(Testimony of Robert A. Frazier Resumed)
Mr. Frazier.
in height. This ridge is formed by two grooves, a straight groove across the top, and a curved or crescent-shaped groove across the bottom.
Number 3 is a circle drawn around two small raised areas in the primer metal separated by a depression.
Number 4 is a section from a large ridge across the metal of the primer, which has a break in its surface in the lower portion of the circle, and immediately above the break is a groove, and immediately above that again is another ridge which is at a little steeper angle upwards to the left.
Number 5 is a depression, is a portion of a depression appearing at the bottom of the circle with a very short ridge running horizontally across the circle.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Again there are dissimilar marks on these two pictures, Mr. Frazier?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes; there are, for the same reason, that metal does not flow the same in every instance, and it will not be impressed to the same depth and to the same amount, depending on the type of metal, the blow that is struck, and the pressures involved.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Is your identification made therefore on the basis of the presence of similarities, as opposed to the absence of dissimilarities?
Mr. Frazier.
No, that is not exactly right. The identification is made on the presence of sufficient individual microscopic characteristics so that a very definite pattern is formed and visualized on the two surfaces.
Dissimilarities may or may not be present, depending on whether there have been changes to the firing pin through use or wear, whether the metal flows are the same, and whether the pressures are the same or not.
So I don't think we can say that it is an absence of dissimilarities, but rather the presence of similarities.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Any further questions on this cartridge case?
Mr. Mccloy.
No.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Mr. Frazier, you have testified also that you identified the cartridge case which is Exhibit 544 as having been fired from this rifle, in this rifle, to the exclusion of all others. Did you take a photograph of the comparison that you made under the microscope of number 544?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes. I again took two photographs, one of the breech-face or bolt-face marks, and one of the firing-pin marks.
Mr. Eisenberg.
This exhibit which I am holding is a picture of the breech-face marks?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Eisenberg.
And was that taken by you or under your supervision?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir; it was.
Mr. Eisenberg.
And the magnification here is what?
Mr. Frazier.
90 diameters.
Mr. Eisenberg.
May I have this admitted, Mr. Chairman?
Mr. Mccloy.
It may be admitted.
Mr. Eisenberg.
That will be number 562, Mr. Reporter.
(The item described as Commission Exhibit No. 562 was received in evidence.)
Mr. Eisenberg.
Could you discuss the markings on this picture, Mr. Frazier?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes, sir. In Commission Exhibit 562, there is again the vertical dividing line which is the top of the prism in the microscope which divides your view. On the left hand side is a portion of the primer and a portion of the head of the test cartridge case from Exhibit 139. On the right side of the photograph is a portion of the surface of the primer and a portion of the firing-pin impression of the cartridge case, Commission Exhibit 544.
To assist in pointing out on the photograph some of the areas where individual microscopic characteristics are present, I have had circles drawn, circling at the top, number 1, an oval-shaped depression in the metal, having an irregularly shaped or wavy ridge across the bottom of the circle. Immediately below that is another ridge which has a flat top, and is more or less of a diamond shape.
Number 3 circle is over a very coarse, wide ridge separated by two fairly deep grooves on each side.
Number 4 circle is over a conical-shaped raised portion on the primer which
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