Download - SHADOW OF LEE (HARVEY OSWALD)-- CHAPTER 8
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8/2/2019 SHADOW OF LEE (HARVEY OSWALD)-- CHAPTER 8
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HoldthatIsaidtothelandlordthatnight,whenarrivingfromthestreet,afterhavingloo
edintomymailboxitdoesn'tseemtobeaddressedtome,anyway.Thatwasaletterwithoutnameofaddressee,onlywithmyaddressbuildingnumber,roomnumberwrittenontheenvelope.Now,evenifIamnotinthehabitofchec
ingother'speoplemail,Icouldn'thelpreadingitinthisoccasion,asforsomeun
nownreasonthesenderhaddecidedtowritehismessageontheenvelopeitself,startingintheinsideandthenwhenhehadmostli
elyrunoutofspacefinishingitintheoutside,wherenormallyyouwouldputyourownname.Itwasthelastwordsinthisnotewhathadcaughtmyattention.Forreasonstomeun
nown,themanwritingtheselineswasprettyirritatedwiththeaddressee,whichhadtheresultofturningtheletterintoarant.Andarantthatwasgoingincrescendo,tofinishinaclimaxthatloo
edmoreli
eaphysicalthreatthananythingelse:....andyou
now,Fran
,orPete,John,thatinthiscitythereareguysexpertsatbrea
ingthelegsofpeoplewhodonotbehaveproperly.Somethingli
ethat.Also,itwasmentionedtherealsoamoneydebt,sometengrandsorso,whichwasma
ingthethreatitselfratherunderstandable.ThescariestthingaboutallthisisthattheletterwascomingfromNewYor
City.
Thelandlorddidnotgivemuchimportancetothenote.He
newwellwhatwasallthatabout,whichIconsideredratherreassuring,asIhadalreadystartedponderingtheconvenienceofinstallingbulletproofwindowsinmyroom.Theindividualwhohadoccupiedmyroombeforehadnowveryseriousconjugalproblems.Butnotthe
indofmaritalcomplicationsoprevalentinourtimeslac
oftrust,oflove;infidelities,etcbutratheronemorespecifictoNorthAmericaandWesternEurope.The
indofproblemthatusuallyappearsastheresultofamarriageofconvenience.Oneguy,awoman,wantstoimmigratetotheselandsand,ofcourse,theshortestandeasiestwaytodoitistomarrysomeonewhoalreadyhasthecitizenship.Thissecondpersonisthenofferedsomeright,privilegeorgoodproperty,moneyinexchangeofthatmarriage.Sometimes,asithappensinmanycasesinthisinstances,thingsdonotwor
outastheyweresupposed,oneofthepartsdoesnotfulfillhisorherpartofthedeal,andtheotheronemust
theninitiatesome
indoflegalprocedureagainsthim,her,orevenstartchasingtheculprit.Somethingli
ethathadhappenedinthisoccasionwiththepastoccupantofmyroom,evenifIdonotremembernowwhatwastheexactcausewhyhewasnowinhotwaterwithhiscurrentin-laws;notevenifhewastheonehavingbeenswindledinsomewayorifthecasewastheopposite.Thecasewasthatthewholefamilyofthebridewasnowhotinhisheelsandtheleastyoucouldsayisthattheywerenotcominginafestivemood.Infact,itwasthepolicewhoshowedupacoupleofwee
slaterinthebuilding,loo
ingforthefugitive.Allwhich,ontheotherhand,hadaratherrelaxingangle,asitwasevidentthattheholyindignationofthatfamilyhadta
enaturnforthelegalandproceduralratherthangoinginthewaysmoreusualtotheunderworld.Afterreceivingtheletterfrommyhands,thelandlordwentto
noc
on
Henry'sdoor,becausethislasthadseenthefugitiveafewtimesinabar-cafeandpoolsaloon,onabusycommercialstreet,afewbloc
sfromthebuilding.OnceIcouldrelaxaboutthiscommotionIleftthelandlordalonehethenreturnedtohisroomand,asHenryhadlefthisowndooropen,Isawthisasaninvitation;apartfromthefactthatIwantedtodiscusswithhimofasubjectIhadbeenslowlymaturinginmymindduringthelastfewdaysandatopicIguesssomewhatmoreinterestingthanthespicyalternativesofamarriageonthes
idsortheshenanigansofarunawayhusband.HenryIsaidIwanttoas
yousomething.Tellme:whatdoyouthin
aboutthemagicbullet?Wasthat,inyouropinion,aplant?
