Questioned Document

clarito g. lopez jr.
MPA/PA,LLB Page | 1
CHAPTER 1
CONCEPT OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
Document Defined
Generally, defined as any material containing
marks,
symbols,
or
signs
either
visible,
or
partially visible that may present or ultimately
convey a meaning to someone, maybe in the form of
pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on
paper.
Legal Definitions of Document
1 Any
written
document
by
which
a right
is
established or an obligation is extinguished
(People vs. Moreno, CA, 338 O.G. 119);
2 Every deed or instrument executed by person by
whom some disposition or agreement is proved,
evidenced or set forth (People vs. Nillosquin, CA,
48 O.G. 4453) ;
3 In relation to Criminal Jurisprudence under the
Best evidence rule, document refers to any
physical embodiment of information of ideas (e.g.
a letter, a contract, a receipt, a book of
account, a blue print, or an X-ray plate)
Kinds of documents
a PUBLIC DOCUMENT- notarized by a notary public or
competent
public
official
with
solemnities
required by law. (Cacnio vs. Baens, 5Phil.742)
b OFFICIAL DOCUMENT- issued by the government or
its agents or its officers having the authority
to do and the offices, which in accordance with
clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 2
their creation, they are authorized to issue and

be issued in the performance of their duties.
c PRIVATE DOCUMENT- executed by a private person
without the intervention of a notary public or
of any person legally authorized, by which
documents some disposition or agreement is
proved, evidenced or set forth (US vs. Orera,
11Phil.596).
d COMMERCIAL DOCUMENT- executed in accordance with
the Code of Commerce or a Mercantile Law,
containing disposition of commercial rights or
obligations.
If a private document is intended to

become a part of the public record and
falsified
prior
thereto,
the
crime
committed is falsification of a public
document
Writings Which Do Not Constitute Document

a A draft of a Municipal payroll which is not yet
approved by the proper authority (People vs.
Camacho, 44Phil. 484)
b Mere blank forms of official documents, the
spaces of which are not filled up (People vs.
Santiago, CA, 48 O.G. 4558)
c Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any
disposition or agreement are not documents but
are mere merchandise (People vs. Agnis, 47 Phil.
945)
Concept of Questioned Document
Questioned document is one in which the facts

appearing therein may not be true, and are contested
either in whole or part with respect to its
authenticity, identity, or origin. It may be a deed,
contract, will, election ballots, marriage contract,
check, visas, application form, check writer,
certificates, etc.
Questioned document examination is a branch of
forensics which focuses on the analysis of documents
which are disputed. A questioned document examiner
will look at the document in question and use a
variety of techniques to analyze it, and he or she
may even be called as a witness in a case, depending
on the outcome of the examination.
Disputed Document
Disputed Document is a term suggesting that there is
an argument or controversy over the document, and
strictly speaking this is its true meaning.
Goal of Questioned Document Examination
When
a
questioned
document
examination
is
ordered, the first goal is to determine whether or
not the document is genuine. Once the veracity of
the document can be proved or disproved, the
questioned
document
examination
focuses
on
identifying or eliminating potential authors of the
document. The examiner will then produce a complete
report,
discussing
the
findings
and
their
ramifications, and he or she may be asked to testify
in court about the document.
In comparison of questioned document, what constitute

sufficient number of similarity?
There is no set of standard to constitute a
sufficient number. Instead, it's up to each expert
to say what constitutes a sufficient number.
Requirements to Become A Questioned Document Examiner
The courts (State v. Evans 1991) have decided
that a person needs both: study and practice - that
is,
a
period
of
training
(internship
or
apprenticeship is better than a self-study course)
and a period of experience (twenty some previous
cases worked on is a good average).
Meant by the term 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 action.
Who are DOCUMENT EXAMINERS?
One who studies scientifically details and
elements of documents in order to identify their
source or to discover other facts concerning them
Divisions of Questioned Document Examination?

a Criminalistic
Examinationinvolves
the
detection of forgery, erasure, alteration or
obliteration of documents.
b Handwriting
Investigation
/Analysismore
focused in determining the author of writing.
Classes of Questioned Document

QD.
The following are the general classification of
a Documents with questioned signatures;

b Questioned
documents
alleged
to
containing fraudulent alterations;
have
been
c Questioned or disputed holographic wills;

d Documents
investigated
typewriting;
on
the
question
of
e Questioned documents on issues of their age or

date;
f Questioned documents on issues of material used
in their production; and,
g Documents or writing investigated because it is
all alleged that they identify some persons
through handwriting.
Scientific Methods In Questioned Document Examination
a Analysis
(Recognition)properties
characteristics, observed or measured.
or
b Comparison- Properties or characteristics of the

unknown determined through analysis are now
compared
with
the
familiar
or
recorded
properties of know items.
c Evaluation- Similarities or dissimilarities in
properties will each have a certain value for
identification, determined by its likelihood of
occurrence.
CHAPTER II
EXEMPLAR
Concept of the Term Exemplars

Exemplar is a term used by some document
examiners
and
attorneys
to
characterize
know
materials. Standard is the older term. Standard
documents are condensed and compact set of authentic
specimens which, if adequate and proper, should
contain a cross section of the material from a know
source.
Standard
in
questioned
documents
investigation, means those things whose origins are
known and can be proven and which can be legally
used as examples to compare with other matters in
question.
To help the document examiner support her
opinion satisfactorily to the court, provide her
with as many valid exemplars as possible at the
beginning of the case. Exemplars, also called
standards, are legally admissible authentic samples
of handwriting used for comparison with questioned
writing. They are used by the document examiner to
enable her to form an opinion concerning the
authenticity of handwriting in dispute. There are
two kinds of exemplars (informal which are documents
previously executed and known to be genuine) and
formal
(which
are
request
writing
samples).
Exemplars are also called known handwriting samples.
Handwriting
identification
depends
on
the
quality of the known writing. One of the most
important steps in the investigation of suspected or
disputed writing is the procurement of sufficient
genuine
writing
samples.
Legal
advisers
and
investigating officers must be able to anticipate
the document examiner's needs in the way of
comparative material. Sufficient suitable material
facilitates the work of the expert in establishing
the master pattern or habits of the writer in order
to avoid errors and in conclusions. A document
examiner who must work with insufficient writing has
a more difficult task and may not be able to draw
adequate conclusions from the limited material.
Informal
handwriting
exemplars
(Collected
Standards) are more reliable for comparison purposes
than request writing. Since informal writing was
written in the normal course of business, it more
accurately reflects the subconscious habits of the
writer. Self-consciousness or conscious-awareness
enters into the request writing process. Even when
there is no attempt to disguise request writing, it
may not represent the normal subconscious habits of
the writer.
If informal exemplars are not sufficient or
suitable for comparison purposes, request writing
should be taken from the victim as well as any
suspects. Often the only way to obtain comparable
handwriting samples is through request writing.
There are some disadvantages to request writing that
must be taken into consideration.
Types of Handwriting Standards
a Collected
handwriting
course of
socials.
Standards
are
KNOWN
(genuine)
of an individual written in the
daily life, both business and
b 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.
c 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.
Disadvantages of Request Writing Samples
Request writing taken after the incident may not be
as close to the date of the questioned writing as
informal documents executed in the normal course of
business. Courts consider request writing taken
after the fact as self-serving and may not allow it.
Some writers will deliberately disguise their
request handwriting. The person taking the request
writing needs to take this into consideration.
Suggestions for taking request writing are covered
later in this chapter.
It may be difficult or impossible to duplicate
the writing environment of the suspect document in
order to obtain comparable documents. The writer may
not
be
available
for
request
writing
or
circumstances may have caused changes that make it
impossible
to
obtain
similar
request
writing
samples.
SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR TAKING REQUEST HANDWRITING

STANDARDS
IN
ALL
TYPES
OF
QUESTIONED-DOCUMENT
PROBLEMS:
a Let subject seat in a natural position at
table or desk having smooth writing surface.
b Furnish subject with paper and writing
instrument similar to those used in questioned
writings, lie; paper should be same size, and
ruled or unruled; as questioned document.
c Never permit the subject to see any writing
on the questioned document.
d Dictate material to be written (or printed,
if questioned material is hand printed): give
no assistance in spelling or arrangement on
page. Dictate at a rate of speed which will
produce the subject natural writing habits.
e Remove each specimen upon completion by
subject number in consequence, date, time and
identify by initiating each, and request
subjects to sign each specimen.
f Observe all writing done by subjects and
indicate any attempt of disguise, and whether
subjects appears to be normally right or left
handed, etc.
Collecting Informal Exemplars
Exemplars must be suitable for comparison with
the questioned writing. Since handwriting can be
found
on
many
different
types
of
surfaces,
comparison
materials
should,
when
possible,
duplicate the conditions under which the questioned
document was executed. While this is usually done
c l a r i t o g . l o p e z j r . M P A / P A , L L B P a g e | 10
with request writing, it may be harder to locate

informal writing samples that meet these criteria.
Locating material to be used as evidence may require
considerable effort on the part of the investigator.
Comparison materials should, when possible, is
written under the same conditions under which the
questioned documents were executed. While this is
the standard method of taking request writing, it is
impossible to control the writing environment of
informal writing samples.
Try to obtain signatures that are similar to the
questioned signature. If the questioned signature is
in ink, get signatures in ink, if it is in pencil,
get documents written in pencil for comparison. If
the questioned document is on lined paper, find
documents written on lined paper. If the questioned
document contains hand printing, collect documents
that are hand printed.
Where no similar documents are available, try to
locate documents whose authenticity can be verified
such as cancelled checks that have been accepted by
a bank. Other documents executed in the regular
course of business are also suitable.
The date of the questioned writing must be taken
into
consideration
when
looking
for
suitable
comparable documents. While an adult's handwriting
may remain constant for many years, writing habits
normally change over time so that an outdated
standard may be unsatisfactory for comparison
purposes. All writing samples are not of equal value
and some may be of no value at all.
When
gathering
handwriting
for
comparison
purposes, it is necessary to keep in mind that
various factors cause changes in handwriting. Age

