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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VI - Page 280« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of James Elbert Romack)

Mr. Romack.
I heard these three rifle shots sound out.
Mr. Belin.
Did you know they were rifle shots?

Mr. ROMACK. Yes, sir; I did. I go elk hunting in Colorado every year in October, and I just came back from this trip, and I am pretty familiar with a rifle shot.
Mr. Belin.
How many did you hear?
Mr. Romack.
Three.
Mr. Belin.
Where did they sound like they came from?

Mr. ROMACK. It sounded, I guess, like it came from that building, but it wasn't on my side of the building.
Mr. Belin.
Did it sound like it was up high or low?
Mr. ROMACK. I would say they were high. I have never been asked that question, but it did sound like they were running out high, I would say, and the wind was blowing a little bit from the south that day, I can remember.
Mr. BELIN. The wind was blowing into your face as you walked, or was it blowing from your back, sir?
Mr. Romack.
It was blowing into my face.
Mr. Belin.
Into your face.
How far were you from the School Book Depository Building when you heard the shots?
Mr. Romack.
Oh, I probably was 125 yards. 100 to 125 yards, 1 would say.
Mr. Belin.
Would that be from the nearest corner of the building or from the front of Elm Street?
Mr. Romack.
From the nearest corner of the building.
Mr. Belin.
From the northeast corner of the building?
Mr. Romack.
Right.
Mr. Belin.
How close did the shots sound like they came together?
Mr. Romack.
Oh, they happened pretty fast. I would say maybe 3 or 4 seconds apart.
Mr. BELIN. Were they equally spaced, or did one sound like it was closer than another one in time?
Mr. Romack.
It sounded like to me that they were evenly spaced. They rang out pretty fast.
Mr. Belin.
Have you ever operated a bolt action rifle?
Mr. Romack.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Belin.
Do you own one?
Mr. Romack.
Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Did it sound like the shots were faster than it could be operated with a bolt action rifle?
Mr. Romack.
No, sir.
Mr. Belin.
What kind of rifle do you have now, by the way?
Mr. Romack.
I have a---it is a---I can't answer that really.
Mr. Belin.
What caliber?
Mr. Romack.
It is a 30-06.
Mr. Belin.
30-06 rifle?
Mr. Romack.
Yes, it is. And it is an old World War I mechanism. It is either an Enfield or a Springfield.
Mr. Belin.
Bolt action?
Mr. Romack.
Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. You heard those rifle shots, and you think you could shoot your rifle accurately as fast as you heard those shots?
Mr. ROMACK. I don't, wouldn't think that I would be that good a shot; no, sir; because I shot at an elk four times and I hit him everywhere and missed him one time out of four.
Mr. Belin.
How far was it?
Mr. Romack.
He was, I would say, 350 to 500 yards away. He was quite a distance.
Mr. Belin.
Maybe I should have asked the question this way. Suppose he was 100 yards away or else 50 yards?
Mr. Romack.
I would be more accurate with my shooting, I sure would.
Mr. Belin.
If he were, say, from 40 to 75 yards away, or not an elk, a person,
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