Originator: HSCA
Document date: 01/01/1977
Document type: PRINTED FORM

## Page 1

Assassination Records Review Board

Final Determination Notification

AGENCY

:HSCA

RECORD NUMBER: 180-10068-10323

RECORD SERIES

: STAFF PAYROLL RECORDS

AGENCY FILE NUMBER

:

Heleased under the John Fl

Kennedy Assassination

Hecords Lollection Act of

1992 |44 USC 2107 Notel.

Case#:Nw 66261 Date:

09.01-2022

December 8, 1995

Status of Document:

Postponed in Part

Number of releases of previously postponed information: 20

Reason for Board Action: The Review Board's decision was premised on several factors

including: (a) the significant historical interest in the document in question; (b) the

absence of evidence that the release of the information would cause harm to the United

States or to any individual.

Number of Postponements: 6

Postponements: All the postponements in this document represent Social Security numbers.

Reason for Board Action: The text is redacted because the public disclosure of the redaction could

reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, and that invasion of

privacy would be so substantial that it outweighs the public interest.

Substitute Language: SSN

Date of Next Review: 2017

Board Review Completed: 10/24/95

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 1

---

## Page 2

Date: 08/20/93

Page: 1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : HSCA

RECORD NUMBER: 180-10068-10323

RECORDS SERIES :

STAFF PAYROLL RECORDS

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR : HSCA

FROM:

то :

TITLE :

DATE: 01/01/77

PAGES: 34

SUBJECTS :

HSCA, ADMINISTRATION

CHENOWITH, JAMES H.

DOCUMENT TYPE : PRINTED FORM

CLASSIFICATION : U

RESTRICTIONS : 3

PRINTED PORN

CURRENT STATUS : P

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 07/07/93

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS :

Вох #:1.

[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 2

---

## Page 3

CHENOWETH,:

Г.Н.

Naine of Employee

Address

Address

OFFICE OF THE CLERK

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PERSONAL LEAVE RECORD

1977

YEAR

Flione Number

DATE OF APPOINTMENT

1-1-77

ANNUAL LEAVE

CATEGORY

1.0

Position Title

PRIOP FEDERAL SERVICE

1.5

Position Number

Lovel

Step

"Months

2:0

ACCRUED

THIS MONTH

THIS MONTH

Month

DAY OF MONTH

1305 3 10 1 18 13 1141107167177 18 119 20 21 28

23 24 25 26 27 28 29|301 31

Annual.

Leave

Jan.

Sick

Leave

/

Annual

Leave

Sick

Leave

Feb:

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

" sully

AUg.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

= 0.5 day annual leave

= 1.0 day annual leave

= 0.5 day sick leave

1.0 day sick leave

/

/

6

atte d

7/1117

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

Employce's Signature

Date

(If employee refuses to sign, state reason below.)

BALANCE

BROUGHT

FORWARD

FROM

PRECEDING

YEAR

Annual

Sick

Leave

Leave

USED

TKIS MONTH

Annual

Leave

Sick

Leave

BALANCE

AT CLOSE

OF MONTH

Annual

Leave

EMPLOYEE

TRITIAIS

Sick.

Leave

/

2

2

4

6

or

Chief's Signature

Date

0.5 day administrative leave

A

or

=

1.0 day administrative leave

Approved:

= 0.5 day unauthorized absence

U

or

Clerk of the House

Date

This record will be forwarded to the Clerk of the House at the end of each calendar year, or in case of termination, along

with the request for termination. Upon approval, the record will be filed in the employee's official personnel folder.

= 1.0 day unauthorized absence

= 0.5 day leave without pay

=1.0 day. leave without pay

EXHIBIT I:

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 3

---

## Page 4

Select Committee on Assassinations

U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515

1131

120, 964.00

Ample

less

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MEMORANDUM

3/1

20,713

#31, 913.

Less annuite

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 4

---

## Page 5

PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

(Please Use Typewriter ;

or Ballpoint Pen)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

-Washington, D.C: 20515

(Any erasures, corrections, or changes

on this form must be initialed by the

authorizing official.)

_To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

Janes Ho Chenowech

Employee Social Security Number

037 12 1326

Employing Office or Committee

Assassinations

Effective Date

1/11/77

Type of Action

• Appointment

• Salary Adjustment

El Termination (At close of business on effective date)

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.) .

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.)

1.0 Standing Committee: Staff -[ Clerical or • Professional.

2. [J Special or Select Committee: Authority-H. Res.

606

of 2)5t Congress.

3.

Joint Committee.

(If Employee of an Officer of the House, complete item below.)

Position Number.

If applicable, Level_

Step,

I. certify that this authorization is not in violation of 5 U.S.C. 3110(b), prohibiting the employment of

relatives.

Date_

July

, 1977

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

Louis Stokes

(Type or print name of Authorizing Officiall

Chairman

(Title - If Member, District and State)

All appointments and salary adjustments for employees under the House Classification Act and for Committee em-

ployees; except those of the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Committees, must.

be approved by the Cömmittee on House Administration.

APPROVED:.

Chairman, Committee on House Administration

Office of Finance use only:

Office Code.

Monthly Annuity S_

.00

Copy for Initiating Office or Committee

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 5

---

## Page 6

June 1, 1977

The Honorable Louis Stokes

Chairman, Select Committee on Assassinations

U. S. House of Representatives

Washington, D. C.

Dear Congressman Stokes:

For purely personal reasons I

am tendering my resignation

from the staff of the Select Committee on Assassinations.

I would like my resignation to become effective as of the

close of business on July 11, 1977 but am expressing my

intent at this time so as to provide you with as much

advance notice as possible.

Very truly yours,

James H. Chenoweth

Staff Investigator

NW 68261

Docld:32243289

Page 6

---

## Page 7

June 16, 1977

Mr. James H. Chenoweth

13122 Turkey Branch

Parkway

Rockville, Maryland 20853

Dear Jim:

I want you to know how much the Committee

and I appreciate your service and how much we

regret that you will no longer be a member of the

staff.

You have our best wishes always.

Sincerely yours,

Louis Stokes

Chairman

IS: tle

NW 68261

Docld:32243289

Page 7

---

## Page 8

LOUIS STOKES, OHIO, CHAIRMAN

SAMUEL L. DEVINE, OHIO

JOHN B. ANDERSON, ILL.

STEWART B. MCKINNEY, CONN.

CHRISTOPHER J, DODD, CONN.

CHARLES THONE, NEBR.

HAROLD E. FORD, TENN.

FLOYD S. FITHIAN, IND.

ROBERT W. EDGAR, PA.

(202) 225-4624

Select Committee on Assassinations

M.5. House of Representatives

3342 HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, ANNEX 2

WASHINGTON. D.C: 20515

June

1, 1977

The Honorable Louis Stokes

Chairman, Select Committee on Assassinations

U. S. House of Representatives

Washington, D. C.

Dear Congressman Stokes:

For purely personal reasons I am tendering my resignation

from the staff of the Select Committee on Assassinations.

I would like my resignation to become effective as of the

close of business on July 11, 197? but am expressing my

intent at this time so

as to provide you with as much

advance notice as possible.

Very truly yours,

James H. Chenoweth

Staff Investigator

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 8

---

## Page 9

PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

(Please Use Typewriter

or Ballpoint Pen)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C. 20515

(Any erasures, corrections, or changes

on this form

must be initialed by the

authorizing official.)

To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

James N. Chenoweth

Employee Social Security Number

081 12 1326

Effective Date

5/2/77

. Type of Action

Employing Office or Committee

• Appointment

C: Salary Adjustment

• Termination (At close of business on effective date)

Assassinations

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.)

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

$28,000

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.)

LESS ANNUITY

1. L Standing Committee: Staff - Clerical or • Professional.

2. X Special or Select Committee: Authority-H. Res.

465

- 035th

_Congress.

3. L Joint Committee.

(If. Employee of an Officer of the House, complete item below.);

Position Number_.

If applicable, Level_

Step_

1. certify that. this. authorization is not. in violation of 5 U.S.C. 3110(b), prohibiting the employment öf:

relatives.

