Mr. EISENBERG. And that is your handwriting, is it, Mr. Mandella?
Mr. MANDELLA. Yes; it is.
Mr. EISENBERG. So you made a total of six identifications?
Mr. MANDELLA. Yes; I did.
Mr. EISENBERG. Now when you made these identifications--or, I
should say, when you received the photographs and when you made the
identifications, did you have any knowledge of any kind as to how many,
if any, prints of Oswald's were found among the many impressions which
were given to you?
Mr. MANDELLA. I had no idea, sir.
Mr. EISENBERG. Were you aware in any way of the conclusions of any
other body concerning these impressions?
Mr. MANDELLA. I knew nothing about any examination by anyone.
Mr. EISENBERG. At an unofficial level, had you seen anything in the
newspapers which would indicate any information on these?
Mr. MANDELLA. In the newspaper several months ago there was reference
to a--I don't even recall whether it was fingerprints or palmprints or
both but there was some reference in the newspaper I had seen, and that
is all.
Mr. EISENBERG. That is all you recall about it?
Mr. MANDELLA. That is all I recall.
Mr. EISENBERG. Did you pay any attention to that in making your
identifications?
Mr. MANDELLA. No; it didn't affect me at all, nothing to do with the
identifications.
Mr. EISENBERG. What is your general attitude toward items you see like
this in the newspapers, by the way?
Mr. MANDELLA. In the newspapers? It doesn't mean a thing. Attitude
relative to fingerprints?
Mr. EISENBERG. I am trying to determine how far this might influence
you in your evaluation, and I wonder as a police officer what your
opinion is when you read accounts in newspapers of evidence in crimes.
Mr. MANDELLA. No; it doesn't affect me other than for general
information purposes.
Mr. EISENBERG. Did I transmit to you any information whatsoever
concerning these prints?
Mr. MANDELLA. You did not, other than giving me the photographs.
Mr. EISENBERG. Did I tell you that any of these prints might be Lee
Harvey Oswald's?
Mr. MANDELLA. You made no indication as to that it could have been his.
Mr. EISENBERG. Do you know now, apart from your own identification,
have you acquired any information at this point, subsequent to your
identification but prior to your appearance here, as to these prints,
other than your own identifications?
Mr. MANDELLA. I have no knowledge as to what has been done with these
prints at all by anyone.
Mr. EISENBERG. Are you absolutely sure as to each of these
identifications, Mr. Mandella?
Mr. MANDELLA. I am positive.
Mr. EISENBERG. Mr. Mandella, are you familiar with the contention of
some persons that 12 points are needed for identification of finger or
palm prints?
Mr. MANDELLA. No I am not, no. Positive identifications are effected by
the expert himself; 12 points are not necessary. A sufficient amount
determined by the expert is the important factor.
Mr. DULLES. About how many? Have you any test as to how many points?
Mr. MANDELLA. I can't give a definite number, but I'd say in
generalities five or six or seven points certainly should be enough,
depending on their uniqueness and frequency.
Mr. EISENBERG. What is the lowest number to which you have testified in
court, Mr. Mandella.
Mr. MANDELLA. The lowest that I can recall I testified to, five points.
Mr. EISENBERG. Was there a conviction secured in that case?
Mr. MANDELLA. Yes; there was. Of course, I don't recall if the
fingerprint was the thing that caused the conviction, but it was part
of the testimony.
Mr. DULLES. In most of these cases where you have made an
identification, have there been more than five points of identity?
Mr. MANDELLA. Well, it seems to run between, somewhere between 6, 7,
8, 9, 10 and 11, and in some cases more. It depends on how much of the
finger or palm that you have, how many characteristics are contained in
that area.
Mr. DULLES. My question was directed to the specific prints that you
have, photographs of prints that you have examined.
Mr. MANDELLA. Yes; it usually verges on 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Mr. DULLES. In the cases of these identifications that you have made?
Mr. MANDELLA. Oh, no. Some--we have many more characteristics in some
of these identifications here today.
Mr. EISENBERG. I think Commissioner Dulles is referring to cases
previous to this.
Mr. DULLES. I was referring to both. First I was asking you in general
how many do you consider are necessary, and secondly how many did you
find in these particular cases that you have examined in the Oswald
case?