Martin Shackelford  wrote:
: A Gathering in Grand Rapids
: by Martin Shackelford (October 26, 1997)

:            Their common interest: intricacies in the evidence relating
: to the assassination of President Kennedy. Originally planned as a
: gathering of those who believed Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the final
: group was evenly split, half believing in a conspiracy.
:            Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the gathering was its
: lack of rancor, its emphasis on sharing, and the civility of its
: discussions. Everyone contributed rare footage and photographs, no
: voices were raised, and no one
: "changed sides," but we all learned things during the two-day gathering.

:            New computer-generated animations by Dale Myers, likely to be
: generally available sometime next year, made it difficult to dispute a
: bullet striking Governor Connally just before Zapruder frame 223;
: demonstrated that along a line which crossed the sidewalk north of Elm
: Street and an area in front of the Texas School Book Depository,
: spectators saw the limousine appear to come to nearly a complete stop,
: due to a quirk of perspective; and showed the assassination as it might
: have appeared to a number of other key witnesses (Charles Brehm, Howard
: Brennan, Nellie Connally, Jackie Kennedy,  and Bill Newman).

Myers renderings have the promise of being hugely helpful in interpreting witness testimony. For example, his view from Charles Brehm's perspective showed Brehm to be uncannily accurate in the details he described. His "then he went all the way down" statement is shown by Myers' model to be exactly what he saw looking at the retreating limo.

I've tended to throw my hands up and disregard all attempts to microanalyze DP witness testimony, but I think Dale's renderings open up the possibility of learning some new things.

:          His attempt to use the animation to demonstrate the Single
: Bullet Theory was marred by placement of the entrance wound on President
: Kennedy's back at the lower neck, rather than the upper back position of
: the autopsy photographs, perhaps two inches lower.

However, having someone like Martin around to point out stuff like this is the point of having people with different viewpoints.

:          A photograph showing FBI agent Robert Barrett at the Texas
: Theater, and a film clip showing him at the location of the shooting of
: Officer J.D. Tippit, made it clear that he was not the same man who was
: seen apparently picking up something from the grass in Dealey Plaza in a
: series of news photographs.

:            Controversial claims were challenged, a variety of evidence
: was presented and examined, and the participants had a stimulating and
: valuable experience. It was the kind of exchange that should happen more
: often, allowing vigorous testing of everyone's assumptions, a greater
: likelihood that untenable theories will be discarded, and a better
: chance to see where theories are the strongest. I hope it doesn't prove
: unique, as it's something we all could use.

Martin unfortunately missed the session where we all shot the Todd's MC (he had some business in Grand Rapids). Although it wasn't any sort of "recreation" and didn't have any evidentiary value, it was a lot of good fun. We were shooting at a pumpkin at 20 yards. After a couple of shooters missed badly by relying on a misaligned scope, I actually got 2 (3?) hits using the iron sights. But then Jaynes and a fellow named Don (who had arranged for us to use the property) drilled the pumpkin right in the middle. Proved nothing, but great fun!

Steve Barber's hospitality deserves kudos. He made a weekend which was inherently going to be enjoyable into pure, unadultrated fun.

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