Date..

May-

.11

-.,1927

Louls Stokes

Chairman

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

(Type or print name of Authorizing Official)

(Title

f Member, District and State)

All appointments and salary adjustments for employees.-under.the House Classification Act and for Committee em-

ployees, except those of.the: Committee.on Appropriations, the Committee on.the-Budget, and the Joint Committees, must:

be approved by the Committee on House: Administration:

APPROVED:

Chairman, Committee on House Administration -

Office of Finance use only:

Office Code

Monthly Annuity $

s/ll

.00

1D.

Copy for Initiating Office or Committee

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 9

---

## Page 10

PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

(Please Use Typewriter

or Ballpoint Pen)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C. 20515

(Any erasures, corrections, or changes

on this form must be initialed by the

authorizing official.)

To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

James H. Chenoweth

Employee Social Security Number

081 12 1326

Effective Date

4/1/77

Type of Action

Employing Office or Committee

• Appointment

D: Salary Adjustment

•. Termination (At close of business on effective date)

Assassinations

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.) :

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

$47,500

LESS ANNUITY

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.)

1. L Standing Committee: Staff - Clerical or E Professional.

2. L Special or Select Committee: Authority-H. Res...

465

of95th

Congress.

3. _ Joint Committee.

(If Employee of an Officer of the House, complete item below.)

Position Number_

If applicable, Level:

Step-

relatives.

I certify that this authorization is not in violation of 5: U.S.C. 3110(b), prohibiting-the-employment of

Date_

April _ 29

- 190

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

Louis Stokes

(Type or print name of Authorizing Official)

Chairmail:

(Title - If Member, District and State)

All appointments: and.salary. adjustments for.employees under the House Classification Act and for Committee

em-'"

ployees; except those.. of the.Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Committees, must

be approved by the Committee on. House Administration...

APPROVED:

Chairman, Committee on House Administration =

Office of Finance use only:

Office Code.

Monthly Annuity $

00

Copy for Initiating Office or Committee

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 10

---

## Page 11

PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

(Please Use Typewriter:

or Ballpoint Pen)

U:S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C. 20515

(Any erasures; corrections; or changes

on this form must be initialed by the

authorizing official.)

To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

James K. Chenoweth

Employee Social Security Number

Effective Date

3/1/77

Type of Action

087 12 1326

Employing Office or Committee

Select Committee on Assassinations

I Appointment

E Salary Adjustment

• Termination (At close of business on effective date)

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.)

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

$21,913

LESS ANNUITY

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.):

1. • Standing Committee: Staff - Clerical or [ Professional.

2. 2 Special or Select Committee: Authority-H. Res._ 222:

-of_25th Congress.

3. L Joint Committee.

(If Employee of an Officer of the House, complete item below.)

Position Number_.

If applicable, Level -

Step_.

certify. that this authorization is. not. in violation. of: 5 U.S.C. 3110(b), prohibiting the employment.of

relatives.

Date_

March 16

-19.97

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

Louis Stokes,

Chairman

(Type or print name of Authorizing Official)

Select

Committee on Assassinations

.........--.-----n--+--.

(Title - If Member, District and State)

All appointments.and.salary adjustments.for. employees under.the House. Classification: Act.and for.Committee em

ployees, except those.of the.Committee:on.Appropriations; the Committee. on the Budget; and.the Joint Committees;.must

be.approved by the Committee:on House: Administration:.:

APPROVED:

Chairman, Committee on House Administration •

Office of Finance use. only:

Office Code.

Monthly Annuity S

.00

bas

Mort

3/21

Copy for Initiating Office or Committee

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 11

---

## Page 12

"GPO: 1975 0=57-255

PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

(Please Use Typewriter

or Ballpoint Pen)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C. 20515

(Any erasures, corrections, or changes

on this form must be initialed by the

authorizing official.)

To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

Effective Date

James M

Chenoweth

Employee Social Security Number

1/3/77

Type of Action

081 12 1326

Employing Office or Committee

* Appointment

• Salary Adjustment

I Termination (At close of business on effective date):

Select Committee on Assassinations

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.)

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

Staft. Investigator

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.)

5,20, 964.00

LESS ANNUITY $19,764:00

1. EJ Standing Committee. Staff - [ Clerical or Professional.

2y Special or Select Committee: Authority - H. Res Res-222

0195th - Congress.

3. La Joint Committee:

(If Employee of an Officer of the House, complete item below.)

Position Number

If applicable, Level

Step

certity that this authorization is not in violation of 5 USC, 3110(b), prohibiting the employment of

relatives

Date

19

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

Henry B. Gonzalez

(Type or print nome of Authorizing Official)

Chairman

(Title - If Member; District and State)

All appointments and salary adjustments for employees under the House Classification Act and for Committee em-

ployees, except those of the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Committees, must

be approved by the Committee on House Administration

APPROVED:

Chairman, Committee on House Administration

Office of Finance use only:

Office Code

Monthly Annuity $

WWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 12

.00

Copy for Initiating Office or Committee

---

## Page 13

PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

Please Use Typewriter

or Ballpoint Pen)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C. 20515

(Any erasures, corrections, or changes

on this form must be initialed by the.

authorizing official.)

To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following. payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

Chonowsth

Employee Social Security Number

007 72 0326

Effective Date

Type of Action

Employing Office or Committee

• Appointment.

# Salary Adjustment

• Termination (At close of business on effective date)

Solace Concisted on Assassinations

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.)

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

920,130,

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.)

1.

_ Standing Committee: Staff - Clerical or 2 Professional.

2. 1 Special or Select Committee: Authority.H. Res._

3.7

_of_2512 Congress.

3. L Joint Committee.

(If Employee of an Officer of the House, complete item below.)

Position Number_.

If applicable, Level._

Step_.

I certify that this authorization is not in violation of 5 U.S.C. 3110(b), prohibiting: the

employment of

- relatives.

Date_

., 19

77

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

Henry E.

Am22122

(Type or print name of Authorizing Official)

Chairmos

(Title - If Member, District and State)

All appointments and salary adjustments for employees under the House Classification Act and for Committee em: "

ployees, except those of the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Committees, must

be approved by fhe Committee on. House Administration..

APPROVED:

Chairman, Committee on House Administration

Office of Finance use only:

Offree Code:

Monthly Annuity $

.00

Copy for Initiating Office, or Committee

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 13

---

## Page 14

' PAYROLL AUTHORIZATION FORM

(Please Use Typewriter

or Ballpoint Pen)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C. 20515

To the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

I hereby authorize the following payroll action:

Employee Name (First-Middle-Last)

Jales K. Chenotech

Employee Social Security Number

(Any erasures, corrections, or changes

on this form must be initialed by the

authorizing official.)

Effective Date

1/1/77

Type of Action

Employing Office or Committee

Sclect Committce

on Assassinacions

K Appointment

• Salary Adjustment

• Termination (At close of business on effective date)

(If type of action is an Appointment or Salary Adjustment, complete the following information.) -

Position Title

Gross Annual Salary

Stafe Investigator

320,000

(If Committee Employee, complete appropriate item below.)

1. Standing Committee: Staff -• Clerical or [ Professional.

2. *E Special or Select Committee: Authority-H. Res.310

_ of 2th Congress:

3. I Joint Committee.

(If Employee of an Officer, of the House, complete item below.)

Position Number_.

• If applicable, Level-

Step_

I certify that this authorization is: not in violation of 5. U:S:C. 3110(b), prohibiting the employment of

relatives.

Date -

Decencer

30

., 19%

(Signature of Authorizing Official)

Trob-as: fa Downing, Choistian

(Type or print name of Authorizing Official)

Select comritoee on assassinacions

-=--—----

(Title - If Member, District and State)

All.appointments.and salary adjustments.for employees. under.the-House Classification-Act. and.for_Committee em=

ployees; except. those of the Committee on: Appropriations; the: Committee on the: Budget, and the Joint Committees, must

be approved by the Committee on House Administration.

