, 1935-02-10

@. Now with relation to the
knots. what was the position Of the
two in the tree?
A. This board (attic) was above
rail is CrunnerJ In the tree.
@. Is II a fact Gas testified by the
defense) that the butt logs have
have more knots?
A. 1t Is common knowledge that
the greater number Of knots is at
the top and from butt wood comes
the best. clearest wood.
Charles De Bisschop, waterbury,
Conn, whose defense testimony
Koehler was so vigorously aSsail-
ing. twisted nervously In his seat
In the witness row near the Haupt-
mann table. Several times he half
rose and made Intellectual gestures
to attract the attention Of Chief
Defense Counsel Reilly.
@. Do you still say that the at
tic board and the rail were once
Of the same board2
A. Yes.
Koehler testified that the attic
board nails were in his possession
after removal. He identified them.
Wilentz showed Koehler a de-
tense photograph Of n piece OF
wood. identified by a defense wit
ness as yellow" pine.
Wrong In Identification
That piece he called yellow
pine" said the expert, was white
pine"
Defense counsel sat silent while
Koehler continued his assault on
their case.
The rebuttal turned to Koehler's
Identification OF the grain in the
rail and the attic board. He used
his chart to demonstrate, with
Pope. Reilly and Wilentz gathered
about him.
Wilentz returned to the topic OF
nailholes.
@. There has been some testi-
mony here. Mr.. Koehler. about
nailholeS. Prior to the arrest OF
Hauptmann did YOU examine the
ladder?
"A. I did.
G. Did you make any observation
as to nailholes on rail is?
A. / did.
@. When did you make those OBJ
servations on rail Is and what did
you see?
A. In 1884 before Hauptmann's
arrest. ! measured the nail holes
@. Do the nail holes you ex-
amined correspond with holes In
the joists in Hauptmann's attic?
"A. They do.
Wilentz ended his questioning and
Pope began the cross.
@. You are not a practical car
penter2
A. I've done carpentry work but
I'm not a carpenter by trade.
@. Have you any experience in
wood craft?
A. Yes I've been out in the
woods. numbering and 50 forth.
@. Is 1t possible BY machinery TO
divide an inch into thousands?
A. Yes.
The technical discussion went on,
Pope attempting to raise doubt OF
the experts fine measurements OF
tool and planer marks on wood
connected with the case.
Pope asked If the markings of
the plane on the ladder might not
be measured.
"A. Ii would be exceedingly i'm
possible. practically impossible be-
cause Of the variability OF the
wood itself.
Koehler said he had not taken
three -dimension" measurements of
the marks on wood. in response to
Pope's technical questions. He said
he had compared distances between.
@. The distance between nick
marks would vary with the angle
the tool was held?
"A. Yes.
@. You have never testified be-
fore 70 this sort Of thing tool
marks?
A. No sir.
Pope demanded that the witness
admit his Identification of the
Hauptmann and ladder plane marks
was worthless because he has not
measured the dimensions OF the
microscopic plane ridges.
III don't have to measure two
houses to get the distance between
them" Koehler replied.
Pope sought to break down Koch
ler's Identification of the two short
boards used as a defense exhibit. as
coming from the same piece.
Koehler. taking his calipherS
from his pocket. measured the
thickness Of the TWO boards. "A de-
Tense witness testified the boards