Questioned Document
A Comprehensive Review
Rhem Rick N. Corpuz, Ph. D Crim
Order of Presentation
• Preliminaries
• Questioned Document: Timeline and
Personalities
• Examination of Questioned Handwriting
• Standards in Questioned Document
• Examination of Signatures
Order of Presentation
• Examination of Counterfeiting
• Examination of Inks and Writing Materials
• Examination of Typewritten Notes and
Materials
• Laws on Questioned Documents
Preliminaries
• Document
– The term document came from the Latin word
“documentum”, which means lesson, or example.
It may have been derived also from the French
word “docere” means to teach.
– Any material containing marks, symbols, or
signs in which these components may either be
visible or partially visible in conveying message
or meaning to someone.
Kinds of Document
• Public document
– A document created, executed or issued by a public
official in response to the exigencies of the public
service, or in the execution of which a public
official intervened. (U.S. v. Asensi, 34 Phil. 765)
• Official document
– A document which is issued by a public official in
the exercise of the functions of his office. An
official document is also a public document. It falls
within the larger class called public document. (U.S.
v. Asensi)
Kinds of Document
• 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 the
documents some disposition or agreement is proved,
evidenced or set forth (US v. Orera,11 Phil. 596).-
• Commercial Document
– Any instrument defined and regulated by the Code of
Commerce (People v. Co Beng, 1913) or any other
commercial law.
What may not constitute as document?
• A draft of municipal payroll which not yet
approved by the proper authority.
• Mere blank forms of official documents.
• Pamphlets or books which do not evidence
any disposition or agreement are not
documents but are mere merchandise.
Questioned Document
• Is a document or paper/s whose contents
have been contested either in whole or in any
part as to their authenticity.
• A document is questioned when there is a
controversy over its preparation, contents and
other circumstances surrounding it.
Questioned Document Examination
• Is a term used to refer to the act of making a
close and critical study of any document
which is questioned, disputed or attacked,
necessary to discover the facts about them.
Two Division of QDE
• Criminalistics Examination. This involves the
detection of forgery, erasure, alteration or obliteration
of documents.
– Dr. Wilson Harrison, a noted British Examiner of
questioned documents said that an intelligent police
investigator can detect almost 75% of all forgeries by
careful inspection of a document with simple magnifiers
and measuring tools.
• Handwriting Investigation/Analysis. This is more
focused in determining the author of writing. It is
more difficult procedure and requires long study and
experience.
Aspects of QDE
• Handwriting Examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)
– examination of signatures and initials – examination of anonymous letters – hand printing examination
• Examination of Typewritings and typeprints. • Examination of Inks
• Examination of Erasures, alterations or obliterations, etc.
– Detection of alteration
– Decipherment of erased writings – Restoration of obliterated writings
• Counterfeiting
– Examination of currency bills and coins and the like – Examination of fake documents
• Miscellaneous aspects
– Determination of age of documents – Identification of stamps
Purpose of QDE
To reveal/ discover the following:
– Identity of the author.
– True contents of the document.
– Origin of the instrument or paper used in making
the document.
– Alterations or erasures which have been made.
– Authenticity of the document.
Scientific Examination of QDE
• Analysis (Recognition) - properties or characteristics,
observed or measured.
• Comparison - Properties or
characteristics of the unknown
determined thought analysis are
now compared with the familiar or recorded
properties of known items.
• Evaluation- Similarities 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.
Instruments used in QDE
Stereoscopic
Microscope
The
stereoscopic
microscope, two
low-powered microscopes
arranged to converge
on a single specimen,
provides
a
three-dimensional image.
Instruments used in QDE
The compound microscope uses
two lenses, an objective lens and
an ocular lens, mounted at
opposite ends of a closed tube, to
provide greater magnification
than is possible with a single lens.
The objective lens is composed of
several lens elements that form an
enlarged real image of the object
being examined.
Instruments used in QDE
Shadowgraph
an
instrument
that the images
are
cast
in
shadow:
an
image of a shape
made by casting a
shadow onto a
surface
Instruments used in QDE
Handwriting Protractor
An
instrument
for
measuring angles: an
instrument shaped like
a semicircle marked
with the degrees of a
circle, used to measure
or mark out angles.
Instruments used in QDE
UV Lamp
– this is usually used
in the detection of
counterfeited bills
but can actually be
used to detect
security features of
qualified
Instruments used in QDE
Transmitted Light
a device where light
comes from beneath
or behind glass on
document is placed.
Instruments used in QDE
Photo- enlarger
A device used to
enlarge
negatives and
transfer the
image to the
photo paper.
Instruments used in QDE
Forensic Comparator
An instrument which
captures images and
projects them on a
black
and
white
screen
for
enlargement
purposes.
