I.

Course: FORENSIC4
II. Course Unit: 3
units
III. Course: Question Document Examinations

IV. Course Description: The course covers the scientific methods of identification and
examination of questionable documents, handwriting examination, detection of
forgery, falsification and counterfeiting of documents which stress the procedures
of restoring and deciphering erasures and obliterations; examination of documents
by means of visible light, ultra-violet light and ultra-red radiation and colored
powders; recognition and selection of standards; and examination of questionable
typewriting, computerized documents and other forms of modern printing.

V. Module No: 1
A. Title: Question Documents
B. Topic: Documents and Kinds of Documents
C. Time Frame: 6hours
D. Introduction:
this topic introduce the scientific methods of identification and
of questionable documents and the kinds of Documents.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. outline question documents and disputed documents;
2. value the application of question documents examination in the
service of justice; and
3. examined of question documents.

F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

A. DOCUMENT. Any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible, 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.
The term “document” applies to writings; to words printed, lithographed, or
photographed; to maps or plans; to seals, plates, or even stones on which inscriptions are
cut or engraved. In its plural form, “documents” may mean; deeds, agreements, title,
letters, receipts, and other written instruments used to prove a fact.
● Latin word “documentum”, means “lesson, or example (in Medieval Latin
“instruction, or official paper”), OR
● French word “docere”, means to teach.
 According to Microsoft Encarta Reference Library (as a noun):
1. formal piece of writing
2. object containing information
3. computer file

As a verb, Microsoft Encarta gives the following definition:

1. record information in or on media
2. support a claim with evidence

B. QUESTIONED. Any material which some issue has been raised or which is under
scrutiny.
C. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT. 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.
D. DISPUTED DOCUMENT. A term suggesting that there is an argument or controversy
over the document, and strictly speaking this is true meaning. In this text, as well as
through prior usage, however, “disputed document” and “questioned document” are
used interchangeably to signify a document that is under special scrutiny.
E. STANDARD a.k.a. STANDARD DOCUMENT - Are condensed and compact set of
authentic specimens which, if adequate and proper, should contain a cross section of
the material from a known source.
"Standard" in questioned documents investigation, we mean 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. Usually a standard consist of
the known handwriting of a person such case, "standard" has the same meaning as is
understood by the word "specimen" of handwriting.
F. EXEMPLAR. A term used by some document examiners and attorneys to characterize
known material. Standard is the older term.
G. HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT. Any document completely written and signed by one
person; also known as a holograph. In a number of jurisdictions a holographic will can
be probated without anyone having witnessed its execution.
H. REFERENCE COLLECTION. Material compiled and organized by the document
examiner to assist him in answering special questions. Reference collections of
typewriting, check writing specimens, inks, pens, pencils, and papers are frequently
maintained.

LEGAL ASPECT OF DOCUMENTS

A. LEGAL BASIS OF DOCUMENTS:

1. In the case of People vs. Moreno, CA, 338 O.G. 119: any written document by which a
right is established or an obligation is extinguished.
2. In the case of People vs. Nillosquin, CA, 48 O.G. 4453: every deed or instrument
executed by person by which some disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or
setforth.
3. In relation to Criminal Jurisprudence under the Best Evidence rule: any physical
embodiment of information or ideas; e.g. a letter, a contract, a receipt, a book of
account, a blur print, or an X-ray plate (Black’s Law Dictionary).
B. KINDS OF DOCUMENT:
1. PUBLIC DOCUMENT - notarized by a notary public or competent public official with
solemnities required by law.(Cacnio vs. Baens, 5 Phil. 742)
2. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT - issued by the government or its agents or its officers having the
authority to do so and the offices, which in accordance with their creation, they are
authorized to issue and be issued in the performance of their duties.
3. PRIVATE DOCUMENT -executed by a private person without the intervention of a
notary public or of any person legally authorized, by which documents, some
disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth (US vs Orera, 11 Phil. 596).
4. COMMERCIAL DOCUMENT - executed in accordance with the Code of Commerce or any
Mercantile Law, containing disposition of commercial rights or obligations.

Take Note:

A private document may become a public or official document when it partake the
nature of a public or official record. So if the falsifications committed on such document that is,
when it is already a part of the public record, falsification of public or official document is
committed. However, if such private document is intended to become a part of the public
record, even though falsified prior thereto, falsification of a public document is committed.

WRITINGS WHICH DO NOT CONSTITUTE DOCUMENTS - based on some Supreme Court

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

CLASSES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

1. Documents with questioned signatures.
2. Questioned documents alleged to have been containing fraudulent alterations.
3. Questioned or disputed holographic wills.
a. HOLOGRAPHIC WILL - will entirely written in the handwriting of the testator
b. NOTARIAL WILL - signed by the testator acknowledge before a notary public with 3
witnesses.
4. Documents investigated on the question of typewriting.
a. with a view of ascertaining their source
b. with a view of ascertaining their date
c. with a view of determining whether or not they contain fraudulent alterations or
substituted pages.
5. Questioned documents on issues of their age or date.
6. Questioned documents on issues of materials used in their production.
7. Documents or writings investigated because it is alleged that they identify some
persons through handwriting.
a. anonymous and disputed letters, and
b. Superscriptions, registrations and miscellaneous writings.
DOCUMENT AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

ADDITION - Any matter made a part of the document after its original preparation may be
referred to as addition.

CONCLUSION - A scientific conclusion results form relating observed facts by logical,

common-sense reasoning in accordance with established rules or laws. The document
examiner's conclusion, in legal term is referred to as "opinion".

DOCUMENT EXAMINER. One who studies scientifically the details and elements of
documents in order to identify their source or to discover other facts concerning them.
Document examiners are often referred to as handwriting identification experts, but today
the work has outgrown this latter title and involves other problems than merely the
examination of handwriting.

ERASURE - The removal of writings, typewriting or printing, from a document is an erasure.

It maybe accomplished by either of two means. A chemical eradication in which the writing
is removed or bleached by chemical agents (e.g. liquid ink eradicator); and an abrasive
erasure is where the writing is effaced by rubbing with a rubber eraser or scratching out
with a knife or other sharp with implement.

EXAMINATION - It is the act of making a close and critical study of any material and with
questioned documents, it is the process necessary to discover the facts about them. Various
types are undertaken, including microscopic, visual photographic, chemical, ultra violet and
infra-red examination.

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. His purpose is to interpret technical
information in his particular specialty in order to assist the court in administering justice.
The document examiner testifies in court as an expert witness.

INSERTION OR INTERLINEATION - The term "insertion" and "interlineations" include

the addition of writing and other material between lines or paragraphs or the addition of
whole page to a document.

NON-IDENTITIFICATION (Non-identity) – as used in this text it means that the source or

authorship of the compared questioned and standard specimens is different.

OBLITERATION - the blotting out or shearing over the writing to make the original invisible
to as an addition.

OPINION. In legal language, it refers to the document Examiner's conclusion. Actually in

Court, he not only expresses an opinion but demonstrates the reasons for arriving at his
opinion. Throughout this text, opinion and conclusion are used synonymously.

QUALIFICATION. The professional experience, education, and ability of a document

examiner. Before he is permitted to testify as an expert witness, the court must rule that he
is qualified in his field.
REASON FOR QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Generally, examination of questioned documents is restricted to “Scientific

Comparison” which means that determination of authenticity, genuineness, falsification or
forgery lies on the availability of known standards for comparison. After thorough
comparison, the following principle of identification is applied:

“When two items contain a combination of corresponding or similar and specifically

oriented characteristic of such number and significance as to preclude the possibility of
their occurrence by mere coincidence and there are no unaccounted for differences, it
may be concluded that they are same in their characteristics attributed to the same
cause.”

DIVISIONS OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. Criminalistics Examination. This involves the detection of forgery, erasure, alteration

or obliteration of documents.

Dr. Wilson Harrison, a noted British Examiner of questioned documents said that an
intelligent police investigator can detect almost 75% of all forgeries by careful inspection
of a document with simple magnifiers and measuring tools.

B. Handwriting Investigation/Analysis. This is more focused in determining the author of

writing. It is more difficult procedure and requires long study and experience.

FORMS/ASPECTS (SUBJECTS) OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. Handwriting Examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)

1. examination of signatures and initials
2. examination of anonymous letters
3. hand printing examination
B. Examination of Typewritings and typeprints.
C. Examination of Inks
D. Examination of Erasures, alterations or obliterations, etc.
1. Detection of alteration
2. Decipherment of erased writings
3. Restoration of obliterated writings
E. Counterfeiting
1. Examination of currency bills and coins and the like.
2. Examination of fake documents
F. Miscellaneous aspects
1. Determination of age of documents
2. Identification of stamps
3. Examinations of seal and other authenticating devices
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION (In General)
A. VALUE -
1. In the commission of a crime, the criminal often finds it necessary to employ one or
more documents in furtherance of his act.
2. In some crimes, such as forgery, the document is an integral part of the crime.
3. In others, such as false claims against government, documents often play an important
part in proving the commission of the crime.
4. Proof of the fact that a document was altered or made by a particular individual may
show that:
a. He committed the crime.
b. He had knowledge of the crime.
c. He was present in a certain locality at a specified time.

B. PURPOSE - A document may be examined to know the following:

a. Identity of the author.
b. True contents of the document.
c. Origin of the instrument or paper used in making the document.
d. Alterations or erasures which have been made.
e. Authenticity of the document.

THE LOGICAL PROGRESS OF INQUIRY IN DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. FIRST - ASCERTAIN THE FACTS: to select "QUESTIONED", "DENIED" or "ADMITTED",

"AUTHENTIC", and "DOUBTFUL" documents.

1. Concerning the Document in Questioned.

a. Is only one signature in questioned?
b. Is any part of the document in question?
c. Is the date of the document in questioned?
d. Is the paper or the typewriter used in the document in questioned? Etc.

2. Regarding the Standards:

a. Make sure that there are sufficient numbers of authentic documents for comparison
submitted. If there are inadequate standards, obtain more.
b. Determine whether the standards are authentic ones, on which a foundation can be
built for admitting them in evidence.

B. SECOND - ANALYZE THE DETAILS: Synthesize the elements, date, circumstances,

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

C. THIRD - QUALIFY THE CASE:

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

SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. Analysis (Recognition) - properties or characteristics, observed or measured.

B. Comparison - Properties or characteristics of the unknown determined thought
analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known items.
C. Evaluation- Similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each have
a certain value for identification, determined by its likelihood of occurrence. The weight
or significance of each must therefore be considered.

The criteria of scientific examination of documents are:

A. Accuracy – correspondence between results obtained and the truth.

B. Precision – measure of the consistency of results obtained in repeated study or
experimentation.

“In scientific study of signatures/handwritings, we learn the basic facts and

then reason carefully and logically from these facts according to established and
recognized rules in order to form an opinion or conclusion as to whether a
questioned
signature/handwriting is genuine or forged”

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS

It is the initial examination conducted on a document to determine whether it is

genuine or not. It is not a misnomer, for in reality it consists of painstaking analysis more than
looking at a document and expressing an off-hand opinion.

A. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT:

1. ensures preparedness;
2. avoidance of delay; and
3. ensures success of the case.

B. Principal points for consideration in the PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION of questioned

documents. Please note that these questions may not be applicable in every case.
1. Is the signature genuine?
2. Is the signature in a natural position?
3. Are the signatures of the witnesses genuine and were they written in the order as they
appear?
4. Does the signature touch the other writings? Or was it written last?
5. Are there remains of pencil or carbon marks which may have been an outline for the
signature of other writings?
6. Is the signature shown in an embossed form on the back of the sheet?
 7. Is the writings written before the paper was folded?
8. Is the signature written before or after the paper was folded?
9. Is more than one kind of ink used in the preparation of the document?
10. Are the several sheets of the document exactly the same sizes, thickness and colors?
11. Is the paper torn, burned or mutilated in any way, and if so, for what purpose?
12. Is the paper unnecessary soiled or crumpled?
13. Does the document contain abrasion, chemical/pencil erasures, and
alterations/substitutions of any kind?
14. Does the document show abrasion, erasure or lack of continuity when viewed by
transmitted light?
15. Has the document been wet in any way and if so, for what purpose?
16. If typewritten, are the contents of the document all written on the same machine?
17. Was each sheet written continuously at one time without being removed from the
typewriter?
18. Are there added figures, words, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or pages written on a
different typewriter?
19. Do the perforations agree with the stubs from which the alleged document came?
20. If the document is a carbon copy, does it conform in the size, position, and arrangement
of matters with original letterheads?
21. If the document is a letter, does postmark, postage stamps, manner of sealing and
opening of envelope have any significance?
22. Are there indentations in the paper from handwriting or typewriting on a sheet placed
above the paper examined?
23. Is the rubber-stamp impression if any appears made from a genuine stamp?
24. Is the attached seal of proper date or the seal impression made from a genuine seal and
is it made in proper sequence?

C. Who Conducts the Preliminary Examination? – It should be conducted by a

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXPERT.

D. Who is a Questioned Document Expert? A Questioned Document Expert is one who has:
1. Attained the appropriate education and training;
2. Sufficient knowledge on the technical, scientific, and legal aspects of document
examinations; and
3. A broad experience in handling questioned document cases.

E. REASONS FOR UTILIZING A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXPERT:

1. Assurance of preparedness;
2. Trial fiscal or judges are infrequently confronted with document cases; consequently,
they do not possess the knowledge of the documents expert's ability of the
various methods that exist for determining forgeries.
3. Avoidance of an “OFF-HAND” opinion.

F. What is an “OFF-HAND OPINION”? Off-hand opinion is usually a conclusion that is not

based on thorough scientific examination.

G. THE DANGER OF OFF-HAND OPINIONS - It has happened in some cases that an off-
hand opinion, has sent an innocent man to prison, while a murderer was given a chance
to escape.
INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS USED IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATIONS

A. MAGNIFYING LENS – Bank personnel and other people involved in currency

examinations usually use and ordinary hand-lens; the maximum diameter of which is
four inches, and this appears big with its wide frame it has a magnifying power of two
times the original only. Magnifying lenses of five times or more magnifying power, with
built-in-lighting are more useful.
B. SHADOWGRAPH – a pictorial image formed by casting a shadow, usually of the hands,
upon a rightful surface or screen.
C. STEREOSCOPIC BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE – a tri-dimensional (3D) enlargement is
possible.
D. MEASURES AND TEST PLATES (TRANSPARENT GLASS) – those used for signatures
and typewritings.
E. TABLE LAMPS WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADES (Goose Neck Lamps) – used for controlled
illumination; needed in sidelight examination wherein light is placed at a low-angle in a
position oblique to plane or document.
F. TRANSMITTED LIGHT GADGET – a device where light comes from beneath or behind
glass on document is placed.
G. ULTRA VIOLET LAMP – this is usually used in the detection of counterfeited bills but can
actually be used to detect security features of qualified documents.
H. INFRARED VIEWER – primarily used to decipher writings in a charred document.
I. COMPARISON MICROSCOPE – similar to that of the bullet comparison microscope.

