FORENSIC QUESTIONED DOCUMENT

EXAMINATION

JOEL ACADEMIA ATCHUELA

Registered Criminologist
Registered Nurse
MAN (eu)
 What is Document?
 It is an original piece of written or printed
matter conveying authoritative
information or evidence

 It is any material which contains marks,

signs, or symbols which are visible,
partially visible or invisible that may
presently or ultimately convey a meaning
or message to someone

22
 What is Questioned
Document?
 A questioned document is any document
which some issue has been raised or
placed under scrutiny

 It is a document that has been

questioned in whole or in part with
respect to its authenticity, identity, origin
or its relation among its parts and to
other things

 A document becomes a questioned

document when it is being questioned33as
 What is Questioned
Document Examination?
 Questioned Document Examination has
been a profession since 1870, and is
frequently done in cases of forgery,
counterfeiting, mail, fraud, kidnapping,
embezzlement, gambling, organized
crime, white collar crime, art crime, theft,
robbery, arson, burglary, homicide, serial
murder, and deviant sex crime

44
 What is Signature?

 In Webster dictionary, signature

is defined as ones name written
by himself on a document as a
sign of acknowledgement

55
CLASSES OF QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT

1. Documents with questioned

signatures
- this groups includes any papers
containing signature that is under
suspicion, the document whose
signature is disputed in its
authenticity maybe a check, note,
receipt, draft, contract, will and any
commercial, legal, military or
66
personal papers
2. Documents containing alleged
fraudulent alteration
- this groups includes all papers
which are alleged to contain some
changes made fraudulently by erasure,
addition, interlineations or substitution.

- fraudulent alterations maybe

revealed by analyzing the order or the
sequence of the writing as shown by
crossed lines, the identity of the ink,
the continuity of writing and the ruling.
77
3. Holograph Document Questioned or
Disputed
- this class of suspected papers
comprises those in which the writing of
an entire written document is
questioned.

- these complete documents, if

fraudulent are usually vulnerable in
many possible particulars and should
be subjected to the most searching
scrutiny of the paper, watermarks, ink,
pens, style or system of writing, 88
4. Documents attacked on the questioned of
their date and age
- this class of questioned documents
includes those in which the age of an
instrument or the age of some of its parts
are investigated

- it also refers to documents in which

the comparative age of parts may have
some bearing on the question of its
genuineness

99
5. Documents Attacked on the Questioned of
Materials Used in Their Production

- any analysis of documents may show

that pieces of paper used were
manufactured many years after the date
written on it.

- the materials used in the production

of the paper used are subjected to analysis
to prove whether or not the date written on
the papers matches the materials used in
producing the paper.

1010
6. Documents That Identify the Handwriting

- in this group are a great variety of

questioned documents.

- this group includes all documents,

paper writings or instruments which by their
handwriting and contents tend to identify
the writer.

- the most common documents of this

class are all kinds of anonymous and
disputed letters
1111
7. Genuine Documents Erroneously or
Fraudulently Attacked

- this class of disputed papers are

questioned regarding handwriting or
penmanship, whether a certain writing is
genuine or forged.

8. Documents to Identify Typewriting

- papers containing typewriting may be
examined to ascertain the typewriter used in
writing the document. This case also
involves determining the number of
typewriter used and the possible fraudulent
1212
Fraudulent Alterations On
Documents
1. Mechanical erasures
- alteration that produce an abrasion
on the paper

The following condition will show plainly

that an erasure was made:

a. the ink line is wider

b. the ink line tends to run or to fader
out sideways
c. the ink shows through the back side1313
2. Chemical erasure
- chemical eradicators do not remove
the writing, but merely bleach out the colon,
thus, chemically erase writing may be
reproduce by the use of ultraviolet light or
use of infrared photography.

3. Additions
- in this type of case, new pages of
writing, typewriting or printing may be
inserted.
- perhaps only a few lines are added to
alter the original meaning of the document.
1414
4. Interlineations
- the writing between the lines of an
instrument for the purpose of adding a part
to it or correcting what has been written.

5. Substitution
- it is another kind of fraudulent
alteration that is committed when an entire
page has been remove from an instrument
and has been replaced by another piece
containing matters different from those of
the remove page.
- a substitution does not contain any
signature or seal 1515
6. Cancellation and Obliteration
- an alteration by cancellation is
occasionally found in a document of
importance such as will, dead, or contract to
eliminate a word, name or sentence without
the necessity of rewriting the matter.

