ARRB DEPOSITION OF DR. PIERRE A. FINCK, 5/24/96
Dr. Finck was one of the pathologists at the autopsy.
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This transcript was OCR'd by Joe Durnavich. Send corrections to: joejd@earthlink.net
BEFORE THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD
In Re: PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY College Park, Maryland Friday, May 24, 1996
The deposition of PIERRE A. FINCK, M.D., called for examination by counsel for Assassination Records Review Board in the above-entitled matter, pursuant to notice, at 8801 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland, convened at 10:22 a.m., before Alice R. Chiang, a notary public in and for the State of Maryland, when were present behalf of the parties:
APPEARANCES: On behalf of the Assassination Records Review Board:
JEREMY
GUNN, ESQ.
General Counsel
Assassination Records
Review Board
600 E Street, N. W.
Second Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
Others Present:
DAVID G. MARWELL, Executive Director DOUGLAS P. HORNE, Senior Analyst TIMOTHY A. WRAY, Chief Analyst for Military Records MARK HEILBRUN, Senate Intelligence Committee Staff
CONTENTS
EXAMINATION BY WITNESS COUNSEL FOR ARRB
Pierre A. Finck, M.D.3
ATTACHMENTS
ARRB
Master Medical Exhibit List, 5/24/96
ARRB Master Medical Illustrations List, 5/24/96
Autopsy Photographs Numbering Supplied by
November 10, 1966 Report of Inspection
PROCEEDINGS
MR. GUNN: Could you swear the witness, please. Whereupon, PIERRE A. FINCK, M.D., was called for examination by counsel for Assassination Records Review Board, and having been first duly sworn by the notary public, was examined and testified as follows:
EXAMINATION BY COUNSEL FOR ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD BY MR.GUNN:
Q:
Would you please state your full name for the record, please.
A:
My first name is Pierre, P-i-e-r-r-e—full second name? Antoine, A-n-t-o-i-n-e,
last name Finck, F as in Frank-i-n-c-k.
Q:
Dr. Finck, we are in this room at the National Archives in order to conduct a
deposition on behalf of the Assassination Records Review Board. My name is
Jeremy Gunn. I am the general counsel of the Assassination Records Review Board.
We have some other people here I would like to introduce. Sitting to my right is
Doug Horne, who works on medical records at the Review Board. Next is David
Marwell, who is the Executive Director of the Assassination Records Review
Board. We have also Tim Wray, who works on military records for the
Assassination Records Review Board. And we have a visitor named Mark Heilbrun,
who is here from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
As
you have been told, Dr. Finck, we are here not to come to any conclusions
regarding the assassination of President Kennedy, but the Assassination Records
Review Board is attempting to collect and clarify records related to the
assassination. What we would like to do after the deposition is concluded and
after the court reporter has prepared a transcript of the deposition, is to send
you, a copy of the deposition so that you can read and make any corrections in
it that you think should be made. We will be keeping a tape recording of the
deposition and we will keep both a copy of the deposition as originally recorded
and one with your corrections in it.
At
the conclusion of this process, we will be happy to send you a completely
corrected version of the deposition if you so choose. We want to make sure that
the testimony that you are giving is the best that you are able to give and is
true to the best of your knowledge and ability. During the course of the
deposition, I am going to be trying to ask questions in a clear way. If at some
point the question is not clear, please do not hesitate to ask me to repeat it
or to reformulate the question.
We
also should make clear that you should let us know if you want to take a break
at any point during the deposition; that can be arranged easily, just signify
that you would like to have a few minutes and that is easy enough to arrange.
We
are going to be working with some exhibits that we will be showing to you during
the course of the deposition. The exhibit numbers have been pre-determined to
correspond with a master exhibit list that we have, so that the exhibits will
not be coming to you in any particular numerical order. You shouldn't hesitate
to ask any questions about the exhibits that you might have.
Dr.
Finck, I would like to make one request to you, that you not discuss with anyone
the substance or the issues that are raised in this deposition until the
Assassination Records Review Board is completed with its work on the medical
evidence. It is our current anticipation that that will be completed by the end
of this year, but we would appreciate it if you would not discuss this until
that time. Is that agreeable to you?
A:
Very much so.
Q:
Thank you. Dr. Finck, have you ever testified before any government body on
issues related to the assassination of President Kennedy?
A:
Yes, I did.
Q:
Approximately how many times have you previously testified?
A:
Warren Commission, the Shaw trial, the Select Committee on Assassinations
appointed by the House of Representatives, and in `67 when I was recalled from
Vietnam to go to the Archives, I don't remember if it was a testimony. That is a
total of four times.
Q:
When you mentioned the Shaw trial, were you referring to the prosecution by Jim
Garrison of Clay Shaw in New Orleans?
A:
Yes.
Q:
After you made the statements in those prior examinations, were you given an
opportunity to review your testimony?
A:
I don't think so.
Q:
Have you—
A:
Without being sure.
Q:
Do you have any recollection of being shown your testimony, given the
opportunity to make changes or corrections in it?
A:
No.
Q:
Have you ever had the opportunity to review the testimony that you gave at any
point
A:
Can you repeat the question?
Q:
Sure. Have
you ever read the testimony that you gave to the Warren Commission?
A:
I don't remember was it submitted to me for corrections, or—I don't understand
the question. I don't recall having the opportunity to review. Maybe I did and
maybe I did not, I don't know.
Q:
The Warren Commission published your testimony in one of the volumes of
exhibits.
A:
Yes.
Q:
Did you ever go back and read the testimony that was published?
A:
I think I did, but now I don't any more. Oh,
you are talking about the hearings, the several volumes?
Q:
Yes.
A:
I don't go back to this.
Q:
So you don't have any recollection of reading your testimony and thinking
something was inaccurate in it?
A:
No.
Q:
Did you have the opportunity at any point to subsequently read the testimony
from the House Select committee on Assassinations?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Dr. Finck, could you describe the position that you held in 1963, please.
A:
I was in charge of the Wound Ballistics Pathology Branch of the Armed Forces
Institute of Pathology.
Q:
What areas of responsibility did the Wounds Ballistics Branch have?
A:
It was to review cases involving injuries by missiles, projectiles.
Q:
Approximately how many persons were in the Wounds Ballistics Branch in 1963?
A:
A secretary and myself.
Q:
While you were at the Wounds Ballistics Branch, did you review autopsies that
had been conducted on persons that had been killed by missiles and projectiles?
A:
Yes.
Q:
During the time that you were at the Wounds Ballistics Branch, were you involved
in any autopsy, other than the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
While I was in charge of the Wounds Ballistics Pathology Branch?
Q:
Yes.
A:
Was I involved in autopsies?
Q: Did you perform or participate in any autopsies?
A:
We performed autopsies at Soldiers Home in Washington, D. C. And we were called
elsewhere to perform autopsies in cases of aircraft accidents. But your question
refers specifically to missile wounds or to aircraft accidents, or autopsies in
general?
Q:
Missile wounds while you were at the Wounds Ballistics Branch.
A:
I participated in autopsies involving missile wounds while I was there, yes.
Q:
In a very general way, approximately how many autopsies had you participated in
prior to the time you were involved in the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
When I answered "yes" to your question before it was because we went
to Los Angeles for the autopsy of Senator Robert Kennedy, but that was in `68.
So before 1963—I don't remember. I don't remember specifically numbers.
Q:
Do you have even a general idea of the number of autopsies that you were
involved in?
A:
In reviewing or—
Q:
In participating in, where you were actually present in the morgue during the
autopsy.
A:
No. No, no exact number.
Q:
Just an approximate number?
A:
No.
Q:
Is it in the hundreds, or a dozen?
A:
In the hundreds.
MR. GUNN: Can we go off the record for just a moment, please.
[Discussion off the record.]
MR. GUNN: We're back on the record.
THE WITNESS: Yes, regarding your question, performing autopsies at the AFIP on missile wounds.
BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Well, the first time I'd asked questions just about autopsies that you had
performed at AFIP.
A:
Yes.
Q:
And then subsequently it was any autopsy that you had participated in prior to
the autopsy of President Kennedy wherever in the world.
A:
Wherever in the world?
Q:
My second set of questions was about any autopsy.
A:
Oh, yes. Because I performed autopsies in many places. I performed autopsies of
missile wounds in other places. I thought you were referring specifically to the
AFIP. I had experience in the autopsies of missile wounds, of course.
Q:
Okay. Do
you have just a very rough estimate of how many autopsies you had been involved
in at any time prior to the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
Missile wounds or not missile wounds?
Q:
All autopsies.
A:
All autopsies? Hundreds of them.
Q:
Hundreds?
A:
Oh, yes. But you asked the question hundred or a dozen, it was hundreds of them.
Q:
Hundreds of them. And of those, approximately how many would have been missile
wounds prior to 1963?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
I would like to ask you some questions now related to documents that you may
have had in your possess on at one time or another related to the autopsy of
President Kennedy, so let me start out first by asking you, did you prepare any
autopsy notes during the course of the autopsy?
