QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS REVIEWER

Remember the following:

1. Graphology - The art of determining individual characteristic

traits of a person based on his or her handwriting is called.

2. Calligraphy - The art of writing letters and words with decorative

strokes.

3. Request writings - Handwriting samples made at the request and

under the supervision of lawyers, the police, document examiners
and investigators for the purpose of comparison with questioned
writing.

4. Collected writings - Samples the individual produced for some

other unrelated reason generally in the course of their day to
day activities.

5. Simulated - An attempt to disguise one's handwriting or copy

someone Else's.

6. Questioned document - Any signature,handwriting,typewriting

or other mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or
doubtful.

7. Tremor - Any abnormal repetitive shaking movement of the body

usually the hands which affects handwriting.

8. Indicators of forgery
1. Blunt starts and stops
2. Penlifts and hesitation
3. Tremor
4. Speed and Pressure
5. Patching

9. Forgery - The action producing a copy of a document, signature,

banknote, or work of art with intent to deceive.

10.Counterfeiting - Made in exact imitation of something valuable

or important with the intention to deceive or defraud.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS:

One in which the facts appearing therein are not true, and are contests
either in whole or in part with respect to its authenticity identity, or origin. It may
be a deed, contract, will election ballots, marriage contract, check, visas,
application from, check writers, certificates, etc.

DOCUMENT

Any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible, partially

visible that may present or ultimately convey a meaning to someone. May be in the
form of pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper.

a.) QUESTIONED DOCUMENT – Any document about which some issue

has been raised or which is under scrutiny, or of doubtful origin.

b.) STANDARD DOCUMENT – Are condensed and compact-set of

authentic specimen which is adequate and proper, should contain a
cross section of the material form it source. They are used by the
document examiner as the basis for his identification or non
identification of the questioned document.

- in the case of People vs. Moreno, CA, 338 D.G. 119, a document is any
written document by which a right is established or an obligation is
extinguished.

- an in the case of People vs. Nillosquin, CA, 48 D.G. 4453, a document is

every deed or instrument executed by person by which some disposition
or agreement is proves, evidenced or set forth.

KINDS OF DOCUMENT:

Under the Philippine law, the following are the four kinds of document:

1. PUBLIC DOCUMENT – any instrument notarized by a notary public or

competent public official with solemnities required by law. (Cacnio vs. Baens, 5
Phil. 742)

2. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT – any instrument issued by the government or its

agents or its officers having the authority to do so and the offices, which in
accordance with their creation, they are authorized to issue and be issued in
the performance of their duties.

3. PRIVATE DOCUMENT – every deed or instrument executed by a private person

without the intervention of a notary public or of any person legally authorized,
by which documents, some disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or set
forth. (US vs. Orera, 11 Phil. 596)

1. COMMERCIAL DOCUMENT – any instrument executed in accordance with the

Code of Commerce or any Mercantile Law, containing disposition of commercial
rights or obligations.
N.B.
- A private document may become a public or official document when it
partakes the nature of a public or official record. So if the falsifications committed
on such document, that is, when it is already a part of the public record,
falsification of public or official document is committed. However, if such private
document is intended to become a part of the public record, even though falsified
prior thereto, falsification of a public document is committed.

WRITINGS WHICH DO NOT CONSTITUTE DOCUMENTS:

- based on some Supreme Court Rulings:

1. A draft of a Municipal payroll which is not yet approved by the proper

authority. (People vs. Camacho, 44 Phil. 484)

2. More blank forms of official documents, the spaces of which are not filled up.
(People vs. Santiago, CA, 48 D.G. 4558)

3. Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any disposition or agreement are not
documents but are more merchandise. (People vs. Agnis, 47 Phil. 945)

QUESTIONED

- Any material which some issue has been raided or which is under
scrutiny.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT

- Document is questioned because its origins, its contents, or the

circumstance and story regarding its production arouse suspicion as to its
genuineness or it may adversely scrutinized simple because it displeases someone.

- Document is said to be questioned when it is disputed or attacked, either in

whole or in part as to its date or age, as to its source or origin, as to the material
used I n their production, and as to its relation in some other document.

CLASSES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS:

1. Documents with questioned signatures.

2. Questioned documents alleged to have been containing fraudulent alterations.

3. Questioned on disputed holographic wills.

a. HOLOGRAPHIC WILL – will entirely written in the handwriting of the

testator.
b. NOTARIAL WILL - signed by the testator acknowledge before a notary
public with 3 witnesses.

4. Documents investigated on the question of typewriting.

a. with a view of ascertaining their source

b. with a view of ascertaining their date
c. with a view of determining whether or not they contain fraudulent
alterations or substituted pages.

5. Questioned documents on issues of their age or date.

6. Questioned documents on issued of materials used in their production.

7. Documents or writing investigated because it is alleged that they identify some

persons through handwriting.

a. anonymous and disputed, and

b. superscriptions, registrations and miscellaneous writings

SUBJECTS CONSIDERED IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION:

A. Handwriting Examination
1. examination of signatures and initials
2. Examination of anonymous letters
3. hand printing examination

B. Typewriting examination

C. Examination of inks

D. Erasures, alterations or obligations, etc.

E. Counterfeiting

DOCUMENT EXAMINATION:

01. OBJECT

a. The object is to furnish the investigator in the field with sufficient

background information concerning document examination.
b. No attempt is made to provide detailed information sufficient to
quality the investigator as an expert document examiner.

02. VALUE –

a. In the commission of a crime, the criminal often finds it necessary

to employ one or more documents in furtherance of his act.
b. In some crimes, such as forgery, the document is an integral part
of the crime.
c. In others, such as false claims against government, documents
often play an important part in proving the commission of the
crime.
d. Proof of the fact that a document was altered or made by a
particular individual may show that:

1. He committed the crime.

2. He had knowledge of the crime.
3. He was present in a certain locality at a specified time.

Evidence that a document was not made by an authorized individual or

machine may prove it to be fraudulent. Latent fingerprints on documents are of
great value to the investigator.

PURPOSE:

A document may be examined for a number of purposes including:

1. Identity of the author.

2. True contents of the document.
3. Origin of the instrument of paper used in making the document.
4. Alterations or erasures which have been made.
5. Authenticity of the document.

THE LOGICAL PROGRESS OF INQUIRY IN DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A conscientious document expert must know that he first step in making

over a case to get the proper identification. The logical progresses of inquiry are:

01. ASCERTAIN THE FACTS: to select “QUESTIONED”, “DENIED” or “ADMITTED”,

“AUTHENTIC”, and “DOUBTFUL” documents.

a. Concerning the Document in Questioned. Is only one signature in

questioned? Is any part of the document in question? Is the date of the
document in questioned?

b. Regarding the Standards:

1. Make sure that there are sufficient numbers of authentic documents for
comparison submitted. If there are inadequate standards, obtain more

2. Determine whether the standards are authentic one, on which a

foundation can be built for admitting them in evidence.

02. ANALYZE THE DETAILS: Synthesize the elements, date, circumstances,

conditions, technical problems and the like.
a. The examiner of the questioned documents, after ascertaining the facts,
should have detailed information as to the circumstances of the document in
questioned, the condition of an alleged writer, or of any condition that may
have affected the writing or any facts that are part of the technical problem
with the document that is submitted to the expert. He should inquire about
the circumstances and conditions as for as the client knows, such as, the
document signed sitting on the wall, on the lap, or lying in bed? Sitting in bed,
lying on his back or side? For example a document could have been signed in
a moving automobile or while having a drink at the bar.

03. QUALITY THE CASE: How much time needed for the examination? Is it
possible to complete the study from the original papers, or is it necessary to
make special photo-enlargements for proper examination? If it is possible to
make arrangement with the client for photo-enlargement, is it advisable to do
so? Photo-enlargements are always useful for demonstrating the reasons on
which the opinion is based, especially in Court.

Scientific Method Questioned Document

The document examiner strives constantly for objectives and the avoidance
of personal bias. It orders knowledge, follows in logical sequences. It classifies
knowledge as the only systematic means to its organization and deduction to
matters of facts. If insist upon verification as the most reliable form of proof. It
utilizes observation or experimentation designed expressly toward the control of
variables. A scientific method therefore consist of the followings processes:

1. Analysis – properties of characteristics observed or measured.

2. Comparison – Properties or characteristics of the unknown determined though

analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known
items.

3. Evaluation – Similar or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each

have a certain value for identification, determined by its likelihood of
occurrence. The weight or significance of each must therefore be considered.
The principle of identification required that when two items contain a
combination of corresponding or similar and specifically oriented characteristic
of such number and significances as to preclude that possibility of their
occurrence by mere coincidence and there are no unaccounted for differences.
It may be concluded that they are same in their characteristics attributed to the
same cause.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED

DOCUMENT

1. Cases are won or lost not go much so in the court room but in the attorney’s
or document expert’s office at the time of presenting and discussing the result
of the preliminary examination. As a matter of fact, preliminary examination
is the key to the final result.

2. Preliminary examination is not a misnomer, for in real consists of painstaking

analysis more than looking of document and expressing an of-hand opinion.

3. A questioned document does not always become a disputed document. A

document in question can be fraudulent in numerous ways. The problem
presented to the expert may arise from a slight suspicion or misleading
circumstances. It happens frequently that the experts find the document valid
and genuine.

4. The conscientious expert takes a case first only for preliminary examination.
If his conclusion or opinion based upon such examination, corroborates the
suspicion which prompted the examinations. If, on the other hand, the
preliminary report does not confirm what the lawyer or clients want to hear,
the matter will be ended then and there.

5. The danger of time element can jeopardize a case; hence, it is always

advisable to consult an expert for preliminary report as early as possible.

6. Regardless of the future date of the trial, as a common sense principle and a
basic requirement, the preliminary investigative step should be followed.

7. In a case concerning questioned or disputed documents, the results of the

preliminary investigation should be discussed at a confidential conference
between the attorney or client and the document expert. The objective
findings of the expert’s preliminary examination should be thoroughly
discussed and should consist mainly of:

a. The proper and fair conclusion concerning the collection of pro’s and
con’s;
b. Sufficient facts;
c. Essential reasons; and
d. Presentation and demonstration of proof and evidence.

8. It is safer to be disappointed by the result of the preliminary examination

than to lose a case in court due to lack of preparation. Remember that the
preparation of a case and the preliminary conference is not a “BATTLE OF
ADVERSARY”, but the assembling and developing of the true facts.

9. THE preliminary examination, if investigation of facts is thoroughly

conducted, is a practical aid to the preparation of the case, as it shown clearly
the points to be proved.

10. The expert’s assistance may ensure the support of key facts and his reasons
can be brought out by the attorney in cross examination to point out the
opponent’s contradictions. The expert’s information may be the foundation of
a settlement.

Principal points for consideration in the PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION of

questioned documents. Please note that these questions may not be applicable in
every case.

