to the similarity in pattern along the edges of the shirt and would relate
to the manner in which the material was cut from the original fabric.
Point 11, for instance, is two white lines of the same length in both
photographs, and in the same location from the edge of the shirt. All of these points are
of the same general type to show that the fabric design in a specific area close to an
edge is identical.
Points 13 and 14 in photographs C and D of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24
refer again to the torn areas where the buttons have been pulled from the shirt and show
that they are similar in all their visible characteristics. Based on these points it is my
opinion that the shirt being worn by Oswald in Commission Exhibits Nos. 1796 and 1797, is
the same shirt as Commission Exhibit No. 150.
Mr. REDLICH. The record will show that Commission Exhibit No. 150 has a
hole approximately 1 inch by 2 inches in the right elbow. Is this hole visible in any of
these photographs, Mr. Shaneyfelt?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No; it is not.
Mr. REDLICH. Referring to Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24, photograph D, does
the right elbow of the shirt in this photograph appear to show a mark which might be a
portion of that hole?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; it does.
Mr. REDLICH. In your opinion, is it a portion of that hole?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; it is, because this is a photograph that I made of
this shirt and I know it to be the same shirt.
Mr. REDLICH. But why then does it not appear on photograph C which is
the photograph of the shirt as it is being worn by Oswald?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. It doesn't show it in that photograph because the
individual standing beside Oswald is blocking off that portion of the elbow and in fact
has his thumb over Oswald's arm, you can see the thumb on the right arm where the officer
is holding Oswaid's arm.
Mr. REDLICH. The absence of the hole in the photographs designated as
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 24 A and C and Commission Exhibits Nos. 1796 and 1797, does not in
any way effect your identification of the shirt as being the same shirt which is
Commission Exhibit No. 150?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No; it does not.
Mr. REDLICH. During the course of its investigation, the Commission
received a series of slides taken by a Mr. Willis. These slides show various pictures of
the motorcade and have, in a deposition of Mr. Willis, been identified by him as having
been taken on November 22, 1963. Have you examined these slides, Mr. Shaneyfelt?
Mr. SHANEYRFELT. Yes; I have.
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Mr. REDLICH. And of these slides, does any one appear to be a slide
taken at the time of the actual shooting?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; in the vicinity of that period of time.
Mr. REDLICH. That slide has been processed by your laboratory and
appears, does it not, in an exhibit which has been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No.
25?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
(Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25 was marked and introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. Are you able to identify that slide in terms of the number
which it has been given in the Willis sequence of slides ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes. This is the slide that Mr. Willis designated as
No. 5.
Mr. REDLICH. The Commission asked you to examine this slide with
reference to its background and with reference to other photographs which you have
examined of the motorcade at the time of the assassination, in order to determine the
relationship of this slide to the shots which were fired at that time. Did you personally
conduct this examination?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I did.
Mr. REDLICH. In connection with that you prepared the photograph and
the diagram which have been designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. Are you able to describe for us now the results of your
investigation?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes. Photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25 is an
enlarged color print made from the No. 5 slide of the Willis slides.
The photograph B is a copy of the plat map of the assassination area
which was prepared for the Commission and has previously been designated as Commission
Exhibit No. 382.
Point No. 1 in photograph A shows Mr. Zapruder in his position----
Mr. REDLICH. The record will show that the reference to Mr. Zapruder is
to Mr. Abraham Zapruder, who is an amateur photographer, who took the photographs which
were used as the basis for the reenactment which was performed in Dallas by agents of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Secret Service, and attorneys for this Commission; is
that correct, Mr. Shaneyfelt?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Point 1 of photograph A shows Mr. Zapruder in his position from which
he took his 8-millimeter motion picture film of the assassination. Point 1 in the plat map
shows again the point indicating Mr. Zapruder's position as related to other portions of
the area.
Point No. 2 is the President riding in the Presidential limousine,
which is on photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25.
Point No. 3 is the Stemmons Freeway sign that is on the north side of
Elm Street in the general area of the assassination. This is also designated as point 3 on
the map which is photograph B of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25.
In order to relate the photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25 to the
specific frames in the Zapruder motion picture film, I first determined from
correspondence, that Mr. Willis was standing along the south curb of Elm Street,
approximately opposite the Texas School Book Depository Building.
