[An article attempting to establish the innocence of Lee Harvey Oswald appeared in the National Guardian on Dec. 19. The CRIMSON has excerpted from it an analysis of the confused and contradictory evidence showered upon the public by the national news media, in order to show that this evidence constitutes no proof of Oswald's guilt. Reprinted by permission of the National Guardian.]

* * *

Immediately after Oswald was slain, the Dallas district attorney, Henry Wade, announced that the "Oswald case was closed."...The Justice Department then announced that the case was not closed. Wade called a press conference to "reopen" the case. In a radio and television statement, publicized throughout the world, Wade presented "the evidence, piece by piece, for you."...Wade presented 15 assertions, some mere conclusions, some with a source not revealed, some documented....

A number of witnesses saw Oswald at the window of the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository.

....Wade was unequivocal, stating, "First, there was a number of witnesses that saw the person with the gun on the sixth floor of the bookstore building, in the window--detailing the window--where he was looking out." Subsequently, it developed that the "number of witnesses" was in reality one witness, who was quoted as follows: "I can't identify him, but if I see a man who looks like him, I'll point him out." (Newsweek--Dec. 9)...

Oswald's palm print appeared on the rifle.

...The FBI now states that "no palm prints were found on the rifle.

This conclusion, first carried in the Fort Worth press, was later leaked to reporters by the FBI in off-the-record briefing sessions. The FBI at that time took the position that "we don't have to worry about prints in this case." The FBI indicated anger with Wade for stating that a palm print was present when in fact it was not.

Paraffin tests on both hands showed that Oswald had fired a gun recently.

Paraffin is applied to that portion of the human body which might come in close contact with the gas (released by a weapon's firing) containing solid particles of burned nitrates in suspension. To determine whether a pistol (i.e., a gun) has been fired, tests are made of both hands. To determine whether a rifle has been fired, tests are made of both hands and the area on both sides of the face near the cheekbone, the cheek remaining in immediate contact with a rifle when the trigger is pulled.

In the service, as any veteran, including Wade, well knows, a rifle is always referred to as a rifle. It is never, under fear of company punishment, called a gun (pistol). At Wade's press conference, this dialogue took place:

Reporter: What about the paraffin tests?

Wade: Yes. I've got paraffin tests that showed he had recently fired a gun--it was on both hands.

Reporter: On both hands?

Wade: Both hands.