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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VI - Page 195« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Ronald B. Fischer)

Mr. Belin.
motorcade turn? First, about how fast did the motorcade appear to be going?
Mr. Fischer.
When the motorcade passed me, it was---uh---the driver was in process of making the wide turn there from Houston to Elm, and he was going very slow. I'd say, uh---10-15 miles an hour.
Mr. Belin.
All right.
Then what happened?
Mr. Fischer.
Well, the motorcade the limousine made the wide turn and-- uh--they went out of our view just as they began to straighten up onto Elm Street because there were people standing along the curb all the way around---and that's when the limousine went out of my view and I started watching the other cars behind the Presidential limousine.
Mr. Belin.
And then what happened?

Mr. FISCHER. Well, as I looked around to watch these other cars, I heard a shot. At first I thought it was a firecracker. And---uh everybody got quiet. There was no yelling or shouting or anything. Everything seemed to get real still. And--uh--the second shot rang out, and then everybody--from where I was standing---everybody started to scatter. And--uh--then the third shot.
At first, I thought there were four, but as I think about it more, there must have been just three.
Mr. Belin.
At first, you thought there were four shots?
Mr. Fischer.
Yes.
Mr. Belin.
Now, you said the first one you thought was a firecracker?
Mr. Fischer.
Yes.
Mr. Belin.
What about the second one? Did you think that was a firecracker, too?

Mr. FISCHER. No. When the second shot rang out. It was too much like the first to be a firecracker. I have heard high-powered rifles fire before. The--uh--first shot fooled me, I think, because of the sound bouncing off the buildings. But the second shot was too much like the first and it was too loud--both shots were too loud to be a firecracker. And I knew it was a shot.
Mr. Belin.
Have you had any experience with high-powered rifles before?
Mr. Fischer.
Very little; but I have shot several.
Mr. Belin.
What about the third shot? Did you think that was a firecracker or what?

Mr. FISCHER. No; I knew it was a shot, too. I knew someone was shooting at something. Uh--it didn't--it still didn't dawn on me that anyone would try to shoot at the President, but I knew that somebody was shooting at something. I didn't know whether it was a real pistol or a real rifle but I knew somebody was shooting a firearm.
Mr. Belin.
Where did the shots appear to be coming from?
Mr. FISCHER. They appeared to be coming from just west of the School Book Depository Building. There were some railroad tracks and there were some railroad cars back in there.
Mr. Belin.
And they appeared to be coming from those railroad cars?

Mr. FISCHER. Well, that area somewhere. From where I was standing, I couldn't see the cars themselves until I had run across the street and up the hill.
Mr. Belin.
The shots seemed to be how far apart?
Mr.. FISCHER. That's hard to say. I've been thinking about that. And--uh--I'd guess--3 to 4 seconds.
Mr. BELIN. Was that between the first and the second or between the second and the third?
Mr. Fischer.
Between both. As far as I can remember, the shots were evenly paced.
Mr. Belin.
Is there anything else about the shots that you remember?
Mr. Fischer.
No---only that they were very loud.
Mr. Belin.
Anything else about the man in the window that you remember?
Mr. Fischer.
(Pausing before reply.) No.
Mr. Belin.
All right. What did you do or see or hear after you heard the shots? Mr. FISCHER. After the second shot we, Bob and I both, started running down
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