QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

FOSC 4
Compiled by: Ruth Mae M. Cudal
TYPEWRITER
Typewriting COMMON TYPES OF TYPE FACE
DEFECTS
- is the act of writing something using a
typewriter. • CLOGGED TYPE FACE - characters
can fill with dirt or ink, particularly
Typewriter enclosed letters such as: o, p, and g.
- is a mechanical device to produce printed • TWISTED LETTER - letters and
characters on a piece of paper by typing characters designed to print at a
individual keys. certain fixed angle to the baseline.
- some letters become warped so that
IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES IN THE they lean to the right or left of their
DEVELOPMENT OF TYPEWRITER correct slant.
• OFF-ITS-FEET- the condition of a
type face printing heavier on one side
HENRY MILL in 1714 of its outline.
- first patent, granted by QUEEN ANNE of • REBOUND OF TYPE BARS
England
- defect in a double impression, with
William Austin Burt the lighter one slightly off to the right
- Detroit in 1829 or to the left.

-The first American patent for what might COMPARISON OF TYPEWRITTEN

called a typewriter DOCUMENTS
• Compare the examination results from
determining the type of mechanism for
SIGNIFICANT TERMS IN each typewritten document, noting
TYPEWRITING IDENTIFICATION whether or not there is general
agreement with respect to the class
1. SAME TYPE DESIGN characteristics (ex. typestyle, line
Elite - having 12 characters per inch. spacing, mechanism, ribbon type)

Pica - prints 10 characters per inch. • Compare the examination results after
conducting microscopic examination
2. ALIGNMENT DEFECTS identifying individual typewritten
document noting whether or not there
Horizontal Alignment Defects - defects in
is general agreement with respect to
which characters print to the right or left.
the individual characteristics.
Vertical Alignment Defects - letters may
• Evaluate the significance of any
print at a slight angle or the others.
similarities or dissimilarities from or
3. DEFECTS after comparing the examination
- abnormalities or maladjustment in a results and examination of typewritten
typewriter documents. Form a conclusion within
any appropriate limitation.
Permanent Defects – actual breaks of the type
face like cuts or shanks. OTHER TERMS:

Transitory Defects – dirty impressions from • CHARACTER

"clogged" or "dirty" type faces and
- used to include letters, symbols,
incomplete impressions due to poor or worn-
numerals, or points of punctuation.
out ribbon.
• NATURAL VARIATIONS
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
FOSC 4
Compiled by: Ruth Mae M. Cudal
- normal or usual deviations found ✓ Determine if the document is an original.
between repeated specimens
✓ Establish that the document is typewritten,
PLATEN and not the product of some other sort of
- Cylindrical roller in a typewriter against printout device.
which the paper is held.
✓ Determine the type of mechanism (type bar,
single element, printwheels).

✓ Determine the type style.

✓ Determine the size of characters (pica, elite)

✓ Determine the characteristic type.

✓ Determine the type of ribbon.

✓Determine the consistency of typewriting

PROPORTIONAL SPACING throughout the document and note any
TYPEWRITING possible interlineation.
– A modern form of typewriting which ✓Conduct microscopic examination of the
resembles printing in that all of the horizontal typescript for identifying characteristics.
space as they do with the conventional
typewriter.
IDENTIFICATION OF TYPEWRITER
BY THE DEFECTS OF THE STROKE
Each typewriter has its own individual
characteristics that enable one to differentiate
the typed characters from a similar machine of
the same make. Typewriter of the same
make and model but of different age have
differences attributed to wear.
What to consider?
1. The typewriter coming out fresh from the
factory has already some defects which give
its own personality. Whatever the quality of
RIBBON IMPRESSION- Typewriting which
the manufacture, a typewriter is never
is made directly through a cloth ribbon.
absolutely perfect.
RIBBON CONDITION- with use and the
2. Later, through faults of the typist and also
degree of deterioration is a measure of the
by wear, the typewriter will acquire a stronger
ribbon condition.
individuality by new defects which become
SAN–SERIF – A type font which has no more and more prominent and in time,
cross-strokes; sans means without. progressively overcome the initial ones.
SERIF – A serif font that has short cross
strokes that project from the top and bottom of
THE TYPEWRITING STANDARDS
the main stroke of the letter.
COLLECTED STANDARDS - consist of
matter written on the machine in question in
PROCEDURES IN THE EXAMINATION the course daily business or private affairs.
OF TYPEWRITTEN DOCUMENTS
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
FOSC 4
Compiled by: Ruth Mae M. Cudal
PREPARED STANDARDS - these comprise kept in its current condition.
matter written by the document examiner
himself, or by some other person at his
direction on the suspected machine 7. With evidence thus obtained from
specifically for comparison with the typewritten documents, the laboratory experts
questioned documents. are in position to lend valuable assistance to
the solution and subsequent prosecution of
QUESTIONED STANDARDS - are matters many cases.
in dispute and identification as the source and
production consisting of controversy and are
subject to verification documents. METHODS OF FORGERY or
ALTERATIONS

