Mr. Cadigan.

Yes.

Mr. Eisenberg.

What was your conclusion?

Mr. Cadigan.

That the Lee H. Oswald signature on Commission Exhibit No. 820 was written by Lee H. Oswald.

Mr. Eisenberg.

What about the signature "A. J. Hidell"?

Mr. Cadigan.

I was unable to reach a conclusion. First of all, at the time I compared this signature the known standards of Lee Harvey Oswald were adequate for this particular comparison.
I did, however, note that there were certain differences in this signature that indicate the possibility of someone other than Oswald having prepared it. But in my opinion, the characteristics I observed were not of sufficient weight for a positive opinion in this regard.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Could you note those characterstics?

Mr. Cadigan.

Yes; I think the capital letter "A" and the capital letter "H" in "Hidell" are different from the "A's" that Oswald makes, that appear in the enlarged photographs, Cadigan Exhibits Nos. 4 through 10.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Anything else?

Mr. Cadigan.

I think the lower case "d," especially in the rounded shape of the body of it and the relatively short height of the staff, so that the staff compared to the body is very short. The "J" is made different or in a different' manner than Oswald regularly makes or usually makes his "J's" in the standards, but again it is a question of judgment as to whether you believe a combination of characteristics is enough to either eliminate or identify. In this instance, in my opinion, these differences point to the possibility of another writer other than Oswald.

Mr. Eisenberg.

You indicated before, also, that there was another ink used.

Mr. Cadigan.

That is correct. This, of course, in and of itself, is of no sequence, since the same person can use two different pens, so the color of the ink would not be, in my mind, significant.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Does that signature appear to have been written naturally?

Mr. Cadigan.

Yes.

Mr. Eisenberg.

At normal speed?

Mr. Cadigan.

Yes.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Any evidence of retouching?

Mr. Cadigan.

No.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Generally, were the signatures and other handwritings in the questioned documents you have reviewed in this deposition today written naturally?

Mr. Cadigan.

With the exception of the "Hidell" signature on his certificate of vaccination. There is, in my opinion, distortion present there. But, by and large, in fact in almost all of the various handwritings, hand printings, and signatures, there is no evidence of disguise or distortion, in my opinion.

Mr. Eisenberg.

What type of evidence indicates disguise or distortion?

Mr. Cadigan.

Distortion and disguise can take many forms. It can be in the form of a change in slant, a deliberate malformation of the individual letters. It can be shown in broken or interrupted strokes. It can be shown in waves or wiggles in the line itself which should not normally be there. It may be occasioned by a person using other than normal hand, a left-handed person writing with his right hand or a right-handed person writing with his left hand. All these introduce elements of distoration or disguise. The extent of it can only be determined by comparing a given writing with known writing, and observing the characteristics present, and on that basis you can then formulate an opinion as to whether or not there is any appreciable amount of distortion or disguise.

Mr. Eisenberg.

How would you evaluate the possibility of another person having simulated the handwriting of Lee Harvey Oswald in these questioned documents?

Mr. Cadigan.

I don't think there is any possibility.

Mr. Eisenberg.

On what do you base that?

Mr. Cadigan.

I base that on 23 years experience and judgment and the examination of the documents and the various writings involved in this instance.