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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. III - Page 402« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Robert A. Frazier)

Mr. Frazier.
In both of these tests, the ejection port of the weapon was held 32 inches above the floor.
In the second test performed, Commission Exhibit 547, the test was made to ascertain how high above the ejection port a cartridge case would fly as it was being ejected.
After ejecting numerous cartridge cases from the weapon with the barrel held in a depressed condition, it was found that the cartridge cases did not exceed two inches above the level of the ejection port. And with the muzzle held horizontally, it did not exceed 12 inches above the level of the ejection port.
Mr. Eisenberg.
In making these tests, was the bolt pulled with a normal degree of rifle pull?
Mr. Frazier.
It was pulled with various pulls, to determine what the effect would be with different speeds of the bolt.
Mr. Eisenberg.
How did you select the distance above the floor at which the rifle was fired?
Mr. Frazier.
We selected a distance which we thought might be typical of a condition which would give an overall picture of the ejection pattern, and not from any basis of previous information as to possibly how the weapon had been fired previously. Thirty-two inches happened to be approximately table height, so that we could control the height of the weapon readily.
Mr. Eisenberg.
I now hand you three Commission Exhibits, 510, 511, and 512, which are photographs which have been identified as giving the location of the cartridges--cartridge cases--Nos. 543, 544, and 545, on the sixth floor of the School Book Depository Building. I ask you to examine these pictures, and to determine whether if the rifle had been fired from the window shown in these pictures, the location of the cartridge cases is consistent with the results of the tests you ran to determine the ejection patterns.
Mr. Frazier.
I would say yes; it is consistent--although the cartridge cases are two of them-- against the wail. There is a stack of boxes fairly near the wall, and the position of the cartridge cases could very well have been affected by the boxer That is, they could strike the box and bounce for several feet, and they could have bounced back and forth in this small area here and come to rest in the areas shown in the photographs.
Mr. Eisenberg.
In making your tests, did you notice much ricochet?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes; considerable. Each time a cartridge case hit the floor, it would bounce anywhere from 8 inches to 10 to 15 feet.
Mr. Mccloy.
Make a lot of noise?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes; a clatter.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Have you tested Commission Exhibit 139 to determine its accuracy under rapid- fire conditions?
Mr. Frazier.
Yes; I have.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Can you describe these tests?
Mr. Frazier.
A series of three tests were made. When we first received the rifle, there was not an opportunity to test it at long range, so we tested it at short range. After we had obtained sample bullets and cartridge cases from it, we fired accuracy and speed tests with it. Three examiners did the firing, all three being present at the same time.
The first tests were made at 15 yards, and shooting at a silhouette target.
Mr. Eisenberg.
A silhouette of a man?
Mr. Frazier.
A paper silhouette target of a man; yes.
Possibly you may wish to mark these, to refer to them.
Mr. Eisenberg.
These targets were made by you or in your presence?
Mr. Frazier.
These are actually copies of the actual targets. I have the actual targets here, if you would rather use those. However, the markings show better on the copies than they do on the actual targets.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Mr. Chairman, I request permission to introduce the copies for the reasons given, as Commission Exhibits 548 and 549.
Mr. Mccloy.
You have made these copies, Mr. Frazier?
Mr. Frazier.
Well, I had them made. They are actual xerox copies of the original targets, which are black, and do not show the markings placed around the holes.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Off the record.
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