Part 60

Mr. COLE. Well, areas where there is needed a sharp outline of a box which is to receive some printed information, and this, of course, is a very thin line, and it is very difficult to control this liquid on the negative. There are some places where it has run into the line and apparently it was necessary to make some strengthening or correction of that line later.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you see evidence of correction of the line?

Mr. COLE. Yes; on Commission Exhibit 795 the boxes for selective service number apparently have been strengthened somewhat.

Mr. EISENBERG. Now referring to Commission Exhibit 801, which is the actual card, do the numbers overlap or extend to the borders of the margin at all?

Mr. COLE. There is one figure in particular which runs right along the line of the box. This is the first box on the left, and the figures are "41" and the "1" lies directly over the line on the right side of the box.

Mr. EISENBERG. And does the "4" in "41" and the "3" in "39" overlap the boxes?

Mr. COLE. They do.

Mr. EISENBERG. Would that practically necessitate a correction of the boxes?

Mr. COLE. Yes; it would, in order to repair the line.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Cole, I hand you an item entitled "Certificate of Service Armed Forces of the United States," reading "This is to certify that Alek James Hidell" and so forth, and "Period of Active Duty"--on the reverse side now--"October 1, 1958" to a date which is blurred, and I ask you whether you have examined this item?

Mr. COLE. I have.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Chairman, may this be admitted as 806?

Senator COOPER. Let the exhibit be admitted.

(The document referred to was marked as Commission Exhibit No. 806, and received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. When did you first examine this item, Mr. Cole?

Mr. COLE. That was also examined in December of 1963, December 6, 1963.

Mr. EISENBERG. Together with the selective service system notice of classification?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. And did you have any negatives at that time, or the original?

Mr. COLE. I did not.

Mr. EISENBERG. What was your conclusion at that time, based solely upon the examination of 806?

Mr. COLE. It was my conclusion that 806 is actually a photographic print from a photographic negative. It is not an original document.

Mr. EISENBERG. And on what did you base this conclusion?

Mr. COLE. My familiarity with the appearance of photographic paper primarily.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you prepare photographs at that time, Mr. Cole?

Mr. COLE. I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. Could you produce those? These photographs are of the front and reverse, respectively, of Commission Exhibit 806?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. And these were prepared by you or under your supervision?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. And they are accurate photographs of 806?

Mr. COLE. They are.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Chairman, may I have these admitted as 807 and 808, respectively.

Senator COOPER. The exhibits will be admitted to the record.

(The photographs referred to were marked as Commission Exhibits Nos. 807 and 808, respectively, and were received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. 807 will be the front and 808 will be the reverse. Mr. Cole, could you attempt to decipher the typewriting on the reverse side as shown in the photograph 808?

Mr. COLE. The typewriting reads "October 13 1958," and on the second line there is some confusion of the typewriting, in other words, there is more than one typing operation on the line reading "To." One of these typing operations reads "October 12, 1961." One of the other typing operations on the line for "To," as determined by a previous examination under the microscope, shows an indent of "23 October 1959."

Mr. EISENBERG. Do you believe that was--yes, go ahead.

Mr. COLE. Also on the line reading "From" there is an indentation of another typewriter operation which reads "24 October 1957."

Mr. EISENBERG. Do you believe those indentations were caused by a typewriter set at stencil?

Mr. COLE. Yes; without the interposition of a ribbon between the type bar and the paper.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you take photographs with side light, as you had in the case of the selective service card, to attempt to bring out these stencil marks?

Mr. COLE. I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. Could you produce those photographs? You are handing me a photograph of the front side of the certificate of service, and is this a photograph which you took?

Mr. COLE. It is.

Mr. EISENBERG. An accurate reproduction of the Exhibit 806?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. May I have this admitted as 809, Mr. Chairman?

Senator COOPER. Let this exhibit be made a part of the record.

(The photograph referred to previously marked as Commission Exhibit No. 809, was received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. You have also given me a photograph of the reverse side of 806?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. This was taken by you or under your supervision?

Mr. COLE. Yes.