01. Is the signature genuine?

02. Is the signature in a natural position?
03. Are the signatures of the witnesses genuine and were they written in the order
as they appear?
04. Does the signature touched the other writings? Or was it written last?
05. Are there remains of pencil or carbon marks which may have been an outline
for the signature of other writings?
06. Is the signature shown in an embossed form on the back of the sheet?
07. Is the writings written before the paper was folded?
08. Is the signature written before or either the paper was folder?
09. Is more than one kind of ink used in the preparation of the document?
10. Are the several sheets of the document exactly the same sizes, thickness and
colors?
11. Is the paper corn, burned or mutilated in any way, and if so, for what
purpose?
12. Is the paper unnecessary soiled or crumpled?
13. Does the document contain abrasion, chemical or pencil erasures, alterations
or substitutions of any kind?
14. Does the document show abrasion, erasure or lack of continuity when viewed
by transmitted light?
15. Has the document been wet in any way and if so, for what purpose?
16. IF typewritten, are the contents of the document all written on the same
machine?
17. Was each sheet written continuously at one time without being removed from
the typewriter?
18. Are there added figures, words, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or pages
written on a different typewriter?
19. Are the perforations agree with the stubs from which the alleged document
came?
20. If the document is a carbon copy, does it conform in the size, position, and
arrangement of maters with original letterheads?
21. If the document is a letter, does postmark, postage stamps, manner of sealing
and opening of envelope have any significance?
22. Are there indentations in the paper from handwriting or typewriting on a sheet
placed above the paper examined?
23. Is the rubber-stamp impression if any appears made from a genuine stamp?
24. Is the attached seal of proper date or the seal impression made from a genuine
seal and is it made in proper sequence?

REASONS FOR UTILIZING A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXPERT:

1. By utilizing the services of a Questioned Document expert who is able to
develop facts and present evidence based on modern scientific methods of
examination, countless tragedies can be avoided.

2. Trial fiscal or judges are infrequently confronted with document cases.

Consequently, they do not possess the knowledge of the documents expert’s
ability of the various methods that exist for determining forgeries. Many
lawyer’s are unaware of exactly what a document examiner is capable of doing
and what he is able to determine from his detailed examination.

3. A qualified and experienced document expert can render a great variety of

services that are probably entirely now and unknown to most practicing
lawyers. The expert’s technical knowledge and its proper application can
provide the court with evidence that can change the outcome of the case.

4. If there is even the slightest doubt about the authenticity of a document and
the lawyer does not know how to establish the validity, an experienced
document expert, with his unique qualification, can assist the attorney in
discovering, assembling, and preparing the facts and in presenting the proper
evidence in an effective and convincing manner.

5. There are numerous instances where it would be imperative for the lawyer to
establish the validity of a document in the early stage of the case even though
there is no indication of any types of fraud. It is most necessary to verify the
genuineness of a document at the beginning of the case and to be thoroughly
and fully prepared for the trial well in advance instead of calling in the expert in
the last minute.

6. No matter what the document “LOOK LIKE”, what the client “THINKS ABOUT
IT” the lawyer should take precautionary stops to explore and discuss every
angle of the disputed document with the document expert.

THE DANGER OF OF-HAND OPINIONS:

01. A conscientious export should not be influenced to form an of-hand

opinion, no mater how urgent a case seems to be, no mater how a client
may influence him, no matter how much money sis being is being offered
for the “LATE HOURS ORS WORKING DURING THE WEEKEND”.

02. An expert can never afford to “just take a look” and express an opinion, or
opinion, or arrive at ANY conclusion. This is permissive only for a layman.

03. An expert always needs time to make a painstaking and careful

examination needs enough time to use the necessary instruments and
optical tools; or time to make proper photo enlargements for the
examination and study of the case.
04. It has happened in some cases that an off-hand opinion, has sent an
innocent man to prison, while a murderer was given a chance to escape.

THE CARE OF DISPUTED DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:

01. It is a basic requirement, not only a common sense principle, that when a
document becomes disputed and deposited in court or with the attorney, in
order to maintain its original condition, it should be kept UNFOLDED AND
IN A SEPARATE, PROPER SIZE ENVELOPE OR FOLDER. This is true not
only for the disputed documents, but for many other important
documentary evidence.

02. It is also advisable and preferable in all instances that right after the
document becomes disputed, questioned or important, to make no only the
usual photo static copy, but also a proper photograph or photo-
enlargement, done it possible by the document expert or under the
supervision of the document expert.

03. When working in the preparation of case, it is often necessary for the
lawyer or court to handle repeatedly the disputed document. Should this
be necessary, instead of handling and working with the original document,
the photo-graph should be used.

04. Every touching, folding, refolding or pointing to certain parts of a

document, can change the physical condition of the case. For example,
touching with wet hands or dingers can leave marks that create a
suspicion of previous pencil marks, or experiments as proof of attempted
forgery.

05. Pointing a document with any other instruments, such as sharp stick, can
cause slight damage with although it can not be seen by the naked eye,
can show definite marks under the microscope or on the enlarged
photograph.

06. NO test should be made to alter the condition of the document; for
example, the old-fashioned ink test, which was used to determine the age
of the ink-writing.

07. Should any test be necessary, insist that it should be done in the presence
of a chemist, or in court, or in front of both parties involved the case.

CARE AND PRESERVATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

1. Preserve the document precisely in the condition in which it was originally

received.

2. Do not underscore, make careless markings, fold, erase, impress rubber

stamps; sticker, write on, or otherwise alter any handwriting.
3. Do not smear with fingerprints power or chemicals.

4. DO not carry handwriting document carelessly in wallet, note book or brief

case in grounds of interviews.

5. Do maintain in consequential document, unfolded and in transparent plastic

envelope or evidence preserver.

CARE, HANDLING AND PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS

Serious curtailment of a certain technical examinations are caused by

improper or careless of a disputed document. This conditions most frequently is
brought about by ignorance of the consequences of mishandling. The simple act of
repeatedly removing and replacing the letter in its envelope can cause a notice able
determination.

The following are the DO’s and DON’T’s in the CARE HANDLING AND
PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS:

DO’s

1. Keep the documents unfolded in prospective envelopes.

2. Take disputed papers to Document Examiner’s Laboratory at the First
Opportunity.
3. If storage is necessary, keep in dry place away from excessive heat strong light.

DON’T’s

1. Do not handle dispute papers excessively or carry them in pocket for a long
time.
2. Do not mark disputed documents (either by consciously writing instruments or
dividers.
3. Do not mutilate or damage repeated refolding, creasing, cutting, tearing or
punching for filing purposes.
4. Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to make chemical or other tests;
do not treat or dust for latent fingerprints before consulting a document
examiner.

A disputed document subject to scientific examination certainly deserves

better than average care. Yet only normal generally keeps a paper in good
conditions and prevents damage or deterioration between the times it first comes
under suspicion and when it is turned over to the document examiner.

Charred documents which are extremely fragile must be handled as little as

possible and transporting them to the laboratory required extra-ordinary care.
With forethought and caution they can be brought from the distant fire scene to
the laboratory.

Charred document should be moved in the container in which they are

found whenever possible. When the fragments art not packed tightly, they should
be padded with lightweight absorbent cotton. If jarring can not be entirely
eliminated jarring the box must be kept to a minimum. Transferring the fragments
to another container should be done by an experienced person. No attempt should
be made to unfold the burnt papers or to flatten curled sheets. Decipherment of a
charred document which has been shattered into small fragments is almost
impossible.

Thus every precaution must be taken in handling and transporting the

charred residue in order to prevent the large pieces from becoming unnecessarily
and badly broken. The fragment must be hold firmly without crushing and present
movement or shifting when finally packed in a sturdy container.

HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION:

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

HANDWRITING – It is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used as

whole, combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits
acquired by long, continued painstaking effort.

NATURAL HANDWRITING – any writing executed normally without any attempt to

control or alter its identifying habits and usual quality of execution.

DISGUISED WRITING – a writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing
habits in hope of hiding his identity, writing skill is poorer, change in slant,
size, altered of capital letters.

STOKE – series of lines or curves written in a single letter.

– one of the lines of an alphabet or series of lines or curves within a single
letter.
– The path traced by the pen on the paper.

STROKE STRUCTURE – are series of lines or curves within the letters o the
alphabet.

TERMINOLOGY CONCERNING STROKED CHARACTERISTICS

01. ARC – a curved formed inside the top curve of loop, as in small letters “h”, “m”,
“n”, “p”.

02. ARCH – any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small letters which
contain arches.
03. ASCENDER – is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.

04. BASELINE – maybes actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary

alignment of writing.

- Is the ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing rests.

05. BEADED – preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occur in

capital letters.

06. BEARD – is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a letter.

07. BLUNT – the beginning and ending stroke of a letter.

(Without hesitation)

08. BODY – The main portion of the letter, minus the initial of stroke. Terminal
strokes and the diacritic, of any. Ex: the oval of the letter “O” is the body,
minus the downward stroke and the loop.

09. BOWL – a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into “O”.

10. BUCKLE/BUCKLEKNOT – a loop made as flourished which is added to the

letters, as in small letter “k & a”, or in capital letter “A”, “K”, “P”.

– The horizontal end sloop stroke that are often used to complete a letter.

11. CACOGRAPHY – a bad writing.

12. CALLIGRAPHY – the art of beautiful writing.

13. DESCENDER – opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter.

14. DIACRITIC – “t” crossing and dots of the letter “i” and “j”. The maters of the
Indian script are also known as diacritic signs.

– An element added to complete a certain letter, either a cross bar or a dot.

15. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE – the end stroke of a letter.

16. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP – a small loop or curved formed inside the letters.

This may occur inside the oval of the letters “a, d, o”.

– The small loop form by stroke that extend in divergent direction as in

small letters.

17. FOOT – the lower part which rest on the base line. The small letter “m” has
three feet, and the small letter “n” has two feet.
18. HABITS – any repeated elements or details which may serve to individualize
writing.

19. HESITATION – the tem applied to the irregular thickening of ink which is
found when writing slows down or stop while the pen take a stock of the
position.

20. HIATUS/PEN JUMP – a gap occurring between a continuous stroked without

lifting the pen. Such as occurrence usually occurs due to speed. The hiatus
may also be stated as pen jump.

– May be regarded also as special form of pen lift.

– Maybe regarded as a special form of pen lift distinguish in a ball gaps in
the appear in the writing.

21. HOOK – it is a minute curve or a ankle which often occurs at the end of the
terminal strokes. It is also sometimes occur at the beginning of an initial
stroke. The terminal curves of the letter “a”, “d”, “n”, ‘m”, “p”, “u”. is the hook.
In small letter “w” the initial curve is the hook.

– The minute involuntary talon like formation found at he commencement of

an initial up stroke or the end terminal stroke.

22. HUMP – upper portion of its letter “m”, “n”, “h”, “k”

– The rounded outside of the top of the bend stroke or curve in small letter.

23. KNOB – the extra deposit of ink in the initial and terminal stroke due to the
slow withdrawal of the pen from the paper (usually applicable to foundation
pen).

24. LIGATURE/CONNECTION – the stroke which connects two stroke of letter.

– characterized by connected stroke between letters.

25. LONG LETTER – those letters with both upper and lower loops.

26. LOOP – An oblong curve such as found on the small letter “f”, “go” “l” and
letters stroke “f” has two. A loop may be blind or open. A blind loop is usually
the result of the ink having filled the open space.

27. MAJUSCULE – a capital letter.

28. MINUSCULE – a small letter.

29. MOVEMENT IMPULSES – this refer to the continuity of stroke force writing is
usually produce by disconnected and broken movement more motion or
movement impulses than genuine writing.