APPROVED:

Chairman, Committee on House Administration

Office of Finance use only:

Office Code

Monthly Annuity S_.

.00

Copy for Initiating Office or Committee.

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 14

---

## Page 15

C

MEMORANDUM

TO: All Staff Employees

FROM: Budget Officer

DATE: January 3, 1977

RE:

Payroll Certification

Starting with the January, 1977 payroll, the certification

to the House Finance Office requires, among other things, the

relationship, if any, of each staff employee to any current

Member of Congress (those taking office January 3, 1977).

The following are the relationships to be included in

the certification:

father

mother

son

daughter

brother

sister

uncle

aunt

first cousin

nephew

niece

husband

wife

father-in-law

mother-in-law

son-in-law

daughter-in-law

brother-in-law

sister-in-law

stepfather

stepmother

stepbrother

stepsister

half-brother

half-sister

All staff employees are requested to complete this

form and return it to the Budget officer.

Approved

Richard A. Sprague

I am not related

fI am related by the following relationship

James of. Cheroweth

ignature of Employee

January

10,

1977

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 15

---

## Page 16

Select Committee on Assassinations

W.S. House of Representatites

949-4419

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515

Dim Chino with

M.Y.CortyI.A.off

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 16

---

## Page 17

James H. Chenoweth

13122 lurkey Branch Parkway

Rockville, Maryland 20853

Oct. 9, 1976

Richard Sprague

Director, House Select Committee

1622 Locust Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19103

Dear Mr. Sprague:

You've undertaken quite a task. I think I can be of

use to you and

I hope you'll agree.

As my

attached resume shows, I have considerable

practical as well as executive experience, not only

in investigating homicides and conspiracies (real or

imagined) but in effectively handling problems that

involve delicate interagency relationships.

I retired from Federal service a little over a year

ago because my retirement would have been mandatory

within a few years anyway and there seemed no purpose

in marking time until then; I am now working as a

have no cloud over me and

was cleared for Top Secret at the time I retired. My

ability and reputation are well known to various

officials within Treasury law enforcement circles

including the Commissioner of Customs. As an ex-

Treasury investigator I can be objective about both

and the CIA; as an ex-Internal Security

Inspector I have lived with the problems of inform-

ation leaks and unethical disclosures. My retirement

status would allow me to work at a minimal salary and

for a fixed period of time.

I hope I have said enough to interest you; I can supply

additional details or discuss the matter with you at

your convenience. But even if you are not interested,

I have a suggestion which might be helpful to your

future inquiries: After the assassination of President

Kennedy, some witnesses claimed to have heard shots

fired

from somewhere other than Oswald's location.

There is a phenomenon called the "bow wave report" in

which persons hearing riflefire from a high-velocity

weapon undergo a "hearing illusion"; they think the

shot came direction other than its actual origin. (The

attached reprint of an article I wrote some years ago

touches on the "bow wave report". )

NW 68261

-Docld:32243289-Page-17

---

## Page 18

I don"t know whether the Warren Commission investi-

gators considered this phenomenon in their analysis

of witness statements; I have seen no mention of it

in any published material concerning their inquiry.

However the phenomenon can be tested and consideration

of it could resolve some of the questions that arose

from certain witness statements.

I hope I will hear from you. Whether I do or not,

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.

Sincerely,

James

Chenoweth

(301) 949-4419

Enclosures : 2

- 2 -

NW 68261

-Docld:32243289-Page 18

---

## Page 19

Resume of:

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

13122 Turkey Branch Parkway

Rockville, Maryland

20853

(301) 949-4419

I. PERSONAL DATA

- Born of missionary parents on Chinese-Tibetan border on

February 14, 1922

- Married 27 years; two grown children.

- Good physical condition; uses reading glasses.

- Currently holds Top Secret clearance.

- Honorably discharged from U, S. Army. Served during World War II

as combat engineer and paratrooper.

- Enjoys photography, camping, canoeing.

II. EXPERIENCE

1/52 - 1/54

1/54 - 6/62

6/62 - 8/65

8/65 - 10/68

- Police officer, detective, undercover agent with

Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage, Alaska.

- Chief Deputy I. S, Marshal in Alaska with law

enforcement duties comparable to a State Police

agency. Handled recruitment, training, budget,:

processing of prisoners, supervision of investi-

gations (Incliding homicide, rape, robbery, em-

bezzlement, assault with dangerous weapon and

similar offenses.) Acted as Deputy Coroner.

Taught law enforcement training within agencies

and in Anchorage Community College.

- Internal Security Inspector, Treasury Department,

conducting investigations of bribery, embezzlement,

attempts to cörrupt Federal personnel.

- Internal Security Inspector, National Office,

responsible for developing and conducting training

programs, writing technical manuals, researching

data, and inspecting the operation of Internal

Security field offices.

10/68 - 11/69 - Staff Assistant to Assistant Commissioner, conducting

special studies relating to management aspects of

Internal Security operations.

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 19

---

## Page 20

- 2 -

11/69 - 2/71

- Senior Inspector, Internal Security Division,

supervising training programs, research projects,

technical issuances, manpower allocation, grade

structure analyses, and field Inspections.

2/71 - 7/73

- Executive Assistant to Director, Internal Security

Division, acting as consultant, researcher and

advisor on all Internal Security management activity.

7/73 - 7/74

- Chief of Investigations Branch, Internal Security

Division, directly responsible for sensitive inves-

tigations involving activities of high level Federal

personnel.

7/74 - present- Acting Assistant Director, Internal Security Division,

responsible for assisting in all phases of leadership,

direction and coordination of the planning, develop-

ment and execution of the Internal Security program.

III. PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Contributor to Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police

Science and to Pacific Northwest Law Enforcement & News.

- Past president and life member Alaska Peace Officers Association.

- Member of American Society of Criminology•

- Conducted weekly TV series (The Hidden Beat) on law enforcement.

- Recipient of Alaska Press Club Award for public service,

- Recipient of Federal High Quality Award and Special Performance

Award.

- Recipient of various commendatory letters from U. S. Attorneys,

U. S. District Judge, Federal Grand Jury and other officials.

IV. EDUCATION

- Attended Georgia School of Technology 3/43 - 1/44 under Army

Specialized Training Program.

- Attended Columbia College 9/46 - 8/49 as liberal arts student;

all requirements for degree fulfilled except foreign language.

V. ADDENDUM

- Personal references upon request.

- Retiring July 31, 1975, after 26 years of Federal service, retire-

ment mandatory by January, 1978.

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 20

---

## Page 21

Resume of :

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

13122 Turkey Branch Parkway

Rockville, Maryland 20853

(301) 949-4419

I. PERSONAL DATA

- Born of missionary parents on Chinese-Tibetan border on

February 14, 1922

- Married 27 years; two grown children.

- Good physical condition; uses reading glasses.

- Currently holds Top Secret clearance.

- Honorably discharged from U. S. Army.

Served during World War II

as combat engineer and paratrooper.

- Enjoys photography, camping, canoeing.

II. EXPERIENCE

1/52 - 1/54

1/54 - 6/62

6/62 - 8/65

8/65 - 10/68

- Police officer, detective, undercover agent with

Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage, Alaska.

- Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal in Alaska with law

enforcement duties comparable to a State Police

agency. Handled recruitment, training, budget,

processing of prisoners, supervision of investi-

gations (including homicide, rape, robbery, em-

bezzlement, assault with dangerous weapon and

similar offenses.) Acted as Deputy Coroner.

Taught law enforcement training within agencies

and in Anchorage Community College.

- Internal Security Inspector, Treasury Department,

conducting investigations of bribery, embezzlement,

attempts to cörrupt Federal personnel.

- Internal Secutity Inspector, National Office,

responsible for developing and conducting training

programs, writing technical manuals, researching

data, and inspecting the operation of Internal

Security field offices.

10/68 - 11/69 - Staff Assistant to Assistant Commissioner, conducting

special studies relating to management aspects of

Internal Security operations.

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 21

---

## Page 22

- 2 -

11/69 - 2/71 - Senior Inspector, Internal Security Division,

supervising training programs, research projects,

technical issuances, manpower allocation, grade

structure analyses, and field inspections.

