History of Handwriting Analysis

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                  o   http://graphicinsight.co.za/background.htm

o   In 300 B.C., Aristotle states, “ "Spoken words are the symbols of mental experience and written words are the symbols of spoken words. Just as all men have not the same speech sounds, so all men have not the same writing," showing the relationship between handwriting and personality.
o   In 1000 B.C., Japanese scholars state that character related to the way a man traces his bars according to the thickness, length, rigidity or suppleness.
o   In 1611 Prospero Aldorisio writes a book that describes handwriting analysis.

o   Camilo Baldi also describes handwriting analysis in 1622 however his book is not officially published until 1625.
o    Abee Michon published books that coined the name of “graphology” in the late 1800s. Crepieux Jamin later published a series of books in other languages that classified the idea into a comprehensive system.
o   From 1893 to 1907 Alfred Binet conducts rejected research.
o   During the 1920’s Dr. Ludwig Klages applies the gestalt theory to graphology, advances theories of rhythm and “form level,” and vastly expands the scope of graphology in Germany.
o   In 1929 Milton Bunker founds The American Grapho Analysis Society that teaches Graphoanalysis into two studies: Graphoanalysis and Holistic Graphology. Klara G Roman, a scholar, publishes books still considered foundation for contemporary American Holistic graphology.
o  In 1939, Hans J Jacoby, writes a book that brings the European method of analysis to England and America.
o   Charlie Cole organizes Handwriting Workshop Unlimited for students of Graphoanalysis, that included ideas of Klara Roman. In 1960, all participants were expelled, which led to the formation of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and later the American Association of Handwriting Analysts.
o   In 1966, Robert Heiss organizes handwriting into “Space, Form, and Movement” and states that all writing characteristics can be arranged under the categories.
o   In 1972, the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and the American Association of Handwriting Analysts want to form a single organization.
o   in 1976, the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and the American Association of Handwriting Analysts form to create the Council of Graphological Societiesm.
o   In the mid 1990’s, the Starzecpyzel Daubert hearing stated that forensic document examination “does not employ rigorous methodology,” which encourages the continuation of scientific methods and standards in forensic handwriting analysis.

12 Handwriting Characteristics

o http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112506/fsp10_handwriting.pdf
o In handwriting analysis there are twelve major characteristics that experts look at to identify a person's individual writing style.
Line quality
o  Depending on the speed the document was written at, the pen marks will appear either smooth and free flowing or shaking and wavering.
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Spacing
o   The distance between letters and words can appear consistent or inconsistent. 
Ratio of relative height, width and size of letter
o   Letters can have different ratio of relative height, width and size and can appear consistent or inconsistent. 
Pen lifts and separations


o   When the writer stops to form new letters or begin new words. In the case of forgery, the place may be unusual. 
Connecting strokes

o   Between to letters or words there may be connecting strokes. Capital letters may or may not be connected to lowercase letters.

  Beginning and ending strokes
o   The beginning and end or strokes may be straight, curled, long, short, an upstroke or a downstroke
Unusual letter formations

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o   Some letters may be formed unusually such as backward, with a tail, or unusually capitol. 
o Shading or pen pressure
o   The pen pressure may vary on up or downward strokes.
Slant

o   There may be a slant to the left, right, up, or down, and either consistent or inconsistent.
Baseline habits

o   Compared to a line, the writing may tend to be above or below it.
Flourishes and embellishments

o   Additional characteristics may or may not occur in the writing.
Diacritic placement
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The way t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted can vary, such as to the right or the left.
o Also, experts can usually tell if the writer is right or left handed by the way the pen crosses the page. Right handed writers pull the pen across while left hand writers push the pen across, emphasizing different pen strokes and creating identifiable differences of the letter shapes.






Handwriting Analysis

o    Handwriting analysis is a process that makes it possible to match a piece of handwriting to an individual. It is often used in forensics by comparing and authenticating documents in forgery cases involving ransom notes, forged contracts, forged wills, fake ID's, fake passports, and other forms of writing. It is easy to prove a person's handwriting because everyone writies with unique characteristics formed at the time they first learned how to write. These special characteristics include line quality, form, content, and arrangement. At first, analysts compare handwriting by plain sight or a hand lens, but special lighting such as angled or backlights, can be used to show the document in more detail. Infared Spectroscope can also be used to examine ink.