30. OVAL – the portion of the letter which is oval in shape. The small letter stroke.
“a”, “d”, “g”, & “q” contain oval letter “a”, “t”, while coming down ………………

31. PATCHING – retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written

stroke. Careful patching is common defect on forgeries.

32. PEN LIFT – an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing

instrument from the paper.

33. RETRACE/RETRACING – any part of a stroke which is super imposed upon

the original stroke. Ex: vertical stroke off the letter “d”, “t” while coming
downward form the top to bottom will have retracing strokes.

– Any stroke which goes back over another writing stroke. In natural
handwriting there may be instances in which the pen doubled back over
the courses.

34. SHOULDER – outside portion of the top curse, small letter “m” has three
shoulders and the small letter “n” has two, the small letter “h” has one
shoulder.

35. SPUR – s short initial or terminal stroke.

36. STAFF – any major long downward stroke of a letter than is the long downward
stroke of the letter “b”, “g”.

37. STEM OR SHANK – the upright long downward stroke that is the trunk or
stalks, normally seen in capital letters.

38. TICK/HITCH – any short stroke, which usually occurs at the top of the letters.

39. TREMOR – a writing weakness portrayed by irregular shaky stroke is

described as writing tremor.

OTHER TERMS RELATED TO HANDWRITING EXAMINATIONS

01. ALIGNMENT – is the relation of parts of the whole of writing or line of

individual letters in words to the baseline. It is the alignment of words. The
relative alignment of letters.

02. CHARACTERISTICS – is any properly or mark which distinguish and in

document examination commonly called to as the identifying details.
KINDS OF CHARACTERISTICS:

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – not all characteristics encountered in document

examination are peculiar to a single person or thing and one which is
common to a group may be described as class characteristics.

INDIVIDUAL OR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS – Characteristics which is highly

personal ors peculiar and it is unlikely to occur in other instances.

03. COLLATION – side by side comparison.

– Collation as used in this text means the critical comparison on side by side
examination.

2. Standards writings admitted

– It the party whom a handwriting standard is to be admits the geniuses of

the standard, the could hold that further proof of genuineness is
unnecessary.

3. record Maintained in Regular Courses of Business as Standard Writings

– Generally, the context of record maintained in the regular course of

business are admissible as an exemption to the hearsay rule, as proof of
their contents.

– However their acceptance as such not in itself establish the writings as a

standard for comparison, Circumstantial evidence, particularly in civil
cases, has been held to be sufficient for comparison.

4. Government Document as standard Writings

– Signatures of government officials on document treated as authentic and

produced from official archives maybe admitted in evidence as standard of
comparison whether being as issued as to the forgery oft the signature of
the same persons on other documents.

5. Ancient Writings

– The courts have admitted writings on ancient document as standard for

comparison.

6. Other Writing Standards

– Among writings admissible as standard are signature on spelling motion or
other instruments, such as an appearance bond, which may without
further proof of genuineness be used as a standard.

7. Familiarity Sometimes establish writings

– Testimony to the genuineness of a collection of standard of writing by

witnesses who are familiar with a person’s handwriting.

8. Opinion Evidence

– the court seem to be in general agreement that proof of the genuineness of

a standard cannot established by the opinion of experts testifying from a
comparison of the writing sought to be used as standard with another
writing.

9. Genuineness of standard decided by court

– The sufficient of the proof of the genuineness of a standard of writing is a

matter to be decided by the court.

HOW TO PREPARE AD COLLECT HANDWRITING STANDARDS

1. The amount of Standard written.

a. Signature – five to twenty five
b. Writing – usually four or five pages of natural writing.

2. Similarly of Subject Matter.

a. Compare conventional copy book from with conventional copy-book form
standard; and compare highly individualized questioned signature with
highly individualized standards signatures.
b. Extended writing – Determine whether the questioned writing is purely
cursive, or script, or block, or combination of the three or two styles of
writing.

3. Relative Dates of the questioned and the standards writing standard signatures
or writing must be those written five (5) yeas before or five (5) after the date of
the questioned signature or writing.

4. Condition under which both the questioned and the standard are prepared.

a. Paper rested on the knee

b. Standing
c. Sitting
d. Lying down
e. Moving vehicle
– The document examiner must make a brief investigation into the condition
under which a document was written.

5. Writing Instrument and Paper

a. Paper – Determine whether the questioned writing was written in the

ruled pad paper or plain paper.
b. Writing Instrument – Determined whether the questioned writing was
written in ball point pen, fountain pen, etc.

For Requested and Dictated Standards

1. Material must be dictated to the suspect or suspects

2. Carefully selected the dictated that. Do not dictate the entire content of the
anonymous letter.
3. Adequate amount of writing must be included.
4. Some portion of the dictation should be repeated at least three times.
5. Writing instrument and paper should be similar to those used in preparing the
questioned document.
6. The dictation should be interrupted at intervals.
7. Normal writing conditions should be arranged.

As mush as possible the combination of the collected and requested

standards must be used in the comparison in order to obtain an adequate and
accuracy of the opinion.

What are the indications of disguise in writing? The more common disguise are the
following:

1. Abnormally large writing

2. Abnormally small writing
3. Alteration in slant (usually backhand)
4. Usually variation in slant within a single unit of writing (with in a single
signature)
5. Printed forms instead of cursive forms
6. Diminution in the usual sped of writing
7. Unusual widening or restriction of lateral spacing

Kinds of Disguises:

1. Change of slant – from right to left or vice versa.

2. Change of letter, either from cursive to block style or vice versa.
3. Change from cursive (conventional style) to block form or vice versa.
4. Change of style from small to big or vice verse.
5. Deteriorating one’s handwriting.
6. Using the wrong hand (AMBIDEXTROUS).

Evidence of Alcoholic Intoxication in Handwriting includes:

1. Bizarre letter forms
2. Greatly enlarged writing
3. Illegible forms and writing generally
4. Uneven baseline
5. Meaningless blobs or extraneous stroked in the writing
6. Inconsistency in slant of writing
7. Inconsistency in the form of repeated letters

Importance of Contemporaneous Standard:

For the reason that characteristic and qualities of handwriting gradually

change with many writes, the alleged date of a writing in question and the actual
date of all standard writing should be known, because of this possibility of change
the standard always should include all that the available within a certain definite
period, including that item when it is claimed the questioned writing was written.

If it is alleged that writing was produced under unusual surrounding of any

kind, this fact should be known by the examiner. If the writer was subjects to
unusual changes in physical or mental condition due to age, disease or personal
habits, or through and cause, this facts also should be known. Certain general
qualities in handwriting necessarily are affected by conditions of the writer or
surrounding the writer and often it is necessary to determine whether the written
results are in harmony with alleged condition.

Handwriting Identification

Principal of Identification:

When any two specimens of handwritings contain a combination of

corresponding or similar and specifically oriented characteristics of such number
and significance as to preclude the possibility of their occurrence by more
coincidence, and there are no unaccounted for difference, it may be concluded that
they are similar in writing characteristics and therefore written by one and the
same person.

Writing as a whole is a combination of certain forms which are the visible

result of a series of controlled successive movement that follows the fixed grooves
of habits.

These writing habits like habits of speech become so automatic and

unconscious that even by the most strenuous effort, it is almost impossible to
change them. It is one of the most permanent of human habits.

Every developed and mature handwriting shows peculiarities which is

combination of all various and their cannot be exactly duplicated in the writing of
any other person.
General Characteristics
These characteristics refer to those habits are part of basic writing system or
which are modifications of the system of writing found among so larges a group of
writes that have only slight identification value.

They might include an open top small letter “t” which occur in any rapid
careless writings, proportion of all letters to medium letters, slant connection and
combination of letters

General similarities can certainly for a part of the basic identification but
here must be a very unique combination of them and of individual or personal
writing indicate the class or genus or the difference that does not differentiate
maybe prove lack of guanines.

Individual Characteristics:

They are characteristics which are the result of the writer’s muscular
control, coordination, age health, and nervous temperament, frequency of writing,
personality and character. No two persons write alike. They are found in the
following:

1. Writing movement – the character of writing movement is a primary

determinant of writing speed. It makes more time to make a long one. More
time to form a small solid letter than a form a large “racy one”. A short, steady
line suggests a firmly controlled and purposeful movement. A feather edged
“broken line” suggest a slowly executed movement.

2. Form and design if letters – all differences in forma and design of letter are
indicative of non-identity.

Similarities of form are not indicative of identity they concern unusual forms
or what are termed deviations from the normal. Similarities are bound to occur in
different writing but such similarities exist only in letters which are normal in
from, which facts bear no significance

Those which occur only occasionally are next importance. The writing
patterns of letters has three dimensions, width, depth, height.

3. Muscular control or motor control – is characterized by free smooth, well

regulated movement produced without tension or impulsive variation.
Deviation from through motor or muscular control are:

a. Loose writing

- This is characterized by too much freedom of movement and lack of

regular. This is noticed especially in tall letters forms.

b. Restrained writing
- There is lack of freedom and inhibited movements. It gives you the
impression that every stroke was made with great difficulty. This writing is
small. There is distortion of letter forms which may lead to illegibility.
However small writing is not always evidence of restrained movement
fatigue during long periods of writings. True full-arm movement can be
employed only under rather ideal conditions such as while sitting at a
clean table or desk.

4. Motor Coordination – the efficient way which the various muscles writing
work together to produce written forms. A writer with a good motor
coordination writes without mental strain, forming his letters without
conscious attention. The hand moves as soon as the mind conceives a word to
write and the word is there on the paper. There are times when one set of
muscles do not properly yields to the pressure of the other set muscles
especially at junction and the conflict hinders the normal flow of the pen. This
disco-ordination of writing muscles leave a distinct mark which is visible
under magnification. Two writers of the same class may not have equal
coordination or disco ordination their writings. Each write has his own with
regard to alignment and the relative position of the letters.

Faculty coordination ids characterized by the following:

(a) Wavering and very irregular line or stroke with uncertain and unsteady
progress. There is no freedom of movement along the strokes of the letter-
forms. The writing is obviously very slow and is typical of the writing of a
young child or for any one who painstakingly draws a picture of an unfamiliar
form.

(b) Angular Line – a very common fault of coordination. Curves, large and small
are not smoothly rounded and there is no gradual change of direction. On the
contrary, and angle marks almost every change are direction in the line.
Investigation has disclosed that angles are accompanied by a lessening of
writing speed.

5. Shading – In forearm movement where considerable speed is used, there is

ordinarily but slight shading if any. The shading impulse here is distributed
over a considerable length of the line whereas I writing produced with a slow
motion as in the finger movement the shading often has a “bunchay”
appearance that is to say, the maximum width of the shaded line is attained
abruptly. The shading impulse is firmly grounded and difficult to overcome. It
is basic of its degree and location. Some writers place the greatest emphasis
on the straight strokes, others on the curves.

6. Skill – legibility and symmetry are the basis upon which ones skill or pictorial
aspect is judged. Skill is classified as poor, medium and good.
7. Alignment – good alignment is obtained by a forearm movement in which the
elbow joint is used as the center or pivot of lateral motion and arm is held at
right angles to the line or writing. This set-up allows the hand and forearm to
swing left or right in an arc and also permitting the forearm to rotate so that
the palm may be turned downward or upward.

