Investigations of a vast number of rumors
and speculations reached into almost every part of the United States
and to most of the other continents of the world.

The Commission’s work was also handicapped by those witnesses and other
persons connected with the investigation who sold for publication
evidence pertinent to the investigation. These persons sold pictures
and documents and even recollections, sometimes before the Commission
had an opportunity to receive their evidence. Some of the evidence
thus published was changed from its original form and gave misleading
impressions to the public. The piecemeal release of this evidence,
sometimes in distorted or exaggerated form, and often out of context,
provided the basis for new speculations and rumors or served to
reinforce already current ones. The practice was frequently harmful to
the work of the Commission and a disservice to the public.

This appendix is intended to clarify the most widespread factual
misunderstandings. False or inaccurate speculations concerning the
assassination and related events are set forth below together with
brief summary statements of what the Commission has found to be the
true facts. The citation following each Commission finding is either
to that portion of the report in which the subject is discussed more
fully, to the evidence in the record supporting the finding, or to
both. For complete answers to these speculations, the sources cited
in the footnotes should be consulted. The speculations are considered
under the following headings:

  1. The source of the shots.
  2. The identity of the assassin.
  3. Oswald’s movements between 12:33 and 1:15 p.m. on November 22, 1963.
  4. The murder of Patrolman Tippit.
  5. Oswald after his arrest.
  6. Oswald in the Soviet Union.
  7. Oswald’s trip to Mexico City.
  8. Oswald and U.S. Government agencies.
  9. Conspiratorial relationships.
 10. Miscellaneous charges.


THE SOURCE OF THE SHOTS

There have been speculations that some or all of the shots aimed at
President Kennedy and Governor Connally came from the railroad overpass
as the Presidential automobile approached it, or from somewhere other
than the Texas School Book Depository Building. Related speculations
maintain that the shots came from both the railroad overpass and the
Texas School Book Depository Building. These are supported by a number
of assertions that have been carefully examined by the Commission
in the course of its investigation and rejected as being without
foundation. They are set forth below, together with the results of the
Commission’s investigation.

_Speculation._--The shots that killed the President came from the
railroad overpass above the triple underpass.

_Commission finding._--The shots that entered the neck and head of the
President and wounded Governor Connally came from behind and above.
There is no evidence that any shots were fired at the President from
anywhere other than the Texas School Book Depository Building.[A12-1]

_Speculation._--The railroad overpass was left unguarded on November 22.

_Commission finding._--On November 22 the railroad overpass was guarded
by two Dallas policemen, Patrolmen J. W. Foster and J. C. White, who
have testified that they permitted only railroad personnel on the
overpass.[A12-2]

_Speculation._--There are witnesses who alleged that the shots came
from the overpass.

_Commission finding._--The Commission does not have knowledge of
any witnesses who saw shots fired from the overpass. Statements or
depositions from the 2 policemen and 13 railroad employees who were on
the overpass all affirm that no shots were fired from the overpass.
Most of these witnesses who discussed the source of the shots stated
that they came from the direction of Elm and Houston Streets.[A12-3]

_Speculation._--A rifle cartridge was recovered on the overpass.

_Commission finding._--No cartridge of any kind was found on the
overpass nor has any witness come forward to claim having found
one.[A12-4]

_Speculation._--A witness to the assassination said that she saw a man
run behind the concrete wall of the overpass and disappear.

_Commission finding._--Mrs. Jean L. Hill stated that after the firing
stopped she saw a white man wearing a brown overcoat and a hat running
west away from the Depository Building in the direction of the railroad
tracks. There are no other witnesses who claim to have seen a man
running toward the railroad tracks.