TECHNIQUES IN THE EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

A. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION - Any examination or study which is made with the

microscope in order to discover minute physical details. Stereoscopic examination with
low and high power objectives is used to detect retouching, patching and unnatural pen-lift
in signature analysis. With proper angle and intensity or illumination, it aids in
the decipherment of erasures, some minute manipulations not perfectly pictured to the
unaided eye and the sequence of entries done by different writing instruments.

B. TRANSMITTED LIGHT EXAMINATION – In this examination, the document is viewed

with the source of illumination behind it and the light passing through the paper.
Documents are subjected to this type of examination to determine the presence of
erasures, matching of serrations and some other types of alterations.

C. OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION - An examination with the illumination so controlled

that it grazes or strikes the surface of the document from one side at a very low angle.
Decipherment of faded handwriting, determination of outlines in traced forgery,
embossed impressions, etc. are subjected to this type of examination.

D. PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION - This type of examination is very essential in every

document examination. Actual observations are recorded in the photographs.

E. ULTRA-VIOLET EXAMINATION - Ultraviolet radiation is invisible and occurs in the wave

lengths just below the visible blue-violet end of the spectrum (rainbow). These visible
rays react on some substances so that visible light is reflected, a phenomenon known as
FLOURESCENCE. This type of examination is done in a darkroom after the lamp has been
warmed up in order to give a maximum output of the ultra-violet light. Exposure to the
 ultra-violet light should be to the minimum duration in order to avoid fading of some
writing ink and typewriter ribbon.

F. INFRARED EXAMINATION - This examination of documents employs invisible radiation

beyond the red portion of the visible spectrum (rainbow) which is usually recorded on a
specially sensitized photographic emulsion.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. PURPOSES OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN QDE:

1. serve as record of the initial condition of a disputed document;

2. make clear what otherwise may be hidden or indistinct;
3. enlarge a writing in question so that every quality and characteristics of it can be
clearly and properly interpreted whether the facts so shown point to genuineness or
to forgery;
4. enable any number of accurate reproductions of document, thus affording unlimited
opportunity for study, comparison and evaluation by any number of examiners, which
would not be possible by using the document alone;
5. allow cutting apart as may be desired and the various parts classified for
comparisons;
6. can show delicate discolorations due to chemical erasures or other fraudulent
changes, which may otherwise be overlooked, or misinterpreted;
7. can show very clearly any erasures by abrasions made by ordinary rubber eraser and
it can record in permanent form with the paper placed obliquely to the plane of the
lens and plate and inclined at just right angle of reflection so as to show differences in
the reflected light from different portions of the paper surface; and

8. with transmitted light, photographs is useful in:

a. examination of watermarks
b. determining the identity, or the differences in paper by showing arrangement of
the fibers and the markings of the wire gauze and dandy roll
c. showing the continuity of strokes and
d. determining retouching or patching of a writing by showing clearly the presence
of added ink film and the uneven distribution of ink in interrupted strokes.

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATIONS

A. ERASURES - One of the common inquiries in questioned document is whether or not an

erasure was actually made on a document. In cases like this, the following examinations
are made:
1. Physical inspection: using ultraviolet light, observation with light striking the surface
at a sharp angle, and observation under the microscope maybe considered.
2. Fuming with iodine may cause an almost negligible stain, but in most instances not
the slightest semblance of a stain remains.

B. INDENTED WRITING - Indented writing is a term usually applied to the partially visible
depressions appearing on a sheet of paper underneath the one on which the visible
writing appears. These depressions or indentation are due to the application of pressure
on the writing instrument and would appear as a carbon copy if a sheet of carbon paper
 had been properly inserted. Indentation may also appear on a blank sheet of paper if
such is used as a backing sheet while typing out a message on a typewriter. Methods of
examination are:
1. Physical methods maybe used by passing a strong beam of nearly parallel light almost
horizontally over the surface of the paper.
2. Fuming the document maybe of values in some cases.
3. Powders of various kinds maybe used without changing the document.

C. BURNED OR CHARRED PAPER - A piece of paper maybe subjected to the action of a

limited amount of heat, causing it to become scorched and retaining a certain amount of
its identity or it maybe subjected to intense heat, reducing it to ashes and losing its
identity. However, if the combustion is incomplete, a certain amount of success maybe
realized provided the pieces are large enough to form a coherent message.

The following methods maybe applied to decipher the original message contained
thereon:

1. Photographic methods, using various types of filters and different angles of

illumination may determine the writing contained thereon without changing the
appearance of the charred fragments.
2. Chemical methods, such as spraying, painting, or bathing charred pieces with
solutions of different chemical reagents.
3. Photographic plates maybe utilized by allowing the charred paper to remain in
contact with the emulsion sides in total darkness from one to two weeks.

D. ADDING MACHINES - The construction of an adding machine differs greatly from the
typewriter but the methods and principles of identification are related.

Manufacturers use different types of numerals and from time to time change their
design. The spacing between columns is also not standardized for all machines. Those factors
form the basis of determining the make of the machine and for estimating the period in which
it was built. Another kind of approach is the ribbon impression, for the ribbon is made and
operates very similarly to the typewriter.

HANDLING OF DOCUMENTS AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

A. THE CARE OF DISPUTED DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

1. It is a basic requirement, that when a document becomes disputed and deposited in

court or with the attorney, in order to maintain its original condition, it should be
kept UNFOLDED AND IN A SEPARATE, PROPER SIZE ENVELOPE OR FOLDER. This
is true not only for the disputed documents, but for many other important
documentary evidence.
2. It is also advisable that right after the document becomes disputed, or questioned, it
is important to make not only the usual photo static copy (Xerox), but also a proper
photograph or photo-enlargement, done if possible by the document expert or under
the supervision of the document expert.
3. When working in the preparation of case, it is often necessary for the lawyer or
court to handle repeatedly the disputed document. Should this be necessary,
 instead of handling and working with the original document, the photograph should be
used.
4. Every touching, folding, refolding or pointing to certain parts of a document, can change
the physical condition of the case. For example, touching with wet hands or fingers can
create smearing in the ink, pointing with a pencil can leave marks that create a
suspicion of previous pencil marks, or experiments as proof of attempted forgery.
5. Pointing a document with any other instruments, such as sharp stick, can cause slight
damage which although it can not be seen by the naked eye, can show definite marks
under the microscope or on the enlarged photograph.
6. No test should be made to alter the conditions of the document; for example, the old-
fashioned ink test, which was used to determine the age of the ink-writing.
7. Should any test be necessary, insist that it should be done in the presence of a chemist,
or in court, or in front of both parties involved the case.

B. DO's and DON'T's in the CARE, HANDLING AND PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS

1. “DO’S”
a. Take disputed papers to Document Examiner's Laboratory at the First Opportunity.
b. If storage is necessary, keep in dry place away from excessive heat strong light.
c. Maintain in consequential document, unfolded and in transparent plastic envelope
or evidence preserver.

2. “DONT’S”
a. Do not underscore, make careless markings, fold, erase, impress rubber stamps,
sticker, write on, or otherwise alter any handwriting.
b. Do not smear with fingerprints powder or chemicals.
c. Do not carry handwriting document carelessly in wallet, notebook or brief case on
grounds of interviews.
d. Do not handle disputed papers excessively or carry then in pocket for a long time.
e. Do not marked disputed documents (either by consciously writing instruments
or dividers)
f. Do not mutilate or damage by repeated refolding, creasing, cutting, tearing or
punching for filing purposes.
g. Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to make chemical or other tests; do
no treat or dust for latent finger prints before consulting a document examiner.

C. HANDLING CHARRED DOCUMENTS

1. Those extremely fragile must be handled as little as possible and transporting them to
the laboratory requires extra-ordinary care. With forethought and caution they can be
brought from the distant fire scene to the laboratory.
2. They should be moved in the container in which they are found whenever possible.
When the fragments are not packed tightly, they should be padded with lightweight
absorbent cotton. If jarring can not be entirely eliminated jarring the box must be kept
to a minimum.
3. Thus every precaution must be taken in handling and transporting the charred residue
in order to prevent the large pieces from becoming unnecessarily and badly broken.
The fragment must be held firmly without crushing and prevent movement or shifting
when finally packed in a sturdy container.
 Learning Activity No. 1
1.1 watch the video provided via Youtube regarding Question Documents
and Disputed documents. Then make 500 words Reflection/Discussion, send to LMS.
Click the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is6t1EP_3eg
1.2 make Video with your self, Memorized Kinds of Documents and its meaning.
(close eyes). Send to LMS.
Learning Activity No. 2
Provide Questioned Documents that is available in your house, then try to
examined it is Genuine or not.
Learning Activity No. 3
Watch Youtube Video regarding examination of documents, the prepare for
short Quiz to LMS.
Click the link Below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD_sC8bT63E
Review of Concepts:
Documents any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible,
partially visible that may present or ultimately convey a meaning.
Public Document a document created, executed or issued by a public official.
Official Document a document which is issued by a public official in the exercise
of the functions of his office.
Commercial Document any instrument defined and regulated by the Code of
Commerce or other commercial law.
Private Document – every deed or instrument executed by a private person
without the intervention of a notary public or any person legally authorized.
Post Test:
Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System
(SOCOTECH VISTA)

References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.

Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.

Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,
 With an Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmor

Module No: 2
A. Title: Handwriting Identification and Examination
B. Topic: Signature and Handwritting
C. Time Frame: 9hours
D. Introduction:
this topic covers the basis of handwriting and other concepts in
handwriting process.
E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:
At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. understand the physiological basis of handwriting and other
concepts in handwriting process;
2. value the importance of signature and identify the different
types of signature;
3. execute the style of handwriting; and
4. illustrate and describe the different characteristics in
handwriting and stroke structures.
F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION

HANDWRITING - It 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. Some defined handwriting as “visible speech.”

I. KINDS OF WRITINGS:

A. Cursive – connected; writing in which one letter is joined to the next.

B. Script – separated or printed writing.
C. BLOCK – all CAPITAL LETTERS.

II. 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.

Take Note:

Is handwriting/signature identification an “exact science”?

In the hand of a qualified examiner operating under proper conditions, identification by

means of handwriting/signature is certain. Proper conditions include:
1. sufficient questioned writing
2. sufficient known writing
3. sufficient time
4. use of scientific instruments

III. PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF HANDWRITING

In writing the pen functions as an extension of the hand. The fingers transmit to the paper,
the directive impulse and the variation in muscular tension that according to the nature of tie
writer's nervous organization occur during the act or writing. This center near the motor
area of the cortex is responsible for the finger movement involved in handwriting. The
importance of this center is that when it becomes diseased as in a graphic, one loses the
ability to write although he could still grasp a fountain pen, ball pen or pencil. Thus, the
ability or power to hold a fountain pen or pencil to form symbols and words can be said to
emanate from its cortical center.

Two Groups of Muscles Involve in Handwriting:

1. extensor muscles - push up the pen to form the upward strokes

2. flex 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 produce written form is known as motor
coordination.

IV. VARIATIONS IN HANDWRITING

A more or less definite pattern for each is stored away in the subjective mind but the hand
does not always produce a ster¬eotyped 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 in the art of penman¬ship, the less the
variations there will be in the form of individu¬alize letters as well as in the writing as a
whole.

CAUSES OF VARIATION

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

2. Abnormal conditions such as physical injury, toxic effects, inebriation's, emotion
and deception.
3. Position of letter - all the letters are to be found initial¬ly, medially, and finally. The fact
of a different position, especially in combination with another and particular letter, may
modify any of them in some way or another.

IMPORTANCE OF VARIATION
1. Personal variation encountered under normal writing conditions is also a highly
important element of identification. The qualities of personal variation include both its
nature and its extent. It becomes necessary to determine the amount, extent, and exact
quality of the variations.
2. It is improbable that the variety and extent of the variation in handwriting will be
exactly duplicated in two individuals that such a coincidence becomes practically
impossible and this multitude of possible variations when combined is what constitutes
individuality in handwriting.
3. 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.

Take Note: “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 there is variation in
genuine writing.”

V. DEVELOPMENT OF HANDWRITING OF AN INDIVIDUAL

1. Children learn writing by following the school copy or model.

2. After acquiring some degree of skill the children no longer follow the school model.
3. As speed increases, conscious design and regularity begin to break down.
4. In the course of trial and error, modification are made, simplification and elaborations,
addition and omissions occur.
a. The writing pattern of each child embodies unique combinations of such deviation from
the standard letter forms or school model, and becomes his personal habits.
b. Although thousands learn the same system and that the natural result is identity, but
facts show that it is not because those who were taught the same system or school copy a
class of writers, but such impairs does not by any means produce a slavish uniformity.
c. Variation begins as soon as writing begins and continues until each writer in the
way that seems best and easiest to him.

VI. SCHOOL COPYBOOK FORM (school model) - refers to the standard of handwriting
instruction taught in particular school. Classes of copybook depend on the standard school
copy adopted by a writer.

A. SYSTEMS of Early American Handwriting

1. Old English round hand - an Italian hand popular in 1840.

2. Modified round hand - early edition of the Spencerian, and the Payson, Dunton,
and Scribners copybook - 1840 -1860.
3. Spencerian - there is simplification by the omission of extra strokes and flourishes.
And a general tendency toward plain-er letters than the preceding system, some of which
were very ornate - 1860-1890.
4. Modern Vertical writing 1890-1900
5. The arm movement writing - the manner or method of writing, instead of the form
alone is especially emphasized.

Out of these five divisions of early handwriting, the modern commercial hand systems
developed. This is characterized by free movement. And the forms adopted are best suited
to easy rapid writing. These are the Zaner and Blozer system of arm movement writing and
the Palmer system of American arm movement. The last great revolution in American
handwriting was the adoption of vertical writing which was in fact a reversion to the old
system of slow but legible writing. The connecting stroke is based on the small circle and is
the most distinctive "round ¬hand" ever devised. It was very slow compared with writing
based on the narrow ellipse like the Spencerian in which all connec¬tions were almost points
instead of broad curves. Most commer-cial handwritings tend toward straight connecting
strokes and narrow connections.

B. SOME MODERN SCHOOL MODEL FORMS

1. Palmer Copybook
2. D’Nealian Copybook
3. British Copybook
4. French Copybook
5. German Copybook

C. SIGNIFICANCE OF SCHOOL COPY FORMS or System Characteristics as Basis in

the Identification of Handwriting

1. Similarities of form are not indicative of identity unless they concern unusual form or
what are termed deviations from the normal. Similarities are bound to occur in different
writings but such similarities exist only in letters which are normal in form, the fact bears
no significance.
2. All differences in form are indicated of non-identity
3. The likeness in form maybe general and simply indicate the class or genus or
the difference that does not differentiate maybe nearly superficial.
4. In many systems of writing, the date and influences of system of writing have an
important bearing on the question of genu¬ine or of forgery and in other cases, the presence
of European characteristics in handwriting is a vital and controlling fact.

D. IMPORTANCE OF THE DESIGN OF THE LETTERS (System of Writing)

1. To the nationality of the writer.

2. To the system learned.
3. To the date when the writing was acquired and
4. To some of the influences that have surrounded the writer.

TERMINOLOGIES RELATED TO HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATIONS

ALIGNMENT - Is the relation of parts of the whole of writing or line of individual letters in
words to the baseline. It is the alignment of words or the relative alignment of letters.

