SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Questioned
Document
Examination

LESSON SEVEN: DISGUISED WRITING

DISGUISES IN HANDWRITING- ANY DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO ALTER ONE’S HANDRWITING
TO PREVENT RECOGNITION.
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,
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 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 opinion 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 signature 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.
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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.

FORGERY
Forgery is, strictly speaking, a legal term which involves not only a non-genuine document but
also and intent to fraud. However, it is also used synonymously with fraudulent signature or spurious
document.

CLASSES OF FORGED SIGNATURES (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

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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
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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.