By looking at the photograph A, I find that from the camera angle of
Mr. Willis a line drawn from Mr. Willis to Mr. Zapruder would go just to the right of the
Stemmons Freeway sign which is point 3 in photograph A.
I drew a line from Mr. Zapruder's position with lavendar pencil just
past the freeway sign which is position 3 on photograph B over to the general area of the
side of Elm Street where Mr. Willis is reported to have taken his pictures.
Mr. REDLICH. And that line appears as the top line in Chart B of the
Shaney-felt Exhibit No. 25; does it not?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct. I then noted in the photograph A of
Shaney-felt Exhibit No. 25, that a line from the eye of the cameraman, to the President,
would pass the Stemmons Freeway sign somewhat farther away from the sign than the line to
Mr. Zapruder, approximately three to four times greater distance.
I drew a line from an area about that far from the sign to the area
where Mr. Willis was reported to be standing and find that that line passes through
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a point designated on the map as frame 210 which relates to the frame No. 210 of the
Zapruder assassination films.
I then drew a green line from Mr. Zapruder's position to President
Kennedy, at frame 210, and find that that green line passes directly through the Stemmons
Freeway sign which is position 3 in photographs A and B on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25.
Based on this, it is my opinion that photograph A of Shaneyfelt Exhibit
No. 25 was taken in the vicinity of the time that frame 210 of the Zapruder picture was
taken. This is not an accurate determination because the exact location of Mr. Willis is
unknown. This would allow for some variation, but the time of the photograph A, as related
to the Zapruder picture, would be generally during the period that the President was
behind the signboard in the Zapruder films, which covers a range from around frame 205 to
frame 225.
Mr. REDLICH. The record will show that prior investigation has revealed
that President Kennedy emerges from the sign at frame 225, and that he starts going behind
the sign at approximately frame 205.
Prior investigation has also revealed that when viewed from the
southeast corner window of the sixth floor, the President emerges from the oak tree at
approximately frame 210.
Mr. Willis has stated, Mr. Shaneyfelt, that he took this photograph
almost the instant that the President was hit by a shot which sounded to Mr. Willis as if
it was the first shot that he heard.
On the basis of your examination of the Zapruder films, and your
examination of the Willis photograph, would it be a correct statement that this
photograph, the one appearing in Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 25, was taken at approximately the
same time as the shot which struck President Kennedy at the rear of the base of the neck?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; that would be a correct statement, to the best of
our knowledge at this time.
Mr. REDLICH. Returning for just a moment to Mr. Willis location, would
it not have been possible for you to fix his exact location by reference to two different
fixed points in the background at different points in this picture?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; it would be possible having Mr. Willis' camera, to
fix his location with some degree of accuracy by using it at the specific location in
Dallas, and relating various objects in the photograph to their location as they appear in
photograph A of Exhibit No. 25.
Mr. REDLICH. You are reasonably satisfied, however, that the technique
that you have used to fix his location is a reasonably accurate one upon which you can
base the conclusions which you have stated today ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes, yes. I feel that the exact establishing of the
position of Mr. Willis would not add a great deal of additional accuracy to my present
conclusions.
Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt, during the course of the Commission's
investigation we have had occasion to request the Bureau to investigate whether any
bullets or fragments of bullets struck any of the street or curbing or other area around
Dealey Plaza.
In connection with this investigation, the Commission asked the Bureau
to investigate a photograph taken by Mr. James Underwood, a newsman for KRLD-TV in Dallas,
and a photograph taken by Mr. Tom Dillard, a photographer for the Dallas Morning News. In
connection with this request the Commission received a communication from the FBI dated
July 17, 1964, which is now designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 26.
(The document referred to was marked Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 26 and
introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. Would you briefly summarize the results of that
investigation as of that time, Mr. Shaneyfelt?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes. The Commission requested that we conduct an
investigation relative to reports that there was a mark or a nick on the south curb of
Main Street in the assassination area, and that we attempt to locate it and make whatever
tests could be made to determine whether or not a bullet could have struck the curb at
that point. The investigation was initiated by
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requesting our Dallas office to contact the photographers, James Underwood of KRLD-TV in
Dallas, and Mr. Tom Dillard, a photographer for the Dallas Morning News, and to use the
photographs previously made by these two photographers to attempt to locate this mark or
nick on the curb on the south side of Main Street. Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 26 is a report
of the results of that initial search which resulted in failure to find the exact location
of this mark or nick on the curb along the south side of Main Street at the assassination
site.