ANGULAR FORMS – Sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the pen and changing
direction before continuing.
ARCADE FORMS – Forms that look like arches rounded on the top and open at the bottom.

CHARACTERISTICS - any property or mark which distinguishes and in document

examination commonly called to as the iden¬tifying 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; it refers not only a visual but also the mental act in which the element of one item
are related to the counterparts of the other.

DISGUISED WRITING - A writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits in hopes
of hiding his identity. The results, regardless of their effectiveness are termed disguised
writing.

DOWNSTROKE – The movement of the pen toward the writer.

FORM – The writer’s chosen writing style. The way the writing looks, whether it is
copybook, elaborated, simplified 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”. Also a school of handwriting analysis
that looks at handwriting as a whole picture.

GRAPHOANALYSIS - the study of handwriting based on the two fundamental strokes, the
curve and the straight strokes.

GRAPHOMETRY - analysis by comparison and measurement.

GRAPHOLOGY - the art of determining character disposition and amplitude of a person from
the study of handwriting. It also means the scientific study and analysis of handwriting,
especially with reference to forgeries and questioned documents.

HANDLETTERING. Any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written

separately; also called handprinting.

LETTER SPACE – The amount of space left between letters.

LINE DIRECTION – Movement of the baseline. May slant up, down, or straight across the
page.

LINE QUALITY - the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending
strokes. There are two classes: Good Line quality and Poor Line quality. The visible records
in the written stroke of the basic movements and manner of holding the writing
instrument is characterized by the term "line quality". It is derived from a combination of
actors
including writing skill, speed rhythm, freedom of movements, shading and pen position.

LINE SPACE – The amount of space left between lines.

MANUSCRIPT WRITING. A disconnected form of script or semi-script writing. This type of

writing is taught in young children in elementary schools as the first step in learning to
write.

MARGINS – The amount of space left around the writing on all four sides.

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION - Any study or examination which is made with the

microscope in other to discover minute de-tails.

MOVEMENT – It is an important element in handwriting. It embraces all the factors which

are related to the motion of the writing instrument skill, speed freedom, hesitation, rhythm,
emphasis, tremors and the like. The manner in which the writing instrument is move that is
by finger, hand, forearm or whole arm.

NATURAL WRITING - Any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to
control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality or execution.

NATURAL VARIATION - These are normal or usual deviations found between repeated
specimens of any individual handwriting.

PEN EMPHASIS - The act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surfaces. When
the pen-point has flexibility, this emphasis produces shading, but with more rigid writing
points heavy point emphasis can occur in writing w/out any evidence of shading; the act
intermittently forcing the pen against the paper with increase pressure.

PEN HOLD – The place where the writer grasps the barrel of the pen and the angle at which
he holds it.

PEN POSITION - relationship between the pen point and the paper.

PEN PRESSURE - the average force with which the pen contacts the paper. Pen pressure as
opposed to pen emphasis deals with the usual of average force involved in the writing rather
than the period increases.

PRINTSCRIPT – A creative combination of printing and cursive writing.

PROPORTION or RATIO - the relation between the tall and the short letter is referred as to
the ratio of writing.

QUALITY. A distinct or peculiar character. Also, “quality” is used in describing handwriting

to refer to any identifying factor that is related to the writing movement itself.

RHYTHM – The element of the writing movement which is marked by regular or periodic
recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in its quality; the flourishing
succession of motion which are re¬corded in a written record. Periodicity, alternation of
movement.
SHADING - Is the widening of the ink strokes due to the added pressure on a flexible pen
point or to the use of a stub pen.

SIGNIFCANT WRITING HABIT – Any characteristic of handwriting that is sufficiently

uncommon and well fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the identification.

SIMPLIFICATION – Eliminating extra or superfluous strokes from the copybook model.

SIZE – May refer to the overall size of the writing or the proportions between zones.

SKILL - In any set there are relative degrees or ability or skill and a specimen of handwriting
usually contains evi¬dence of the writer's proficiency; degree, ability, or skill of a write
proficiency.

SLOPE/SLANT - the angle or inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline.
There are three classes: Slant to the left; Slant to the right; and Vertical Slant.

SPEED OF WRITING - The personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves across the paper.

SPEED (SPEEDY) WRITING - Not everyone writes at the same rate so that consideration of
the speed of writing may be a significant identifying element. Writing speed cannot be
measured pre¬cisely from the finished handwriting but can be interpreted in broad terms of
slow, moderate, or rapid.

SYSTEM (OF WRITING) - The combination of the basic design of letters and the writing
movement as taught in school make up the writing system. Writing through use diverges
from the system, but generally retains some influence of the basic training.

TENSION – The degree of force 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 the writing varies from the copybook model.
VARIATION – The act or process of changing.
WORD SPACE – The amount of space left between words.

WRITING CONDITION – Both the circumstances under which the writing was prepared and
the factors influencing the writer’s ability to write at the time of execution. It includes the
writer’s position (sitting, standing, abed, etc.), the paper support and backing, and the
writing instrument; writing ability may be modified by the condition of the writer’s 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.” It is one means of disguise. Thus, the writing of a
right-handed person which has been executed with his left hand accounts for the common
terminology for this class of dis¬guise as "left-hand writing".

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
A. KINDS OF MOVEMENT
1. Finger Movement - the thumb, the first, 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
the wrist as the center of attraction.
3. Forearm Movement - the 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.

B. QUALITY OF MOVEMENT
1. Clumsy, illiterate and halting
2. Hesitating and painful due to weakness and illness
3. Strong, heavy and forceful
4. Nervous and irregular
5. Smooth, flowing and rapid
C. SPEED - Slow and drawn; Deliberate; average; and rapid

D. DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS EMPLOYED AFFECT WRITING IN – Smoothness; Directness;

Uniformity; Continuity of strokes; and Connecting or curves between letters

MOTOR COORDINATION

It is the special way in which the various muscles used in writing work together to produced
written forms.

The Characteristics of Motor Coordination are:

1. Free, smelt rounded curves

2. Speed and gradual changes of directions
3. Pressure is always in a state of change, moving from light to heavy or from heavy
to light.
4. 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, the shading often has a
"bunchy" appearance, in which the maximum width of the shaded line is attained abruptly.

Faulty motor coordination’s are characterized by the following:

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. The writing is
obviously very slow and is typical of the writing of a young child or for any one who
painstakingly draws a picture of an unfamiliar form.
2. Angular Line - a very common fault of coordination. Curves, large and small are not
smoothly rounded and there is no gradual change of direction. On the contrary, and angle
marks almost every change are direction in the line. Inves-tigation has disclosed that angles
are accompanied by a lessening of writing speed.

RHYTHM IN HANDWRITING

Rhythm is a succession of connected, uniform strokes working in full coordination. This is

manifested by clear-cut accentuated strokes, which increase and decrease in which like
perfect cones. Pressure is always in a state of change moving from light to heavy or from
heavy to light.

A. LACK OF RHYTHM - Characterized by a succession of awkward, independent,

poorly directed and disconnected motions.

B. IMPORTANCE OF RHYTHM - By studying the rhythm of the succession of strokes,

one can determine if the writer normally and spontaneously or write with hesitation as if
he is attempting to for another signature.

C. LETTER OF CONNECTIONS - Determine the essential expression of the writing

pattern. It is a mean indicator of the neuromuscular function. Words are formed by
connection letters to one another. Even letters are formed by the joining of the upward and
downward strokes. These types of connections are:

Arcade - a rounded stroke shaped like an arch. It is a slow mode of connection resulting from
controlled movements.
Garland - Links the downward stroke to the upstrokes with a flowing curve swinging from
left t right. It is an easy, effortless mode of connection, written with speed.
Angular connective form- When the downward strokes and upward strokes meet directly,
angular connection is formed. This type of connection imposes a check on the continuity of
movement which is characterized by an abrupt stop and start in each turning point.
The threadlike connective form - the joining of downward and upward strokes is slurred to a
threadlike tracing or where rounded turns used at both top and bottom produce a double
curve. These forms appear both in the shaping of letters within the word.

HANDWRITING STROKE

STROKE is a 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.

1. ARC – a curved formed inside the top curve of loop as in small letters “h”, “m”, “n”, & “p”.
2. ARCH - any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small letters which
contain arches.
3. ASCENDER - is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.
4. BASELINE - maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary alignment
of writing; is the ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
5. BEADED - Preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in capital letters.
6. BEARD - is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a letter.
7. BLUNT - the beginning and ending stroke of a letter (without hesitation).
8. BODY - The main portion of the letter, minus the initial of strokes, terminal strokes
and the diacritic, of any. Ex: the oval of the letter "O" is the body, minus the downward
stroke and the loop.
9. BOWL - a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into "O".
10. BUCKLE/BUCKLEKNOT - A loop made as a flourished which is added to the letters, as
in small letter "k & b", or in capital letters "A", "K","P"; the horizontal end loop stroke that are
often used to complete a letter.
11. CACOGRAPHY - a bad writing.
12. CALLIGRAPHY - the art of beautiful writing.
13. DESCENDER - opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter.
14. DIACRITIC - "t" crossing and dots of the letter "i" and "j". The matters of the Indian
script are also known as diacritic signs; an element added to complete a certain letter, either
a cross bar or a dot.
15. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE - the end stroke of a letter.
16. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP - a small loop or curved formed inside the letters. This may
occur inside the oval of the letters "a, d, o"; the small loop form by stroke that extend in
diver¬gent direction as in small letters.
17. FOOT - lower part which rest on the base line. The small letter "m" has three feet, and
the small letter "n" has two feet.
18. HABITS - any repeated elements or details, which may serve to individualize writing.
19. HESITATION - the term applied to the irregular thickening of ink which is found when
writing slows down or stop while the pen take a stock of the position.
20. HIATUS/PEN JUMP - a gap occurring between a continuous stroke without lifting the
pen. Such as occurrence usually occurs due to speed; may be regarded also as a special form
of pen lift distin¬guish in a ball gaps in that of perceptible gaps and appear in the writing.
21. HOOK - It is a minute curve or a ankle which often occurs at the end of the terminal
strokes. It also sometimes occurs at the beginning of an initial stroke. The terminal curves
of the letters "a", "d", "n", "m", "p", "u", is the hook. In small letter "w" the initial curve is the
hook; the minute involuntary talon like formation found at the commencement of an initial
up stroke or the end terminal stroke.
22. HUMP - Upper portion of its letter "m","n","h" ,"k" - the rounded outside of the top of the
bend stroke or curve in small letter.
23. KNOB -the extra deposit of ink in the initial and terminal stroke due to the
slow withdrawal of the pen from the paper (usually applicable to fountain pen).
24. LIGATURE/CONNECTION - The stroke which connects two stroke of
letter; characterized by connected stroke between letters.
25. LONG LETTER - those letters with both upper and lower loops.
26. LOOP - A oblong curve such as found on the small letter "f", "g", "l" and letters stroke
"f" has two. A loop may be blind or open. A blind loop is usually the result of the ink having
filled the open space.
27. MAJUSCULE - a capital letter.
28. MINUSCULE - a small letter.
29. MOVEMENT IMPULSES - this refer to the continuity of stroke, forged writing is usually
produced by disconnected and broken movements and more motion or movement
impulses than in genuine writing.
30. PATCHING - retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written
stroke. Careful patching is common defect on forgeries.

Take Note:

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 that unnecessarily covers another stroke in a
concealing action.
3. FINAL – The ending stroke on a letter when it is at the end of a word.
4. UPSTROKE – Movement of the pen away from the writer.
5. SEQUENCE OF STROKES - 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 o 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 dimen-sion.
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 wheth¬er 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 they 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

1. A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality is genuine and

corresponds perfectly to the ordinary, and habitual signatures of that person.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A spurious signature/handwriting written by somebody who did not attempt to
imitate the signature of a person and who uses a ficti¬tious name and this to give his work
the appearance of a signature.
5. 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

1. 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.
2. Those writings that are disguised and in which the writer seeks to hide his own
personality without adapting that of another.

HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS AND OTHER IDENTIFYING FEATURES

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 individuality in handwriting.

A. GENERAL(CLASS) CHARACTERISTICS - These characteristics refer to those habits are

part of basic writing system or which are modifications of the system of writing found
among so large a group of writes that have only slight identification value.

B. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS - They are characteristics which are the result of the
writer's muscular control, coordination, age, health, and nervous tempera¬ment, frequency
of writing, personality and character. They are found in Writing movement, Form and design
of letters, Motor Coordination, Shading, Skill, Alignment, Pen pressure, Connection, Pen hold,
Rhythm, Disconnections or pen lifts between letters, Speed, Slant as a writing habit,
Proportion of letters as an individual characteristic or habit, Quality of stroke or line quality,
Variation and Muscular control or motor control -
a. Loose writing - this is characterized by too much freedom of movement and lack
of regulation. This is noticed especially in tall letters forms.
b. Restrained writing - there is lack of freedom and inhibited movements. It gives you the
impression that every stroke was made with great difficulty. This writing is small. There is
distortion of letter forms which may lead to illegibility.

Indications of speed (speedy) writing

a. Smooth, unbroken strokes and rounded forms.
b. Frequent signs or tendencies to the right.
c. Marked uncertainty 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 to illegibility towards the end of words.
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 of letters especially capital letters.
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 blobs, angles, divided letters and retouches.
e. Careful execution of detail of letters, toward the end or names.
f. Narrow writing.
g. No difference in emphasis in upstroke and down stroke
h. Ornamental or flourishing connections.
i. Sinking lines

C. EXAMPLES OF COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

1. Ordinary copy-book form
2. Usual systematic slant
3. Ordinary scale of proportion or ratio
4. Conventional spacing

D. CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Permanent characteristics - found always in his handwriting.
2. Common or usual - found in a group of writers who studied the same system of writing.
3. Occasional - found occasionally in his handwriting.
4. Rare - special to the writer and per¬haps found only in one or two persons in a group
of one hun¬dred individuals.

E. HOW INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE ACQUIRED

1. Outgrowth of definite teaching
2. Result of imitation
3. Accidental condition or circumstances
4. Expression of certain mental and physical traits of the writer as affected by
education, by environment and by occupation.

F. EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Hook to the right and hook to the left
2. Shape, position, size and angle of "i" dots "t" crossing
3. Idiosyncrasies
4. Bulbs and distinctive initial and final pen pressure
5. Embellishment, added strokes and free movement endings
6. Abbreviation of letters
7. Simple and compound curves and graceful endings
8. Labored movement producing ragged lines
9. Terminal shadings and forceful endings
10. Presence and influence of foreign writing, with the introduction of Greek

"e" PRINCIPLE IN HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION

1. When any two specimens of handwritings contain a combina¬tion of corresponding

or similar and specifically oriented char-acteristics 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.
2. Handwritings are fixed habits.
3. These writing habits like habits of speech become so auto¬matic and unconscious that
even by the most strenuous effort, it is almost impossible to change them. It is one of the
most permanent of human habits.
4. No duplication of handwriting by two individuals.