A:
I don't remember walking out of the autopsy room with notes. It was
contribution, taking measurements and writing notes, but as far as knowing who
wrote what, I don't know.
Q:
But did you write some things down yourself during the autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
We are aware of prior statements that suggested that you did write down autopsy
notes originally during the autopsy. Can you provide any clarification?
A:
No.
Q:
Do you remember a discussion that you had with some other people at the lunch
room of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology shortly after the autopsy where
you said that your original autopsy notes had been or were missing and that you
had had to recreate autopsy notes from memory?
A:
I don't remember that.
Q:
Do you remember ever saying to anyone that you gave to Commander Humes notes
that you had taken during the course of the autopsy?
A:
Can you repeat the question?
Q:
Sure. Do
you remember ever saying to anyone that you had given autopsy notes to Commander
Humes following the autopsy?
A:
In the autopsy room?
Q:
Notes that you had taken during the autopsy and had given to Commander Humes
after the autopsy was completed.
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Dr. Finck, I would like to show you testimony that appears to be testimony that
you offered to the House Select Committee on Assassinations, House of
Representatives, marked for the purposes of this deposition as MD-30. I would
like to draw your attention to page 82, lines 18 through 22, if you could take a
look at that. And please feel free to read anything else in the document that
you would like to read. [Handing document to witness]
A:
[Perusing document] It is more accurate to determine an anatomic location when
you have the wound itself on the dead body. That's what I just told you. Do you
have a specific question regarding this?
Q: Yes. I would like to read for the record question from Mr. Purdy:
"When did you write your notes that you gave the location of the wound?
"Dr. Finck. During the autopsy I took measurements, but all my notes were turned over to Dr. Humes, and after the autopsy I also wrote notes, but the notes I wrote at the time of the autopsy were turned over to Dr. Humes." Dr. Finck, do you recall having been asked that question by the House Select Committee on Assassinations and having given that answer?
A: I don't, and I agree with this.
Q:
Does this passage help refresh your recollection as to whether you took any
notes at the time of the autopsy?.
A:
Yes.
Q:
You did take notes. Do you recall how many pages of notes you took during the
autopsy?
A:
No.
Q:
Do you have any recollection at all whether it was one or more than one page?
A:
No.
Q: Dr. Finck, I would like to show you another document that has been marked as Exhibit 74 to this deposition, and it is on its face an affidavit of Leonard D. Saslaw, Ph.D. And I wish that you would take a minute to read this affidavit. [Handing document to witness]
MR. GUNN: We can go off the record.
[Discussion off the record.]
BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Dr. Finck, have you had an opportunity to read the affidavit of Leonard D.
Saslaw, Ph.D.?
A:
Yes, I did.
Q:
Let me quote from two paragraphs of the affidavit and then I will ask you if
that helps refresh your recollection to any events. Paragraph 6 states: "I
clearly heard Dr. Finck, who was speaking sufficiently loudly for his words
easily to be overheard, complain that he had been unable to locate the
handwritten notes that he had taken during the autopsy on President Kennedy. Dr.
Finck elaborated to his companions with considerable irritation that immediately
after washing up following the autopsy, he looked for his notes and could not
find them anywhere. He further recounted that others who were present at the
autopsy also had helped him search for his notes to no avail." Paragraph 7:
"Dr. Finck concluded his story by angrily stating that he had to reconstruct his
notes from memory shortly after the autopsy." The question, Dr. Finck, is
do these two paragraphs help refresh your recollection first on the question of
whether you took notes during the autopsy?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Dr. Finck, would it have been your regular practice during the course of an
autopsy in which you participated to take notes and measurements?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Would that be a standard practice and procedure that most prosectors would
engage in during the course of an autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Dr. Finck, in 1963, did you keep any kind of diary or written record of events
that you were involved in?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Dr. Finck, you have no idea at all whether you kept something like a diary in
1963?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
I am not trying to ask you to remember any details of what were in the notes,
but just simply whether it was your regular practice and whether you have any
knowledge about whether you did take notes at the time of the autopsy.
A:
I took notes.
Q:
Dr. Finck, I would like to show you a document which has been marked MD-28 for
this deposition. I should—perhaps I should state that it appears on its face
to be a collection of several documents that may have been created at different
points. We have numbered the pages here in the bottom right-hand corner as going
up to page 25. And I would like you to look at the documents here and ask you
whether you have any recollection of having previously seen the documents?
[Handing documents to witness]
A:
[Perusing documents] I certainly agree with pages 1 and 2 of that exhibit MD-28
that I signed.
Q:
Okay.
A:
I agree with that. I recognize it.
MR. GUNN: Let me state for the record that the first two pages appear on their face to be a document dated January 25, 1965, "Subject: The autopsy of President Kennedy Summary;" signed it appears by Pierre A. Finck on the second page.
BY MR.GUNN: Dr.
Finck, is that your signature on the second page?
A.
Yes, it is.
Q:
Do you have a recollection of having written the document that is the first and
second pages of Exhibit 28?
A:
Yes, I do.
Q:
Dr. Finck, when you prepared the document, the first two pages of this exhibit,
did you use any notes or reference material in order to be able to write the
document?
A:
Probably so, but that's why I don't remember the details, how many pages, when
did I take the notes, but I agree with those two pages.
Q:
Did you ever create a file in any file of records and materials related to the
autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
Well, this is an example. I signed that and this is part of the documents. More
details I don't remember.
Q:
Do you a have a copy of this document, that is the first two pages, in your
possession in Switzerland?
A:
I don't.
Q:
Would it have been your standard practice, before writing a document like the
first two pages of Exhibit 28, to refer to notes before writing the document, or
would you typically write something like the first two pages from memory?
A:
I don't know. I can't answer.
Q:
Could you look at the document that is page 3 of Exhibit 28 and tell me whether
you previously have seen that page [indicating]?
A:
[Perusing document] Yes. I remember that, yes.
Q:
Does this document, page 3 of Exhibit 28, help refresh your recollection as to
whether you kept and compiled notes related to the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
Yes. But again, without details—
Q:
Dr. Finck, let me make it clear, I am not asking you at all to remember any
details of what was in notes. My question now is going simply to your practice
regarding the taking of notes and whether you did in fact take notes related to
the autopsy of President Kennedy? No specifics are being asked, just the fact of
whether there is a written record, or ever was a written record created by you?
A:
I don't remember the details, it's too much time.
Q:
Would you please look at pages 4 through 8 of Exhibit 28, please. I won't be
asking you any questions on specific information. My question will be whether
you previously have seen the document, pages 4 through 8 of Exhibit 28.
A:
[Perusing document]
MR. GUNN: We will go off the record for a minute while Dr. Finck is looking at that.
[Discussion off the record.]
MR. GUNN: Back on the record. BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Dr. Finck, have you had an opportunity to examine the pages?
A:
I am not quite through.
Q:
Oh. Please continue. Take as much time as you need.
A:
Thank you. [Perusing document]
[Discussion off the record.]
MR. GUNN: Back on the record. BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Dr. Finck, have you now had an opportunity to review the pages that I have
previously identified for you?
A:
I read the pages 1 through 8 of MD-28. It refreshes my memory, and I agree on
that.
Q:
Does reading pages 1 through 8 refresh your recollection as to whether you
originally took notes related to the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
You did originally take notes related to the autopsy?
A:
That's what I did. I didn't remember details, but now this shows me that I had
taken—I remember taking measurements and I agree with everything mentioned in
those eight pages.
Q:
Okay. Do you now recall having given some notes to Dr. Humes after the autopsy?
A:
I don't recall now. This refreshes my memory after more than—30 years.
Q:
Sure. Again, the questions that I am interested in now go to your recollection
of having taken notes and how you might have filed or organized those notes. Do
you have any better recollection now as to whether you did compile notes near
the time of the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
I recognize now what I have written then.
Q:
Well, once again, Dr. Finck, I'm not asking you to remember any details from the
autopsy. My questions now are simply to the question of whether you took notes
during the autopsy and whether you collected notes subsequent to the autopsy?
A:
I don't know how to answer that question.
Q: Could you please look at pages 9 through 25 of Exhibit 28 and, again, I am not going to be asking you any detailed questions related to the contents of the document, but I am just going to ask you whether you have previously seen the document or documents before, on pages 9 through 25.
MR. GUNN: We will go off the record.
[Discussion off the record.]
MR. GUNN: Back on the record. BY MR.GUNN:
Q:
Dr. Finck, have you had an opportunity to look at the remaining pages of Exhibit
28?
A:
I have.
Q:
And do you recognize those documents?
A:
I do.
Q:
Is that your signature that appears on pages 24 and 25 of the documents?
A:
24—
Q:
The last two pages of the document.
A:
24, that's my signature, yes. And that's my signature, yes.
