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Post by Michael on Apr 19, 2007 5:28:26 GMT -5
Several things were turned up based upon intense study of the ladder which I consider clues. One such thing was the red paint found on Rail 14. Almost no one ever talks about this and I wanted to bring it up now.
Does anyone find any value in this spot of red paint? Is there even one thing which can be learned from it, however slight, which may assist us in our research?
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 19, 2007 19:29:47 GMT -5
I wondered about this but since my position is that Hauptmann purposefully used materials which he had not previously handled when constructing the ladder I am not sure the paint would reveal too much. It is too bad, though, that it can't be analyzed with the modern science of today.
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Post by Michael on Apr 20, 2007 5:55:24 GMT -5
Koehler's theory was the paint had been used to mark off a "lot" on a cargo shipment. For me I ask what the odds might be that this piece would have been among the very few which would have rec'd this mark. What does anyone think? The Bureau of Chemistry and Soils did a fairly thorough analysis of this paint and concluded it was Iron Oxide this paint would be consistent with cheap "roof" paint. Did they use this type to mark the shipments? Kevin, if this was Hauptmann's thinking, why did he use (2) brand new pieces from a yard (if true) that he worked at? Better yet, why would he use a piece from found in the basement of his house? These two things seem to present a hiccup in your theory.
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 20, 2007 6:53:21 GMT -5
Who knows? Normally whatever marking paint is used is applied to the edges of the lumber only. That's because you don't mark a potential finish side and more importantly, lumber is stacked face down for shipping. That leaves the edges as the visible side of a bundle. That paint could have come from any of the storage sheds as well.
I don't see those two points as a problem simply because the criteria is to use wood that the builder has not previously handled. If tasked with the same job I could, for example, go to my local yard and purchase some lumber confident in the knowledge of how I handled it. I could not feel the same way about any of the wood I have stored. Hauptmann would only need to know that every stick used was not handled by him at any time but the present. In that way he can be reasonably confident that no prints of his will be left to detect. The attic floorboard works with this theory whether you believe as I do that it was in the basement or up in the attic.
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Post by gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:52:00 GMT -5
Lets not forget the word Helbelz or the like written on the ladder. This was considered then as a possible clue to a name on a boat or the like.
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Post by Michael on Apr 20, 2007 19:40:21 GMT -5
Yes, this is probably the better clue between the two: I am still trying to figure out whether or not Koehler was right. I think its important to know. Ok. But why doesn't he simply buy all the lumber from National? What's the point of this "hodge-podge" collection of material?
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 21, 2007 7:33:30 GMT -5
I think in Hauptmann's view;
It's cheap ( even the wood from National may not have been actually purchased by Hauptmann, it is a major supplier for the area) It's common and available It's lightweight It's not likely to have BRH's prints all over It's not all traceable to a single source It's not all traceable to a single builder
Note that in many respects he was correct. The attic floorboard was an exception but one that I don't think BRH ever thought of ( one of the main reasons I think he grabbed it from the Rauch basement). The hand plane marks could have been countered . Anyway the ladder left behind was not going cause the investigators find him. Shoenfeld was closer here than Koehler.
Perhaps "Henebier" and the paint are clues, unfortunately I think if they are, then they are second-hand and not directly related to BRH and the crime.
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Post by Michael on Apr 21, 2007 19:45:45 GMT -5
It could point us to Confederates or, in the alternative, another location. I don't think the ladder was built, or the notes written at the Hauptmann residence.
The "Boad Nelly" note... The Points of reference and the possibilities concerning someone connected to a boat. These clues could help. Koehler once suggested that "Henebier III" could have been the name of a boat.
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 22, 2007 7:47:00 GMT -5
I have been told that "Henebier" is definitely not in Hauptmann's hand. Personally, I am not even convinced that "Henebier III" is what is actually written on that rail. It seems to me that the H and especially the "III" are not letters or numbers and I don't think the two are related directly.
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Post by Michael on Apr 22, 2007 8:50:13 GMT -5
I agree it doesn't appear to be but ....
Me neither. I am not completely sure these are letters. And if they are - what they are. Everyone seems to have their own idea as exemplified by the difference between you and Gary's observations. To me, that last letter looks more like an "s".