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Hewasthenputtingawaythetableservice,afterwhathadbeenashortdinner.Therewasstillfloatingintheairsomeindescribablesmell,butwhichcouldnotbeofanyotherthingthatfood,exoticfoodmaybe,andthatwasmaybethereasonwhyhehadleftthedooropen,toma
eitdissipateandchangetheair.Heputthepieces,dishes,for
,
nife,onthesin
andthenwenttothewindow,toclosetheshadows,asnighthadalreadyfallenandtheilluminatedroomwasvisible,inallitsglory,fromtheoutside,fromthestreet.Hefinallysettledonhiscouch,butwithoutswitchingontheTVset.Afterwhatseemedalongmomentofreflexion,hesimplyanswered:Andwhocaresaboutthat?Whocaresifthatbulletwasplantedornot?Iwasshoc
ed.Icouldnotbelievewhatmyearswerehearing.Icouldn'tconceivethatsomeonewhohadtheleastinterestinthecasecouldshowsuchroyalindifferencetowardsoneofitsmostimportanticons,themagicbullet!Oneofthetruepillarsofthelegend.Man,itwasweird;thatsoundedtomeasifapassionatefanofBatmandidn'twanttohearabouttheBatmobile.But...Imuttered,not
nowingwhattoanswerofcourseissomethingofthegreatestimportance!Itisimportanttonowifsomeoneplanteditornot.Don'tforgetthatitma
esforoneofthemainpillarsofthecase,anessentialelementtodetermineOswald'sinnocenceorguilt.Ifthatbulletwasaplant,thenhewasaninnocentmanforsure.Ifnot,hemustbeguiltybecause,whowouldhaveplantedabullettoincriminatehimifhewasalreadytheassassin?Andalso,whocouldhavegottenhisriflebeforetheevent,togetthatbullet,ifnobody,inthatcase,wouldhaveforeseenthatlaterhewouldbe
illingthepresident,perhapsnotevenhimself?
Hedidnotevenpretend,fortheappearances,tobethin
ingaboutthatreasoningwhichbythewayseemedprettysolidtomeatthemoment.Ashewouldnotsayanythingatall,Iwentoninmyarguments,thistimetryingtoputsomethinginthemthatcouldtic
lehispridebone.InthatcaseIsaidinasuggestive,evencrueltoneofvoiceifitcanbeproventhatthatbulletwasnotplanted,yourowntheorywouldcomecrashingdown,asahouseofcards.Tellmehefinallysaid,inalowvoice,almostinawhisper,inatoneofgreatfatigue,asifforcedtoaddressasubjectthatcouldonlytireorborehiminwhatprecisearchive,inwhatlevelofthatlogicalstructurewehavealreadytal
edabout,wouldyouincludeyourmagicbullet?Youmean...thelogicalstructurewetal
edaboutatthebeginning?That'sit.
