shadow of lee (harvey oswald)-- chapter 8

8/2/2019 SHADOW OF LEE (HARVEY OSWALD)-- CHAPTER 8

1/9

8

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?


2/9

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


3/9

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


4/9

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


5/9

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


6/9


7/9

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.


8/9

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


9/9

disappeared,thenifitwastherightone?Thisslugsimplytoo

theother'splace,theonediscoveredbyTomlinson.Itbecameevidencenumber399fortheWarrenCommission.But,afterall...didn'tItellyoubeforethatallthisinnothingbutalittlementalgame...?

shadow of lee (harvey oswald)-- chapter 8

Documents