Q:
Did you write those documents?
A:
I wrote those documents, but I don't recognize a sentence handwritten, this is
not my handwriting on page 23, the lines crossed out and someone wrote by hand.
I don't recognize my handwriting here.
Q:
Let me read those lines to you that are handwritten. “One officer who
outranked me told me that my request was only of academic interest. The same
officer did not agree to state in the autopsy report that the autopsy was
incomplete, as I had suggested to indicate." Do you now recall whether
those are your words, even though that is not your handwriting?
A:
That could be my words. I don't recognize my handwriting. I don't know what
happened.
Q:
Have you ever seen the document or seen page 23 in the form that you now have it
in front of you before?
A:
I don't remember seeing that in this form.
Q:
Do you have a copy of any of the documents that appear in MD-28 in your personal
possession?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Do you have any files, either in the United States or in Switzerland, that
contain information related to the Kennedy assassination or autopsy?
A:
I did everything whenever I was asked, I sent those. I don't know if I have
copies of everything.
Q:
Question is whether you have any records currently in your possession or custody
related to the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
I don't know after all these years.
Q:
Dr. Finck, did you do anything to prepare for this deposition today?
A:
I did. I went through a box containing the article of the Journal of the
American Medical Association, and I have sent you copies of that article.
Q:
Did you do anything other than look at the article from the Journal of the
American Medical Association?
A:
I looked in the box and that's the pertinent material I found.
Q:
Was there anything else in the box that related in any way to the autopsy of
President Kennedy?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
How long ago did you look through the box?
A:
Oh, since you asked me in your letters, you asked to send documents.
Q:
So that would be sometime in the last two or three months, you looked through
the box?
A:
I would say I returned in April, so I must have looked during the month of
April. And that's when I wrote to you, answering your letters, and sent you the
material.
Q:
So as you are sitting here today, you do not remember whether there was anything
else in the box that related to President Kennedy's autopsy?
A:
That's right.
Q:
So even though your examination of the box was just last month, you don't
remember any?
A:
That's right.
Q:
In the article for the Journal of the American Medical Association, did you
prepare any written answers to questions that they put to you?
A:
Can you repeat the question?
Q:
Sure. Let me rephrase the question. Did the Journal of the American Medical
Association send you any written questions related to the autopsy of President
Kennedy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
And did you provide written answers to JAMA?
A:
I did.
Q:
When you prepared those answers, did you make reference to any other written
material, or did you answer the questions from memory?
A:
Oh, I must have referred to other materials.
Q:
What other materials did you refer to when you brought the answers?
A:
I don't remember. I
answered at the time. Now I don't remember.
Q:
Did YOU keep a copy of your written answers to the Journal of the American
Medical Association?
A:
I did.
Q:
Where are those documents or where is that document, your written answer to the
Journal of American Medical Association?
A:
In Switzerland.
Q:
Are they in the box that you previously made reference to?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Are there any other documents in that box that relate to the autopsy of
President Kennedy?
A:
No.
Q:
Dr. Finck, prior to the deposition today, did you discuss the fact that you
would be coming to the United States and having your deposition taken with
anybody?
A:
No.
Q:
Other than your wife, I should say.
A:
Other than my wife, I don't remember. I don't know.
Q:
Dr. Finck, when was the last time you spoke with Dr. Boswell?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
When is the last time you spoke to Dr. Humes?
A:
I don't remember. Years ago, but with no more precision.
Q:
Have you spoken to either Dr. Boswell or Humes at any time during the last ten
years?
A:
Oh, I don't know if it was within the past ten years or not. It's a long time.
Q:
When is the last time that you saw Dr. Boswell or Dr. Humes?
A:
I don't remember. Not recently at least, I didn't see them. I don't remember the
last time I saw them with precision. `67 when I was recalled from Vietnam, this
is one of the times. But other than that I don't remember details over the
years.
Q:
Do you remember whether you saw either Dr. Boswell or Dr. Humes at the time that
you testified to the House Select Committee on Assassinations?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Dr. Finck, did you ever receive any orders or instructions from anyone not to
discuss the assassination or autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
At the time of the autopsy, yes.
Q:
Can you tell me what the circumstances were around that, who gave you the order
for example?
A:
As far as I remember, it was in the autopsy room, and I may have recorded that
somewhere, but now the name escapes. I don't remember specifically who told us
not to discuss it.
Q:
Did you ever receive a written order not to discuss the autopsy?
A:
I don't remember receiving a written order not to discuss the autopsy. I don't
remember.
Q:
Did you ever receive an order from Colonel Stover, Captain Stover, not to
discuss the autopsy?
A:
I think this is recorded here somewhere, we read today that someone told us not
to discuss it. [Perusing document]
Q:
You are referring to Exhibit 28?
A:
Page 23 of Exhibit 28 says: "After the completion of the post mortem
examination, the Surgeon General of the Navy"—and that refreshes my
memory—"told us not to discuss the autopsy with anyone, even among
prosectors or with the investigators involved." I don't remember more than
that.
Q:
Do you have any recollection whether you received any similar orders from the
Surgeon General of the Army?
A:
No, I don't.
Q:
Would you turn to page 3 of the document that you have in front of you, Exhibit
28. I would like to draw your attention to the paragraph numbered 2 and ask you
if that helps to refresh your recollection of any other orders you may have
received?
A:
Before the Warren Commission, Warren report: "Before the Warren report was
published in September `64, I received directives by telephone from the White
House through"—something illegible—"through your office."
Q:
Your office.
A:
"And through the Naval Medical School in Bethesda not to discuss subject
autopsy beyond the contents of the Warren report." I don't remember that.
Q:
Do you remember receiving any telephone calls from the White House?
A:
No, I don't.
Q:
Do you remember receiving any telephone call in your life from the White House?
A:
I don't.
Q:
Dr. Finck, is there any order or promise or other kind of restraint on you today
that would keep you from answering questions fully and honestly?
A:
No. Can you repeat again?
Q:
Sure. Let me try to rephrase it. Is there any order of which you are aware that
currently restricts your ability to answer questions in this deposition fully
and honestly?
A:
Definitely not.
Q:
Similarly, is there any promise that you have made to anyone that you feel would
constrain your ability to answer questions fully and honestly here today?
A:
Can you repeat this?
Q:
Yes. Have you made any promise to anyone that—
A:
No.
Q:—would
keep you from answering questions fully and honestly today?
A:
No.
Q:
Were you ever told that the Kennedy family did not want you to discuss issues
related to the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
No.
[Discussion off the record.]
BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Dr. Finck, are you aware of any type of autopsy manual or autopsy rules that
would govern autopsies in the military, in the area of 1963?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Can you tell me what kinds of materials or rules, or regulations or manuals you
are aware of?
A:
Oh, there was an autopsy manual for example, there were several autopsy manuals,
besides the autopsy manual of the Army.
Q:
I would like to show you a document that is marked Exhibit 7 and ask you if this
is the autopsy manual you are referring to? [Handing document to witness]
A:
Oh, I have seen that autopsy manual. Yes, I recognize that.
Q:
When you were involved in performing autopsies, did you do your best to conform
to the standards of the autopsy manual?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Were there any other regulations or standards that you followed in the course of
your performing autopsies in the 1960's?
A:
Besides the autopsy manual? I can't answer that specifically.
Q:
What was your understanding of the purpose of the autopsy manual? What was it
supposed to do as best you understand it?
A:
To find the cause of death, the purpose of an autopsy is to find the cause of
death.
Q:
Okay. And what is the purpose of the autopsy manual?
A:
To list the procedures of an autopsy.
Q:
Is it your understanding that an autopsy manual provides certain forms of
standard guidelines for the performance of autopsies?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Then the autopsy manual would create at least minimal requirements that should
be performed in the course of conducting an autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Are you familiar with the term "medical/legal autopsy"?
A:
Yes.
Q:
What is your understanding of what medical/legal autopsy means?
A:
An autopsy in relation to the law.
Q:
And what—
A:
To find the cause of death, and based on the autopsy and other investigations,
the manner of death. For example, in the clothing of someone dead, there is a
suicide note indicating that the person wishes to commit suicide. The autopsy
itself doesn't indicate a suicide. In poisoning a toxicologic analysis is
necessary. These are investigations related to the autopsy, but not necessarily
answered at the time of autopsy. You may have to wait a few hours or few days
for an answer, and you put all the pieces together in reaching a conclusion in
medical/legal autopsy, based on the autopsy and other investigations. That's my
understanding of a medical/legal autopsy.
Q:
Would it be fair to say that medical/legal autopsies are performed in order to
determine evidence that would be legally important?
A:
Yes. For example, if you perform an autopsy and you find a bullet, you turn that
bullet over to the police for examination.
Q:
In a medical/legal autopsy would the goal be in part to determine whether there
was, for example, more than one person who shot at a victim?