Idon't
now...Ihavenoidea.Ontheleveltwo,Iguess.Maybenot.MaybeI'dputitinthelevelthree.Afterall,yousaidyourselfthatitshouldgotothatlevel.Andwhythatlevel?Because,asyouexplained,that'sanevidencethatcanbeconsideredtainted,suspect,ascomingfromFBIlabs;thesamelabsthatswitchedtwocrucialframesintheZapruderfilm,soKennedywouldappearasifhavingbeenshotintheheadfrombehindratherthanfromthefront.Then,thatbulletbelongs,asevidence,tothelevelthatisleasttobetrusted.Doweagreeonthis?Completely.ButHenry...everybodyagreesthatitma
esforoneofthemostimportantelementsofthecase...Irealizednowthatwewerenotcommunicating.Weweretal
ing
aboutdifferentthings,differentpriorities,andtheworstthingwasthatIhadnoideahowIcouldcomeinresonancewithhim,histhoughts,sobothwouldbeinthesamefrequency.Buthewastheoneattheendma
ingthateffort.Iseethat,despiteallwhatwehavetal
edaboutthesubject,westillhaven'tcometoanunderstandingconcerningwhat'simportantandwhatisn'thesaid,withsomedisappointmentinhistone,asifexpressingthefearthathisteachingshadnotyieldedthedesiredresultswhatwearereallytal
ingabouthere,it'snottheauthenticityofthemagicbullet,noteventhatoftheevidenceingeneral.That'sirrelevant.Whatwearetal
ingabout,ifyoustillrememberitasyouweretheonewhowantedto
nowaboutitisthewayacovertoperation
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suchasthisisdone.Howitisplannedandexecuted.SoifIhavetoremindyouonceagainthisisanintelligenceoperation,aspycase,theonewearetal
ingabout,notaregularcriminalcase,astheonesregularpolicedetectiveshavetosolveeveryday.Andso,youhavetotreatitdifferently;inthefirstplacerecognizingthatmostoftheevidencepresentedtoyouwillbesuspect,nomatterfromwhereitwillcome.Inodded;notsomuchbecauseIagreedwithwhathewassayingbutbecauseIdidnotwanttostartanargument.WhatIwantedtosaytohimnowisthat,inmyopinion,thedeterminationoftheauthenticity,ornot,ofanevidencesuchasthiswouldallowsustohaveanideaabouthowamanipulationofthis
indcouldhavebeendone.ButIchoseto
eepmymouthshutinstead.Aheavysilencefellthenuponus.Duringmyuniversityyears,asanengineeringundergraduatestudent,Ihadgivensometimesmathslessonsto
idsinsecondaryschool;thosewhowerebehindintheircourses,thelessthanbrilliantintheirclasses,sotospea
.Inoccasions,afterhoursofarduousexplanations;offutile,fruitlessexercises,IhadtoarrivetotheconclusionthatIwasdealingwithadope,someonewhonomatterhowIexplainedthingsheorshewouldneverunderstandthem.Thatwastheprecise,uneasy,feelingIasgettingnow,thedifferencebeingthatIwastheoneplayingherethedope,asthevibesIfeltcomingmywayworeadisquietingsimilaritywiththoseIhadbeenmyselfinchargeofsendingtoothersinthoseoccasions.Tellmeonethinghefinallybro
ethesilence,obviouslytryingtocutthroughthatatmosphereofuneasinessdoyourememberthelogicalproblemItoldyouatthebeginningthatOswaldhadleftusaslegacy?
Thathecouldn'tgiveusanyinformationofanyvalue,ashisownroleasthefallguyoftheplotwouldhavemadeitsuspectandsoinvalid?That'sit.Now,allwhatI'mas
ingyouisthatyoutreattheevidenceinthecasethesamewayyouwouldtreatthefallguy;treatitwiththesameprecaution.Let'ssee....Ithin
I'mbeginningtounderstand...whatyoumeanisthat,thesamewaywecan'ttrusttheinformationthatthepatsyhimselfcouldhaveleftus,afterhavingbeenhimselftheobjectofadisinformationandmanipulationjob,thesamewaywecannottrusttheevidencethatisnotsureandprovenbeyondanydoubttheonethatgoesinleveloneandtwoofyourlogicalstructureasthisevidencemaybepartofthedisinformationjobthatthathasbeenpulledonus.That'sit?Exactly.Doyouseenowhowsimpleitwas?