Mr. EISENBERG. And is it an accurate photograph of the reverse of 806?

Mr. COLE. It is.

Mr. EISENBERG. May the photograph of the reverse be admitted as Exhibit 810?

Senator COOPER. Exhibit 810 will be admitted as part of the record.

Mr. EISENBERG. Could you show us what you found in the way of indentations caused by stencils, by referring to these Exhibits 809 and 810?

Mr. COLE. 809 shows the face of the exhibit and in addition to the clearly visible typewriting of the name "Alek James Hidell," there is a repetition of this name somewhat below the visible typewriting in the form of typewritten indentations.

Mr. EISENBERG. Is this similar to the typewritten indentations found in the selective service card, 795?

Mr. COLE. Yes; they are.

Mr. EISENBERG. Do you believe that the name "Alek James Hidell" was stenciled once or more than once?

Mr. COLE. More than once, at least twice, I would say.

Mr. EISENBERG. What is the relative position of the two stenciling operations?

Mr. COLE. They were somewhat below, about one-half to three-quarters of the height of a typewritten character below, the visible typewriting.

Mr. EISENBERG. What is the relationship to each other?

Mr. COLE. They are offset about one-quarter to one-half the height of a typewritten character.

Mr. EISENBERG. From each other?

Mr. COLE. That is right, vertically.

Mr. EISENBERG. Is it accurate to say then that there is a progression upward as comparing the typewritten name and the two stenciled operations, or at least that the three are set in step, so that each one is below the next impression?

Mr. COLE. That is correct, with the visible typewriting having the better position relative to the reproduction of the printed matter.

Mr. EISENBERG. Can you think of the reason why this might have been, why this operation might have been performed in this manner, Mr. Cole?

Mr. COLE. Yes. It could easily result from some difficulty of finding the correct place for typewriting the name on the card. The lowermost indentation would have been an incorrect position since it was run into a part of the reproduction of the printed matter.

Mr. EISENBERG. Now, I refer back to 798, which is a highlight photograph of the selective service card, and ask you whether the stenciled material in 798 appears above the line on which the typewritten material--first name, middle name, and last name--should appear?

Mr. COLE. Yes; somewhat above.

Mr. EISENBERG. In light of that, do you think it is possible that the individual who prepared this card used the stencil to determine at what point the typewriting would be placed so that it was in the correct position in relationship to the line above which it belonged?

Mr. COLE. That is a definite possibility and, of course, he might also have been concerned about the position for the reproduced printed matter--"First name," "Middle name," "Last name."

Mr. EISENBERG. Bringing your attention back once more to 795, the Selective Service System card, was the reverse side of that card prepared in your opinion from Commission 802, which is the reverse side of the registration certificate? I also call your attention to 801 for comparision, that is, the original of the selective service card.

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir. The reverse of the photographic identification card, Commission Exhibit 795, could be a photographic reproduction of the reverse of Commission Exhibit 802, with the performance of certain opaquing operations.

Mr. EISENBERG. Looking at the reverse side of the two cards, 802 and 801, does the reverse side of the card 801 have any information for identifying characteristics of the individual bearing the card?

Mr. COLE. It does not.

Mr. EISENBERG. And what about the reverse side of 802?

Mr. COLE. The reverse side of 802 provides space for a personal description, color of eyes, color of hair, complexion, height, and weight.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you find among the negatives in 800 a negative which might have been used or was used to prepare the reverse side of the selective service card, 795, the spurious card?

Mr. COLE. Yes; I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Chairman, may I have this negative classified separately as 811 for purpose of ready identification?

Senator COOPER. Let it be so classified, and admitted as part of the record.

(The document referred to, was marked as Commission Exhibit No. 811 and received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you find a negative which might have been used for the preparation of the certificate of service, that is 806?

Mr. COLE. Yes; I did, for both face and back.

Mr. EISENBERG. Were these negatives in your opinion used as the negatives for that purpose?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir. In my opinion, these are the very negatives that were used for producing the photographic print representing a certificate of service.

