Mr. FRITZ. After the pictures had been made then I ejected a live shell, a live cartridge from the rifle.
Mr. BALL. And who did you give that to?
Mr. FRITZ. I believe that I kept that at that time myself. Later I gave it to the crime lab who, in turn, turned it over to the FBI.
Mr. BALL. Did you put any marking of yours on the empty cartridge?
Mr. FRITZ. On that loaded cartridge?
Mr. BALL. On that loaded cartridge.
Mr. FRITZ. I don't know, I am not sure, I don't think so.
Mr. BALL. Was there any conversation you heard that this rifle was a Mauser?
Mr. FRITZ. I heard all kinds of reports about that rifle. They called it most everything.
Mr. BALL. Did you hear any conversation right there that day?
Mr. FRITZ. Right at that time?
Mr. BALL. Yes
Mr. FRITZ. I just wouldn't be sure because there were so many people talking at the same time, I might have; I am not sure whether I did or not.
Mr. BALL. Did you think it was a Mauser?
Mr. FRITZ. No, sir; I knew--you can read on the rifle what it was and you could also see on the cartridge what caliber it was.
Mediocre rehearsal of testimony? Perhaps not.
Those ambiguous convoluted statements are exactly what I meant. Fritz was probably crapping his pants that he would accidentally say something that was factually correct.
Fritz didn't initial the rifle, the ejected cartridge, the spent shells, or the paper bag.
Like Pilate..he was more than ready to wash his hands of the whole mess.
I don't see anybody's initials on this sucker..... Upper photo..closeup of the items in the lower-note the dent in one casing. That would have screwed up the action [I would think]http://publiusvaleri.us/switched-shells-gallery/ Click photos to enlarge & go figure. I don't see initials on anything.