8. Pen – pressure – one of the most reliable indication of naturalness in

handwriting is the rhythmical and fluent application of pressure and release
of pressure, This indicate that pressure is always in a state of change moving
form light to heavy or form to light.

9. Connection – the connective form determine the essential expression of the

writing pattern. It is the main indicator of his neuromuscular function.
Connections used may be rounded like the garland and the arcade, angular
and threads. They form the letter and ink them within the words.

10. Pen hold – This location of the shading can give clue to how the fountain pen
is held. If the pen is held pointing to the right shoulder, shading appear fairly
high or long the sides of, circular form. This is shown in small letter “d” .If the
pen is held pointing away from the right shoulder, shading tends to appear at
the top and the bottom of circular formation such as small letter ”o”, ”a”, and
“d”

11. Rhythm – This characteristic’s is an importance indicator of a natural writing

movement. It is caused by a contraction and relaxation of group of muscles in
full coordination. Pressure is always in a state of change from light to heavy
or vice – versa.

12. Disconnections or pen lifts between letters – this characteristic’s may be due
to lack of movement control or closely related to design of letters and habits
controlling this characteristics were acquired when writing was learned. Many
free writers don’t stop the notion of the pen every time it is raised so that the
notion itself may be learning to write are taught to take up the pen before the
small letters “a” , “c” ,’ “d” , “g” , “q” and “t” and the design of certain styles of
the these small letters requires that the pen be raised.

13. Speed – sped of writing which is correlated with naturalness of handwriting is

frequently shown by slurring of letter forms.

Indication of speed writing:

(a) Smooth, unbroken strokes and rounded forms.

(b) Frequent sings or tendencies to the right.
(c) Marked uncertainly as to the location of the dots of small letters “I”, “j”
and crosses of small letter “t”
(d) Increased spontaneity of words or small letter “t” connected with the
following words.
(e) Letters curtailed or degenerated almost to illegibility towards the end of
the words
(f) Wide writing- width of letters is greater than the connecting spaces
adjoining it.
(g) Great difference in emphasis between up strokes and down strokes.
(h) Marked simplification of letters especially capital letters.
(i) Rising line
(j) Increased pen pressure
(k) Increase in the margin to lift at the beginning of the line.

Indication of slow writing:

(a) Wavering forms and broken strokes

(b) Frequent signs or tendencies to the left
(c) Conspicuous certainly as to the location of the dots of small letters “I”,
“J”, or “t” crosses with scarcely perceptible deviation from the intended
direction.
(d) Frequent pauses by meaningless blobs, angles, divided letters and
retouches.
(e) Careful execution of detail of letters, toward the end or names.
(f) Narrow writing
(g) No difference in emphasis in upstroke and down strokes
(h) Ornamental or flourishing connections
(i) Sinking lines

14. Slant as a writing habit- under certain conditions, slant becomes highly
significant and with many writers in one of the most fixed with habits. Slight
divergence in the few strokes of single signature may be very strong evidence
of lack of genuineness when such divergence is part of a combination of
character pointing to a writer of a difference system of writing from that
imitated. A slight but persistent difference in slant in two writings of
considerable length, may be evidence difference might be the result of
intended disguise.

15. Proportion of letters as an individual characteristic or habit. This

characteristic refer to the proportion of the upper and lower loops of capital
and small letters and the medium letters.

16. Quality of stroke or line quality- the line or stroke itself in writing shows the
quality of speed and continuity of motion with which it is made, the degree of
muscular skill employed in the operation, the relation of the pen point to the
surface of the paper, the nature of the movement employed in making the
stokes as shown by its force and freedom or its hesitation.

17. Variation – there are trivial or superficial differences which can be observed
when any two genuine signature or writings are compared with each other.
These writings will differ somewhat in size as well as in certain unimportant
particulars in deign and execution because of the fact that the human writing
mechanism is not an entirely accurate reproducing instrument like a stamp
print but produces and inevitable variation within a certain filed. The degree
of this variation varies with different writers.

Causes of Variation:

a. Function of some external condition i.e., influence of the available space.

b. Abnormal conditions such as physical injury, toxic effects inebriation’s emotion

and deception.

c. Position of letter – all the letters are to be found initially, medially, and finally.
The fact of different position especially in combination with another and
particular letters may modify any of them in some way or another.

Individual Characteristics or Habits

These individual characteristics can still be classified into the following:

a. Permanent characteristics – this characteristic’s can be found always in the

handwriting.

b. Common or usual – this characteristic can be found in a group of writers who

studied the same system of writing.

c. Occasional _ this characteristic’s is only found occasionally in the handwriting.

d. Rare – this characteristic is special to the writer and perhaps found only in one
or two persons in a group of one hundred individuals.

Fundamental Law as which govern the conclusion in handwriting identification

problem:

(a) A signature naturally and genuinely written under normal condition contain all
of the individual habits of the writer’s signature which are put into it in a way
that is consistent with his writing ability and the writing quality of the
signature.

(b) A signature is fraudulent if it contains habits, qualities or elements which are

significantly different from genuine signature written under similar conditions.

Probative Value of Writing Characteristics

It is impossible to illustrate and define all the thousands of actual and

possible individual qualities and characteristics of writing and weight and measure
their comparative values for the reason that these values differ greatly with
different writers and the varying conditions. It is very important to have an
understanding of the principles by which the principles by which the force and
significance of characteristics are to be measured.

Some general principles can be state that apply in most cases:

(a) Those identifying or differentiating characteristics are of the most divergent

from the regular system or national of a particular handwriting under
examination.
(b) Those repeated characteristics which are inconspicuous should first be sought
for and should be given the most weight, for these are likely to be unconscious
that they would not intentionally be omitted when the attempt is made to
disguise and would not be successfully copies from the writing of another when
is attempt.

(c) Ordinary system or national features and element are not alone sufficient
characteristics necessarily have as evidence of identity as stated above, it
present in sufficient number an din combination with individuals qualities and
characteristics.

Correct Conclusion:

To reach the conclusion that two writings are written by the same hand,
characteristics or “dents” and scratches” in sufficient to exclude the theory of
accidental coincidence; to reach the conclusion that wrings are by different, we
may find numerous likeliness in class characteristics but divergences in individual
characteristics or may find divergences in both the divergences must be something
more than mere superficial difference.

If the conclusion of identifying is reached, there must not remain significant

differences that cannot reasonably be explained. This ignoring of the differences or
the failure properly to account for them is the cause of the errors in handwriting
identification.

A Document examiner usually observes a scientific approach in the

examination of the disputed writing. The possibility that handwriting being
identifiable and separated from others largely depends on any individuals who
have developed the complex structural product of modifying normal practice and
adopting to the needs and abilities. Although there is no specific approach, the
following are always observed.

A. Recognition of handwriting characteristics – One must acquire the ability to

distinguish what are the style and individuals characteristics. Distinguish
characteristics which are normal and disguise.

B. Comparison of handwriting characteristics – Make allowance to the presence of

natural variation in handwriting.
C. Evaluation of handwriting characteristics for opinion purposes. Evaluate the
significance and number of similarities and dissimilarities in handwriting.

Examples of Common characteristics

a. Ordinary copy-book form

b. Usual systematic slant
c. Ordinary scale of promotion or ratio
d. Conventional spacing

How individual characteristics are acquired

a. Outgrowth of definite teaching

b. Result of imitation
c. Accidental condition or circumstances
d. Expression of certain mental and physical trains of the writer as affected
by education, by environment and by occupation.

Examples of some of the individual characteristics

a. Hook to the right and hook to the left

b. Shape, position, size and angle of “1” dots “t” crossing
c. Idiosyncrasies
d. Bulbs and distinctive initial and final pen pressure
e. Embellishment, added strokes and free movement endings
f. Abbreviation of letters
g. Simple and compound curves and graceful endings
h. Labored movement producing ragged lines
i. Terminal shadings and forceful endings
j. Presence and influence of foreign handwriting, with the introduction of
Greek “e”

MOVEMENT OR MANNER OF EXECUTION

1. Kinds of movement
a. Forearm
b. Whole Arm

2. Quality of movement
a. Clumsy, Illiterate and halting
b. Hesitating, and painful due to weakness and illness
c. Strong, heavy and forceful
d. Nervous and irregular
e. Smooth, flowing and rapid

3. Speed
a. slow and drawn
b. deliberate
c. average
d. rapid

4. Different movements employed affect writing in:

a. Smoothness
b. Directness
c. Uniformity
d. Continuity of strokes
e. Connecting or curves between letters

POINTS TO CONSIDER IN EXAMINING EXTENDED WRITING

(Anonymous, threat, poison letter)

1. Uniformity – Does the questioned writing have smooth, rhythmic and free-
flowing appearance

2. Irregularities – Does the questioned writing appear awkward, ill-formed slowly

drawn?

3. Size and Proportion – Determine the height go the over-all writing as well as the
height go the individual strokes in proportion to each other.

4. Alignment – Are they horizontally aligned, or curving, uphill or downhill.

5. Spacing – Determine the general spacing between letters, spacing between

words. Width of the left and right margins, Paragraph indentions.

6. Degree of Slant – Are they uniform or not.

7. Formation and Design of the letters, “t” – bars, “l” dots, loops, circle formation.

8. Initial, connecting and final strokes.

HANDPRINTING:

The procedure and the principal involved is similar to that of cursive

handwriting, the different steps in the preparation of both collected and requested
standards should be applied in this problems which is a determination of the
author of questioned hand printed writings.

Specimens must be hand printed and reflect the style of printing habitually
used by the writer. Instructions should be given to print capitals, and small
letters. At least the investigator should obtain about ten sheets of paper containing
the subjects handwriting. The materials of course should approximate the
materials used in the questioned hand printed document.

In block capital and manuscript writings, personal individual rest

principally in design, selection, individual letter construction, size ratios and
punctuation habits. The initial step in handwriting examination is to determine
whether the questioned hard writing and standards were accomplished with

1. a fluency of movement and a certainly of execution indicative of familiar with

and a measure or skill in handwriting of conversely.

2. a conscious mental effort and non-rhythmic execution denoting either

unfamiliarly with or disguise in the subjects handwriting.

INVESTIGATION AND DETAILED EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES

SIGNATURE

- Is the name of the person written by him/her in a document as a sign of

acknowledgement.

FORGERY – Forgery is, strictly speaking, legal term which involves not only a non-
genuine document but also and intent room however, it is used
synonymously with fraudulent signature or spurious document.

SPURIOUS SIGNATURE – A Fraudulent signature in which there was n o apparent

attempt at stimulation or limitation. It is a common form of forgery
encountered at stipulation or limitation.

TRACED FORGERY – Any fraudulent signature which was executed by actually

following the outline of a genuine signature with a writing instrument.

SIMULATED OR FREEHAND IMITATION FORGERY – a fraudulent signature which

was executed purely by simulation rather than by tracing the outline of a
genuine signature can be referred as freehand imitation or simulated
forgery.

ANACHRONISM – the sometimes wrong is time and in place.

-this means that the forger has trouble matching the paper, ink, or writing
materials to the exact date it was supposed to have been written.

SIGNATURE – THE name of a person written with his own hand in a document as
a sign of acknowledgement.

GUIDED SIGNATURES – A signature which is executed while the writer’s hand or

arm is steadied in any way is classified as a guide or assisted signature.
Under the law of most jurisdictions such as a signature authenticates a
legal document, provided it show that the writer requested assistance.
Guided Signature are most commonly written during a serious illness or on
a deathbed.