A:
Based on the autopsy itself, you can find projectiles in the body, but that
doesn't tell you necessarily about the number of people involved. What you find
in the body is what counts, the evidence.
Q:
Sure. And one of the goals, would it not be fair to say, would be to determine
what the cause of death is, would that be correct?
A:
The purpose of an autopsy to determine what the cause of death is?
Q:
Yes.
A:
Yes.
Q:
And would it be also important to determine whether there was more than one
injury to a body?
A:
More than one injury? Oh, yes. The autopsy shows that.
Q:
And it could be that two people are both shooting at one person at the same time
and one of them may have killed the victim and one of them may have just caused
superficial damage. Would it be fair to say that in a medical/legal autopsy,
part of the goal is to determine as best one can what injuries have been
received by what causes, by the victim?
A:
What kind of injury and the causes of those injuries, yes.
Q:
At the time that you completed the autopsy of President Kennedy, did you believe
that the standards as set forth in the autopsy manual had been satisfied for the
autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
You mean at the time the autopsy was completed?
Q:
Yes.
A:
I didn't—I did not ask myself the question. We examined the wounds and there
were questions answered following the autopsy. It was clear that there was a
wound of entry in the upper back, but it is, thanks to Dr. Humes, that next
morning he found out there was a wound in the front of the neck. At the time of
the autopsy, we did not see the exit in the front of the neck. For the head it
was clear, but for the neck it was not. So this was clarified the next day. So
to answer your question, at the time the autopsy was completed, there was still
no answer. It shows once more that you have to wait for certain things to be put
together.
Q:
Do you believe that everything that was done, everything that should have been
done during the time of the autopsy on President Kennedy was in fact done during
the autopsy? Was there any procedure, for example, that should have been
performed that was not performed?
A:
The removal of the organs of the neck. In my training we were trained to remove
the organs of the neck. And in this particular case, they were not removed.
Q:
Isn't that particularly important in the autopsy of President Kennedy in the
sense that there is believed to have been a wound that went through the neck?
A:
Yes.
Q:
And isn't it important in a medical/legal autopsy to be able to track the course
of a bullet through the body?
A:
Yes.
Q:
When you were performing the autopsy of President Kennedy, did you make any
attempts to track the course of the bullet—
A:
Yes.
Q:—that
you referred to as the upper back?
A:
Yes. That was unsuccessful with a probe from what I remember.
Q:
What kind of probe did you use?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Is there a standard type of probe that is used in autopsies?
A:
A non-metallic probe.
Q:
In using the probe, did you attempt to determine the angle of the entrance of
the bullet into President Kennedy's body?
A:
Yes. It was unsuccessful from what I remember.
Q:
In the probes that you did make, did you find any evidence that would support a
bullet going into the upper back and existing from the place where the
tracheotomy incision had been performed?
A:
From what I recall, we stated the probing was unsuccessful. That's all I can
remember.
Q:
My question is did you find any evidence during the course of the autopsy that
would link the wound in the upper back to the exit wound in the throat?
A:
I don't recall.
Q:
Do you recall anyone during the course of the autopsy suggesting that the bullet
wound in the upper back might have exited from the throat?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Dr. Finck, are you familiar with the term "fixed body landmark"?
A:
Yes.
Q:
For example, would the midline in the cranium be considered to be a fixed body
landmark?
A:
No.
Q:
When one is attempting to determine the location of a wound, we'll say, in the
thoracic cavity; would it be appropriate to use as a fixed body landmark a
mastoid process?
A:
No.
Q:
For purposes of identifying the wound in the back, the thoracic cavity.
A:
An immobile bony structure is a fixed body landmark.
Q:
Well, for the identification of the location of a wound in the thoracic cavity—
A:
Thoracic cavity.
Q:—is
a mastoid process a standard and understood fixed body landmark?
A:
For the thoracic cavity, no. Because it is part of the head, and the head is
moving, could move.
Q:
So that the mastoid process would not be a standard fixed body landmark for the
purposes of identifying the location of a wound in the thoracic region, is that
fair to say?
A:
Yes.
Q: Dr. Finck, I would like to show you a document that has been marked as Exhibit 6, and I would like to ask you whether you have ever seen the document marked Exhibit 6? [Handing document to witness]
MR. GUNN: I will state for the record that Exhibit 6 appears on its face to be a certificate of death, signed it appears by Rear Admiral George Gregory Burkley, dated November 23rd, 1963. [Witness perusing document]
BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Again, my question to you, Dr. Finck, is whether you previously have seen the
document before that is now marked Exhibit 6?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Do you know who George Burkley was?
A:
Physician to the President. Yes, I recall now that I see this.
Q:
Do you recall whether Admiral Burkley was in the autopsy room at the night of
the autopsy of President Kennedy?
A:
I think he was.
Q:
I would like to draw your attention to the second page of the document, the
fourth line down. Do you see the reference there to the third thoracic vertebra?
A:
I do.
Q:
For the purpose of locating a wound in the back, would the third thoracic
vertebra be considered to be a fixed body landmark?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Was Dr. Burkley correct in identifying the posterior back wound as being at the
level of the third thoracic vertebra?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Did you make any attempt during the night of the autopsy to locate the upper
back entry wound with any vertebra?
A:
I don't recall.
Q:
Is there any reason that you would not have attempted to locate the back wound
in connection with a vertebra?
A:
No.
Q:
During the course of an autopsy, what was the standards practice in the 1960's
for recording measurements and information gathered during the course of an
autopsy?
A:
To locate the wound in reference to anatomic landmarks.
Q:
Was it the general practice for somebody to record the measurements in writing
during the autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
During the autopsy of President Kennedy, did anyone record the measurements?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Who first made the measurements during the course of the autopsy?
A:
I remember taking measurements.
Q:
Do you recall anyone else taking measurements?
A:
The other people, the two other prosectors probably.
Q:
Was there one or more persons responsible for writing down the measurements?
A:
I wouldn't know. More than one person responsible for?
Q:
Recording.
A:
I wouldn't know that.
Q:
Do you consider it an important function to record measurements during an
autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
What is the purpose for recording measurements in an autopsy?
A:
To keep a record of the measurements. After the body is gone, it's too late to
take measurements, so you have to keep records while the body is there.
Q:
Were the measurements that were recorded during the autopsy of President Kennedy
measurements that conformed to standard autopsy procedures in the 1960's?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Dr. Finck, I would like to show you a document that is now marked Exhibit 1 to
this deposition, which previously has been identified as the autopsy face sheet
for President Kennedy, [Handing document to witness] My first question to you,
Dr. Finck, will be whether you have previously seen the document that is now
marked as Exhibit 1?
A:
[Perusing document] I think so.
Q:
Is any of the handwriting on Exhibit 1 your handwriting?
A:
No.
Q:
Dr. Finck, the only record in existence which we are aware of notes taken during
the course of the autopsy is Exhibit 1 that you have before you. Can you
identify anything in Exhibit 1 that you believe is substandard in terms of
reporting measurements from an autopsy?
A:
[Perusing document] I don't know how to answer that.
Q:
Could you look at the top part of the face sheet, the portion where it refers to
weights [indicating]. Do you see that?
A:
Yes, I do.
Q:
Is there a weight that is recorded for the brain?
A:
No.
Q:
President Kennedy was killed by a gunshot wound to the head, is that correct?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Should the brain have been recorded as a relevant measurement in a medical/legal
autopsy?
A:
I don't think I can answer that question by yes or no, because when you perform
an autopsy, you put the brain in formalin, which is a preservative, and that is
what we did. And the brain was weighed later on. But it was severely damaged at
the time of the autopsy and we put it in formalin, so I don't think I can answer
that question simply.
Q:
Should the brain have been weighed before it was put in formalin? Let me
withdraw that question and ask another question. Is it standard autopsy practice
when the brain is removed in an autopsy to weigh a brain—
A:
Yes.
Q:—before
it is put in formalin?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Is there a reason that that was not—the brain weight was not recorded for
President Kennedy?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Do you recall whether the brain of President Kennedy was weighed before it was
put in formalin?
A:
No, I don't.
Q:
Is it correct to say that in the autopsy, it was concluded that President
Kennedy had been killed or had been hit by two gunshot wounds, one to the head
and one to the upper thoracic cavity?
A:
The President was struck by two bullets.
Q:
And it was the final autopsy conclusion that the bullet to the head was the
fatal—
A:
Yes.
Q:—bullet?
And that he was also shot by a bullet that entered in the upper thoracic cavity
and exited from the throat?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Are there any weights of any organs of the neck that appear on the autopsy face
sheet?
A:
I don't see organs of the neck on that autopsy face sheet. So you mean we
removed organs of the neck?
Q:
You removed organs—
A:
Oh, they were not removed, the organs of the neck. I know so.
Q:
So that I'm clear here, the two parts of the body of President Kennedy that were
actually struck by the bullets were not weighed during the course of the
autopsy, is that correct?
A:
Oh, you don't weigh the organs of the neck. Even if you remove them, you don't
weigh them.
