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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. II - Page 380« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Lt. Col. Pierre A. , Physician, U. S. Army Finck)

Mr. Specter.
when looking from the outside and you can identify an exit wound. And that is what I did, and now I am referring to the actual case in discussion, Commission Exhibit 388.
Mr. Specter.
That is B?
Colonel FINCK. Letter B. We will see portions of bone in this general area, the large wound in the bone on the right side of the skull of President Kennedy. I had enough curvature to identify outside of the skull, and inside of the skull, as the first step to orient the specimen, and then I could determine the location of the beveling, and I could therefore say that B, Commission Exhibit 388, is a wound of exit.
Mr. Specter.
Based on your observations and conclusions, was President Kennedy shot from the front, rear, side or what?
Colonel FINCK. President Kennedy was, in my opinion, shot from the rear. The bullet entered in the back of the head and went out on the right side of his skull, producing a large wound, the greatest dimension of which was approximately 13 centimeters.
Mr. Specter.
And as to angle, was he shot from below, from level, from above, or what, in your opinion?
Colonel FINCK. In my opinion, the angle can be determined only approximately due to the fact that the wound of entrance is fairly small and could give enough precision in the determination of the path, but the dimension of the wound of exit, letter B of Exhibit 388, is so large that we can only give an approximate angle. In my opinion, the angle was within 45 degrees from the horizontal plane.
Mr. Specter.
Is that to say that there was a 45-degree angle of declination from the point of origin to the point of impact, from the point of origin of the bullet where the bullet came from a gun until the point where it struck President Kennedy?
The Chairman.
In other words, you mean was he shot from above or below.
Mr. Specter.
Yes.
Colonel FINCK. I think I can only state, sir, that he was shot from above and behind.
Mr. Specter.
At this time I move for admission into evidence Exhibit 400, Mr. Chief Justice.
The Chairman.
It may be admitted.
(The document was marked Commission Exhibit No. 400 for identification, and was received in evidence.)
Mr. Specter.
As to Exhibit 385, Dr. Finck, was point C a point of entry or a point of exit, in your opinion?
Colonel FINCK. In my opinion point C of Commission's Exhibit 385 is a wound of entrance.
Mr. Specter.
And what is the basis for that conclusion?
Colonel FINCK. The basis for that conclusion is that this wound was relatively small with clean edges. It was not a jagged wound, and that is what we see in wound of entrance at a long range.
Mr. Specter.
Were you present here today and did you hear the entire testimony of Doctor Humes?
Colonel FINCK. Yes; I did.
Mr. Specter.
And do you concur in Dr. Humes' statements and opinions regarding the point of entry C, point of exit D, and general angle on the flight of the missile?
Colonel FINCK. I certainly do.
Mr. Specter.
Then from what direction was President Kennedy shot on entry point C?
Colonel FINCK. From behind and above.
Mr. Specter.
Were the bullets used dumdum bullets, in your opinion, Dr. Finck?
Colonel FINCK. In what wound, sir?
Mr. Specter.
Well, start with the head wound, or the back wound, either one.
Colonel FINCK. In all the wounds considered, on the basis of the aspect of the wound of entrance, dumdum bullets were not used.
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