2/71 - 7/73

- Executive Assistant to Director, Internal Security

Division, acting as consultant, researcher and

advisor on all Internal Security management activity.

7/73 - 7/74

- Chief of Invéstigations Branch, Internal Security

Division, directly. responsible

for sensiiive inves-

tigations involving activities of high level Federal

personnel.

7/74 - present- Acting Assistant Director, Internal Security Division,

responsible for assisting in all phases of leadership,

direction and coordination of the planning, develop-

ment and execution of the Internal Security program.

III. PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Contributor to Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police

Science and to Pacific Northwest Law Enforcement & News.

- Past president and life member Alaska Peace Officers Association.

- Member of American Society of Criminology.

- Conducted weekly TV series (The Hidden Beat) on law enforcement.

- Recipient of Alaska Press Club Award for public service,

- Recipient of Federal High Quality Award and Special Performance

Award.

- Recipient of various comnendatory letters from U.S. Attorneys,

U. S. District Judge, Federal Grand Jury and other officials.

IV

EDUCATION

- Attended Georgia School of Technology 3/43 - 1/44 under Army

Specialized Training Program.

- Attended Columbia College 9/46 - 8/49 as liberal arts student;

all requirements for degree fulfilled except foreign language.

V. ADDENDUM

- Personal references upon request.

- Retiring July 31, 1975, after 26 years of Federal service: retire-

ment mandatory by January, 1978.

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 22

---

## Page 23

MEMO TO FILE

FROM:

Sprague

DATE: December 23, 1976

RE :

James H. Chenoweth

Spoke to him today about a position as Acting Security

Chief at a

salary of $28,000.-- although I told him that

ultimately he may not remain in that position as I may

want him to work on the Kennedy investigation.

He said he wanted to speak to his wife about it and that

he would get back to me Monday.

let

Hile e pension

memo

Investigaten 1 frk

bgl

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 23

---

## Page 24

Reprinted from

THE JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE

Vol. 51. No. 3, September-October 1960

Printed in U.S.A.

POLICE TRAINING INVESTIGATES THE FALLIBILITY OF THE EYE WITNESS

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

James H. Chenoweth is Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal, Anchorage, Alaska, and a past-president of

the Alaska's Peace Officers Association. Shortly after his arrival in Alaska in 1951 Mr. Chenoweth

was appointed to the Alaska Police Department as a patrolman and detective, and in January 1954

assumed his present position. Prior to Alaskan statehood U. S. Marshals and their deputies were

charged with the responsibility of enforcing Alaskan law as well as Federal law and in this capacity

operated as a police unit. Among its other activities the Alaska's Peace Officers Association has con-

ducted several training programs at Anchorage one of which is described in this article.— EDITOR.

A few weeks ago one of the local newspapers in

ject in their advanced training program called

Anchorage, Alaska, carried a brief item under a

"Scientific Approaches to Investigation" which

photograph depicting a joyous young man who-

was available to all local police officers. For those

according to the story-had just regained his

who attended, the course itself produced some

freedom after having been erroneously identified by

thought-provoking results.

five witnesses as the person who had committed a

Our first session began with a brief introduction

crime in their presence; a fortuitous confession by

to Sigmund Freud's three famous lectures on the

the real criminal had clarified the error. While the

psychology of human errors. We discussed the

memory of this incident still nagged at a corner of

basic mechanisms involved in making slips-of-the-

his mind, this writer happened to read (in Harry

tongue, slips-of-the-pen, in mis-reading, mis-hear-

Soderman's fascinating

autobiography,

ing, forgetting, and in mis-laying things. The ob-

man's Lot) of a case in which some burglars at-

servation of insignificant human errors is of as

tempted to blow open the safe in a small country

a police officer as it is to a

post office; failing to open it with the first blast,

psychoanalyst. An understanding of such errors

they blew it a second time. During both explosions

must include a knowledge of the physiological

the postmaster and his family of four snored away

processes that allow errors to be committed, so we

peacefully upstairs in the far-from-soundproof

went on to discuss fatigue, illness, excitement, dis-

frame house.

tractions, medication,

and alcohol, and the part

The conjunction

of. these two incidents

re-

each of these plays in human errors.

focused attention upon the difficulties facing police

Epistemologists frequently remind us that we

officers who must evaluate the accuracy of witness

are all caught in the "solipsistic predicament," a

testimony. It is one thing to disprove the state-

term embracing the theory that all external data

ments of a witness who deliberately lies; it is quite

comes to us only through our senses; the "predica-

a different thing to extract the factual truth from

ment" exists because the limitations of our senses

statements of witnesses who are honestly mistaken

also limit our knowledge and our awareness of ex-

in what they think they see or hear. Any police

Police officers and witnesses alike are

officer confronted with the seeming impossibility of

subject to these limitations.

a family of five actually sleeping through two dy-

In our course this theory was illustrated graphi-

namite explosions has our sympathy, as does any

cally. We started by passing around paper bags

officer whose case is shattered when the testimony

containing various objects which the students were

of five eye witnesses is proven wrong. The best

to identify by touch alone, each student using his

safeguard for officers today is a constant awareness

weakest hand. Vials containing different liquids

of the fallibility of the "eyeball witness",

, an aware-

were handed out to be identified by taste alone,

ness that is tempered by understanding some of the

each student being requested to pinch his nostrils

factors causing fallibility. This was the approach

while swallowing. Still other materials were to be

used

by the Alaska Peace Officers Association

identified by aroma alone. At this point we dis-

when they included a six-hour course on this sub-

cussed briefly the problems created by individual

378

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 24

19601

interpretations of

"bitter " "strong »,

edge of semantics is

must work from th

nesses.

About ninety pe

comes to us throug

ing. Reliability stu

worth our attentic

Gehee made a reli

accuracy of 740 pe

an unfamiliar voice

had elapsed after th

indicated that appr

of the listeners were

ing intervals that

beyond that point t

rect identification.

Problems frequen

cers who must dete

they are especially

gunfire. A high-velo

bow-wave in front

listener with a sou

wave originates fro

gunshot itself, the li

before he hears th

taken; confusing t

gunshot report, he

cerning the source o

To illustrate som

asked the students 1

a variety of sounds

ferent locations, incl

their eyes still closec

to the source of th

their eyes, the variet

the point home. Thi

if different sounds :

asked to identify ti

police officers could

sound of a gun beir

cigarette lighter.

Visio-errors cause

than any other forr

duced this topic by d

vision, color-blindn

limiting distance

Rohrschach tests. 1

contained numerous

each student to com

---

## Page 25

19601

FALLIBILITY OF THE EYE WITNESS

379

interpretations of general terms such as "sweet,"

At this stage in our course, we digressed a bit

"bitter," "strong," "faint," "sharp;" some knowl-

and began relating the many psychological tests

edge of semantics is beneficial to a peace officer who

that have been sprung upon unwary students by

must work from the descriptive terms used by wit-

having an unannounced incident occur in the class-

nesses.

room about which the students are later ques-

About ninety per cent of what we experience

tioned. With the element of surprise, it is not too

comes to us through the organs of sight and hear-

difficult to force someone to commit a human error.

ing. Reliability studies in both of these areas are

But this type of test does little to remove from the

worth our attention. For example, Frances Mc-

student's mind the thought that he would not have

Gehee made a reliability study to determine the

made an error had he not been either concentrating

accuracy of 740 people who attempted to identify

on the lecture or subjected to the bewilderment of

an unfamiliar voice after various intervals of time

surprise. To remove this doubt, thus emphasizing

had elapsed after they heard the voice. This study

our discussions even more strongly, we announced

indicated that approximately eighty-three percent

that the students were about to witness a skit that

of the listeners were able to identify the voice dur-

would be enacted in front of the class. We in-

ing intervals that extended up to two weeks, but

structed the students to take positions where they

beyond that point there was a notable drop in cor-

could see clearly everything that occurred. Al-

rect identification.