Instruments used in QDE
Electro- Static Detection Device
An
Electro
Static
Detection
Apparatus is used to visualize
indentations by applying an
electrostatic
charge
to
a
transparent film. The film is laid
across the page in question and
once the charge has been applied,
black toner is passed across the
film
and
reveals
any
indentations. This method can
also determine if something has
been added to a journal or log
after the original entry was made
Instruments used in QDE
Video Spectral Comparator
is used to analyze inks and see
whether they are the same or
different. This is done by
looking at them under
different lighting conditions
where some wavelengths of
light are blocked. This
technique can uncover layers
in documents where words
have been scribbled out or
written over
Instruments used in QDE
Thin Layer
Chromatography
is used to do a more
thorough analysis of ink.
The ink is mixed with
chemicals and deposited
onto a silicate plate
where its constituents
can be measured
Instruments used in QDE
Infrared Reflectance
is used to show the residue
of pencil marks. This can
be done clearly even if
the writing has been
erased. Pencils are made
of graphite which is a
form of carbon – and this
absorbs infrared light
Instruments used in QDE
Magnifying Lens
Instruments used in QDE
Camera with Macro
Lens
To capture the
handwriting sample
and enlarge the same
for court presentation.
Basic Terminologies
• DISPUTED DOCUMENT. A term suggesting that
there is an argument or controversy over the
document, and strictly speaking this is true meaning.
• STANDARD a.k.a. STANDARD DOCUMENT -
Are condensed and compact set of authentic
specimens which, if adequate and proper, should
contain a cross section of the material from a
known source.
• EXEMPLAR. A term used by some document
examiners and attorneys to characterize known
material. Standard is the older term.
Basic Terminologies
• HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT. Any
document completely written and signed by one
person; also known as a holograph.
• REFERENCE COLLECTION. Material
compiled and organized by the document
examiner to assist him in answering special
questions. Reference collections of typewriting,
check writing specimens, inks, pens, pencils, and
papers are frequently maintained.
Basic Terminologies
• ERASURE - The removal of writings, typewriting or
printing, from a document is an erasure.
– Mechanical – Chemical
• EXAMINATION - It is the act of making a close and
critical study of any material and with questioned
documents, it is the process necessary to discover the facts
about them.
• EXPERT WITNESS. A legal term used to describe a
witness who by reason of his special training or experience
is permitted to express an opinion regarding the issue, or a
certain aspect of the issue, which is involved in a court
Basic Terminologies
• HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION EXPERT. A
common name for the document examiner.
• IDENTIFICATION (Identity) – as used in this text it
is the state of being identical or absolutely the same as
in similarity of source or authorship of the questioned
document and the standard document.
• INSERTION OR INTERLINEATION
The term "insertion" and "interlineations" include
the addition of writing and other
material between lines or paragraphs
Basic Terminologies
• NON-IDENTITIFICATION (Non-identity) – as used in this text it means that the source or authorship of the compared questioned and standard specimens is different.
• OBLITERATION - the blotting out or shearing over the writing to make the original invisible to as an addition.
• OPINION. In legal language, it refers to the document Examiner's conclusion. Actually in Court, he not only expresses an opinion but demonstrates the reasons for arriving at his opinion. Throughout this text, opinion and conclusion are used synonymously.
• QUALIFICATION. The professional experience, education, and ability of a document examiner. Before he is permitted to testify as an expert witness, the court must rule that he is qualified in his
Basic Terminologies
• ADDITION - Any matter made a part of the document after its
original preparation may be referred to as addition.
• CONCLUSION - A scientific conclusion results form relating
observed facts by logical, common-sense reasoning in
accordance with established rules or laws. The document
examiner's conclusion, in legal term is referred to as "opinion".
• DOCUMENT EXAMINER. One who studies scientifically
the details and elements of documents in order to identify their
source or to discover other facts concerning them.
Care and Preservation of Documents
• The improper or careless handling of a disputed
document can lead to serious curtailment of certain
technical examinations.
• DO’s
– Keep documents unfolded in protective envelope.
– The most useful and effective protective covering
of a disputed documents is a transparent plastic
envelop.
Care and Preservation of Documents
• Take disputed papers to the documents examiners
laboratory at the first opportunity.
• If storage is necessary, keep the document in a dry
place away from excessive heat and strong light.
• Once a document is disputed it is seldom stored or
filed for a long, but important documents should be
kept properly for a long period of time.
Care and Preservation of Documents
• Do not handle disputed papers excessively or carry
them in a pocket for along time.
• Do not mark disputed documents (either by
consciously writing or by pointing at them with
writing instrument or dividers).