Mr. REDLICH. Following this letter, you yourself went down to Dallas in
order to pursue this matter further, is that correct ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
(The document referred to was marked Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 27 and
introduced.)
Mr. REDLICH. I introduce into the record at this time Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 27, which is a letter from Director Hoover to Mr. Rankin summarizing the
results of this investigation.
Mr. REDLICH. I also introduce into the record Shaneyfelt Exhibits Nos.
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33.
With reference to these exhibits, Mr. Shaneyfelt, I ask you to
summarize at this time the results of your investigation into the existence of a mark on
the curb, and if such a mark was found to exist, its location with reference to other
photographs of which you have knowledge.
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
Using photographs made by Mr. Underwood and Mr. Dillard in November
1963, either the 22d or 23d, of this mark on the curb, I went to Dallas and was successful
in locating a mark. Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 29 contains the photographs used to locate the
mark on the curbing on the south side of Main Street at the assassination site.
Photograph No. 1 of this exhibit is the photograph of the mark made by
Mr. Underwood, the red arrow indicating the mark on the curb.
Photograph No. 2 is the photograph made by Mr. Dillard of the mark on
the curb, and the red arrow again designates the mark.
Photograph No. 3 of Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 29 is a photograph that was
made by Mr. Underwood by placing his camera on the mark and pointing it toward the Texas
School Book Depository Building, and he stated he did this so that the resulting
photograph could be used to relocate this mark on the curb should it ever be necessary.
Mr. REDLICH. I gather that without that photograph taken by Mr.
Underwood it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to have located this
mark, is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. It would have been more difficult. Mr. Dillard's
photograph actually contained some background that was of value, and we would have found
it without this, but this made it much easier. Photograph No. 3, which was made by Mr.
Underwood, allowed us to go immediately within a foot to a foot and a half of, the actual
mark.
Mr. REDLICH. Continue.
Mr. SHANEYFELT. The photograph which has been marked as Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 28, is the photograph that I made after having located the mark, this in
effect duplicates the photograph made by Mr. Underwood, which is photograph 3 of
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 29 and, as can readily be seen in comparing these two photographs,
the relationship of the lightpole to the buildings on either side of it on the right side
of the photograph, the relationship of the sign to the concrete abutment in the back of it
to the right edge of it, the relationship of the lightposts between the cameraman and the
Texas School Book Depository building, and their relationship to the building in back of
them, show that they are entirely consistent, and that the mark that was located is, in
fact, the mark that was photographed by Mr. Underwood and Mr. Dillard.
Photograph No. 30, or Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 30, is a photograph
approximately duplicating the photograph made by Mr. Dillard which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit
No. 29, Photograph No. 2. I, with a pencil, made a circle around the mark on the curb, and
this pencil mark shows in Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 30.
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Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 31 is a photograph taken from in front of the
school book depository building looking down toward the Triple Underpass, showing in the
center area of the picture two men in white shirts standing along the south curb of Main
Street at the point where the mark on the curb was found.
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 32 is a photograph made from under the Triple
Underpass looking past the point where the mark on the curb was located towards the Texas
School Book Depository Building, which relates this area to the rest of the assassination
site.
There is a marker that has been set up on the curb with an arrow
pointing down, that is directly over the area where the mark is located on the south curb
of Main Street.
The photograph, Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 33, is a photograph made from
the location of Mr. Abraham Zapruder who made motion pictures of the assassination on
November 22, and this photograph was made having a man who can be seen standing in the
center of the picture, placed in the center of Elm Street, along a straight line between
the mark on the curb and the assassination window in the Texas School Book Depository
Building, the sixth floor.
The man is standing in that direct straight line between the
assassination window and the mark on the curb, and the photograph then shows where the
President in the Presidential limousine, would have been on Elm Street as related to the
Zapruder films if a bullet going from the sixth floor window to the mark on the curb went
directly over the President's head.
Mr. REDLICH. Are you able to tell us the frame in Zapruder's sequence
which would correspond to the position of the man standing on Elm Street in Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 33?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; this would correspond to frame No. 410 in the
Zapruder films. Of course, this, as stated, is based on the assumption that a bullet going
from the window to the mark on the curbing went directly over the President's head. It
would have occurred at approximately frame 410.
