Arnold's observation of seeing the African-American male at 12.15 pm at the SE corner had nothing to do with a conspiracy. It was the WC who thought that it implied that the gunman observed by Arnold had an accomplice.
No one was on the fifth floor at the SE corner until ~12.25 pm.
The WC knew that there was an African-American male on the 6th floor after 12 noon. They were also confident that there was no "elderly Negro" in the SE corner. Arnold's observation could therefore be easily discredited.
However from Arnold's vantage point, it would be difficult to determine someone's age. He provided additional and conflicting detail in his testimony that ultimately was used to discredit him.
Despite that, it didn't mean that he was wrong in seeing the African-American male in the SE corner at 12.15 pm on the 6th floor. He was after all the only witness who saw the gunman at the SW corner.
He had no corroboration for either observation. So why did the WC partially believe his testimony?
What part did the WC believe? The line of questioning indicated they did not believe any of what he was saying including the man with a rifle. BRW could see all the way to the west wall and there was nobody there. Ford sums it up best at the end.
The CHAIRMAN - Anything further, Congressman Ford?
Representative FORD - Mr. Rowland, have you ever had occasion to go back to the scene and reconstruct it? Have you ever gone back--
The CHAIRMAN - Supposing we take a few minutes recess.
Mr. ROWLAND - The answer to that question is yes; I do all the time. I pass that area very frequently.
Rowland obviously possess an overactive imagination and it shows throughout his testimony.
When the shooting started BRW was hanging out of the 5th floor window trying to see who was shooting. Not the actions of some one who had been interacting with LHO moments before.