• Do not mutilate or damage by repeated refolding,
creasing, cutting, tearing or punching for filing
purposes.
• ”
36 RHEM RICK N. CORPUZ, Ph. D Crim
Care and Preservation of Documents
• Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to
make chemical or other do not treat or dust for latent
fingerprints before consulting a document examiner.
• Do not allow “Amateur Testing
• When possible, the charred documents should be
moved in the container in which they all found.
Historical Developments in QDE
• 1609- The first treatise on systematic document
examination was published by Francis Demelle of
France
• 1622- The first person that carried out systematic
observations on the manner of handwriting was
Camillo Baldi. He published the book entitled
“Treated how, by a letter missive, one recognizes the
writer’s nature and qualities”, which is considered the
first known graphological essay.
• 1810- The first recorded use of questioned document
analysis occurred in Germany. Konigin Hanschritt.
Historical Developments in QDE
• 1810- The first recorded use of questioned document
analysis occurred in Germany. A chemical test for a
particular ink dye was applied to a document known as
Konigin Hanschritt.
• 1882- Gilbert Thompson, railroad builder with the US
Geological survey in New Mexico, put his own thumbprint
on wage chits to safeguard himself from forgeries.
• 1894- Alfred Dreyfus of France was convicted of treason
based on mistaken handwriting identification by Bertillion.
• 1910- Albert S. Osborne- an American and arguably the
Techniques in Examination
• MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION - Any examination or
study which is made with the microscope in order to discover
minute physical details.
• With proper angle and intensity or illumination, it aids in
the decipherment of erasures, some minute manipulations not
perfectly pictured to the unaided eye and the sequence of
entries done by different writing instruments.
• TRANSMITTED LIGHT EXAMINATION – In this
examination, the document is viewed with the source of
illumination behind it and the light passing through the paper.
Documents are subjected to this type of examination to
determine the presence of erasures, matching of serrations
and some other types of alterations.
Techniques in Examination
• OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION - An
examination with the illumination so controlled that
it grazes or strikes the surface of the document from
one side at a very low angle. Decipherment of faded
handwriting, determination of outlines in traced
forgery, embossed impressions, etc. are subjected to
this type of examination.
• PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION - This type
of examination is very essential in every document
examination. Actual observations are recorded in the
photographs
Techniques in Examination
• ULTRA-VIOLET EXAMINATION - Ultraviolet radiation
is invisible and occurs in the wave lengths just below the
visible blue-violet end of the spectrum (rainbow). These
visible rays react on some substances so that visible light is
reflected, a phenomenon known as FLOURESCENCE.
• This type of examination is done in a darkroom after the lamp
has been warmed up in order to give a maximum output of
the ultra-violet light. Exposure to the ultra-violet light
should be to the minimum duration in order to avoid fading
of some writing ink and typewriter ribbon.
• INFRARED EXAMINATION - This examination of
documents employs invisible radiation beyond the red portion
of the visible spectrum (rainbow) which is usually recorded
on a specially sensitized photographic emulsion.
Classes of QD
• Documents containing questioned signatures.
• Questioned documents alleged to have been containing
fraudulent alterations.
• Questioned or disputed holographic will.
– a. Holographic Will
– b. Notarial Will-
• Documents investigated on the question of typewriting.
• Questioned documents on issues of their age or date.
• Questioned documents on issues of materials used in their
production.
• Documents or writings investigated because it is alleged
that they identify some persons through handwriting.
Principle of QDE
•
“When two items 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 mere coincidence and
there are no unaccounted differences, it may
be concluded that they are the same in their
characteristics attributed to the same cause.”
HANDWRITING ANALYSIS
Examination of Handwriting
Handwriting Defined
• It is the result of a very complicated series
of acts, being used as a whole, and
combination of certain forms of visible
mental and muscular habits acquired by
long, continued painstaking effort. Some
Physiological Basis
• This center near the motor area of
the cortex is responsible for the
finger movement involved in
handwriting. The importance of
this center is that when it becomes
diseased as in a graphic, one loses
the ability to write although he
could still grasp a fountain pen,
ball pen or pencil. Thus, the
ability or power to hold a fountain
pen or pencil to form symbols and
words can be said to emanate from
its cortical center.
Muscles involved in Handwriting
• A group of
extensor muscles
push up the pen to
form the upward
strokes and ease
the tension
produced as a
result by a group of
muscle called the
flexor muscles
that push the pen to
form a downward
strokes.
Development of Handwriting
• Children learn writing by following the school copy or
model.
• After acquiring some degree of skill the children no longer
follow the school model.
• As speed increases, conscious design and regularity begin
to break down.
• In the course of trial and error, modification are made,
simplification and elaborations, addition and omissions
occur.
