The First Shot

[Andrew Mason]

Just following up on my earlier comments about William Newman, I had a look at his Shaw trial testimony (STATE OF LOUISIANA vs. CLAY L. SHAW, 198-059, February 17, 1969) which is available here in which he said:

• "Q: What did you see?
  A: I saw the President of the United States shot in the head.
  Q: How many shots did you hear?
  A: I heard at least three. I often thought of four, but I can't clearly say there were four shots; I can clearly say there were three. "

...

• Q: Would you tell us in as much detail as you can recall about the impact which you may have observed from the shots.
  A: Yes, sir. you want me to start with the first two shots?
  Q: Start right from the beginning and just tell us as you recall.
  A: Okay. My wife and myself were watching the parade come toward us. We had to more or less step off the curb to look up the street, and as the car was approaching I heard two shots -- BOOM, BOOM -- and when the first shot was fired the President throwed his hands up like this (demonstrating), and at the time what we thought had happened, somebody throwed firecrackers or something under the automobile and he was protecting his face. At the time of the first shot Governor Connally turned in his seat in this manner (demonstrating), to look back at the President I suppose, and then the second shot was fired, and then as the car approached us to where we were standing, I could see Governor Connally leaning back in his seat holding his hands down like this (demonstrating), and at that time I could see blood on his shirt, and that is when I actually realized that it appeared, you know, he had been shot. The President all the time was staying in an upright position in his seat and it looked like he was looking into the crowd of people as if he was trying to see someone. I caught a glimpse of his eyes, just looked like a cold stare, he just looked through me, and then when the car was directly in front of me, well, that is when the third shot was fired and it hit him in the side of the head right above the ear and his ear come off.

[Andrew Mason]

Here is part of the testimony of Gayle Newman at the Shaw trial (STATE OF LOUISIANA vs. CLAY L. SHAW, February 15, 1969) which is available here in which she said

• Q: Mrs. Newman, while you were in Dealey Plaza did anything unusual occur?
  A: Yes, sir, the President was shot.
  Q: Did you hear any unusual noises?
  A: I heard three of what I thought at first were firecrackers -- three shots.
  Q: Did you hear the first of these noises?
  A: Yes, sir. Now, do you want me to tell you where the President's car was when I first heard the noises?
  Q: If you can.
  A: The President's car was maybe 100 or 150 feet from us when I first heard the noise and the first two noises were close together, just seconds apart.
  Q: Were you looking at the President at the time you heard the first report?
  A: Yes, sir, I was.
  Q: Were you able to observe any reaction on his part?
  A: Yes, sir, at the time of the first noise he threw his hands up.
  Q: Could you simulate what you observed?
  A: He threw his hands up like this and sort of turned his head.
  Q: Did you have occasion to hear a second report?
  A: Yes, sir, I did.
  Q: Before I go into that, were you able to observe Governor Connally after the first report?
  A: Yes, sir, I saw Governor Connally with the first shot seemed to turn a little bit like this. (Indicating.)
  Q: You said you then heard a second report?
  A: Yes, sir.
  Q: Were you able to observe any reaction on the part of Governor Connally then?
  A: Yes, sir, at the time of the second shot Governor Connally grabbed his stomach.
  Q: Did he do anything else?
  A: Well, his eyes just got real big and he sort of slumped down in the seat.
  Q: Were you able to hear a third report?
  A: Yes, sir, we heard a third report, it was a short time, not maybe 10 or 12 seconds after the first two shots.
  Q: And what were you able to observe the effects of this shot then?
  A: Yes, sir, that shot when it happened, the President's car was directly in front of us and it was about a lane's width between us, it wasn't in the lane next to the curb it was in the middle lane, and at that time he was shot in the head right at his ear or right above his ear.
  Q: Did you have your eyes upon the President at the time of these shots?
  A: Yes, sir, I did. "

[Dan O'meara]

Here is part of the testimony of Gayle Newman at the Shaw trial (STATE OF LOUISIANA vs. CLAY L. SHAW, February 15, 1969) which is available here in which she said