and illness may lead to the deterioration of writing
skills, which can be an important consideration in a
disputed, will case. A teenager's handwriting may
change drastically in as short a time frame as a
year. A drug addict may undergo a radical change in
handwriting as his addiction takes over. Handwriting
samples taken prior to the addiction are not going
to accurately reflect later writing.
Handwriting changes gradually over a person's
lifetime but some factors can cause drastic changes
in handwriting in a short period of time; therefore
it is essential to compare handwriting from a
similar time frame and under similar conditions.
Trauma such as stroke, illness, or loss of a spouse;
or medication, or substance abuse can affect
handwriting. If a person's writing has changed
drastically around the time the questioned document
was executed, there may not be comparable material
available.
Ideally, writing executed around the date of the
questioned material should be used for comparison
purposes, some dated shortly before and after the
date of the questioned material. What time frame is
considered suitable? Documents executed within two
to three years are most suitable. If these are not
available,
documents
dating
further
from
the
questioned material may be used. Do not rely on
present-day writing exclusively, if possible.
Make sure the handwriting exemplars are not in
dispute and that they can be authenticated. Any
uncontradicted testimony of competent eye witnesses
who saw the execution of the writing can be used to
verify its authenticity. Courts accept the testimony
of the author admitting genuineness or someone to

whom the author has admitted genuineness. The
testimony of a person who received writing from the
author and acted on it is also valid, though not
necessarily accurate. Documents executed in the
normal course of business are frequently used for
comparison
purposes
which
includes
negotiable
instruments such as checks, contracts, and other
business documents.
Document
examiners
have
given
erroneous
conclusions based on forged exemplars. When the
exemplars have been fabricated by the same writer as
the forged material, an opinion of authenticity
based on false information will occur. Document
examiners mistakenly identified Adolph Hitler as the
author of the Hitler Diaries because they used
forged exemplars of Hitler for comparison.
How Many Samples Of Handwriting Are Needed?
The type of case determines the number of
exemplars that the document examiner needs for
comparison with the questioned documents. Always try
to collect as many samples as possible because it is
more important to have suitable undisputed samples
than a large quantity of little comparable value.
Cases have been won in court using a single known
signature
to
support
the
authenticity
of
a
questioned document. One signature is sufficient
when all the characteristics of handwriting match.
When proving that an individual did not write a
questioned document, it is necessary to obtain a
larger range of writing and one hundred signatures
may not be enough. An average would be twenty to
twenty-five signatures and four to five pages of
normal handwriting and/or hand printing preferably

written at different times.
More known documents are needed if the writer
has a wide range of variation or an oversimplified
signature, while only a few signatures would suffice
if the writer is consistent. An oversimplified
signature is one that contains few changes of
direction and is usually an illegible scrawl.
Oversimplified signatures are easier to imitate than
more complex signatures that contain more changes of
direction and more stylized letter forms.
When a questioned signature shows obvious signs
of forgery not present in the known signature, one
known signature should be enough to prove no
genuineness. Forged writing often contains tremor or
has a drawn look.
A single signature would be sufficient to
determine the facts when the questioned signatures
are written with a higher skill level than the
suspected writer could execute. However, it is
better to have more exemplars whenever possible. The
document examiner must evaluate the exemplars to
determine if she has sufficient suitable material to
render an accurate opinion.
SUITABLE EXEMPLARS
Cancelled checks, contracts, applications, and
business
letters
make
suitable
exemplars
or
standards. The writing can be properly identified,
the date can be verified, and the habits of the
writer can be studied. Additional standards may be
needed if the words on the disputed writing do not

match the exemplars.
Ideally, original writing should be available
for the scrutiny of the document examiner. Original
writing is always better than a photocopy or a
facsimile. If it is impossible to obtain original
documents, a first generation photocopy should be
supplied. The original documents should be requested
whenever a photocopy is supplied by the adverse
party. Intermediate tones are almost always lost in
a photocopy because it aims to secure the greatest
possible
contrast.
Subsequent
generations
of
photocopies may drop sufficient detail, rendering
them worthless to a competent document examiner.
According to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
published
in
September,
1970,
handwriting
identification depends on the quality of the known
writing. A's cannot be compared with Gs John
Jones' cannot be compared with 'Samuel Hansen' The
J's must be compared with J's and the 'ohn's' with
'ohn's.' Handwriting cannot be compared with hand
printing.
Documents similar in nature will make the best
exemplars.
Contracts
should
be
compared
with
contracts, and cancelled checks with cancelled
checks. Try to procure like signatures. An A should
be compared with A, an Al with Al, and hand printing
with hand printing. Documents written with ink
should be compared with other documents written in
ink. Try to find writing on similar documents.
People often have more than one style signature
depending on the document being executed. Checks may
be executed in a more careless manner than wills and
contracts. Do not use signatures written while the
writer
was
intoxicated
unless
the
questioned
documents were written under similar circumstances.
Some
hand
printing
can
be
compared
with
handwriting and vice versa. Some writers use hand
printed
letters
and
handwritten
ones
interchangeably. Most common is the use of hand
printed capital letters in place of cursive. Other
writers use the same letter form for both hand
printed and cursive writing.
While it may be possible to make a match with
only a few exemplars, the more exemplars available
the better. Collect as many samples of handwriting,
including signatures, as possible. It is necessary
to collect enough handwriting samples to enable the
expert to render a professional opinion. How much is
enough? Enough would be sufficient exemplars to
eliminate any other writer as the author of a
document.
Cases In Which No Exemplars Are Needed
There are some cases in which no exemplars are
needed to prove spuriousness. Since no one can write
his signature exactly the same way twice, identical
signatures are generally evidence of no genuineness.
This
would
include
traced
forgeries,
scanned
signatures, or even freehand simulations, as well as
cut and paste signatures.
Some writers use signature stamps and autopens
as legitimate signatures making it are necessary to
determine the nature of the signatures before an
opinion of no genuineness is given.
Signs
of
forgery
are
indicative
of
no
genuineness. Documents that contain indications of
tracing can be identified without known signatures.

Evidence of tracing the signature would be a groove
or guide line along the signature line or residue of
pencil or carbon.
When
a
questioned
signature
matches
the
handwriting of another writer, identification can be
made that the writing was penned by that individual.
In this case, no known signatures of the victim are
needed for comparison.
Writing of the impaired or illiterate can be
identified as spurious if the questioned writing
exceeds the ability of the known writer. A high
skill level signature of an impaired individual can
be rejected without comparison documents.
REQUEST WRITING
Request
writing
exemplars
are
handwriting
samples
made
at
the
request
and
under
the
supervision of the police, document examiners, or
attorneys for comparison with questioned writing.
The writer is asked to complete forms containing all
the uppercase and lowercase letters plus numbers and
punctuation marks.
Care must be taken to insure that request
writing is suitable for comparison purposes since
the writer may attempt to disguise his writing.
Normal writing is a result of subconscious habit.
The quality of writing is recognized by repeated
significant characteristics executed with ordinary
attention to the writing act. Certain precautions
can insure that the exemplars are suitable.
The document examiner should take the request

writing exemplars whenever possible. The examiner is
then in a position to determine if the writing is
normal writing or if the writer is trying to
disguise his handwriting. Lawyers frequently have
their clients write their name ten times on a sheet
of paper. This is not an appropriate handwriting
sample. When taking the request writing samples,
follow established procedures. Use a dictation that
contains all of the letters of the alphabet as well
as the numerals.
Dos AND DON'Ts FOR COLLECTING EXEMPLARS AND STANDARDS
a DON'T rely on too little writing. How much is
enough? Enough to show the range of handwriting
characteristics of the writer.
b DO obtain sufficient handwriting exemplars, at
least twenty to twenty-five signatures or four
to five pages of handwriting or hand printing.
c DON'T rely exclusively on writing that differs
significantly from the questioned.
d DO collect similar samples: hand printing with
hand
printing,
ink
signatures
with
ink
signatures, lined paper with lined paper, same
size with same size.
e DON'T rely on documents recently written if the
comparison documents were written many years
ago.
f DO collect standards dated at approximately the
same time as the questioned.
g DON'T compare writing written under abnormal

conditions (for example, when the writer was
intoxicated) with normal writing.
h DO collect documents that duplicate the writing
environment: checks with checks, contracts with
contracts.
i DO instruct the writer in order to obtain
similar exemplars. For example, print with all
uppercase letters.
SUMMARY
Exemplars are known handwriting samples used for
comparison with questioned documents. There are two
types of exemplars, formal and informal. Formal
exemplars are request writing samples. Informal
exemplars consist of documents executed in the
normal course of business. Proper procedures should
be followed when taking request writing.
CHAPTER III
HANDWRITING AND SIGNATURE IDENTIFICATION
A. HANDWRITING
HANDWRITING DEFINED
Handwriting is the result of a very complicated
series of facts, being used as whole, combination of
certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits
acquired by long, continued painstaking effort also
knows as visible speech.
KINDS OF WRITINGS:
a Cursive- connected writing in which one letter
is joined the next.
b Script- separated printed writing.
c BLOCK- ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
BASIS OF HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION:
a In Wignore`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.
b 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.
c 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
combination from the habit of the first writer.
Is handwriting / signature identification an
exact science?- No because in the hand of a
qualified
examiner
operating
under
proper
conditions, identification by means of handwriting
or signature is certain. Proper conditions include
sufficient questioned writing; sufficient known
writing; sufficient time; and use of scientific
instruments.
THEORY - HANDWRITING
FACTS AND THEORY
AND
SIGNATURES
SOME
BASIC
Handwriting originates in the brain when a

mental picture of letters and words is formed. The
signal to try to duplicate the mental picture is
sent to the arm and hand through the muscles and
nervous system. The actual output is almost never an
exact match of the original mental picture.
When a baby is born, it is equipped with certain
basic, automatic abilities. It can breathe, cry,
suck, move its limbs randomly. To accomplish more
complex tasks, the baby must learn. Patterns must be
formed and stored in the brain which then will
trigger messages to travel through the nervous
system
to
the
muscles
to
produce
movements
(behavior). Smiling is a simple behavior that a baby
learns early in life. At first, he imitates his
parents' smiles, and as this behavior is rewarded by
more smiles and hugs from his parents (positive