In relating this to other previously determined facts regarding the
Zapruder films, this would be 97 frames after the frame 313, which is the frame of the
Zapruder films that shows the shot that struck the President in the head. At 18.3 frames
per second, this 97 frames would represent a lapse of time of 5.3 seconds between the shot
to the President's head at frame 313, and any shot that would have occurred at frame 410,
if such did occur.
Mr. REDLICH. Now, with further reference to the relationship of this
location to the Zapruder films, the Commission previously requested that the Bureau,
advise us as to when Special Agent Hill of the Secret Service reached the Presidential
car. Can you tell us now the results of that investigation?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I examined the Zapruder film and determined that
Agent Hill first places his hand on the Presidential car at frame 343. This is
approximately 1.6 seconds after the President is hit in the head at frame 313.
Special Agent Hill placed one foot on the bumper of the car at frame
368, which is approximately 3 seconds after frame 313. Agent Hill had both feet on the car
at frame 381, which is approximately 3.7 seconds after frame 313.
Mr. REDLICH. Going back now to frame 410 on the Zapruder film, which is
the frame that would correspond to the location of a man appearing on Elm Street in
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 33, can you tell us the location of Special Agent Hill and Mrs.
Kennedy at frame 410?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. At frame 410 in the Zapruder films, Mrs. Kennedy has
returned to the seat beside the President after having climbed out on the back deck or the
trunk lid, and Secret Service Agent Hill is in the process of climbing from the bumper
into the back seat of the car and is about midway from the back bumper to the President,
crawling across the trunk lid.
Mr. REDLICH. Is it correct to say, Mr. Shaneyfelt, that at frame 410
the principal target on the back of the Presidential limousine would have been Special
Agent Hill and not any of the other occupants of the rear seat of the car?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. I do not have an opinion on that, except my
recollection of the frame, as I recall it, the Connallys are down in the car, and the
President is down in the car to a point where he may not be visible from the sixth floor
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window. Mrs. Kennedy would still be visible, and Agent Hill; Mrs. Kennedy and Agent Hill,
as I recall, are the only ones readily visible or that are visible.
Mr. REDLICH. Turning now, Mr. Shaneyfelt, to the curb mark itself; you
have brought with you today the actual piece of curbing which contains the mark referred
to in your testimony; is that correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
Mr. REDLICH. That piece of curbing has been designated as Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 34.
(The article referred to was marked Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 34.)
Mr. REDLICH. Were you present at the time this curbing was removed?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; it was removed under my supervision.
Mr. REDLICH. Can you then describe the subsequent investigation that
was conducted in connection with this curbing?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; the section of curbing, Shaneyfelt Exhibit No.34
was cut out from the curbing along the south side of Main Street in the assassination
area. The mark on the curb having been located 23 feet, 4 inches from the abutment of the
triple underpass. It was cut out under my supervision, and I personally returned it to the
FBI laboratory. In the FBI labratory it was examined for the presence of any foreign
material.
Mr. REDLICH. For the record, the results of this investigation have
been summarized in a communication from Director Hoover to Mr. Rankin, dated August 12,
1964, and designated now as the Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 27; is that correct, Mr.
Shaneyfelt?
The absence of copper precludes the possibility that the mark on the
curbing in the laboratory resulted in the finding of foreign metal smears adhering, to the
curbing section within the area of the mark. These metal smears were spectrographically
determined to be essentially lead with a trace of antimony. No copper was found.
The lead could have originated from the lead core of a mutilated
metal-jacketed bullet such as the type of bullet loaded into the 6.5-millimeter Carcano
cartridges, or from some other source having the same composition.
The absence of copper precludes the possibility that the mark on the
curbing section was made by an unmutilated military full metal-jacketed bullet such as the
bullet from Governor Connally's stretcher.
The damage to the curbing would have been much more extensive if a
rifle bullet had struck the curbing without first having struck some other object.
Therefore, this mark could not have been made by the first impact of a high velocity rifle
bullet.
Mr. REDLICH. Based on your examination of the mark on the curb, can you
tell us whether the mark which we have been referring to is a nick on the curb, that is,
has a piece of the curb been chipped away, or is it instead a simple marking of lead?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; it is not a chip. There is no indication of any of
the curbing having been removed, but rather it is a deposit of lead on the surface of the
curbing that has given the appearance of a mark.