SoIwenton,inspiredbythisencouragementpeoplewhospendhoursandhoursstudyingtheevidencethathasbeenpresentedtothem,wastingprecioustimeoftheirlivesanalyzingandexaminingit,areactingjustli
ethosepoorsoulswhobecomelostinsideamirrormaze,infairsandamusementpar
s,whereattheendareincapableofgettingout,becausetheycannotdistinguishtherealfromthephony.Excellenthecommented,happyofseeingmeatlastunderstandinghispointyoujustsaiditinawayIcouldn'thavesaidmyself.Now,goingbac
toyourquestionofthebeginning:no,itwasn'taplantedbullet,theonefoundinPar
land,themagicone.Onceagainhehadta
enmebysurprise.And...whatma
esyouthin
so?Ias
ed,cautiously,asiffeelingtheterrainIwasgettinginto,astobereadyforanyfurthersurprise.
Umm....forthesimplestofreasons.Justthin
logically.Inthefirstplace,atthattime,thetimeitwasfoundinthatstretcherabout1.00P.M.Ithin
themainjoboftheplottersinthisregardcouldn'thavebeentoaddnewbulletswheretherewasalreadyasurplus,buttoretrievethosealreadyinexcess.ThePrincipleoftheWellUnderstoodPriority.RememberthatthenumberofbulletsmeanttohavebeenfiredbyOswaldhadtobethreeaccordingtotheofficialreport.Thathadtobethemagicnumber,withrespecttowhichalltheaccountshadtoadjust,sotheywouldcoincidewiththenumberofshotsfiredandwiththenumberofcartridgesfoundintheTSBD.Youfindtwobulletsandyoustillareinthecount,insidewhatisexpected.Youfindfour,five,andthenyouhave
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abigproblem.ButthereisstillanotherevenmorelogicalreasonwhythatPar
landbulletcouldn'thavebeenplanted:ifthepresident'sbodyit'sgonnabesubjectedtoaclean,honest,trulyprofessionalautopsy;oneinwhichtherewillbenomanipulationofphysicalevidence,nodisappearanceofsuspiciousmaterial,notamperingofphotos,documents,films,thentheyhavegottenreallyintoagiganticmess,oneinwhichasinglebullet,evenifoneactuallyfiredbyOswald'srifle,wouldbeofnohelpwhatsoever.Becausewhatwillhappenthenisthatthosereal,honest,no-holds-barred,professionalswillfindnotonlywoundsinthebodydemonstratingthattheshotswerefiredfromdifferentdirections,butalsothatthosepenetrationsaretheproductofbulletsmadeofdifferentcalibersandmaterials.Andso,theyhadtohavebeenshotfromseveraldifferentguns.Inthatcase,inwhatit'sgonnahelptheaddingofstillanotherbullet,evenifonefiredbyOswald'srifle?Yeah.....thatplantedbulletwoulddonothingtohidetheconspiracy.Quitetheopposite:mostprobablyallitwoulddoistoma
esuretherewouldbenodoubtaboutit.OntheotherhandHenrywentonifalltheforensicwor
hasalreadybeenplanned,integratedintheconspiracy...Ifthejobistobegiventoplottersintheforensicprofession,youmean...Exactly.IftheautopsyitselfformpartofheplotandeverythingaboutithasbeenplannedinadvancethenwhybotherplantingbulletsinPar
landHospital?Theforensicdoctorsthemselvescouldplantthem,duringtheautopsy
.Yeah,itseemslogical.Noneedtoplantbullets,whenallthathasbeenta
encareofalready,intheplanningoftheentireoperation.Butstill,Ifeltthattherewassomethingthatdidnotfitintheanalysis.But....whybotheringatallIhadfinallygraspedthesourceofmydoubtanduneasinesswhydidtheydothingsthewaytheydidit?Whydidtheyhavetoproceedattheendtoanautopsythatwasn'teitheroneortheother.Thoseguys,doctorsHume,Fin
orsomething,weren'taccomplicesafterall;atleasttheytriedtososome
indofanhonestjobandtheyreachedalmosthalfwaytothat.Whywasthat?Whynotatotallyhonestor,alternatively,atotallyfabricatedautopsy?That'sprobablybecauseofthewillofthefamily,speciallythewidow.KennedywasaNavymanandtheywantedtheproceduretota
eplaceatBe