• Q: Mrs. Newman, while you were in Dealey Plaza did anything unusual occur?
  A: Yes, sir, the President was shot.
  Q: Did you hear any unusual noises?
  A: I heard three of what I thought at first were firecrackers -- three shots.
  Q: Did you hear the first of these noises?
  A: Yes, sir. Now, do you want me to tell you where the President's car was when I first heard the noises?
  Q: If you can.
  A: The President's car was maybe 100 or 150 feet from us when I first heard the noise and the first two noises were close together, just seconds apart.
  Q: Were you looking at the President at the time you heard the first report?
  A: Yes, sir, I was.
  Q: Were you able to observe any reaction on his part?
  A: Yes, sir, at the time of the first noise he threw his hands up.
  Q: Could you simulate what you observed?
  A: He threw his hands up like this and sort of turned his head.
  Q: Did you have occasion to hear a second report?
  A: Yes, sir, I did.
  Q: Before I go into that, were you able to observe Governor Connally after the first report?
  A: Yes, sir, I saw Governor Connally with the first shot seemed to turn a little bit like this. (Indicating.)
  Q: You said you then heard a second report?
  A: Yes, sir.
  Q: Were you able to observe any reaction on the part of Governor Connally then?
  A: Yes, sir, at the time of the second shot Governor Connally grabbed his stomach.
  Q: Did he do anything else?
  A: Well, his eyes just got real big and he sort of slumped down in the seat.
  Q: Were you able to hear a third report?
  A: Yes, sir, we heard a third report, it was a short time, not maybe 10 or 12 seconds after the first two shots.
  Q: And what were you able to observe the effects of this shot then?
  A: Yes, sir, that shot when it happened, the President's car was directly in front of us and it was about a lane's width between us, it wasn't in the lane next to the curb it was in the middle lane, and at that time he was shot in the head right at his ear or right above his ear.
  Q: Did you have your eyes upon the President at the time of these shots?
  A: Yes, sir, I did. "

The following is lifted from patspeer.com

John Templin
(7-28-95 Oral History interview for the Sixth Floor Museum)

"Well, as the limo drew even with us, well, the president was waving and, of course, grinning. He had just a great big smile on his face, and he drew even with us, and I thought, “Well, this ‘ole country boy finally saw a president.” You know, it’s not like you see a president every day. And especially a kid from the country like I was, it was a big deal for me. And just about, I would say, thirty feet past us, we heard what I personally thought was a motorcycle backfire, and I... the president kind of threw his shoulders up a little bit and kind of laid his head back on the back of the seat, and I thought, well, he’s just playing and playing the crowd and acting silly, you know. Being human, not knowing that he had been hit. But the second shot was probably another forty to fifty foot further down, and it blew the right side of his head off, as near as I could tell. I was close enough that I could see that. I could see his hair depart from his head actually." (When asked to confirm that this was the second shot) "That was the second shot, sir, and some say it was the third shot killed him, but as I recall—and I’ll believe it till my dying day—it was the second shot...was the fatal shot that hit him in the head and killed him."

Where does that get us?

[Andrew Mason]

The following is lifted from patspeer.com

John Templin
(7-28-95 Oral History interview for the Sixth Floor Museum)

"Well, as the limo drew even with us, well, the president was waving and, of course, grinning. He had just a great big smile on his face, and he drew even with us, and I thought, “Well, this ‘ole country boy finally saw a president.” You know, it’s not like you see a president every day. And especially a kid from the country like I was, it was a big deal for me. And just about, I would say, thirty feet past us, we heard what I personally thought was a motorcycle backfire, and I... the president kind of threw his shoulders up a little bit and kind of laid his head back on the back of the seat, and I thought, well, he’s just playing and playing the crowd and acting silly, you know. Being human, not knowing that he had been hit. But the second shot was probably another forty to fifty foot further down, and it blew the right side of his head off, as near as I could tell. I was close enough that I could see that. I could see his hair depart from his head actually." (When asked to confirm that this was the second shot) "That was the second shot, sir, and some say it was the third shot killed him, but as I recall—and I’ll believe it till my dying day—it was the second shot...was the fatal shot that hit him in the head and killed him."

Where does that get us?

Not very far. It is unfortunate that Templin never gave a statement until over 30 years later.  He does not say there were three shots or that there was a shot after the headshot so maybe he did not distinguish the second and third shots. The Newman's gave their statements within two hours and two days and both said the third shot hit JFK in the head.

[Dan O'meara]

Not very far. It is unfortunate that Templin never gave a statement until over 30 years later.  He does not say there were three shots or that there was a shot after the headshot so maybe he did not distinguish the second and third shots. The Newman's gave their statements within two hours and two days and both said the third shot hit JFK in the head.