• The writing pattern of each child embodies unique
combinations of such deviation from the standard letter
forms or school model, and becomes his personal habits.
Kinds of Handwriting
• Cursive –
connected; writing in which
one letter is joined to the next.
• Script – separated or printed writing.
• BLOCK – all CAPITAL LETTERS.
Basis of Handwriting Examination
• In Wigmore's Principles of judicial Proof, handwriting is
defined as a visible effect of bodily movement which is an
almost unconscious expression of fixed muscular habits,
reacting from fixed mental impression of certain ideas
associated with script form.
• Environment, education and occupation affect
individuals so variously in the formation of these muscular
habits that finally the act of writing becomes an almost
automatic succession of acts stimulated by these habits.
• The imitation of the style of writing by another person
becomes difficult because the other person cannot by mere
will power reproduce in himself all the muscular
History of Handwriting
Cuneiform Script
•The impressions left
by the stylus were
wedged shaped, thus
giving rise to the name
cuneiform
(“wedge
shape, “form the Latin
cuneus,
meaning
“wedge”)
•Is the earliest writing
system in the world.
Handwriting as an Exact Science
• In the hand of a qualified examiner
operating under right conditions:
–Sufficient questioned writing
–Sufficient known writing
–Sufficient time use of scientific
instruments
History of Handwriting
•Paleography (from Greek
palaiós, "old" and graphein,
"to write") is the study of
ancient handwriting and the
practice of deciphering and
reading
historical
manuscripts.
•The first time the term
"paleography" was used was
perhaps in 1708 by Bernard
de
Montfaucon,
History of Handwriting
•Calligraphy
•(from Greek kallos "beauty" +
graphẽ "writing") is a type
of visual art. It is often called the
art of fancy lettering (Mediavilla
1996:17).
•A contemporary definition of
calligraphic practice is "the art of
giving form to signs in an
expressive, harmonious and
skillful manner" (Mediavilla,
1996: 18).
History of Handwriting
•Petrography
•The word comes from
the Greek
words petros meaning "stone"
and glyphein meaning "to
carve" (it was originally coined
in French as pétroglyphe).
•(also called rock engravings)
are images created by removing
part of a rock surface by
incising, pecking, carving, and
abrading.
History of Handwriting
• Neolithic man began
written
communication as
long as 20,000 years
ago when he
graphically
represented objects
and ideas in drawings
on cave walls known
as Iconography.
History of Handwriting
•An Ideogram or Ideograph
(from
Greek
idea
"idea"
+ grafo "to write") is
a
graphic
symbol
that
represents an idea or concept.
History of Handwriting
•From the Italian “graffito”
meaning “a scatch” refers to
handwriting or images on
the walls or surfaces of a
public area, such as building,
parks, toilets, and trains,
etc..
•Graffiti" is applied in art
history to works of art
produced by scratching a
design into a surface.
History of Handwriting
•A scribe is a person
who writes books or
documents by hand as
a profession and helps
the city keep track of
its records.
Principles of Handwriting
• No two writers write exactly alike.
• The physical writing conditions and position
of the person including his writing instrument
may affect the handwriting characteristics but
they do not confine all its identifying
elements.
– Age, sickness, emotional state (transitory state),
position
Principles of Handwriting
• Individuality in handwriting can only be
determined through comparative examination
with the standard written or prepared under
comparable conditions.
– Under similar purpose
• Similarity does not mean identity.
Variations in Writing
• A more or less definite pattern for each is
stored away in the subjective mind but the
hand does not always produce a stereotyped
duplicate of that pattern.
• The hand ordinarily is not an instrument of
precision and therefore we may not expect
every habitual manual operation to be
Causes of Variation
• Function of some external condition i.e.
influence of the available space.
• Abnormal conditions such as physical injury,
toxic effects, inebriation's, emotion and
deception.
• Position of letter - all the letters are to be found
initially, medially, and finally. The fact of a
different position, especially in combination with
another and particular letter, may modify any
of them in some way or another.
Importance of Variation
• Personal variation encountered under normal writing
conditions is also a highly important element of
identification. The qualities of personal variation include
both its nature and its extent. It becomes necessary to
determine the amount, extent, and exact quality of the
variations.
• With a group of signatures of a particular writer, certain
normal divergence in size, lateral spacing and proportions
actually indicate genuineness. Variation in genuine writing
is ordinarily in superficial parts and in size, proportions,
degree of care given to the act, design, slant, shading,
vigor, angularity, roundness and direction of stroke.
Copybook System
• refers to the standard of handwriting
instruction taught in particular school.
Classes of copybook depend on the standard
school copy adopted by a writer.
