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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. V - Page 71« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Robert A. Frazier)

Mr. Specter.
Would the missile then have proceeded in a forward direction?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; it would.
Mr. Specter.
Do you have an opinion as to how far it would have gone?
Mr. Frazier.
Until it struck some other object in the area of approximately a mile.
Mr. Specter.
Now assume the same sequence with respect to exit velocity from the point of the President's neck at the same rate of 1,772 to 1,798 feet per second, and assume still further that the bullet had, the whole bullet had, struck the metal framing which you have heretofore described and identified. What effect would that have had on the metal framing?
Mr. Frazier.
It would have torn a hole in the chrome, penetrated the framing both inside and outside of the car. I can only assume, since I haven't tested the metal of that particular car, I would assume that the bullet would completely penetrate both the chrome, the metal supporting the chrome, on the inside, and the body metal on the outside which supports the windshield of the car.
Mr. Specter.
Now, assume the same set of factors as to the exit velocity from the President's neck. What effect would that bullet have had on any other portion of the automobile which it might have struck in the continuation of its flight?
Mr. Frazier.
In my opinion it would have penetrated any other metal surface and, of course, any upholstery surface depending on the nature of the material as to how deep it would penetrate or how many successive layers it may have penetrated.
Mr. Specter.
Was there any evidence in any portion of the car that the automobile was struck by a bullet which exited from the President's neck under the circumstances which I have just asked you to assume?
Mr. Frazier.
No, sir; there was not.
Mr. Specter.
And had there been any such evidence would your examination of the automobile have uncovered such an indication or such evidence?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; I feel that it would have.
Mr. Specter.
Was your examination a thorough examination of all aspects of the interior of the automobile?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; for our purpose. However, we did not tear out all of the rugs on the floor, for instance. We examined the rugs carefully for holes, for bullet furroughs, for fragments. We examined the nap of the rug, in the actual nap of the rug, for fragments and bullet holes. We pulled the rug back as far as we could turn it back and even tore the glue or adhesive material loose around the cracks at the edges of the rug so we could observe the cracks to see whether they had been enlarged, and we examined all of the upholstery covering, on the back of the front seat, on the doors, and in the rear seat compartment, the jump seats, the actual rear seat, the back of the rear seat, and we examined the front seat in a similar manner, and we found no bullet holes or other bullet impact areas, other than the one on the inside of the windshield and the dent inside the windshield chrome.
Mr. Specter.
Had any of those portions of the automobile been struck by the bullet exiting from the President's neck, which I have described hypothetically for you, would you have found some evidence of striking?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Dulles.
When was this examination made?
Mr. Frazier.
Between 2 and 4:30 a.m. on November 23, 1963.
Mr. Dulles.
That was about 10 hours, 12 hours after the assassination?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; 14 to 16 hours.
Mr. Dulles.
Fourteen to sixteen hours.
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Dulles.
May I ask, do you know in whose custody the automobile was prior to your examination from the time it was shipped on the airplane?
Mr. Frazier.
When I arrived there were two Secret Service men present but I do not recall their names. They were introduced to me, and they were there during the entire examination but I don't recall their actual names. The car was under guard in the Secret Service garage in Washington, D.C.
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