14-10-2014, 02:36 PM
It's not a newbie question, it's a lawyer question...
The initials are the identifying marks used by police officers to a) prove that whatever they are holding in court is the same thing as what they found at the scene, and b) to establish the "chain of custody" if more than one person has handled the item between scene and courtroom.
It is a prerequisite for the admission into courtroom evidence (i.e. so that a judge or jury may consider it) of material items used to prove, well, anything. Yes, it is suspicious that many of the items which are cited in support of the lone nut theory have no chain of custody, (or such mangled ones) that it is highly unlikely that much of it would have seen the inside of a courtroom. Especially in 1963-1964, when the chain of custody standards were more strict than they are today.
How fortuitous that there wasn't a trial.
The initials are the identifying marks used by police officers to a) prove that whatever they are holding in court is the same thing as what they found at the scene, and b) to establish the "chain of custody" if more than one person has handled the item between scene and courtroom.
It is a prerequisite for the admission into courtroom evidence (i.e. so that a judge or jury may consider it) of material items used to prove, well, anything. Yes, it is suspicious that many of the items which are cited in support of the lone nut theory have no chain of custody, (or such mangled ones) that it is highly unlikely that much of it would have seen the inside of a courtroom. Especially in 1963-1964, when the chain of custody standards were more strict than they are today.
How fortuitous that there wasn't a trial.
"All that is necessary for tyranny to succeed is for good men to do nothing." (unknown)
James Tracy: "There is sometimes an undue amount of paranoia among some conspiracy researchers that can contribute to flawed observations and analysis."
Gary Cornwell (Dept. Chief Counsel HSCA): "A fact merely marks the point at which we have agreed to let investigation cease."
Alan Ford: "Just because you believe it, that doesn't make it so."
James Tracy: "There is sometimes an undue amount of paranoia among some conspiracy researchers that can contribute to flawed observations and analysis."
Gary Cornwell (Dept. Chief Counsel HSCA): "A fact merely marks the point at which we have agreed to let investigation cease."
Alan Ford: "Just because you believe it, that doesn't make it so."