Republic of the Philippines

PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY

Camarines Sur

MODULE 1
OVERVIEW OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Name of Students___________________________________ Week Number 2

Course Code: FOR4 Name of Faculty: Shirlene S Esplana
Course Title: Questioned Document Examination

I. OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Relate the historical background of questioned document examination

development to the current practices of the forensic examiner.
2. Differentiate the classes of documents, disputed and questioned.

II. LESSON

1. Historical Accounts
2. Definition and Classes of Documents
3. Disputed Documents

III. DISCUSSION

Introduction

Questioned documents examination is

one of the professional courses in your
curriculum under the Criminalistics with
20% of weighted average in the
Criminologist Licensure Examination.
Document examination is one of the
challenging fields of forensic investigation
requiring higher level of knowledge and
skills to give an expert opinion during the
evidence presentation in court.

In practicing the questioned document

examination must be performed by a license criminologist pursuant to RA 11131. This
course is setting high expectation from the students and better to exceed beyond the
beginner’s level to gain advantage among the professionals who are already in the
field. The science kept improving the process of examination through technological
innovation addressing the challenge of socioeconomic and environmental changes.

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS

Document examination has been in use for decades now for disputed documents in
the court of law. The history of questioned documents dates back to 3rd century A.D.
However, scientific document examination started around the 18th century.

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

From the start of civilization, Forgeries had been in use for violation of laws to change
the seals, handwriting, preparing official documents, signatures, etc.

The first case reported regarding the document examination was in the 3rd century.
During that time, Imperial Rome was famous for forgers. Titus and Anthony were the
famous and most skilled forgers of that time known for forging all kinds of documents.

There was a need to stop forgeries at that time and Roman Law mandated that the
procedures must be followed to detect forgeries in documents and the authenticity of
documents.

In the 6th century (around 539 AD), Justinian code was established by a Roman
emperor Justinian in which the guidelines for document examination were mandated.
The Justinian code made sure that a judge could ask a person with special skills to
examine the disputed documents and give testimony regarding the authenticity of a
document.

During that time the experts were considered as master writers in France. every
country started to follow to detect forgeries and other document related crimes.

Photographers also considered themselves as handwriting experts during the 1890s

after the invention of photography because they had the advantage of analyzing
handwriting characteristics using cameras by enlarging the alphabets f or comparison.

In a famous case, Alphonse Bertillon (inventor of Anthropometry) was also a

photographer and using the technology accused an army person of forgery which was
later challenged by the experts from the US and England.

After the challenge, the charges against the army officer were exonerated by the
courts.

During the 1890s handwriting examination was common and two experts Hagen and
Frazer published a book on disputed documents.

During the 1900s, Albert Sherman Osborn wrote many articles related to typewriting
identification in 1901 before publishing a book titled “Questioned Documents”.

With some modifications in the first edition of the book, he published a new edition of
the book in 1929 which set a base for the examination of questioned documents as
the books are still in use.

Albert S. Osborn was named as the father of questioned documents due to his
contribution to the field of questioned documents.

His other publications included the problem of proof (1922), The mind of the Juror
(1937) and Questioned document problems (1944).

In 1942, ASQDE (American society of Questioned document examination) was

established with the main focus of education and research in the field of questioned
document examination.

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

ASQDE is still working and continuously contributing to the field of document

examination.

DEFINITION AND CLASSES OF DOCUMENTS

What Is a Document?

The document is any material that contains marks, symbols, or signs, either visible,
partially visible, which may presently or ultimately convey a meaning or a message to
someone. It typically consists of written and press-printed items, which can include
marks on an object such as a color or blood on a wall or aboard. Other examples of
documents are guns with serial numbers, walls with writings, and other objects with
writings or symbols.

According to Revised Rules on Evidence, section 19 (Rules of Court), documents

can be legally classified as either public or private.

 Public Document- a document created or executed by public officials.

 Private Document- a document created or executed by a private person.

According to Albert Osborn (1910) in his book Questioned Documents, documents

are attacked on many grounds and for various reasons, but the great majority of
questioned papers are included in the following classes:

A. Document with questioned signature

This is considered as the most common type of questioned document. A forged

signature is usually found in a commercial or legal document, such as checks, notices,
receipts, drafting, order, contract, assignment, will, deed, and the like. Forgery
typically occurs when someone transfers his or her duties and rights to another person
by signing such documents.

B. A document containing alleged fraudulent alterations.

The document is altered by the process of erasure, addition, interlineation, or

substitution which greatly affects the value of a certain document. Questions can arise
about this class of documents about the series of writing as indicated by crossed lines,
age of writing, continuity of writing, erasures and changes, the identity of ink,
identification of pen and script, self-consciousness or uncommon caution of writing,
and, under such circumstances, the question may arise as to whether the writing was
accompanied or followed by the folding of the document.

This important class of records also contains all sorts of 'modified' checks, drafts,
and notices, as well as false interlineations of contracts, papers, wills, and other legal
documents.

C. Holograph Document

The Holograph document is a kind of document entirely written by its author. It can
be a will, letter, or a deed written and signed by the writer.

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

D. Documents questioned as to their age or date.

Many documents are questioned about their age or date. Sources of this include
old records, birth certificates, licenses, land deeds, and other important papers.

E. Document questioned as to the material used in their production.

Some documents are believed to be fabricated because they were dated many
years before the paper on which they were written was published. One example is our
currency bill which is always made using fake printing materials.

F. Documents involving typewriting. (source, date, and contents)

G. Documents that may identify a person through handwriting.

It is a type of document in doubt that is often put under investigation. According to
Albert Osborn (1910), all kinds of anonymous and controversial letters are the most
common in this class. These may be ordinary letters provided as evidence, but they
are typically violent, warning, pornographic, or scurrilous messages and threatening
letters that so often become the subject of legal investigation.

H. Genuine documents erroneously or fraudulently altered or disputed.

Such documents are generally written by individuals under investigation or arrest, to
distract from the suspicion that they have written them.

Figure 1.C. Alleged fraudulent

Figure 1.B. Questioned signature alterations
Figure 1. A. Holographic Will

Figure 4. E. Cutting and Pasting Figure 2. F. Typewriting alteration

Figure 3. D. Document
questioned as to their age or
date

Figure 6. H. Alteration

Figure 5. G. Handwriting
Identification

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

DISPUTED DOCUMENTS

Disputed Documents is the term given when there is an argument or controversy on

the document.

IV. ASSESSMENT

Quiz will be posted in Moodle.

V. REFERENCES

1. Albert S. Osborn. Questioned Documents. Second Ed., Nelson Hall, Inc.,1989. p.

585
2. Casingham RC. The Dvorak Keyboard (1986); Mares, George C. The History of
the Typewriter (1985). Copyright (c) Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.
3. Duno, Joenard C. and Efondo, Violeta C. Handbook in Questioned Document
Examination with Laboratory Manual. 2021. Wiseman’s Books Trading Inc.
Quezon City
4. Manlusoc, Ariel C. Questioned Document., PCCR College of Criminology
5. Mendoza, Gregorio B. Forensic Laboratory Manual. Questioned Document
Examination. 2020. Wiseman’s Books Trading Inc. Quezon City
6. Panganiban & Varona, Questioned Document Examination, Hazard Safety &
Security Equipment. p. 2
7. Sorra, Mely E. 2011, FORGED or GENUINE? A Questioned Document Handbook,
Wiseman’s Book Trading, Inc., Quezon City
8. Sulner, Hannah F. Disputed Document
9. https://www.westernforensicdocumentexaminer.com/document-forgery/
10. Criminalistics Investigation. PNP Lecture

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