I don't think the III is connected to the other. The "H" appears to be because of the physical connection between the letters.
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 23, 2007 12:18:00 GMT -5
My impression upon first seeing this writing was that the "III" and perhaps the "H" were hash marks denoting a number of some item, perhaps the sections or rails. My photo, a copy of Koehler's red filter shot shows a up slightly different than the one you posted, I don't know why. It appears that the stroke on the cross of the "H" goes to what looks like a 6 and stops making me wonder if it shows 6 rails. The "III" has a horizontal strike-out which is why I thought it denoted a count.
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Post by Michael on Apr 24, 2007 5:24:45 GMT -5
Happy Birthday Kevin.
This same sort of thing happened to me when someone was trying to point out the arrow in the FedEx Label.
I see what you are seeing now. I don't think I ever would have unless you pointed this out. Upon closer review it appears the "6" is part of the "H" and the rest is independent. The "H" does look very much like the "III" so once again I think you've gotten this right.
The rest of that "writing" may have been made before or after. I am still not 100% sure what it stands for, whether or not Hauptmann wrote it, or if it was all written by the same person - but your keen observation has changed everything.
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Post by Michael on Apr 25, 2007 5:36:15 GMT -5
My photo is a unique copy of the red filter shot which Koehler "faithfully" reproduced after having traced over an original photo with ink. (By the way - its now our photo so let's hope Allen doesn't 'right-click' it and add it to one of his 'copy-righted' disks he peddles. Remember what Keraga said about 'owning' documentation). Although we can now see, thanks to Kevin, that this writing isn't the exact tree we've (and Koehler) have been barking up, I still think Koehler's observations might be worth looking at here... I was reviewing Koehler's Supplement to his ladder report. Here are some of his suggestions: - The "III" may be the wood grade, which would be 3 Common, and the name itself may be the grader.
- It's handwriting, but while poor, is not illiterate.
- Most obvious interpretation seems to be "Henebier" or a name with the first letter being an initial, for example "H. Enebier."
- This writing was put on the rail before it was found or at least before the silver nitrate was applied.
- Its written in lead pencil which no longer has the characteristic lustrous appearance.
- Where the pencil point tore into the softer fibers the discoloration made by the SN is well down in the cracks.
- It is not likely that anyone would have made such obviously careless and illegible marks on it afterwords.
In his personal papers I found a notation which says: " A Thos. F. Henebry lives at 1311 Clay Ave. Bronx." There's no indication as to when he wrote that. Maybe if we write out all the possibilities concerning what letter is represented we may be able to decipher what's written after the "6"
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 25, 2007 6:21:43 GMT -5
I doubt the "III" is a grader's mark, they usually use a crayon and/or paint. Also, I believe the horizontal line is a "strike-out". Usually any pencil marks on a board are only made by a carpenter. It's our version of the post-it. It could pertain to the job at hand, another job, or even a lunch/coffee order. As to deciphering the rest of the letters, good luck! I have a hard enough time with those damn ransom notes!
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Post by Michael on Apr 25, 2007 16:09:53 GMT -5
Don't give up on me now! This requires a collective effort.... I am trying to follow your lead and think "outside the box" here. For example, I was considering this might not be english. BTW - good call on the pencil marks. Koehler said this as well: On the other hand, lumber crayon rather then a lead pencil is commonly used for grade marking lumber.
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 26, 2007 20:46:45 GMT -5
Try this, show the photo of the writing to anyone unfamiliar with the case. Without the prejudice of "Henebier", German, etc, it is interesting how people translate this writing. It seems a little like a Rorschach picture.
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Jul 4, 2007 10:40:59 GMT -5
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Jul 4, 2007 11:12:39 GMT -5
Kevin, it looks like "Herman." Are you talking about the actual handwriting?
As I understand it, the notations "Henebier" and "III" with the stroke through it, are representations taken from the actual wood, ie. a kind of "artist's rendering" on paper.
Do you see any resemblance or significance in "Herman?"
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Jul 4, 2007 12:59:19 GMT -5
I do, but then handwriting is not my forte. There seems to be something that struck my attention , though. Especially the H.
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