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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VI - Page 101« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Dr. Charles Francis Gregory)

Mr. Specter.
I am going to ask you, pointing first to Diagram No. 1, whether or not this accurately depicts the wounds of Governor Connally ?
Dr. GREGORY. This one does not.
Mr. Specter.
In what respect?

Dr. GREGORY. In the respect that the wound of entry is shown to exist on the volar surface of the forearm, whereas, it was on the dorsal surface of the forearm in my view---in my opinion---and the reverse holds for the wound of exit.
Mr. SPECTER. Will you take my pen and correct those as they should be, Doctor Gregory?
Dr. GREGORY. (Complied with request of Counsel Specter.)
Mr. SPECTER. Now, turning to Exhibit, Diagram No. 2 on this exhibit, and calling your attention specifically to the point of entry and the point of exit on the diagram of a man standing, does that correspond with the angle of declination on Governor Connally's wound?
Dr. GREGORY. To the best of my knowledge, this would fairly accurately depict that angle. If I were to have any reservation at all, it would be with reference to the height or the position of the wounds of entry, as being marked a little high, but this is recalling from memory, and it may not be correct.
Mr. SPECTER. I now call your attention to Diagram No. 3 on this sequence and ask if this accurately depicts the condition of the Governor's wounds?
Dr. GREGORY. I think that this one comes more closely into line with their actual location, especially with reference to the wound of entry in the posterior aspect of the chest. It is a little lower here, as I recall it to be. Those of the wrist, I think are accurately depicted, and that of the thigh are believed to be accurately depicted.
Mr. SPECTER And on these wrist wounds, do they show the point of entry to be on the dorsal aspect and the point of exit to be on the volar aspect?
Dr. GREGORY. According to the anatomical position, I believe that they do; yes.
Mr. SPECTER. Now, looking at Diagram No. 4, does this again correspond with your recollection of the angle of decline on Governor Connally?
Dr. GREGORY. Again, if I have a reservation it would be to the wound of entry and the posterior aspect as being shown a little higher than it actually existed.
Mr. SPECTER. Now, Dr. Gregory, I turn to Diagram No. 5, which depicts a seated man and what does Diagram No. 5 depict to your eye with respect to what action is described on the seated man ?
Dr. GREGORY. Well, I should say that this composite has alined the several parts of the body demonstrated in such a way that a single missile following a constant trajectory could have accounted for all of the wounds which are shown.
Moreover, this is consistent with the point of entry which is depicted on the side views showing the angle of declination. I submit that the angle of declination in passing through the chest could be very simply altered by having an individual lean forward a few degrees, and similarly could be made much deeper by having him lean backward, without really changing the basic relationship between the parts, nor in any way affecting the likelihood that all parts could have come into this same trajectory.
Mr. SPECTER. Would you consider it possible, in your professional opinion, for the same bullet to have inflicted all of the wounds which you have described on Governor Connally?
Dr. GREGORY. Yes; I believe it very possible, for a number of reasons. One of these is the apparent loss of energy manifested at each of the various body surfaces, which I transacted, the greatest energy being at the point of entry on the posterior aspect of the chest and of the fifth rib, where considerable destruction was .done and the least destruction having been done in the medial aspect of the thigh where the bullet apparently expended itself.
Mr. Specter.
What destruction was done on the fifth rib, Dr. Gregory?
Dr. GREGORY. It is my understanding from conversations with Dr. Shaw, and I believe his medical reports bear this out, that the fifth rib was literally shattered by the missile.
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