Q:
Okay.
A:
Can you rephrase your questions?
Q:
Sure. Would it be fair to say two parts of the body that were injured by the
gunshot wounds were not analyzed at the time of the—let me withdraw that.
Could you tell me what, in just a very brief way, the thyroid is—
A:
Well, the thyroid is a gland in the front of the throat. Removed with the organs
of the neck, it would be weighed separately.
Q:
So it would have been possible to weigh an organ of the neck and that would have
been a standard—
A:
Oh.
Q:—part
of an autopsy?
A:
But in that case, the weight of the thyroid would be irrelevant.
Q:
Let me try asking you a question again that I posed to you before. As you now
look at the autopsy face sheet, is there anything that you believe should have
been present on the autopsy face sheet that is not on the autopsy face sheet
with regards to measurements?
A:
Measurements. [Perusing document] I can't answer that.
Q:
Dr. Finck, are you surprised that the exhibit marked Exhibit 1 to this
deposition is the only note or record currently in existence related to the
autopsy of President Kennedy? Let me withdraw that. Are you surprised that the
only document that we have of notes taken during the course of the autopsy is
Exhibit 1? Would you have expected there to be more notes, or more complete
notes?
A:
Can't answer that.
Q:
In the course of—
A:
No.
Q:—of
a standard autopsy conducted during the 1960's, would there be more of a written
record from the time of the autopsy than is present in Exhibit 1?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
In terms of the autopsies that you yourself performed up until the autopsy of
President Kennedy, was it your practice to have more detailed notes than appear
in Exhibit 1?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Are you able to identify any reason why the autopsy of the President of the
United States has no more detail than we have in Exhibit 1?
A:
No.
Q:
Let me ask again whether any of our recent discussion has refreshed your
recollection on whether you yourself took notes during the course of President
Kennedy's autopsy?
A:
Some of the documents I have seen, I recognize, and signed. They refresh my
memory.
Q:
But my question is simply whether you have any kind of better recollection right
now as to whether you took notes during the time of President Kennedy's autopsy?
A:
Maybe so.
Q:
When you say "maybe so," do you now recall that you took notes during
President Kennedy's autopsy?
A:
I must have when I see those documents, but I don't—after more than 30 years,
I cannot recall details about it.
Q:
Dr. Finck, in standard medical/legal autopsies during the 1960's, was it the
standard practice to examine the clothing the victim was wearing at the time of
the injury?
A:
Yes.
Q:
During the course of the autopsy of President Kennedy, did you examine the
clothing that he was wearing at the time that he was shot?
A:
No.
Q:
During the course of the autopsy, did you or any other doctor ask to see the
clothing President Kennedy was wearing?
A:
I asked to see the clothing.
Q:
What were you told?
A:
That it was not available.
Q:
Were you told why it was not available?
A:
No.
Q:
Do you know where the clothing was?
A:
No.
Q:
After you were told that it was not available, did you make any further inquiry
as to where it was or what might be done to bring the clothing—
A:
No.
Q:—to
you? Would it have been useful to have the clothing available for examination?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Who told you that the clothing was not available?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Do you remember whether it was a person in uniform or a person in civilian
clothes?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Did you ask that any further efforts be undertaken to obtain the clothing
President Kennedy was wearing? Or just one question then you dropped it?
A:
I don't remember. I am positive that I asked to see the clothing.
Q:
Dr. Finck, was it standard practice in autopsies for prosectors to speak with
treating physicians of a victim?
A:
Can you please repeat?
Q:
Sure. During the 1960's, was it standard procedure for doctors performing an
autopsy to attempt to speak with doctors who may have treated the victim before
the death?
A:
Yes. You need information at the time of the autopsy regarding the circumstances
preceding death.
Q:
And it would have been standard practice in the 1960's for autopsy physicians to
attempt to contact the doctor who treated the patient before he died, is that
correct?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Was there any attempt made to contact any of the treating physicians of
President Kennedy during the course of the autopsy?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Should someone have attempted to contact one of the treating physicians of
President Kennedy during the course of the autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Were you aware during the time of the autopsy that one or more physicians who
had treated President Kennedy had appeared in a press conference and described
the wounds?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Were you aware that during the time that you performed the autopsy of President
Kennedy, the doctors who had treated President Kennedy in Dallas had already
prepared written statements about what they observed during their treatment of
President Kennedy?
A:
I'm not aware.
Q:
Should in the ordinary course, if doctors have prepared statements regarding
treatment of a victim, should those statements have been made available to
doctors performing an autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
That would have been standard procedure—
A:
Yes.
Q:—in
1963? But as far as you are aware, that was not done in the case of President
Kennedy?
A:
As far as I know.
Q:
Were you aware at the time that you performed the autopsy that there had been a
motion picture camera that had filmed the assassination of President Kennedy?
During the time that you were performing the autopsy; were you aware of that?
A:
No.
Q:
In the ordinary course, if you had had available for your inspection a motion
picture of an injury; would that have been useful or helpful in the course of
performing an autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
But no one told you that there was a motion picture available of the
assassination?
A:
No one.
Q:
Are you aware of anyone in the autopsy room having called Dallas to speak to
either police or treating physicians regarding any observations that were made
at the time of the assassination?
A:
I am not.
Q:
Were you aware of any calls that came to the autopsy room during the course of
the autopsy from Dallas by either police or some other official related to the
injuries sustained by President Kennedy?
A:
No.
Q:
Were you ever informed, prior to the time that you signed the autopsy protocol,
that the motion picture depicting the assassination of President Kennedy showed
his body moving backwards after he was hit by the bullets?
A:
At the time of the autopsy?
Q:
Prior to the time that you signed the autopsy protocol, not during the autopsy
but by the time you signed the autopsy protocol, had you ever been told that the
motion picture showing the assassination of President Kennedy also depicted
President Kennedy's body moving backwards after he was hit by a bullet?
A:
No.
Q:
Would such information have been relevant to you in making and preparing the
autopsy protocol?
A:
A motion picture showing the movement from front to back?
Q:
Yes.
A:
Would it have been useful? That still does not indicate the position of the
wounds, so that is why I don't think it would have been useful. The movement
shown on the motion picture does not identify anterior exit. Is that your
question?
Q:
No, that was not my question. My question was whether knowing that the President
moved backwards after being hit, would that information have been useful in the
preparation of the autopsy protocol?
A:
I don't think so.
Q:
Is it relevant in determining cause of death in a gunshot case knowing whether
the victim moved forwards or backwards after having been hit?
A:
It's very difficult to answer a question like that, because the movement does
not indicate necessarily the direction of the bullet path. That's my answer if I
answer your question correctly.
Q:
My question is not whether the direction of the movement necessarily shows
anything. My question is whether the movement of the body is a relevant factor
that should be taken into consideration when attempting to determine cause of
death?
A:
No.
Q:
No relevance whatsoever?
A:
A movement seen on a motion picture does not specify a cause of death.
Q:
Again, my question is not whether it specifies a cause of death, but whether
that is information that is relevant along with other information in helping to
determine circumstances surrounding a death.
A:
By itself, no.
Q:
Again, my question is not by itself. My question is whether that is one piece of
evidence that is relevant and should be considered along with other evidence in
helping to determine the nature of injuries?
A:
I can't answer that. I don't know how relevant it can be.
Q:
A few moments ago I was referring to the autopsy protocol. I would like to show
to you the document I was referring to. [Handing document to witness]
A:
[Perusing document]
MR. GUNN: I have handed Dr. Finck a document that has been marked MD-3 for the purposes of this deposition. This was Commission Exhibit Number 387 to the Warren Commission. It appears on its face to be an autopsy protocol for President Kennedy.
BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
My first question to you, Dr. Finck, will be whether you previously have seen
the document that is now marked Exhibit 3 to this deposition?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Would you turn to the last page of Exhibit Number 3 and tell me whether that is
a reproduction of your signature that appears at the bottom right-hand corner?
A:
Yes.
Q:
I would like to draw your attention to the second page of the autopsy protocol.
I would like to read for you the first lines of the second paragraph where it
says: "Three shots were heard and the President fell forward bleeding from
the head." Did I read that correctly?
A:
"Three shots were heard and the President fell forward bleeding from the
head."
Q:
Those are the words that are in the autopsy protocol. Can you tell me why in an
autopsy protocol it would be written that a victim fell forward? What relevance
does that have to an autopsy protocol?
A:
"Fell forward, bleeding from the head." Well, this is part of the
clinical summary, the information given, and it's part of the information
provided, "fell forward." See, this is not the words of the
pathologist. It is information provided to them.
Q:
And so the pathologists at the time that they wrote the autopsy protocol were
under the impression that President Kennedy had fallen forward after being shot,
is that correct?
A:
Yes.
