Posted by Mike Sylwester

Article from Washington Evening Star, 23 Nov 1963, page A-3

[title]  "Mrs Kennedy Spends Night at Hospital"

by William Grigg, Star Staff Writer

Excerpt: 

When the ambulance arrived at the hospital at 6:53 p.m. from Andrews Air Force Base, Mrs. Kennedy and the President's brother, Attorney Gerneal Robert Kennedy, were in the rear beside the plain, bronze coffin.  

....

Montgomery County police and Navy personnel had attempted to block the entrances to the hospital grounds.  But many hundreds of people climbed over a low fence and crowded around the hospital building.  

Motorcycle policemen, preceding the ambulance, scattered crowds of onlookers in the driveway.  But hundreds of persons formed a partial circle around the ambulance when it stopped.  

For at least 12 minutes after Mrs. Kennedy entered the hospital, the ambulance remained in the driveway.  Many spectators could see the simple casket within.  

Military officials, leaning on the open front door of the vehicle, apparently were not sure where the body should be taken.  

When word finally came, the crowds were pushed back and the ambulance took the President's body to the entrance at the far rear of the hospital.  

....

Hospital spokesmen refused to discuss the examination of the body or the activities of Mrs. Kennedy during the interval.  An informed source said, however, that Comdr. J.J. Humes, chief of pathology at the hospital, conducted the examination of the body.  

The body was prepared by Joseph Gawler II, of the local undertaking firm of Joseph Gawler's Sons, Inc.  William Gawler, of the firm, said the embalming and other funeral preparations were being made at the hospital.  

....

At about 3 a.m., it was reported that the President's widow had awakened and said she wished to ride next to the casket to the White House.  

A Gawler hearse with a simple, mahogany casket had been brought up to the morgue entrance but was then taken away.   The gray Navy amulance that had brought the President to the hospital was backed up to the entrance and the flag-draped casket containing his body was placed inside.  

Reporters were not permitted near the morgue entrance at this time.  But it was reliably reported that the President's wife and brother again rode in the back of the ambulance with the coffin.  

Other members of the family left in a White House limousine.  

The motorcade left the hospital at 3:55 a.m.   Hospital roads were immediately blocked by military vehicles to prevent persons from following.  

[end of article]