◆ SpookStack

~~ District Attorney Busch challenged the authority of Super. visor Ward to hold such a hearing, but Ward relied on the advice of County Counsel John Larson that.as Department Charman of the Coroner's Department, it was appropriate for Ward to hold such a hearing and inquiry. Ward laid a preliminary foundation for his hearing by telling other Board of Supervisor members that he, Ward, had met with County Clerk William Sharp and discussed the previous charges against Sharp and his office by the District Attorney and the County Grand Jury in 1971. Ward stated that he was satisfied with Sharp's response and, felt that the integrity of the exhibits he would examine at his hearing were satisfactory. He then stated, "There is a cloud over law enforcement in the County of Los Angeles that can only be dispelled by a proper inquiry." (Board of Supervisors Meeting April 23, 1974). Additionally, Ward quoted from a book entitled "Inside the Crime Lab", which stated "critics claim that it is searcely possible to imagine a case so botched up in the physical evidence collection, preservation, analysis and testimony as was the crime lab work by the L.A.P.D. Ballistics Forensic Division inthe Bobby Kennedy killing." Ward used this allegation at the Boa:d of Supervisors Meeting on April 23, 1974, to justify his attempts to subpoena District Attorney Busch and DeWayne Wolfer to appear for his May, 1974, hearing. May 13, 1974 Hearing Ward prefaced his hearing with statements by Mr. Roy Ito and Mr. Eskanos, both members of the 1971 Chief Administrative Office task force. Both Eskanos and Ito testified that there was no substantial evidence of unauthorized handling of original exhibits. They stated that they disagreed with the Grand Jury findings that ‘there was an unfortunate lack of conern for the integrity of the exhibits. Additionally, Ward inserted into the record a statement by the i971 Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, Charles Loring. Judge Loring stated that, "Despite considerably adverse publicity (in 1971) during the course of these investigations, our committee found nothing to indicate that the handling and storing of the exhibits in the Sirhan case impaired the integrity of the exhibits." ‘ . Affidavit of William Harper Read Into the Record William Harper could not participate in the May 13, 1974, hearing. Portions of Harper's previously sworn affidavit prepared on December 28, 1970, were read into the record. In this affidavit Harper stated that, "During the past several months (in 1970) I have made a careful review and study of physical circumstances of the assassination of Senator Kennedy. In this connection, I have examined physical evidence introduced at the trial, including Sirhan's weapon, the bullets and shell cases. I have also studied the autopsy report, the autopsy photographs and pertinent portions. of the trial testimony." "Based on my background and training, upon my experience as f a consulting criminalist, and my studies, examinations, analysis af the data related to the Kennedy assassination, I have arrived at the following findings and opinions: - 33 -