Mr. Ball. Did Oswald protest any or did he permit you to do that?
Mr. Hicks. No, sir; he was willing and had no comment on it as far as the making of them.
Mr. Ball. Did you test the paraffin cast; did you make any test on it?
Mr. Hicks. No, sir; that's done by the lab at Parkland Hospital which Lieutenant Alexander, I believe is in charge there.
Mr. Ball. But you did not do it yourself?
Mr. Hicks. No, sir.
Mr. Ball. What has been your experience with paraffin casts? How accurate are they in determining whether or not a person has fired a firearm previously?
Mr. Hicks. My own personal opinion is that it is not an exact conclusive evidence that, if you are familiar with that test, anything containing nitrate might show up on a test of that sort.
Mr. Ball. Is it usual to find any trace of nitrate on the face if a rifle has been fired?
Mr. Hicks. That is the first time that I had the opportunity to make a paraffin test on a person's face.