◆ SpookStack

1 a a a et RI fntention of the Board of Inquiry to have a chemical expert test this substance appearing on this valve head in order to definitely | ascertain whether or not it is sulphur or other like substance. e fairly large quantity. Commender Rosendahl stated that it is the It will be recalled that the suggestion previously had been made to Commander Rosendahl] by Inspector E, J. Connelley that it might be well for officials at Lakehurst to have an expert from the Bureau of Standards come to Lakehurst and examine the ruins of the dirigible in an effort to ascertain if any foreign substance were present and if so, the nature of the substance. Commander Rosendahl stated that a chemical expert was proceeding to lekehurst some time during May 20, 1937 to conduct an exemination of the foreign sub- stance found by Doctor Duer on the valve head. It was not made clear, at this time by Commander Rosendahl, whether this expert was proceeding from Washington, D. C. and was a employee of the Govern- ment, or whether he was an employee of the New York Police Depart- ment who was being obtained by Detective McCarthy. Commander Rosen- dahl stated that the finding of the foreign substance on the valve head was a mitter of the utmost of confidence and that he did not wish it to be kmowm that he had allowed the Agents to view this piece of evidence. In view of this fact, no further suggestions were made Fie gL AS ek dS ak ey a to Commander Rosendahl ty Agent Malone and myself. Rosendahl stated +3 that it is Doctor Duer's opinion that the substance appearing on the we valve head is undoubtedly sulphur and if this is true, it would then further lend credence to the fact that the cause of the accident might have been sabotage, as in Doctor Duer's opinion, there was no a sulphur substance in the ship, and further that there was no substance mt that was yellow in color on board the ship. For the information of the Bureau, at this time it is not kmown whether the information concerning the passenger Joseph Spach has been put in possession of the New York Police Department, nor whether it is the general knowledge of the sub-committee that is assisting the Board of Inguiry, of which Colonel Martney is a member. It will be recalled that Colone] tartney is a representa- tive of the Copeland Investigating Committee at Lekehurst and, a6 such, has been appointed as a member of the sub-committee which is supposed to function as technical advisors to the Board of Inquiry. It is known, however, that the fact that this foreign substance has been found on one of the valve heads has been put in possession of ee eer en Lea ee