- using the same written instrument,

the writer draws lines in the form of
latticework, or vertical or horizontal lines
through the writing to effect cancellation.

1616
DEVELOPMENT
OF
HANDWRITING

1717
 Handwriting and
Graphology
 Handwriting
- the act of writing using a pen, pencil
or other writing instruments.
- it may also refer to a persons
particular style of learning

 Graphology
- the science that deals with the study
of handwriting particularly its
characteristics. 1818
 How To Prove a Persons
Handwriting
 The evidence of the writer himself

 A witness who actually saw the paper or

the signature being written

 A witness who has a knowledge of the

persons writing, by having seen him write
on other occasions

1919
 Witness who saw in the ordinary courses
of business documents presumably
written or signed by the person.

 Comparison of the disputed writing with

any writing proved to be genuine, made
by witnesses acquainted with the
handwriting or by skilled witnesses
(handwriting experts)

2020
 Personalities in Disputed
Document Identification
 Albert S. Osborn
- he was an examiner of questioned
document in New York on 1887 and
author of “Questioned Document”, “The
Mind of the Juror,” and “Questioned
Document Problems”

2121
 B.J Vreeland Haring and J. Howard Haring
- the father and son Haring of New York
were the world famous handwriting
experts who testified on the Charles A.
Lindberg Jr. kidnapping case.

- these experts conclusively

demonstrated Hauptmannns authorship by a
vivid photographic illustrations of his
handwriting individualities as they appeared
in the kidnap letters and in Hauptmann
exemplars

2222
 J. Newton Baker, LI.M of the Washington
- he was a consultative expert in
disputed documents, and in 1955 he
authored the book, Law of Disputed and
forged documents”

- he has incorporated the legal and

scientific features of the subject which
have developed in the evidence as
related trial procedure

- he has combined the scientific and

legal elements, which enter into this
field of evidence in a skillful manner.
2323
 James Conway
- examiner of Questioned Documents,
San Francisco, California postal Inspector
in- charge San Francisco Identification
Laboratory U.S Postal Inspection Service

- he authored “ Evidential Documents”

which was publish in Springfield,
Illinois, U.S.A in 1959.

2424
 Hans Schneickert
- a Doctor of Law and Director of the
identification Bureau of the Police
Department of Berlin until 1928.

- instructor of Criminology at the

University of Berlin on 1920

- he was a well- known handwriting

expert

2525
 Dr. Wilson R. Harrison
- director of the British Government’s
Office Home Office Forensic Science
Laboratory and honorary member of the
American Society of Questioned Document
Examiners.

- among the subjects Dr. W.R Harrison

discussed were: deciphering of erasures, the
chemical analysis of ink, the identification of
fingerprints, discovering of invisible writing,
the establishment of the age of ball point
pen documents, the tracing of anonymous
letters and the authorship of typewritten
2626
matter
CHARACTERISTICS
UNDERLYING
HANDWRTING

2727
 Handwriting
Characteristics
 The natural and subconscious
handwriting characteristics developed by
the individual are a product of both the
movements of the hand, which writes
and the mind which directs the writing.

2828
 Characteristics

 Refer to the significant

peculiarities found in the writing
as expressed by the style,
movement, pressure, direction,
angle, curve and any other
minor features of the writing
habit of the individual.

2929
 Phases of a Scientific
Handwriting Examination
1. Recognition

1. Correct interpretation

1. Complete comparison of the elements

1. Complete comparison of the

characteristics

1. Complete comparison of the qualities of

handwriting 3030
Element
- refers more to the separate physical
parts of a thing
- is also an appropriate description term,
which is preferable to quality in some
connections.