feedback), a pattern is built in the baby's brain.
The baby learns to call upon that pattern to produce
a smile. Soon, smiling becomes automatic, just like
breathing.
In a similar way, the baby learns to reach,
grasp, speak and walk. More and more complex actions
become possible as the baby builds the neural
pathways that travel between the muscles and the
brain via the nervous system. Handwriting is an
extremely complex motor task, which is not usually
learned until the child is 5 or 6 years old and has
mastered simpler skills.
The motor system controls the movement and
posture needed for handwriting by contraction and
relaxation of muscles. Messages go to and from the
muscles and brain via the nervous system. During the
learning process, the senses and muscles send
messages (feedback) back to the brain to let it know
how the sequence, timing and force applied worked
out. The brain makes the adjustments needed to give
a maximal outcome. Eventually a motor program is
formed. This is a set of muscle commands that can be
carried out with the correct timing and sequence
automatically, without feedback, to give the best
possible result.
Handwriting is the result of such stored motor
knowledge. Handwriting is distal, meaning that it
occurs at the extremities and involves fine motor
activity as opposed to a skill like walking which is
proximal - a large, or gross motor skill. One reason
individuals find it difficult to simulate the
handwriting of others is that to do so successfully
requires understanding the essence of the writer's
motor control program and executing a motor control

program that yields a very similar result.
Two Groups of Muscles Involve in Handwriting:

a Extensor muscles- push up the pen to form the
upward strokes.
b Flexor muscles which push the pen to from the
downward strokes.
Generally speaking, four groups of muscles are
employed in writing- those which operate the joints
of the fingers, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. The
delicate way in which the various muscles used in
writing work together to procedure written form is
known as motor coordination.
VARIATIONS IN HANDWRITING
None of the factors that produce handwriting are
rigid and unchanging. In addition to the organic
factors (physical anatomy and health, mental acuity,
etc.) there are environmental factors effecting the
handwriting. These include the writing instrument
itself, the writing surface and what lies beneath
it, and other variables of the writing situation.
Because the primary motor pattern is itself a fluid
image and because there are so many organic and
environmental
variables
that
interact
in
the
production of handwriting, it has become an accepted
axiom that a person is unlikely to ever duplicate
any signature exactly. Each person has a range of
natural variation. But even with this range of
variation, each person grows in his or her writing
from the classic forms taught in childhood into an

individual
and
identifiable
form
of
written
expression.
Handwriting is a free-form activity, and there
are an infinite number of ways to write even the
simplest letter combination. It is highly unlikely
that any person will write his or her own name
exactly the same way twice in an entire lifetime.
Actually,
every
person
has
a
range
of
handwriting variation determined by his or her
physical writing ability, training in "penmanship",
and other factors. To the experienced expert, a
study of known samples of writing can reveal a
cluster of individual writing characteristics which
can allow the expert to identify or exclude an
individual as the author of some questioned writing.
Handwriting
characteristics
come
in
two
categories - general, or class characteristics, and
individual
characteristics.
Depending
on
the
cultural setting (time and place) when writing is
learned, entire groups of individuals may be taught
or trained to write in the same way. When these
individuals are first learning to write, there are
differences in their ability to do the task, and the
results are not all the same, but the true
individualizing differences appear over time. As we
grow and mature physically and personally, our
handwriting becomes more of an individual product through conscious changes made to fit a mental
picture of how we want our writing to appear, or
unconsciously.
Handwriting can also be effected by other
factors - injury, illness, medication, drug or
alcohol use, stress, the writing surface, the

writing instrument, or attempted disguise. It is the
job of the document examiner to understand these
factors
as they might relate to a specific
situation.
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
absolutely uniform. The greater this skill ion the
art of penmanship, the less the variations there
will be in the form if individualize letters as well
as in the writing as a whole.
CAUSES OF VARIATION:
a Function
of
some
external
condition
influence of the available space.
i.e.
b Abnormal conditions such as physical injury,

toxic
effects,
inebriations,
emotions
and
deception.
c Position of letter- all the letters are to be
found initially, medially, and finally. The fact
may modify any of them in some way or another.
IMPORTANCE OF VARIATION
a 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.
b When combined is what constitutes individuality

in handwriting.
c 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.
The most common error in the identification of
handwriting is due to the fact that the evidence of
actual forgery is executed on the ground that here
is variation in genuine writing.
TERMINOLOGIES RELATED TO HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION

AND EXAMINATIONS
ALIGNMENT- the relation of parts of the whole of
writing or line of individual letters in words
to the baseline.
ANGULAR FORMS- Sharp, straight strokes that are
made by stopping the pen and changing direction
before continuing.
ARCADE FORMS- look like arches rounded on the
top and open at the bottom.
CHARACTERISTICS- any property or mark which are
commonly called the identifying details.
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.
DISTINGUISED WRITING-altered writing in hopes of
hiding identity.
DOWNSTROKE- The movement of the
writer.
pen toward the
FORM- The way the writing looks, whether it is

copybook, elaborated, simplifier or printed
GARLAND FORMS- A cup like connected form that is
open at the top and rounded on the bottom.
GESTALT- The German word that means complete
or whole. A good gestalt needs nothing added
or taken away to make it look right.
GRAHOANALYSIS- the study of handwriting based on
the two fundamental strokes, the curve and the
straight strokes.
GRAPHOMETRYmeasurement.
analysis
by
comparison
and
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.
HANDLETTERING- Any disconnected style of writing

in which each letter is written separately,;
also called hand printing.
LEFT-HANDED WRITING- See wrong hand writing.
LETTER SPACEletters.
The
amount
of
space
between
LINE DIRECTION- Movement of the baseline. May

slant-up, down or straight across the page.
LINE QUALLITY- the overall character of the link
lines from the beginning to the ending stroke:
Good Line quality and Poor Line quality.
LINE SPACElines.
The
amount
of
the
space
MANUSCRIPT WRITING- A disconnected

script or semi-script writing.
MARGINS- The amount of space
writing on all four sides.
left
between
form
of
around
the
MICROSOPIC EXAMINATION- Any study or examination

which is made with the microscope in other to
discover minute details.
MOVEMENT- an important element in handwriting
which embraces all the factors which are related
to the motion of the writing instrument skill,
speed freedom, hesitation, rhythm, emphasis,
tremors and the like.
NATURAL
WRITINGAny
specimen
of
writing
executed normally without any attempt to control
or alter its identifying habits and its usual

quality or execution.
NATURAL VARIATION- normal
found
between
repeated
individual handwriting.
or usual
specimens
deviation
of
any
PEN MPHASIS- The act of intermittently forcing

the pen against the paper surfaces which
produces shading, out with more rigid writing
points heavy point emphasis can occur in writing
without any evidence of shading.
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.
PEN PRESSURE- the average force with which the
pen contacts the paper.
PRINTSCRIPT- A creative combination of printing
and cursive writing.
PROPORTION or RATIO the relation between the
tall and the short letter
QUALITY- A distinct or peculiar character. Also,
quality is used in describibg 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: maybe smooth, intermittent, or
jerky in its quality; the flourishing succession
of motion
record.
which
are
recorded
in
written
SHADING- widening of the ink strokes due to the

added pressure on a flexible pen point or to the
use of a stub pen.
SIGNIFICANNT WRITIG 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- the overall size of the writing or the
proportions between zones.
SKILL- writers proficiency; degree, ability, or
skill of a write proficiency.
SLOPE/ SLANT the angle or inclination of the

axis of the letters relative to the baseline:
Slant to the left; Slant to the right; and
Vertical Slant.
SPEED OF WRITING- The personal pace at which the

writers pen moves across the paper
SPEED (SPEEDY)WRITING- Can be interpreted
board terms of slow, moderate, or rapid.
in
SYSTEM (OF WRITING) - The combination of the

basic design of letters and the writing movement
as taught in school make up the writing system.
See also copy book.
TENSION- degree of exerted on the pen compared

to the degree of relaxation.
THREADY FORM- An indefinite connective form that
looks flat and wavy.
VARIABILITY- The degree to which
varies from the copybook model .
the
writing
VARIATION- The act or process of changing.

WORD SPACEwords.
The
amount
of
space
left
between
WRITING CONDITION- circumstances under which the

writing
was
prepared
and
the
factors
in
influencing the writers ability to write at the
time of execution. It includes the writers
position (sitting, standing, abed, etc.), the
paper support and backing, and the writing
instrument; writing ability may be modified by
the condition of the writers health, nervous
state or degree of intoxication.
WRONG-HANDED WRITING- Any writing executed with
the opposite hand that normally used; a.k.a. as
with the awkward hand.
WRITING IMPULSE- The result of the pen touching
down on the paper and moving across the page,
until it is raised from the paper.
MOVEMENT IN HANDWRITING
KINDS OF MOVEMENT
1 Finger Movement- The thumb, the first and second
and slightly the third fingers are in actual
motion. Most usually employed by children and

illiterates.
2 Hand Movement- produced by the movement or
action of the whole hand with thw wrist as the
center of attraction.
3 Forearm Movement- movement of the shoulder, hand
and arm with the support of the table.
4 Whole Forearm Movement- action of the entire arm
without resting. i.e., blackboard writing.
QUALITY OF MOVEMENT
a Clumsy, illiterate and halting
b Hesitating
illness
and
painful
due
to
weakness
c Strong, heavy and forceful

d Nervous and irregular
e Smooth, flowing and rapid.
SPEED
1 Slow and draw
2 Deliberate;
3 average;
4 and rapid
DIFERENT MOVEMENTS EMPLOYED AFFECT WRITING
1 Smoothness;
2 Directness;
3 Uniformity;
and
4 Continuity of strokes;
5 and connecting or curves between letters
MOTOR COORDINATION- The special way in which the
various muscles used in writing work together to
produced written forms.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MOTOR COORDINATION:
1 Free, smelt rounded curves
2 Gradual changes of directions
3 Pressure is always in a state of change, moving
from light to heavy or from heavy to light.
4 Speed
5 The Shading impulse is distributed over a
considerable length of the line whereas in
writing produced with a slow motion as in the
finger movement.
FAULTY
COORDINATION
FOLLOWING:
IS
CHARACTERIZED
BY
THE
1 Wavering and very irregular line or strokes with

uncertain and unsteady progress. There is no
freedom of movement along the strokes of the
letter-forms.
2 Angular
Linea
very
common
fault
of
coordination. Curves, large and small are not
smoothly rounded and there is no gradual change
of direction. On the contrary, and angle marks
almost every change are direction in the line.
RHYTHM IN
connected,
HANDWRITING- Rhythm is succession of

uniform strokes in full coordination.
This is manifested by clear-cut accentuated strokes

