Kalasag

1. 1
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND OF
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION
REPORTEDBY;
Mr. Alpapara & mr. jul-alih
CHAPTER
1

2. HISTORY OF DOCUMENTS
DOCUMENT TIMELINE:
PICTURES/DRAWINGS
STONES/METALS
ANIMAL SKINS
CHINESE PARCHMENT
2
LESSON
1.1

3. 3
LESSON
1.1

4. PERSONALITIES IN QUESTIONED
DOCUMENTS EXAMINATION
1) Albert Sherman Osborn
 Considered as the FATHER of Scientific Examination of
Questioned Document.
 The first American prominent in the field of forgery detection.
 With his effort and contribution, the courts began to accept the
presentation of forged documents as scientific evidence.
 Founded the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners
on September 2, 1942.
4
LESSON
1.2

5. 2. Albert D. Osborn
 He was the third president of the American Society of
Questioned Document Examiners.
He was the son of the founding president of the ASQDE,
Albert S. Osborn.
He served in the military during World
War 1.
5
LESSON
1.2

6. 3. Vreeland Haring and J. Howard Haring
The father and son Haring of New York, they are famous
handwriting experts who testified on Charles A. Lindberg Jr.
Kidnapping case.
6
LESSON
1.2

7. 4. J. Newton Baker
He is a Consultative Expert in Disputed document and in
1955 he authored the book, “Law of Disputed and Forged
Documents”.
7
LESSON
1.2

8. 5. James Conway
An examiner of Questioned Documents of San Francisco.
Authored the “Evidential Documents” which was published
in Springfield, Illinois, USA in 1959.
8
LESSON
1.2

9. 6. Hans Scheickert (1876-1944)
A Doctor of law and Director of the identification Bureau of
the Police Department of Berlin.
He was a Criminology Professor at the university of Berlin
and a well known handwriting expert.
9
LESSON
1.2

10. 7. Dr. Wilson R. Harrison
Director of the British Government’s Office Forensic Science
Society of Questioned Document Examiners.
He authored the book “Suspect Document Examiners Their
Scientific Examination”.
10
LESSON
1.2

11. 8. Ordway Hilton
He was the sixth president of the ASQDE.
Mr. Hilton was the first questioned document examiner in
the new crime laboratory of the Chicago Police Department.
He authored one of the best known text in the field,
“Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents”.
11
LESSON
1.2

12. 9. Roy A. Huber
He was the 24th President of the American Society of
Questioned Document Examiners.
He worked as a police constable at various detachments in the
province of Saskatchewan.
He published a book entitled, “Handwriting Identification –
Facts and Fundamentals”.
12
LESSON
1.2

13. 10. Charles Chabot
An English graphologist who as part of the firm of
Netherclift, Chabot and Matheson, was an early practitioner
of questioned document examination.
13
LESSON
1.2

14. WORLD’S CASES ON DISPUTED
DOCUMENT
1. John Magnuson case
Date: 1922
Location: Marshfield, Misconsin;
Significance: From Just a few scraps of bomb-damaged paper,
investigator gleaned enough evidence to capture the Yule Bomb Killer.
In his final address, Magnuson's attorney, Charles Briere, fulminated
against the "so-called experts who had examined the scraps of the
bomb, sneering that "half of them were here for their share of the gold
bag of the state." It was a complaint about expert witness that echoes in
courtrooms to the present today.
14
LESSON
1.3

15. JOHN MAGNUSON CASE
15

16. 16
JAMES CHAPMAN
 VICTIM OF THE
BOMBING INCIDENT

17. 17
THE ADDRESS LABEL FROM
THE BOMB PACKAGE
CHAPMAN’S LIVING ROOM
AFTER THE BOMBING

18. 2. Arthur Perry case
Date: 1937;
Location: New York City;
Significance: So many factors were combined in this case that it has
come to be regarded as an American detection classic. It is unnerving to
consider the possible outcome of this case had Palm not happened to
work late that night. Without the twin interventions of fate and forensic
science, it is entirely conceivable that he may well have taken Perry's
place in the electric chair.
18
LESSON
1.3

19. 3. Hitler Diaries case
Date: 1981;
Location: Hamburg, West Germany;
Significance: History's greatest publishing fraud was first legitimized
and then exposed by scientific analysis. In all, through outright swindle,
royalties, fees, lost advertising, and sundry other commitments, the
Hitler Diaries were estimated to have cost Stern more than twenty
million marks (sixteen million dollars). The cost in careers, reputations,
and personal humiliation was incalculable.
19
LESSON
1.3