Quality
- more general term than the word
element
- refers to an extended or pervasive data
3131
Characteristics Underlying
Handwriting Identification
I. Form
- it is a shape of the individual letters
- every letter is distinguishable because
it has a different form made up of a
different constituent
a. Analysis of form
steps:
1. to dissect normal forms of
individual letters into their components
and to describe and name each salient
feature practical.
3232
 2. to analyze the usual and unusual
deviations from the normal forms

3333
2

5
3 4
3434
b. “Normal form” and “Deviates “

Normal form
– means the more or less perfectly executed
letter
- these are known as “norm”

Deviates
- any variance from the standards which
may only be slight or quite pronounced

3535
c. Ovals in form
- ovals have variety of form
in different writing, same being
more round than oval and
others much narrower than the
normal . They maybe close or
open. The beginning of the
stroke forming the oval maybe
above or below the end, or
they may intersect.
3636
ROUND OVAL
3737
NARROW AND ELONGATED OVAL
3838
OPEN OVAL

3939
EYELET AT BEGINNING AND END OF OVAL

4040
d. Foot in forms
- foot is the part of a down stroke which
results on the base line or near it and the
“toe” or “terminal” is the end of the final
stroke.
- When the terminal stroke is connected
with the following letter, it is then known as
a “link” or “connecting stroke”

3 2

4 3
4141
4242
e. Tick in forms
- “tick” is a short section of a straight
stroke usually located at the beginning or
ending of a stroke.
- it is usually ornamental only and is
seldom essential to eligibility.

4343
 2

1
4444
f. Junction and forms
- “Junction” – means the meeting of two
lines , which do not cross. When the lines
cross each other, it is known as an
“intersection”

1 4

6
2
3 5
4545
 2
3

1 6

4646
g. Similarities of form
- similarities of form are not
indicative of identity unless they
concern unusual form or deviation
from the normal. Similarities are found
to occur in different writings, but such
similarities exist only in letters which
are normal in form. These deviation,
which are found to be habitual are
given the greatest weight. The pattern
of letters has three dimensions: width,
depth, and height.
4747
h. Initial or approach on form
- the initial or approach stroke is
found to be individual. The
direction of the motion, the relative
position of the beginning and its
height above the writing line serve
to characterize and individual
handwriting.

4848
 Muscular Habits
 The habit of writing may be defined as a
tendency or inclination to do a thing in a
certain manner which is acquired by
doing it frequently.

 A single act will not constitute a habit, as

such would be only an occurrence in
making a letter or word with the pen or
pencil.

4949
 Kinds of Muscle Involved
in Movements
 Extensor muscle
- muscles involved in the upward
movement of fingers and these extensor
muscles are used to open the fingers out
straight

 Flexor muscle
- the muscles that close fingers against
the palm
5050
 Skill

A.Skill in the art of writing is

contingent upon may factors:
1. manual dexterity, inherent
or acquired

2. legibility and symmetry, the

bases upon which the skill or
pictorial aspect is judged.
5151
B. Classification of Skill

1. poor skill reveals lack of both legibility

and symmetry, or one of the features

2. good skills shows possession or high

degree of both features

3. medium skill is the classification when

the writing does not fall into the poor or
good class.

5252
 Instrument
 means the typical fountain pen, ball
point pen or pencil used in executing the
writing.

A. What is typical fountain pen design?

- we think of the writing and of a pen as
a single fine point. In reality there are
two points known as nibs which separate
slightly under pressure, depositing a thin
film of ink on the paper between the nib
tracks.
5353
B. Identifying the work of a fountain pen?

The work of a particular pen is identified

through the:

1. Width of the stroke, whether narrow or

minimum or average in stroke

1. Stiffness or elasticity of the pen, as

shown by contrast of strokes, depth of
nib furrows or embossing on back of
sheet.

5454
3. smoothness, roughness or broken
character of the stroke

4. Presence of apparent shading on strokes

at right angles to the width of the penpoint,
especially at the top of letters where stroked
to the left are apparently shaded.

5. Failure of the pen to write due to defect of

the pen rather than the ink, sometimes is
the result of fountain pens or pens with
uneven or broken nibs.

5555
 Line Quality
 It is the term used to described the
relative smoothness of a line

 Handwriting is described good in line

quality when the writer is concentrating
his attention on what he is writing rather
than on how the pen point is moving.

 To produce and writing of good quality,

the pen must be largely controlled by
reflex movements of the muscles of the
5656
hand and arm
 Tremor in Writing
 Indicated by an involuntary, rhythmic and
recurrent movement of the pen

 These tremulous strokes are instant

changes from the desired direction of the
pen line and are attributed to nervous
impulses affecting the muscles.