CORRECT CONCLUSION

1. To reach the conclusion that two writings are written by the same hand, characteristics
or "dents" and scratches" should be in suffi¬cient quantity to exclude the theory of
accidental coincidence; to reach the conclusion that writings are by different hands, we may
find numerous likeliness in class characteristics but diver¬gences in individual
characteristics or we may find divergences in both but the divergence must be something
more than mere superficial differences.
2. If the conclusion of identifying is reached, there must not remain significant differences
that cannot reasonably be ex-plained. This ignoring of the differences or the failure properly
to account for them is the cause of the errors in handwriting identification.
3. 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)

1. Uniformity- Does the questioned writing have smooth, rhythmic and free-flowing
appearance?
2. Irregularities - Does the questioned writing appear awkward, ill-formed slowly drawn
3. Size & Proportion- Determine the height of the over-all writ¬ing as well as the height
of the individual strokes in proportion to each other.
4. Alignment - Are they horizontally aligned, or curving, uphill or downhill.
5. Spacing - Determine the general spacing between letters, spacing between words.
Width of the left and right margins, paragraph indentations.
6. Degree of Slant- Are they uniform or not.
7. Formation and Design of the letters, "t" (-) bars, "i" dots, loops, circle formation.
8. Initial, connecting and final strokes.

HANDPRINTING

The procedure and the principle involved are similar to that of cursive handwriting. In block
capital and manuscript writings, personal individu¬al 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:

1. A fluency of movement and a certainty of execution indicative of familiarity with

and a measure or skill in handwrit¬ing of conversely.
2. A conscious mental effort and non-rhythmic execution denot¬ing either unfamiliarity
with or disguise in the subject’s handwriting.

STANDARDS OR EXEMPLARS

STANDARD - They are known writings, which indicate how a person writes. A writer
manifests fixed habits in his writings that identify him. This fact provides the basis for an
opinion of conclusion regarding any writing identification problem.

EXEMPLARS - Specimen of the writing of suspects are commonly known as exemplars. The
term standards is a general term referring to all authenticated writings of the suspects
while exemplars refers more especially to a specimens of standard writing offered in
evidence or obtained or request for comparison with the questioned writing.

SAMPLE - A selected representative portion of the whole is known as a sample. In this text,
the term "sample" follows closely the statistical usage.

TYPES OF HANDWRITING "STANDARDS"

1. Collected Standards are KNOWN (genuine) handwriting of an indi¬vidual such as

signature and endorsements on canceled checks, legal papers letters, commercial, official,
public and private document and other handwriting such as letters, memoranda, etc.
Written in the course of daily life, both business and socials.
2. 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.
3. 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.

TYPES OF STANDARDS DESIRABLE FOR COMPARISON USE IN THE TWO MOST COMMON
TYPES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS PROBLEMS
1. Submit collected and request standards signature from both individual case.
2. When anonymous letter writings other than signature are in questioned:
a. Submit request standards writings of general nature from both victim and suspect's
(as much standards writing as possible to obtain within reason).
b. Submit request standards of the questioned text written (or printed) - at least
3 writings by the suspect/s and in some instanced by the victim.

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR TAKING REQUEST HANDWRITING STANDARDS IN ALL

TYPES OF QUESTIONED-DOCUMENT PROBLEMS

1. Have subject seated in a natural position at table or desk having smooth

writing surface.
2. 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: if questioned document is in written furnish subject with pen and ink, etc.
3. Never permit the subject to see any writing on the questioned document.
4. 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.
5. Remove each specimen upon completion by subject number in consequence, date, time
and identify by initiating each, and request subjects to sign each specimen.
6. Observe all writing done by subjects and indicate any attempt of disguise, and whether
subjects appears to be normally right or left handed, etc.

SPECIAL PROCEDURE FOR TAKING REQUEST HANDWRITING STANDARDS WHERE CHECKS

FORGERY IS CHANGED OR SUSPECTED

1. Furnish subjects with check blanks similar to the questioned check/s.

2. Dictate the entries to be made on specimen checks as follows:
a. Date - Same as shown on questioned check
b. Payee - - do -
c. Amount- - do -
d. Signature- - do -
e. Any other handwriting shown on questioned check
3. Give subjects to help or suggestions in completing speci¬men checks.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. The laboratory should be informed of the age apparent health and physical condition
of the time standards are written.
2. Do not fold, staple or pin document: handle questioned docu¬ments with care.
3. Indicate in the sample handwriting the time, place, date signature of writer as well
as witness of the handwriting.
SOME SOURCES OF SIGNATURES WRITTEN IN THE COURSE OF DAILY AFFAIRS

1. Canceled Checks
2. Signature cards for saving, checking and charge accounts and safe deposit boxes.
3. Credit applications and cards
4. Signature on sales slips, on job orders slips, requisition slips and purchase slips.
5. Court records and affidavits, such as naturalization papers, bankruptcy proceedings,
divorce papers. Probated wills and estate files, powers of attorney, etc.
6. Passports, marriage application, license and affidavits.
7. Driver automobile chauffeur, and other types of licensee applications
8. Application for gas, electricity, water and telephone services
9. Loan application and receipts
10. Records from currency exchanges, check-cashing agencies and pawnshop
11. Time sheets, payroll, pay receipts and personal forms
12. Barangay registration, petitions
13. Signature for certain drug purchases, hotel registrations
14. Church, club and professional society record
15. Veteran records
16. Fingerprint records
17. School or University class records and cards
18. Application for firearm and licenses
19. Application for export and import and dollar allocations
20. ID cards

HOW TO PREPARE AND COLLECT HANDWRITING STANDARDS?

Factors to Consider in the Selection of standards

A. THE AMOUNT OF STANDARD WRITTEN

B. SIMILARLY OF SUBJECT MATTER. If the questioned writings are hand printed, then get
hand printed standard or exemplar.
C. RELATIVE DATES of the questioned and the standards writing standard signatures or
writing must be those written five (5) years before or five (5) after the date of the
questioned signature or writing.

The importances of contemporaneous standards are:

1. Helps to determine or trace gradual changes on one’s handwriting or signature.
2. Aids in tracing the development of any writing variation

D. CONDITION UNDER WHICH BOTH THE QUESTIONED AND THE STANDARD ARE
PREPARED. Look for standards prepared under comparable circumstances such as: paper
rested on the knee; standing; sitting; lying down; and/or while on moving vehicle.

E. WRITING INSTRUMENT AND PAPER. Same instrument used in the preparation of the
questioned document must be obtained in the standards

HANDWRITINGS/SIGNATURES THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE - Some problems are

complicated and harder to solve that includes:

Type of Signature Remedy (Required Standards)

1. Signature of the careless or highly erratic writer. Collected standards
2. Receipt Signature. Other receipt signatures
3. Near - Illiterate Writer. Requested standards if writer is still living
4. Signatures of Physical Impaired Writer
a. The intoxicated signature
b. Old age deterioration
c. The sick bed signature. a. Collect standards written in the same situation
b. Collect 2 or 3 times more standards
c. Similar to old age deterioration
5. Disguised signature or writing Specimen written in normal condition could not be
used therefore consider collected and requested standards.

DISGUISES IN HANDWRITING

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

B. KINDS OF DISGUISES
1. Change of slant - from right to left or vice versa.
2. Change of letter, either from cursive to block style or vice-versa.
3. Change from cursive (conventional style) to block form or vice-versa.
4. Change of style from small to big or vice versa.
5. Deteriorating one's handwriting.
6. 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 also affected.
B. EVIDENCE OF ALCOHOLIC INTOXICATION IN HANDWRITING - Bizarre letter forms,
Greatly enlarged writing, Illegible forms and writing generally, Uneven baseline, Meaningless
blobs or extraneous strokes in the writing, Inconsistency in slant of writing, Inconsistency in
the form of repeated letters.

ADMISSIBILITY OF STANDARD WRITINGS

The following are standard writings which are admissible for comparison purposes:

Standard writings witnessed, Standards writings admitted, Record Maintained in Regular

Course of Business as Standard Writings, Government Document as standard Writings,
Ancient writings, Other Writings Standards - Among writings admissible as standard are
signature on spelling motion or other instruments, such as an appearance bond, which may
without further proof of genuineness be used as a standard. Familiarity sometimes
establishes standard writings.

Take Note

Opinion Evidence - The court seem to be in general agreement that proof of the
genuineness of a standard cannot be established by the opin¬ion of experts testifying from a
comparison of the writing sought to be used as standard with another writing.

Genuineness of standard decided by court - The sufficiency of the proof of the genuineness of
a standard of writing is a matter to be decided by the court.

INVESTIGATION AND DETAILED EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES

SIGNATURE defined – It is the name of a person written by him/her in a document as a sign

of acknowledgement. Or, it is a name or a mark that a person puts at the end of a document
to attest that he is its author or that he ratifies its contents. Microsoft Encarta Reference
Library has these to say about signature: signed name, signing of name, distinctive
characteristic.

SIGNIFICANT TERMS

A. CROSS MARK. Historically, many who could not write signed with a cross mark or
crude X. This authenticating mark is still used today by illiterates, and if properly witnessed,
it can legally stand for a signature. Ballot marks are also referred to as cross marks because
of the common practice of marking with an X.
B. EVIDENTIAL SIGNATURE - Is not simply a signature - it is a signature, signed at a
particular time and place, under particular conditions, while the signer was at particular
age, in a particular physical and mental condition, using particular implements, and with
a particular reason and purpose for recording his name.
C. FRAUDULENT SIGNATURE. A forged signature. It involves the writing of a name as a
signature by someone other than the person himself, without his permission, often with
some degree of imitation.
D. FREEHAND SIGNATURE. A fraudulent signature that was executed purely by
simulation rather than by tracing the outline of a genuine signature.
E. GUIDED SIGNATURE. A signature that is executed while the writer’s hand or arm is
steadied in any way. Under the law of most jurisdictions such a signature authenticates a
legal document provided it is shown that the writer requested the assistance. Guided
signatures are most commonly written during a serious illness or on a deathbed.
F. IMITATED SIGNATURE. Synonymous with freehand forgery.
G. MODEL SIGNATURE. A genuine signature that has been used to prepare an imitated or
traced forgery.
H. THEORY OF COMPARISON - The act of setting two or more signa¬ture in an inverted
position to weigh their identifying significance, the reason being that those we fail to see
under normal comparison may readily be seen under this theory.
 THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES IS CONSIDERED A SPECIALIZED BRANCH OF
HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION, FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1. A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore most

fluently written.
2. A signature is a means to identify a person and have a great personal significance.
3. A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other details.
4. A signature is a word written without conscious thought about the mechanics of
its production and is written automatically.
5. A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.

TYPES OF SIGNATURES

A. FORMAL (a.k.a. CONVENTIONAL or COPYBOOK FORM) - complete correct signature

for an important document such as will.

B. INFORMAL (CURSORY) - usually for routine documents and personal correspondence.

1. Personalized
2. Semi-personalized

C. CARELESS SCRIBBLE - for the mail carrier, delivery boy or the autograph collector.

Learning Activity: No. 1

Describe the changes and style of your handwriting at the different stages of
development of handwriting. Enumerate the characteristics which were removed or added
over the span of development. Provide at least five observations.

Stages Omitted Added

1.
2.
3.
4.

Learning Activity: No. 2

Learning Activity No. 3

1. Following the format below, illustrate the different elements and characteristics of
handwriting. Label the specific part which describes the terminologies.
 Alignment Form Simplification

Angular Line Space Shading

Arcade Line Direction Slope/Slant

Garland Rubric or embellishment Thread form

Ascender Beaded Hook

Descender Beard Long letter

Linear Buckleknot Staff

Review of Concepts:
Handwritting is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used a whole,
and combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long,
continued painstaking effort.
Post Test:
Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA)

References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.

Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.

Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,

With an Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore,

Module No: 3
A. Title: Falsification, Counterfeiting and Forgery
B. Topic: Types and methods of forgery
 C. Time Frame: 9hours

D. Introduction:
This topic covers the investigation and identification of forged
and altered documents, with intent to defraud.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. understand the legality of forgery and falsification in the Philippine laws;
2. identify the different process in forgery and indicators of genuine and
forged signature and
3. emphasized the penalty for committing crime forgery and falsification.
.
F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

DEFINITION OF TERMS

FALSEMAKING
a. The creation of fraudulent writing on a document or the alteration of
an existing document.
FALSIFICATION
b. In Q.D. context, it pertains to the act of adding and substituting, erasing and
obliterating an original entry, be it punctuation marks, signs, symbols,
numerals, characters and or letters in a document
COUNTERFEITING
c. The crime of making, circulating, uttering false coins and bank notes
FORGERY
d. Forgery is, strictly speaking, a legal term which involves not only a non-
genuine document but also and intent to fraud. However, it is also used
synonymously with fraudulent signature or spurious document.

CLASSES OF FORGED SIGNATURES (CATEGORIES OF FORGERY OF SIGNATURES)

A. SIMULATED OR FREEHAND IMITATION FORGERY – executed purely by simulation

rather than by tracing the outline of a genuine signature can be referred as freehand
imitation or simulated forgery. Or it refers to the free-hand drawing in imitation of model
signature.

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 tries to write a copy of the
model quickly.

B. TRACED FORGERY (TRACED SIGNATURE)

1. DIRECT TRACING - tracing is made by transmitted light.

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
a carbon paper between the two.
The types of Traced Signatures are:

1. CARBON PROCESS
2. INDENTATION PROCESS
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. For this, he uses a false
(spurious) name and makes a rapid stroke, disturbing his usual writing by adopting a
camouflage called disguise.

D. FORGERY BY MEANS OF A STAMPED FACSIMILE OF A GENUINE OR MODEL

E. FORGERY BY COMPUTER SCANNING

SUGGESTED STEPS IN THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURE

STEP 1 - Place the questioned and the standard signatures in the juxta-position or slide-
by-side for simultaneous viewing of the various elements and characteristics.
STEP 2 - The first element to be considered is the handwriting movement or the manner
of execution (slow, deliberate, rapid, etc). The fundamental difference existing between a
genuine signature and an almost perfect forgery is in the manner of execution.
STEP 3 - Second elements to examine is the quality of the line, the presence or tremors,
smooth, fluent or hesitation. Defect in line quality is only appreciated when simultaneous
viewing is made.
STEP 4 - Examine the beginning and ending lines, they are very significant, determine
whether the appearance blunt, club-shaped, tapered or/vanishing.
STEP 5 - Design and structure of the letters - Determine as to roundness, smoothness,
angularity and direction. Each individual has a different concept of letter design.
STEP 6 - Look for the presence of retouching or patching.
STEP 7 - Connecting strokes, slant, ratio, size, lateral
spacing.
STEP 8 - Do not rely so much in the similarity or difference of the capital letters, for
theses are the often changed according to the whim of the writer.

