Mr. Stombaugh. There is just no way at this time to be able to positively state that a particular small group of fibers came from a particular source, because there just aren't enough microscopic characteristics present in these fibers.
We cannot say, "Yes, these fibers came from this shirt to the exclusion of all other shirts."
Mr. Eisenberg. We appreciate your conservatism, but the Commission, of course, has to make an estimate, and what I am trying to find out is whether your conservatism, whether your conclusions, reflect the inability to draw mathematical determinations or conclusions, or reflect your own doubts?
Mr. Stombaugh. No.
Mr. Eisenberg. Can you tell us which that is?
Mr. Stombaugh. There is no doubt in my mind that these fibers could have come from this shirt. There is no way, however, to eliminate the possibility of the fibers having come from another identical shirt.
Mr. Eisenberg. Now, in your mind what do you feel about the origin of the fibers you found in the bag?
Mr. Stombaugh. I didn't find enough fibers in the bag to form an opinion on those.
Now if I would have found, say 15 or 20 fibers and all 15 or 20 matched the fibers from the blanket, then I could say, "Yes, I feel that these very easily could have come from the blanket." But I didn't. I only found two of the many types.
Mr. Eisenberg. Okay. I have no further questions.