which increase and decrease in which like perfect
cones.
LACK OF RHYTHM- Characterized by succession of
awkward,
independent,
poorly
directed
and
disconnected motions.
IMPORTANCE OF RHYTHM- one can determine if
the writer normally and spontaneously write
with hesitation as if he is attempting to for
another signature.
LETTER
OF
CONNECTIONSDetermine
the
essential expression of the writer pattern.
It is a mean indicator of the neuromuscular
function. These types of connections are:
Arcade- a rounded stroke shaped like an arch. It is
slow mode of connection resulting from controlled
movements.
Garland- Links the downward stroke to the upstrokes
with a flowing curve swinging from left right. It is
an easy, effortless mode of connection, written with
speed.
Angular connective form- characterized by an abrupt
stop and start in each turning point.
The threadlike connective form- the joining of
upward and downward strokes is slurred to a
threadlike tracing or where rounded turns used at
both top and bottom produce a double curve-appear
both in the shaping of letters within the word.
STROKE - series of lines or curves written in a
single letter; one of the lines of an alphabet or
series of lines or curves within a single letter;

the path traced by the pen on the paper.
TERMINOLOGIES CONCERNING STROKE CHARACTERISTICS
ARCa
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.
BASELINEmaybe
actually on a rules
paper, it might be
imaginary alignment of
writing; is the ruled
or imaginary line upon
which
the
writing
rests.
BEADEDPreliminary
embellished
initial
stroke
which
usually
occurs in capital
letter.
BEARDis
the
rudimentary initial up
stroke of a letter.
BLUNTthe
beginning
and
ending stroke of a
letter
(without
hesitation).
BODY- the main portion

of the letter, minus
the
initial
of
strokes,
terminal,
strokes
and
the
diacritic.
BOWLa
fully
rounded
oval
or
circular form on a
letter
complete
into O.
BUCKLE/BUCKLEKNOTA
loop
made
as
a
flourished
which
is
added to the letters,
as in small letter k
& b, or in capital
letter A, K, P;
the
horizontal
end
loop stroke used to
complete a letter.
CACOGRAPHYwriting.
bad
CALLIGRAPHY- the art

of beautiful writing.
DESCENDERopposite
of
ascender,
the
lower portion of a
letter.
DIACRITICt
crossing and dots of
the letter I and
j; an element added
to complete a certain
letter, either a cross
bar or dot.
ENDING/TERMINATE
STROKE OF TOE- the
end stroke of a
letter.
EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP- a
small loop or curved
formed
inside
the
letters
inside
the
oval of the letters
a, d, o.
FOOT- lower part

which rust on the
base line.
HABITS- any repeated

elements or details,
which may serve to
individualize writing.
HESITATIONthe
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;
usually
occurs
due to speed; regarded
also
as
a
special
form.
HOOKa
minute
curve or ankle at
the
end
of
the
terminal
strokes,
or
at
the
beginning
of
an
initial
stroke;
the
minute
involuntary
talon
like
formation
found
at
the
commencement of an
initial up stroke
or
the
end
terminal stroke.
HUMP- Upper portion of

its
letter
m;n,
k
the
rounded
outside of the top of
the bend stroke or
curve in small letter.
KNOBthe
extra
deposit of ink in
the
initial
and
terminal
stroke
due to the slow
withdrawal of the
pen from the paper
LIGATURE/CONNECTIONThe
stroke
which
connects two stroke of
letter; characterized
by
connected
stroke
between letters.
(usually
applicable
fountain pen).
to
LONG LETTER- those

letters with both
upper
and
lower
loops.
LOOP- a oblong curve

such as found on the
small letter f ,
g, l and letters
stroke f has two
which may be blind or
open.
MAJUSCULEcapital letter.
MINUSCULEletter.
small
MOVEMENT IMPULSESthe continuity of

stroke,
forged
writing is usually
produced
by
disconnected
and
broken
movements
and more motion or
movement
impulses
than
in
genuine
writing.
PATCHINGretouching
or going back over a
defective portion of a
written
stroke.
Careful
patching
is
comment
defect
on
forgeries.
PEN
LIFTan
interruption in a
stroke caused by
removing
the
writing instrument
from the paper.
RETRACE/RETRACING- Any
part of a stroke which
is super imposed upon
the original stroke;
any stroke which goes
back
over
another
writing stroke.
SHOULDEROutside
portion
of
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/HITCHAny
short
stroke,
which
usually
occurs at the top
of the letters.
TREMORA
writing
weakness portrayed by
irregular
shaky
strokes is described
as writing tremor
WHIRLThe
upstroke
of
a
looping ascender.
OTHER TERMINOLOGIES CONCERNING STROKES:
1 AIRSTROKE- The movement of the pen as it is

raised from the paper and continues in the same
direction in the air.
2 COVERING STROKE- A stroke the unnecessarily
covers another stroke in a concealing action.
3 FINAL- The ending stroke on a letter when it is
at the end of the word.
4 UPSTROKEwriter.
Movement
of
the
pen
away
from
the
5 SEQUENCE OF STROKE- The order in which writing

strokes are placed on the paper is referred to
as their sequence
6 SUPPORTED STROKES- Upstrokes partially covering
the previous down strokes. Originally taught in
European schools.
7 TRAIT STROKE- A school of handwriting analysis
that
assigns
personality
trait
manners
to
individual writing strokes.
QUALITIES OF THE STROKES:
1 Expansion- whether the movement is extended or
limited in its range with respect to both
vertical and horizontal dimension.
2 Co-ordination- whether the flow of movement is
controlled
or
uncertain,
smooth
or
jerky,
continuous or interrupted.
3 Speed- whether the movement has been rapid or
slow and whether the pace has been steady or
variable.
4 Pressure- whether the pressure exerted in the

movement and its upward and downward reach.
5 Direction- Left ward and right ward trend of the
movement and its upward and downward reach.
6
RHYTHM- in the sequence of movements that weave

the total pattern, certain similar phases recur
at more or less regular intervals.
HANDWRITING PROBLEMS:
a
A signature/handwriting contested by
author
which
in
reality
is
genuine
corresponds
perfectly
to
the
ordinary
habitual signatures of that person.
its
and
and
b
A signature/handwriting contested by its
author which in reality was written by him but in
a way which was different from the ordinary
manner and which is more or less different from
the common genuine signatures of that person.
c
A signature/handwriting contested by its
author which in reality was written by a third
person and which is a forgery written in an
attempted imitation of a model.
d
A spurious /handwriting written by somebody
who did not attempt to imitate the signature of a
person and who uses a fictitious name and this to
give his work the appearance of a signature.
e
An
uncontested
signature/handwriting,
in
fact, genuine but written by an unknown person
whose name must be deciphered by the document
examiner.
GENERAL CLASSES OF QUESTIONED WRITING
a
Forged or simulated writings in which the
attempt is made to discard one`s own writing and
assume the exact writing personality of another
person.
b
Those writing that are disguised and in which
the written seeks to hide his own personality
without adapting that of another.
HANDWRITING
FEATURES
CHARACTERISTICS
AND
OTHER
IDENTIFYING
Writing Habits- Writing by all its thousand of

peculiarities in combination is the most personal
and individuals thing that a man does that leaves a
record which can be seen and studies. This is what
constitutes individually in handwriting.
Writing habits learned in the early years are
those habits which are part of a basic system or
which are modifications of the system of writing
found among so large a group of writers that
they have only sight identification value.
A few of these early habits learned by the child
are the slant of letters l, d, b, g, t
with small letters like letters n, m, i,
o, e, i, and also form and design of
letters
also
called
general
or
class
characteristics.
Individual
habits:
Any
writing
habit
or
character
in
writing
maybe
modified
and
individualized by different writers in many
different ways in many varying degrees and the
writing individuality of any particular writer
is made up of all those common

characteristics and habits.
and
uncommon
Various individual characteristics in writing

also grow out of the purpose for which writing
is used and the amount of writing done.
GENERAL (CLASS) CHARACTERISTICS- 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 CHARACTERISTICSthe
result
of
the
writer`s
muscular
control,
coordination,
age,
health, and nervous temperament, frequency of
writing, personality and character found in the
following:
a Writing movement
b Form and design of letters\
c Muscular control or motor control
1
Loose
writingtoo
much
movement and lack of regulation.
freedom
of
2
Restrained writing- there is lack of
freedom and inhibited movements. It gives you
the impression that every stroke was made with
great difficulty.
d Motor Coordination
e Shading
f Skill
g Alignment
h Pen pressure
i Connection
j Pen hold
k Rhythm
l Disconnections or pen lifts between letters
m Speed
n Slant as a writing habit
o Proportion
of
letters
characteristic or habit
as
an
individual
p Quality of stroke or line quality

q Variation
Indications of speed (speedy) writing:
a Smooth, unbroken strokes and rounded forms.
b Frequent signs or tendencies to the right.
c
Marked uncertain as to the location of the dots

of small letters I, j & crosses of
small
letter t
d Increased spontaneity of words or small letter

t connected with the following words.
e Letters curtailed or degenerated almost
illegibility towards the end of words.
to
f Wide writing- width of letters is greater than

the connecting spaces adjoining it.
g Great difference in emphasis between upstrokes
and down strokes.
h Marked simplification
capital letters.
of
letters
especially
i Rising line.
j Increased pen pressure.
k Increase in the margin to left at the beginning
of the line.
Indications of slow writing:
a Wavering forms and broken strokes.
b Frequent signs or tendencies to the left.
c Conspicuous certainly as to the location of the
dots of small letters I, j, or t crosses
with scarcely perceptible deviation from the
intended direction.
d Frequent pauses by meaningless
divided letters and retouches.
blobs,
angles,
e Careful execution of detail of letters toward

the end or names.
f Narrow writing.
g No difference in emphasis in up stroke and down
stroke.
h Ornamental or flourishing connections.
i Sinking lines.
EXAMPLES OF COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:
a Ordinary copy-book form
b Usual systematic slant
c Ordinary scale of proportion or ratio

d Conventional spacing
CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS:
a Permanent characteristics- found always in his
handwriting.
b Common or usual- found in a group of writers who
studied the same system of writing.
c Occasionalhandwriting.
found
occasionally
in
d Rare- found only in one or two persons

group of one hundred individuals.
his
in a
HOW INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE ACQUIRED:

a Outgrowth of definite teaching
b Result of imitation
c Accidental condition or circumstances
d Expression of certain mental and physical traits
of the writer as affected by education, by
environment and by occupation.
EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS:
a Hook to the right and hook to the left.
b Shape, position, size and angle of i dots t
crossing
c Idiosyncrasies
d Bulbs and
pressure
distinctive
initial
and
final
pen
e Embellishment, added strokes and free movement

endings
f Abbreviation of letters
g Simple and compound curves and graceful endings
h Labored movement producing ragged lines
i Terminal shadings and forceful endings
j Presence and influence of foreign writing, with
the introduction of Greek e
PRINCIPLE IN HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION

When any two specimens of handwritings contain a
combination of corresponding or similar and
specifically oriented characteristics of such
number and significance as to preclude the
possibility
of
their
occurrence
by
mere
coincidence, and there are no unaccounted for
difference, it may be concluded that they are
similar in writing characteristics and therefore
written by one and the same person.
Handwritings are fixed habits.
These writing habits become so automatic and
unconscious that even by the most strenuous
effort, it is almost impossible to change them.
No duplication of handwriting by two individuals.
FUNDAMENTAL LAW WHICH GOVERNS THE
HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION PROBLEMS
CONCLUSION
IN
A signature/handwriting naturally and genuinely

written under normal condition contain all of
the individual habits of the writer`s signature
which are put into it in a way that is
consistent with his writing ability and the
writing quality of his signature.
A signature/handwriting is fraudulent if it
contains habits, qualities or elements which are
significantly different from genuine signatures
written under similar conditions.
CONTROLLING PRINCIPLES IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF QD
It is the combination of general qualities,
features and characteristics that all together serve
to prove identity. One or two or possibly three
might coincide in two individuals but there comes a
point where common sense says it is unreasonable to
say that these various things would coincide.
PROBATIVE VALUE OF WRITING CHARACTERISTICS- differ
greatly with different writers and under varying
conditions.
SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES CAN BE STATED THAT APPLY IN
MOST CASES
a Those
identifying
or
differentiating
characteristics are of the most force which is
most divergent from the regular system or
national features of a particular handwriting
under examination.
b Those repeated characteristics which are
inconspicuous should first be sought for and
should be given the most weight.
c Ordinary system or national features and

element
are
not
alone
sufficient
characteristics necessarily have as evidence
of identity as stated above, it present in
sufficient number and in combination with
individuals qualities and characteristics.
CORRECT CONCLUSION
a Two writings are written by the same handcharacteristics
or
dents
and
scratches
should be in sufficient quantity to exclude
the theory of accidental coincidence.
b Writings are by different hands, we may find
numerous likeliness in class characteristics
but divergences in individual characteristics
or we may find divergences in both but the
divergence must be something more than mere
superficial differences.
c If the conclusion of identifying is reached,
there must not remain significant differences
that cannot reasonably be explained.
d Although there is no specific approach, the
document examiner always observed: Analysis;
Comparison; and Evaluation.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
IN EXAMINING EXTENDED WRITING (Anonymous,
threat, poison letters):
a Uniformity- Does the questioned writing have
smooth, rhythmic and free-flowing appearance
b Irregularities- Does the questioned

appear awkward, ill-formed slowly drawn
writing
c Size & Proportion- Determine the height of the

over-all writing as well as the height of the
individual strokes in proportion to each other.
d Alignment- Are they horizontally
curving, uphill or downhill.
aligned,
or
e Spacing- Determine the general spacing between

letters, spacing between words. Width of the
left and right margins, paragraph indentations.
f Degree of Slant- Are they uniform or not.
g Formation and Design of the letters,
bars, i dots, loops, circle formation
(-)
a The procedure and the principle involved

similar so that of cursive handwriting.
are
h Initial, connecting and final strokes

HANDWRITING
b In
block
capital
and
manuscript
writings,
personal individual rests principally in design,
selection, individual letter construction, size
ratios and punctuation habits. The initial step
in handwriting examination is to determine
whether the questioned handwriting and standards
were accomplished with:
A fluency of movement and a certainty of
execution indicative of familiarity with and
a
measure
of
skill
in
handwriting
of
conversely.
conscious mental effort and non-rhythmic

execution denoting either unfamiliarity with
or disguise in the subject`s handwriting
DISGUISES IN HANDWRITING
COMMON DISGUISES (SOME)
a Abnormally large writing.
b Abnormally small writing.
c Alteration in slant (usually backhand).
d Usually variation in slant within a single unit
of writing (within a single signature).
KINDS OF DISGUISES
a Change
versa.
of
slant-
from
right
to
left
or
vice
b Change of letter, either from cursive to block

style or vice versa.
c Change from cursive (conventional
block from or vice versa.
style)
to
d Change of style from small to big or vice versa.

e Deteriorating one`s handwriting.
f Using the wrong hand (AMBIDEXTROUS).
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN HANDWRITING
a PHYSICAL
AND
MENTAL
EFFECTS.
Intoxication
affects the physiological being of an individual
hence;
the
manner
of
handwriting
is
all
affected.
b EVIDENCE
OF
HANDWRITING
ALCOHOLIC
INTOXICATION
IN
1 Bizarre letter forms.

2 Greatly enlarged writing.
3 Illegible forms and writing generally
4 Uneven baseline.
5 Meaningless blobs or extraneous strokes in
the writing.
6
7
Inconsistency in slant of writing.

Inconsistency
letters.
in
the
form
of
repeated
B. SIGNATURE
SIGNATURE is the name of a person written by him
/ her in a document as a sign of acknowledgement.
Or, it is a name or mark that a person puts at the
end of a document to attest that he is its author or
that he ratifies its contests.
Microsoft Encarta Reference Library has these to
say about signature:
1. Signed name
2. Signing of name
3. Distinctive characteristics
SIGNIFICANT TERMS
a ASSISTED SIGNATURE. See Guided Signature.
b CROSS MARK. If properly witnessed, it can
legally stand for signature. Ballot marks are
also referred to as cross marks because of the

common practice of marking with an X.
c EVIDENTIAL SIGNATURE- 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.
d FRAUDULENT SIGNATURE.A forged signature; the
writing of a name as a signature by someone
other than the person himself, without his
permission, often with some degree of imitation.
e FREEHAND SIGNATURE.A fraudulent signature that
was executed purely by simulation rather than by
tracing the outline or a genuine signature.
f GUIDED SIGNATURE.
It is executed while the
writer`s hand or arm is steadied in any way:
such a signature authenticates a legal document
provided it is shown that the writer requested
the assistance; written during a serious illness
or on a deathbed.
g
IMITATED
forgery.
SIGNATURE.
Synonymous
with
freehand
h MODEL SIGNATURE A genuine signature that has

been used to prepare an imitated or traced
forgery
THEORY OF COMPARISON- The act of setting two or more
signature in an inverted position to weigh their
identifying significance
A POTENTIAL PROBLEM EXISTS WITH SIGNATURES

People
usually
have
three
(3)
different
signatures: (1) a formal one, used on important
documents; (2) a routine one, used on regular
correspondence; and (3) an informal one, used for
jotting quick notes. Also, other circumstances
affect writing such as age, arthritis, emotional
distress, medication, intoxication, and corrective
vision. It's difficult to tell handedness, gender,
and age from unknown samples. QDE experts must
consider all these things, and make an informed
judgement
(usually
in
consultation
with
an
investigator or attorney) based on their familiarity
with
handwriting
dynamics
(e.g.,
appearance,
laborious movements, rhythm). With impairment like
arthritis, for example, the writing function may
become more of a conscious than subconscious effort,
making for a more complex case. However,
a
paraphrasing of Larry Miller's (1987) indicia drawn
from a review of the forgery literature might
provide useful guidelines when dealing with impaired
or deliberately deceptive writing:
Line Quality
Irregular, laborious,
lack of rhythm
shaky,
Size/Proportion
Larger,
wider,
inconsistent,
spacing after caps
Pen lifts
Frequent lifts off paper
higher,
different
Angle/Slant
Greater than 5 degree change,

other-hand slanting
Pen Pressure
Heavier than usual
Circle
formation
More teardrop or egg-shaped,

frequent
counter
clockwise
formations
Retouching
formal signature used, often

retracing
strokes,
foreign
marks present
Loop formation
Wider spacing between, more

squared, shorter, or broken
loops
Stroke
formation
Wider
M's
and
W's,
more
squared
or
wedge-shaped
stokes
Alignment
Change in baseline habits,

more
downward
slants
from
baseline
Diacritics
Heavier
dots,
changes
Begin/end
strokes
Heavier
vertical
t-crossings and iposition

placement
pressure,
blobbed,
position change or
slanting
THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES IS CONSIDERED A
SPECIALIZED BRANCH OF HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION, FOR
THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
a It is a word most practiced by many people and
therefore most fluently written.
b It is a means to identify a person and have a
great personal significance.
c It is written with a little
spelling and some other details.
attention
to
d It is a word written with conscious thought

about the mechanics of its production and is
written automatically.
e It is the only word the illiterate can write
with confidence.
TYPES OF SIGNATURES
a FORMAL (CONVENTIONAL or COPYBOOK FORM)
complete correct signature for an important
document such as will.
b INFORMAL (CURSORY) usually for routine
documents and personal correspondence.
Personalized
Semi-personalized
c CARELESS SCRIBBLE for the mail
delivery boy or the autograph collector.
carrier,
SUGGESTED STEPS IN THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURE:
a STEP 1- Place the questioned and the standard

signatures in the juxta-position or side-by-side
for simultaneous viewing of the various elements
and characteristics.
b 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.
c 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.
d STEP 4 Examine the beginning and ending lines,
they are very significant, determine whether the
appearance
blunt,
club-shaped,
tapered
or/vanishing.
e 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.
f STEP 6 Look for the presence of retouching or
patching.
g STEP 7 Connecting strokes, slant, ratio, size,
lateral spacing.
h STEP 8 Do not rely so much in the similarity
or difference of the capital letters, for theses
are the often changed according to the whim of
the writer.
CHARACTERISTICS PRINCIPLES THAT SUPPLY MOST CASES:

a Pen pressure
b Movement
c Proportion
d Unusual distortion of the forms of letters.
e Inconspicuous characteristics
f Repeated characteristics
g Characteristics written with speed
INDICATION OF GENUINENESS
a Carelessness
b Spontaneity
c Alternation of thick and think strokes
d Speed
e Simplification
f Upright letters are interspersed with slanting
letters
g The upward strokes to a threadlike tracing
h Rhythm
i Good line quality
j Variation
PROCEDURE IN THE COMMON SIGNATURE PROBLEMS
a Genuine Signature which the writer refuses to
admit
not
genuine.
Generally
presence
of
tremors,
remnants
of
carbon,
retouching
(patching) indicates forgery. Produced, the
probability of genuineness
b Genuine
Signature
Deliberately
Modified
discover that the modification is only on the

prominent features of the letter designs that
are pointed out by the disclaimer, while the
rest appear to be normal. There are unnatural
tremors and retouching. The minute details in
genuine signatures are present.
CHAPTER IV
IDENTIFICATION OF WRITING MATERIALS AND WRITING
INSTRUMENT
A. Writing Materials
While
an
expert
analyst
can
detect
many
instances of forgery, a good simulation can be
undetectable. One example of a forgery the experts
missed is the case of the "lost" Hitler diaries.
(Although there's a good reason why they missed it.)
In the 1980s, a man named Konrad Kujau, a
supposed collector of Nazi memorabilia, approached a
German publishing company with 60 handwritten
journals purported to be written by Adolf Hitler
that had, according to Kujau, just been discovered
in the wreckage of an airplane that had left Germany
after World War II. The texts seemed to be genuine,

and Kujau had an apparently good reputation, so the
publishing company paid $2.3 million for the lot.
The
diaries
were
immediately
published
in
installment form in a German newspaper owned by the
same publishing company, and syndication rights were
sold
to
several
international
publications,
including The London Times. It was The Times that
requested a professional handwriting analysis to
ensure authenticity.
Three
international
experts
in
forensic
handwriting
analysis
compared
the
diaries
to
exemplars that were apparently known to be written
by Hitler. All agreed that the diaries were written
by the same person who wrote the exemplars. The
diaries were for real.
It was an analysis of the ink and paper used to
write the diaries that revealed them as fakes. An
ultraviolet-light examination revealed that the
paper contained an ingredient that wasn't used in
paper until 1954. Hitler died in 1945. Further
forensic tests on the ink showed it had been applied
to the paper within the last 12 months. As it turns
out, though, the handwriting analysis was in fact
correct the person who'd written the diaries had
also written the exemplars. Kujau, later found out
to be an experienced con artist, had also forged the
exemplars the police were using as comparison
documents.
The Hitler diaries debacle is an extreme case of
fraud and expert forgery that spanned every stage of
the analysis. And while this level of expertise is
seldom found in forgeries, the fact remains that if
the investigation had relied on handwriting analysis
alone, the "lost Hitler diaries" would now be part

of the history books.
ANACHRONISM
Anachronism is refers to a something wrong in
time and in place; 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 fivers 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.
In one case, a document dated 1213 A.H. (A.D.
1790) was found to be written on paper composed
entirely of chemically prepared wood cellulose.
Considering that this type of paper was not
introduced not until about 60 years later, the
document is obviously a fake one.
WATERMARKS
Watermarks is a figure or design incorporated
into paper during its manufacture and appearing
lighter than the rest of the sheet when viewed in
transmitted light. The earliest way of identifying
the date of manufacture of the paper is by the
WATERMARK a brand put on the paper by the
manufactures.
How watermark is made?
It is made when the semi-fluid paper pulp
(mixture of cotton or other fibers) was being
drained on a grid of laid (warp) and chain

(woof) wire. Fine wires forming the desired
design were tied on top of the grid and
impressed into the pulp. This impression made
the
paper
thinner,
and
therefore,
more
transparent, where it appeared.
Origin
First appeared on papers produced in Italy
around 1270, less than 100years after the art of
papermaking was introduced to Europe by Muslims
from the Middle East. Early in the 19th century,
papermakers began to solder the watermark wires
to the grid frame, thus insuring uniformity of
impression and aiding in the detection of
counterfeiting and forgery. The first British
postage stamps of 1840 bore a watermark, but
stamps of the United States were not so marked
until 1895. When paper began to be machine-made,
the watermark wiring was simply transferred to
the grid cover of the dandy roll, a turning
cylinder that passed over the paper.
Concept
of
watermarks.
document`s
age
detection
thru
a Sometimes a LIMIT may be placed to the age

of the document by means of watermark, the
earknown dating from 1282. Unfortunately,
not all papers contain watermarks.
b It is impressed into the paper by wire on
the roller called DANDY ROLL that
makes
the paper, and these designs are changed
from time to time.
c Usually watermarks are requested by their

owners / manufacturers with the patient
office.
d If present, it is one of the most reliable
means of tracing the age of the paper.
However the questioned documents examiner`s
finding is limited only to the APPROXIMATE
DATE (YEAR) of the paper manufacture.
e In determining the age of the paper by
watermarks, it is necessary to ascertain the
owner of the watermark in question or its
manufacturer.
f
In the FBI, this is done by checking the

reference file of the laboratory. One the
manufacture is determine, then consideration
is given to changes in design and defects of
individual design.
g In recent years, some large manufacturers

have
cleverly
incorporated
inconspicuous
changes in their watermark design in order
to date their products.
h Obviously, document is fraud if it contains
a watermark which was not in existence at
the time the document purports to have been
executed.
In cast the watermark
following is applied:
did
not
change,
the
a Consider any defect in the individual design

may furnish a clue as to the age of the
paper.
b The dandy roll, through constant usage, will

somehow be damaged. This damage is also known
as caused by WEAR AND TEAR which becomes
progressively more and more as time goes by.
c The damage on the dandy roll will leave some
peculiar markings on the watermark of the
paper manufactured.
d The investigator, carefully determining the
distinct markings caused by the dandy roll`s
damaged surface, will coordinate will the
paper manufacture regarding when such damage
occurred on the dandy roll used.
DISCOLORATION One way of tracing the age of the
papers is through the observance of the changes in
its
physical
characteristic
particularly
DISCOLORATION. Naturally, they start to discolor at
edges from 2 to 3 years. While RUG-SHIP QUALITY
papers, they are very old before discoloration
starts.
CAUSES OF DISCOLORATION
a Due to process
natural means.
of
oxidation
brought
about
by
b Brown spots due to molds that are very obvious

characteristics
both
in
appearance
and
distribution.
c Exposure to dust and dirt.
d Occasional staining of fruit juice, grease.
a Excrete of rats, mice and other insects.
b May also due to heat, partial burning, etc.
DETAILED EXAMINATION OF WRITING MATERIAL

a Collect standard document from the issuing
institution, company or individual and compare.
Consider the physical characteristics of both
questioned and standard documents such as the
size, the thickness, the surface (glossiness,
opacity, etc.) and the general texture of the
paper.
b Check with the issuing institution, company or
individual about the dissimilarity of writing
material used in the questioned document.
c Conduct further physical or chemical examination
such as folding endurance test, folding test,
bursting test, etc.
B. Writing Instrument
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
A. REED PENS / SWAMP REED
a From especially selected water grasses found in
Egypt, Armenia and along the shores of the
Persian Gulf, were prepared by leaving them
under dung heaps for several months.
b First writing tool that had the writing end
slightly frayed like a brush. About 2,000 years
B.C., this reed pen was first used in NEAR EAST
on papyrus and later on parchment.
B. QUILL PEN
a
Although quill pens can be made from the outer

wing feather of any bird, those of goose, swan,
crow, and (later) turkey, were preferred. The
earliest reference (6th century AD) to quill pens

was made by the Spanish Theologian ST. ISIDORE
OF SEVILLE, and this tool was the principal
writing implement for nearly 1300 years.
b To make a quill pen, a wing feather is first
hardened by heating or letting it dry out
gradually. The hardened quill is then cut to a
broad edge with a special pen knife.
c
The write had to re-cut the quill pen frequently

to maintain its edge. By the 18th century, the
width if the edge had diminished and the length
of the slit had increased creating a flexible
point that produced thick and think strokes by
pressure on the point rather than by the angle
at which the broad edge was held.
C. STEEL POINT PENS (BRAZEN PENS)

a
Although pens of bronze may have been known to

Romans, the earliest mention of BRAZEN PENS
was
in
1465.
The
16th
century
Spanish
calligrapher JUAN DE YCIAR mentions brass pens
for very large writing in his 1548 writing
manual, but the use of metal pens did not become
widespread until the early part of the 19th
century.
b The first patented steel pen point was made by

the English engineer: BRYAN DONKIN in 1803.
c
The leading 19th century English pen manufactures

were WILLIAM JOSEPH GILLOT, WILLIAM MITCHELL,
AND JAMES STEPHEN PERRY.
D. FOUNTAIN PENS
a In 1884, LEWIS WATERMAN, a New York insurance

agent, patented the first practical FOUNTAIN PEN
containing its own ink reservoir. Waterman
invented a mechanism that fed ink to the pen
point by capillary action, allowing ink to flow
evenly while writing.
b By the 1920`s the fountain pen was the chief
writing instrument in the west and remained so
until the introduction of the ball point pen
after WORLD WAR II.
E. BALL POINT PEN:
a JOHN LOUD, in 1888,
point writing tool.
patented
the
first
ball
b The ball is set into a tiny socket. In the

center of the socket is a hole that feeds ink to
the socket from a long tube (reservoir) inside
the pen.
c
As early as the 19th century, attempts had been

made to manufacture a open with a rolling ball
tip, but not until 1938 did Hungarian inventor
brother LADISLAO and GEORGE BIRO invent a
viscous, oil-based ink, that could be used with
such a pen. Hence, they are attributed for the
invention of the first practical ballpoint pen.
d Early ball point pens did not write well; they

tended to skip, and the slow-drying oil-based
ink smudged easily. Advantages of ball pen over
the fountain pen are:
e The ink was waterproof and almost un-erasable;
f The ball point pen could write on many kinds of
surfaces;
g Could be hold
writing; and
in
almost
any
position
for
h The pressure required to feed the ink was ideal

