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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. IV - Page 136« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Gov. John Bowden , Jr. Connally)

Governor Connally.
that far, and after I heard that shot, I had the time to turn to my right, and start to turn to my left before I felt anything.
It is not conceivable to me that I could have been hit by the first bullet, and then I felt the blow from something which was obviously a bullet, which I assumed was a bullet, and I never heard the second shot, didn't hear it. I didn't hear but two shots. I think I heard the first shot and the third shot.
Mr. Specter.
Do you have any idea as to why you did not hear the second shot?
Governor CONNALLY. Well, first, again I assume the bullet was traveling faster than the sound. I was hit by the bullet prior to the time the sound reached me, and I was in either a state of shock or the impact was such that the sound didn't even register on me, but I was never conscious of hearing the second shot at all.
Obviously, at least the major wound that I took in the shoulder through the chest couldn't have been anything but the second shot. Obviously, it couldn't have been the third, because when the third shot was fired I was in a reclining position, and heard it, saw it and the effects of it, rather--I didn't see it, I saw the effects of it--so it obviously could not have been the third, and couldn't have been the first, in my judgment.
Mr. Specter.
What was the nature of the exit wound on the front side of your chest, Governor?
Governor CONNALLY. I would say, if the Committee would be interested, I would just as soon you look at it. Is there any objection to any of you looking at it?
The Chairman.
No.
Governor CONNALLY. You can tell yourself.
I would say, to describe it for the record, however, that it, the bullet, went in my back just below the right shoulder blade, at just about the point that the right arm joins the shoulder, right in that groove, and exited about 2 inches toward the center of the body from the right nipple of my chest. I can identify these for you.
The bullet went in here see if I properly describe that--about the juncture of the right arm and the shoulder.
Mr. Specter.
Let the record show that the Governor has removed his shirt and we can view the wound on the back which he is pointing toward.
Governor CONNALLY. The other two are tubes that were inserted in my back by the doctors.
Mr. Specter.
Dr. Shaw is present and he can, perhaps, describe with identifiable precision where the wounds are.
Dr. SHAW. There is the wound of the drain that has been specifically described. It was not as large as the scar indicated because in cleaning up the ragged edges of the wound, some of the skin was excised in order to make a cleaner incision. This scar--- -
Mr. Specter.
Will you describe the location, Doctor, of that wound on the Governor's back?
Dr. SHAW. Yes. It is on the right shoulder, I will feel it, just lateral to the shoulder blade, the edge of which is about 2 centimeters from the wound, and just above and slightly medial to the crease formed by the axilla or the armpit, the arm against the chest wall.
Mr. Specter.
What other scars are shown there on the Governor's back?
Dr. SHAW. The other scars are surgically induced. This is the incision that was made to drain the depth of the subscapular space.
Mr. Specter.
And there you are indicating an incision at what location, please?
Dr. SHAW. Just at the angle of the shoulder blade. Here is the angle of the shoulder blade.
These incisions were never closed by suture. These incisions were left open and they healed by what we call secondary intention, because in this case there was what we call a Penrose drain, which is a soft-rubber drain going up into the depths of the shoulder to allow any material to drain. This was to prevent infection. The other small opening was the one in which the tube was placed through the eighth interspace.
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