 The character of the tremor may not be

noticeable in casual observation, but
when shown, it often has a value
5757
sufficient importance to be a factor in the
 Characteristics of Tremor
of Fraud
1. Inequality in movement at any pace in
any stroke or line

1. Strokes too strong and vigorous

combined with weak

1. With hesitation strokes, abrupt and

zigzag or changing direction of the lines

5858
4. Frequent interruptions in movement

5. Unequal distribution of ink on upward as

well as downward stroke

6. Varying pen pressure due to change in

speed and interruption in movement

7. Strongly imitated first and capital letters

of the original signature characterized by
firm lines and modified small letters with
less tremors.

5959
 Characteristics of Tremor
of Age
1. Unusual and erratic departures of the
line from its intended course

1. Abrupt recovery and a general indication

of muscular weakness

1. Movements beyond the control of the

writer particularly in the downward
strokes

6060
4. Very uneven alignment

5. Occasional careless, unconscious

strokes

6. Too many or too few tremors or

tremors on wrong portion of the
letters.

6161
Characteristics Tremor of Illiterate
and Uneducated Individuals
1. More varied pen strokes caused by the
uncertainty, hesitation and unfamiliar its
in the formation of the letters and the
process of writing

1. Lines with sufficient strength but without

order or rhythm showing lack of control

6262
3. Absence of definite style of writing
resulting from the writers limited experience
with pen and pencil, and lack of knowledge
of the size and proportions of the letters of
his signatures

4. Strong lines of the illiterate as writer can

be distinguished from the lines of the
educated writer which are usually lighter,
more weaker and finer.

6363
 Pathological Tremor
 Pathological tremors which result in a
convulsive manner of writing are
independent of the will and are, thus,
beyond the writers control.

 These tremors are rhythmic to and fro

movements that are practically
impossible to imitate with the same
writing speed and pen pressure

6464
 Shading
 Shading in writing is the widening of the
line by the application of pressure to add
color to the writing

6565
 Retrace
 It is the superimpose of line in the letter

 This writing characteristics can be found

on staffs of small “d”, “p”, “t” are
normally for a considerable distance.

 Retrace is influences by a slant, pen

position and more particularly by
movement

6666
 Straight Lines
 Line is a row written or printed
characteristics

 It is also a mark that form part of the

formal design

 In handwriting, it refers to a long narrow

mark written or retraced on a paper or
surface

6767
 Curves
 All writing is made up of straight lines
and curves with their junctions angles,
retraces and sometimes eyelets

 It is through the combination of two or

more of these fundamental strokes that
writing is constructed.

 Two curves put together in one way form

a circle. Certain letters, particularly those
with loops also use curves.
6868
 Variations
 Variations in handwriting are the
peculiarities in letter formations resulting
directly from force of habit or from some
definite cause at the time of the writing

 These variations in writing are actually

partial changes, alteration, departures
and modifications in the formation of the
alphabetical characteristics.

6969
 Causes of Variations
 The mental and physical condition of the
individual

 Modifications in alphabetical formations

produced under nervous conditions

 The position at the time of writing or the

kind of instrument used causes variations

7070
 The time and place

 The habit of writing on a line which is of

great assistance to some persons

 Imperfect eyesight, inferior light at the

moment of writing and writing without
glasses when accustomed to their use.

 Too high or too low a table and the

stiffness or the flexibility of the pen use

 The kind of ink, the of paper, plain or

ruled, or annoyance at the moment7171of
 Letter Connections
 Connection means the stroke or links
which connect a letter with the following
letters

 Letter connections determines the

essential expression of the writing
pattern

 It is the mean indicator of the

neuromuscular function
7272
 Types of Connections
1. Arcade
- a rounded stroke shape like an arc.
- it is a slow mode of connections
resulting from controlled movements

2. Garland
- links the downward stroke to the
upstroke with flowing curve swinging
from left to right

7373
3. Angular Connective Form
- a connection in which the downward
stroke and upward stroke meet directly

- these are continuity of movement

characterized by an abrupt stop and start
each turning point

4. Threadlike connective form

- results when the joining of downward
and upward strokes is slurred to a threadlike
tracing or when rounded turns used at both
top and bottom produce a double curve.
7474
 Spacing
 Observation of the general spacing of the
writing on page should be made and the
width of margins determined.

 Paragraph indentations should be

measured as well as both the space
between the lines and the space between
individual stroke formation

7575
 Terminal Strokes

 Refers to the manner in which an

individual letters and words end

 Perhaps , the most inconspicuous

characteristics and the most difficult for
the forger to duplicated are found in the
initial and final strokes of an handwriting.