Mr. EISENBERG. May these be subclassified as or separately classified as 812, Mr. Chairman, and introduced as 812?

Senator COOPER. Let the document be designated as 812 and admitted as part of the record.

(The item referred to, was marked as Commission Exhibit No. 812 and received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you reach the same conclusion, by the way, as to the negative 811, that is, that it was definitely the negative used to produce the reverse side of 795?

Mr. COLE. I did. This is the very negative to produce the reverse side of 795.

Mr. EISENBERG. Returning to 795, there are two signatures which appear in 795 in ink, is that correct?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. That is, the signature over the caption "Member or clerk of local board," and the signature over the caption "Registrant must sign here"?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. The second signature reads "Alek J. Hidell"?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. Could you read the first signature?

Mr. COLE. The first signature appears to be the name "Goodhoffer," but that is partly an estimate. In other words, it is not possible to read this in a clear manner. That is a possible spelling of the name but not necessarily the only spelling.

(At this point, there was a short recess, and Mr. McCloy entered the hearing room.)

Senator COOPER. I am now called to the Senate. Mr. John McCloy will act as Chairman.

(At this point Senator Cooper departed the hearing room and there was a further recess.)

Mr. EISENBERG. How does that compare with the signature on the original card, Exhibit 801?

Mr. COLE. It is not the same name and, of course, not in the same handwriting.

Mr. EISENBERG. Now, did you compare the two signatures on Exhibit 795 with the standards in this case to determine whether the signatures have been written by the person who produced the standards?

Mr. COLE. I did compare the signatures on 795 with the standard writing.

Mr. EISENBERG. What was your conclusion, Mr. Cole?

Mr. COLE. With respect to the signature above "Member or clerk of local board," I have not formed any conclusion about authorship. With regard to the writing "Alek J. Hidell," it is my opinion that the author of the standard writing is the author of that name.

Mr. EISENBERG. And referring to the charts of the standards which you prepared, and referring to the photograph of 795, could you explain the reasons for this conclusion?

Mr. COLE. Would you want any copy of this?

Mr. EISENBERG. Yes; if you have a copy.

Mr. COLE. The capital letter "A" of the name "Alek" on 795 is reproduced in the standard writing on chart B, item 6, in the general conformation of the several lower case "a's" in that area. I refer to it as a capital "A" because it begins the name, but actually with respect to size and formation it is closely similar to the lower case "a's" of item 6. Now the similarity is largely in the method that the staff is made, the way it pulls away from the oral body of the letter with only a moderate rate of retracing along the right side. That detail, as I say, is found both in the "A" on 795, and in the several "a's" of item 6. There are three in a row there, each beginning a line of writing.

The letter "k" of the name "Alek" compares favorably with the "k's" of the standard writing, chart A, items 13 and 14. With regard to the middle initial "J" there is not a cursive "J" that is, as distinguished from a printed "J"--shown on the charts of standard writing. But the movement required for producing a "J" is similar to that required for producing the capital letter "I," and we observe a similarity as to movement with respect to the "J" of 795 as compared with the "I" of chart B, item 3.

One characteristic of the capital letter "H" of "Hidell" on 795 is the method of making that formation which stands for the crossbar. Now this is the closed part along the lower half of the right side of the letter, which would represent the crossbar of the letter. This is the general movement used in a number of the signatures of Lee H. Oswald. One good example is that on chart B, item 15, the middle initial "H". Another feature of that "H" is the connection to the following letter by an approximately horizontal stroke passing from the finish of the crossbar of the "H" across to the "i," and we observe a similar method of connection, although not with the same letter, on chart A, items 10 and 11, where the "o" is connected by a straight line, almost horizontal projection of the crossbar, from the "H" to the "o".

The letter "i" again shows a feature, which has previously been mentioned in the standard writing, of an increase of forehand slant, that is a slant to the right with respect to that letter as compared to other letters. This feature is shown in a number of places in the standard writing, one good example being on chart B, item 10, the second "i"--which is there because of a misspelling of the word "Washington" that is spelled, the last few letters, "tion"--and there we observe that rather extreme increase of the forehand slant of the letter "i".

