Mr. BELIN. 637.
Mr. DAY. Yes. The gun was sent back again, and all of the other
evidence that I had, including cartons from Texas Bookstore, and
various other items, a rather lengthy list.
Mr. BELIN. Had the FBI in the interim returned the gun to you then
after you sent it to them on November 22?
Mr. DAY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. When the rifle was photographed, as I understand it, you
were the one who lifted it out of there, is that correct?
Mr. DAY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Was it wedged in very tight or could you readily lift it up
without moving any boxes?
Mr. DAY. It came out without moving any boxes. It wasn't wedged in.
Mr. McCLOY. Am I to understand your testimony, Lieutenant, about the
fingerprints to be you said you were positive--you couldn't make a
positive identification, but it was your opinion that these were the
fingerprints of Lee Oswald?
Mr. DAY. Well, actually in fingerprinting it either is or is not the
man. So I wouldn't say those were his prints. They appeared similar
to these two, certainly bore further investigation to see if I could
bring them out better. But from what I had I could not make a positive
identification as being his prints.
Mr. McCLOY. How about the palmprint?
Mr. DAY. The palmprint again that I lifted appeared to be his right
palm, but I didn't get to work enough on that to fully satisfy myself
it was his palm. With a little more work I would have come up with the
identification there.
Mr. BELIN. Lieutenant Day, what is the fact as to whether or not
palmprints are a sound means of identification of an individual?
Mr. DAY. You have the same characteristics of the palms that you do
the fingers, also on the soles of feet. They are just as good for
identification purposes.
Mr. BELIN. Is there anything else you did in connection with the rifle,
the cartridges, the live cartridge, or the taking of prints from any of
these metallic objects that you haven't talked about yet?
Mr. DAY. No, sir; I believe that is the extent of the prints on any of
those articles.
Mr. BELIN. Did you make a positive identification of any palmprint or
fingerprint?
Mr. DAY. Not off the rifle or slug at that time.
Mr, BELIN. At any other time did you off the rifle or the slugs?
Mr. DAY. After I have been looking at that thing again here today, that
is his right palm. But at that time I had not no----
Mr. BELIN. When you are saying you looked at that thing today, to what
are you referring?
Mr. DAY. Your No. 637 is the right palm of Oswald.
Mr. BELIN. Handing you what has been marked "Exhibit 629" I ask you to
state if you know what this is.
Mr. DAY. That is the right palm of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Mr. BELIN. Do you know where this print was taken?
Mr. DAY. Yes, sir; it was taken by Detective J. B. Hicks in Captain
Fritz' office on November 22, 1963.
Mr. BELIN. Did you take more than one right palmprint on that day, if
you know?
Mr. DAY. Yes, sir; we took two, actually we took three. Two of them
were taken in Captain Fritz' office, and one set which I witnessed
taking myself in the identification bureau.
Mr. BELIN. Any particular reason why you took more than one?
Mr. DAY. In most cases, when making comparisons, we will take at least
two to insure we have a good clear print of the entire palm.