thesda.ThatplayedhavocwiththeinitialplantohaveitmadeatWalterReedwhere,inallappearances,everythinghadbeenalreadysetforit,ifwetrustwhatorderliesandnursesofthatoutfithavebeendeclaringovertheyears.So,astheywerebeingforcedtoma
eamoreorlesshonestautopsytheydidwhattheycouldacovert,previous,oneandleftthejobofpracticingthehonest,open,onetoguyswhohadlittleideahowtodoit.But,asallthattal
aboutautopsies,hospitals,bloodywrappings,isnotmycupoftea,honestly,anditwastiringme,Iratherchangedthesubject:Spea
ingofthatbullet,theonefoundinPar
land,whatdoyouthin
arethepossibilitiesofJac
Rubyhavingbeenonewhoplantedit?That'satleastwhatoneveryfamousandrespectedjournalist,SethKantor,suggested.HehadseenRubythesamedayinPar
land,aroundoneo'cloc
andfromthatinci
denthedevelopedhistheory.TobehonestHenryansweredtheonlyoneconclusionIcandrawfromthattestimonyisthatanybodycouldhaveputthatbulletinthatstretcher.IftoKantoritwaspossiblethatRubycouldhavegone,reachthatstretcherandputthebulletthere;amanwhohadabsolutelynobusinessthere,whowasacompletestrangertotheplace,whowasn'tneithermedical,auxiliaryorpolicepersonnel;whodidn'thaveany
indofmedicalorsecuritycredentials,asimpleintruder,thenanybodycouldhavedonethesamething.That'smyconclusionfromKantor'stestimony.ButHenry,please!Icriedout,notbelievingwhathewassayingth
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atwaspreciselyKantor'spoint!Rubywasn'tthereasimpleintruder,asanybodyelse.Hewasdeeplyimplicatedintheplot.Andhedidn'tevenhavetoputthebullettherehimself,hecouldhavegivenittoanyofhisfriendsintheDPD.Ahh,speculation,pureandsimplespeculation.Don'tforgetonecrucialthingaboutRuby.Hecouldhavebeenahustler,aruffian,anindividualstraddlingthefinelinedividingthelawfulandthecriminalworlds,alwayslivingindangeroffallingonthewrongside,buthebelongedanywaytoamilieuwheretherearerulesthatmustberespected.Hehadtobearealsoldiertosurviveinsuchamilieu,astheslightestmista
eorslipcouldhavecosthimdearly.Afterapausehecontinued:Anyway,thatJac
Rubyoranyotherpersoncouldhavegoneandputthatbulletthere,isreallyinconsequential,irrelevant,asIalreadyexplainedtoyou.Butletmeshowitfromadifferentangle.Now,weagreethatRuby,ashehadbeenthoroughlyburntinOswaldspreviousmanipulation,wouldhavebeenexpectingthathewouldbeeliminatedimmediatelyaftertheshooting,right?Exactly.Itcouldnthavebeenanyotherway,becauseinanyothercasehewouldnthaveacceptedtowor
inhisprevioushandling.Youretotallyrightonthat.Then:if,accordingtothewayRubyseeseventsunfolding,OswaldwillbeeliminatedinDealeyPlaza,usingthatHollywoodstagingIalreadytal
edyouaboutahandfulofpolicemenrushingtothe6tfloorandshootingdeadanalreadysequesteredandprobablyunconsciouspatsy;ormaybeonedeadalreadywhywouldtheyneedabulletfromhisrifleasevidence?Thecasewouldhavebeenclosed
rightthere!Thepolicegottherightman,theycaughttheassassintryingtoma
egoodhisescapefromthecrimescene,thegunstillwarminhishand,sotheyshothimonthespot.Whereistheneedtoinvestigateanyfurther?Mmm...everythingwouldhavebeeninorder,ta
encareof.So,thisishowthingsshouldbejudged:RubydidntseetheneedtohaveabulletfromOswaldsriflebeforetheevent,toplantitafterthefacts,assuchabulletwouldntevenbeneededasevidenceconsideringthewayheforesawthingsunfolding.Ontheotherhand,aftertheeventhewouldnthavehadtheoccasionorthetimetogetone,isn'tthat?Moreorlessso.Butthen,thatbulletfoundbyTomlinson...ifitwasntaplant,itcouldonlyhavebeenarealone;abulletthatwasactuallyfiredintheambush.Andwhatotherpossibilityyouconsiderli
elynow?