CHARACTERISTICS PRINCIPLES THAT SUPPLY MOST CASES:

1. Pen pressure
 2. Movement
3. Proportion
4. Unusual distortion of the forms of letters
5. Inconspicuous characteristics
6. Repeated characteristics
7. Characteristics written with speed

INDICATIONS OF GENUINENESS

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

INDICATIONS OF SIMULATED (Direct & Indirect Techniques) and TRACED FORGERIES

1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at

which the writer has temporarily struck.
2. no rhythm
3. carefulness or unusual care and deliberation
4. no contrast between upward and downward strokes
5. slow writing- angular writing
6. blunt beginning and endings
7. placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of letters
8. absence of spontaneity - lack of smoothness of letters
9. restrained writing - there is lack of freedom or "inhibited" movements THAT gives
the impression that every stroke is made with great difficulty. This writing is small.
10. no variation

INDICATIONS OF SIMPLE OR SPURIOUS FORGERY

1. Writing habits of the writer (forger) is evident in the forged signature.

INDICATIONS OF FORGERY BY MEANS OF STAMPED FACSIMILE OF A GENUINE SIGNATURE

1. flat strokes

2. no contrast between upstrokes and down strokes

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

4. no variation - All signature will superimpose over each other.

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. Examination of this kind of signature is

confidently 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.

FORGERY, COUNTERFEITING AND FALSIFICATION

A. COUNTERFEITING - It is the crime of making, circulating or uttering false coins and

banknotes. Literally, it means to make a copy of; or imitate; to make a spurious
semblance of, as money or stamps, with the intent to deceive or defraud. Counterfeiting
is something made to imitate the real thing used for gain.

B. FALSIFICATION – The act/process of making the content/s of a document not the

intended content.

C. FORGERY – The act of falsely making or materially altering, with intent to defraud, any
writing which if genuine, might be of legal efficacy or the foundation of a legal liability.

Take Note: In forgery, every person who, with intent to defraud, signs the name of
another person, or of fictitious person, knowing that he has no authority to do so, or falsely
makes, alters, forges or counterfeits any - checks, drag - due bill for the payment of money or
property - or counterfeits or forges the seal forged, or counterfeited, with intent the same to
be fake, altered forged, or counterfeited, with intent to prejudice, damage or defraud any
person.... is guilty of forgery.

MAKING OF PAPER MONEY

A. ENGRAVING – It is the process by which the line to be printed are cut into pieces of metal
by hand or with a machine. Ink is rubbed over the plate to fill the cuts in the metal and
the extra ink wiped-off the top. The pressure of the paper on the plate causes the ink in
the holes to be lifted on the surface of the paper. The ink lines will be felt to be raised
 above the surface. The engraving process is used for the production of all genuine bank
notes.

B. LETTERPRESS PRINTING – is the most common form of printing books, magazine,

letterheads and the usual printing in common uses. In the process, the letters are made
on raised pieces of metal which covered with ink and then impressed upon the paper in
the same form as a rubber stamp or cliché. The serial numbers of a bank note are usually
added by this letterpress process after the note has been produced by an engraving.

C. OFFSET PRINTING – is the method a photograph is taken of the desire material and a
print is made on a specially prepared aluminum plate. The plate is kept wet with water.
When ink is applied, it sticks only these parts of the plate where printing is desired. The
aluminum plate is then put in contact with rubber roller which transfers the ink to the
papers. The offset process is quite used in small printing plants. Because it was
photographic process, it is the most common modern used by counterfeiter to make false
paper money.

BANK NOTE PAPER

Paper bank notes get a lot of handling. If a good grade of paper is not used, they would
soon wear out and have to be replaced. Even with the best paper, the old two peso bill usually
wears out and has to be replaced at the end of thirty days. Government buy the very best
grade of paper they can get, in order that the paper will last as long as possible. Special paper
also makes it difficult for the counterfeiter to duplicate it. It is usually the use of wrong paper
that causes the counterfeited bank note to be detected by ultraviolet light.

Take Note: In most modern printing, papers have chemicals added to make look whiter.
These chemicals cause brilliant fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Bank notes paper does
not have this filler and does not show.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUINE AND COUNTERFEIT PAPER NOTE/BILL

GENUINE COUNTERFEIT
MAIN
PRINT

Distinctive feel & embossed effect Generally smooth

1. The fingers will readily feel the the 1. The fingers will hardly feel the main
main print on the front & back on prints of the front & back even on new
fairly new notes. notes.

2. This is due to the measurable

thickness of the ink deposited on the
 paper which gives the prints an 2. This is brought about by offset print the
embossed effect. most common process employed by
counterfeiters

3. The prints are mere stains on the coating

of the sensitized paper which is glossy.

PORTRAIT

1. Appears life-like 1. It appears dead.

2. The eyes sparkle. 2. The eyes do not sparkle.

3. The tiny dots and lines (Vignette) 3. It appears blurred, dull, smudgy and
forming the details of the face, hair, poorly printed.
etc. are clear, sharp and well
4. Hair is lifeless.
defined.

4. Each portrait stands out distinctly 5. The face and/or forehead are often
from background. This is noticeable naturally white or pale due to absence
along the shoulders. of most of the details.

5. The background is composed of 6. The concentric lines depicting the eyes

multi-colored fine pattern of lines often merged into solid printed areas.
in varying tones and shades
7. The background often blends with the
interlacing with each other. These
portrait and is usually “scratchy.”
shadings or toning are intricately
printed in such a way that the 8. The lines are thick with rough edges.
contrast or shifting of colors creates
the impression of life & vividness to 9. The multi-colored prints on genuine
the notes. notes are extremely difficult to
duplicate and as a result, counterfeit
notes are usually off-color & not of the
right shade or tone.

WATERMARK

1. The watermark underneath the 1. This is imitated by printing white ink or dry
security lacework on the right block on the finished paper.
hand side of the note is the same
on the colored portrait.
 2. The design is placed by means of 2. Sometimes wax or other oily medium is
dandy roll during the stamped to give transparency to the
manufacture of the paper. portion where the designing appears.

3. Sharp details of the outline or 3. Printed outline is placed on the inner sheet
the light & shadow effect are where merely a paper cutout is placed
discernible when viewed with inside. As a result course or harsh and
the aid of transmitted light. occasional irregular lines &
sometimes-opaque areas are very obvious.
4. The relief of the features can be
felt by running the finger on the
design.

METTALIC THREAD

1. This is a special thread placed 1. Counterfeit by means of printing on the

vertically on the paper during back of the note, on the inner side of the
manufacture. paper, insertion of twin thread or simply
folding the note vertically where the thread
2. On the surface of the paper
appears on the genuine bill.
where this thread is located are
patterns of short vertical lines.

COLORED FIBERS OR SECURITY FIBERS

1. These fibers are scattered on the On counterfeit, this is simulated by printed

surface of the paper (front & lines, cannot be picked off, but can be easily
back) at random & can be erased with ordinary rubber or by agitating
with wet fingers.
readily picked off by means of
any pointed instrument.

2. The colors of these fibers are red

& blue.

LACEWORK DESIGN

The geometric pattern which On counterfeit, these geometric patterns are

looks like a delicate lacework along often blurred, round on the edges & blotch on
the border on both surfaces, the joints. Its continuity could not be traced.
embellishing the portraits, value The color appears faded.
panel & vignettes are multicolored
 & composed of harp lines, which
are, continuous & traceable even at
the joints.

COLOR OF EACH DENOMINATION

Genuine notes have polychrome background with one predominant color for each
denomination. You should know whose portrait is/are printed on each bill.
PhP 1,000.00 - Blue - Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Vicente Lim
500.00 - Yellow - Benigno S. Aquino
200.00 - Green (Dark in one side and light in another side)
100.00 - Mauve - Manuel A. Roxas
50.00 - Red - Sergio Osmena
20.00 - Orange - Manuel L. Quezon
10.00 - Brown - Apolinario Mabini & Andres Bonifacio
5.00 - Green - Emilio Aguinaldo

SERIAL NUMBERS
1. The prefix letter/s & numbers 1. On counterfeit, the letters & numbers are
(Six of them except on poorly printed. They are usually of
replacement note) are clearly different style.
printed.

2. They have peculiar style & are 2. Most often, they are evenly spaced & poorly
uniform in size & thickness. aligned.

3. Spacing of the numbers is 3. The numbers are too big or too small, too
uniform & alignment is even. thick or too thin & in certain cases shaded
on the curves.

VIGNETTE
1. The lines & dots composing the 1. On counterfeit usually dull & poorly
vignettes are fine, distinct & printed.
sharp.

2. The varying color tone gives a 2. It appears dirty.

bold look to the picture that
3. The lines are comparatively thicker with
makes it stands out of the paper.
rough edges.

4. There is no variation in color tone so that

the picture appears flat.

CLEARNESS OF PRINT

The registry of the different In general, a spurious not exhibits a

printed features is perfect. The lines Second hand look. It is dirty due to the
 are very clear & sharp. There are no sputtering of ink on the interior area.
Burrs clinging to the sides. Over-inked areas are visible instantly. The
shadings & ornamentations of the letters &
figures are thick & usually merged.

EXAMINATION OF SUSPECTED COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE

1. As well as inspection under ultraviolet light, the investigator should look at the
banknote with a hand lens.

2. 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.

3. The color of the ink should be compared with the color of a genuine banknote. It is very
difficult for counterfeiter to match exactly the same shade of ink by a genuine
manufacturer.

CHARACTERISTICS OF U.S. PAPER MONEY

A. TYPES:

1. Federal Reserve note – with GREEN treasury seal and serial number.
2. United States Note – with RED treasury seal and serial number.
3. Silver Certificate – with BLUE treasury seal and serial number.

B. FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES - Each Federal Reserve Note also carries a regional seal at the
left of the portrait on the face of the bill. This seal is printed in black and bears the name
of the Federal Reserve Bank of issue. Numbers and letters representing the Federal
Reserve District in which that bank is located, are:

1 - Boston - “A” 7 - Chicago - “G”

2 - New York - “B” 8 - St. Louis - “H”
3 - Philadelphia- “C” 9 - Minneapolis - “I”
4 - Cleveland - “D” 10 - Kansas - “J”
5 - Richmond - “E” 11 - Dallas - “K”
6 - Atlanta - “F” 12 - San Francisco - “L”

C. SALIENT FEATURES COMMON TO ALL TYPES: Portrait – every denomination has the
following

$1 - Washington $50 - Grant

$2 - Jefferson $100 - Franklin
$5 - Lincoln $500 - McKinley
$10 - Hamilton $1000 - Cleveland
$20 - Jackson $5000 - Madison
COINS

These are pieces of metal stamped by government authority, for use as money or
collectively referring to metal currency.

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.

COIN CHARACTERISTICS

A. Genuine coins show an even flow of metallic grains. The details of the profile, the seal
of the Republic of the Philippines, letterings & numerals are of high relief, so that it can
be readily felt distinctly by running the fingers on theses features. The beadings are
regular & the readings are deep & even.

B. 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 & show signs of filing.

COUNTERFEIT METAL MONEY OR COIN

1. 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.

2. Metal coins issued nowadays are mostly in amount for less than its face value. In most
countries, the possession of gold coins is now forbidden except for coin collectors.

EXAMINATION OF COUNTERFEIT COINS – should be examined by a magnifying lens;

comparing it with a known coin

DEFECTS IN CAST COIN ARE USUALLY CAUSED BY: formation of air bubbles, or 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.

LEGAL ASPECT OF FORGERY, COUNTERFEITING AND FALSIFICATION

(Pursuant to Title Four, Chapter One, Revised Penal Code – Crimes against Public Interests)

A. FOREGERIES - What are the crimes called forgeries?

1. Forging the seal of the government, signature or stamp of the chief Executive (Art.
161).
2. Counterfeiting coins (Art. 163).
3. Mutilation of coins (Art. 164).
4. Forging treasury or bank notes or other documents payable to bearer (Art. 166).
5. Counterfeiting instruments not payable to bearer (Art. 167).
6. Falsification of legislative documents (Art. 172).
7. Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastical minister (Art. 171).
8. Falsification by private individuals (Art. 172).
9. Falsification of wireless, cable, telegraph and telephone messages (Art. 173).
10. Falsification of medical certificates, certificates of merit or service (Art. 174).

B. ACTS PUNISHABLE UNDER ART. 161: Forging the great seal of the Government of the
Philippines; Forging the signature of the President; Forging the stamp of the President.

C. What are the crimes under counterfeiting coins? They are: Making and importing and
uttering false coins (Art. 163); Mutilation of coins – importation and utterance of mutilated
coins (Art. 164); and Selling of false or mutilated coin, without connivance (Art. 165).

D. Reason for punishing forgery - Forgery of currency is punished so as to maintain the

integrity of the currency and thus insure the credit standing of the government and
prevent the imposition on the public and the government of worthless notes or obligations.

E. ACTS OF FALSIFICATION (Art. 171 & 172)

1. Counterfeiting or imitating any handwriting, signature, or rubric;

2. Causing it to appear that persons have participated in any act or proceeding when they
did not in fact so participate;
 3. Attributing to persons who have participated in an act or proceeding statements
other than those in fact made by them;

4. Making untruthful statements in a narration of facts; Altering true dates;

5. Making any alteration or intercalation in a genuine document which changes

its meaning;

6. 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

7. Intercalating any instrument or note relative to the issuance thereof in a

protocol, registry, or official book.

WRITING MATERIALS

A. ANACHRONISM – It refers to something wrong in time and in place. This means that the
forger has trouble matching the paper, ink, or writing materials to the exact date it was
supposed to have been written.

B. PAPER – These are sheets of interlaced fibers - usually cellulose fibers from plants, but
sometimes from cloth rags or other fibrous materials, that is formed by pulping the fibers
and causing to felt, or mat, to form a solid surface.

C. WATERMARK - Certain papers are marked with a translucent design, a watermarks

impressed in them during the course of their manufacture.

D. WRITING MATERIALS – Any material used primarily for writing or recording such as
papers, cardboard, board papers, Morocco paper, etc.

WRITING MATERIALS IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS - The common (probable) questioned on

paper is its age, whether the actual age of the paper corresponds with the alleged date of
preparation of the questioned document.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

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

B. PARCHMENT - writing material made from skin of animals primarily of sheep, calves or
goats - was probably developed in the Middle East more or less contemporaneously with
papyrus. It came into wide use only in the 2nd century B.C. in the city of PERGAMUM in
ANATOLIA.
C. VELLUM - writing materials from fine skins from young calves or kids and the term
(name) was often used for all kind of parchment manuscripts, it became the most
important writing material for bookmaking, while parchment continued for special
manuscripts. Almost every portable surface that would retain the marks of brush or pen
was also used as a writing material during the early period.

D. DEVELOPMENT OF PAPER MANUFACTURING

1. It is widely claimed that invention of paper is generally attributed to a Chinese court

official, CAI LUN (TSAI LUN), in about A.D. 105. He is the first to succeed in making
paper from vegetable fibers, tree barks (mulberry tree), rags, old fish nettings.

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

3. In A.D. 751, the Arab city of Samarkand was attacked by marauding Chinese and some
Chinese taken as prisoners were skilled in papermaking and were forced by the city
Governor to build and operate a paper mill and Samarkand soon became the
papermaking center of the Arab world.

4. Knowledge of papermaking traveled westward, spreading throughout the Middle East,

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

5. Knowledge of the technology spread quickly and by 16th century, paper was
manufactured throughout most of Europe.

6. The first paper mill in England was established in 1495.

7. The first such mill in America in 1690.

8. The first practical machine was made in 1798 by the French inventor Nicholas Louis
Robert. The machine reduced the cost of paper it supplants the hand-molding process
in paper manufacture.