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Check Forgery Activity Reflection (See Reflection page)

o   SEE REFLECTION PAGE ON RIGHT

How forensic handwriting analysis was used to expose forgery case

o  Handwriting analysis can be used to verify suspects by examining the legitimacy of signatures and legal identifications. In recent years however, computer-generated holograms of signatures are used to analyze tiny variations in handwriting which makes it easier to identify the writer.
o   http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chem.sc.edu%2Fanalytical%2Fchem107%Flab4_032205.pdf&ei=P87FTqPiDci2twfRt_zkCw&usg=AFQjCNHDwNwCzGiZn65NsfrWOGaFoyIRKg
o   On March 1, 1932 Charles Lindbergh, Jr. was kindnapped from the nursery of the Lindbergh home in New Jersey. When the premise was searched by the police, a $50,000 ransom note was found on the nursery window sill, along with a ladder and traces of mud footprints on the floor. A total of twelve ransom notes were acquired before an intermediary, Dr. John F. Condon, met with a man called “John” to negotiate the exchange. The demands were met and a thirteenth note instructed that the child could found on a boat named “Nellie” near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Although two searches were conducted there, the boy was not found until May 13, 1932 by an unsuspecting individual. Multiple investigations followed, including handwriting analysis. After reviewing the ransom notes, nearly all of the experts agreed that they were written by the same person. They were also able to conclude that the writer was of German nationality but had spent some time in America. This was conclusion was important because it enabled the investigators to further identify the characteristics of the kidnapper, Bruno Richard Hauptmann.

History of hair and fiber analysis


FBI lab technician cuts a sample of fabric from the clothing of a hit-and-run victim for comparison with fibers taken from the bumper of a suspect's car. © BETTMANN/CORBIS
o http://www.ehow.com/about_6102496_forensic-science_-hair-fiber-analysis.html

o   Once the value of using hair and fiber analyssis was realized, it began its use in criminal investigations. In 1857 in France, the first scientific report of the study of hair was published. Then the field of microscopic hair examination took off and began to expand rapidly in the early 20th century. In 1931, " Hairs of Mammalia form the Medico-legal Aspect" was published by professor John Glaister and became an important resource. Also, in 1977, John Hick's "Microscopy of Hairs: A Practical Guide and Manual" became a basis for forensic examination.

Diagram of a complete hair

o   Hair is defined as a thin, thread-like outgrowth from am follicle in skin.  It grows from the papilla and except for at its origin is made of dead cornified cells. It has a shaft that extends from above the skin and a root that is imbedded in the skin. The bottom of the root expands to form the root bulb which is composed of keratin, melanin, and trace quantities of metallic elements. These elements are deposited in the hair when it grows or from an external environment. After its growth, the follicle stays in a resting stage before it completely dies and is removed from the body. It has three main parts the cuticle, medulla, and cortex. The cuticle of a hair is the outer layer of the hair that is translucent. It covers the shaft with scales that point from the proximal to the distal end of the hair. There are three main scale structures that form the cuticle but can differ. Coronal scale structures are crown-like and are usually found in small animals with fine hair diameters.  Spinious scale structures are petal-like, triangle shaped, extend from the hair shaft and are never found in human hairs. Imbricate scale structures are flattened and are often found in many animal and human hairs. The medulla of the hair is the central core of cells it contains and is filled with air. Under transmitted light it looks black, with reflected light white, and clear if it is filled with mounting medium or other substance. The cortex of a hair is its main body of elongated and fusiform cells. It can consists of cortical fusi, pigment granules, and/or ovoid bodies. Cortical fusi are irregular-shaped airspaces often found near the root. Pigment granules are small, dark, solid structures that have a granular appearance. Ovoid bardies are fairly large, solid structures and are spherical or oval shape.


http://www.chem.sc.edu/analytical/chem107/lab4_032205.pdf