 A systematic comparison of each of these

stroke will give the examiner revealing
evidence.
7676
 Forms of Terminals

 Terminals may be:

1. straight terminals
2. curved up or down terminal
3. rarely terminal
4. spiraled terminal
5. hooked terminal

7777
 Inclinations of Terminal

1. Terminals maybe upward

1. Terminals may be horizontal

1. Terminals maybe downward

1. Terminals maybe below the writing lines

7878
 Stroke
 It is the path traced by the pen on a
paper

 The pen stroke is the visual record of the

writing movement

 It is important to observe whether the

course of the stroke is continuous or
broken

7979
 Qualities of the Stroke
 Expansion – refers to the movement,
whether extended or limited in its range
with respect to both vertical and
horizontal dimensions

 Coordination – the flow of movement,

whether controlled or uncertain, smooth
or jerky, continuous or interrupted

 Speed – means the movement, whether

rapid of slow and whether the space is
8080
steady or variable
 Pressure – defined as the force exerted or
applied in the movement , whether heavy
or light, flexible or rigid

 Direction – is the left and rightward trend

of the movement and its upward and
downward reach

 Rhythm – refers to the sequence of

movements that weave the total pattern
as certain phases recur at regular or less
regular intervals

8181
 Fundamental Strokes in
Handwriting
 In form a stroke may be straight or curve.

 It is classified according to direction in

which they are written, a stroke maybe:
a. left
b. right
c. down stroke
d. upstroke

8282
 Strokes may also be classified
according to their position.

 If a stroke begins a letter or word, it

is called the initial approach stroke
while the stroke that ends a letter or
a word is the terminal stroke

8383
 Slant
 It is the inclination of letters which may
either be the right or left

8484
 Alignment
 It is the relaxation of a line or the words
in a line, or the letters in a word to the
base line.

 The term “line of writing” should be

understood as the imaginary line to
which the general trend of a handwriting
conforms, so that it will be correct to
speak of the “line of writing” even when
the paper is unrolled.

8585
Good and Faulty Alignment
 Good alignment – obtained by a forearm
movement in which the elbow joint is
used as the center or pivot of lateral
action and is held right angles to the line
of writing.

 Faulty alignment – is a characteristics of

unskilled writing, and other things being
equal, will be found more often in finger
movement than in forearm movement

8686
 Arrangement
 It refers to the way in which written
matters are put in order on the page

 Every person possesses distinct

habits in writing arrangement. Thus,
these habits are vital clues in
identifying writer

8787
 Varied Causes of Writing
Habits Arrangement
 The direct outgrowth of definite teaching

 The result of unconscious imitation

 Due to some accident condition or

circumstances

 The expression of certain mental and

physical traits of the writer as affected by
education, by environment and by
occupation 8888
 Classification of Writing
Instrument
1. The general placing of writing on a sheet
or page and its artistic and balance
arrangement of parts or its unbalanced
and inartistic appearance

1. The wide narrow, mixed or uniform

spacing between lines, between words,
between separate capitals, between
capitals and small letters in the same
words

8989
3. Placing or locating of words with reference
to an imaginary or actual baseline, i.e, on
the line above the line, below the line, or
partly above or partly below

4. Presence or absence of character and

uniformity of margins at left, right, top and
at bottom of the sheet

5. Position of signature in relation to the

writing it follows

9090
6. horizontal, uphill, downhill, curved or
mixed direction of alignment of signature on
line of writing

7. Parallelism and width of space between

lines of writing or envelop addresses or an
unruled paper

8. Arrangement of headings, introductions

and conclusions of letters and their relation
to each other and to the body of the writing

9191
9. Paragraph and its frequency or its
omission and the average depth of indention
at beginning of paragraphs

10. Arrangement of figures and

abbreviations

11. Interlineations and their character,

position and frequency

12. Envelop addresses and their size, style,

position and arrangement

9292
13. Connections or unbroken pen lines
between words

14. Number of words to a line

15. Location of punctuation marks in relation

to the base line

16. Underscoring and its location, frequency

and emphasis

9393
 Punctuation
 It is a small mark, which by virtue of their
inconspicuous are all the more valuable
as identifying features.