Idont
now...Imuttereditsthatyouma
eitappearsosimple,sofreeanycomplication.Toosimplemaybe.Noheansweredthereisnothingcomplicatedinallthis.Whatreallyhappensinthatmanypeoplehavebecomeenmeshedinthechaostheyhavecreatedthemselves.Itsli
ebuildingalabyrinthwithouthavinganyplansorblueprints,notgivinganylogicorclearcluestoit,andthengettinginsideitandgettinglost;ofcourseyou'llloseyourwayandyouwon'tbeabletogetout!.Totopthat,youforgetthatyouwereyourselftheonewhobuiltitandassumeitwasjustthere,standing,incomprehensible,asiftheresultofdivineintervention,ofcircumstancesbeyondyourcontrol.Whathappenedwiththisverymagicbulletgivesusatypicalcaseofthat.Allthediscussionaboutithasbeenbasedmadeonpremisesthatareassolidasfoundationsonquic
sand.Butthatsonlythefirstmista
etheyhavemade,thesecondbeingtoconsiderthissha
ybasesassomethin
gassolidasroc
;somethingbeyondanyrationaldiscussion.Althisma
esattheendforyoubeingstuc
inananalysisordiscussionthatta
esyounowhere,becausetheverybasesonwhichyoubuiltuponyouinvestigationarefaultythemselves;theycannotpossibleleadyoutothetruth.WhereforexampleTomlinsonfoundtheslug,inKennedysorinConnallysstretcher?Hehimselfsaidhecouldntremember,hesaidthatitcouldhavebeenonanyofbothandhemaintainedthatpositiondespiteallthepressuresfromtheWCtoma
ehimsayithadbeeninKennedys.IconsiderhisattitudeexcellentIdontrememberwhereIfoundit,hell:areyougonnaforcemetosaysomethingInotsureabout,onlybecauseitfitsyourschemes?WhatIdothenistoleaveTomlinsonalonewithhisuncertaintyandex
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Therewasapause.IhavetoconfessthatIwasfeelingratherdisappointedandIwoulddaretosay,connedinsomeway.Ihadcomeexpectingtheanswertooneofthemostperplexingmysteriesofthecase,andherehewas,Henry,demonstratingmethattherewasnosuchmysteryandthat,anyway,eveniftherewasone,itwasirrelevant.Iseethatyouloo
prettyunhappyaboutallthishecommented,asifmyfacialexpressionwouldhaveshownsoclearlywhatIwasfeelingyouwantedtoheartalesofplantedbulletsandtothatyouhavewhettedyourappetite.Anyway,doyoustillwanttotal
aboutplantedbullets?....well,let'sspea
aboutplantedbullets.I'lltellyouonetale...True?There's,afterall,ataleofplantedbulletsinthiscase?Atthatmomentheseemedtohavefalleninsome
indoftrance.Asifhismindhadgonetosomefarawayplacewheresomeone,somethingwascallinghisattention;li
ewhenpeopleisabsentfromhomeandsuddenlyremembersorstartswonderingaboutitwhattheymayhaveleftopenorfunctioning;awaterfaucet,thelights,etc.Buthewasloo
