This hole corresponds in position to the hole in the back of the coat, Governor Connally's coat, identified as Commission No. 683.
Mr. SPECTER. Were there sufficient characteristics observable to formulate a conclusion as to the cause and direction of that hole?
Mr. FRAZIER. No, sir; there were no characteristics on which you could base a conclusion as to what caused it, whether or not it was a bullet and if it had been, what the direction of the projectile was.
Mr. SPECTER. Could it have been caused by a 6.5-mm. bullet coming from the rear of the wearer toward his front?
Mr. SPECTER. Referring now to the front side of the Governor's shirt, what, if anything, did you observe with respect to a tear or a hole thereon, as to the body of the shirt?
Mr. FRAZIER, I found in the right chest area of the shirt, considering the shirt when it is being worn, a very irregular tear more or less in the form of an "H," of the letter "H." This tear was approximately 1-1/2 inches in height, with the crossbar tear being approximately 1 inch in width, which caused a very irregularly shaped and enlarged hole in the front of the shirt. The hole is located 5 inches from the right-side seam, and 9 inches below the top of the right sleeve. The 9-inch figure is from the top of the right shoulder where the sleeve adjoins the yoke of the shirt.
Mr. SPECTER. Had that garment been cleaned and pressed, Mr. Frazier, prior to the time you examined it?
Mr. SPECTER. Were there sufficient characteristics then remaining on the hole on the front side to enable you to formulate an opinion as to the cause of the hole?
Mr. SPECTER. Could it have been caused by a 6.5 millimeter bullet exiting from the chest of the Governor?
Mr. DULLES. Could I ask there, would the size and character of this hole indicate the condition of the bullet, I mean as to whether it was tumbling or whether it was a mutilated bullet or anything of that kind?
Mr. DULLES. Even a bullet in full flight, full velocity could have made this kind of a hole in the shirt?
Mr. FRAZIER. It could have, particularly if the shirt had been wrinkled at the time it passed through, and particularly because the material in this shirt tore rather severely at the time the object passed through, indicating a very weak structure of the cotton fiber, so that it would tear out of all proportion to a stronger fabric.