History of

documents
module 1
Earliest time
Early were on stones and metal. Later skins of animals were
used.
Paper was first developed by the Chinese more than 2000 years
ago. With the making of paper, writing become more common to
many people.
Personalities in questioned document examination

ALBERT SHERMAN OSBORN

• Father of the Scientific Examination
of Questioned Document.
• First American prominent in the
field of forgery detection.
• Author of the seminal “Questioned
Document (1910)”
• Founder of American Society of
Questioned Document Examiners
on September 2,1942.
 J. Newton Baker
• Consultative Expert in Disputed James V.P. Conway
Document • Examiner of Questioned Documents
of San Francisco, California
• Author of the book “Law of
Disputed and Forged Documents” • Author of “Evidential Documents
1959”
 Dr. Wilson R. Harison
• Director of the British
Government’s Office Home of
Forensic Science Society of
Questioned Document Examiners.
• Author of “Suspect Document
Examiners Their Scientific
Examination” in London 1958.
B.J. Vreeland Haring and J.
Howard Haring
• The famous handwriting experts
who testifies on Charles A.
Lindberg Jr. kidnapping case.

Albert D. Osborn
• Third president of the ASQDE.
• Served as military in WW 1.
 Hitler Diaries Case Graham Backhouse Case
(Hamburg, West Germany 1981) (Horton, England 1984)
• History’s greatest publishing fraud was first legitimized Increased the insurance on Margaret’s life from 50 to a
and the exposed by scientific analysis. 100,000 pounds.
The importance of documents

Record man’s life

 General definition of terms

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 terms “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”)
• French word “docere”, means “to teach”.
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 (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.

5. Electronic Document (E-Document)- exist only in electronic form such as data

stored on a computer, network, back-up, archive or other storage media. Examples of
documents subjects to e-discovery are e-mails, instant message, e-calendars,, audio
files, data on handheld devices, animation, metadata, graphics, photographs,
spreadsheets, websites, drawings and other types of digital data. (Governed by RA
8792)
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.