It was also established from a microscopic study of the curbing that
the lead object that struck the curbing that caused the mark, was moving in a general
direction away from the Texas School Book Depository Building.
Mr. REDLICH. In connection with this investigation into the microscopic
characteristics of the mark, a photograph was prepared which is designated as Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 35. Will you describe that photograph?
(The photograph referred to was marked Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 35.)
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 35 is a color photograph
that I made of the mark on the curbing, which is Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 34. This is
magnified about five times, and shows only the marked area. There is a red area in the
lower left corner marked A which designates the point of initial impact, and the lead
deposit is then sprayed out in a fanlike direction from that arrow.
Mr. REDLICH. Does point A in Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 35 refer to or
correspond to the portion of the marking which is visible in Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 34?
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Mr. SHANEYFELT. It refers to the lower right-hand portion of that mark
on Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 34. It is this area here, and this area here [indicating].
Mr. REDLICH. Was Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 35 the photograph on the basis
of which the direction of the bullet fragment was determined?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No; the direction was determined from an actual
examination of the curbing itself rather than from the photograph. Shaneyfelt Exhibit No.
35, was made primarily to show this lead deposit more clearly than Exhibit 34 shows it.
Mr. REDLICH. I realize, Mr. Shaneyfelt, that the next question may be
out of your area of specialization, and you may not be able to answer it. But are you able
to tell us whether, if there had been copper deposits indicating a fully jacketed bullet,
whether in the intervening period of time between the assassination and the time the
curbstone was examined these copper deposits might have been removed by rain or erosion or
any other natural causes?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. It is my understanding that there is no more reason for
the copper to be removed than the lead to be removed, and it is my observation of the mark
itself, the lead deposits, that the effect of time on it was to add a layer of dirt and
film over it which covered it--more an adding on of dirt and other matter which covered it
rather than a wearing away.
So, based on this, although it is not possible to state whether or not
copper was there initially and eroded away or washed away or wore away, it seems logical
that copper would have no more reason to become worn away than lead.
Mr. REDLICH. Previous investigation, Mr. Shaneyfelt, as well as the
results of the reenactment in Dallas, have led, as you know, to a tentative conclusion
that if three shots were fired during the assassination sequence, that one of these three
shots missed the occupants of the car.
Assuming that tentative conclusion to be a definite finding of fact for
purposes of this question, are you able to tell us whether in your opinion, the location,
the presence, of the lead marking on the curb, which has been designated as Shaneyfelt
Exhibit No. 34, provides any basis for determining which of the three shots fired by the
assassin missed the Presidential limousine?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Based on the assumptions as stated, it is my opinion
that the examination of the mark on the curb has furnished only limited further
information in this regard because it is not possible to establish whether or not this
mark on the curb could have been made from a fragment of the shot that hit the President
in the head or a fragment of another shot that missed. The very fact that it can be
considered as one of the possibilities suggests a possibility of a third shot that missed.
Mr. REDLICH. How far from the President's position at frame 313 was the
mark on the curb?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. I don't have that figure here at the present time. To
the best of my recollection, it was approximately 260 feet from where the President would
have been at frame 313 to the mark on the south side of Main Street which has been
designated as Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 34.
Mr. REDLICH. I would like to designate at this time a number,
Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 36, which we will apply to a communication which I asked you to
furnish to the Commission giving us the exact distance between the President's location at
frame 313 and the mark on the curb, Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 34.
Mr. SHANEYFELT. All right.
(The article referred to was marked Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 36 for
identification.)
Mr. REDLICH. Have you completed your answer to my question with regard
to whether this information offers any basis upon which one can conclude which of the
three shots missed ?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes; I believe I have. I have very little opinion
regarding that.
Mr. REDLICH. Mr. Shaneyfelt. prior to our deposition you and I
discussed the matters concerning which you were going to testify, and during the course of
this deposition there were a few conversations which were not transcribed, is that
correct?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. That is correct.
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Mr. REDLICH. Is all of your testimony which has been transcribed
completely consistent with any information which you have provided in the off-the-record
conversations?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. Yes.
Mr. REDLICH. Is there any relevant material which you provided in any
off-the-record conversations which has not been covered in the course of our record
deposition?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No.
Mr. REDLICH. Is there anything concerning the matters to which you
testified that you would like to add at the present time?
Mr. SHANEYFELT. No; I believe not,
Mr. REDLICH. A copy of this deposition will be available for your
review.
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