DEFINITION OF SIGNATURE:
A name or a mark that a person puts at the end of a document to attest that
he is its author or that he ratifies its contents. Many persons who done a lot of
writing transform their name. Letters become simplified or condensed, complex
movement appears. This is now a signature. It is mark but this mark is now
personal. It is personal combination of stroke in which it is possible to recognize
the writer.

Signatures should be considered not just from the point of view whether
there is any difference whatever. The problem is to form a judgment first about the
normal range of variation in the standard and then to consider whether the
questioned signature has significant similarity and whether any difference you
observe is within the range of normal variation established by the standards or
whether variations shown by several signatures.

THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURE IS CONSIDERED A SPECIALIZED BRANCH

OF HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

01. A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore most
fluently written.

02. A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other details.

03. A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other details.

04. A signature is word written without conscious thought about the mechanics
of its production and is written automatically.

05. A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.

A. Genuine Signature which the written refuses to admit not genuine.

Generally, the indications of forgery are the presence of tremors, retouching,

and poor-line quality, when this are not present, but instead the obvious feature
are the one absent, and provided that the minute details are presents or correctly
reproduced.

Produced, the probability is of genuineness

B. Genuine Signature – Deliberately Modified

Examination of this kind of signature is confident discover that the

modification is only on the prominent features of the letter designs that are
pointed out by disclaimer, while the rest appear to be normal. There are unnatural
tremors and retouching. The minute details in genuine signatures are present.
C. Forged signature without the attempt to a copy a genuine model known as
spurious

This kind of forgery is easily detected as fraudulent in view of the fact that it
is widely different from the other genuine signature even in general appearance
alone. The only question is to tackle the determination of the probably writer of
the forgery. Seldom are these fraudulent signature disguised.

D. Forged signature produced by tracing

The obvious fault of this kind of forgery is the presence of tremor, retouching
the poor line of quality. This is not handwriting in the real, since but is
drawing.

E. Simulation or Free – hand forgery

There are however, simulated forgeries written by experts forgers which are
passed as genuine, safely because the untrained eyes arts only suitable to judge
the signature by the general appearance or pictorial effects, but none of the
minutes.

SUGGESTED STEP IN THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURE

Signature in documents must be examined exhaustively and scrutinized in

every details to avoid error in judgment.

The difference between the layman’s observation and those with special
training in questioned documents examination lies on gross features in the
signatures, while the letter makes an exhaustive study of the minute details.

STEP 1 – Place the questioned and the standard signatures in the junta-position
or slide-by-side for simultaneous viewing of the various elements and
characteristics.

STEP 2 – The first elements to be considered is the handwriting movement or the

manner of execution (slow, deliberate, rapid, etc). the fundamental
difference existing between a genuine signature and an almost perfect
forgery is in the manner of execution.

STEP 3 – Second elements examine is the quality of the line, the presence or
tremors, smooth, fluent or hesitation. Defect in line quality is only
appreciated when simultaneous viewing is made.

STEP 4 – Examine the beginning and ending lines, they are very significant,
determine whether the appearance blunt, club-shaped, tapered
or/vanishing.
STEP 5 – Design and structure of the letters – Determine as to roundness,
smoothness, angularity and direction. Each individual has a different
concept of letter design.

STEP 6 – Look for the presence of retouching or patching.

STEP 7 – Connecting strokes, slant, ratio, size, lateral spacing.

STEP 8 – Do not rely so much in the similarity or difference of the capital letters,
for theses are the often changed according to the whim of the writer.

Characteristics principles can be stated that supply most cases:

(a) Pen pressure – the most unusual habit is the pulsation or pressure in the
longer looped from such as in the “g” and “y”. In this lower extensions, there
is first an application of pressure but before the pen reaches the bottom of
the loop this pressure gradually diminishes and is applied again on the
rising stroke.

(b) Movement

(c) Proportion

(d) Unusual distortion of the forms of letters

(e) Inconspicuous characteristics

(f) Repeated characteristics

(g) Characteristics written with speed

Indication of Genuineness

1. Carelessness
2. Spontaneity
3. Alternation of thick and thin strokes
4. Speed
5. Simplification
6. Upright letters are interspersed with slanting letters
7. The upward strokes to a threadlike tracing
8. Rhythm
9. Good line quality
10. Variation

Three Classes or forged Signatures:

Simulated signature – the free hand drawing in imitation of model signature.

(a) Simulated with the model before the forger – He makes an effort to obtain a
reproduction of the model signature. He works slowly, strokes after stroke.

1. Direct technique – forger works directly with ink

2. Indirect techniques – forger work first with pencil and afterwards covers the
pencil strokes with ink.

(b) Simulated free hand forgery – Used by forgers who have a certain skill in
writing. After some practice, the forger tries to write a copy of the model
quickly.

Traced Signature – a tracing of a genuine signature outline.

(a) direct tracing – copy is made transmitted light.

(b) Indirect tracing – forger use a carbon paper and place document on which
he will trace the forged signatures under the document bearing the model
signature with carbon between the two.

Types of traces signatures:

(a) Carbon Process:

The forger places the document to be forged on the bottom, inter-leave a

piece of carbon and places on top a document containing the genuine signature.
The forger then traces over the genuine signature with pencil, pen stylus, or other
pointed instrument.

The pressure of this over-tracing against the carbon paper imprints the
signature outline in carbon on the bottom document. This type could be easily
detected by the smattering of carbon remnants on the forged document.

(b) Indentation Process:

The document containing the model signature is placed on top of the forged
document. The forger traces with considerable pressure, over the genuine
signature using a pencil, pen stylus or similar instrument and creates an indented
signature outline on the document being forged. Alter this depression outline is
overwritten using pencil, or foundation pen.

(c) Transmitted light process:

The document to be forged is placed on top of the document containing the

genuine signature.

Simple Forgery – Forgery does not try to copy a model but writes with something
resembling we ordinarily call a signature. For this he used a false name and
makes a rapid stroke, disturbing his usual writing by adopting a camouflage
called disguise.

Forgery by means of stamped facsimile of genuine signature or model.

Some individual very often use a stamped facsimile of their signature.

Indications of Forgery: Simulated and Traced

1. Tremulous and broken connecting stroke between letters, indicating

points at which the writer has temporarily struck.

2. No rhythm

3. Carefulness or unusual care and deliberation

4. No contrast between upward and downward strokes

5. Slow writing – angular writing

6. Blunt beginning and endings

7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of letters.

8. Absence of spontaneity – lack of smoothness of letters

9. Restrained writing – there is lack of freedom or “inhibited” movements.

It given the impression that every stroke is made with great difficulty.
This writing is small.

10. No variation

Indications of Simple Forgery – Writing habits of the write which include his
general and individuals characteristics.

Indications of Forgery by Means of Stamped Facsimile of a Genuine Signature:

1. flat stroke

2. no contract between upstrokes and down strokes

3. deposit of ink at the junction of two strokes or where two stroked cross each
other.

4. no variation – all signature will superimposes over each other.

WRITING MATERIALS [PAPER] IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT:

One of the subjects of inquiry in questioned document is the writing
material used. The common (probable) questioned on paper is its AGE, whether
the actual age of the paper corresponds with the alleged date of preparation of the
questioned document.

To fully understand the principles of tracing the age of the writing materials
used in questioned documents, it is imperative for a questioned documents
examiner to be aware of the evolution and development of papers. When such
paper was first introduced or used, physical changes on papers and the
importance of watermarks, are some of the valuable things that an investigator
should know to come up with a more conclusive opinion.

PAPER

- Sheet of interlaced fiber – usually cellulose fibers from plants, but

sometimes from cloth rage or other fibrous materials

- That is formed by pulping the fibers and causing to felt, or mat, to form a
solid surface.

WRITING MATERIALS

- The evolution of writing materials culminated in the development of

paper. The oldest written records still surviving are the Sumerian clay tablets
dating back from the 4th millennium B.C.

PAPYRUS

- Came into use about 3,500 B.C. – people of Egypt. Palestine, Syria, and
Southern Europe used the pith (soft spongy tissue of the stem) of the sedge
(grasslike herb) CYPERUS PAPYRUS to make a writing material known as
PAPYRUS.

PARCHMENT

- Writing material made form skin of animals primarily of sheep, calves or

goats – was probably developed in the Middle East more or less
contemporaneously with papyrus. It came into wide use only in the 2nd century
B.C. in the city of PERGAMUM in ANATOLIA.

VELLUM

- Writing materials from fine skins from young calves or kids and the term
(name) was often used for all kind of parchment manuscripts, it became the most
importance writing materials for bookmaking, while parchment continued for
special manuscripts.
- Almost every portable surface that would retain the marks of brush or
pen was also used as a writing material during the early period.

DEVELOPMENT OF PAPER MANUFACTURING

- It is widely claimed that invention of paper is generally attributed to a

Chinese court official, CAI LUN (TSAI LUN), in about A.D. 105.

- The first to succeed in making paper from vegetable fibers – tree barks,
rags, old fish nettings.

- The art of papermaking was kept secret for 500 years; the Japanese
acquired it only in the 7th century A.D.

- In A.D., 751; the Arab city of Samarkand was attacked by marauding

Chinese and some Chinese taken as prisoners were skilled in papermaking and
were forced by the city Governor to build and operate a paper mill and Samarkand
soon became the papermaking center of the Arab world.

- Knowledge of papermaking traveled westward, spreading throughout the

Middle East, the Moorish invasion of Spain led – to the invention (A.D. 1150) or
erection of the first European paper mill, at JATIVA, province of VALENCIA.

- Knowledge of the technology spread quickly and by 16 th century, paper

was manufactures throughout most of Europe.

CHLORINE

- Was introduced in the 19th century for bleaching and colored linen could
already manufactures for paper.

ESPARTO

- A grass grown in Libya, also in Spain and North Africa was first
introduced in England in 1861.

STRAW

- Was used to make paper in 1800.

SULPHITE

- Paper from wood was not attempted until 1869 and paper called
SULPHITE (modern type) was first used between 1880 and 1890.

OLDEST MANUSCRIPT
- Letters dated A.D. 874 have been found in Egypt and the oldest
manuscript in England on cotton paper dated AD 1890.

TRACING THE AGE OF PAPER (DOCUMENT):

The age of the document may be estimated form paper; four cases were
reported by Lucas in which the age of the document was established from the
compositor/composition of the paper.

In one of these cases, a document dated 1213 A.H. (A.D. 1796) was found to
be written on paper composed entirely of chemically prepared wood cellulose.
Considering that this type of paper was not introduce not until about 60 years
later, the document is obviously a fake one.

WATERMARKS

Sometimes a LIMIT may be placed to the age of the document by means of

watermark, the earliest know dating from 1282. Unfortunately, however, not all
papers contain watermarks.

- The earliest way of identifying the date of manufacture of the paper is by

WATERMARK – a brand put on the paper by the manufacture.

- It is impressed into the paper by wire on the rollers called DANNY ROLL
that make the paper, and these design are changed from time to time.

- Usually watermarks are requested by their owners/manufacturers with

the patent offices

- If present, watermark is one of the most reliable means of tracing the age
of the paper. However, the questioned documents examiner’s findings are limited
only to the APPROXIMATE DATE (YEAR) of the paper manufacture.