though they were specifically prohibited from

Problems frequently arise for investigating offi-

taking notes during the skit, we warned them that

cers who must determine the source of sound, and

at the end of the session they would be handed

they are especially troublesome in cases involving

questionnaires to take home and answer before

gunfire. A high-velocity bullet in flight builds up a

coming back to class the next week. Because these

bow-wave in front of it which assaults the ear of a

questionnaires required information about the skit,

listener with a sound-impact. Because this bow-

the students were warned to watch closely and re-

wave originates from a different location than the

member accurately.

gunshot itself, the listener who hears the bow-wave

The skit was relatively simple in plot. A masked

before he hears the gunshot may easily be mis-

man entered the classroom, carrying a suitcase and

taken; confusing the bow-wave report with the

flashlight. He placed the suitcase on a chair, exam-

gunshot report, he may honestly be in error con-

ined the adjacent area with the flashlight, took a

cerning the source of the gunfire.

tobacco canister from a table-top and placed it in

To illustrate some of these audio-problems, we

the suitcase. Then he erased a drawing of a safe on

asked the students to close their eyes and listen to

the blackboard and re-drew it so that the safe door

a variety of sounds which were produced from dif-

was open. Next, he took a drink from one of two

ferent locations, including up near the ceiling. With

bottles on the desk, closed the suitcase, placed the

their eyes still closed, they were requested to point

fashlight in his pocket, and left the room. A clock

to the source of the sounds. When they opened

stood ostentatiously on the desk; by its mechan-

their eyes, the variety of directions indicated drove

ism, the entire skit took approximately two min-

the point home. This test is made more interesting

utes.

if different sounds are used and the students are

The next twenty minutes were spent in discuss-

asked to identify them. Some of our experienced

ing other aspects of visio-error, during which time

police officers could not distinguish between the

the skit was not mentioned at all. The question-

sound of a gun being cocked and the sound of a

naires were handed out; students were asked to

cigarette lighter.

fill them out without additional help from other

Visio-errors cause more trouble for police officers

students: The class was dismissed.

than any other form of sensory data. We intro-

• A week later, twenty-seven questionnaires were

duced this töpic by discussing retinal fatigue, night-

collected at the beginning of the class. Although

vision, color-blindness, Vincent's Rule on the

the questionnaire had been designed to fulfill a

limiting distance for visual

recognition, and

number of purposes not pertinent to this article,

Rohrschach tests. Using visual aid

cards which

some of the questions were simple, direct, and un-

contained

numerous optical illusions, we helped

ambiguous. Oddly enough, the answers to these

each student to commit his own "eyeball error."

questions caused the greatest consternation when

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 25

---

## Page 26

380

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

• . IVol, 51

they were tabulated. The following is a sample of

what we found:

1. What time did the skit begin?—The answers

covered a time-span of twenty-five minutes.

(One officer stated he did not know because

he had no watch, apparently overlooking both

the clock on the desk and the one that hung

on the classroom wall.)

2. How long did theskit take?—Answers covered

a span of two to fifteen minutes.

3. What did the burglar wear for a mask?—27

8. When, in the course of the action, did he open

the suitcase?-Only 16 correct answers out

of 27.

9. When, in the course of the action, did he look

at his wrist watch?-Only 10 correct answers

The moral of this story was obvious. The stu-

dents who attended our advanced training program

were experienced police officers from a variety of

police and enforcement agencies. Attending this

course of their own volition, they manitested a

healthy and intelligent attitude toward their police

4. What did he carry in his right hand when he

responsibilities. This experiment, limited in nature

entered?-Only 10 correct answers out of 27.

and not without some flaws in its own structure,

5. What did he carry in his left hand when he

-seemed to indicate rather strongly that many po-

entered?-Only 8 correct answers out of 27.

lice officers have not developed the ability to see

6. What did he carry in his right hand when he

accurately, or remember with clarity what they

left the room?—Only 17 correct answers out

have seen. Carried out under circumstances which

eliminated the element of surprise and focused at-

7. What did he carry in his left hand when he

left the room?—Only 1 correct answer out of

27.

tention upon the skit itself, we can only conclude

that at least this aspect of police training needs

further encouragement from our agencies.

NVV 68261

Docld:32243289

Page 26

---

## Page 27

Octo 9, 1976

Richard Sprague

Director, House Select Committee

1622 Locust Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19103

Dear Nr. Sprague:

You've undertaken quite a task. I think I can be of

use to you and I hope you'll agree.

As my attached resume shows, I have considerable

practical as well as executive experience, not only

in investigating homicides and conspiracies (real or

imagined, but in effectively handling problems that

involve delicate interagency relationships.

I retired from Federal service a little over a year

ago because my retirement would have been mandatory

within a few years anyway and there seemed no purpose

in marking time until then; I am now working as a

free lance photographer. I have no cloud over me and

was cleared for Top Secret at the time I retired. My

ability and reputation are well know to various

officials within Treasury lae enforcement circles

including the Commissioner of Customs. As an ex-

Treasury investigator I can be objective about both

the FBI and the CIA; as an ex-Internal Security

Inspector I have lived with the problems of inform-

ation leaks and unethical disclosures. ly retirement

status would allow me to work at a mininal salary and

for a fixed period of time.

your convenience. But even if you are not interested

I have a suggestion which might be helpful to your

After the assassination of President

Kennedy, some witnesses claimed to have heard shots

fired from somewhere other than Oswald's location.

There is a phenomenon called the "bow wave report" in

which persons hearing riflefire from a high-velocity

touches on the "bow wave report"*)

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 27

---

## Page 28

I don't know whether the Warren Commission investi

gators considered this phenomenon in their analysis

os winess statements; I have seen no mention of it

in any published material concerning their inquiry.

However the phenomenon can be tested and consideration

of it could resolve some of the questions

that arose

from certain witness statements.

Whether I do or not,

in your endeavor.

Sincerely,

James H. Chenoweth

(301) 949-4419

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 28

---

## Page 29

Reprinted from

THE JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE

Vol. 51. No. 3, September-October 1960

Printed in U.S.A.

POLICE TRAINING INVESTIGATES THE FALLIBILITY OF THE EYE WITNESS

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

James H. Chenoweth is Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal, Anchorage, Alaska, and a past-president of

the Alaska's Peace Officers Association. Shortly after his arrival in Alaska in 1951 Mr. Chenoweth

was appointed to the Alaska Police Department as a patrolman and detective, and in January 1954

assumed his present position. Prior to Alaskan statehood U. S. Marshals and their deputies were

charged with the responsibility of enforcing Alaskan law as well as Federal law and in this capacity

operated as a police unit. Among its other activities the Alaska's Peace Officers Association has con-

ducted several training programs at Anchorage one of which is described in this article.— EDIToR.

A few weeks ago one of the local newspapers in

ject in their advanced training program called

Anchorage, Alaska, carried a brief item under a

"Scientific Approaches to Investigation" which

photograph depicting a joyous young man who-

was available to all local police officers. For those

according to the story-had just regained his

who attended, the course itself produced some

freedom after having been erroneously identified by

thought-provoking results.

five witnesses as the person who had committed a

Our first session began with a brief introduction

crime in their presence; a fortuitous confession by

to Sigmund Freud's three famous lectures on the

the real criminal had clarified the error. While the

psychology of human errors. We discussed the

memory of this incident still nagged at a corner of

basic mechanisms involved in making slips-of-the-

his mind, this writer happened to read (in Harry

tongue, slips-of-the-pen, in mis-reading, mis-hear-

Soderman's fascinating autobiography,

Police-

ing, forgetting, and in mis-laying things. The ob-

man's Lot) of a case in which some burglars at-

servation of insignificant human errors is of as

tempted to blow open the safe in a small country

much assistance to a police officer as it is to a

post office; failing to open it with the first blast,

psychoanalyst. An understanding of such errors

they blew it a second time. During both explosions

must include a knowledge of the physiological

the postmaster and his family of four snored away

processes that allow errors to be committed, so we

peacefully upstairs in the far-from-soundproof

went on to discuss fatigue, illness, excitement, dis-

frame house.