Q:
That's all for that. Dr. Finck, I would like to shift to another topic now and
ask you about something of which there has been a great deal of controversy and
I hope that you can help clarify some of the issues. Could you please tell us
what your understanding is of who was in charge of the autopsy?
A:
Of the autopsy itself? I would say Dr. Humes, who was the chief of the
laboratory.
Q:
Was there anyone during the course of the autopsy who gave Dr. Humes
instructions regarding the scope of the autopsy?
A:
Throughout the autopsy, we were told about the wishes of the family to limit the
autopsy to the head, and then it was extended to the chest, but—
Q:
Does that mean that Dr. Humes, Dr. Boswell and yourself were not free to perform
a complete medical/legal autopsy on President Kennedy?
A:
That's right.
Q:
Who, to the best of your understanding, was the person who gave the instructions
to Dr. Humes that limited the scope of the autopsy?
A:
Well, there were several people around us, and that may have been recorded, I
don't know, who relayed the wishes of the Kennedy family to us.
Q:
Did you or any of the other prosectors respond that you believed that you needed
to conduct a full medical/legal autopsy on President Kennedy?
A:
Well, it would have been desirable to have a full autopsy. We were limited in
our doing by the family.
Q:
On what information do you base your understanding that it was the family,
rather than somebody else, who was limiting the scope of the autopsy?
A:
We were told during the autopsy about the wishes of the family.
Q:
Would it be fair to say that you had no independent knowledge yourself of what
the family's wishes were, other than what you had been told?
A:
Can you repeat that, please?
Q:
Sure. Let me try a different kind of question. I assume that you did not, you or
Dr. Humes did not talk to the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy?
A:
We did not.
Q:
I assume that you did not personally speak to Jackie Kennedy?
A:
We did not.
Q:
Your understanding during the course of the autopsy about their wishes came from
somebody else?
A:
Right.
Q:
Is that fair? Approximately how many people were in the autopsy room during the
course of the autopsy?
A:
I have a figure of 26. Because someone took notes in the autopsy room asking the
people present who they were, and I found that out after the autopsy, that so
many people were there. I know there were too many people at the time, but at
the time, if I had been asked the question, I wouldn't have been able to answer.
And now it's from printed documents that I have read after the autopsy that
there were those 26 people. Correct me if I am wrong. Is it the number, 26?
Q:
There are different numbers that have been given, and that is one of the
numbers.
A:
And that list is available, there was someone in the autopsy room, an official,
who took those names and titles.
Q:
During the course of the autopsy, did anyone in the room ask any questions about
what was occurring during the autopsy? Just as an example, did somebody say,
"Why are you doing that procedure?" Did you get any questions from
anyone in the room?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Do you recall whether anyone in the room expressed any interest in the angle in
which the bullets hit President Kennedy?
A:
I don't.
Q:
Did anyone in the room give any orders or instructions limiting what you could
be doing regarding the autopsy other than what you have already mentioned?
A:
No.
Q:
For the people who were present in the autopsy room, the observers, were they
generally quiet during the autopsy, or were they talking? What were the
conditions like?
A:
I remember a large number of people. Quiet or not quiet, I can't answer that.
Q:
Do you recall whether the room during the autopsy was noisy or somber? What was
the—
A:
No, I don't remember excessive noise.
MR. GUNN: Can we go off the record a minute. [Discussion off the record.]
MR. GUNN: We will go back on the record.
BY MR. GUNN:
Q:
Dr. Finck, I would like to turn to some circumstances immediately surrounding
the autopsy. And what I would like to do is to go through some of the events
with you in chronological order. So if we could start from the time that you
first heard that you would be involved in the autopsy of President Kennedy, how
did you first hear that you would be involved?
A:
In the afternoon of the twenty-second of November, I was alerted that I may be
called.
Q:
Who was it who first alerted you that you might be called?
A:
I think it was Dr. Helwig. The Chief of Pathology of the AFIP.
Q:
What did you do after hearing that you might be involved in the autopsy?
A:
I worked downtown, went home, and was called during dinner. I was having dinner
with my wife. I was called to go to Bethesda.
Q:
Do you recall approximately what time you first heard from Bethesda regarding
the autopsy?
A:
Oh, it was at dinner time, 1930 hours or so.
Q:
Some of the records we have seen suggest the time was 1930 and some suggest that
it was 2000 hours. Do you have a recollection of which of those?
A:
Oh, one of the two. It is close enough—1930.
Q:
Approximately—who was it who called you?
A:
Dr. Humes.
Q:
From Bethesda?
A:
Yes.
Q:
What did he say to you during that telephone call?
A:
That I was to come to the autopsy room of the Bethesda Hospital, Naval Medical
Center.
Q:
Had you been to the autopsy room there before? At Bethesda?
A:
I don't remember. I don't think so.
Q:
Approximately how long did it take you from the time that you heard from Dr.
Humes until the time that you arrived at the autopsy room?
A:
Oh, I left almost immediately from home. The exact time it took me I don't
recall.
Q:
Do you recall whether it would have been more or less than an hour to get—
A:
About, about an hour or so.
Q:
Could you describe what Bethesda Hospital looked like at the time that you
arrived with respect to people who were there, or activities that were going on
around the building?
A:
I may have written that somewhere. But now when asked the question, I don't know
how to answer.
Q:
Do you remember, for example, whether it was crowded around the hospital or
whether security people were keeping people away? Any recollection?
A:
No.
Q:
I would like to show you again Exhibit 28. I would like to draw your attention
to page 4 and the first, or the second paragraph [indicating].
A:
Yes.
Q:
If you could read that, the first two sentences to yourself, while I read them
out loud. "I arrived at the Naval Hospital at 2030 hours. I saw what
appears to be a helicopter on the ground." Do you now have any recollection
of having seen a helicopter on the ground at—
A:
No.
Q:—Bethesda?
A:
No. I have written this. It's right. I recognize the document. But now when
asked the question, I don't remember.
Q:
Do you have any idea why you would have written down that "there was a
helicopter on the ground at Bethesda"?
A:
No. Why did I write that? I don't know.
Q:
Other than with your telephone call with Dr. Humes, had you heard any other
information about the nature of President Kennedy's wounds prior to the time
that you arrived in the autopsy room?
A:
I don't remember details about this.
Q:
Just a question of whether you heard anything at all about the nature of the
wounds, not any details.
A:
I don't.
Q:
So, for example, had you heard on the radio what anybody had said about wounds?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Dr. Finck, I am going to show you a document that we have marked as Exhibit 22
to this deposition, which is a portion of the May 27th, 1992, issue of JAMA. I
would like to show you one particular passage from that. Turn to page 2798. It's
part of a conversation with Dr. Humes. I would like for you to read to yourself
the portion starting with the word "Still" in the center column, and I
will read it out loud. According to the JAMA article, it says: "Still, he
says"—and it's quoting Dr. Humes—that the scene in the autopsy room was
'something like trying to do delicate neurosurgery in a three-ring
circus.'" Dr. Finck, did—
A:
Who said that?
Q:
According to the JAMA article, that was Dr. Humes.
A:
Oh. Humes emphasizes there was a lot of commotion. [Perusing document] "-
somewhat like trying to do delicate neurosurgery in a three-ring circus."
Q:
Is it your recollection now that the scene in the autopsy room was one where
there was a great deal of commotion, and would it be fair to say that it was
something like a three-ring circus?
A:
Well, there were a lot of people and—I remember it was crowded. That's all I
can say.
Q:
Was there a great deal of commotion in the autopsy room?
A:
Commotion in what respect, commotion?
Q:
People coming and going, noise.
A:
Yes.
Q:
During the course—for standard medical/legal autopsies, is there any
guidelines for observers present in an autopsy room?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Do you believe that in a medical/legal autopsy, there should be observers in the
room other than doctors or medical students?
A:
Yes. For example, police officers in charge of a case. In the cases for which I
was responsible, I always made an effort to ask to have the investigator of the
case present in the autopsy room. If I removed a bullet, for example, I turned
it over to him. I could ask him questions about the circumstances of death, the
scene. It was my habit to do so.
Q:
In the autopsy of President Kennedy, is it your present opinion that there were
more people present in the autopsy room than should have been present for the
purposes of performing a thorough and comprehensive autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Did you or either of the other prosectors make any suggestions to anyone that
people be asked to leave the room during the autopsy?
A:
I don't recall that.
Q:
Could you please describe what President Kennedy's body looked like, in just a
general description, at the first time that you saw him when you arrived in the
autopsy room?
A:
He was on his back with no clothing.
Q:
Had there been any incisions in the thorax?
A:
Oh, the autopsy had been in progress before my arrival. I cannot give you
details.
Q:
Do you recall whether the brain had been removed at the time that you arrived?
A:
I think it had been.
Q:
When you first arrived at the morgue, what did you do in conjunction with the
autopsy?
A:
I was one of the three prosectors taking measurements, participating in the
autopsy.
Q:
Did you start participating in the autopsy immediately upon arrival?
A:
I would say so.