In determining the age of the paper by watermarks, it is necessary to

ascertain to owner of the watermark is question or its manufacturer.

In the FBI, this is done by checking the reference file of the laboratory. Once
the manufacturer is determined, then consideration is given to changes in design
and defects of individual design.

In recent years, some large manufacturers have cleverly incorporated

inconspicuous changes in their watermark design in order to date their products.

Obviously, document is fraud if it contains a watermark which was not in

existences at the time the document purports to have been executed.

IN CASE THE WATERMARK OF A CERTAIN PAPER MANUFACTURER DID NOT

CHANGED, THE FOLLOWING IS APPLIED:
In those cases where no change in the design has been made over a long
period of time, defects in the individual design may furnish a clue as to the age of
the paper

- The dandy roll, through constant usage, will somehow be damaged. This
damage is also known as caused by WEAR AND TEAR which becomes
progressively more and more as time goes by.

- The damage on the dandy roll will leave some peculiar marking on the
watermark of the paper manufactured or all papers that will pass through the
damaged dandy roll.

- The investigator, carefully determining the distinct markings caused by

the dandy roll’s damaged surface, will coordinate with the paper manufacture
regarding when such damage occurred on the dandy roll used.

DISCOLORATION:

One way of tracing the age of the paper is though the observance of the
changes in its physical characteristics particularly DISCOLORATION. Naturally, a
paper will discolor after a passage of time due to numerous environmental factors
such as moisture, temperature, duet, etc.

CAUSES OF DISCOLORATION

Discoloration is highly influenced by storage of the papers or documents

and conditions like the following:

1. Due to process of oxidation brought about by natural means.

2. Brown spots due to molds that are very characteristics both in appearance and
distribution.
3. Exposure to duet and dirt.
4. Occasional staining of fruit juice, grease.
5. Excrete of rats, mice and other insects.
6. May also due to heat, partial burning, etc.

a. WOOD PULP – papers out of wood pulp may start to discolor at edges
from 2 to 3 years.
b. RUG-SHIP QUALITY – maybe very old before discoloration starts.

WRITING INSTRUMENT: PEN:

A toll for writing or drawing with a colored fluid, such as ink. The rise and
spread of Christianity increased the demand for permanent written religious
documents.

Pen came from the Latin word “PENNA”, meaning feather.

QUILL PENS:

It is a hollow part of large feather usually from goose and was used writing
on parchment. Poland, Germany, Russia, and the Netherlands were the largest
producers of quill.

As the size of writing became smaller, both writing tools and surfaces
changed. Vellum or parchment books replaced the papyrus roll, and the QUILL
replaced the REED PEN.

Although quill pens can be made iron the outer wing feathers of any bird.
Those of goose, swan, crow and (later) turkey, were preferred. The earliest
reference (6th century AD) to quill pens was made by the Spanish Theologian KST,
ISIDORE OF SEVILLE, and this tool was the principal writing implement for nearly
1300 years.

To make a quill pen, a wing feather is first hardened by heating or letting it

dry out gradually. The hardened quill is then out to a broad edge with a special
pen knife.

The writer had to re-cut the quill pen frequently to maintain its edge. By the
18th century, the width of the edge had diminished end the length of the slit had
increased creating a flexible point that produced thick and thin strokes by
pressure on the point rather than by the angle at which the broad edge was held.

Also by the 18th century, paper had replaced vellum as the chief writing
surface, and more writing was being done for commerce than for church or crown.
During this period, attempts were made to invent a lasting writing tool that did not
require re-cutting. Horn, tortoise shell, and gemstones were tried, but steel was
eventually used for permanent pen points.

Although pens of bronze may have been known to Romans, the earliest
mention of “BRAZEN PENS” was in 1465. The 16th century Spanish calligrapher
JUAN DE YCIAR mentions brass pens for very large writing in his 1548 writing
manual, but the use of metal pens did not become widespread until the early part
of the 19th century.

The first patented steel pen point was made by the English engineer BRYAN
DONKIN in 1803.

The leading 19th century English pen manufacturers were WILLIAM JOSEPH
GILLOT, WILLIAM MITCHELL, AND JAMES STEPHEN PERRY.

Use of the quill rapidly declined during that century, especially after the
introduction of the free public education for children; more emphasis was then
placed on the teaching of writing than on teaching the skill of quill cutting.
In 1884, LEWIS WATERMAN, a New York insurance agent, patented the first
practical FOUNTAIN PEN containing its own ink reservoir. Waterman invented a
mechanism that fed ink to the pen point by capillary action, allowing ink to flow
evenly while writing.

By the 1920’s, the fountain pen was the chief writing instrument in the west
and remained so until the introduction of the ball point pen after WORLD WAR II.

REED PEN/SWAMP REED:

It came from especially selected water grasses found in Egypt, Armenia and
along the chores of the Persian Gulf, were prepared by leaving the, under dung
heaps for several months.

It was the first writing tool that has the writing and slightly frayed like a
brush. About 2,000 years B.C., this reed pen was first used in NEAR EAST on
papyrus and later on parchment.

THE BALL POINT PEN:

JOHN LOUD, in 1888, patented the first ball point writing tool. A ball point
pen has in its point a small rotating metal ball that continually inks itself as it
turns.

The ball is set into a tiny socket. In the center of the socket is a hole that
feeds ink to the socket from a long tube (reservoir) inside the pen.

As early as the 19th century, attempt has been made to manufacture a pen
with a rolling ball tip, but not until 1938 did Hungarian inventor GEORGE LAZLO
BIRO invent a viscous, oil-based ink that could be used with such a pen.

Early ball point pens did not write well; they tender to skip, and the slow-
drying oil-based ink smudged easily. However, the ball-point pen had several
advantages over the fountain pen:

1. The ink was waterproof ad almost unerasable;

2. The ball point pen could write on many kinds of surfaces and could be
hold in almost any position for writing; and
3. The pressure required to feed the ink was ideal for making carbon copies.

In formulas were improved for smoother flow and faster drying, and soon
the ball-point replaced the fountain pen as the universal writing tool.

FIBER TIP PENS:

In 1963, fiber tip markers were introduced into the U.S. market and have
since challenged the ball point as the principal writing implement.
The first practical fiber tip pen was invented by YUKIO HORIE of Japan in
1962. it was ideally suited to the stroked of Japanese writing, which is
traditionally done with a pointed ink brush.

Unlike its predecessors, the fiber tip pen uses dye as a writing fluid. As a
result, the fiber tip pen can produce a wide ranged of colors unavailable in ball
point and fountain pen inks. The tip is made of fine nylon or other synthetic fibers
drawn to a point and fastened to the barrel of the pen. Dye is fed to the point by
elaborate capillary mechanism.

Felt-tip markers are made of dense natural or artificial fibers impregnated

with a dye. These markers can be out to a variety of shapes and sizes, some up to
an inch in width. A modification of the ball point pen using a liquid dye fed to a
metal/plastic ball was introduced in the U.S. from Japan in 1973.

The Examination and Identification of inks:

The examination of inks often plays an important part in document

examination. In these cases the inks to be examined are not available in liquid
form. One kind of examination centers on the question as to whether the ink of
some writings or of alterations in a police blotter is identical with the ink found in
the possession of the suspect.

For this reason, the examination of questioned documents is restricted to a

comparative examination of certain properties of these inks. However the
examination carries with it certain difficulties as the quantity of material available
for examination is small and the examination can be done only one.

It is necessary then that before a chemical examination is attempted, which

results in a partial destruction of writing, an exhaustive examination by non-
destructive methods be carried out.

These non-destruction methods include visual examination with the aid of a

binocular microscope as well as photographic examination. They should be used
first before any chemical examination is resorted to.

It is necessary therefore to be acquainted with the composition and

developmental history, method of manufacture of the types of ink most commonly
used. Sometimes, antedating can only be proved by identifying a competent of the
ink, which was not yet included in inks at the alleged date of the document.

Composition and Characteristics of Inks

1. Indian Inks

The oldest form of Indian ink consisted of a suspension of carbon black

(soot or lampblack) in water to which a glue or a vegetable gum was added. Inks of
this compositions are still on the market mostly in the shaped of sticks of cakes. In
modern carbon ink, the glue or gum is replaced by a solution of shellac in borax or
ammonia. These inks are not affected by oxidants. It is practically impossible to
remove the last traces of the carbon from the paper without causing damage to it.

2. Log wood Inks

These inks which were used extensively about a century ago, have now
because obsolete and are no longer manufactured. They were made from an
aqueous extract of logwood chips and potassium chromate. These inks will be
found only on old.

3. Iron Gallotanate Inks

This ink has been used as writing for over a thousand years. Formerly it was
made of a fermented infusion of gall nuts to which iron salts were added. The ink
was composed of suspension of the black, almost insoluble ferric tennate.

The particles were kept in suspension by adding glue or sum Arabic. This
manufacturing method was not economical and so it had to be changed. It was
observe that if the ink was slightly acidified with hydrochloric acid or sulphuric
acid, the oxidation of the ferrous iron was checked and the undesirable
precipitation of the ferric tennate was prevented. The ink thus obtained was
practically colorless and did not acquire the black color desired before it matured
on paper. Coloring matter (Aniline dyes) was added to the ink as well as a
sterilizing agent to prevent growth of mold and bacteria in the ink.

4. Fountain Pen Inks

These inks are regarded as special fountain pen inks, and consisting of
ordinary iron gallotannated inks with a lower iron content in most cases but with a
higher dyestuff content than normal inks. This type of ink is placed on the market
under the name of “blue-black permanent”. The iron content range from .7 Fe/I
(e.g. Parker Quink permanent blue) to 2.7 Fe/I (e.g. Pelikan Fullhaltertinte)

5. Dyestuff Inks

These inks are composed of aqueous solutions of synthetic dyestuffs, to

which a preservative and a flux are added. The writing qualities of the ink are
improved by addition of substances each as glycerol, glucose or dextrin.

The dark blue black inks are often composed of four or more dyes because
no black dyestuff of sufficient tinctorial capacity are known.

6. Water Resistant Writing and Drawing Inks

There inks are special group of dyestuff inks. They consist of a pigment
pasts and a solution of shellac made soluble in water by means of borax, liquid
ammonia or ammonium bicarbonate. Sometimes the pigment suspension is
combined with acid or basic dyestuff.

7. Alkaline Writing Inks

These are quick drying inks which possesses a ph of from 9 to about 11.
They penetrated quickly through the size of the paper allowing the ink to penetrate
quickly into the paper. The dyestuff in these inks consists of acid dyes, sometimes
combined with phthalo cyanide dyes.

These inks are not much in demand they are rather expensive and because
the material of many fountain pens is affected by them. The best known of these
inks are the Parker superchrome inks which in the colors black, blue-black, blued,
red and green. Phthalocyanine dye is found in the blued superchrome inks. The
superchrome inks were already obtained sine 1950, which fact maybe of
importance for the determination of the age of a document.

8. Ballpoint Pen Inks

The ballpoint pens did not appear on the European market before 1945. The
development of the present pen was accomplished during World War II because
the Army and the Air Force needed a writing instrument which would not leak at
high altitude and which supplied quick drying water resistant writing.

