Mr. and Mrs. Hester...who were they

[Robin Unger]

Zapruder filming Sitzman with the Hester's

Looking at the fire plug through the pergola opening, I suddenly realized this:

ZAPRUDER IS FILMING THIS SCENE FROM ATOP THE PEDESTAL. There goes the story about

Zapruder vertigo and Sitzman helping steady him on the pedestal!

Comments?

Jack

Thanks Jack

yes the height looks right, i assume the camera was on full Zoom ?

Edited January 19, 2010 by Robin Unger

[Jack White]

Zapruder filming Sitzman with the Hester's

Great Wiegman scans! I have never seen ANY Wiegman images so clear!

Can you scan this Wiegman frame?

Jack

[Jack White]

Zapruder filming Sitzman with the Hester's

Looking at the fire plug through the pergola opening, I suddenly realized this:

ZAPRUDER IS FILMING THIS SCENE FROM ATOP THE PEDESTAL. There goes the story about

Zapruder vertigo and Sitzman helping steady him on the pedestal!

Comments?

Jack

Thanks Jack

yes the height looks right, i assume the camera was on full Zoom ?

Every report I have read says FULL ZOOM.

To me, he has to be on the pedestal to see the distant fireplug.

So he was already on the pedestal long before Sitzman joined him!

Or else somebody else was up there filming.

Jack

[Robin Unger]

Frames from the Discovery Channel DVD " Murder in Dealey Plaza "

Chris Davidson sent me a Copy.

Edited January 19, 2010 by Robin Unger

[Pat Speer]

QUOTE

Mrs CHARLES HESTER, 2619 Keyhold Street, Irving, Texas, advised that sometime around 12:30 p.m., on November 22, 1963, she and her husband were standing along the street at a place immediately preceding the underpass on Elm Street, where President Kennedy was shot. Mrs HESTER advised she heard two loud noises which sounded like gunshots, and she saw President KENNEDY slump in the seat of the car he was riding in. Her husband grabbed then grabbed her and shoved her to the ground. Shortly thereafter they went across to the north side of the street on an embankment in an attempt to gain shelter. She stated that she believes she and her husband actually had been in the direct line of fire. She did not see anyone with a gun when the shots were fired and stated she could not furnish any information as to exactly where the shots came from. After the President’s car had pulled away from the scene, she and her husband proceeded to their car and left the area as she was very upset,” 24H523

Is it possible that the FBI agent garbled her statement?

I

Jack

It seems likely the FBI garbled her and her husband's statements on the 25th. Here are the FBI reports on her husband. Notice that in his original signed statement--unfiltered by the FBI--he specified that they were sitting on the "slope", almost certainly a reference to where they are seen in the films and photographs.

Charles Hester (11-22-63 statement to the Dallas Sheriff’s Department, 19H478) “My wife Beatrice and I were sitting on the grass on the slope on Elm Street where the park is located. When the President Kennedy’s car got almost to the underpass, I heard two shots ring out…I grabbed my wife because I didn’t know where the next shot was coming from and dragged her up next to the concrete embankment and got on the ground with her.” (11-25-63 FBI report, 22H841) “Hester and his wife, Beatrice, were standing along the street at the point immediately preceding the underpass on Elm Street where President John F Kennedy was shot. Hester stated he saw the President slump in the seat of the car and that he heard two shots fired from what appeared to be a building located on the corner of Elm and Houston Street. He stated he and his wife were almost in a direct line of fire and that he immediately grabbed his wife and shoved her to the ground. He stated he thereafter immediately escorted his wife across to the North side of the street on an embankment in an attempt to gain shelter.”

[Jack White]

Frames from the Discovery Channel DVD " Murder in Dealey Plaza "

Chris Davidson sent me a Copy.

FANTASTIC! Far better than available anywhere! Thanks!

Jack

[Jack White]

QUOTE

Mrs CHARLES HESTER, 2619 Keyhold Street, Irving, Texas, advised that sometime around 12:30 p.m., on November 22, 1963, she and her husband were standing along the street at a place immediately preceding the underpass on Elm Street, where President Kennedy was shot. Mrs HESTER advised she heard two loud noises which sounded like gunshots, and she saw President KENNEDY slump in the seat of the car he was riding in. Her husband grabbed then grabbed her and shoved her to the ground. Shortly thereafter they went across to the north side of the street on an embankment in an attempt to gain shelter. She stated that she believes she and her husband actually had been in the direct line of fire. She did not see anyone with a gun when the shots were fired and stated she could not furnish any information as to exactly where the shots came from. After the President’s car had pulled away from the scene, she and her husband proceeded to their car and left the area as she was very upset,” 24H523

Is it possible that the FBI agent garbled her statement?