Old Copybook System
• Old English round hand - in fact an Italian
hand popular in 1840.
• Modified round hand - early edition of the
Spencerian, and the Payson, Dunton, and
Scribners copybook - 1840 -1860.
• Spencerian - there is simplification by the
omission of extra strokes and flourishes. And a
general tendency toward plainer letters than the
preceding system, some of which were very
ornate - 1860-1890.
Modern Copybook System
• Spencerian Script (1850- 1895)
– Introduced by Platt Rogers Spencer
• Palmer Copybook (1900- 1980)
– Austin Norman Palmer
• D’ Nealian Copybook (1980)
• British Copybook
• French Copybook
• German Copybook
Spencerian Script Palmer Script
D’ Nealian Copybook
Importance of Copybook
• to the nationality of the writer.
• to the system learned
• to the date when the writing was acquired and
• to some of the influences that have
Terminologies in Handwriting
• 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.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• GARLAND
FORMS – A cup-like
connected form that
is open at the top and
rounded on the
bottom.
• ARCADE FORMS –
Forms that look like
arches rounded on the
top and open at the
bottom.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• ANGULAR
FORMS – Sharp,
straight strokes that
are made by stopping
the pen and changing
direction before
continuing.
• THREADY FORM
– An indefinite
connective form that
looks flat and wavy.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• DISGUISED
WRITING - A writer
may deliberately try
to alter his usual
writing habits in
hopes of hiding his
identity. The results,
regardless of their
effectiveness are
termed disguised
writing.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• COLLATION - side by side comparison;
collation as used in this text means the critical
comparison on side by side examination.
• COMPARISON - the act of setting two or
more items side by side to weigh their
identifying qualities; it refers not only a visual
but also the mental act in which the element
of one item are related to the counterparts of
the other.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• Topline
• Midline
• Baseline
Terminologies in Handwriting
• GRAPHOANALYSIS - the study of
handwriting based on the two fundamental
strokes, the curve and the straight strokes.
• GRAPHOMETRY - analysis by comparison
and measurement.
• GRAPHOLOGY - the art of determining
character disposition and amplitude of a
person from the study of handwriting. It also
means the scientific study and analysis of
handwriting, especially with reference to
forgeries and questioned documents.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• GESTALT – The German word that means
“complete” or “whole”. A good gestalt needs
nothing added or taken away to make it “look
right”. Also a school of handwriting analysis
that looks at handwriting as a whole picture.
• HANDLETTERING. Any disconnected
style of writing in which each letter is written
separately; also called handprinting
Terminologies in Handwriting
• WRONG-HANDED
WRITING. Any writing executed with the opposite hand that normally used; a.k.a. as “with the awkward hand.” It is one means of disguise. Thus, the writing of a right-handed person which has been executed with his left hand accounts for the common terminology for this class of disguise as "left-hand writing".
Terminologies in Handwriting
• LETTER SPACE – The amount of space left between letters.
• LINE DIRECTION –
Movement of the baseline. May slant up, down, or straight across the page.
• LINE QUALITY - the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending strokes. There are two classes: Good Line quality and Poor Line quality.
• LINE SPACE – The amount of space left between lines.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• MANUSCRIPT WRITING. A disconnected form of
script or semi-script writing. This type of writing is
taught in young children in elementary schools as the
first step in learning to write.
• MARGINS – The amount of space left around the
writing on all four sides.
• MOVEMENT – It is an important element in
handwriting. It embraces all the factors which are
related to the motion of the writing instrument skill,
speed freedom, hesitation, rhythm, emphasis, tremors
and the like. The manner in which the writing
instrument is move that is by finger, hand, forearm or
whole arm.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• PEN EMPHASIS - The act of
intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surfaces. When the pen-point has flexibility, this emphasis produces
shading, but with more rigid writing points heavy point
emphasis can occur in writing w/out any evidence of shading; the act
intermittently forcing the pen against the paper with increase pressure.
• PEN HOLD – The place where the
writer grasps the barrel of the pen and the angle at which he holds it.
• PEN POSITION - relationship between the pen point and the paper.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• PEN PRESSURE - the average force with which the pen contacts the paper. Pen pressure as opposed to pen emphasis deals with the usual of average force involved in the writing rather than the period increases.
• PRINTSCRIPT – A creative combination of printing and cursive writing.
Terminologies in Handwriting
• PROPORTION or RATIO - the relation between the tall and the short letter is
referred as to the ratio of writing. • QUALITY. A distinct or peculiar
character. Also, “quality” is used in describing handwriting to refer to any identifying factor that is related to the writing movement itself.