9494
 Variety of Form of Period
1. When the pen is applied to the paper
without pressure, the period maybe:
a. a mere dot

b. circular

c. slightly elongated

9595
2. The spreading of the two nibs when
pressured may result in a heart-shaped of
triangular shaped, with point or up down, or
it may assume the form of a comma with tail
up or down.

3. In the matter of placement, it may be too

far or too close to the letter it follows.

4. With relation to the base line, it maybe

too high or two low.

9696
FORGED DOCUMENTS

9797
 Tracing
 Tracing is copying a writing done by
following the lines of the original.

 The tracing of a signature can be

accomplished only when the signature is
available

 Forgeries made in this manner bear a

close resemblance in form to the original
signature.
9898
 Simulation
 This is the act of assuming the
appearance and character of the original
without reality.

 In this instance, a simulation is a copy or

an imitation of the genuine signature
which is capable of defrauding.

 The simulation or imitation will have a

likeliness in appearance to the genuine
signature but not its identical or exact
9999
character.
 Naturally, a simulation of a signature will
resemble the signature imitated.

 It may be an ordinary copy or one

skillfully made for the purpose of having
it accepted as the genuine signature, but
its similarity or resemblance to the
genuine signature is not the absolute
measure of genuineness.

 The better the imitation, the greater the

danger of deception and fraud.

100
 Classes of Forged
Signatures
1. Simulated Signature
- it is the free hand writing in imitation of
a model signature or a copy.

-It is copying imitating another using the

original as the model.
a. Simulated signature with the model
- simulating the model before him,
the forger makes an effort to obtain
a reproduction of the original
document.
101
- He works slowly, stroke after stroke .

- Applying the direct technique, he works

directly with ink.

- In the indirect technique, the forgery

works with pencil and afterwards covers
the pencil stroke with ink

b. Simulated Free Hand Forgery

- this is used by forgers who have certain
skill in writing. After some practice, the
forger, tries to quickly write a copy of the
model. 102
2. Traced Signature
- this type of forged signature is a tracing
of a genuine signature.

a. Direct tracing. It is a copy made by

transmitted light. That is with the genuine
signature under the forged document and
with a strong light shining through both
papers. The visible outline is followed with a
pen or pencil to create forgery.

103
b. Indirect Tracing
- the forger use a carbon paper and place
the document on which on which he will
trace the forged signatures under the
document bearing the model signature with
carbon paper between the two.

- the pressure of this over-tracing against

the carbon paper imprints the signature
outline in carbon document

- this type could be easily detected by a

smattering of carbon remnants on the
forged documents. 104
c. 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 instruments
that create an indent signature outline on
the document being forged.

- later, this depression outline is

overwritten using pencil, fountain pen or ball
pen.
105
3. Simple forgery
- simple forgery is a kind of forged
signature in which the writing writes
something that resembles what is ordinary
identified as a signature.

- the forger does not copy a model;

instead he uses a false name and makes a
rapid stroke, disturbing his usual style by
adopting a camouflage called disguise.

- in this case, the forger can be identified

by comparing his original signatures and
other writing to the disguise.
106
 Indicators of Simulated and Traced
Forgery
1. Tremulous and broken connecting stroke
between letters

1. Absence of rhythm

1. Carefulness or unusual care and

deliberation

1. Observed contrast between upward and

downward strokes

1. Slow writing 107

6. Blunt beginning and ending

7. Absence of spontaneity or lack of

smoothness of letters

8. Restrained writing or lack of freedom or

“inhibited” movements

9. Absence of variation

108
 Defects of Forged
 a
Signatures
forged signature is based upon the
presence of defects in the signature.

 these faults of forgery are determined

through a study of the questioned
signature and comparison of the various
genuine signatures of the writer.

 a forged signature is apt to be deficient

in form.

109
 Hesitation in Forged

Signature
Hesitation and slow writing movement
are other common defects of imitated
forgeries

 The finished signature is not necessarily

made up entirely of strokes of this nature,
but many forgeries contain recurring
defects of this type.

 Hesitation normally occurs in those part

of the signature where the forger
encounters greatest difficulty in
imitation. 110
GENUINENESS OF WRITING

111
 Genuine Signature
 Are normally smoothly written and
executed with at least, moderate speed
containing an occasional uncertain stroke
or signs of an occasional slow writing
movement.

 Indications of genuineness are:

carelessness, spontaneity, alteration of
thick and thin strokes, speed,
simplification, rhythm, good line quality
and variation.

