(Testimony of John F. Gallagher)
Mr. Redlich.
specific as to nitrate residues, whereas in the neutron activation analysis for the presence of the elements barium and antimony, the results are specific to the elements barium and antimony. Is that a correct statement?
Mr. Gallagher.
Yes. And furthermore, in Gallagher Exhibit No. 1, it says that paint, for example, contains both barium and antimony--this does not mean that every sample of paint contains barium and antimony. And so it is with the other items mentioned in Gallagher Exhibit No. 1.
Mr. Redlich.
All right. Now let us turn to the cheek casts, Mr. Gallagher. Could you tell us the results of your examination of the cheek casts with reference to the presence of the elements barium and antimony?
Mr. Gallagher.
Barium and antimony were found on the cheek casts. However, when the cheek cast was analyzed, both surfaces of the cheek cast were studied. That is, the surface adjacent to the Skin of the subject and the surface away from the skin of the subject, or the outside surface of the cast.
Mr. Redlich.
For our record, let us call the surface adjacent to the skin the inside surface, and the other surface the outside surface.
Mr. Gallagher.
The outside surface of thiS cast was found to contain-barium and antimony--actually more barium was found on the outside surface of the cast than on the inside surface.
Mr. Redlich.
And as far as antimony is concerned, was there more on the outside than on the inside ?
Mr. Gallagher.
There was slightly less antimony on the outSide of the cast than on the inside of the cast.
Mr. Redlich.
Do you have any explanation for the presence of barium and antimony on the outside of the cast, and as part of the same question, do you have any explanation for their being more barium on the outside than the inside ?
Mr. Gallagher.
I have no explanation for this difference.
Mr. Redlich.
Were you able to make determination as to whether the barium and antimony present on the inside cast was more than would be expected in the case of a person who had not fired a weapon or handled a fired weapon ?
Mr. Gallagher.
I found that there was more barium and antimony on the inside surface of the cast than you would find on the cheek of an individual who had recently washed his cheek. However, the significance of this antimony and barium on the inside of the cheek is not known.
Mr. Redlich.
Is that because the outside surface acts as a sort of control on the basis of which you can make a comparison?
Mr. Gallagher.
The outside surface of the cheek was run as a control for this particular specimen.
Mr. Redlich.
And therefore the presence of a lesser amount of barium and a slightly larger amount of antimony on the inside surface was one of the reasons why you could not make a determination as to the significance of the barium and antimony on the inside surface, is that correct?
Mr. Gallagher.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Redlich.
Did the fact that Oswald was believed to have fired a revolver prior to the time the paraffin casts were made have an effect on your ability to determine the significance of the barium and antimony on the inside of the cheek cast ?
Mr. Gallagher.
The subsequent repeated firing of the revolver definitely overshadowed the results. That is why it was reported that no significance could be attached to the residues found on the cast other than the conclusion than the barium and antimony in these residues are present in amounts greater than found on the hands of a normal individual who had not recently fired or handled a fired weapon.
Mr. Redlich.
In other words, given the known fact, or the assumed fact, that the suspect had fired a revolver repeatedly, the barium and antimony could have found their way to the suspect's cheek as a result of the repeated firing of that revolver, and therefore precluded you from making any determination as to whether the elements barium and antimony were placed on the cheek as the result of the firing of the rifle. Is that a correct statement?
Mr. Gallagher.
Well, there is no way to eliminate the fact that the subject may have wiped a contaminated hand across his cheek subsequent to the firing of the revolver, thus contaminating his cheek with barium and antimony.
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