Is Charles Brehm's FBI report given two days after the assassination any better:

"When the President's automobile was very close to him and he could see the President's face very well, the President was seated, but was leaning forward when he stiffened perceptibly at the same instant what appeared to be a rifle shot sounded. According to BREHM, the President seemed do to stiffen and come to a pause when another shot sounded and the President appeared to be badly hit in the head. BREHM said when the President was hit by the second shot, he could notice the President's hair fly up, and then roll over to his side, as Mrs. KENNEDY was apparently pulling him in that direction.

BREHM said that a third shot followed and that all three shots were relatively close together. BREHM stated that he was in military service and he has had experience with bolt-action rifles, and he expressed the opinion that the three shots were fired just about as quickly as an individual can maneuver a bolt-action rifle, take aim, and fire three shots."

And round and round we go   

[Andrew Mason]

Is Charles Brehm's FBI report given two days after the assassination any better:

"When the President's automobile was very close to him and he could see the President's face very well, the President was seated, but was leaning forward when he stiffened perceptibly at the same instant what appeared to be a rifle shot sounded. According to BREHM, the President seemed do to stiffen and come to a pause when another shot sounded and the President appeared to be badly hit in the head. BREHM said when the President was hit by the second shot, he could notice the President's hair fly up, and then roll over to his side, as Mrs. KENNEDY was apparently pulling him in that direction.

BREHM said that a third shot followed and that all three shots were relatively close together. BREHM stated that he was in military service and he has had experience with bolt-action rifles, and he expressed the opinion that the three shots were fired just about as quickly as an individual can maneuver a bolt-action rifle, take aim, and fire three shots."

And round and round we go   

So who do you suggest corroborated Brehm? Altgens, the Connallys, Gayle Newman, William Newman, the Secret Service agents, Dave Powers, Ken O,Donnell, Mary Woodward, all  contradict Brehm.

[Dan O'meara]

So who do you suggest corroborated Brehm? Altgens, the Connallys, Gayle Newman, William Newman, the Secret Service agents, Dave Powers, Ken O,Donnell, Mary Woodward, all  contradict Brehm.

And Brehm contradicts them. Templin contradicts them.
So what? What's the point you're making? That the witnesses who suit you count and others don't?
And, as usual, you present witnesses who refute what you're saying:

Mary Woodward (11-23-63 newspaper article Witness From the News Describes Assassination written by Woodward for the Dallas Morning News)
"After acknowledging our cheers, he faced forward again and suddenly there was a horrible, ear-shattering noise coming from behind us and a little to the right. My first reaction, and also my friends’, was that as a joke, someone had backfired their car. Apparently the driver and occupants of the President’s car had the same impression, because instead of speeding up, the car came almost to a halt...
Then after a moment’s pause there was another shot and I saw the President start slumping in the car. This was followed rapidly by another shot."[patspeer.com]

Woodward describes the limo coming to "almost to a halt" before the second shot. We know from the Z-film this happens just before the headshot where she describes "the President start slumping in the car". She describes another shot after this.
Shot - headshot - shot after headshot.

And round and round we go.

[Andrew Mason]

And Brehm contradicts them. Templin contradicts them.
So what? What's the point you're making? That the witnesses who suit you count and others don't?
And, as usual, you present witnesses who refute what you're saying:

Mary Woodward (11-23-63 newspaper article Witness From the News Describes Assassination written by Woodward for the Dallas Morning News)
"After acknowledging our cheers, he faced forward again and suddenly there was a horrible, ear-shattering noise coming from behind us and a little to the right. My first reaction, and also my friends’, was that as a joke, someone had backfired their car. Apparently the driver and occupants of the President’s car had the same impression, because instead of speeding up, the car came almost to a halt...
Then after a moment’s pause there was another shot and I saw the President start slumping in the car. This was followed rapidly by another shot."[patspeer.com]

Woodward describes the limo coming to "almost to a halt" before the second shot. We know from the Z-film this happens just before the headshot where she describes "the President start slumping in the car". She describes another shot after this.
Shot - headshot - shot after headshot.

And round and round we go.

Mary Woodward did NOT say that the second shot was the headshot.  She said the headshot was the third  and last shot. She makes this clear in this interview at around the 2:15 mark.