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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. III - Page 506« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Joseph D. Nicol)

Mr. Eisenberg.
By use of this photograph, could you explain some of the markings on Q-48, which is illustrated on the left-hand side and which is Commission Exhibit 545, and K-l, which is on the right-hand side, which is the test cartridge, which led you to the conclusion that both shells were fired from the same rifle?
Mr. Dulles.
545 is one of the shells found on the sixth floor?
Mr. Eisenberg.
That's correct.
Mr. Nicol.
This was the lone one that was found, I understand.
Mr. Eisenberg.
L-o-n-e?
Mr. Nicol.
Right.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Again, for the record, what Mr. Nicol is referring to is that for some reason the shells were grouped into a group of two and a group of one shells by the Dallas police, apparently on the basis that two shells were very close together, and the third shell was a little further away. But they were actually all within a quite small area. And this is just an arbitrary grouping.
Mr. Nicol.
Now, although this compares--is a comparison of Q-48 and K-l, Commission Exhibits 545 and 572--I'm sorry, 557--the same would apply to comparable regions on Exhibits 543 and 544.
I have placed arrows just for fiduciary marks so we can be looking at the same area.
Taking the top arrow, the area running across there is rather broad, an eroded or corroded band, a valley. Below it is a fairly distinct mark. The two small marks appear below it. And then on the projectile, at the middle arrow, there is a broad flat plane. This plane has an irregular contour, and what I have attempted to do is match a projection at the lower portion of this--you also see that the contour at the top is equivalent, insofar as the spacial area.
Below, there are at the lower arrow some additional marks. These begin to come to the edge of the primer. What we are looking at here is actually the primer of the cartridge case, and the marks are the breech-block markings as the result of the pressure of the set-back of the shell.
I have a sequence of these where the division moves across. Do you want to introduce all of them?
Mr. Eisenberg.
Yes; I think we should mark them in evidence.
Mr. Nicol.
All right.
This would be the dividing line of the comparison bridge moved over a small portion. You see the entire flat area here, but the match has now shifted over slightly.
Mr. Eisenberg.
I am holding two photographs, both marked Q-48 and K-1.

You took both photographs?
Mr. Nicol.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Dulles.
I wonder if, for clarification, we could take one of those shells and see from what angle the photograph is taken and what is covered in the photograph. I am a little confused. It doesn't make any difference which one.
Mr. Nicol.
All right, sir.
The area shown between this dark ring would represent the area between these two grooves right here. Actually, it is the entire primer. This is the firing-pin impression you are looking at right here.
Mr. Dulles.
Thank you.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Mr. Chairman, may I have these admitted, these last photographs, as 614 and 615?
Mr. Dulles.
614 and 615, exhibits as described, will be admitted.
(The photographs referred to were marked Commission Exhibits Nos. 614 and 615 and received in evidence.)
Mr. Nicol.
Now, this again illustrates Q-48 and K-1 with the position now such that the division of the field is moved over approximately a sixteenth of an inch from the position we looked at previously. And again at the points indicated by the arrow, there are individual characteristics running across the dividing line of the comparison in both the top and bottom region.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Now, from the position of the firing-pin hole on Q-48, on this
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