History of Forensic Document Examination

1. HISTORY OF DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

2.  The case of Goodtitle d. Revett v. Braham in 1792 is said to
be the first in English speaking courts in which specially-
qualified witnesses were proffered. These witnesses would
testify solely from direct comparison between standards and
disputed writing rather than from recognition. Their special
qualifications were acquired from their experience as
inspectors of franks. They checked the authenticity of the
signatures of M.P.s and others on mail that was dispatched
pursuant to the franking privilege. On that occasion, Lord
Kenyon admitted the testimony of two inspectors, on the
authority of Folkes v. Chadd, in which Lord Mansfield admitted
the expert testimony of an engineer.
 But the beginning of this kind of testimony was wobbly. The
next year the same evidence was refused by the same judge,
Lord Kenyon. Not until Massachusetts admitted testimony
respecting the comparison of disputed documents with writing
standards in
 1836, and England passed the Common Law Procedure Act5
in 1854, did the practise become reasonably consistent.
HISTORY OF DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

3. Prior to 1900
 By the year 1672, Europeans such as Jacques
Raveneau had written on the subject of handwriting
identification.
 In the 1800s, the La Ronciere case, the Dreyfuss
letters, and the La Boussiniere will all testified to the
endeavour to resolve major issues on the strength
of writing examination in that part of the world.
 On this continent, Albert S. Osborn is credited with
launching handwriting identification as a distinct
discipline at the turn of this century.

4.  Historical references indicate that the practise of
forgery and related frauds involving documents
evolved almost as early as the development of
writing. In the days of the Roman Empire, the law
provided for the acceptance of expert testimony
respecting documents. It was not until centuries
later that such testimony was admitted in English-
speaking courts.
 The document expert of 1922 is quite different from
the Handwriting Expert 0f now days.
 Today he/she is recognized as a scientist.
 In the 19th century, the handwriting expert was
looked upon with suspicion.
 Expert examine handwriting as well as type-written
documents, revenue stamps, papers, inks, printing
matters, seals, staplers, carbon impressions, rubber
stamps etc.

5. 1940 to 1975- The 35 Years
 The development of the manual typewriter, the advent of
the ball point pen, the introduction of the electric
typewriter, and the evolution of the electronic age has
grossly affected document examination. They have
profoundly changed the means by which society
communicates and records its information.
 Penmanship was at one time tenaciously taught and
diligently practised. It is, however, no longer extolled as
an important student achievement. Writing enjoys
greater latitude in learning methods and wider variation
in the end product. Whereas the objective in years past
was to ensure legibility for the benefit of others, the goal
now seems to be to provide a convenient process for
note taking, readable chiefly by the writer.
Communications and records are matters for machines.
 Thus, the approach to writing identification has had to
be modified significantly.

6.  During 1956 to 1978 about 106 articles on
document examination have been printed in the
journal of document examination and Forensic
Sciences quarterly by American Academy of
Forensic Sciences.
 INFORM- International Reference Organisation in
Forensic Medicine and Sciences has published a
compilation on “Questioned Documents” in 1973
which contains 1073 research article in document
examination.

7.  In the United States, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), Washington, started a Forensic
Science Laboratory for document examination in
1932.
 Today hundreds of Forensic Science Laboratories
have started in USA for document examination and
other forensic examination.
 In India, for document examination every State
Forensic Science laboratories have document
examination division in it.

8.  In India for document examination some
Government examiner for Question Document
(GEQD) Laboratory are present which examine the
central govt. cases.
 GEQD Hyderabad and GEQD Shimla both the QD
Lab is highly equipped.
 In Delhi NICFS, document examination division is
now having world best equipments and tools which
help in the analysis of all kinds of questioned
documents.

9.  The history shows that the numbers of false documents are
increasing every year. Physical evidence in investigations of
documents plays an important part.
 Falsification of financial documents is a long business
because
 The art or craft of forgery is not difficult.
 It requires a little patience good pen men ship sufficient
practice, courage to face the consequences.
On the other hand
 Deletion of forgery is more difficult . It may be possible to
detect a fraudulent document, but the identification of writer is
difficult. e.g. Initials are easily initiated with much less chances
of deletion. Erasures/Small additions alterations of illiterate
persons seldom permit identification of the writer.

10.  In the past any one who want to become
handwriting expert he/she have B. Sc. Degree with
primary subject of document examination (Huber
and Headrick).
 Today, if one wants to become a document
examiner, he has work for about two years as an
apprentice to a competent examiner.
 He/she require to have authoritative books on
Document Examination, and also have
photographic equipments.

11.  In days gone by, advocates used to carry on two
professions.
 They practised Law and also as handwriting
experts.
 But now they can not do so. Today if he/she prefers
to be an expert, he has to abandon his legal
practice. However, a study of the subject by an
advocate will add advantage to his legal practise.
 He can become a specialist for cross-examining
handwriting and fingerprint experts.

12.  AUTHORITIES:
1. Albert Osborn: he publish books for document
examination
(a) “Questioned Documents”
(b) “Questioned Documents Problems”
(c) “The Problem of Proof ”
2. Wilson Harrison : he publish two books on
questioned document
(a) “Suspect Documents”
(b) “Forgery Detection”

13. 3. From India we have a book with title “Contested
Documents and Forgeries in India” in 1932 by F.
Brewster (Government QD Examiner in India). He
was the student of Osborn and the Chapter on
“Ink in Questioned Documents” in his “Questioned
Documents” was written by him.
4. Mr. Hardless :(Government QD Examiner in India
for many years ). He publish in 1912 the book with
the title “The Identification of handwriting and the
Detection of Forgery”.
5. In 1919 Hardless and Hardless published a book
titled “Faults and Fallacies in Handwriting
Identification and expert Evidences in India”

14.  After that many authors publishes books and
research articles in handwriting examination and
questioned document examination.
 Ordway Hilton
 Huber and Headrick
 W. J. Kelly
 Kopenhover
 Ron Morris
 M. K. Mehta
 B. Lal and Chandra and many more….