Mr. Jenner. Was there any scuttlebutt about it?
Mr. Powers. No; other than that he was fooling with the weapon. Other than that, we couldn't—as I recall, we could never realize how a guy could have shot himself there other than he was leaning on it this way [indicating], and "boom," it went off.
Mr. Jenner. As far as you boys were concerned at that time, was there any scuttlebutt or speculation about anyone of you being involved in that incident?
Mr. Powers. Not to my recollection at all.
Mr. Jenner. When I say "you," that includes Oswald.
Mr. Powers. Not that I know of; no, sir.
Mr. Jenner. Weren't there some instructions in connection with the use of those riot guns when you were on guard duty that you would keep the chamber free of slugs?
Mr. Powers. I'm almost sure—again I can't say for sure, but it seems to me that we were issued three shells, and—again, I'm not sure; it seems to me that we were not supposed to put them in the weapon or supposed to put them in the weapon and keep it out of the chamber; in other words, you jacked it into the chamber if you needed it, but your chamber itself should be kept free.
Mr. Jenner. To avoid accidents?
Mr. Powers. Yes; I think this was the rule because you would have to click them to get them out this way, and to avoid an incident such as happened.