20. 4. Graham Backhouse case
Date 1984;
Location: Horton, England;
Significance: This case provides an example of the interdependence of forensic
discipline that helps to solve so many cases. Piece by piece, the magnitude of
Backhouse's fiendishness became apparent In early March, he had increased the
insurance on Margaret's life from fifty to a hundred thousand pounds, waited a
few weeks while spreading word of a nonexistent hate campaign, then planted
the bomb that so nearly killed her. When that attempt failed, and to divert
suspicion from himself, he had lured Bedale-Taylor to his house with the
intention of killing him. The seriousness of his self-inflicted wounds almost
fooled the authorities, but he had underestimated the astonishing scope of
modern forensic detection. On February 18, 1985, Backhouse learned the price
he would have to pay for that arrogance-two term of life imprisonment.
20
LESSON
1.3

21. 4. Graham Backhouse case
- Murder case
- Try to kill his wife with a car bomb in order
to claim her life insurance.
21

22. The Importance of documents
Documents record man’s life. Officially,
man’s birth certificate signals man’s
existence on earth, corollary thereto, his
death certificate writes finish to his stay
on earth. However, it is not uncommon
to note documents other than these two
indicating mans’ birth and death.
22
LESSON
1.4

23. 23
Man’s life does not center alone on his birth nor
on his death. The intervening period opens for
us more documents, reams of them.
followed by an array of diplomas from kindergarten,
primary, elementary, high school, college and perhaps
post graduate courses. While studying, the more
serious love notes and not too far behind the letter
proposing marriage and finally the inking of the
marriage bond via the marriage contract and
certificate.

24. 24
Again, life is not all schooling nor marriage. Man must find
work to feed his family. Thus, we find him filling up an
application for employment. He is accepted by a
company, swore him in and he received his appointment
papers. At the end of every week or every fifteenth and
thirtieth of the month, man signs the payroll and receives
his paycheck or cash as the case maybe. As the shadow of
life finally set upon man, the final document testifying to
his demise is death certificate.

25. 25
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 paper.
 The term 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

26. 26

27. DOCUMENT AND QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
MODULE
2
27
 LESSON 2.1 DIVISIONS OF
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION.
 LESSON 2.2. BASIC REQUIREMENT
IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION.
 LESSON 2.3. SCIENTIFIC METHOD
IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION
 LESSON 2.4. INSTRUMENTS AND
APPARATUS USED IN QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION.
 LESSON 2.5. TECHNIQUES IN THE
EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED
DOCUMENTS.
 LESSON 2.6. HANDLING OF
DOCUMENTS AND QUESTIONED
DOCUMENTS

28. DIVISIONS OF QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
TECHNICAL TERMS
1. ADDITION - Any matter made a part of the
document after its original preparation may
be referred to as addition.
2. CONCLUSION – A scientific conclusion
results from relating observed facts by
logical, common-sense reasoning in
accordance with established rules or laws.
28
LESSON
2.1

29. 3. DOCUMENT EXAMINER –One who studies
scientifically the details and elements of
documents.
4. ERASURE – The removal of writings,
typewriting or printing from a document.
Two types of Erasure
 Chemical eradication (liquid ink eradicator)
 Abrasive erasure (through rubbing and
scratching)
29
LESSON
2.1

30. 5. EXAMINATION – It is the act of making a
close and critical study of any material and with
questioned documents.
- It is the process necessary to discover the
facts about them.
a) EXPERT WITNESS - A legal term used to
describe a witness who by reason of his special
training or experience is permitted to express an
opinion regarding the issue which is involved in a
court action.
30
LESSON
2.1

31. 6. INSERTION OR INTERLINEATION – The
term insertion and interlineation include the
addition of writing and other material between
lines or paragraphs.
7. NON-IDENTIFICATION – This refers to the
source or authorship of the compared
questioned and standard specimens is different.
31
LESSON
2.1

32. 7. NON-IDENTIFICATION
a. OBLITERATION – The blotting out or shearing over
the writing to make the original invisible to as an
addition.
b. OPINION – In legal language, it refers to the
document examiner`s conclusion.
8. QUALIFICATION – The professional
experience, education, and ability of a document
examiner.
32
LESSON
2.1

33. DIVISIONS OF QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
A. CRIMINALISTIC EXAMINATION
- This involves the detection of forgery,
erasure, alteration or obliteration of
documents.
Dr. Wilson Harrison - A British Examiner of
questioned documents said that an intelligent police
investigator can detect almost 75% of all forgeries by
careful inspection of a document with simple
magnifiers and measuring tools.
33
LESSON
2.1

34. B. HANDWRITING
INVESTIGATION/ANALYSIS
- This is more focused in determining the
author of writing. It is a more difficult
procedure and requires long study and
experience.
34
LESSON
2.1

