Scientific Evidence Linking Rifle and Oswald to Paper Bag
_Oswald’s fingerprint and palmprint found on bag._--Using a standard chemical method involving silver nitrates[C4-180] the FBI Laboratory developed a latent palmprint and latent fingerprint on the bag. (See app. X, p. 565.) Sebastian F. Latona, supervisor of the FBI’s Latent Fingerprint Section, identified these prints as the left index fingerprint and right palmprint of Lee Harvey Oswald.[C4-181] The portion of the palm which was identified was the heel of the right palm, i.e., the area near the wrist, on the little finger side.[C4-182] These prints were examined independently by Ronald G. Wittmus of the FBI,[C4-183] and by Arthur Mandella, a fingerprint expert with the New York City Police Department.[C4-184] Both concluded that the prints were the right palm and left index finger of Lee Oswald. No other identifiable prints were found on the bag.[C4-185]
Oswald’s palmprint on the bottom of the paper bag indicated, of course, that he had handled the bag. Furthermore, it was consistent with the bag having contained a heavy or bulky object when he handled it since a light object is usually held by the fingers.[C4-186] The palmprint was found on the closed end of the bag. It was from Oswald’s right hand, in which he carried the long package as he walked from Frazier’s car to the building.[C4-187]
_Materials used to make bag._--On the day of the assassination, the Dallas police obtained a sample of wrapping paper and tape from the shipping room of the Depository and forwarded it to the FBI Laboratory in Washington.[C4-188] James C. Cadigan, a questioned-documents expert with the Bureau, compared the samples with the paper and tape in the actual bag. He testified, “In all of the observations and physical tests that I made I found * * * the bag * * * and the paper sample * * * were the same.”[C4-189]
Among other tests, the paper and tape were submitted to fiber analysis and spectrographic examination.[C4-190] In addition the tape was compared to determine whether the sample tape and the tape on the bag had been taken from the tape dispensing machine at the Depository. When asked to explain the similarity of characteristics, Cadigan stated:[C4-191]