JFK Assassination Hearings - The Weapons Experts Panel (Part II)
JFK Assassination Hearings - The Weapons Experts Panel (Part II)
(14:29:29) Opens to shot of JOHN S. BATES testifying before the House Select Committee, talking about bullet comparisons, he says that after microscopic examination of the bullets supposedly test fired by the FBI out of the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle, identified as the one used by alleged assassin LEE HARVEY OSWALD, and examination of the bullets fired by this panel out of the same rifle the panel concluded the bullets could not be matched up as being fired from the same weopon, Bates adds this is not a surprise (14:32:30) Bates lists reasons why the above mentioned bullets do not match up (14:34:07) Bates is questioned by Committee Counsel JAMES E. MACDONALD as to the findings of bullet comparisons between the infamous bullet 399 and another bullet test fired by the FBI - Bates reports that these bullets matched up as coming from the same gun (14:36:00) MacDonald introduces a bunch of exhibits, they are all the bullet fragments recoverd from the limosine, JFK and Governor JOHN CONNALLY, MacDonald's questioning then turns to ANDREW M. NEWQUIST (14:37:30) Newquist goes to the exhibit easels to explain the examination of the fragments involved in the assassination, on the easels are blown up photographic images of the fragments, Newquist upon inquiry by MacDonald identifies two of the fragments as being traceable to Oswald's rifle, he explains that he identified them by comparing them to a bullet fired from the rifle by the FBI and matching up under microscopic magnification distinguished scarrings on both bullet and fragment - there are blown up photographic images of the microscopic comparison (14:43:45) New exhibits introduced by MacDonald, these are a blown up photographic image of a bullet fragment and the actual fragment itself of a bullet fired at General EDMUND WALKER, MacDonald explains that it is believed the bullet was fired by Oswald in an assassination attempt in April 1963 - From the fragment Newquist is able to tell the committee the bullet is of the same class as the other bullets fired from the rifle but the panel cannot conclude that it was definately fired from the same rifle (14:48:00) MacDonald introduces exhibits, they are the handgun believed to have been used by Oswald to shoot Officer TIPIT (?) later on the day of JFK's assassination, the cartridges found at the scene of the crime, cartridges the current panel test fired from the same gun, and blown up photographic images of the gun and the cartridges - MONTY C. LUTZ confirms the identity of the all materials and using the photographs explains how the panel concluded that the two sets of cartridges match up as being fired from the same gun, again this involves microscopic images comparing the markings on the different cartridges (14:53:45) DONALD E. CHAMPAGNE is given a new exhibit, the hand gun used by JACK RUBY to kill Oswald - Champagne upon request identifies the gun and describes its particulars (14:56:00) MacDonald asks LUTZ what kind of gun it was that Oswald had used to kill Officer Tipit - Lutz responds that it is a 38 special but that it has been modified to chamber a different type of ammunition (14:56:38) Committee Chairman LOUIS STOKES calls a five minute recess because committee members are participating in a House vote (14:57:02) Hearings host SANDFORD UNGAR voices over a summary of the testimony thus far, shot soon switches to him and his panel Professor JACOB COHEN of Brandeis University and DAVID LIFTON, Warren Commission critic, the two of whom get into a vigorous debate over the conspiracy aspect of the committee's procedings (15:06:43) The committee returns and the hearing is called back into session, acting Chairman RICHARDSON PREYER recognizes Representative EDGAR to question the witnesses, Edgar has Lutz and Champagne come out from behind the table at which their seated in front of the committee so that they can demonstrate the exhibit weopons (15:08:25) Lutz describes the rifle magazine for Edgar using the actual Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to illustrate his description - Edgar confirms that the magazine is not removeable and then asks how the rifle is loaded - Lutz describes this process, again using the actual rifle to illustrate his description (15:11:30) Edgar asks about the functioning of the rifle clip - Lutz explains how it functions in detail (15:12:55) Edgar asks for a desciption of the bolt action with consideration of the fact that three shots were supposedly fired in a brief period of time - Lutz does this, again using the rifle as illustration, shows off some nifty fast bolt action (15:14:25) Edgar confirms that the follower within the rifle magazine will only scar the bottom bullet in a clip - Lutz answers yes - Edgar has several other questions about the magazine and clip which Lutz and Champagne answer (15:17:13) Edgar asks questions about the scope - Lutz answers them again illustrating his answers with the actual rifle (15:19:44) Edgar asks Lutz to demonstrate the rifle, targeting something with the scope and then the iron sites - Lutz crouches down in a firing stance and takes aim at the movie screen - Edgar asks if in conclusion from this demonstration it is likely that when firing quickly one would use the iron sites - Lutz says he would (15:22:15) Edgar asks if guns emit smoke that is discernable to the human eye (witnesses claim they saw smoke coming from the grassy knoll) - Lutz and Bates answer yes, some smoke descriptions are given (15:25:10) Edgar asks for a description of the single and double action firings of the Oswald hand gun - Lutz demonstrates on the actual handgun (15:27:24) Edgar asks if the bullets found in Officer Tipit matched the test fired bullets of the panel - Lutz answers that the class of bullet was the same but they could not exactly match them up as coming from the same gun, Lutz explains why they couldn't match them up exactly (15:29:27) Edgar asks about the two stage trigger on the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle - Lutz explains what it is and that it is common in military issue rifles (15:31:02) Edgar asks about extractor markings on the cartridges found in the Texas book depository - Champagne's answer is cut off