Hearings Before the President's Commission
on the
Assassination of President Kennedy

Thursday, April 2, 1964

Testimony of Sebastian F. Latona

Testimony of Arthur Mandella

The President's Commission met at 9 a.m. on April 2, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C.
Present were Chief Justice Earl Warren, Chairman; Representative Hale Boggs, Representative Gerald R. Ford, and Mr. Allen W. Dulles, members.
Also present were Melvin Aron Eisenberg, assistant counsel; Norman Redlich, assistant counsel; Samuel A. Stern, assistant counsel; and Charles Murray and Charles Rhyne, observers.
Sebastian F. Latona

Testimony of Sebastian F. Latona

The Chairman.

The Commission will be in order.
Mr. Latona, the purpose of today's hearing is to take your testimony and that of Arthur Mandella. Mr. Mandella is a fingerprint expert from the New York City Police Department. We are asking both of you to give technical information to the Commission.
Will you raise your right hand and be sworn?
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. Latona.

I do.

The Chairman.

You may be seated. Mr. Eisenberg will conduct the examination.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Mr. Latona, could you state your full name and give us your position?

Mr. Latona.

My full name is Sebastian Francis Latona. I am the supervisor of the latent fingerprint section of the identification division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. Eisenberg.

What is your education, Mr. Latona?

Mr. Latona.

attended Columbia University School of Law, where I received degrees of LL.B. LL.M., M.P.L.

Mr. Eisenberg.

And could you briefly outline your qualifications as a fingerprint expert?

Mr. Latona.

Well, I have been with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a little more than 32 years. I started in the identification division as a student fingerprint classifier, and since that time I have worked myself up into where I am now supervisor of the latent fingerprint section.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Could you approximate the number of fingerprint examinations you have made?

Mr. Latona.

Frankly, no. There have been so many in that time that I would not be able to give even a good guess.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Would the figure run in the thousands or hundreds?

Mr. Latona.

So far as comparisons are concerned, in the millions.

Mr. Eisenberg.

Have you testified in court?