Agree that the Paine rods were essentially worthless as evidence. Question is why make a such fuss over them at that stage.
Wasn't there a number of items recovered from the Paine residence, maybe they were just trying to establish that Oswald was ever at the Paine residence, what proof is there that Oswald was actually in the Paine house?
Did Frazier see Oswald go into the house?
Wasn't Ruth connected to the CIA?
Wasn't Marina connected to the KGB?
Wasn't Ruth's kids 7th level Masons?
And as for Michael Paine he was guilty up to his eyeballs.
So my conclusion is that nobody can be trusted and they wanted proof that Oswald stayed at the Paine residence!
JohnM