Mr. Liebeler.

Would you rise and raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Holmes.

I do.

Mr. Liebeler.

I understand that you have previously been examined by one of the attorneys on the staff, and I assume they advised you of the basis on which we are conducting the examination and the rights that you have in the situation, so I won't bother to go through that again.

Mr. Holmes.

Yes.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you state your full name for the record?

Mr. Holmes.

Harry D. Holmes.

Mr. Liebeler.

You are the chief postal inspector?

Mr. Holmes.

No; it is just postal inspector.

Mr. Liebeler.

Stationed with the post office here in Dallas; is that correct?

Mr. Holmes.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

I just have a few questions that I wanted to ask you that have come up since we took our testimony the last time One of the things I would like to know about, if you have any information on it, is how long it ordinarily takes a parcel post shipment to come to Dallas from Chicago.

Mr. Holmes.

It would depend on the time of day it was mailed, and whether it was mailed just prior to the next most expeditious dispatch. But I would say certainly not over, well, it would be in Dallas the next day. But whether it would get to a box---that's right, it would be available at his box--should be the next day.

Mr. Liebeler.

Of course, this question relates specifically to the shipment of the rifle.

Mr. Holmes.

That's right.

Mr. Liebeler.

Shipped from Chicago and addressed to Mr. Hidell at Post Office Box 2915 here in Dallas, and you say that it generally would have been available at the post office here in Dallas the day following its delivery to the post office in Chicago?

Mr. Holmes.

I have no idea when it was mailed there, but it should have been available here the next day. If it were to be delivered to a street address, it would be the second day, because it would not make morning delivery. But to a post office box, he should have. Of course, he had told me he didn't come to that box too regularly, so there is no assurance of when it was picked up.

Mr. Liebeler.

But as far as the possibility is concerned, it would have been available here at the pest office box the following morning from Chicago?

Mr. Holmes.

That's right.

Mr. Liebeler.

After it has been received here in Dallas, as I understand the procedure, a notice would be put in the post office box indicating that a package was being held there in the post office; is that correct?

Mr. Holmes.

There is a regular card, when the package is too large to go in the box, or if it is c.o.d., or insured, or registered. However, this was an ordinary parcel. It was not insured or c.o.d. There would be a card for him put in the box, and he would have to pick it up at a window.

Mr. Liebeler.

What about as far as Los Angeles is concerned, from Los Angeles to Dallas? How long would it take a parcel post to reach Dallas from Los Angeles?

Mr. Holmes.

At least 2 days.

Mr. Liebeler.

Could it possibly be longer than 2 days?

Mr. Holmes.

Yes.

Mr. Liebeler.

How much longer, do you think? How about on the average, do you have any idea?

Mr. Holmes.

No; it depends on the time of mailing. It is 2 days' train run from Los Angeles here, and if it happens to catch an early dispatch, it would be in here the morning of the third day.

Mr. Liebeler.

From Chicago it is only a 1-day train run, is that correct?

Mr. Holmes.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

So it would be here, if it had an early dispatch, on the morning of the following day?

Mr. Holmes.

Yes, sir.