The letter "d" of "Hidell" compares favorably with the "d's" of the standard writing on chart A, item 5, in the word "discharge," and on the same chart, item 6 in the word "regards."

The final "l's" show a perceptible increase of pressure on the downstrokes, which is also found in the standard writing, chart B, item 6, top line, the word "enroll." This shows a somewhat more extreme increase in pressure on downstroke, but I regard it basically as the same habit. This particular part also shows a very abrupt terminal stroke for the letter "l" as between 795 and compared with the final or last stroke of the "l" on chart B in the last stroke in the word "enrolled."

These constitute my reasons for believing that the author of the standard writing is the author of the signature "Alek J. Hidell" on Exhibit 795.

Mr. EISENBERG. Now concerning the other signature, Mr. Cole, are you unable to or--can you state why you are unable to arrive at a conclusion?

Mr. COLE. Well, partly because of the limited writing we have for comparison. The last part of the name is practically illegible, and the letters are so confused that I believe they do not accurately record writing habit. I would regard it as being a rather unnatural writing. Now there is fair legibility in the letters of the first name, and they do have a moderate rate or amount of similarity to the standard writing, but since it is only a few letters, I think there is not a basis for a conclusion.

Mr. EISENBERG. Is the signature inconsistent with the writing of the standards?

Mr. COLE. No; I wouldn't say there was any--there is certainly no basis for eliminating the author of the standards as being the author of that signature.

Mr. EISENBERG. Does there appear to be any attempt at disguise in this signature?

Mr. COLE. Well, I wouldn't regard it. If there is such an attempt, it is not, it seems to me, not a matter of deliberation or trying hard at it, but only a matter of being extremely careless in the last part of that signature.

Mr. EISENBERG. Is illegibility sometimes used as a method of disguise?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir; it is.

Mr. McCLOY. May I ask some questions about this?

Mr. COLE. Yes.

Mr. McCLOY. If that word is "Good," that first word on the Exhibit 796, is it----

Mr. EISENBERG. 795, and the photograph is 796.

Mr. McCLOY. 795. If that letter "G" is compared with the capital letter "G" on the standard chart B-5, "Glenview," would you say there is any similarity between the two?

Mr. COLE. Yes; there is, with respect to the size of the upper loop which is on the left side of the letter, and the approximate horizontal motion in passing from that loop over to the right side of the letter.

Mr. McCLOY. We have it again in 14 of that same chart?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. McCLOY. The "J" which seems to follow the word "Good," however, does not seem to comport with the "J" on the signature "Alek J. Hidell" does it?

Mr. COLE. No; but, of course, you are getting there to the area where the rather serious corruption or illegibility of forms begins. I think one could say that from the fair legibility of the first name, and the very poor legibility of the last name, that this is a deliberate effort. In other words, you have got a demonstration of the ability of the writer to produce a legible writing and, therefore, to devolve into this very illegible effort could be intentional.

Mr. McCLOY. I noticed when you compared the "J" in "Alek J. Hidell" with the standard "I," such as the one on chart B-3, there was a definite similarity, but I notice on chart A, No. 7, there is an "I," a capital "I" presumably, which apparently doesn't have the same conformation as the "J" in the Commission Exhibit 795. Would you agree with that?

Mr. COLE. Yes; that is true, but I think in studying these forms we ought to consider all available "I's," and there would be some others, such as the one on B-4 and one in B-6. It shows a fair range of variation, especially with regard to finishing the lower part of that letter. Now, I would judge the one on B-3 to be definitely a part of his writing habit, because it gives the impression of having been made with a considerable amount of freedom. Generally, a larger form is made more freely, more naturally, than a smaller form.

Mr. McCLOY. I see.

Mr. COLE. And you see you have got sort of a cramped effect across the base of the "I" in A-7.

