I agree that the transcriber could have erred; a good deal of these witness testimonies have shown words that didn't seem to fit a given sentence. But I maintain that the line of questioning in your excerpt was about whether or not Sims had seen a paper bag, some sort of paper. No one asked him if he saw a rifle in that corner, did they? Did Sims read his testimony? And is there any evidence that confirms a thick Texan drawl?
Bill, no one said they found a rifle in the same corner. All Sims could remember was some loose paper. Johnson was stationed where the lunch sack was. Studebaker returned and processed the lunch sack and pop bottle. Then the both moved to the SN corner joining Montgomery.
I maintain that......
Sims response was in answer to the question about Johnson's presence, not the paper.
"Yes, sir; when the wrapper was found Captain Fritz stationed Montgomery to observe the scene there where the hulls were found." This response is somewhat nonsensical as the wrapper and shells were eventually "found" in the same place. Someone observing the shells would automatically be in a position to observe the bag.
As for Texan drawl.....all I can offer is this....
"Mr. SIMS. I was born and raised here in Dallas and I went to school--grade school in Dallas, but moved out to a little city called Hutchins, south of Dallas, and finished my education out there, and joined the Navy when I was 17, and was discharged when I was 21, and I came to work down here when I was 23."
Many witnesses waived the rights to read their testimony, as did Sims.
"Mr. BELIN. Do you want to read this deposition, or are you going to sign the other deposition?
Mr. SIMS. No, sir; just go ahead.
Mr. BELIN. Ship it on in?
Mr. SIMS. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. All right, thank you, sir."
Any more research I can do for you?