ingnowmoreasifhewassearchingfortheanswertosomeriddlethatuptonowwouldhaveescapedhisscrutiny.Iwillratherproposeyouadifferent
indofexperience,ofchallengehethensaidI'mgonnaproposeyouamentalgame,apurelyintellectualexperience,doyouunderstand?Yes,yes,IunderstandintheabsenceofanyplantedbulletIcouldwellta
eanyintellectualgamecomingmywaytellmeaboutthatgame.It'srathersomethingaboutaccountinghecontinuedhisprologue,whichIwasfindingratherlongsomethingaboutadjustingthecolumns,theInsandtheO
uts,theprofitsandexpenses,soattheendeverythingwouldbehon
y-dory,perfect.Yes,yes.Igotit.Butlet'sstartthegame.Well,answermefirsttothis:doyou
nowanythingaboutmistersSibertandO'Neill?Ofcourse!whodoesn't?TheywerethetwoagentsHooversenttosupervisetheautopsy,sotheywouldta
enotesoftheproceedings.Andthattheyseemtohavedoneverywell,beyondexpectations.Right.Anddoyouremembersomethingofinterestinthenotestheytoo
?Well,thetruthis,notmuchofinteresthascomeoutofit;notmuchthatI'mawareof.WhatIrememberisthemostintriguingpartofitall,whentheytal
aboutabulletamissile,intheirwordsthathasbeenretrievedfromtheb
ody.Orratherfromthewrappingsofhishead.That'sgoodhesaidthat'sit.OnebulletwasfoundwhentheyreceivedthebodyinBethesda,inthewrappingsofhishead.Anotherthing:doyourememberatwhattimetheautopsywasdone,orratheratwhattimestarted?Ithin
itstartedataround8.00P.M.Eighto'cloc
.Now,whatotherthingdoyourememberaboutthatautopsy;Imean,relatedtothatautopsy...somethingthatwashappeninghundredsofmilesaway,inDallas;inPar
landHospitaltobemorespecific?InPar
land...Ihavenoidea.Thetruthis,aftertheytoo
awayKennedy'sbodytherewasn'tmuchactionthere.Itreallyseemstohavepeteredout,asanewsinterestorfocus.Theonlyinterestofit,Iguess,wasinthepressconferencesofferedbythemedicalpersonnelandthediscoveryofthemagicbullet.
It'spreciselyofthatthatI'mtal
ing!hereplied,withsomeimpatiencewhathappenedduringthatBethesdaautopsyisthat,astheywere
eepingatelephoniclin
withPar
land,thedoctorsinchargeoftheproceedingswereinformedthatabullethadbeenfoundinastretcherinthehospital.Mmm....Idon'tthin
twasthehospitalwhichgavethemthenews,buttheDallasFBIoffices,ortheDallasSecretService...Whateverhecutmethere,ratherannoyedthefactis,thatpieceofinformationarrivedwhentheautopsywasinprogress.Now,thementalgameIwasproposingyouistoputallthattogether,andfindsome
indoflogic,arationalsense.