HOW TO OBTAIN EXEMPLARS OF 1. ERASURE

TYPEWRITING a) Chemical Erasure - using liquid ink
eradicator.
1. If the typewriter ribbon is obviously new, b) Mechanical or Abrasive Erasure - by
remove it from the typewriter and send it to rubbing by a rubber eraser
the laboratory with the typewriting exemplars - by scratching out with knife or another sharp
prepared from another ribbon. (the text of the instrument.
material in question may still be discernible of
the ribbon) 2. ADDITION AND SUBSTITUTION
- The addition or substitution of the original
2. Use paper of about of about the same size as characteristics (numbers, letters, figures)
the questioned material, type out a full word present in a genuine document.
for word copy of the message in question,
3.INTERLINEATION/ INTERCALATION
typographical errors, using as nearly as
possible the same degree of touch as that used - inserting between the letters of within the
in typing the questioned material. lines or pages of the document.
4. SUPERIMPOSITION
3. After placing the typewriter in stencil
position or removing the cloth ribbon, obtain - A process of superimposing the writings to
samples of each character on the keyboard by covers up the original characters of the
typing through carbon paper which has been genuine document.
inserted carbon side down over a piece of 5. OBLITERATION
white bond paper.
-A process to remove or destroy all traces of or
4. Make certain that each specimen contains to blot out or render undecipherable (writing,
the make, model and serial number of the marks, etc.).
typewriter from which it was produced as well
as the date and initials of the officer. 6. CUT AND PASTE
- A process of cutting or providing closely
5. Typewriter specimens should be taken from similar characters with that in the genuine
suspected typewriters. It is usual not necessary document and paste on the portion intended
to forward the typewriter to the laboratory if for alteration.
complete known exemplars are obtained.

MAGNIFYING GLASS
6. If possible, after a typewritten exemplar is
obtained from a suspected typewriter, the - Also known as hand-lens
investigator should insure that the typewriter is
- It has a magnifying power of two times the
original only.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
FOSC 4
Compiled by: Ruth Mae M. Cudal

SHADOWGRAPH OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION

- A pictorial image formed by casting a - Decipherment of faded writing,
shadow, usually of the hands, upon a determination of outlines in traced
rightful surface or screen. forgery, embossed impress etc. are
subjected to this type of examination.

MICRO AND MACRO STAND LAMP

VIDEO SPECTRAL COMPARATOR
- Ensures that the camera lens remains (VSC)
in the center part of the bottom plate
during the height adjustment. - Used in the examination of masked or
obliterate text, watermarks, visible
fluorescence, paper fluorescence and
oblique illumination of indented
writing and embossing.

TRANSMITTED LIGHT
ULTRA-VIOLET LAMP
- A device where light comes from
- provides radiation or illumination in
beneath or behind glass on document
order to visibly notice invisible features in a
is placed.
document like those of paper money.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
FOSC 4
Compiled by: Ruth Mae M. Cudal
• a person alters the name, amount or payee’s
name with intent to defraud.
ACTS OF COMMITING FORGERY
•Signing a document using someone else’s
name
•Altering, creating, selling, or distributing a
INFRARED LIGHT VIEWER
forged identification card
- primarily used to decipher writings
•Altering a legal document
in a charred document.
•Counterfeiting currency or using counterfeit
currency
•Presenting or holding a forged document with
intent to use it
•Falsifying someone’s name on a check,
known as check forgery
•Attempting or successfully cashing a forged
check at a credit union or bank

ELECTROSTATIC DETECTION
APPARATUS (ESDA)
- A device that can detect indention/
indented writings that can record
transparencies of any indention.

FORGERY V.S FALSIFICATION

FORGERY
- Forgery is an intent to defraud; a legal
term which involves not only genuine
documents but also an intent on the
part of the maker to defraud.
HOW FORGERY IS COMMITTED?
• a person signs in another’s name with the
intent to defraud;
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
FOSC 4
Compiled by: Ruth Mae M. Cudal

IN CONCLUSION…
- Forgery is a more serious offense than
falsification, as it involves the intent to
deceive and gain something of value.
- The crime of falsification must
involve a writing that is a document in
the legal sense.
- Forgery and falsification are acts with
the main intention of making a
document appear to be true and
genuine and to make it enforceable.
- All crimes under Falsification and
Identified Forgery are CRIMES OF
FORGERIES.