Q:
Was there something that you first paid attention to or focused on in terms of
your own work?
A:
I looked at the wounds.
Q:
When did you first identify there being a wound in the upper back?
A:
I don't remember the details as to when.
Q:
Do you recall whether it was shortly after your arrival or much later in the
autopsy?
A:
I don't.
Q:
I would like to show you a passage from Exhibit 28 which you have seen
previously. I am going to ask it helps to refresh your recollection on the
condition of President Kennedy's body at the time that you arrived. [Handing
document to witness] I draw your attention to—
A:
Oh, it is.
Q:—the
middle of page 4.
A:
The brain, the heart and lungs had been removed before my arrival. So now that I
read this, I recognize this. But when asked those questions you are asking me,
many of them, I say I don't recall, now I recall because I read something I have
written and signed. The brain, the heart and the lungs had been removed before
my arrival. Very plain.
Q:
Does that help you recall what the first things were that you yourself did at
the time you arrived in the morgue? Does that help put a context in it that
helps jog your memory?
A:
No.
Q:
Did you leave the autopsy room at any time prior to the completion of the
autopsy?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Do you recall whether Drs. Humes or Boswell left the room at any time during the
autopsy?
A:
I don't.
Q:
When you first saw the body of President Kennedy, had the scalp been reflected
at all?
A:
Well, the scalp must have been reflected for the reason that the brain had been
removed before my arrival, which means the scalp must have been reflected in
order to be able to remove the brain.
Q:
Do you have any recollection now yourself as to what the cranium looked like
when you first saw the body, as to whether the scalp was back or not?
A:
No.
Q:
Were you involved in any examination of the brain at all?
A:
Yes. We examined the formalin-fixed brain, but at a later date. You have to wait
a few days until the brain is fixed, as the pathologist says, which means it
becomes harder. At the time of the autopsy it was severely lacerated, damaged,
but it was examined a few days later. This is in the record somewhere, when I
went to Bethesda to look at the brain.
Q:
Do you have any recollection in examining the brain at the time of the autopsy
itself? Not the supplementary examination, but during the autopsy?
A:
It had been removed before my arrival. I don't remember seeing it at the time of
the autopsy.
Q:
You don't remember seeing the brain at all?
A:
I can't answer the question. It is too far back. I have to refer to written
records, because—
Q:
Would it have been standard practice in 1963 to conduct any form of examination
of a brain that had suffered from a gunshot wound at the time of the autopsy?
A:
Well, this would depend, so I can't answer that question about standard
practice. It depends upon the case.
Q:
In your own practice when there had been a gunshot wound to the head, would you
normally have examined the brain at the time of the autopsy?
A:
In the fresh state, I would say yes. And then place it in formalin for further
examination.
Q:
Sure. I don't mean the complete examination—
A:
Yes.
Q:—but
the first time. Can you tell anything about direction of wounds in a brain by
looking at the brain in its fresh state?
A:
Direction of the bullet path?
Q:
Yes.
A:
No.
Q:
Why is it that you would not be able to tell anything about bullet path by
looking at a brain?
A:
I don't know. Can you repeat your question?
Q:
Sure. It's just, the question is—let me try a different question. What I am
interested in knowing is what kind of information a competent prosector can
determine by looking at a fresh brain when that brain has been subjected to a
missile?
A:
Well, it would depend upon the case and the degree of destruction of the brain,
and I can't answer yes or no.
Q:
Sure. I just want to know what kinds of information and how you would be able to
tell information by looking at the fresh brain.
A:
That would depend upon the case really. I can't answer by yes or no.
Q:
I'm not asking you to answer yes or no, so it shouldn't be any question about
that. But just what kind of information can be gained by looking at the fresh
brain?
A:
The extent of brain damage, that would be my answer.
Q:
That's the only thing you would be able to tell us, the gross damage?
A:
But again, it depends upon the case.
Q:
Well, and I'm just—all kinds of cases, what other kinds of things might you be
able to determine? What's the range of possibilities?
A:
I don't know about the range of possibilities.
Q:
I would like to show you a document that we have marked as Exhibit 29, and this
is volume 2 of testimony that you offered in the Clay Shaw trial that there has
been previous reference to. I would like to show you question and answer on page
196 of your testimony from Monday, February 24, 1969. And the question
states—I'll read this for the record, starting on line 12, question to you:
"I thought you said, Colonel, you didn't section the brain." Your
answer was: "We took x-rays of this brain, as far as I remember someone
did, to determine the presence of metallic fragments after it was removed as I
can remember, but I don't recall making sections of that brain. I believe Dr.
Humes did section that brain."
A:
I can't answer that.
Q:
In standard autopsy practice, is it a common occurrence to x-ray a fresh brain
when that brain has been subjected to a missile?
A:
That can be helpful, yes.
Q:
So would it be a standard practice to conduct an x-ray of a fresh brain in order
to determine missile fragments in the brain?
A:
I don't know if it is standard practice.
Q:
Is it a practice that you yourself would recommend when there is a gunshot wound
to the head to perform an x-ray on a fresh brain?
A:
It would depend upon the case.
Q:
What kind of case would you recommend that there be an x-ray of the fresh brain?
A:
If you suspect the presence of metallic fragments.
Q:
In the case of President Kennedy, did you suspect the presence of metallic
fragments in the fresh brain?
A:
Yes, because there were metallic fragments on the x-ray film of the head.
Q:
So then would it have been part of your standard practice to have requested that
x-rays be taken of the fresh brain?
A:
Maybe so.
Q:
When you testified in the Clay Shaw trial were you doing the best that you could
to testify truthfully and accurately?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Dr. Finck, during the autopsy, did you ever see one or more photographers in the
morgue?
A:
I saw one photographer. If I saw more, I don't remember.
Q:
Do you know who that photographer was?
A:
No. His name was recorded. I don't remember now who he was.
Q:
Do you recall whether that photographer was taking flash photographs or what
kind of photographs were being taken?
A:
No.
Q:
Did you request that the photographer take any particular photographs to assist
you in your work? Dr. Finck, let me show you a portion of Exhibit 28, page 6. I
am going to draw your attention to a sentence in the first paragraph, the
sentence beginning with the word "I." Do you see that sentence, which
I will read for the record: "I helped the Navy photographer to take
photographs of the occipital wound, external and internal aspects as well as the
wound in the back."
A:
Now that I read this, I remember. But when you asked me the question before,
it's hard for me to answer. But now I see that I helped the Navy photographer to
take photographs of the occipital wound. So that's what happened.
Q:
Do you now recall any suggestion that you made to the photographer in terms of
placement or angle of the shot or any such thing?
A:
Angle of?
Q:
Let me withdraw, let me withdraw the question. What I am interested in now is
whether you currently have a recollection of this event or whether you are just
confirming what has been written here?
A:
I'm confirming what is written.
Q:
But you have no independent recollection yourself?
A:
That's too far back.
Q:
Do you have any recollection of photographs being taken with probes inserted
into the wounds?
A:
I don't.
Q:
Dr. Finck, do you recall having seen any x-rays at the time of the autopsy?
A:
X-ray films of the head, yes. And I recall asking for more x-ray films and I
don't remember when I saw them, probably during the autopsy. There was a
radiologist present, and it was his job to interpret the x-ray films. But I am
the one who asked for more x-ray films in addition to the ones of the head. That
I recall.
Q:
Why did you ask that additional x-rays be taken?
A:
To detect the possibility of presence of projectiles in the body outside of the
head,. The head had been x-rayed, and I wanted to have a more complete survey.
Q:
Is this because you were attempting to locate the path of the bullet that
entered in the upper thoracic?
A:
Yes.
Q:
And when you looked for the bullet, where was it that you were looking in the
body?
A:
Well, there was no bullet in the body, in addition to the fragments in the head,
we did not see a bullet in other parts of the body and that was the reason for
asking for more x-ray films, having an entrance and no exit at the time of the
autopsy.
Q:
At the time you concluded the autopsy, on the night of November 22nd-23rd, did
you have any conclusion in your own mind about what had happened to the bullet
that entered the upper thoracic cavity?
A:
No. And that was the reason for the phone call of Dr. Humes the following
morning, and he found out there was a wound of exit in the front of the neck.
But at the time of the autopsy, we were not aware of that exit wound in the
front of the neck.
Q:
Can you explain to me why there was no prosector who apparently had believed
that the thoracic wound would have exited from the throat? Why was it that that
was not being considered as an option?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Did you insert a probe into the wound in the back?
A:
From what I remember, we tried at the time. It was unsuccessful.
Q:
Did the angle of the probe show that the bullet, at least of what you were aware
of at the time, went down into the thoracic cavity rather than out the throat?
A:
Can you repeat that?
Q:
Sure. Did the angle of the probe when you inserted the probe into the wound,
begin in a direction that pointed down into the thoracic cavity rather than out
the throat?