tractions, medication, and alcohol, and the part

The conjunction of these

two incidents re-

each of these plays in human errors.

focused attention upon the difficulties facing police

Epistemologists frequently remind us that we

officers who must evaluate the accuracy of witness

are all caught in the

"solipsistic predicament," a

testimony. It is one thing to disprove the state-

term embracing the theory that all external data

ments of a witness who deliberately lies; it is quite

comes to us only through our senses; the "predica-

a different thing to extract the factual truth from

ment exists because the limitations of our senses

statements of witnesses who are honestly mistaken

also limit our knowledge and our awareness of ex-

in what they think they see or hear. Any police

periences. Police officers and witnesses alike are

officer confronted with the seeming impossibility of

subject to these limitations.

a family of five actually sleeping through two dy-

In our course this theory was illustrated graphi-

namite explosions has our sympathy, as does any

cally. We started by passing around paper bags

officer whose case is shattered when the testimony

containing various objects which the students were

of five eye witnesses is proven wrong. The best

to identify by touch alone, each student using his

safeguard for officers today is a constant awareness

weakest hand. Vials containing different liquids

of the fallibility of the "eyeball witness", an aware-

were handed out to be identified by taste alone,

ness that is tempered by understanding some of the

each student being requested to pinch his nostrils

factors causing fallibility, This was the approach

while swallowing. Still other materials were to be

used by the Alaska Peace Officers Association

identified by aroma alone. At this point we dis-

when they included a six-hour course on this sub-

cussed briefly the problems created by individual

378

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 29

---

## Page 30

1960]

FALLIBILITY. OF THE EYE WITNESS

379

interpretations of general terms such as "sweet,"

At this stage in our course, we digressed a bit

"bitter," "strong," "faint," "sharp;" some knowl-

and began relating the many psychological tests

edge of semantics is beneficial to a peace officer who

that have been sprung upon unwary students by

must work from the descriptive terms used by wit-

having an unannounced incident occur in the class-

nesses.

room about which the students are later ques-

About ninety per cent of what we experience

tioned. With the element of surprise, it is not too

comes to us through the organs of sight and hear-

difficult to force someone to commit a human error.

ing. Reliability studies in both of these areas are

But this type of test does little to remove from the

worth our attention. For example, Frances Mc-

student's mind the thought that he would not have

Gehee made a reliability study to determine the

made an error had he not been either concentrating

accuracy of 740 people who attempted to identify

on the lecture or subjected to the bewilderment of

an unfamiliar voice after various intervals of time

surprise. To remove this doubt, thus emphasizing

had elapsed after they heard the voice. This study

our discussions even more strongly, we announced

indicated that approximately eighty-three percent

that the students were about to witness a skit that

of the listeners were able to identify the voice dur-

would be enacted in front of the class. We in-

ing intervals that extended up to two weeks, but

structed the students to take positions where they

beyond that point there was a notable drop in cor-

could see clearly everything that occurred. Al-

rect identification.

though they were specifically prohibited from

Problems frequently arise for investigating offi-

taking notes during the skit, we warned them that

cers who must determine the source of sound, and

at the end of the session they would be handed

they are especially troublesome in cases involving

questionnaires to take home and answer before

gunfire. A high-velocity bullet in flight builds up a

coming back to class the next week. Because these

bow-wave in front of it which assaults the ear of a

questionnaires required information about the skit,

listener with a sound-impact. Because this bow-

the students were warned to watch closely and re-

wave originates from a different location than the

member accurately.

gunshot itself, the listener who hears the bow-wave

The skit was relatively simple in plot. A masked

before he hears the gunshot may easily be mis-

man entered the classroom, carrying a suitcase and

taken; confusing the bow-wave report with the

flashlight. He placed the suitcase on a chair, exam-

gunshot report, he may honestly be in error con-

ined the adjacent area with the flashlight, took a

cerning the source of the gunfire.

tobacco canister from a table-top and placed it in

To illustrate some of these audio-problems, we

the suitcase. Then he erased a drawing of a safe on

asked the students to close their eyes and listen to

the blackboard and re-drew it so that the safe door

a variety of sounds which were produced from dif-

was open. Next, he took a drink from one of two

ferent locations, including up near the ceiling. With

bottles on the desk, closed the suitcase, placed the

their eyes still closed, they were requested to point

flashlight in his pocket, and left the room. A clock

to the source of the sounds. When they opened

stood ostentatiously on the desk; by its mechan-

their eyes, the variety of directions indicated drove

ism, the entire skit took approximately two min-

the point home. This test is made more interesting

utes.

if different sounds are used and the students are

The next twenty minutes were spent in discuss-

asked to identify them. Some of our experienced

ing other aspects of visio-error, during which time

police officers could not distinguish between the the skit was not mentioned at all. The question-

sound of a gun being cocked and the sound of a

naires were handed out; students were asked to

• cigarette lighter.

Visio-errors cause more trouble for police officers

fill them out without additional help from other

, students. The class was dismissed.

than any

other form of sensory data. We intro-

A week later, twenty-seven questionnaires were

duced this topic by discussing retinal fatigue, night- collected at the beginning of the class. Although

vision, color-blindness, Vincent's Rule on the

the questionnaire had been designed to fulfill a

limiting distance for visual recognition; and

number of purposes not pertinent to this article,

Rohrschach tests. Using visual aid cards which

some of the questions were simple, direct, and un-

contained numerous optical illusions, we helped

ambiguous. Oddly enough, the answers to these

each student to commit his own "eyeball error."

questions caused the greatest consternation when

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 30

---

## Page 31

380

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

[Vol. 51

they were tabulated. The following is a sample of

what we found:

1. What time did the skit begin?-The answers

covered a time-span of twenty-five minutes.

(One officer stated he did not know because

he had no watch, apparently overlooking both

the clock on the desk and the one that hung

on the classroom wall.)

2. How long did theskit take?—Answers covered

a span of two to fifteen minutes.

3. What did the burglar wear for a mask?—27

correct answers.

• 4. What did he carry in his right hand when he

entered?-Only 10 correct answers out of 27.

5. What did he carry in his left hand when he

entered?-Only 8 correct answers out of 27.

6. What did he carry in his right hand when he

left the room?—Only 17 correct answers out

of 27.

7. What did he carry in his left hand when he

left the room?—Only 1 correct answer out of

27.

8. When, in the course of the action, did he open

the suitcase?-Only 16 correct answers out

of 27.

9. When, in the course of the action, did he look

at his wrist watch?-Only 10 correct answers

out of 27.

The moral of this story was obvious. The stu-

dents who attended our advanced training program

were experienced police officers from a variety of

police and enforcement agencies. Attending this

course of their own volition, they manifested a

healthy and intelligent attitude toward their police

responsibilities. This experiment, limited in nature

and not without some flaws in its own structure,

seemed to indicate rather strongly that many po-

lice officers have not developed the ability to see

accurately, or remember with clarity. what they

lave seen. Carried out under circumstances which

eliminated the element of surprise and focused at-

tention upon the skit itself, we can only conclude

that at least this aspect of police training needs

further encouragement from our agencies.

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 31

---

## Page 32

Best image possible.

MEMO TO FILE

FROM: Sprague

DATE: December 23, 1976

RE:

James H. Chenoweth

Spoke to him today about a position as Acting Security

Chief at a salary of $28,000 -- although I told him that

ultimately he may not remain in that position as I may

want him to work on the Kennedy investigation.

He said he wanted to speak to his wife about it and that

he would get back to me Monday•

1/26

bgl

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 32

---

## Page 33

, chi

Oct. 9, 1976

Richard Sprague

Director, House Select Committee

1622 Locust Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19103

Dear Vir. Spragues

You've undertaken quite a task. I think I can be of

use to you and I hope you"ll agree.

As my attached resume shows. I have considerable

practical as well as executive experience, not only

in investigating homicides and conspiracies (real or

imagined) but in effectively handing problems that

involve delicate interagency relationships.

