Senator Cooper. I think you did say that when you heard the first report that you considered it to be a rifle shot?
Mr. Rowland. I did, but almost immediately everyone started laughing so I did not give it any further consideration until the second shot, second report.
Senator Cooper. At the time you saw a man standing near a window in the Texas School Book Depository with a rifle, can you state whether there were any, did you know whether or not any police officers were near you?
Mr. Rowland. There was an officer about 20 feet to my left.
Senator Cooper. Did you see any others?
Mr. Rowland. There were officers all over, that was the closest one. There were four or five on the block across the street from me, two of them being with the boy who had the epileptic fit.
There was also an officer in front of the doors to that building. There were several on the corners. I would say there were 20 uniformed officers right there in that 1½-block area.
Senator Cooper. Could any of the officers that you saw whose position you noted, have seen this window from the place where they were standing?
Mr. Rowland. They could have; yes, sir.
Senator Cooper. You don't remember whether any of them were looking up there?