reduced velocity. The question that it brings up in. my mind is if the same bullet that struck the wrist had passed through the Governor's chest, if the bullet that struck the Governor's chest had not hit anything else would it have been reduced low enough to do this, and I wonder, based on our work--it brings to mind the possibility the same bullet that struck the President striking the Governor would account for this more readily. I don't know, I don't think you can ever say this, but it is a very good possibility, I think more possible, more probable than not.

The Chairman.

What is more probable than not, Doctor?
Dr. OLIVIER. In my mind at least, and I don't know the angles at which the things went or anything, it seems to me more probable that the bullet that hit the Governor's chest had already been slowed down somewhat, in order to lose enough velocity to strike his wrist and do no more damage than it did. I don't know how you would ever determine it exactly. I think the best approach is to find out the angles of flight, whether it is possible. But I have a feeling that it might have been.

The Chairman.

It might have been?
Dr. OLIVIER. Yes.

The Chairman.

The one that went through his chest went through his hand also.
Dr. OLIVIER. Yes; and also through the President.

The Chairman.

The first shot?
Dr. OLIVIER. Well, I don't know whether the first or second. The first one could have missed. It could have been the second that hit both.

The Chairman.

The one that went through his back and came out his trachea?
Dr. OLIVIER. It could have hit the Governor in the chest and went through because it had so little velocity after coming out of the wrist that it barely penetrated the thigh.

The Chairman.

May I ask one more question? Would you think that the same bullet could have done all three of those things?
Dr. OLIVIER. That same bullet was capable.

The Chairman.

Gone through the President's back as it did, gone through Governor Connally's chest as it did, and then through his hand as it did?
Dr. OLIVIER. It was certainly capable of doing all that.

The Chairman.

It was capable?
Dr. OLIVIER. Yes.

The Chairman.

The one shot?
Dr. OLIVIER. Yes.

Mr. Specter.

Doctor Olivier, based on the descriptions of the wound on the Governor's back, what in your opinion was the characteristic of the bullet at the time it struck the Governor's back with respect to the course of its flight?
Dr. OLIVIER. Let's say from the size of the wound as described by the surgeon, it could have been tipped somewhat when it struck because that is a fairly large wound. Another thing that could have done it is the angle at which it hit. On the goat some of the wounds were larger than others. On the goat material some of the wounds were larger than others because of the angle at which it hit this material. The same thing could happen on the Governor's back.

Mr. Specter.

And how was that wound described with respect to its size?
Dr. OLIVIER. The Governor's wound?

Mr. Specter.

On the Governor's back?
Dr. OLIVIER. About 3 centimeters at its largest dimension.

Mr. Specter.

And would you have any view as to which factor was more probable, as to whether it was a tangential strike on the Governor's back, or whether there was yaw in the bullet at the time it struck the Governor's back?
Dr. OLIVIER. I couldn't as far as being tangential. I couldn't answer that, not knowing the position of the Governor. But it could have been caused by a bullet yawing. I mean it would have made a larger wound, as that was.

Mr. Specter.

Is there any other cause which could account for that type of a large wound on the Governor's back other than with the bullet yawing?
Dr. OLIVIER. With this particular bullet those would be the two probable causes of this wound of this size.

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