Disputed Handwriting   By: Jerome Buell Lavay (1860-)

An Exhaustive, Valuable, and Comprehensive Work upon One of the Most Important Subjects of To day. With Illustrations and Expositions for the Detection and Study of Forgery by Handwriting of All Kinds

by

JEROME B. LAVAY

The first work of the kind ever published in the United States. For the Protection of America's Banks and Business Houses.

1909

"Handwriting is a gesture of the mind"

TO THE AMERICAN BANKERS' ASSOCIATION

THAT POWERFUL AGENCY WHICH HAS ELEVATED THE STANDARD OF BANKING IN THE UNITED STATES AND AN INSTITUTION THAT FOLLOWS ALL WRONGDOERS AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE FRATERNITY RELENTLESSLY AND SUCCESSFULLY THIS WORK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

HOW TO STUDY FORGED AND DISPUTED SIGNATURES

All Titles Depend Upon the Genuineness of Signatures Comparing Genuine with Disputed Signatures A Word about Fac simile Signatures Process of Evolving a Signature Evidence of Experience in Handling or Mishandling a Pen Signature Most Difficult to Read Simulation of Signature by Expert Penman Hard to Imitate an Untrained Hand A Well Known Banker Presents Some Valuable Points Perfectly Imitated Writings and Signatures Bunglingly Executed Forgeries The Application of Chemical Tests Rules of Courts on Disputed Signatures Forgers Giving Appearance of Age to Paper and Ink Proving the Falsity of Testimony Determining the Genuineness or Falsity by Anatomy or Skeleton Making a Magnified Copy of a Signature Effectiveness of the Photograph Process Deception the Eye Will Not Detect When Pen Strokes Cross Each Other Experimenting With Crossed Lines Signatures Written With Different Inks Deciding Order of Sequence in Writing An Important and Interesting Subject for Bankers Determining the Genuineness of a Written Document Ingenuity of Rogues Constantly Takes New Forms A Systematic Analysis Will Detect Disputed Signatures

CHAPTER II

FORGERY BY TRACING

Forgeries Perpetrated by the Aid of Tracing a Common and Dangerous Method Using Transparent Tracing Paper How the Movements are Directed Formal, Broken and Nervous Lines Retouched Lines and Shades Tracing Usually Presents a Close Resemblance to the Genuine Traced Forgeries Not Exact Duplicates of Their Originals The Danger of an Exact Duplication Forgers Usually Unable to Exactly Reproduce Tracing Using Pencil or Carbon Guided Lines Retouching Revealed under the Microscope Tracing with Pen and Ink Over a Transparency Making a Practice and Study of Signatures Forgeries and Tracings Made by Skillful Imitators Most Difficult of Detection Free Hand Forgery and Tracing A Few Important Matters to Observe in Detecting Forgery by Tracing Photographs a Great Aid in Detecting Tracing How to Compare Imitated and Traced Writing Furrows Traced by Pen Nibs Tracing Made by an Untrained Hand Tracing with Pen and Ink Over a Transparency Internal Evidence of Forgery by Tracing Forgeries Made by Skillful Imitators How to Determine Evidences of Forgery by Tracing Remains of Tracings Examining Paper in Transmitted Light Freely Written Tracings A Dangerous Method of Forgery

CHAPTER III

HOW FORGERS REPRODUCE SIGNATURES