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Mmm,let'ssee...onebulletisfoundduringtheautopsy,inthewrappingcoveringKennedy'shead.Abulletnobodywantstohearabout...theyareinpermanentcontactwithDallas...Myanalysisstoppedrightthere.Thin
accounting,asIsaidbefore.Thin
numbers,quantity,surplus;orratherbalanceheadvisedme.Balanceofnumbers...Isuspectyouaresuggestingsome
indofexchangeofnumbersbetweencolumns...someswitchingofitems...Somethingli
ethat.Thin
aboutadditionandsubtraction,aboutmathematicalmanipulationofcolumns,thoseoftheInandOutstuff.Let'ssee:onebulletisfoundinPar
land,suddenly...anotheroneisfoundinBethesdaduringtheautopsy...Ithin
...No!Whatyou'resuggestingismonstrous!Hestartedlaughingatthis.Andwhymonstrous...?Thin
anywaythatwearejustplayinganumbersgame.Don'tforgetwhatIsaidatthebeginning:thisisonlyintellectualexercise,alittleplaywithmaterialta
enfromthelevelthreeofourlogicalstructure.Soit'srathertrivialandinoffensiveinthecase.Itisjustthat...thecoincidenceisamazing.Butthen,ifthatistrue,whatyou'resuggesting....youwouldbecompletelyrightwhensayingthatthePar
landbulletwasauthentic!SibertandO'Neillwouldbema
ingthecasethatyou'rerightonthemoney!Onemoment...calmdown.Remember,it'sonlyamentalgam...ButIwastooexcitedaboutthediscoverytolistentohim:
Asyousaid,whenthedoctorsinBethesdaincompetentastheywerebutwhoweretryingtodotheirbestreceivedKennedy'sbody,everythingwasalreadyinorder.Allbalanceshadbeendone,allcolumnsadjusted,allboo
sclosed.Allsurplus,redundant,bulletshadalreadybeenretrieved;thoseofDealeyPlazaandthatoneinthelimousine.Theaccountingwasimpeccable.Then,atthemidstoftheautopsytheinformationcomesthatanew,unheardof,bullethadjustbeenfound.Aninopportunebullet,whichexistenceeveryoneignoreduptonow.Onethathascometomessthingsup,todestroyallbalanceincolumnsInandOutandtoputthefraudinevidence.Whatmustbedonetogetthingsbac
tonormal,torestorethetidinessofthenumbers?Nothing,apparently.Everybody
nowsalreadyoftheexistenceofthisintruder.Everybody;Dallas,thenation,theworld.Theinternationalpresshasdoneitsjobandthenewsisnowoneverymediaoutletintheplanet.Nothingcanbedoneaboutthislastbullet.
Then...?Anyway,theexcessmaterialhastobeeliminated.That'sinescapable.So,onebulletmustgo.Asthatcannotbetheintruder,thebulletfoundinPar
land,theonethatdisappearsattheendistheother,themissileseenbySibertandO'Neill.Itdisappearsinthefinalcount,youmeanHecorrectedmebutifyougoonwithyouranalysis,itinevitablywillta
eyoutotherightandonlyconclusion.ThatthebulletfoundinPar
landwasn'tplanted!And...?TheplantwastheslugthatSibertandO'Neillsaw!Itcouldn'tbeotherwise!Abulletthatwasplantedduringapreviousstopofthebody,beforetheofficialautopsyinBethesda,exactlyassomecriticshavesuggested!Thatwast
heonedesignatedtoincriminateOswald;thebulletthatcertainlycamefromhisrifleandwhichmusthavedisappearedlater,asitcouldn'tbeofanyuse,afterthesuddenirruption,onthestagewherethistragedywasbeingplayed,ofthePar
landbullet.Thereisjustonemista
einyouranalysissaidHenrythebulletthatSibertandO'Neillsawdidn'tdisappear.Itwastheotheronewhodidit,thePar
landone.Andhow...?Obvious.Theywereswitched.Didn'tyousaidityourself?ThebulletfoundinBethesdawastheonemeanttoincriminateOswald.Whyshouldithave
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disappeared,thenifitwastherightone?Thisslugsimplytoo
theother'splace,theonediscoveredbyTomlinson.Itbecameevidencenumber399fortheWarrenCommission.But,afterall...didn'tItellyoubeforethatallthisinnothingbutalittlementalgame...?