Mr. Tomlinson.

It's immaterial---it's at your convenience.

Mr. Specter.

That's fine. We appreciate that, Mr. Tomlinson.
The reason is, that you have the right to a 3-day notice, but if it doesn't matter to you, then we would like to go ahead and take your information today.

Mr. Tomlinson.

Yes.

Mr. Specter.

We call that a waiver under the law, if it is all right with you to talk with you today, then I want to go ahead and do that; is that all right?

Mr. Tomlinson.

. Yes.

Mr. Specter.

Well, where are you employed, Mr. Tomlinson?

Mr. Tomlinson.

Parkland Hospital.

Mr. Specter.

And what is your capacity ?

Mr. Tomlinson.

I am classed as the senior engineer.

Mr. Specter.

And what duties are involved in general?

Mr. Tomlinson.

I'm in charge of the powerplant here at the hospital, which takes care of the heating and air- conditioning services for the building.

Mr. Specter.

Will you describe the general physical layout relating to the emergency area and how you get from the emergency area, say, to the second Floor emergency operating rooms of Parkland Memorial Hospital?

Mr. Tomlinson.

You mean just the general lay?

Mr. Specter.

Yes, sir; please.
Mr. TOMLINSON. Well, we have one elevator that goes from the basement to the third floor, that's what we call the emergency elevator. It's in the south section of the hospital and that would be your most direct route to go from the ground floor, which emergency is on, to the operating rooms on two.

Mr. Specter.

Now, did you have anything to do with that elevator on November 22, sometime around the noon hour?

Mr. Tomlinson.

Yes.

Mr. Specter.

And what did you have to do with that elevator?

Mr. TOMLINSON. Well, we received a call in the engineer's office, the chief engineer's office, and he requested someone to operate the elevator.
Mr. SPECTER. Was there any problem with the elevator with respect to a mechanical difficulty of any sort?
Mr. TOMLINSON. No, sir; it was an ordinary type elevator, and if it isn't keyed off it. will stop every time somebody pushes a button, and they preferred it to go only to the second floor and to the ground floor unless otherwise instructed by the administrator.

Mr. Specter.

So, what were you to do with this elevator?

Mr. Tomlinson.

Key it off the ground, between ground and second floor.

Mr. Specter.

So that you would operate it in that way?

Mr. Tomlinson.

Yes; make a manual operation out of it.
Mr. SPECTER. When you came upon that elevator, what time was it, to the best of your recollection ?

Mr. Tomlinson.

It was around 1 o'clock.

Mr. Specter.

Was there anything on the elevator at that time?

Mr. Tomlinson.

There was one stretcher.
Mr. SPECTER. And describe the appearance of that stretcher, if you will, please.

Mr. Tomlinson.

I believe that stretcher had sheets on it and had a white covering on the pad.

Mr. Specter.

What did you say about the covering on the pad, excuse me?

Mr. Tomlinson.

I believe it was a white sheet that was on the pad.

Mr. Specter.

And was there anything else on that?

Mr. TOMLINSON. I don't believe there was on that one, I'm not sure, but I don't believe there was.

Mr. Specter.

What, if anything, did you do with that stretcher?
Mr. TOMLINSON. I took it off of the elevator and put it over against the south wall.

Mr. Specter.

On what floor?

Mr. Tomlinson.

The ground floor.

Mr. Specter.

Was there any other stretcher in that area at that time?