I retired irom Federal service a little over a year

ago because my retirement would have been mandatory

within a few years anyway and there seemed no purpose

in marking time until then; I am now working as a

Iree lance photographer. I have no cloud over me and

was cleared for Top Secret at the time I retired. My

ability and reputation are well known to various

officials within Ireasury law enforcement circles

including the Commissioner of Customs. As an ex-

Treasury investigator I can be objective about both

the FBI and the CIA; as an ex-Internal Security

Inspector I have lived, with the problems of inform-

ation leaks and unethical disclosures. My retirement

status would allow me to work at a minimal salary and

for a fixed period of time.

I hope I have said enough to interest you; I can supply

additional details or discuss the matter with you at

your convenience. But even if you are not interested,

I have a suggestion which might be helpful to your

future inquiries: After the assassination of President

Kennedy, some witnesses claimed to have heard shots

fired from somewhere other than Oswald's location.

There is a phenomenon called the "bow wave report" in

which persons hearing riflefire from a high-velocity

weapon undergo a "hearing illusion"; they think the

shot came direction other than its actual origin. (The

attached reprint of an article I wrote some years ago

touches on the "bow wave report".)

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 33

---

## Page 34

I don't know whether the Warren Commission investi-

gators considered this phenomenon in their analysis

of witness statements; I have seen no mention of it

in any published material concerning their inquiry.

However the phenomenon can be tested and consideration

of it could resolve some of the questions that arose

from certain witness statements.

I hope I will hear irom you. Whether I do or not,

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.

Sincerely;

James H. Chenoweth

(301) 949-4419

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 34

---

## Page 35

Reprinted from

THE JOURVAL OF CRIMINAL

LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE

Vol. 51. No. 3, September-Oetober 1060

Printed in U.S.1.

POLICE TRAINING INVESTIGATES THE FALLIBILITY OF THE EYE WITNESS

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

James H. Chenoweth is Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal, Anchorage, Alaska, and a past-president of

the Alaska's Peace Officers Association. Shortly after his arrival in Alaska in 1951 Mr. Chenoweth

was appointed to the Alaska Police Department as a patrolman and detective, and in January 1954

assumed his present position. Prior to Alaskan statehood U. S. Marshals and their deputies were

charged with the responsibility of enforcing Alaskan law as well as Federal law and in this capacity

operated as a police unit. Among its other activities the Alaska's Peace Officers Association has con-

ducted several training programs at Anchorage one of which is described in this article.— EDITor.

A few weeks ago one of the local newspapers in

ject in their advanced training program called

Anchorage, Alaska, carried a brief item under a

"Scientific Approaches to Investigation" which

photograph depicting a joyous young man who-

was available to all local police officers. For those

according to the story-had just regained his

who attended, the course itself produced some

freedoin after having been erroneously identifed by

thought-provoking results.

five witnesses as the person who had committed a

Our first session began with a brief introduction

crime in their presence; a fortuitous confession by

to Sigmund Freud's three famous lectures on the

the real criminal had clarified the error. While the

psychology of human errors. We discussed the

memory of this incident still nagged at a corner of

basic mechanisms involved in making slips-of-the-

his mind, this writer happened to read (in Harry

tongue, slips-of-the-pen, in mis-reading, mis-hear-

Soderman's fascinating autobiography, Police-

ing, forgetting, and in mis-laying things. The ob-

man's Lot) of a case in which some burglars at-

servation of insignificant human errors is of as

tempted to blow open the safe in a small country.

much assistance to a police officer as it is to a

post office; failing to open it with the first blast,

psychoanalyst. An understanding of such errors

they blew it a second time. During both explosions

must include a knowledge of the physiological

the postmaster and his family of four snored away

processes that allow errors to be committed, so we

peacefully upstairs in the far-from-soundproof

went on to discuss fatigue, illness, excitement, dis-

frame house.

tractions, medication, and alcohol, and the part.

The conjunction of these two incidents re-

each of these plays in human errors.

focused attention upon the difficulties facing police

Epistemologists frequently remind us that we

officers who must evaluate the accuracy of witness

are all caught in the "solipsistic predicament," a

testimony: It is one thing to disprove the state-

term embracing the theory that all external data

ments of a iitness who deliberately lies; it is quite

comes to us only through our senses; the "predica-

a different thing to extract the factual truth from

ment" exists because the limitations of our senses

statements of witnesses who are honestly mistaken

also limit our knowledge and our awareness of ex-

in what they think they see or hear. Any police

periences. Police ofticers and witnesses alike are

officer confronted with the seeming impossibility of

subject to these limitations.

a family of five actually sleeping through two dy-

In our course this theory was illustrated graphi-

namite explosions has our sympathy, as does any

cally. We started by passing around paper bags

ufficer whose case is shattered when the testimony

containing various objects which the students were

of five eye witnesses is proven wrong. The best

to identity by touch alone, each student using his

safeguard for officers today is a constant awareness

weakest hand. Vials containing different liquids

of the fallibility of the "eyeball witness",

, an aware-

were handed out to be identified by taste alone,

ness that is tempered by understanding some of the

each student being requested to pinch his nostrils

factors causing fallibility. This was the approach

while swallowing. Still other materials were to be

used by the Alaska Peace Officers Association

identified by aroma alone. At this point we dis-

when they included a six-hour course on this sub-

cussed briefly the problems created by individual

378

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 35

---

## Page 36

1960]

FALLIBILITY OF THE EYE WITNESS

379

interpretations of general terms such as "sweet,"

"bitter," "strong," "faint," "sharp;" some knowl-

edge of semantics is beneficial to a peace officer who

must work from the descriptive terms used by wit-

About ninety per cent of what we experience

comes to us through the organs of sight and hear-

ing. Reliability studies in both of these areas are

worth our attention. For example, Frances Mc-

Gehee made a reliability study to determine the

accuracy of 740 people who attempted to identify

an unfamiliar voice after various intervals of time

had elapsed after they heard the voice. This study

indicated that approximately eighty-three percent

of the listeners were able to identity the voice dur-

ing intervals that extended up to two weeks, but

beyond that point there was a notable drop in cor-

rect identification.

Problems frequently arise for investigating offi-

cers who must determine the source of sound, and

they are especially troublesome in cases involving

gunfire. A high-velocity bullet in flight builds up a

bow-wave in front of it which assaults the ear of a

listener with a sound-impact. Because this bow-

wave originates from a different location than the

gunshot itself, the listener who hears the bow-wave

before he hears the gunshot may easily be mis-

taken; confusing the bow-wave report with the

gunshot report, he may honestly be in error con-

cerning the source of the gunfire.

To illustrate some of these audio-problems, we

asked the students to close their eyes and listen to

a variety of sounds which were produced from dif-

ferent locations, including up near the ceiling. With

their eyes still closed, they were requested to point

to the source of the sounds. When they opened

their eyes, the variety of directions indicated drove

the point home. This test is made more interesting

if different sounds are used and the students are

asked to identify them. Some of our experienced

police officers could not distinguish between the

sound of a gun being cocked and the sound of a

cigarette lighter.

Visio-errors cause more trouble for police officers

than any other form of sensory data.

We intro-.

duced this topic by discussing retinal fatigue, night-

vision, color-blindness,

Vincent's Rule on the

limiting

visual

recognition, and

Rohrschach tests. Using visual aid cards which

contained numerous optical illusions, we helped

each student to commit his own "eyeball error."

At this stage in our course; we digressed a bit

and began relating the many psychological tests

that have been sprung upon unwary students by

having an unannounced incident occur in the class-

room about which the students are later ques-

tioned. With the element of surprise, it is not too

difficult to force someone to commit a human error.

But this type of test does little to remove from the

student's mind the thought that he would not have

made an error had he not been either concentrating

on the lecture or subjected to the bewilderment of

surprise. To remove this doubt, thus emphasizing

our discussions even more strongly, we announced

that the students were about to witness a skit that

would be enacted in front of the class. We in-

structed the students to take positions where they

could see clearly everything that occurred. Al-

though they were specifically: prohibited from

taking notes during the skit, we warned them that

at the end of the session they would be handed

questionnaires to take home and answer before

coming back to class the next week. Because these

questionnaires required information about the skit,

the students were warned to watch closely and re-

member accurately.