I

Jack

It seems likely the FBI garbled her and her husband's statements on the 25th. Here are the FBI reports on her husband. Notice that in his original signed statement--unfiltered by the FBI--he specified that they were sitting on the "slope", almost certainly a reference to where they are seen in the films and photographs.

Charles Hester (11-22-63 statement to the Dallas Sheriff’s Department, 19H478) “My wife Beatrice and I were sitting on the grass on the slope on Elm Street where the park is located. When the President Kennedy’s car got almost to the underpass, I heard two shots ring out…I grabbed my wife because I didn’t know where the next shot was coming from and dragged her up next to the concrete embankment and got on the ground with her.” (11-25-63 FBI report, 22H841) “Hester and his wife, Beatrice, were standing along the street at the point immediately preceding the underpass on Elm Street where President John F Kennedy was shot. Hester stated he saw the President slump in the seat of the car and that he heard two shots fired from what appeared to be a building located on the corner of Elm and Houston Street. He stated he and his wife were almost in a direct line of fire and that he immediately grabbed his wife and shoved her to the ground. He stated he thereafter immediately escorted his wife across to the North side of the street on an embankment in an attempt to gain shelter.”

Thanks, Pat...but they are NOT sitting on the slope. She is standing, and he is sitting on a park bench!

Note his phrase...When the President Kennedy’s car got almost to the underpass, I heard two shots ring out.

[Robin Unger]

Credit Bernice. ( Cook / Cooper ) Film

Sitzman and the Hesters seen standing behind the motorcycle.

[Robin Unger]

Credit Bernice. ( Cook / Cooper ) Film

Sitzman and the Hesters seen standing behind the motorcycle.

Large Frame:

[Doug Weldon]

Zapruder filming Sitzman with the Hester's

Looking at the fire plug through the pergola opening, I suddenly realized this:

ZAPRUDER IS FILMING THIS SCENE FROM ATOP THE PEDESTAL. There goes the story about

Zapruder vertigo and Sitzman helping steady him on the pedestal!

Comments?

Jack

Thanks Jack

yes the height looks right, i assume the camera was on full Zoom ?

Every report I have read says FULL ZOOM.

To me, he has to be on the pedestal to see the distant fireplug.

So he was already on the pedestal long before Sitzman joined him!

Or else somebody else was up there filming.

Jack

Jack:

Years ago some people asked me after seeing the film on television what Hester was doing running to the pergola leaving his wife. As I mentioned, it was so odd. I e-mailed Gary Mack about it and did not get a satisfsactory answer. I was very curious about them. Is there any possibility that someone behind the pergola was handing him a film?

Best,

Doug Weldon

[Jack White]

Zapruder filming Sitzman with the Hester's

Looking at the fire plug through the pergola opening, I suddenly realized this:

ZAPRUDER IS FILMING THIS SCENE FROM ATOP THE PEDESTAL. There goes the story about

Zapruder vertigo and Sitzman helping steady him on the pedestal!

Comments?

Jack

Thanks Jack

yes the height looks right, i assume the camera was on full Zoom ?

Every report I have read says FULL ZOOM.

To me, he has to be on the pedestal to see the distant fireplug.

So he was already on the pedestal long before Sitzman joined him!

Or else somebody else was up there filming.

Jack

Jack:

Years ago some people asked me after seeing the film on television what Hester was doing running to the pergola leaving his wife. As I mentioned, it was so odd. I e-mailed Gary Mack about it and did not get a satisfsactory answer. I was very curious about them. Is there any possibility that someone behind the pergola was handing him a film?

Best,

Doug Weldon

Doug...your guess is good as mine.

Jack

[Jack White]

The excellent Wiegman frames posted by Robin enabled me to REPEAT a study

I did years ago with FAR GREATER CLARITY. I tell you what I think it shows.

Tell me what you think it shows.

Thanks, Robin.

Jack

[Robin Unger]

Angle corrected:

Edited:

Edited January 19, 2010 by Robin Unger

[James Richards]

I don't have access to my notes at the moment so I'm going by memory, which is always a dangerous ploy.

I seem to recall that Charles Hester operated a business called Commercial Photography. There was also the question of whether or not he was related to Robert Hester whose daughter (name escapes me for now) was part owner of the National Film Company.

Research into that entity is interesting to say the least.

FWIW.

James

[Don Bailey]

Credit Bernice. ( Cook / Cooper ) Film

Sitzman and the Hesters seen standing behind the motorcycle.

Thank you Robin for the pictures. Is there a full film clip available from the Zapruder film of Sitzman and the Hesters?

The picture shows Mrs. Hester is standing next to the TSBD and she is holding what looks like a large white purse...this may explain what looks a sign that she is holding during the shooting.

Don