Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Observed Rifle Mismatch With Oswald’s Mannlicher-Carcano

This section presents evidence demonstrating that the weapon observed being fired by an individual at a Texas rifle range (testified to by witnesses Price, Slack, and Dr. Sterling Wood and his son) did not match the assassination rifle (Oswald’s Mannlicher-Carcano). Key differences included: a shortened barrel from “sporterizing,” missing pieces on the top of the weapon, flames spouting from the weapon when fired, and a sling (which Price and Slack believed absent, though Sterling Wood recalled it being present). The scope also differed: the range rifle had a scope reportedly Japanese in origin, purchased for $18 and mounted in a non-existent Cedar Hills gunshop, while the Mannlicher-Carcano’s Japanese-made scope was worth slightly more than $7 and came pre-mounted from a Chicago mail-order firm. The Mannlicher-Carcano bore the markings “MADE ITALY” on its top, which Price’s brief examination did not reveal. No shell casings fired from Oswald’s rifle were found in areas where he may have practiced, and evidence from chapter IV indicated Oswald did not remove the rifle from the Paine garage in Irving prior to November 22, 1963.

Automobile Demonstration Testimony Review

This section examines the testimony of Albert Guy Bogard, a former Lincoln-Mercury automobile salesman in Dallas, who claimed that on the early afternoon of November 9, 1963, he attended a customer he believed was Lee Harvey Oswald, who test-drove a car on the Stemmons Freeway at 60-70 mph and stated he would have funds to purchase a car in several weeks. Bogard wrote the name “Lee Oswald” on a business card, which he reportedly discarded after November 22. Corroboration came from Frank Pizzo (assistant sales manager), Eugene M. Wilson (salesman), and Oran Brown (who also wrote the name and recalled it being in his possession). However, significant inconsistencies undermined Bogard’s testimony: Bogard stated the customer wanted to pay cash and declined credit, while Pizzo and Wilson indicated the customer attempted to purchase on credit, with Wilson recalling a sarcastic remark about returning to Russia to buy a car. No paper bearing Oswald’s name was found when showroom refuse was searched on November 23, and Brown’s paper was also never located. Pizzo later expressed serious doubts upon examining photos of Oswald (particularly regarding the hairline), Wilson recalled the customer as approximately 5 feet tall, multiple witnesses testified Oswald was unable to drive (though Mrs. Paine noted some improvement by November), and the established whereabouts of Oswald on November 9 made the showroom visit impossible.