Mr. Eisenberg.

which, as I mentioned earlier, were, like the two bullets in Exhibit 145, taken from the chamber of the revolver, did you find any nicks in any of these bullets, the bases of any of these bullets?

Mr. Cunningham.

Just by handling, there are bound to be small microscopic scratches of one kind or other. But there was no indication that any of the primers in these four cartridges had been struck by a firing pin.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Were these also examined microscopically?

Mr. Cunningham.

They were, individually.

Mr. Eisenberg.

When you say there was no indication that they were struck by a firing pin, in your opinion, based on the construction of this weapon, if the firing pin had been drawn back to any extent and then released, would it have left a mark on one of the cartridges?

Mr. Cunningham.

That is--yes and no. It depends on how far it is drawn back. As soon as the hammer internally clears the rebound block, the hammer is then able to go forward and it probably would have fired. But up to that point, the hammer is held back from striking, it cannot--under normal conditions-- be made to fire a cartridge.
However, it has been found with this particular weapon, a drop of approximately 3 feet on the hammer would fire a cartridge in the chamber.

Representative Ford.

How far back does the hammer have to be drawn in order to fire?

Mr. Cunningham.

That can be shown very easily by holding the cylinder. By holding the cylinder, that distance can be seen, which is approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch.

Mr. Eisenberg.

The witness is demonstrating.
The hammer, as he says, is going back about 3/8 of an inch.

Mr. Cunningham.

Once you allow the cylinder to rotate, then the rebound block is pushed out of the way, as you can see. Then you can cock the weapon.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Could you demonstrate for us the sound which would be heard if you held the cylinder, pulled back, and then released the trigger?

Mr. Cunningham.

Yes. A snapping sound can definitely be heard.

Mr. Eisenberg.

There is a very audible snapping sound. Would that snap--that amount of snap- leave a mark on the base of the cartridge case against which the firing pin?

Mr. Cunningham.

Under these conditions it could not leave a mark, because the rebound block is in the way.

Mr. Eisenberg.

When you say rebound block, this is a block between the firing pin and the base of the cartridge case?

Mr. Cunningham.

No, sir it is the block that is forcing the trigger to go forward after it is pulled back. You see, your trigger will snap back. It is done by a spring in the block.

Mr. Eisenberg.

To put it differently, this block would prevent the firing pin from emerging from its hole?

Mr. Cunningham.

That is correct. That is exactly it.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Now, could the firing pin emerge from its hole without having traveled a considerable distance back? That is, to say, at what point does the rebound block release the hammer?

Mr. Cunningham.

At approximately--well, right there you can hear it. That is a good half inch.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Could you pull it back and then release that half an inch to disengage the rebound block?
(The witness did so.)

Mr. Eisenberg.

If the firing pin hit the cartridge with that amount of force, do you believe the cartridge would be fired?

Mr. Cunningham.

Yes, sir; I do.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Is there any possibility it would not be fired? Any substantial possibility?

Mr. Cunningham.

It would still make a mark.

Mr. Eisenberg.

It would make a mark, at any rate?

Mr. Cunningham.

Let me clarify it. It still will not fire because the block will go forward.

Mr. Eisenberg.

What will go forward?