• RHYTHM – The element of the writing movement which is marked by regular or periodic recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in its
quality; the flourishing succession of motion which are recorded in a written record. Periodicity, alternation of
Terminologies in Handwriting
• SHADING - Is the widening of the ink strokes due to the
added pressure on a flexible pen point or to the use of a stub
pen.
• SIGNIFCANT WRITING HABIT – Any characteristic of
handwriting that is sufficiently uncommon and well fixed to
serve as a fundamental point in the identification.
• SIMPLIFICATION – Eliminating extra or superfluous
strokes from the copybook model.
• SIZE – May refer to the overall size of the writing or the
proportions between zones.
• SKILL - In any set there are relative degrees or ability or
skill and a specimen of handwriting usually contains
evi-dence of the writer's proficiency; degree, ability, or skill of a
write proficiency
Terminologies in Handwriting
• SLOPE/SLANT - the angle or
inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline. There are three classes:
– Slant to the left;
– Slant to the right; and – Vertical Slant.
• SPEED OF WRITING - The
personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves across the paper.
• TENSION – The degree of force
exerted on the pen compared to the degree of relaxation.
• WORD SPACE – The amount of
Kinds of Handwriting
• Finger Movement - the thumb, the first, second and
slightly the third fingers are in actual motion. Most
usually employed by children and illiterates.
• Hand Movement - produced by the movement or
action of the whole hand with the wrist as the center
of attraction.
• Forearm Movement - the movement of the
shoulder, hand and arm with the support of the table.
• Whole Forearm Movement - action of the entire
Strokes in Handwriting
• Path followed by the pen in the paper
– Arc- a curved formed inside the top curve of loop as
in small letters “h”, “m”, “n”, & “p”.
– Arch- any arcade form in the body of a letter found in
small letters which contain arches.
– Ascender- is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.
– Baseline- maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might
be imaginary alignment of writing; it the ruled or
imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
Strokes in Handwriting
• Diacritic- “t” crossing and dots of the letter “i” and “j”.
The matters of Indian script are also known as diacritic
sign; an element added to complete a certain letter, either a
cross bar or a dot.
• Ending/Terminate stroke of toe- the end stroke of a
letter.
• 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 the stroke that
extend in divergent direction as in small letters.
• Foot- lower part which rest on the base line. The small
letter ”m” has three feet, and the small letter “n” has two
feet.
Strokes in Handwriting
• Hesitation- the term 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.
• Hiatus/ pen jump- a gap occurring between a continuous
stroke without lifting the pen.
• Such as occurrence usually occurs due to speed; may be
regarded also as a special form of pen lift distinguished in
a ball gaps and appear in the writing.
• Hook- it is a minute curve or ankle which often occurs at
the end of the terminal stroke.
• It also sometimes occurs at the beginning of a initial
stroke. The terminal curves of a letters “a,d,n,m,p,u” is the
hook.
Strokes in Handwriting
• Long letter- those letters with both upper and lower loops.
• Loop- a oblong curve such as found on the small letter “f,g,I”
and letter stroke “f” has two.
• Majuscule- a capital letter.
• Miniscule- a small letter.
• Movement impulses- this refers to the continuality of stroke
, forged writing is usually produced by disconnected and
broken movements and more motion or movement impulses
then in genuine writing.
• Patching- retouching or going back over a defective portion
of a stroke. Careful patching is common defect on forgeries.
Strokes in Handwriting
• Shoulder- outside portion of the top curve, small letter “m” has three shoulders and the small letter “n” has two, the small letter “h” has one shoulder.
• Spur- a short initial or terminal stroke.
• Staff- any major long downward stroke of a letter that is the long downward stroke of the letter “b,g”.
• Stem or shank- the upright long downward stroke that is the trunk or stalk, normally seen in capital letters.
• Tick/ Hitch- any short stroke, which usually occurs at the top of the letters.
• Tremor- a writing weakness portrayed by irregular shaky strokes is described as writing tremor.
Strokes in Handwriting
• Linear Letters- lower case letters having no
ascending loops or stems, or descending loops or
stems sometimes called minuscule. No capital letters.
• Supralinear- letters that extend a distance vertically
above the linear letters, (b, d,h,k,l and t)
• Infralinear- Letters are those that extend a distance
vertically below the baseline of the writing or of the
linear letters. (g,j,p,q,y,z).
• Double-Length Letters- are those few letters that
extend a distance vertically both above and below the
linear letters. (f, y, z,p)
Characteristics of Handwriting
• GENERAL(CLASS) 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 large a group of writes
that have only slight identification value.
• 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.
Individual Characteristics
• Writing movement
• Form and design of letters
• Muscular control or motor control -
• Loose writing - this is characterized by too much freedom of movement and lack of regulation. This is noticed especially in tall letters forms.
