Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-01


Samuel w. Hardy Of the Bureau of In
vestigation, Department Of Justice, and
Agent r. j. Connolly, in charge of the
Chicago office of the bureau, were con-
slant observers during the intricate ex-
and bullets from Washington, and will
return with them.
Col Goddard completed his micro
scopic study of the objects in less than
half a day. He began his examination
early yesterday morning, and started
debating his report to the Department
of Justice early in the afternoon, with
out taking time off for lunch. The re-
port covered two closely typed pages.
Test Is Held Easy.
When the correspondent expressed
surprise at the dispatch with which the
tests had been completed, Col. Goddard
said: There was nothing difficult aknu::
this examination, compared TO some
cases I have had. A stubborn case
sometimes requires several days of in
tenSive study. Fortunately, the bullets
in the Baker case were in fairly good
condition, and this made the work a lot
easier
Col. Goddard appeared in good hui
NOR over his findings. He had been
fully aware of the momentous nature OF
his assignment, on the outcome OF
which hung the future status of man
accused of murder. A negative finding
would have freed Campbell and put a
serious crimp in the art Of gun identifi-
cation.
Took Great Pains.
Approaching the gravity of the pres
ent test, the Reserve Army ordnance Of
ficer took great pains to avoid the pos
sibility of an error in his findings. He
went about his job studiouSly and I'M
hurriedly, and the fact that so little
time was consumed In arriving at con-
clusion is indicative of the positive
character of the bullet markings.
Goddard, a tall, heavy-set man with
genial countenance, but eyes that seem
capable of penetration without the aid
of microscopes, went about his work
with coat off and sleeves rolled to the
elbows. He conducted the major part
of his studies in his private ofice-a
small room cluttered with microscopes,
micrometerS, guns, ammunition and pic
lures of weapons, bullets and criminals
in celebrated cases.
Fires Test Bullets.
The criminologist began by taking
Campbell's revolver and firing several
test bullets into a deep receptacle of
cotton waste. The bullets were recov-
cred from the depths of the packing
after considerable probing with the
fingers.
one of these test bullets was placed
on an adjustable standard beneath the
lens of one LEG" of the peculiar two
legged microscope used by Goddard, DR..
Souder and other students of ballisticS.
The microscope was devised by one OF
Goddard'S former associates, Philip
Grayelle of South Orange, N. j.
Beneath the lens of the other "leg"
was placed one Of the two bullets found
in the body of Mary Baker. The micro
scope was moved close to a window.
The instrument rested on small bench
on the floor, so that the colonel could
lean over in his chair and glue his eye
to the single aperture at the top,
Prisms Join Slugs.
Carefully, the expert adjusted the two
bullets under the lenses until they
seemed to merge into o single projectile,
made up of the nose Of the test bullet
and the butt end Of the fatal slug. This
Illusion was made possible by system
Of mirrors and Prisms. Then the Baker
bullet was revolved slowly until the
rifling grooves fitted exactly the grooves
on the test bullet. The mere coinci-
dence of the grooves was not enough:
however. Between the rif1ing grooves OF
every bullet there are tiny situations or
scratches peculiar to the gun which
fired it. According to Col. Goddard, no
two guns possibly can leave similar
scratches on bullets, because 1t Is I'M
possible to rife two guns exactly alike.
If the tiny lines running lengthw1se
Of the test bullet coincide ct the half
xuov r~nivo& with th0AM On the fatal Alug