In principle, the construction of all ballpoint pens is the same. The

differences are in the finish, the precision with which the instrument is made, the
size the materials of the ball, and the composition of the ink. As a rule, the
diameter of the ball lies between 0.6 and 1.0 mm, the cheapest makes having the
largest diameter. The ball is made of steel whiled the more expensive makes of
sapphire.

The quality of the pen is chiefly to be judged by the writing angel. The best
writing angle for a ballpoint pen is 90 degrees, but a normal hand of writing
seldom uses this angle. The cheaper makes have a minimum writing angle of 55-
60 degrees. If one writes at too small an angle, the brass socket holding the ball
will scratch a lined into the paper, parallel with the ink line.

9. Stamp Pad Inks

They are made with the acid of substances such as glycerol, glycol, acetin or
benzyl alcohol and water. Airline dyes are added as coloring matter. For quick
drying stamp pad inks, more volatile organic solvents are used as acetone,
ethanol, etc. As a vehicle, dextrine, gum Arabic, or tannin is sometimes added.
Through the addition of tannin, the stamp impression becomes water resistant
after drying.

10.Hectograph Inks
These inks very much resemble stamp pad inks and are exclusively made
with basic dyes. To the dyestuff solution several other substances are added such
as glycerol, acetic acid and acetone.

11.Typewriter Ribbon Inks

These inks are usually composed of a blend of aniline dyes, carbon black
and an oil such as olein or castor oil. The two-tone ribbons however contain no
dyes, but pigments suspended in a oil base. This is necessary because aniline dyes
tend to bleed and would cause the sharp division between the differently colored
halves of the ribbon to merge.

12.Printing Inks

Printing inks often consist of a mixture of colored pigments, carbon black

and a “base” which may consist of oil, resins, synthetic resins or a mixture of
these. It is possible to remove printing inks from a document by scrubbing the
document with an aqueous solution of a suitable detergent. The rubbing and
breaking up of the surface of the ink and the detergent facilitates the suspension
and eventual removal of the carbon and other ingredients by the water.

13.Canceling Inks

These inks often contain carbon and this fact should be burned in mind
when it is required to decipher faint cancellation marks on a postage stamp and
wrappers. Carbon is opaque to infra-red sensitive plate and be relied upon to
improve the legibility of any making affected by a carbon containing canceling ink.

Erasure of canceling ink on valuable stamps is usually affected by attack on

the medium which bind the carbon to the surface of the stamp and it is to be
regretted that many canceling inks are manufactured with media which offer
resistance to attack so that the resistant carbon can simply be swabbed off. This
can be usually be detected by infra-red photography which will reveal the traces of
carbon, which almost invariably remain on the stamp.

14.Skrip Ink

Skrip inks are manufactured by W.A. Chaffer Pen Company since 1955. The
inks contain a substance which is colorless in visible light and has a strong
affinity for the fiber of the paper, and yet is not bleached by hypoclories ink
eradicators or washed out by soaking on water.

Thus if a writing with “Skrip” is obliterated with ink eradicator, the original
will produce a characteristic fluorescence and can be deciphered by reviewing
under filtered ultraviolet. Similarly if writing made with able skrip is soaked in
water so the invisible dye is washed out, the original record can be read clearly by
filtered ultra-violet light.
The Chemical Examination of Ink:

The chemical examination of ink is indicated in the following problems:

1. The Chromatographic examination and separation of the dyestuffs in the

ink.
2. The determination of the age of the ink.

TYPEWRITER/TYPEWRITING EXAMINATION AND IDENTIFICATION:

TYPEWRITER:
- A machine that can reproduce printed characters on papers or that can
produce printed letters and figures on paper.

EVOLUTION OF TYPEWRITERS:

01. Several typewriters like machine were develop during the latter part of the
17th century, the first patent, however, was granted by QUEEN ANNE of
England to HENRY MILL in 1714 for a machine designed to reproduce a
letter of the alphabet.

02. Within the next 100 years, however, at least 50 attempts were made by
various investors to develop a typing machine.

03. IN 1829, WILLIAM AUSTIN BURT of Detroit, invested the TYPOGRAPHER.

04. The development of the first practical typewriter begun in 186 by

CHRISTOPHER LATHAM SHOLES and was patented in 1868. He developed
the first practical typewriter in cooperation with two fellow mechanics,
CARLOS GLIDEN and SAMUEL SOULE.

05. Six years later, Christopher Latham Sholes entered an agreement with
ELIPHALET REMINGTON AND SONS, GUNSMITHS & SEWING MACHINES
MANUFACTURERS the company produced REMINGTON MODEL I.

06. Four years later, REMINGTON MODEL II was introduced having both the
lower and upper case of the alphabet.

07. MARK TWAIN was among the first to buy a typewriter and the first to
submit a typewritten manuscript to a publisher.

08. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW recognized the importance of typewriter when he

become the first playwright to use it as a stage prop in Candida in 1897.

09. When THOMAS EDISON visited Sholes to see his machine, he forecasted
that typewriters would one day be operated by electricity.
10. Soon afterwards, Edison built such a typewriter. He used a series of magnet,
which made the machine cumbersome and too expensive to be marketed.

11. The first practical typewriter was invented in 1914 by James F. Smathers of
Kensas City.

12. In 1933, the International Business Machines, Inc. (IBM), introduced the
first commercially successful electric typewriter to the business world.

Definition of Terms

3rd Century A.D. - The earliest handwriting examination cases reported.

6th Century - the Roman Emperor Justinian dictated guidelines for the use of
handwriting comparisons in Roman courts.

1873 - the year in which the first commercially successful typewriter was
introduced.

Addition - inserting or modifying clause or sentence in a document to alter its

meaning.

Substitution - replacing original entries or writing with another.

Albert Sherman Osborn - became the pre-eminent American pioneer in the field
when he authored "Questioned Documents," a seminal work in scientific document
analysis that remains in print and in use. He founded the American Society of
Questioned Document Examiners in 1942.

Alfred Dreyfus - A French army officer, accused of treason through letters found
attempting to sell French secrets to Germany. Later found that Dreyfus did not
write the letters.

Alignment - relation of successive characters or letter of a word, signature or line

of writing to an actual or imaginary base line.

Alphabet - is a standard set of letters (basic written symbols or graphemes) which

is used to write one or more languages based on the general principle that the
letters represent phonemes (basic
significant sounds) of the spoken language.

Alteration - any change made on a document before, during, or after its original
execution.

Methods of Alteration
1. Mechanical
2. Chemical

Arrangement - habitual placing and positioning of letters and words.

Casting - was one method used to produce counterfeit coins in Britain and
America during the colonial period. Basically it consisted of melting metal and
then pouring the molten liquid into a mold having a reservoir in the shape of a
coin.

Class Characteristics - common to a group of people. Learned from school or from

an individual's parent or tutor. Class Characteristics are similarities between
individuals who learned the same type of writing systems.

- Individual Characteristics - highly personal or peculiar to a particular writer.

Influenced by habit, mindset, personal preference. It identifies an individual from
other writers.

- Types of Individual Characteristics

1. Skill level - the way a writing looks.
2. Slant - is the angle of writing.
3. Form - is the way a writer makes a letter or movement of letters. Most basic
individual characteristic and is very important to QDE.
4. Movement - is the way a pen moves in order to make a mark or form a letter.
This can help distinguish the difference in form. 2 letters can be the same, but
made in a different way.

5. Proportions - is the symmetry of an individual letter.

6. Height - is comparing the height of one letter to another. Height, proportions are
usually habits found in a specific writer.
7. “I” Dot
8. “t” Crossing
9. Loops - are similar to proportions.
10.Pressure - is the difference in ink or pencil in width or shade. Helps show
direction of movement.
11.Baseline Alignment - The value of this show the questioned writing in
correlation to the baseline. Helps QDE examiners determine whether the writing
was altered or is consistent with the rest of the writing or other examples.

12.Pen Lifts - Pen lifts are when the pen or pencil is lifted from the paper and
reapplied to finish a word or sentence.
13.Speed - The speed of a writer is a key indicator for QDE in the examination
process. Fast and slow speeds are difficult to duplicate leaving behind
inconsistencies in the writing.
14.Embellishments - decorate writing. Usually found in the beginning of word, but
can be seen other places.
15.Entry/Exit Strokes - is the way a writer begins certain letter or words and can
be very specific to an individual. Also includes the idea of connecting stokes.
16.Retracing - is considered fixing a portion of writing that is not readable or
pleasing to the writer. In some cases, this can indicate forgery but is very common
in normal handwriting to retrace letters or words.
17.Spelling - is an individual characteristic because of education or habits and can
be an easy fix to eliminate or pin point suspects.
18.Spacing - is the area between letters or words and is usually specific to the
writer.
19.Format - is the habit in which a writer uses to depict simple things like; Dates,
numbers, abbreviations.
Example: The way people write checks
20.Case - is a characteristic of a writer who might use upper case letters where a
lower case should be present.

Coin Clipping - shaving off a small portion of a precious metal coin for profit.

Coin Mutilation - cutting a portion of a coin.

Collected Standard - (Procured Standard)obtained from files executed in the

course of everyday routine.

Requested Standard - document requested by an investigator for the purpose of

comparative examination.

Color Shifting Ink - ink that changes color when viewed in different angles.

Connections - links which connect a letter with the one following it.

Counterfeiting - imitate fraudulently for gain. To make a copy of, usually with the
intent to defraud; forge: counterfeits money.

Cuneiform - denoting or relating to the wedge-shaped characters used in the

ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit, surviving mainly on
clay tablets.

Cutting - skillful cutting away of some portions and then inserting new one to fill
the gap.

Disguised Writing - is any deliberate attempt to alter one's handwriting to prevent

recognition.

Document - any material that contains marks, symbols, or signs either visible,
partially visible or invisible that may present or ultimately convey a meaning or
message to someone.

Document May Be Questioned With Respect To Its

1. Authenticity
2. Identity
3. Origin
4. Relation among its parts
5. Relation to other things

Types of Document Examination

1. Handwriting Comparisons
2. Ink Examinations
3. Indented Writing
4. Alterations
5. Paper Analysis
6. Photocopy Analysis
7. Typewriting

Instrument Used In A Questioned Document QD Laboratory

1. Stereo Microscope - The stereo or stereoscopic or dissecting microscope is an
optical microscope variant designed for low magnification observation of a sample,
typically using light reflected from the surface of an object rather than transmitted
through it.
2. Light Microscope - light microscope works like a refracting telescope except that
the object is very close to the objective lens.
3. Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) - is an apparatus which can:
a. Analyse and compare inks: reveal alterations on a document;
b. Visualize security features printed into papers;
c. Use the spectrometer and various built-in light sources for U.V., visible
spectrum and I.R. examinations of ink and documents to visualise fluorescence;
examination with transmitted light or low angle light, and recording/comparing
differences in reflectance, and absorption under variable
wavelengths of light and with various filters which will discriminate between
different inks.
4. Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) - is an apparatus which can:
a. Produce an evidential record of any indentations (writing impressions) which are
present upon a page, resulting from previous pages of over-writing in a writing
pad, notebook, or upon a letter placed inside an envelope which was then
addressed.
b. Visualise and record any other transmitted impression, such as from a machine
postal stamp upon an envelope; or visualise and record any paper edge
impressions of a page-portion that was torn from a page within a note-pad, even if
the page was removed some time later.