The skit was relatively simple in plot. A masked

man entered the classroom, carrying a suitcase and

flashlight. He placed the suitcase on a chair, exam-

ined the adjacent area with the flashlight, took a

tobacco canister from a table-top and placed it in

the suitcase. Then he erased a drawing of a safe on

the blackboard and re-drew it so that the safe door

was open. Next, he took a drink from one of two

jottles on the desk, closed the suitcase, placed the

flashlight in his pocket, and left the room. A clock

stood ostentatiously on the desk; by its mechan-

ism, the entire skit took approximately two min-

utes.

The next twenty minutes were spent in discuss-

ing other aspects of visio-error, during which time

the skit was not mentioned at all. The question-

naires were handed out; students were asked to

fill them out without additional help from other

students. The class was dismissed.

A week later, twenty-seven questionnaires were

collected at the beginning of the class. Although

the questionnaire had been designed to fulfill a

number of purposes not pertinent tu this article,

some of the questions were simple, direct, and un-

ambiguous. Oddly enough, the answers to these

questions caused the greatest consternation when

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 36

---

## Page 37

380

JAMES H. CHENOWETH

[Vol. 51

they were tabulated. The following is a sample of

what we found:

1. What time did the skit begin?—The answers

covered a time-span of twenty-five minutes.

(One officer stated he did not know because

he had no watch, apparently overlooking both

the clock on the desk and the one that hung

on the classroom wall.)

2. How long did theskit take?—Answers covered

a span of two to fifteen minutes.

3. What did the burglar wear for a mask?—27

correct answers.

4. What did he carry in his right hand when he

entered?-Only 10 correct answers out of 27.

5. What did he carry in his left hand when he

entered?-Only 8 correct answers out of 27.

6. What did he carry in his right hand when he

left the room?-Only 17 correct answers out

of 27.

7. What did he carry in his left hand when he

left the room?-Only 1 correct answer out of

8. When, in the course of the action, did he open

the suitcase?-Only 16 correct answers out

of 27.

9. When, in the course of the action, did he look

at his wrist watch?-Only 10 correct answers

out of 27.

The moral of this story was obvious. The stu-

dents who attended our advanced training program

were experienced police officers from a variety of

police and enforcement agencies. Attending this

course of their own volition, they manifested a

healthy and intelligent attitude toward their police

responsibilities. This experiment, limited in nature

and not without some flaws in its own structure,

seemed to indicate rather strongly that many po-

lice officers have not developed the ability to see

accurately, or remember with clarity what they

have seen. Carried out under circumstances which

eliminated the element of surprise and focused at-

tention upon the skit itself, we can only conclude

that at least this aspect of police training needs

further encouragement from our agencies.

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 37

---

## Page 38

28,ma

Octo 9, 1976

Richard Sprague

Director, House Select Committee

1622 Locust Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19103

Dear Mr. Spragues

You've undertaken quite a task. I think I can be of

use to you and I hope you'll agree.

As my attached resume shows. I have considerable

practical as well as executive experience, not only

in investigating homicides and conspiracies (real or

imagined but in effectively handling problems that

involve delicate interagency relationships.

I retired from Federal service a little over a year

ago because my retirement would have been mandatory

within a few years anyway and there seemed no purpose

in marking

time until then; I am now working as a

free lance photographer. I

have no cloud over me and

was cleared for Top Secret at the time I retired. My

ability and reputation are well known to various

officials within Treasury law enforcement circles

including the Commissioner of Customs. As an ex-

Treasury investigator I can be objective about both

the FBI and the CIA; as an ex-Internal Security

Inspector I have lived with the problems of inform-

ation leaks and unethical disclosures. Ny retirement

status would allow me to work at a minimal salary and

for a fixed pergod of time.

I hope I have said enough to interest you; I can supply

additional details or discuss the matter with you at

your convenience. But even if you are not interested,

I have a suggestion which might be helpful to your

future inquiries:

After the assassination of President

Kennedy, some witnesses claimed to have heard shots

fired from somewhere other than Oswald's location.

There is a phenomenon called the "bow wave report" in

which persons hearing riflefire from a high-velocity

weapon undergo a "hearing illusion"; they think the

shot came direction other than its actual origin. (The

attached reprint of an article I wrote some years ago

touches on the "bow wave report". )

NW 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 38

---

## Page 39

I don't know whether the Warren Commission investi-

gators considered this phenomenon in their analysis

of witness statements; I have seen no mention of it

in any published material concerning their inquiry.

However the phenomenon can be tested and consideration

of it could resolve some of the questions that arose

from certain witness statements.

I hope I will hear from you. Whether I do or not.

wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.

Sincerely,

James H. Chenoweth

(301) 949-4419

NW 68261

Docld:32243289

Page 39

---

## Page 40

Resume of:

JAMES. H. CHENOWETH

13122 Turkey Branch Parkway

Rockville,

Maryland

20853

(301) 949-4419

I. PERSONAL DATA

- Born of missionary parents on Chinese-Tibetan border on

February 14, 1922

- Married 27 years; two grown children.

- Good physical condition; uses reading glasses.

- Currently holds Top Secret clearance.

- Honorably discharged from U. S. Army.

Served during World War II

as combat engineer and paratrooper.

- Enjoys photography, camping; canoeing.

II.

EXPERIENCE

1/52 - 1/54

1/54 - 6/62

- Police officer, detective, undercover agent with

Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage, Alaska.

- Chief Deputy I. S. Marshal in Alaska with law

enforcement duties comparable to a State Police

agency. Handled recruitment, training, budget,

processing of prisoners, supervision of investi-

gations (including homicide, rape, robbery, em-

bezzlement, assault with dangerous weapon

and

similar offenses.) Acted as Deputy Coroner.

Taught law enforcement training within agencies

and in Anchorâge Community College.

6/62 - 8/65

- Internal Security Inspector, Treasury Department,

conducting investigations of bribery, embezzlement,

attempts to corrupt Federal personnel.

8/65 - 10/68

- Internal Security Inspector, National Office,

responsible for developing and conducting training

programs, writing technical manuals, researching

data, and inspecting the operation of Internal

Security field offices.

10/68 - 11/69 - Staff Assistant to Assistant Commissioner, conducting

special studies relating to management aspects of

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 40

---

## Page 41

-2 -

11/69 - 2/71 - Senior Inspector, Internal Security Division,

supervising training programs, research projects,

technical issuances, manpower allocation, grade

structure analyses, and field inspections.

2/71 - 7/73

- Executive Assistant to Director, Internal Security

Division, acting as consultant, researcher and

advisor on all Internal Security management activity.

7/73 - 7/74

- Chief of Investigations Branch, Internal Security

Division, directly responsible

for sensitive inves-

tigations involving activities of high level Federal

personnel.

7/74 - present- Acting Assistant Director, Internal Security Division,

responsible for assisting in all phases of leadership,

direction and coordination of the planning, develop-

ment and execution of the Internal Security program.

III. PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHNENTS

- Contributor to Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police

Science and to Pacific Northwest Law Enforcement & News.

- Past president and life member Alaska Peace Officers Association.

- Member of American Society of Criminology.

- Conducted weekly TV series (The Hidden Beat) on law enforcement.

- Recipient of Alaska Press Club Award for public service.

- Recipient of Federal High Quality Award and Special Performance

Award.

- Recipient of various commendatory letters from U. S. Attorneys,

U. S. District Judge, Federal Grand Jury and other officials.

IV. EDUCATION

- Attended Georgia School of Technology 3/43 - 1/44 under Army

Specialized Training Program.

- Attended Columbia College 9/46 - 8/49 as liberal arts student;

all requirements for degree fulfilled except foreign language.

V. ADDENDUM

- Personal references upon request.

- Retiring July 31, 1975, after 26 years of Federal service;

retire-

ment mandatory by January, 1978.

NWV 68261

Docld:32243289 Page 41

---