Would you expect to find nitrate residue on my hands that a paraffin test would show?

Mr. Barnes.

Chances are smaller on a rifle than it would be with a revolver.

Mr. Belin.

Why?

Mr. Barnes.

Because your chamber is enclosed.

Mr. Belin.

What difference does that make?

Mr. Barnes.

The powder couldn't get out like a pistol where the cylinder is open, and there is no casing around the cylinder of a revolver, and the chamber of a rifle, it is enclosed with the metal all the way around.

Mr. Belin.

Well, I operate the bolt on the rifle, does that make a difference about letting the gas or residue escape?

Mr. Barnes.

No; all your explosives have already gone down the barrel. It is not coming down the side when you operate the chamber. There is no pressure there.

Mr. Belin.

What you are saying then is, that it is the pressure at the time of firing in an open chamber that creates the major portion of this residue?

Mr. Barnes.

That's right.

Mr. Belin.

If you were to have a positive nitrate test on a person's hands, and by positive, I mean it would show the presence of nitrate, would you say, without knowing anything about the firearm that the person fired, that it was more likely that he had fired a .38 caliber revolver, or a bolt-action rifle?
I mean a nonautomatic revolver?

Mr. Barnes.

Let me get your question to see if I am correct. If there were nitrates present?

Mr. Belin.

Yes.

Mr. Barnes.

In my own mind would I come to the conclusion that it would probably come from a revolver? Rather than a rifle?

Mr. Belin.

Well, nonautomatic revolver, as opposed to a rifle. Which would be more likely?

Mr. Barnes.

The revolver would be more likely.

Mr. Belin.

Now you said that you took the paraffin casts off the hands. Do you generally take it of both hands when you take a paraffin test?

Mr. Barnes.

Yes; we do.

Mr. Belin.

When you take a usual paraffin test, do you take it of any other part of the body other than the hands?

Mr. Barnes.

No.

Mr. Belin.

In this case, did you take it of any other portion of the body other than the hands?

Mr. Barnes.

Yes; I did.

Mr. Belin.

What other portion of the body did you take it of?

Mr. Barnes.

The right side of his cheek and face.

Mr. Belin.

The right side of Lee Harvey Oswald's cheek and face?

Mr. Barnes.

Yes.

Mr. Belin.

Who directed you to take it there?

Mr. Barnes.

Captain Fritz.

Mr. Belin.

Did he particularly say why he wanted it taken there?

Mr. Barnes.

I didn't ask the questions why he wanted it. I was ordered to take it from him, and I took it because I had the order to take the test.

Mr. Belin.

Was there an order to take the left cheek also, or not?

Mr. Barnes.

No.

Mr. Belin.

How long did you say that you had been making paraffin tests?

Mr. Barnes.

Since 1956.

Mr. Belin.

Roughly, how many of those do you do in a month on an average?

Mr. Barnes.

It would be hard to say. If I hit it lucky, I won't make too many. If it hits on some other man's duty. It would be hard to say how many I have made over a period of time. I can say that I have made many.

Mr. Belin.

Over these years, do you think you have made as many as 100?

Mr. Barnes.

It would be hard to say. I am not going to go into any actual figures because it would be guesswork.

Mr. Belin.

Well, let me ask you this. Of the paraffin tests that you have made, how many have you made of a cheek or cheeks?

Mr. Barnes.

One.