Hairs Different, Scientists Claim

Hairs Different, Scientists Claim

By William Treml

(News Police Reporter)

gl Canadian scientist this
t.rning testified that there ap-
^ared to be "a significant dif-

^'ence" between hair samples

/'

>bmitted as evidence in the

»hn Norman Collins murder
(•ial.

"Dr. Auseklis K. Perkons, a
private scientific consultant, told
assistant defense counsel Neil
Fink that in his opinion hair
samples found in the undercloth-
ing of Karen Sue Beineman
o from a different source

hair samples found in the
basement of State Police Sgt.
David A. Leik.

The prosecution contends that
Cullins killed Miss Beineman in
the b- 'of Leik's home. In
an .. to support that
claim, the prosecution !'•' i
witnesses who say ha;, ,.....,
on the underpants of the, slain
coed and hairs found in the Leik
basement match. The hairs, the
prosecution says, were left on
the floor of the basement after
the Leik children had their hail-
cut.

Dr. Perkons, who is - i-
ing expert in neutron activation
analysis, said two samples of
found in the Leik ''

i!iv "fairly close agi . ...
"I would be inclined to say
these samples came from the
same so -re" " Dr. Perkons
said.

However, the scientist testi-
fied th^t only four of eight ele-
ments fall within the limits of a
"match" with samples of hair
found in Miss Beineman's un-
derclothing.

Dr. Perkons said that micro-
scopic analysis of hair is sub-
jective: and could be classified
as an art, depending to some ex-
tent on- the experience of the

•examiner. He said neutron ac-
tivation analysis brings exami-
lations down to a level of a
science.

'" Fink completed his direct ex-
amination of Dr. Perkons by
having the witness submit a
list of references on hair analy-
sis. Assistant Prosecutor Booker
T. Williams immediately asked
for a recess to give him time to
study the references.

Shortly before noon today
Judge Conlin was in conference
in his chambers with defense
and prosecution attorneys.

Arrangements were app?-"""•*
ly being made for the a;

ance on Monday of Dr. Samuci
Golub of Boston, Mass., who is
to testify for the defense on
hair analysis.

Assistant Prosecutor Williams,
in his cross examination of Dr.
Perkons, asked if it were not
true that there exists a wide
variation in trace analysis of
different samples of hair. Dr.
Perkons said this depends on
the history of the hair. The
scientist also agreed there are
variations of 32 per cent in some
of the hair found in the Leik
family, according to samples
taken from their basement floor.

Dr. Perkons told Fink under
redirect examination he would
not use "probability calcula-
tions" on hair samples in the
Collins case because of the mix-
ture of hairs.

Dr. Robert Jervis, professor
of applied ch"""^' •" at the Uni-
versity of . .., told Fink
under direct examination that
neutron activation analysis is

•••i'i accepted scientific practice
... the examination of hair when
sufficient hair sai; '•• '.'•<• avail-
able. He said in i -in hair
from the basement ot the Leik
home does not have the same
sources as the hair foimd in the
underclothing of Miss Beineman.

He said he -'I there
is "scientific r corn-
par' :"" ••i • \"-' r •

in t, ... ,i...... - ...., ...u...,

more samples should have been

collected from the basement
floor for analysis," Dr. Jervis
told Fink.

"Under cross examination by
Williams, Jervis said there
sometimes is a variation o"''
10 to 50 per cent in el
found in hair from one person s
head.

The Canadian expert agreed
that Dr. Vincent Guinn, who yes-
terday testified for the prosecu-
tion, is among a number of sci-
entists who are knowledgeable
in research projects involving
hair analysis. Williams ques-

'" '^f

tioned Jervis closely on a Ca-
nada rnnrder case in which
Uni f Toronto scientists,
inclLmnifc, Jervis, analyzed hair
samples for the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police. "Is it not true
that in that case only two trace
elements were found in hair
analysis and your publications
about the case reflect this?"
Williams asked. "No, about
seven elements were found in
that study," Jervis replied.

"p"« vn" used only two ele-
mer ompared? " Williams
askeu. <:v, . is said these two ele-

ments were the most easily com-
pared.

Under redirect examination by
Fink, Jervis said that in the
murder case cited by Williams
he did not testify, but two of
his associates did. He said
the case was in 1958, the third
year in attempts to analyze
hair by neutron activation analy-
sis. Williams brought out in re-
cross examination that Jervis
has not personally examined
trace elements by neutron acti-
vation analysis since 1964.