A:
I don't think I can answer the question, because we said the probing was
unsuccessful. So how can I determine an angle if the probing was unsuccessful?
Q:
How far into the wound did the probe go?
A:
I don't know. We said it was unsuccessful from what I remember, and not how far
it would go.
Q:
Do you recall whether any fragments, bullet fragments, were removed from
President Kennedy's body during the autopsy?
A:
Somewhere we recorded that metallic fragments were removed, but this is in the
record. I can't recall the details now when you ask the question.
Q:
So you don't have any current recollection right now of whether there were
fragments removed or not? Recollections from the night of the twenty-second.
A:
There were metallic fragments, but how many and from where in the head, I don't
know. I remember that many metallic fragments were seen on the x-ray of the
head, and metallic fragments being removed.
Q:
Dr. Finck, I would like to show you a document that is marked Exhibit 44 to this
deposition, which on its face appears to be an attachment to another document.
The title of it is "Autopsy of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy," and
on the last page, it appears to be—not on the last page, toward the end it
appears to have been written by James Sibert and Francis O'Neill, dated
11/27/63. My first question to you, Dr. Finck, will be—is that previously in
this deposition you referred to somebody having made a list of people who
attended the autopsy. My question to you is whether this document, now marked
Exhibit 44, is the document you were referring to?
A:
Ah. [Perusing document]
Q:
I will draw your attention particularly to page 2.
A:
Ah, here is the list of people. The following individuals attended the
autopsy—[counting] Twenty-six. So the people present in the autopsy room could
be counted from the document, am I right?
Q:
That is one way, yes. So this is the document that you were referring to earlier?
A:
Oh, I don't know. I remember seeing a document regarding the number of people.
Is it that one or not I don't know. I would have to read everything.
Q:
Could you turn to page 4 of the document.
A:
Excuse me?
Q:
I will draw your attention to the paragraph beginning "This opening was
probed." If you could read that to yourself, please.
A:
Yes. What kind of opening is this? This opening was—[Perusing document]
Q:
Dr. Finck, does reading that paragraph on page 4 of Exhibit 44 help refresh your
recollection as to whether there was any angle determined or hypothesized for
the entrance wound in the back?
A:
I really don't remember that. I can't answer.
Q:
Okay. Dr. Finck, I show you a document that has been marked Exhibit 19, which is
a memorandum prepared by an attorney for the House Select committee on
Assassinations, and it contains in it an interview with Dr. Humes. I would like
to draw your attention to one paragraph in particular, but you can read as much
of this as you would like. The paragraph I would like to draw your attention to
is on page 8. I will read for the record. It says: "Dr. Humes said that no
major blood vessels were struck by the bullet passing through the President's
neck. Regarding his assertion in the Warren Commission testimony that the
bullets entered at a 45 to 60 degree angle, Dr. Humes said it was a
guesstimate." I would like you to take a look at that and see if that helps
refresh any recollection you may have had about a discussion or a guesstimate of
the angle of the entrance wound for the back?
A:
[Perusing document] I can't comment on this. I don't know what to say about this
paragraph.
Q:
It just doesn't help refresh your recollection?
A:
No.
Q:
Okay. Dr. Finck, do you recall that during the course of the autopsy, some skull
fragments arrived later in the autopsy?
A:
Yes.
Q:
What is your recollection regarding the arrival of those skull fragments?
A:
In what respect?
Q:
For example, who brought them in, do you recall?
A:
I don't.
Q:
How many fragments were there?
A:
This is recorded, but by memory I cannot give you details.
Q:
Dr. Finck, I would like to draw your attention to page 5 of Exhibit 28, which
again are your notes. Could you please refer to the first full paragraph on page
5. [Handing document to witness]
A:
[Perusing document]
Q:
Have you had an opportunity to read that now?
A:
I have read the first paragraph.
Q:
Okay. I would like to discuss the nature of the wounds in the skull of President
Kennedy. Now, first, you identified, I believe, there being an entrance wound in
the back of the head?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Is that correct?
A:
Yes.
Q:
In the autopsy protocol, copy of which I have shown you before, that wound is
identified as being 2-1/2 centimeters to the right and slightly above the
external occipital protuberance.
A:
Yes.
Q:
Is that your recollection of where the entrance wound was?
A:
From the record, yes.
Q:
In addition to that entrance wound, there was also an exit wound. Do you recall
that?
A:
[Perusing document] Close to midnight, portions of cranial vault—portions of
cranial vault are received from Dallas, Texas, and identified an exit. Yes.
Q:
Okay. We have just discussed, or identified two separate holes that were in the
President's head. Were there any other holes besides the exit wound and the
entrance wound?
A:
No.
Q:
Three holes or just two?
A:
Two.
Q:
And which bone was the entrance wound located in?
A:
The occipital bone. It was recorded as occipital. We should refer to the record
for that.
Q:
Was the entrance wound a hole that perforated the occipital bone, or is it one
that split the occipital bone such that there would be, for example, a half
circle with part of—
A:
No, it perforated, I was able to see a crater from the inside. I said that right
here [indicating].
Q:
You are referring to Exhibit 28.
A:
Right occipital, lacerated occipital corresponds to the wound. "The skull
shows a portion of a crater, the beveling of which is obvious on the internal
aspect of the bone. On that basis I told the prosectors and Admiral Galloway
that this occipital wound is a wound of entrance." This is unquestionable.
Q:
And so just so I am clear, I understand that you have identified as being
beveled but I want to know whether the wound is a circular wound in the sense
that the shell, the skull all around the wound is intact, or is part of the
adjacent skull blown away from the portion of the entrance wound?
A:
It was a perforation of the occipital bone.
Q:
In his testimony before the Assassination Records Review Board, Dr. Boswell
stated that—and his words will speak for themselves, so this is my
recharacterization of them—he said that you needed to place a loose piece of
fragment back onto the skull before you could identify the full circle for the
entrance wound. Is it your current recollection that Dr. Boswell would be
mistaken in that regard?
A:
You are referring to the wound of entrance?
Q:
Wound of entrance.
A:
I don't remember. I don't know what you are saying. I have a clear picture of
that wound of entrance. I don't understand what you said about the wound of
entrance. I have to do what with the wound of entrance?
Q:
That in order to see the full circle of the wound of entrance, you would need to
put a piece of skull fragment back into place in order to identify the full
circle for the entrance.
A:
I don't remember that.
Q:
At the time that you observed the skull wounds, prior to the time that any
additional skull fragments came, approximately how large was the larger one to
the skull?
A:
The wound of exit?
Q:
The wound of exit.
A:
Well, because it says here 130 millimeters, 13 centimeters. I agree with that.
130 millimeters. It was a large diameter for the wound of exit.
Q:
I'm going to show you a circle that is 13 cm in diameter. [Handing document to
witness]
A:
13 centimeters. Yes, it is.
Q:
Okay. What I would like to do is to hand you a plastic skull marked Exhibit
77—it doesn't have markings on it—and have you place it approximately where
that wound was.
A:
[Complying with request]
Q:
Did the large exit wound cover any part of the occipital bone?
A:
This is in the record.
Q:
You don't have any current recollection?
A:
No. This is in the record. The bones involved in that very large wound of exit,
it is in the record.
Q:
During the course of the autopsy, did you make any conclusion about the
direction of the bullet that hit the cranium at the time that it hit the
cranium? Let me say that again. At the time the bullet struck the skull, did you
reach any conclusion about the direction it was moving at the time it struck the
skull?
A:
About an angle?
Q:
About the angle, yes. Did you attempt to identify that?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
You have previously testified that the bullet struck the President at an area
2-1/2 centimeters to the right and slightly above the external occipital
protuberance. What is the portion of the brain that is on the inside of the
skull at approximately the portion where—position where the brain was hit,
where the skull was hit?
A:
One would have to look at it.
Q:
Is the portion of the brain on the inside of the skull near the external
occipital protuberance the cerebellum or the cerebrum?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Was the cerebellum of President Kennedy's brain disrupted or lacerated by the
entrance wound?
A:
Well, it was—there was extensive damage. I can't answer that.
Q:
To the cerebellum?
A:
I can't answer that.
Q:
During the course of the autopsy, did you attempt to identify whether any
cerebellum was disrupted from the bullet wound that entered in the back of the
skull?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Did you at any time attempt to reconstruct this skull with the fragments that
had come later in the autopsy?
A:
I don't remember.
Q:
Do you remember at all attempting to determine which part of the bone that
arrived would have fit into which part of the cranium?
A:
I don't know.
Q:
Would that have been standard practice during the course of an autopsy to
attempt to reconstruct the skull to determine which parts of the cranium had
been blown out?
A:
Yes.
Q:
So to the extent that the autopsy was performed properly, that is a procedure
that you assume you did attempt to do?
A:
I think I did what I could.
Q:
Do you recall whether there was any skull that was missing by the time the
autopsy was concluded? Was there still missing skull?
A:
I don't remember details.
Q: Do you r