9. Robert's machine was improved by the British stationers and brothers Henry
Fourdrinier and Sealy Fourdrinier, who in 1803 produced the first of the machines that
bear their name.

10. The solution of the problem of making paper from cheap raw material was achieved by
the introduction of the groundwood process of pulp making about 1840 and the first of
the chemical pulp processes approximately ten years later.

11. CHLORINE - This was introduced in the 19th century for bleaching and colored linen
could already be manufactured for paper.
 12. ESPARTO – This is a grass grown in Libya, also in Spain and North Africa was first
introduced in England in 1861.

13. STRAW – This was used to make paper in 1800.

14. SULPHITE – This is a paper from wood was not attempted until 1869 and paper called
SULPHITE (modern type) was first used between 1880 and 1890.

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

TRACING THE AGE OF PAPER (DOCUMENT)

The age of the document may be estimated from paper. Four cases were reported by
Lucas where the age of the document was established from the compositor/composition of the
paper. In one of these cases, a document dated 1213 A.H. (A.D. 1798) 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

1. Definition – It is a term for 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 manufacturers.

2. How watermark is made? The watermark was 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) wires. 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.

3. Origin. Watermarks first appeared on papers produced in Italy around 1270, less than
100 years 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.

4. Concept of document’s age detection thru watermarks.

 a. Sometimes a LIMIT may be placed to the age of the document by means of
watermark, the earliest known dating from 1282. Unfortunately, however, not all
papers contain watermarks.

b. It is impressed into the paper by wires on the rollers called “DANDY ROLL” that
make the paper, and these designs are changed from time to time.

c. Usually watermarks are requested by their owners/manufacturers with the patent

office.

d. If present, watermark 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. Once the
manufacturer is determined, 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 that was not in existence at

the time the document purports to have been executed.

5. In case the watermark did not change, the following is applied:

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 or all papers that will pass through the damaged dandy
roll.

d. The investigator, carefully determining the distinct markings caused by the dandy
roll's damaged surface, will coordinate with the paper manufacture regarding when
such damage occurred on the dandy roll used.

DISCOLORATION
 One way of tracing the age of the paper is through the observance of the changes in its
physical characteristics particularly DISCOLORATION. Naturally, a paper will discolor after a
passage of time due to numerous environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, dust,
etc. In case of papers out of wood pulp, 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

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

2. brown spots due to mold that are very obvious characteristics both in appearance and
distribution.

3. exposure to dust and dirt.

4. occasional staining of fruit juice, grease.

5. excrete of rats, mice and other insects.

6. may also due to heat, partial burning, etc.

DETAILED EXAMINATION OF WRITING MATERIAL

1. 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.

2. Check with the issuing institution, company or individual about the dissimilarity of
writing material used in the questioned document.

3. Conduct further physical or chemical examination such as folding endurance test,

folding test, bursting test, etc.

WRITING INSTRUMENTS

A. FLEXIBILITY OF PEN POINT - One quality of the nib pen is its pliability. This quality
varies which different pens and can be measured by the amount of pressure necessary to
cause a spreading of the nibs or a given degree of shading.

B. FOUNTAIN PEN - A fountain pen is a modern nib which contains a reservoir of ink in a
specially designed chamber. After complete filling the pen is capable of writing a number
of pages without refilling.

C. INK - is a fluid or viscous marking material used for writing or printing.

 D. PEN - A tool for writing or drawing with a colored fluid, such as ink; or a writing
instrument used to apply inks to the paper is a pen. It came from the Latin word
"PENNA", meaning feather.

E. PEN NIBS - The tow divisions or points which from the writing portion of a pen are its
nibs.

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

G. WRITING INSTRUMENTS (WRITING IMPLEMENTS) - Writing Implements, manual

devices used to make alphanumeric marks on or in a surface.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A. REED PENS/SWAMP REED

1. It came 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.

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

2. 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.

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

C. STEEL POINT PENS (BRAZEN PENS)

1. 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.
 2. The first patented steel pen point was made by the English engineer BRYAN DONKIN
in 1803.

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

D. FOUNTAIN PENS
1. 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.

2. 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:

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

2. 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.

3. As early as the 19th century, attempts had been made to manufacture a pen with a
rolling ball tip, but not until 1938 did Hungarian inventor brothers LADISLAO and
GEORG 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.

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

a. the ink was waterproof and almost un-erasable;

b. the ball point pen could write on many kinds of surfaces;

c. could be hold in almost any position for writing; and

d. the pressure required to feed the ink was ideal for making carbon copies.

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

F. FIBER TIP PENS -

 1. In 1963, fiber tip markers were introduced into the U.S. market and have since
challenged the ball point as the principal writing implement.

2. The first practical fiber tip pen was invented by YUKIO HORIE of Japan in 1962. It was
ideally suited to the strokes of Japanese writing, which is traditionally done with a
pointed ink brush.

3. 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 colors unavailable in ball point and fountain
pen inks. The tip is made of fine nylon or other synthetic fibers drawn to a point and
fastened to the barrel of the pen. Dye is fed to the point by elaborate capillary
mechanism.

G. 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 ball was
introduced in the U.S. from Japan in 1973.

COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF INKS

1. Indian Inks - The oldest form of Indian ink consisted of a suspension of carbon black
(soot or lampblack) in water to which glue or a vegetable gum was added. Inks of these
compositions are still on the market mostly in the shape of sticks or cakes.

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

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

4. Fountain Pen Inks - These inks are regarded as 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.

5. Dyestuff Inks - These inks are composed of aqueous solutions of synthetic dyestuffs, to
which a preservative and a flux are added.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. 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.

d. The cheaper makes have a minimum writing angle of 55-60 degrees. If one
writes at too small an angle, the brass socket holding the ball will scratch a lined
into the paper, parallel with the ink line.

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

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

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

12. Printing Inks - Printing inks often consist of a mixture of colored pigments, carbon
black and a "base" which may consist of oil, resins, synthetic resins or a mixture of
these. It is possible to remove printing ink from a document by
scrubbing the document with an aqueous solution of a suitable detergent. The rubbing
and breaking up of the surface of the ink and the detergent facilitates the suspension
and eventual removal of the carbon and other ingredients by the water.
 13. Canceling Inks - These inks often contain carbon and this fact should be burned in mind
when it is required to decipher faint cancellation marks on a postage stamp and
wrappers. Carbon is opaque to infra-red sensitive plate and be relied upon to improve
the legibility of any marking affected by a carbon containing canceling ink. Erasure of
canceling ink on valuable stamps is usually affected by attack on the medium which
bind the carbon to the surface of the stamp and it is to be regretted that many canceling
inks are manufactured with media which offer resistance to attack so that the
resistant carbon can simply be swabbed off. This can be usually be detected by
infrared photography which will reveal the traces of carbon, which almost invariably
remain on the stamp.

14. Skrip Ink - These are manufactured by W.A. Chaffer Pen Company since 1955. The inks
contain a substance that is colorless in visible light and has a 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

1. 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 writings or of
alterations in a police blotter is identical with the ink found in the possession of the
suspect.

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

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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
 1. This is restricted to a comparison of the dyestuffs in the ink but sometimes it is also
possible to identify one or more of the components of the dyes.

2. Regarded as the principal method of ink examination.

3. To identify a dyestuff, it is necessary to possess a collection as complete as possible of

the various dyes used in the manufacture of inks.

4. The chromatographic separation of the dyes maybe carried out by paper

chromatography.

5. Procedure:

a. Collection of the ink material

(1) Extraction of the inks stroke by scraping fragments from the ink stroke.
Dyestuff inks can as a rule can be extracted with water. Ball point ink can be
extracted with organic solvent 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.

b. The vessel which is a beaker or a flask is filled with the solvent; then the filtered
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.

c. The chromatography should be carried out in shaded light.

B. DETERMINATION OF THE AGE OF THE INK

1. 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.

2. Procedure:

a. Ball Point Pen Inks

(1) 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.

(2) The analysis of ballpoint inks may yield an important clue to the age of the ink.
 (3) 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.

(4) Not until 1950 were these inks made on a basic of polyethylene glycols, which
are resistant to treatment with benzene or petroleum ether.

(5) 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.

(6) In the later case, however, the ink will as a rule not flow out with the petroleum
ether because these inks, no water soluble coloring matter is worked out.
Instead pigments and dyestuffs are used that will not dissolve in petroleum
ether.

(7) The presence of phthalocyanine dyestuff is an indication of an ink produced

later than 1954-1956.

(8) 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.

(9) Recent ballpoint writing can be offset, and efforts have been made to use the
copying power for age determination.

b. Dyestuff Inks

(1) The dyestuff inks lack properties that would permit age determination but the
presence of an obsolete or modern dyestuff may indicate age of writing.

(2) 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. The
following are the methods used to show the gradual change of inks:

(1) Method based on the change of the Color of the Ink – This method is 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 writings of known age must be available for comparison.

(2) Methods based on the Solubility of the Ink – The solubility of iron gallotannate
ink decreases considerably as the ink matures. As with the color change, 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 a 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.

(3) 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 aa1-
dipyridyl 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 the ink for 1
minute and then recovered with a piece of filter paper. If ferrous iron is still
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 decrease 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.

(4) 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.

Learning Activities:
1. You learned from the suspect that he forged the signature using traced forgery. What is
the best evidence needed to be collected to prove that there is forgery?
What is the easiest and best way to prove that the signature was traced before the
conduct of scientific examination?

2. Read Forgery and Falsification in the Revise Penal Code. Then Discuss it in written form
at least 3-4 sentences, then attached your discussion to LMS.

3. Watch Video regarding the Identification of Forged Signature and make Video Reflection
at least 5 minutes then attached your video reflection to LMS.

Criminal Liabilities
Click the Link below.
Print this for your own references.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Penal_Code#Title_One:_Felonies_and_criminal_liabili
ty

Review of Concepts:
Forgery the act of falsely making and materially altering, with intent to defraud,
any writing which if genuine, might be legal efficacy or the foundation of a legal
liability.

Post Test:
 Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).
References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.

Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.

Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,

With an Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore,

Module No: 4
A. Title: Collection of Standards
B. Topic: Types standards
C. Time Frame: 3hours
D. Introduction:
in order to arrive in a reliable conclusion, the examiner needs
genuine documents for comparison to the questioned document. The known
materials needed for comparison purposes are known as STANDARDS.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. Apply the different proper procedures in collecting requested
and collected standards;
2. Identify the types of handwriting standards and their
advantages and disadvantages; and
3. Understand the basic points that should be considered in obtaining standards.

F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

STANDARDS
1. Are condensed and compact-set of authentic specimen which is adequate and
proper, should contain a cross section of the material form it source.
2. Collected and Requested Standards

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF STANDARDS

 1. Amount of standards
2. Similarity of subject matter
3. Relatives of the QD and SD

WHAT ARE THE DO’S AND DON’TS IN COLLECTING EXEMPLARS

1. Don’t rely on too little writing.
- 20-25 signatures
- 4-5 pages of handwriting
2. Don’t rely exclusively on writing that differs significantly from the questioned
one.
3. Do collect similar samples
4. Don’t rely on documents recently written if the comparison documents
were written many years ago.
5. Do collect standards dated at approximately the same time as
the questioned document.
6. Don’t compare writing written under abnormal conditions with normal writing.
7. Do collect documents that duplicate the writing environment.
8. Do instruct the writer to obtain similar exemplars.

Learning Activity

Review of Concepts:
Procured Standard specimen executed in the course of man`s activity or that
which are executed on the day to day writing activity, while Requested Standard
documents which are executed upon request, they are prepared at one time.

Post Test:
Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.
Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.

Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,

Module No: 5
A. Title: Process in Questioned Document Examination
B. Topic: Disputed Documents And Documentary Evidence
C. Time Frame: 3hours
D. Introduction:
To arrive at a conclusive and reliable conclusion as to whether the
submitted questioned documents are written by one and the same person or two
different individuals, questioned documents examiners must undergo rigid and
thorough systematic scientific process on both the exemplars and the questioned
documents.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. Identify and employ the proper preparation and presentation
of evidentiary documents for court trial;and
2. Examine questioned documents and standards following a systematic
procedures.

F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

LOGICAL PROCESS
1. Ascertain the facts
2. Analyze the details
3. Qualify the case

SCIENTIFIC METHODS
1. Analysis
2. Comparison
3. Evaluation
4. Verification
 THE CARE OF DISPUTED DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:
1. It should be kept unfolded and a separate, proper size envelope or folder
2. No photo-static copy, but a proper photograph or photo-enlargement
3. Should not be handled repeatedly by anyone
4. No touching, folding, refolding or pointing to certain parts of a document
5. Pointing the document with sharp material should not be used
6. NO test should be made to alter the condition of the document

REPORTING INDICATIONS
1. Wrote (made, prepared)
2. Strong Indications Wrote
3. Indications Wrote
4. Limited Indications Wrote
5. Can Be Neither Identified Nor Eliminated
6. Limited Indications Did Not Write
7. Indications Did Not Write
8. Strong Indications Did Not Write
9. Did Not Write

Learning Activity:
1. All documents obtained at the crime scene and submitted for examination should
be handled with care in order to maintain the value and integrity of the
documents as evidence. During the examination, what should be conducted first
– destructive or non-destructive examination? Justify your answer into 3-
4 sentences.

Review of Concepts:

Post Test:
Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.

Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.

Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,

With an Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore,

 Module No: 6
A. Title: Alteration Of Documents And Disguised Writing
B. Topic: Types Of Alterations
C. Time Frame: 3hours
D. Introduction:
Alterations can take the form of erasures and replacement and/or
insertion of material into a document.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. Identify different types of alterations and understand the nature
of disguised writing.

F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

TYPES OF ALTERATIONS
1. Abrasion – any forms of erasures using rubber eraser or scraped with a
sharp object, such as knife or razor blade.
2. Chemical Eradication – Chemicals bleach the color from the ink and in some cases
remove the ink from the paper.
3. Obliterations – the act of covering the material in question with an
opaque substance.
4. Insertion and Substitution– one page or more pages is/are added or removed
from the document
5. Addition – introduction of words/figures not originally part of the document
6. Interlineations or Intercalation – introduction of words/figures between lines.
7. Folds - folds in a document may indicate a substitution particularly if the folds
in substituted pages do not match.
8. Cut and paste
9. Electronic Alterations

DISGUISED WRITING
Natural writing refers to any specimen of writing executed normally without any
attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and execution.

METHODS OF DISGUISED

1. Change in slant
1. Altered letter forms
2. Use of block letters
3. Other hand writing
4. Change of Writing instrument
5. Change of speed
 SIGNS OF DISGUISED
1. Inconsistencies within the writing
2. Poor rhythm
3. Erratic movement followed by smooth rhythmic writing
4. Slowness and hesitation

SOLUTION OF A DISGUISED WRITING PROBLEM

1. Collection and study of adequate standards which contain the fixed, occasional, rare,
and accidental characteristics of the writer. Frequently the most difficult part of a
case is locating good specimens.
2. Study of questioned writing to determine if it is normal handwriting containing
natural variations or if it is disguised.
3. Comparison of questioned with standard writing methodically listing identifying (or
non-identifying) characteristics of the handwriting, composition, arrangement, ink,
writing instrument, paper, etc.
Learning Activity:

Problem Types of Examination/Equipment

s
1. Abrasion
2. Chemical Eradication
3. Obliteration
4. Traced Forgery
5. Indented Writing
6. Charred Document

Review of Concepts:
Disguised Writing any specimen of writing executed normally without any
attempt to control.
Post Test:
Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.

Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.

Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,
 With an Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore,

Module No: 7
A. Title: Materials Used to Create Documents
B. Topic: Paper
C. Time Frame: 3hours
D. Introduction:
This topics covers the manufacturing of papers.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. Understand the importance of watermark , writing instruments in the
examination of a document.
F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

CONTENT:

PAPER
❖ These are sheets of interlaced fibers –usually cellulose fibers from plants, but
sometimes from cloth rags or other fibrous materials, that is formed by pulping the fibers
and causing to felt, or mat, to form a solid surface.

MANUFATURING PAPER

❖ Cooking process - the pulpwood will be chipped into small pieces that are then mixed
with chemicals and fed into pressure vessels called digester to soften the lignin, which binds
the fibers together.
❖ Washing, screening, cleaning, and, if necessary, bleaching to the desired brightness.
❖ Next, the fibers are combined with pigments, dyes, and sizing. These fibers flow onto
a moving screen called a Fourdrinier, on which the fibers mat, forming a continuous sheet of
paper with much of the water drawn through the screen into collection tanks to be recycled.
❖ Then, the web of pulp passes through heavy rollers, which press moisture from
the sheet.
❖ Drying stage – evaporation of the remaining water in the pulp of fibers
❖ The paper then passes through series of calendar stacks that sooth the paper.
❖ Pressing process – the paper passes over a dandy roll, which imprints the watermark
on the paper.

TYPES OF PAPERS FOR PRINTING OR WRITING

a. Newsprint Least expensive paper manufactured.
Composed of ground wood Principal asset is opacity
b. Bond paper Originally used to print stocks and bonds
Usually made from cottons
c. Lightweight Uncoated papers
Usually made from manifold papers made from wood fibers
d. Specialty Coated on both sides to transfer date from one page to another
Contains special finishes
e. Gummed For labels and it has curl-proof feature
f. Text paper most expensive, uncoated papers
Used for announcements, invitations, and greeting cards
g. CoatedUsed primarily in publications
h. Bristol Used to make index cards and tag
paper Strength is the most important feature
i. Kraft Coarse, unbleached, heavy paper
Paper bags, package wrapping, and corrugated
boxes
PROPERTIES OF PAPER

Paper contains many properties that are important considerations when determining how
the paper will be used.
● Weight
● Strength – tensile strength and tear strength
● Durability
● Thickness
● Finish of the paper
● Water absorbability
● Presence of watermark
WATERMARK
This is a translucent distinctive designs of the manufacturer.

Learning Activities:

Review of Concepts:
Manufaturing Paper Cooking process,Washing, fibers, web of pulp, Drying Pressing are
the process of making papers.
Post Test:
Instruction: Quizzes Available to Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

References:

Dr. Montalba, E (2014). Criminalistics a review notes for criminology board examination.

Koppenhaver, K (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.

Michael, A, Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.

WileYBlackwell, 2016.
Osborn, A. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of

Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn,

With an Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore,

Module No: 8
A. Title: Materials Used to Create Documents and Typewriter
Computers and Printers
B. Topic: Ink, Type Writer And Computer
C. Time Frame: 6hours
D. Introduction:
This topics covers the type of ink, typewriter and computers.

E. Intended Learning Outcome/ILOs:

At the end of this topics, student should be able to:
1. Remember the historical development of pen and typewriter necessary
for dating the documents
2. Understand the purpose and different process in pen/ink
examination and typewriter examination
3. Understand the characteristics of different printers

F. Pre-Test:
Instruction:
Before the lesson proper five (5) questions will be given to you via
ZOOM/GOOGLE MEET virtual platform,and you are advice to write down your
answer to the blank sheet of paper, then attached the said answer/document to
Learning Management System (SOCOTECH VISTA).

Content:
TYPEWRITER AND TYPEWRITING IDENTIFICATION

TYPEWRITER - A writing machine with a keyboard for reproducing letters, figures,

symbols and other resembling printed ones; a machine that can reproduce printed characters
on papers or that can produce printed letters and figures on paper; a machine designed to
print or impress type characters on paper, as a speedier and more legible substitute for
handwriting. .

SIGNIFICANT TERMS

A. ALIGNMENT - Alignment defects include characters which write improperly in the

following respects: A twisted letter, horizontal mal-alignment, vertical mal-
alignment, and a character "Off its feet".

B. ALIGNMENT DEFECT - Include character which write improperly in the following

respects: A twisted letter, horizontal mal-alignment, vertical, mal-alignment and a
character special adjustment to the types block.
C. CARBON IMPRESSION- Any typewriting which is placed on the paper by the action
of the type faces striking thought carbon paper is classed as a carbon impression.
Generally, carbon impressions are "carbon copies", but sometime original typewriting
is made directly through a carbon ribbon.

D. CHARACTER - In connection with typewriting identification, the term "Character" is

used to include letters, symbols, numerals, or points of punctuation.

E. CLOGGED (DIRTY) TYPEFACES - With use the type faces becomes filled with lint,
dirty and ink, particularly in enclosed letters such as the o,e,p, and g.

F. DEFECTS - The term defect describes any abnormality or maladjustment in a

typewriter which is reflected in its works and which leads to its individualization or
identification.

G. NATURAL VARIATIONS - These are normal or usual deviations found between

repeated specimens of any individuals handwriting or in the product of any
typewriters.

H. OFF ITS FEET - The condition of a typeface printing heavier on one side or corner than
over the remainder of its outline.

I. PERMANENT DEFECT - Any identifying characteristics of a type-writer which cannot

be corrected by simply cleaning the type face or replacing the ribbon is
classified as a permanent defect.

J. PLATEN - The cylinder which serve as the backing of the paper and which absorbs the
blow on the type face is known as a platen.

K. PROPORTIONAL SPACING TYPEWRITING - A modern form of typewriting which

resembles printing in that all of the horizontal space as they do with the
conventional typewriter. For example, the "i" occupies two units. The "o" - three
and the "m" - five. A typewriter of this design is known as a proportional spacing
machine.

L. REBOUND - A defect in which a character prints a double impression with the lighter
one slightly offset to the right or left.

M. RIBBON IMPRESSIONS - Typewriting which is made directly through a cloth ribbon is

called ribbon impression.

N. RIBBON CONDITION - Typewriter ribbons gradually deteriorate with use and the
degree of determination is a measure of the ribbon condition.

O. TRANSITORY DEFECT - Any identifying typewriter characteristics which can be

eliminated by cleaning the machine or replacing the ribbon is described as a
transitory defects. Clogged type is the most common defects in this class.

P. TWISTED LETTER - Each letter and character is designed to print a certain fixed
angle to the base line, due to wear, and damage to the type bars and the type block,
some letters become twisted so that they lean to the right or left of their correct slant.

Q. TYPE FACE - The printing surface of the type block is known as the type face, with
most modern typewriter this block is attached at the end of a movable arm or type
 bar which propels the type face against the ribbon and paper to make the typewriter
impression.

R. TYPE FACE DEFECTS - Any peculiarity of typewriting caused by actual damage to the
type face metal is known as type face defect. These defect may be actual breaks in the
outline of the letter where the metal has been chipped away sometimes referred to as
broken type, or they may be distorted outlines of the letter where the type face metal
has become bent or smashed, they can only be corrected by replacing the type block.

EVOLUTION OF TYPEWRITERS

1. The first patent, however, was granted by QUEEN ANNE of England to HENRY MILL
in 1714 for a machine designed to reproduce a letter of the alphabet.

2. In 1829, WILLIAM AUSTIN BURT of Detroit, invented the TYPOGRAPHER.

3. In 1833 a French patent was given to the French inventor Xavier Progin for a
machine that embodied for the first time one of the principles employed in modern
typewriters: the use for each letter or symbol of separate typebars, actuated by
separate lever keys.

4. In 1843, American inventor Charles Grover Thurber invented a typewriter which

prints through a metal ring that revolved horizontally above the platen and was
equipped with a series of vertical keys or plungers having pieces of type at the bottom.
The machine was operated by revolving the wheel until the correct letter was centered
over the printing position on the platen, and then striking the key.

5. Several other inventors attempted to produce machines designed to make embossed

impressions that could be read by the blind. One such machine, developed by the
American inventor Alfred Ely Beach in 1856, resembled the modern typewriter in the
arrangement of its keys and typebars, but embossed its letters on a narrow paper strip
instead of a sheet.

6. A similar machine created by the American inventor Samuel W. Francis, and patented
by him in 1856, had a circular arrangement of typebars, a moving paper holder, a bell
that rang to signal the end of a line, and an inked ribbon. The keyboard arrangement of
Francis's machine resembled the black and white keys of a piano.

7. The development of the first practical typewriter begun in 1866 by CHRISTOPHER

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

8. Six years later (1874), Christopher Latham Sholes entered an agreement with
ELIPHALET REMINGTON AND SONS, GUNSMITHS & SEWING MACHINES
MANUFACTURERS, the company produced the REMINGTON MODEL I

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

10. MARK TWAIN (Samuel Clemens) was among the first to buy a typewriter and the first
to submit a typewritten manuscript to a publisher.
 11. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW recognized the importance of typewriter when he became
the first playwright to use it as a stage prop in Candida in 1897.

12. When THOMAS EDISON visited Sholes to see his machine, he forecasted that
typewriters would one day be operated by electricity.

13. Soon afterwards, Edison built such a typewriter. He used a series of magnet, which
made the machine cumbersome and too expensive to be marketed.

14. The first practical electric typewriter was invented in 1914 by JAMES F. SMATHERS of
Kansas City.

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

16. The latest development in electric typewriter is one which not only eliminates type
bars and movable carriages but can use six interchangeable type of type faces.

17. The first basic change in typewriting operation appeared in 1961. Despite of the
revolutionary advances in typewriting capabilities, one essential element has remained
unchanged since the first Remington. The keyboard arrangement, nicknamed QWERTY
for the top line of letters, was designed to make it easier for salesmen to use the
machine.

18. A much more efficient arrangement was devised in 1936 by AUGUST DVORAK. The
process of changing over the DVORAK seemed so difficult that it was never even begun.

IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION OF TYPEWRITTEN QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

HAGAN in 1894, made the first comment on typewriting examination. He wrote that all
typewriter machines even when using the same kind of type become more or less peculiar by
use as to the work done by them. These peculiarities positively connect them with the printing
done by the machine.

This exposition of the principles of typewriting identification was followed in 1900 by

AMES who wrote that the identity of writing by different operators as well as that done on
different machines can be done with considerable degree - Different operators have their own
peculiar methods which differ widely in the location of date, address, margins, punctuation,
spacing, signing as well as impressions from touch.

In several articles written between1901 to 1907, ALBERT S. OSBORNE, the foremost

document examiner of the early 20th century, defined the principles of typewriting
identification used today. He called it “THE LANDMARKS IN
TYPEWRITING IDENIFICATION.”

THE LANDMARKS IN TYPEWRITING IDENTIFICATION

1. The type faces used by the different type writer manufacturer can be differentiated on
the basis of design and have dating significance.
 2. Through usage, typewriters develop individuality which can serve to identify the
typewriting of a particular typewriter.

3. The gradual development of typewriting individuality plus ribbon condition and

typeface. Cleanliness can be used to date a document of fix it written a period of time.

4. Horizontal and vertical alignment, tilting characters, lack of uniformity of impression

(off-footedness); type-face score, breadths, defects and deformities all serve to identify
the type writing of a particular machine.

5. Peculiar habits of striking the type writer keys, spacing, arrangement,

punctuation, mistakes, corrections, can be used to identify a typist or differentiate
typists.

6. A sheet of paper cannot be reinserted in a typewriter in exact register with previous

typing done on the sheet of paper.

TYPES OF TYPEWRITERS

A. CONVENTIONAL TYPEWRITERS USING TYPE BARS

1. Pica Type - 10 letter/inch

2. Elite Type - 12 Letters/inch

3. 6 Letters/inch

4. Teletype Machine

5. 14-16 letter/inch - specials typewriters

B. TYPEWRITER USING SINGLE ELEMENT OR BALL - A machine, capable of typing 10

or 12 characters per inch. Change of horizontal spacing is done easily by the flip of a
switch.

C. TYPEWRITER USING A PRINT WHEEL (ELECTRONIC TYPEWRITER) –This has a disc

type device called a print wheel, The printwheel contains all of characters represented
on the typewriter keyboard. This machine has the capability of typing 10, 12 and 15
letters per inch.

CLASSIFICATION OF TYPEWRITERS BASED ON LETTER DESIGNS

A. The small “w” – depending on the presence or absence of a center serif, height of central
peak and design of the two central diagonals.

w-1 – central peak is the same height as the top of the outside stroke and is capped by
serif.
w-2 – same with w-1 but has no central serif.
w-3 – central joining is below the top of the sides.
 w-4 – low center but the two central diagonals join the sides well above the base of the
letter.

B. Crossbar of small letter “t” – cross bar is either longer on the right or on the left side and
or equidistant on each side. The curved lower extension of the “t” is either turn upward
at a point the left of, to the right of, or about even with the right terminus of the crossbar
of the “t”.

C. The small letter “g” – upper oval is either much smaller or the same and/or different or
the same in shape than the lower oval. Upper and lower ovals are either very closely
spaced or not.

D. Small letter “r” – right arm is either long with very small curve at its end or a long right
arm with full curve at the end and/or the right arm is short with its curve moderate to
full.

E. Small letter “y” – has three distinctive designs:

lower stroke has a broad turn which forms a very shallow trough.
lower stroke has a deep full curve which clearly curves right ward.
Lower stroke turns sharply upward like forming a narrow trough.

F. Small letter “i” – has two distinctive designs:

center of the dot is aligned with the central line of the vertical staff.
Center of the dot is set off to the left of the central line of the vertical staff.

G. Upper and Lower Strokes of Capital Letter “E” – maybe equal or the bottom stroke maybe
longer than the upper stroke. The serif is either vertical or oblique. The small “e” may
have its straight stroke either horizontal or oblique.

H. Figure “7” – horizontal stroke is either straight or curve.

I. Figure “5” – horizontal stroke is either straight or slightly or fully curved.

J. The comma “,” – tail may extend to the left of the dot or only very slightly to the left of the
dot.

K. Parentheses – may vary in curvature.

Take Note: Two typewritten documents are said to be typed from one and the same
typewriter if they agree in type face style, design, spacing, alignment and three or four scars or
damaged type faces.

IDENTIFICATION OF TYPEWRITER BY THE DEFECTS OF THE STROKE

 Each typewriter has its own individual characteristics that enable one to differentiate the
typed characters from a similar machine of the same make. Typewriter of the same make and
model but of different age have differences attributed to wear.

WHAT TO CONSIDER?

