(Testimony of Lyndal L. Shaneyfelt)
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
The Nix film was obtained as a result of a notice that the FBI gave to processing plants in the Dallas area, that the FBI would be interested in obtaining or knowing about any film they processed, that had anything on it, relating to the assassination.
And, as a result of this, we learned of the Nix film and arranged to obtain a copy of it.
Mr. Specter.
Did you analyze any other film in connection with this inquiry?
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
Yes. I analyzed a film that was 8-mm. motion picture film taken by Mrs. Mary Muchmore of Dallas, Tex.
Mr. Specter.
How did you obtain a copy of that film?
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
Our first knowledge of this came as a result of a review of the book "Four Days" which covers the assassination period, in which representatives of the FBI noted a colored picture taken from a motion picture film that did not match either the Nix film or the Zapruder film.
Once we established that, then we investigated and learned that it was made by Mrs. Mary Muchmore, and was at that time in the possession of United Press International in New York, and made arrangements for them to furnish us with a copy of the Muchmore film. That is the copy that I used for examination.
Mr. Specter.
Where was Mrs. Muchmore standing at the time she took those movies?
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
Mrs. Muchmore was standing along Houston Street, close to the corner of Main, on the west side of Houston Street, and photographed the motorcade as it came down Main, turned into Houston, and proceeded down Houston. She says that when she heard the shots, she panicked, and did not take any further pictures. But a review of her film shows pictures of the assassination route, the motorcade going down Elm Street, beginning just before the shot that hit the President in the head, and continuing a short period after that.
Since she did not remember taking the pictures, we then, in the same manner we established Mr. Nix's position, by checking the photograph in relation to objects in the background, established her position along this structure that is marked on the map and found that she had come from the curb over to this point----
Mr. Specter.
Indicating a position on Exhibit No. 883 marked "Muchmore Position."
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
That is correct.
And this we established as her position when she photographed a portion of the assassination--motorcade.
Mr. Specter.
Would you elaborate just a bit more on how you ascertained that position from fixed points in the background of the movie?
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
Yes; we took a frame of the motion picture that is close to the beginning and a picture that is close to the end, and made a still photograph of those. We then establish a position and try to line up the relationship of objects close to where we are standing with objects in the background, so that they are in relation to each other as they are in the picture.
Then we take the other picture from farther along the motion picture film, and do the same thing, and where those two lines intersect is where she had to be standing.
Mr. Specter.
You draw two straight lines through two objects that you line up on each of those pictures, and the intersection point of those two lines is the calculated position of the camera.
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
That is correct.
Mr. Specter.
And was that same system used to ascertain the position of Mr. Nix?
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
That is correct.
Mr. Specter.
And how did you ascertain the position of Mr. Zapruder?
Mr. Shaneyfelt.
Mr. Zapruder's position was known, as he was on the top of the abutment along Elm Street--he stated that he was standing on the abutment. And there is relatively no room to move around there, other than to stand there. It is about 2 feet wide by 3 to 4 feet deep.
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