Mr. McCLOY. What I am getting at is, you don't suggest that all these "I's" and all these "J's" exactly conform, but you are talking in terms of similarities that turn up in certain of them that you believe are significant?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Cole, I now hand you an item consisting of a yellowish card entitled "International Certificates of Vaccination as approved by The World Health Organization," and so forth, PHS Form 731, and reading in part, "This is to certify that Lee Oswald, whose signature follows" and with the signature, "Lee H. Oswald," date of birth and so forth, "has on the date indicated been vaccinated or revaccinated against smallpox," with a date appearing in a rubber-stamp printing, what appears to be rubber-stamp printing, "June 8, 1963," and a rubber-stamp signature of "Dr. A. J. Hideel, P.O. Box 30016, New Orleans, La.," with some type of stamp on the right side next to the name, and a signature "A. J. Hidell" over the name; and I ask you whether you have examined this item?

Mr. COLE. I have.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Chairman, may this be admitted as Commission Exhibit 813?

Mr. McCLOY. It may be admitted.

(The document referred to was marked as Commission Exhibit No. 813, and received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. Now, I also will show you Commission Exhibit 115, which consists of a Warrior rubber stamping kit which has already been introduced in evidence in connection with testimony of Marina Oswald, and which was found at one of Oswald's residences, and ask you whether you have examined this Commission Exhibit 115?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir; I have.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you attempt to determine whether the signatures "Lee H. Oswald" and "A. J. Hideel" on Commission Exhibit 813 were prepared by the author of the standards?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir; I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. What was your conclusion?

Mr. COLE. It is my conclusion that the author of the standard writing is the author of the writing you just described.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you attempt to determine whether the apparent rubber-stamp printing had been produced by use of the Warrior kit, Exhibit 115?

Mr. COLE. I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. What was your conclusion?

Mr. COLE. It is my conclusion that the kit could have been used for producing the rubber-stamp printing on--Exhibit 813 is it?

Mr. EISENBERG. Yes.

Did you prepare a photograph of 813, Mr. Cole?

Mr. COLE. Yes; I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. Will you produce that photograph? You have produced two photographs, one of which shows the outside or exterior portion of 813, and the other one shows the interior portion?

Mr. COLE. Correct; yes.

Mr. EISENBERG. Did you take each of these photographs?

Mr. COLE. I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. And are they accurate reproductions of the Exhibit 813?

Mr. COLE. They are.

Mr. EISENBERG. Approximately what enlargements are these, by the way?

Mr. COLE. About 1-1/2 diameters.

Mr. EISENBERG. These are what size photographs?

Mr. COLE. Eight by ten.

Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Chairman, may these two photographs be admitted as 814 and 815?

Mr. McCLOY. They may be.

(The photographs referred to were marked as Commission Exhibits Nos. 814 and 815, and received in evidence.)

Mr. EISENBERG. 814 will be exterior part of 813, and 815 will be the interior.

Now, the exterior portion of 813 also shows some handprinting "Lee H. Oswald" which came out in this photograph--in 814--a little clearer. Did you identify that handwriting, Mr. Cole----

Mr. COLE. I did.

Mr. EISENBERG. As being--what was your conclusion?

Mr. COLE. It is my conclusion that that handprinting is in the hand of the person who made the standard specimens.

Mr. EISENBERG. Now by reference to those photographs, 814 and 815, and by reference to your charts of the standards, could you explain the reasons for your conclusion on the handwriting and handprinting?

Mr. COLE. With respect to the signature, "Lee H. Oswald," as shown by the photograph 815, this compares favorably with other sample signatures that I have examined, some of which are shown on the charts, namely chart A, item 15; chart B, item 15; and chart C, item 6, second line from the bottom. There is, I think, a closer comparison with certain other standard signatures of "Lee H. Oswald" which I have examined, as appearing on the reverse of certain checks.

Mr. EISENBERG. And those are in evidence, are they, as one of the standards, Mr. Cole?

Mr. COLE. Yes, sir.

Mr. EISENBERG. That was described in the record when you introduced it?

Mr. COLE. Yes; the signatures as endorsements on these several checks show what might be described as an exaggerated freedom and carelessness in the execution of this signature.

Mr. EISENBERG. Excuse me, was that 776, that exhibit consisting of the checks?