• 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. • Motor Coordination
• Shading • Skill
Individual Characteristics
• Alignment
• Pen pressure
• Connection
• Pen hold
• Rhythm
• Disconnections or pen lifts between letters
• Speed.
• Slant as a writing habit
• Proportion of letters
• Quality of stroke or line quality
• Variation
Standards in Handwriting
• STANDARD. They are known writings which indicate how a person writes. A writer manifests fixed habits in his writings that identify him. This fact provides the basis for an opinion of conclusion regarding any writing identification problem.
• EXEMPLARS - Specimen of the writing of suspects are commonly known as exemplars. The term standards is a
general term referring to all authenticated writings of the suspects while exemplars refers more especially to a specimens of
standard writing offered in evidence or obtained or request for comparison with the questioned writing.
• SAMPLE - A selected representative portion of the whole is
Types of Standards
• Collected Standards are KNOWN (genuine) handwriting of
an individual such as signature and endorsements on canceled checks, legal papers letters, commercial, official, public and
private document and other handwriting such as letters,
memoranda, etc. written in the course of daily life, both business and socials.
• Request standards are signature or other handwritings (or hand printings) written by an individual upon request for the purpose of comparison with other handwriting or for specimen purposes.
• Post Litem Motan Exemplars - writings produced by the subject after evidential writings have come into dispute and solely for the purpose of establishing his contentions.
Considerations in Acquiring Standard
• The amount of Standard written
• Similarly of Subject Matter. If the questioned writings are hand printed, then get hand printed standard or exemplar.
• Relative Dates of the questioned and the standards writing
standard signatures or writing must be those written five (5) years before or five (5)after the date of the questioned signature or
writing.
• Contemporaneous Standards Condition under which both the questioned and the standard are prepared. look for standards prepared under comparable circumstances such as: paper rested on the knee; standing; sitting; lying down; and/or while on moving vehicle.
Procedures for Examination
• Determine whether all standards are written by
same person.
• Examine the standard handwritings.
• Examine the individual handwriting
characteristics of standards and questioned
exemplar.
• Weigh the points of similarities and points of
dissimilarities.
• Subject the questioned handwriting to a
microscopic examination
Post Litem Motan
• Standard writings witnessed
• Standards writings admitted
• Record Maintained in Regular Course of
Business as Standard Writings
• Government Document as standard
Writings
SIGNATURE
• SIGNATURE defined – It is the name of a
person written by him/her in a document as a
sign of acknowledgement. Or, it is 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.
Terminologies in Signature
• FRAUDULENT SIGNATURE. A forged signature. It
involves the writing of a name as a signature by someone
other.
• CROSS MARK. Historically, many who could not write
signed with a cross mark or crude X. This authenticating mark
is still used today by illiterates, and if properly witnessed, it
can legally stand for a signature.
• EVIDENTIAL SIGNATURE - Is not simply a signature - it
is a signature, signed at a particular time and place, under
particular conditions, while the signer was at particular age, in
a particular physical and mental condition, using particular
implements, and with a particular reason and purpose for
recording his name.
Terminologies in Signature
• FREEHAND SIGNATURE. A fraudulent signature that was
executed purely by simulation rather than by tracing the outline of a genuine signature.
• GUIDED SIGNATURE. A signature that is executed while the writer’s hand or arm is steadied in any way. Under the law of most jurisdictions such a signature authenticates a legal document
provided it is shown that the writer requested the assistance. Guided signatures are most commonly written during a serious illness or on a deathbed.
• IMITATED SIGNATURE. Synonymous with freehand forgery. • MODEL SIGNATURE. A genuine signature that has been used
Types of Signatures
• FORMAL (a.k.a. CONVENTIONAL or
COPYBOOK FORM) - complete correct
signature for an important document such as
will.
• INFORMAL (CURSORY) - usually for routine
documents and personal correspondence.
1. Personalized
2. Semi-personalized
• CARELESS SCRIBBLE - for the mail carrier,
delivery boy or the autograph collector.
Forgery
• Forgery is, strictly speaking, a legal term
which involves not only a non-genuine
document but also and intent to fraud.
However, it is also used synonymously
with fraudulent signature or spurious
document.
Classes of Forged Signatures
• SIMULATED OR FREEHAND IMITATION
FORGERY – executed purely by simulation rather than
by tracing the outline of a genuine signature can
be referred as freehand imitation or simulated forgery. Or
it refers to the free-hand drawing in imitation of model
signature.
• TRACED FORGERY (TRACED SIGNATURE)
• DIRECT TRACING - tracing is made by transmitted light.