Erasure - the removal of writing, recorded material, or data.

EURion Constellation - is a pattern of symbols incorporated into a number of

banknote designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help imaging software
detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image.

Exemplars - Handwriting used as a standard for comparison with the document

in question. Known authentic writing samples.
- Two Types of Exemplars
1. Requested Writings - (Dictated) are writing samples taken from someone for the
purpose of comparison with a questioned document.
2. Non-Requested Writings - (Undictated)(Collected) these are examples of the
subject's writings that are taken in the normal course of business or personal
transactions.

Forensic Document Examination - the practice of the application of document

examination to the purposes of the law.

Graphology - is the study of handwriting to identify the writer's personality traits.

Graphologist - Profiles character or personality by drawing conclusions from

certain types of characteristics in the handwriting sample.

Handwriting - refers to a person's writing created with a writing utensil such as a

pen or pencil.

Handwriting Comparison Characteristics

1. Spacing between letters
2. Spacing between words
3. Relative proportions between letters and within letters
4. Individual letter formations
5. Formations of letter combinations
6. The overall slant of the writing
7. Connecting strokes
8. Pen lifts
9. Beginning and ending strokes
10.Unusual flourishes
11.Pen pressure

Character of handwriting
1. No single handwriting characteristic can in itself be taken as the basis for a
positive comparison.
2. The final conclusion must be based on a sufficient number of common
characteristics between the known and questioned writing samples.
3. There are no hard and fast rules for a sufficient number of personal
characteristics; it is a judgment call made by the expert examiner in the context of
each case.

Henry Mill - was an English inventor who patented the first typewriter in 1714.

Hieroglyph - (Greek for "sacred writing") is a character of the ancient Egyptian

writing system. Logographic scripts that are pictographic in form in a way
reminiscent of ancient Egyptian are also sometimes called "hieroglyphs".

Hologram - a three-dimensional image formed by the interference of light beams

from a laser or other coherent light source.

Indented Writing - (second page writing), is the impression from the writing
instrument captured on sheets of paper below the one that contains the original
writing.
Electrostatic Detection - indented writing may be recovered using this
method.

Ink - a coloured fluid or paste used for writing, drawing, printing, or duplicating.
- Microspectrophotometer - A nondestructive approach to comparing ink
lines. It is accomplished with a visible-light microspectrophotometer.
Thin-layer chromatography is also suitable for ink comparisons.

Interlineation - insertion between lines or paragraphs.

Juxtaposition - an act or instance of placing close together or side by side,

especially for comparison or contrast.

Lindbergh Baby Case - a sensational case of kidnapping for ransom resulting in

murder of a baby where questioned document examination is the center piece of
the investigation and the reason for the arrest of the perpetrator.

Manuscript - is any document written by hand, as opposed to being printed or

reproduced in some other way.

Microprinting - is one of many anti-counterfeiting techniques used most often on

currency and bank checks, as well as various other items of value. Microprinting
involves printing very small text, usually too small to read with the naked eye, onto
the note or item.

Obliteration - obscuring a document by a series of x-types, haphazard, lines,

blots, and smears.

Offset printing - or web offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in

which the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket,
then to the printing surface.
- Letterpress printing - is a technique of relief printing using a printing press.
A worker composes and locks movable type into the bed of a press, inks it, and
presses paper against it to transfer the ink from the type which creates an
impression on the paper.

Pellegrino Turri - an Italian inventor, invented a mechanical typing machine, one

of the first typewriters in 1801 for his blind lover Countess Carolina Fantoni da
Fivizzano. He also invented carbon paper to provide the ink for his machine.
Pen Lift - is the practice of lifting the tip of a pen from a writing surface. It comes
in the form of a disconnection between letters and letter combinations.

Pen Pressure - the proportions of strokes to each other in width as affected by

shading and by unconscious emphasis.

Penmanship - is the technique of writing with the hand using a writing

instrument. The art or practice of writing with the pen.

Pictograph - a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase. Pictographs were used as the
earliest known form of writing, examples having been discovered in Egypt and
Mesopotamia from before 3000 BC.

Questioned Document - is any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other mark

whose source or authenticity is in dispute or doubtful.

Most Common Questioned Document

1. Letters
2. Checks
3. Drivers License
4. Contracts
5. Wills
6. Voters Registration
7. Passports
8. Petitions
9. Threatening Letters
10.Suicide Notes
11.Lottery Tickets

Rules in Collecting Questioned Documents

1. Original Document Preferred
2. QDE must mark all evidence - initial and date.
If document cannot be marked it should be placed in enveloped
and sealed with initial and date.
3. Maintain chain of custody.

Questioned Document Examination - The scientific methods of identification

and examination of questionable documents, handwriting examination, detection
of forgery, falsification and counterfeiting of documents which stress the
procedures of restoring and deciphering erasures and obliteration's; examination
of documents by means of visible light, ultra-violet light and ultra-red radiation
and colored powders; recognition and selection of standards; and examination of
questionable typewriting, computerized documents and other forms of modern
printing.

Retracing - any writing stroke which goes back over another writing stroke.
Rhythm - the balanced quality of movement, producing a natural result not
constrained nor artificial.

Rubric and Embellishment - the additional and unnecessary stroke incorporated

in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes.

Samuel Willard Soulé - (January 25,1830-July 12,1875) along with Christopher

Sholes and Carlos Glidden invented the first practical typewriter at a machine
shop located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
in 1869.

Security fibers - are embedded in the paper during manufacture and are non-
reproducible.

Security Thread - is a security feature of many banknotes to protect against

counterfeiting, consisting of a thin ribbon that is threaded through the note's
paper.

Shading and Pen Position - the increase in width of stroke brought by variations
in writing pressure.

Sholes and Glidden Type-Writer - the first commercially successful typewriter.

Signature - a person's name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification

in authorizing a cheque or document or concluding a letter. From the latin word
"signare" which means "to sign".

Kinds of Signature
1. Formal Signature - signature used on official documents such as will or deed of
sale.
2. Informal Signature - signature used in routine correspondence such as personal
letters and other documents where you want the reader to recognize the signature
but the exact spelling of the name isn’t important.
3. Stylistic Signature - signature used in signing checks, credit card receipts, etc.
This is also like the famous “physician’s signature” on a prescription. It is often
highly stylistic and looks like a scribble with little that would be recognizable as a
signature.

Signature Forgery - refers to the act of falsely replicating the signature of another
person.

Popular Methods of Forging Signature

1. Freehand Method - whereby the forger, after careful practice, replicates the
signature by freehand. Although a difficult method to perfect, this often produces
the most convincing results.
2. Trace-Over Method - the sheet of paper containing the genuine signature is
placed on top of the paper where the forgery is required. The signature is traced
over, appearing as a faint indentation on the sheet of paper underneath. This
indentation can then be used as a guide for a signature.

Methods of Signature Tracing

1. Carbon Outline Method - carbon paper inserted between original and false
document.
2. Indentation Process - original document is placed over false one under it, to be
traced later using a pen or pencil.
3. Transmitted Light Process - a light source is placed under a light, the original
document is placed under the false one. The light source will illuminate both
documents so that the writings on the original document will be seen and
traceable on the false one.

Characteristics That May Suggest Presence of Forgery

1. Shaky handwriting
2. Pen lifts
3. Signs of retouching
4. Letter proportions
5. Very close similarity between two or more signatures

Kinds of Forgery of Signatures

1. Simple Forgery - (spurious forgery) signing of a document in his own or in a
modified handwriting. Easy to detect once standards of genuine signatures are
obtained.
2. Simulated Forgery - (freehand forgery) the copying or imitation of a signature.

Indicators of Forgery
1. Blunt starts and stops
2. Pen lifts and hesitations
3. Tremor
4. Speed and Pressure
5. Patching

Slant - slope of writing in relation to the base line.

Spacing - is a blank area devoid of content, serving to separate words, letters,

numbers, and punctuation.

Striking - (stamping) making an impression of a coin on a metal blank by

pressure using steel dies.

Superimposition - placing or laying of one document over another in a way that it

appears as a single image. The placement of an image or video on top of an
already-existing image or video, usually
to add to the overall image effect, but also sometimes to conceal something.

Terminal - The end of a writing stroke.

Initial Stroke - the beginning of a writing stroke.

Tremor - deviation from uniform stroke brought about by lack of smoothness.

Kinds of Tremors
1. Genuine Tremors - caused by age, illiteracy, weakness.
2. Tremor of Fraud

Typebar - one of the bars on a typewriter that bears type for printing.

Typewriter - is a mechanical or electro-mechanical machine for writing in

characters similar to those produced by printer's movable type by means of
keyboard-operated types striking a ribbon to transfer
ink or carbon impressions onto the paper.

Carriage Return - referred to a mechanism or lever on a typewriter. It was used

after typing a line of text and caused the assembly holding the paper (the carriage)
to return to the right so that the machine was ready to type again on the left-hand
side of the paper (assuming a left-to-right language).

Typeface - the printing surface of the type block. The most popular type are pica
and elite.

Pica - 10 characters per inch

Elite - 12 characters per inch

Types of Typewriters
1. Keyboard typewriter - is the simplest kind of typewriter, functioning from the
QWERTY formation of letters and having a type (a metallic cast with letters molded
into it) that's attached by a bar or rod.
2. Single-element typewriter - enable the user to print data in different languages
or fonts. Instead of using a bar mold for the type (called a type bar), single-element
typewriters use type wheels, type sleeves or type shuttles for molds. The most
popular single-element was the Hammond type-shuttle
typewriter produced in 1884.
3. Type-bar typewriters, as the name suggests, use type bars, or molds of iron
shaped like bars, for their types. Type bars are the most common kind of
typewriter and the original invented by Sholes, Glidden and Soule was a type-bar
typewriter.
4. Index typewriters - were far less costly in the pre-modern era, but also less
useful. An index typewriter required that users first input what key they would
like, and then perform another action (usually pressing a lever) to print the letter
to a page. Usually these didn't use type bars, but instead
type wheels, type shuttles, type plates and even more novel types. Examples of the
index typewriter are the American Visible, first manufactured in 1901, and the
French Virotyp of 1914.
5. Teletype Typewriters - (Teleprinters) came on the scene in the mid-1950s and
peaked in popularity in the 1960s. They were used mostly for communicating
information from point to point, much as modern fax machines are used. Most
non-IBM computers had teletype terminals. Teletypes were completely mechanical
and thus required regular lubrication; they didn't have type bars in the strictest
sense and instead used plastic gears to print messages.
6. Electric Typewriters - The most modern typewriter, still used today, is the
electric typewriter, most notably IBM models such as the Selectric. The electric
typewriter minimized the force necessary to print out a message by using a motor
and type ball to print letters on paper.

Vignette - a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its

background without a definite border.

Watermark - a faint design made in some paper during manufacture that is visible
when held against the light and typically identifies the maker.

Writing - is a medium of communication that represents language through the

inscription of signs and symbols.

Cursive Writing - also known as script, joined-up writing, joint writing, running
writing, or handwriting is any style of penmanship in which the symbols of the
language are written in a conjoined and/or flowing manner, generally for the
purpose of making writing faster.

Writing Speed - Classified Into 4 Divisions

1. Slow and Drawn
2. Deliberate
3. Average
4. Rapid