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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. III - Page 428« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Robert A. Frazier Resumed)

Mr. Frazier.
It could be that, and it could be just a slight difference in the hardness of the metal of the primer which caused this one to flow back more and be marked more.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Could you discuss Exhibit No. 565?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; in Commission Exhibit No. 565 is shown the firing-pin impressions of the test cartridge case from the 139 rifle on the left and the cartridge case, 545, on the right, with a dividing line through the middle separating the primer of one cartridge case from the primer of the other.
No circles have been drawn around this photograph because the marks shown are marks of an abraded area on the firing pin, and are more or less parallel and formed parallel patterns, so that the eye can follow from one line across to the opposite side of the photograph.
In this area shown of the firing pin of the weapon, there was a small scraped area which left these microscopic ridges and grooves shown on the left photo graph, and also reproduced in the 545 primer or firing-pin impression on the right side of the photograph.
Mr. Mccloy.
State for me again what is on the left side? What is this C-14?
Mr. Frazier.
This is the rifle cartridge case, the test cartridge ease.
Mr. Mccloy.
The test rifle?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes; the cartridge ease which I fired in 139.
Mr. Mccloy.
In 139. And the one on the right?
Mr. Frazier.
This the cartridge case from the building, Exhibit 545.
Mr. Mccloy.
Which was found in the building?
Mr. Frazier.
Found in the building.
Mr. Mccloy.
On all of these on the left is it always the same----
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; on all of the photographs we have discussed so far.
Mr. Mccloy.
I just wanted to make that clear.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Mr. Frazier, it appears to the eye that only a portion of this is in focus. Is that correct?
Mr. Frazier.
Only a portion of the entire photograph is in focus, yes, and that is the area where these individual marks appear, occur.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Can you explain?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; the reason being the outer area, the area up to the edge of the firing-pin impression is considerably higher, and the microscope does not have the depth of focus to focus on a very deep groove or depression such as the firing pin at the bottom of it and still maintain the top in focus.
The firing pin is circular, I should say, hemispherical in shape, so that it leaves a cup-shaped impression of it- only one portion of it can be in focus at the same time; the other part being either higher or lower will be out of focus.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Mr. Frazier, I now hand you Commission Exhibit 399, which, for the record, is a bullet, and also for the record, it is a bullet which was found in the Parkland Hospital following the assassination. Are you familiar with this exhibit?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir. This is a bullet which was delivered to me in the FBI laboratory on November 22, 1963 by Special Agent Elmer Todd of the FBI Washington Field Office.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Does that have your mark on it?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, it does.
Mr. Eisenberg.
The bullet is in the same condition as it was when you received it?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; except for the marking of my initials and the other examiners. There is a discoloration at the nose caused apparently by mounting this bullet in some material which stained it, which was not present when received, and one more thing on the nose is a small dent or scraped area. At this area the spectographic examiner removed a small quantity of metal for analysis.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Did you prepare the bullet in any way for examination? That is, did you clean it or in any way alter it?
Mr. Frazier.
No, sir; it was not necessary. The bullet was clean and it was not necessary to change it in any way.
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