• INDIRECT TRACING - forger uses a carbon paper and
place document on which he will trace the forged signature
under the document bearing the model signature with a
Classes of Forged Signatures
• TYPES OF TRACED SIGNATURE:
– CARBON PROCESS
– INDENTATION PROCESS
– TRANSMITTED LIGHT PROCESS
• SPURIOUS SIGNATURE (SIMPLE
FORGERY) - Forger does not try to copy a
model but writes something resembling what we
ordinarily call a signature. For this, he uses a
false (spurious) name and makes a rapid stroke,
disturbing his usual writing by adopting a
Steps in Signature Examination
• STEP 1 - Place the questioned and the standard signatures in the juxta-position or slide-by-side for simultaneous viewing of the various elements and characteristics.
• STEP 2 - The first element 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 to 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.
Steps in Signature Examination
• 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.
Proof of Genuineness
• Carelessness
• Spontaneity
• Alternation of thick and thin strokes
• Speed
• Simplification
• Upright letters are interspersed with slanting letters
• The upward strokes to a threadlike tracing
• Rhythm
• Good line quality
• Variation
Indicia of Forgery
• Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at which the writer has temporarily struck. • no rhythm
• carefulness or unusual care and deliberation
• no contrast between upward and downward strokes • slow writing- angular writing
• blunt beginning and endings
• placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of letters • absence of spontaneity - lack of smoothness of letters
• restrained writing - there is lack of freedom or "inhibited"
movements THAT gives the impression that every stroke is made with great difficulty. This writing is small.
COUNTERFEITING
• COUNTERFEITING - It is the crime of making,
circulating or uttering false coins and banknotes.
Literally, it means to make a copy of; or imitate; to
make a spurious semblance of, as money or stamps,
with the intent to deceive or defraud. Counterfeiting is
something made to imitate the real thing used for gain.
• FALSIFICATION – The act/process of making the
content/s of a document not the intended content.
• FORGERY – The act of falsely making or materially
altering, with intent to defraud, any writing which if
genuine, might be of legal efficacy or the foundation
of a legal liability.
Making of Paper Money
• ENGRAVING – It is the process by which the line to be printed are cut into pieces of metal by hand or with a machine. Ink is rubbed over the plate to fill the cuts in the metal and the extra ink wiped-off the top. The pressure of the paper on the plate causes the ink in the holes to be lifted on the surface of the paper. The ink lines will be felt to be raised above the surface. The engraving process is used for the production of all genuine bank notes.
• LETTERPRESS PRINTING – is the most common form of printing books, magazine, letterheads and the usual printing in common uses. In the process, the letters are made on raised pieces of metal which covered with ink and then impressed upon the paper in the same form as a rubber stamp or cliché. The serial numbers of a bank note are usually added by this letterpress process after the note has been produced by an engraving.
Making of Paper Money
• OFFSET PRINTING – is the method a photograph is
taken of the desire material and a print is made on a
specially prepared aluminum plate. The plate is kept
wet with water. When ink is applied, it sticks only
these parts of the plate where printing is desired. The
aluminum plate is then put in contact with rubber
roller which transfers the ink to the papers. The offset
process is quite used in small printing plants. Because
it was photographic process, it is the most common
modern used by counterfeiter to make false paper
money.
Characteristics of Genuine Bills
Distinctive feel & embossed effect
Generally smooth
1. The fingers will readily feel the the main print on the front & back on fairly new notes.
2. This is due to the
measurable thickness of the ink deposited on the paper which gives the prints an embossed effect.
1. The fingers will hardly feel the main prints of the front & back even on new notes.
2. This is brought about by offset print the most common
process employed by counterfeiters
3. The prints are mere stains on the coating of the sensitized paper which is glossy.
Paper Fibers
• The first one is the visible
security fibers. These are
easily seen in current
Philippine banknotes as
the blue and red fibers
that are randomly spread
throughout the front and
back of the paper bill.
Paper Fibers
• The other kind is
the invisible
security fiber. These
glow a fluorescent
yellow under
Writing Materials and Papers
• ANACHRONISM – It refers to something wrong in 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.
• PAPER – These are sheets of interlaced fibers - usually cellulose fibers from plants, but sometimes from cloth rags or other fibrous materials, that is formed by pulping the fibers and causing to felt, or mat, to form a solid surface.
• WATERMARK - Certain papers are marked with a translucent design, a watermarks impressed in them during the course of their manufacture.
• WRITING MATERIALS – Any material used primarily for writing or recording such as papers, cardboard, board papers, Morocco paper, etc.
Historical Development
• PAPYRUS - This 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 (grass-like herb) CYPERUS PAPYRUS to make a writing material known as PAPYRUS.
• PARCHMENT - writing material made from 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 important writing material for bookmaking, while parchment continued for special manuscripts.
