Mr. Belin. If you keep it near then, I assume that you would get the nitrate on the other hand, too, or not?
Mr. Barnes. Very likely that you would.
Mr. Belin. Suppose I were unloading a pistol and taking the cartridge case out and putting them in my left hand or handling the chamber where the cartridge cases had been, would this leave nitrate deposits on my hand?
Mr. Barnes. It is possible.
Mr. Belin. Suppose you were to examine my hands and you were to find no nitrate deposits at all. Would you say that this conclusively shows that I did not fire a pistol?
Mr. Barnes. No.
Mr. Belin. Well, does it conclusively show I had not fired a pistol within the last 6 or 8 or 10 hours?
Mr. Barnes. No.
Mr. Belin. Why do you say that?
Mr. Barnes. Well, a lot would depend what kind of pistol.