1. A typewriter coming out fresh from the factory has already some defects which give its
own personality. Whatever the quality of the manufacture, a typewriter is never
absolutely perfect.

2. Later, through faults of the typist and also by wear, the typewriter will acquire a
stronger individuality by new defects which become more and more prominent and in
time, progressively overcome the initial ones.

PROCEDURE

1. Conduct preliminary examination of the questioned document to determine the make

and model of the typewriter.

2. Then study the defects of the stroke which will distinguish the suspected typewriter
from the others.

The defects of the typewriter maybe compared to ailment or sickness and

congenital deformation while its translation on the paper be compared to symptoms of the
defects. This comparison has the advantage of sorting out the exact conditions of the control of
questioned typewritten documents as follows:

1. First, it will show the actual state of the typewriter and consequently that the aspect of
the stroke is not immutable but evolves progressively so that a good identification
needs the comparison of documents from sufficiently adjacent period.

2. The health of a typewriter tends to change and the defect become more and more
numerous and characteristics. From time to time, an overhead or repairs may help
the ailment definitely or at least give a temporary or partial healing.

3. It will show that the expert does not see the defect of the typewriter right away but only
its translation on the paper by a writing anomaly of which he must appreciate the
cause

4. Lastly it will explain that certain anomalies are not even ascribable to an organic cause
of the type writer but to a phenomenon outside it. For example, an error
of manipulation by the typist may give some anomalies of the stroke and have no
connection with the mechanism of the typewriter itself. Others are due to a temporary
sickness such as a torn ribbon which will give an incomplete impression of the
character or dust which may choke the mechanism of the stroke. It is only the
permanent faults which permit of a positive identification.

DEFECTS OF A TYPEWRITER
 Defects of the Character

a The character may show a distortion in its engraving, a "break" which is shown by
an alteration of the design. Exceptionally, it means a defect of manufacture. Most
often, the break occurs when the machine is working. The metal is locally damaged
by the continued striking of the letter against hard surfaces and according to
the general direction of the striking will dented or deviated. In the first case the
altered sign will print an incomplete design with broken or interrupted lines, in
the second case it prints a deformed sign. The predominant cause of the defect is
that corresponding bars one behind the other; the character of corresponding bars
strikes the back of the first and crashes on it.

b Twist of the printing surface which comes in the course of manufacturing. Irregular
tempering gives an abnormal contraction of the metal for the bearing of the
character again the plated and gives a local impression more intense and more
heavily inked.

c Misalignment of the two signs engraved on the same character so that they are not
set exactly one under the other. This defect may be due to a bad engraving of the
mold.

Positioning of the Character on the Type-bar

a A bad position of the bar on the plate of the soldering apparatus, results in a bad
portioning of the character. It will be bent forward, backward or sideways.

b Sometimes a solder fails in the course of typing. The character turns over the slides
along its support. The changes of alignment become grater and greater growing in
frequency in proportion with the collar of the solder. This defect is detected in the
writing by the fact that the top and the bottom of the letter are not printed with the
same intensity and mostly, the vertical misalignment has a tendency to vary at
each stroke and becomes so important that often a part of both signs of the
deficient characters are impressed at the same time.

Defects of the Type-bar - The deformations of a type-bar modify the position of the
character in connection with the platen and alter the originally correct writing.

a Any error of place position of the bar in the basket gives an incline to its head and
to the character.

b The type-bars are outer sinuous. Under the effect of an intensive working, the
bends are modified, so that the type-bar elongates or shorten and its head inclines
forward or backward. This deformation causes a misalignment of the character and
no longer allows a uniform impression of its surface.

c Twist of the type-bars is caused by mistakes of the typist. In depressing, by error,

two neighboring keys, two corresponding bars are moved towards the type-bar
guide 1, each bar undergoes the lateral strike of the other and bends along its
longitudinal axis. One error in manipulation does not great damage but its
 repetition certainly develops the defect. The type-bar thus bent no long offers a
perfectly vertical surface to the axis of the platen and the character strikes the
paper more or less off its feet.

Defects of the Ring - On a worn type writer it is not exceptional to find that the
more active type-bars have depressed the metal of the ring at their point of contact. It no
longer has any effect on the type-bars corresponding to the depression, it no longer stops
them in their travel and it does not send them back to their original position.

These bars strike directly at the platen, stoop their momentarily and fall back by their
own weight giving by this very slow motion a vibration to the character in the vicinity of the
platen. At this time the escapement has already moved and the character gives
two impressions instead of one. The second impression, displaced in connection with the first
and much paler seems to be its shadow. The name given to it is 'veiled stroke'.

Disorder of the Type bar guide - If the position of the type bar guide is modified for
some reason, the result is a complete disorder of the writing. A guide moved to the right will
raise all signs on the right of the keyboard and will lower all the signs on the left. If it is moved
to the left, it will cause the opposite effect.

Alteration of the Platen - The rubber of the platen gets old and hardens, the surface
formally smooth becomes more and more irregular and rough and does not offer anymore
intimate contact with all surface of the sign. The writing becomes inconsistent and the same
sign will print itself partially or entirely and with a greater intensity and more intensively on
the tight or the left, on the bottom or the top.

General Wear of a Typewriter - The typebars are subjected to a lateral play

particularly felt at the top. This gives poor accuracy at the point of impact of the character.
The same signs print themselves on the right or on the left of their theoretical point of impact.

TYPEFACE MISALIGNMENTS – synonymous to “alignment defects:

1. Vertical Misalignment - A character printing above or below its proper position.

Possible causes are:

a. a character soldered too high or too low on the typebar;

b. an unsoldered character;

c. a typebar having lost its correct curvature;

d. a type bar having an oval of axis bearing;

e. misalignment of the typebar guide to the right or to the left; and

f. disorder of the capital letter shift lock.

2. Lateral or Horizontal Misalignment - An alignment defect in which the character

prints the right or left of its proper position is known as horizontal alignment.

3. Oblique Misalignment – The character leans towards the right or towards the left.
TYPEWRITING STANDARDS OR EXEMPLARS – the procurement of typewriting exemplars
are grouped as follows:

1. Study of the questioned document by the investigator;

2. Procurement of the regular course of business typewriting;

3. Preparation of exemplar typewriting by the suspected writer;

4. Preparation of typewriting exemplar by the investigator on suspected typewriter; and

5. The procurement of the suspected typewriter itself by the investigator.

OBTAINING KNOWN TYPEWRITTEN EXEMPLARS - Properly prepared known typewriting

samples not only facilitate the examination in the laboratory but they aid immeasurably in the
demonstration in the court room.

HOW TO OBTAIN EXEMPLARS OF TYPEWRITING?

1. If the typewriter ribbon is obviously new, remove it from the typewriter and send it to
the laboratory with the typewriting exemplars prepared from another ribbon.(the text
of the material in question may still be discernible of the ribbon)

2. Use paper of about of about the same size as the questioned material, type out a full
word for word copy of the message in question, typographical errors, using as nearly as
possible the same degree of touch as that used in typing the questioned material.

3. After placing the typewriter in a stencil position or removing the cloth ribbon, obtain
samples of each character on the keyboard by typing through carbon paper which
has been inserted carbon side down over a piece of white bond paper.

4. Make certain that each specimen contain the make, model and serial number of the
typewriter from which it was produced as well as the date and initials of the officer.

5. Typewriter specimens should be taken from suspected typewriter/s. It is usually

not necessary to forward the typewriter to the laboratory if complete known exemplars
are obtained.

6. If possible, after a typewritten exemplar is obtained from a suspected typewriter, the

investigation should insure that the typewriter is kept in its current condition.

7. With evidence thus obtained from typewritten documents, the laboratory experts is
in position to lend valuable assistance to the solution and subsequent prosecution of
many cases.

PHOTO MECHANICAL PRINTING PROCESS

METHODS OF PRINTING

A. RELIEF PRINTING (LETTERPRESS)

 In this method of printing, the image characters are raised above the level of the non-
printing areas. The ink is applied to a raised surface that in turn is applied to paper. The
letterpress process is the oldest of all printing procedures. It prints with cleaner and
sharper letters.
After the type has been set, the next step is the actual printing which is made on one of
three principles:
1. The platen or “flatbed press” opens and closes like a clam shaft; it has raised type on
one flat surface and paper on another flat surface and the two are pressed together.
Small hand presses are generally platen presses.

2. Cylinder presses roll the paper around a cylinder and then across the flat surface of
inked type.

3. Rotary presses pass the paper between two cylinders, one of which holds the curved
printing plates.

B. INTAGLIO (GRAVURE PRINTING) – There are four types of printing which employ the
Intaglio principle of placing ink in an area, which has been cut out or etched.

1. Gravure – This is a process in which the ink in recessed or sunken letters is drawn out
or sucked out under pressure. The process produces high quality reproduction of
photographs and half-tone illustrations, but the letters of type reproduced have slightly
fuzzy edges. The printing is done from large copper plates or copper covered cylinders
on presses of two kinds; sheet-fed gravure presses and web-fed rotogravure presses
for longer runs. The copper plates or cylinders are produced by making film positives
of the art work to be reproduced.

2. Engraving – The paper her is forced into the sunken areas of a metal plate where the
ink is. A special plate is made by the artist who removes or scratches areas in the metal
itself into which the ink is placed. The actual printing process is very slow, and after the
paper is removed from the plate, time must be allowed for the drying of the ink to
prevent smudging.

3. Planographic – Lithography is the most well known printing process which employs
the principle of putting ink on a chemically treated surface. The commercial application
of lithography is known as offset. In this process, the copy is placed in front of a big
camera and photographed so that the film is the exact size that the final result is to be.
The film is in turn placed over a sensitized plate make of paper, albumen or chemically
treated metal) and exposed to a strong light.

4. Stencil – Stencil sheets on which the copy is typed or drawn are made of a porous lease
tissue, covered with a coating which is impervious to ink. The typing or drawing
pushes the coating aside and exposes the porous tissue. This stencil wrapped around
an inked cylinder and the cylinder is rolled across the paper, forcing the ink through the
porous parts of the stencil.
 C. PLANOGRAPHIC (LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING) – In planographic printing, the image
characters are in the same general plane as the non-printing areas. The ink is applied to a
dead level plate which has been chemically treated such as lithograph and offset.
D. STENCIL – It is a process where the letters or image are holes cut in a sheet, or a sheet is
made more porous in the area of the letters and ink is applied to paper through the holes
or porous areas such as mimeograph.
E. HALFTONE BLOCK PRINTING – This is offset-related and is used for the reproduction of
pictures and illustrations in little covers. To prepare a halftone block, the model is
photograph and its image is transferred to a metal surface by photo-printing.

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS OF PRINTING

A. LETTERPRESS

1. Study of this printing shows that the edges of the letters are more sharply defined than
offset printing.

2. Careful microscopic study and measurement may reveal different “runs” of letterpress
printing which have been made from the same set-up; the “y” type face may exhibit
evidence of damage and the spacing and alignment may be different due to pressure
applied by the frame.

B. OFFSET

1. The edges of the letters are more irregular than in letterpress;

2. The middle portion and the edges of the letters are more or less of the same density;
and

3. There is no indentation of the paper in the area of the printed letters as is sometimes
found in letter press printing.

IDENTIFICATION OF PRINTING – The identification of printing is based on the general

principles which consider the existence of an adequate combination of class and individual
characteristics exceeding the limits of an accidental coincidence.

A. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – maybe grouped under body size and type face designs.

1. Body size of a type – responsible for the width of a line and depth of a column.

2. Unit measurement – six picas making an inch.

3. The body size in metallic type – varies from six points up to seventy points, larger ones
being made mainly in wood.

4. According to the type face – there are eight main designs

B. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS – These come into existence as a result of:

1. Defective setting in relative space positioning, slant and weight of type faces; or
 2. Due to mutilations and imperfections in the type faces.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON QUESTIONED

DOCUMENTS HANDWRITING

Graphology, the study of handwriting to determine one's personality traits, is not

handwriting analysis. It's not even considered a science; more like a parlor trick. True
handwriting analysis involves painstaking examination of the design, shape and structure of
handwriting to determine authorship of a given handwriting sample. The basic principle
underlying handwriting analysis is that no two people write the exact same thing the exact
same way. Every person develops unique peculiarities and characteristics in their
handwriting.

Handwriting analysis looks at letter formations, connecting strokes between the letters,
upstrokes, retraces, down strokes, spacing, baseline, curves, size, distortions, hesitations and a
number of other characteristics of handwriting. By examining these details and variations in a
questioned sample and comparing them to a sample of known authorship, a determination can
be made as the whether or not the authorship is genuine.

Graphology systems tend to be one of three (3) types: (1) those based on individual
letter formations; (2) those based on stroke analysis; and (3) those based on an
holistic/gestalt method. Over 3000 private business companies use it routinely (to screen
employees), and it enjoys a growing sense of scientific respectability. The courts appear to be
waiting to see college psychology courses on it. It probably has the most validity with the
following domains: (1) intelligence; (2) attitude toward work; and (3) interpersonal skills.
Recent developments have focused on "profiling" of uncaptured criminals and sex offenders
(where handwriting analysts say they can spot a "perversion", not exactly the best word for
it).

There's some precedent in art therapy and projective psychological testing for
graphology. Many convictions of child sex offenders have occurred because of what the child
victim portrayed in a drawing, and with psychological testing, there's the famous "Draw a Pig"
assignment, which apparently contains everything you need to make a subjective personality
assessment from: where placed on paper; the size of the pig; the pressure applied; the
direction the pig is facing; attention to details; line quality; angular or curved strokes; and
emphasis on head of pig.
TYPEWRITING

All typewriters of a particular make and model are pretty much the same but, through
use, the develop defects that translate to paper when the machine is used. These defects on
the typed page can be matched back to the typewriter that was used to create it.

These defects in the type face are revealed in a number of ways. If the type bar is bent
(the bar on which the letter element is attached and hammered down to the page) the letter is
misaligned or 'off its feet.' Misalignments can also cause non-printing areas of a specific letter,
such as losing the loop on the bottom of a ‘g.’ The letter can be displaced horizontally or
vertically. Little clumps of plastic can adhere to the type key during manufacture and are made
permanent by the coating process. This defect is called 'flashing.' As wear and tear increases,
the defects become more exaggerated.

Just looking at the type style, or font, the spacing (horizontal and vertical) and type size
allows for determining the make and model of the typewriter. Ribbons are a major evidentiary
component. It is possible to read a ribbon to see what it has been used to type.
HANDWRITING AND FINGERPRINT EXPERTS

Illustrations Concerning Forged Signatures in thumb impressions, typed matter, alleged

alterations & interpolations etc.

The upper disputed signature marked Q is a forged signature in 'Devnagari Script' of

Hon'ble Ex-Prime Minister " Sh. Chandrashekhar" on a cheque as compared with his admitted
signature marked A-1.

The disputed signature marked Q-3 across the revenue stamp is a forged signature as
compared with the genuine signature marked A-1.
 The upper signature marked Q-2 is a forged signature as compared with the admitted
signature marked A-2.

The upper signature marked Q across the revenue stamp is a forged signature in
'Telugu Script' as compared with the specimen signature marked S-4.

Learning Activity:

Handwriting Computers Typewriters

Learning Activity