for making carbon copies.
i Ink formulas were improved for smoother flow and
faster drying, and soon the ball point replaced
the fountain pen as the universal tool.
F. FIBER TIP PENS
a In 1963, fiber tip markers were introduced into
the U.S. market and have since challenged the
ball point as the principal writing implement.
b The first practical fiber tip pen was invented
by YUKIO HORIE of Japan in 1962 traditionally
done with a pointed ink brush.
c Unlike its predecessors, the fiber tip pen uses
dye as a writing fluid. As a result, the fiber
tip pen can produce a wide range of color
unavailable in ball point and fountain pen inks.
The tip is made of fine nylon or other synthetic
fibers drawn to a point and fastened to the
barrel of the pen.
d Felt-tip markers are made of dense natural or
artificial fibers impregnated with a dye. These
markers can be cut to a variety of shapes and
sizes, some up to an inch in width. A
modification of the ball point pen using a
liquid dye fed to a metal/plastic hall was
introduced in the U.S. from Japan in 1973.
COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF INKS
a Indian Inks The oldest form of Indian ink

consisted of a suspension of carbon black (soot
or lampblack) in water to which glue or a
vegetable
gum
was
added.
Inks
of
these
compositions are still on the market mostly in
the shape of sticks or cakes. In modern carbon
ink, the glue or gum is replaced by a solution
of shellac in borax or ammonia.
b Log wood Inks These inks which were used
extensively about a century ago, have now
because
of
obsolete
and
are
no
longer
manufactured. They were made from an aqueous
extract of logwood chips and potassium chromate.
These inks will be found only on old.
c Iron Gallotanate Inks This ink has been used
as writing for over a thousand years. Formerly
it was made of a fermented infusion of gall nuts
to which iron salts were added. The ink was
composed of suspension of the black, almost
insoluble ferric tannate.
d Fountain Pen Inks These inks are regarded as a
special fountain pen inks, and consisting of
ordinary iron gallotannate inks with a lower
iron content in most cases but with a higher
dyestuff content than normal inks. This type of
ink is placed on the market under the name of
blue-black permanent.
e Dyestuff Inks These inks are composed of
aqueous solution of synthetic dyestuffs, to
which a preservative and a flux are added. The
writing qualities of the ink are improved by
addition of substances such as glycerol, glucose
or dextrin.
The dark blue and black inks are
often composed of four or more dyes because no

black dyestuff of sufficient tinctorial capacity
is known.
f Water Resistant Writing and Drawing Inks These
inks are special group of dyestuff inks. They
consist of a pigment paste and a solution of
shellac made soluble in water by means of borax,
liquid ammonia or ammonium bicarbonate. Sometime
the pigment suspension is combined with acid or
basic dyestuff.
g Alkaline Writing Inks These are quick drying
inks which possess a ph of from 9 to about 11.
They penetrate quickly through the size of the
paper allowing the ink to penetrate quickly into
the paper. The dyestuff in these inks consists
of acid dyes, sometimes combined with phthalo
cyanide dyes. These inks are not much in demand
because they are rather expensive and because
the material of many fountain pens is affected
by them. The best known of these inks are the
Parker super chrome inks which in the colors
black, blue-black, blue, red and green.
h Ballpoint Pen Inks did not appear one the
European market before 1945. The development of
the present pen was accomplished during World
War II because the Army and the Air Force needed
a writing instrument which would not leak at
high altitude and which supplied quick drying
water resistant writing.
o In principle, the construction of all
ballpoint pens is the same. The differences
are in the finish, the precision with which
the instrument is made, the size and the
material of the ball, and the composition of

the ink.
o As a rule, the diameter of the ball lies
between 0.6 and 1.0 mm, the cheapest makes
having the largest diameter. The ball is made
of steel while the more expensive makes of
sapphire.
o The quality of the pen is chiefly to be
judged by the writing angle. The best writing
angle for a ballpoint pen is 90 degrees, but
a normal hand of writing seldom uses this
angle.
o The cheaper makes have a minimum writing
angle 55-60 degrees. If one writes at too
small an angle, the brass socket holding the
ball will scratch a lined into the paper,
parallel with ink line.
i Stamp Pad Inks They are made with the acid of

substances such as glycerol, glycol, acetin or
benzyl alcohol and water. Airline dyes are added
as coloring matter.
j Hectograph Inks These inks very much resemble
stamp pad inks and are exclusively made with
basic dyes. To the dyestuff solution several
other substances are added such as glycerol,
acetic and acetone.
k Typewriter Ribbon Inks These inks are usually
composed of a blend of aniline dyes, carbon
black and oil such as olein or castor oil. The
two-tone ribbons however contain no dyes, but

pigments suspended in oil base.
l Printing Inks Printing inks
mixture of colored pigments,
base which may consist
synthetic resins or a mixture
often consist of a
carbon black and a
of oil, resins,
of these.
m Canceling Inks These inks often contain carbon

and this fact should be burned in mind when it
is required to decipher faint cancellation marks
on a postage stamp and wrappers. Carbon is
opaque to infra-red sensitive plate and be
relied upon to improve the legibility of any
marking
affected
by
a
carbon
containing
canceling ink.
n Skrip Ink These are manufactured by W.A.
Chaffer Pen Company since 1955. The inks contain
a substance which is colorless in visible light
and has strong affinity for the fibers of the
paper, and yet is not bleached by hypochlorite
ink eradicators or washed out by soaking on
water.
THE EXAMINATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF INK
a In most cases the inks to be examined are not
available
in
liquid
form.
One
kind
of
examination centers on the question as to
whether
the
ink
of
some
writing
or
of
alterations in a police blotter is identical
with ink found in the possession of the suspect.
b The examination of questioned documents is
restricted to a comparative examination of
certain properties of these inks. However the
examination carries with it certain difficulties
as the quantity of material available for

examination is small and the examination can be
done only one.
c It is necessary then that before a chemical
examination is attempted, which results in a
partial destruction of writing, an exhaustive
examination
by
non-destructive
methods
be
carried out.
d These non-destruction methods include visual
examination
with
the
aid
of
a
binocular
microscope as well as photographic examination.
They should be used first before any chemical
examination is resorted to.
e It is necessary therefore to be acquainted with
the
composition
and
developmental
history,
method of manufacture of the types of ink most
commonly used. Sometimes, antedating can only be
proven by identifying a component of the ink,
which was not yet included in inks at the
alleged date of the document.
THE CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF INK
A. THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION AND SEPARATION OF
THE DYESTUFFS IN THE INK
a This is restricted to a comparison of the
dyestuff, in the ink but sometimes it is also
possible to identify one or more of the
components of the dyes.
b Regarded
as
examination.
the
principal
method
of
ink
c To identify a dyestuff, it is necessary to

possess a collection as complete as possible of
the various
inks.
dyes
used
in
the
manufacture
of
d The chromatographic separation of the dyes maybe

carried out by paper chromatography.
e Procedure:
Collection of the ink material
1 Extraction of the inks stroke by
scraping fragments from the ink stroke
or by dissolvent such as ethanol,
acetone or butanone. Pyridine is the
best solvent for ball point inks.
2 It is also possible to cut a small
pocket
at
starting
line
in
the
chromatographic paper into which the
ink fragments are placed. The pocket
is firmly pressed.
The vessel which is a beaker or a flask
is filled with the solvent; then the
flittered paper strip containing the ink
material is lowered into the vessel with
the ends just touching the surface of the
solvent and let it hang on the side of
the vessel for 15-20 minutes.
The chromatography should be carried out
in shaded light.
B. DETERMINATION OF THE AGE OF THE INK
In general, in order to determine the age of
writing or the difference in the ages of different
writings, the document examiner makes use of a
property of the ink writing which changes in the
course of time. This selection of properties will be

determined by the composition of ink and the
circumstances under which the writing ages.
Procedure:
a. Ball Point Pen Inks
a If a document has been written with a ballpoint
pen, the writing in question is bound
to date
in all probability from a point of time later
than 1945.
b The analysis of ballpoint inks may
important clue to the age of the ink.
yield
an
c The
first
ballpoint
inks
were
practically
without exception based on oleic acid. These
inks will flow out when a drop of benzene or
petroleum ether is applied to them.
d
Not until 1950 were these inks made on a basic

polyethylene glycols, which are resistant to
treatment with benzene or petroleum ether.
However, the presence of oleic acid is not yet
proof that the writing in question is old for
oleic acid is sometimes also used in modern
ballpoint inks.
e In the later case, however, the ink will as a

rule not flow out with petroleum ether because
these inks, no water soluble coloring matter is
worked out. Instead pigments and dyestuff are
used that will not dissolve in petroleum ether.
f The presence of phthalocyanine dyestuff is an
indication of an ink produced later than 19541956.
g Thus it is not possible to determine the

absolute age of ballpoint inks. Neither it is
possible to determine the relative ages of two
ballpoint ink writings, not even if they are of
the same kind. The ink dries rather quickly
because the base is absorbed by the paper.
h Recent ballpoint writing can be offset, and
efforts have been made to used the copying power
for age determination.
Dyestuff inks
a The dyestuff inks lack properties that would
permit age determination but the presence of an
obsolete or modern dyestuff may indicate age of
writing.
b If a phthalocyanine dye is found in the ink, it
would be improbable for the document to be dated
prior to 1953.
c Iron Gallotannate Inks These inks show a
remarkable change of color in maturing. This
based on the chemical change of ferrous to
ferric in the course of time.
d Method based on the change of the Color of the
Ink useful in those cases where the ink
writing received for examination is too recent
that the process of maturing can be observed
visually. The kind of ink must be known and one
or more writing of know age must be available
for comparison.
e Methods based on the Solubility of the Ink The
solubility of iron gallotanate ink decreases
considerably as the ink matures. As with the
color
changed,
it
can
only
be
applied
successfully to a very recent writing. This
method can establish a difference in the age of
writings on one and the same document. The
solubility is determined by visual estimate of
the quantity of ink which can be withdrawn with
a drop of water from a stroke. It is necessary
however that the drop of water be applied to ink
stroke of the same intensity.
f Method based on the amount of ferrous iron in
the ink In iron gallotannate ink, the iron is
mainly present in the complex bound ferrous
form. As the manufacturing process goes on, the
ric gallotannate is formed. A drop of aa1dipyridyl reagent (1% of aa1-dipyridyl in 0.5N
HCL (normal hydrochloric acid)) is applied to
the ink stroke. The reagent is left in contact
with ink for 1 minute and then recovered with a
piece of filter paper. If ferrous iron is stil
present in the ink, the paper will show a red
zone of ferrous aa1-dipyridyl around the stain
of blue dyestuff. By repeating this test daily,
it is possible to check the decreases in the
ferrous iron in the ink by the changes in the
coloration of this red zone. However, this
method is applicable when the questioned writing
is not more than a few days old.
g Estimation of age based on the detection of the
dyes Iron gallotannate inks contain an organic
dye, (soluble blue) which is oxidized or at
least becomes insoluble complete or partially as
the ink ages. It is claimed that the organic dye
becomes completely insoluble in four to five
years. However, the application of this method