35. Aspect of Questioned Document Examination
A. Handling Examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)
1. Examination of signatures and initials
2. Examination of anonymous letters
3. Hand printing examination
35
LESSON
2.1
B. Examination of Typewriting and typeprints
C. Examination of Inks
D. Examination of Erasures, alterations or obliterations
1. Detection of alteration
2. Decipherment of erased writings
3. Restoration of obliterated writings

36. E. COUNTERFEITING
1. Examination of currency bills and coins and the
like.
2. Examination of fake documents
F. MISCELLANEOUS ASPECTS
1. Determination of age of documents
2. Identification of stamps
3. Examinations of seal and other authenticating
devices
LESSON
2.1

37. RELATED FIELDS OF STUDY
A. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINERS
- A document examiner analyzes any questioned
document and is capable of more than just questions of
authorship.
B. HISTORICAL DATING
- This is work involving the verification of age
and worth of a document or object.
C. FRAUD INVESTIGATORS
- This is work that often often overlaps with that
of the document examiner and focuses on the money
trail and criminal intent.
37
LESSON
2.1

38. D. PAPER & INK SPECIALISTS
- This refers to the date, type, source, and/or
catalogue various types of paper, watermarks, ink etc., using
chemical methods.
E. FORGERY SPECIALISTS
- These are public or private experts who analyze
altered, obliterated, changed, or doctored documents.
F. HANDWRITING ANALYSTS
- These are usually psychology experts who assess
personality traits from handwriting samples.
- also called as graphologist or graphoanalysts.
38
LESSON
2.1

39. G. TYPWRITING ANALYSTS
- These are experts on the origin, make and
model used in typewritten materials.
H. COMPUTER CRIME INVESTIGATORS
- This is an emerging group that relates to QDE
through some common investigative and testimonial
procedures.
39
LESSON
2.1

40. BASIC REQUIREMENT IN QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
A. REQUEST
1. Document examination shall be based on written
request from any investigating agency of the
government.
2. Document previously examined by any
competent agencies of the government shall not
be re-examined except there is a court order.
3. If the case is undergoing trial in court, disputed
documents shall be examined only upon order of
the court having jurisdiction of the case.
40
LESSON
2.2

41. B. STANDARD SPECIMENS
- The specimens to be submitted will be
dependent on the questioned documents under
investigation. First, the original document is necessary
and the standards to be collected or requested should be
sufficient; and observance of similarity of subject
matter is necessary.
41
LESSON
2.2

42. THE LOGICAL PROGRESS OF INQUIRY IN
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
A. FIRST – ASCERTAIN THE FACTS
- To select “QUESTIONED”, “DENIED” OR
“ADMITTED”, “AUTHENTIC”, AND “DOUBTFUL”
documents.
B. SECOND – ANALYZE THE DETAILS
- Synthesize the elements, date, circumstances,
conditions, technical problems and the like.
C. THIRD – QUALIFY THE CASE
42
LESSON
2.2

43. SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
A. ANAYSIS (Recognition)
– Properties or characteristics, observed or
measured.
B. COMPARISON
- Properties or characteristics of the unknown
determined thought analysis are now compared with the
familiar or recorded properties of known items.
C. EVALUATION
- Similarities or dissimilarities in properties or
characteristics will each have a certain value for
identification, determined by its likelihood of occurrence.
43
LESSON
2.3

44. D. VERIFICATION
- It is a process of double checking the accuracy
and correctness of the examination usually conducted by
other experts in the said field.
“The criteria of scientific examination of documents”
A. Accuracy
- Correspondence between results obtained and the truth.
B. Precision
- Measure of the consistency of results obtained in
repeated study or experimentation.
44
LESSON
2.3

45. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF
DOCUMENTS
A. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY
EXAMINATION OF QUESTONED DOCUMENT:
1. Ensure preparedness
2. Avoidance
3. Ensures success of the case
45
LESSON
2.3
B. PRINCIPAL POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
C. WHO CONDUCTS THE PRELIMINARY
EXAMINATION?
- It should be conducted by a Questioned Document
Expert.

46. D. WHO IS A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXPERT?
- A Questioned Document Expert is one who has:
1. Attained the appropriate education and training
2. Sufficient knowledge on the technical, scientific, and legal aspects
of document examinations
3. A broad experience in handling questioned document cases.
46
LESSON
2.3
E. REASONS FOR UTILIZING A QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT EXPERT:
1. Assurance of preparedness
2. Trial fiscal or judges are frequently confronted with
document cases.
3. Avoidance of an “OFF-HAND” opinion.

47. F. WHAT IS AN “OFF-HAND OPINION?
- Off-hand opinion is usually a conclusion that is
not based on thorough scientific examination.
G. THE DANGER OF OFF-HAND OPINIONS
- It has happened in some cases that an off-hand
opinion, has sent an innocent man to prison, while a
murderer was given a chance to escape.
47
LESSON
2.3

48. 48

49. END OF TOPIC!
49