112
When Forgery Established?
 A forgery is established when it can be
shown that the signature is unnatural
either in the way that it is written or in its
form.

 Most frequently, both types of faults are

present.

 These defects result from someone trying

to produce a signature which is
completely unpracticed and which should
be written in a different manner and with
different habits than those of the forger.
113
 Signature Written Under Abnormal
Condition
 Signatures written under abnormal
condition such as when the writer is
standing, reclining, riding or writing upon
an uneven surface are not completely
characteristics.

 The written document or signature is not

his natural writing but that does not
mean is signatures are not genuine; they
are merely variable.

114
 Rhythm, A Factor of Identification in
Forged and Genuine Signatures

 Rhythm - is defined as a harmonious

recurrence of stress or impulses motion,
and handwriting can classified by the
quality or the perfection of its rhythm.

 Rhythm is the result of impulses and is

indicated by accentuation in mature
writing.

 It is highly individualistic and a very

important factor identification of genuine
115
writing.
 This harmonious movement and
accentuation of pen pressure occurs
unconsciously, having a free and easy
swing which is consistent and invariable
in the genuine written signature.

 The exact character and quality of the

rhythm are exceedingly difficult to
reproduce.

 Inconsistency of rhythm is usually a token

of forgery.

116
Speed, A Factor in Identification of
Questioned and Genuine
Documents
 Speed in writing is the rapidity in
movement of the pen or pencil in the
formation of the letters comprising words
and sentences.

 The degree of speed used varies in

writings which make it as an important
factor in the examination of every
questioned document.

 The speed in which an individual writers

117
is dependent upon his mental attitude,
 Therefore the degree of speed used in
writing is always found in the line quality
of the writing.

 When a writing is applied to the pen in

writing, the speed is decreased in
proportion to the degree of pressure
applied.

 The width of the writing line indicates the

amount of pressure used.

 Tremor and broken lines seldom occur in

speed writing unless the pen or pencil is
118
 Indications Of Speed Writing
 Smooth, unbroken stroke and rounded
forms

 Frequent signs or tendencies to the right

 Marked uncertainty as to the location of

the dots of small letters “I”, “j” and
crosses of small letter “t” connected with
the following words.

 Increased spontaneity of words or small

letter connected with the following words.
119
 Letters curtailed or degenerated almost
illegibility toward the end of words

 Wide writing width letters greater that

the connecting spaces adjoining it.

 Marked simplification of letters especially

capital letters.

 Rising line

 Increased pen pressure

 Increased in the margin to the left at 120

the
Indications of Slow Writing
 Wavering form and broken strokes

 Frequent signs or tendencies to the left

 Conspicuous certainty as to the location

of the dots of small letters “I”, “j”, or “t”
and crosses with scarcely perceptible
deviation form intended direction.

 Frequent pauses, angles, divided letters

and retouches

121
 Carefully execution of a detail of a letter,
toward the end of words

 Narrow writing

 Absence of difference in emphasis in

upstroke and down stroke

 Ornamental or flourishing connections

 Illegibility

122
 Characteristics of Genuine Signature
 Smooth quality line

 Presence of vanishing and flying strokes

 Absence of retouching

 Absence of unnatural tremor

 Absence of pen stops and wrong places

 Illegibility
123
 Indications of Genuine Handwriting
 Illegibility

 Freedom of movement or rhythm

 Smooth line quality

 Vanishing terminal strokes

 Misspelling

124
 Omission of strokes or simplification

 Carelessness

 Flying start and flying finish

 Ink failures

 Even pressures

 Speed

125
 Symptoms of Forgery
 Impression found on the sides of
impression strokes by the use of a side
light when forgery is by tracing

 Appearance of unequal distribution of ink

 Appearance of temporary pen stop at

wrong places as in the curve or in
straight line as distinguished from that of
a genuine signature where pen stop are
irregular and usually found on the inks.

126
 Appearance of irregular tremor in the line
of stroke

 The initial and the terminal strokes

showing stop ending which appear
heavier pigment

 Appearance of retouching distinctive

from the genuine retouching which is
done carefully.

127
Proof in Disputed Writing
 Identity is proved when two handwriting
contain a sufficient number of significant
characteristics, qualities and elements so
that it is unreasonable to say that they
would all accidentally coincide in two
different handwriting.

 Identity is not proved by the presence of

only a few common or conventional
forms.

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