appears to yield results in practice.
CHAPTER V
FORGERY, COUNTERFEITING AND FALSIFICATION
A. Forgery
FORGERY- 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.
CATEGORIES OF FORGERY
A. STIMULATED
OR
FREEHAND
IMITATION
FORGERYexecuted purely by simulation rather than by
tracing the outline of a genuine signature can
be referred as freehand imitation or simulated

forgery.
1 SIMULATED WITH THE MODEL BEFORE THE FORGER
a DIRECT TECHNIQUE forger works directly
with ink.
b INDIRECT forger works first with pencil
and afterwards covers the pencil strokes
with ink.
2 SIMULATED FREE HAND FORGERY (TECHNIQUE)- used
by forgers who have a certain skill in
writing; After some practice, the forger to
write a copy of the model quickly.
B. TRACED FORGERY (TRACED SIGNATURE)
1 DIRECT
TRACINGtransmitted light.
tracing
is
made
by
2 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 carbon paper
between the two.
TYPES OF TRACED SIGNATURE;
1 CARBON PROCES
2 INDENTATION PROCES
3 TRANSMITTED LIGHT PROCESS
C. SPURIOUS SIGNATURE (SIMPLE FORGERY) Forger
does not try to copy a model but writes
something resembling what we ordinarily call a
signature.
D. FORGERY BY MEANS OF A STAMPED FACSIMILE OF A

GENUINE OR
MODEL
E. FORGERY BY COMPUTER SCANNIN
INDICATIONS
OF
SIMULATED
(Direct
Techniques) and TRACED FORGERIES
&
Indirect
a Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between

letters.
b No rhythm
c Carefulness or unusual care and deliberation
d No contrast between upward and downward strokes
e Slow writing angular writing
f Blunt beginning and endings
g Placement of diacritical
stem of letters.
marks
just
over
the
h Absence of spontaneity lack of smoothness of

letters
i 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.
j No variation.
INDICATIONS OF SIMPLE OR SPURIOUS FORGERY Writing

habits of the writer (forger) is evident in the
forged signature.
INDICATIONS OF FORGERY BY MEANS OF STAMPED FACSIMILE

OF A GENUINE SIGNATURE
a Flat strokes
b No contrast between upstrokes and down strokes
c Deposit of ink at the junction of two strokes or
where two strokes cross each other.
d No variation all signatures will superimpose
over each other.
WHAT ARE THE CRIMES CALLED FORGERIES?
a Forging the seal of the government, signature or
stamp of the chief Executive (161).
b Counterfeiting coins (163)
c Mutilation of coins (164)
d Forging treasury or bank notes or other document
payable to bearer (166).
e Counterfeiting instruments not payable to bearer
(167)
f Falsification of legislative documents (172)
g Falsification by public officer, employee
notary or ecclesiastical minister (171)
or
h Falsification by private individuals (172)

i Falsification of wireless, cable, telegraph and
telephone messages (173).
j Falsification
of
medical
certificates,
certificates of merit or service (174).
B. 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
WHEN IS A COIN FALSE OR COUNTERFEITED? A coin is
false or counterfeited, if it is forged or if it is
not authorized by the Government as legal tender,
regardless of its intrinsic value.
DEFINITION
Import, means to bring them into port. The
importation is complete before entry at the
Customs House. (U.S. vs. Lyman, 26 Fed. Cas.
1024)
Utter, means to pass counterfeited coins. It
includes their delivery or the act of giving
them away. A counterfeited coin is uttered when
it is paid, when the offender is caught counting
the counterfeited coins preparatory to the act
of delivering them, even though the utterer may
not
obtain the gain he intended. Hence,
damage to another is not necessary.
Mutilation means to take off part of the metal
either by filing it or substituting it for
another metal of inferior quality.
EXAMINATION OF SUSPECTED COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE.
Together
with
ultraviolet
light,
the
investigator should look at the banknote with a
hand lens.
He should pay particular attention to the
quantity of the portrait in the bank note. This
is the one extremely fine detail of a good
engraved plate.
The color of the ink should be compared with
color of a genuine banknote. It is very
difficult for counterfeiter to match exactly the
same shade of ink by genuine manufacturer.
COINS
These are pieces of metal stamped
authority, for use as money or
referring to metal currency.
by government
collectively
MAKING OF COINS
CASTING is the most common method of making gold
coins. Plaster molds bearing an image of gold coins
are filled (within a low temperature) with alloy
made with lead or tin. Some molds are used for high
temperature metal such as copper or silver alloy
STRIKING OR STAMPING is the making of an impression
of a coin or metal blank
by pressure.
CHARACTERISTICS
Genuine
grains
coins
show
an
even
flow
of
metallic
Counterfeit coins feel greasy & appear slimy.

The
beading
composed
of
tiny
round
dots
surrounding the genuine coin appear irregular &
elongated
depressions
&
are
not
sharp
&
prominent as in the genuine. The letterings &
numerals are low & worn out due to the lack of
sharpness of details. The readings are uneven &
shown signs of filing.
COUNTERFEIT METAL MONEY OR COIN

Coin made of gold was to widely use but are not
now often see. Government kept
their
gold
in the form of heavy bars called bullions and then
issue papers for the value of gold. Metal coins
issued nowadays are mostly in amount for less than
its face value. In most countries, the possessions
of gold coins are now forbidden except for coin
collectors.
EXAMINATION OF
examined by:
COUNTERFEIT
COINS
should
be
a A magnifying lens
b Comparing it with a know coin
DEFECTS IN CAST COIN ARE USUALLY CAUSED BY:
a Formation of air bubbles, or
b Removal of small parts of the sole along with
the coin.
The best place to examine a counterfeit coin is
on the edge since there are usually
special
milling marks or designs which are added to a
genuine coin by machinery.
COUNTERFEIT PASSPORT
Passports are rarely counterfeit, because they

are quite complicated in design and manufacture. The
most usual method of forgery is to steal a genuine
passport and make change in it. Many safety features
are incorporated in passport and are easily detected
by close inspection. Ultraviolet
light
is
very
useful in this type of examination. The investigator
should look particularly at the photograph in any
passport as identification card. This is always
necessary because sometimes forgers remove and
change or substitute the picture. Hence, the
position of perforation caused by staples and
another pasting device should be studied carefully.
C. Falsification
ACTS OF FALSIFICATION (Art. 171 & 172)

Counterfeiting or imitating
signature or rubric;
any
handwriting,
Causing
it
to
appear
that
persons
have
participated in any act or proceeding when they
did not in fact so participate;
Attributing to persons who have participated in
act or proceeding statements other than those
in fact made by them;
Making untruthful statements in a narration of
facts;
Altering true dates;
Making
any
alteration
or
intercalation
genuine document which changes its meaning;
in
Issuing in an authenticated form a document

purporting to be a copy of an original document
when no such
original exists, or including in
such copy a statement contrary to, or different
from, that of the genuine original; or
Intercalating any instrument or note relative to
the issuance thereof in a protocol, registry or
official book.
DOCUMENTS MAY BE SIMULATED OR FABRICATED.

a In
falsification
of
public
document,
the
falsification need not be made on an official
form. It is sufficient that the document is
given the appearance of, or made to appear
similar to, the official form. (People vs.
Tupasi, C.A., G.R. No. 290-292, March 22, 1937).
b The simulation of public, official or mercantile
document is also contemplated in falsification
of those documents (People vs. David, C.A., G.R.
No. 44368, Nov.27, 1936)
oOo

Questioned Document

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Questioned Document

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

clarito g. lopez jr.

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 2

their creation, they are authorized to issue and

If a private document is intended to

Writings Which Do Not Constitute Document

Concept of Questioned Document

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 3

Questioned document is one in which the facts

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 4

In comparison of questioned document, what constitute

Divisions of Questioned Document Examination?

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 5

Classes of Questioned Document

The following are the general classification of

a Documents with questioned signatures;

c Questioned or disputed holographic wills;

e Questioned documents on issues of their age or

b Comparison- Properties or characteristics of the

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 6

Concept of the Term Exemplars

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 7

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 8

b Request standards are signature or other

clarito g. lopez jr. MPA/PA,LLB Page | 9

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR TAKING REQUEST HANDWRITING

with request writing, it may be harder to locate

various factors cause changes in handwriting. Age

of the author admitting genuineness or someone to

normal handwriting and/or hand printing preferably

needed if the words on the disputed writing do not

tracing can be identified without known signatures.

The document examiner should take the request

g DON'T compare writing written under abnormal

writing becomes an almost automatic succession

Handwriting originates in the brain when a

more smiles and hugs from his parents (positive

motor control program and executing a motor control

Two Groups of Muscles Involve in Handwriting:

from the classic forms taught in childhood into an

alcohol use, stress, the writing surface, the

b Abnormal conditions such as physical injury,

b When combined is what constitutes individuality

TERMINOLOGIES RELATED TO HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION

COLLATION side by side comparison; collation

pen toward the

FORM- The way the writing looks, whether it is

GRAPHOLOGY- the art of determining character

HANDLETTERING- Any disconnected style of writing

LINE DIRECTION- Movement of the baseline. May

MANUSCRIPT WRITING- A disconnected

MICROSOPIC EXAMINATION- Any study or examination

or alter its identifying habits and its usual

PEN MPHASIS- The act of intermittently forcing

SHADING- widening of the ink strokes due to the

SLOPE/ SLANT the angle or inclination of the

SPEED OF WRITING- The personal pace at which the

SYSTEM (OF WRITING) - The combination of the

TENSION- degree of exerted on the pen compared

VARIATION- The act or process of changing.

WRITING CONDITION- circumstances under which the

motion. Most usually employed by children and

c Strong, heavy and forceful

1 Wavering and very irregular line or strokes with

HANDWRITING- Rhythm is succession of