ressions of thumb-prints and finger-prints
in Appendix at end of this book.

CHAPTER XI

DETECTING FORGERY WITH THE MICROSCOPE

Determining Questionable Signatures By the Aid of a Microscope--A
Magnifying Glass Not Powerful Enough--Character of Ink Easily
Told--The Microscope and a Knowledge of Its Use--Experience and
Education of an Examiner of Great Assistance--An Expert's Opinion--The
Use of the Microscope Recommended--Illustrating a Method of
Forgery--What a Microscopic Examination Reveals--How to Examine Forged
Handwriting with a Microscope--Experts and a Jury--What the Best
Authorities Recommend.

In all examinations of questioned signatures to determine the
individual habit of the writer the use of the compound microscope is a
necessity to obtain the best field for study and analysis for the
reason that the most important details are often so minute that they
cannot be seen with the naked eye in sufficient size to determine
their individual character and accuracy. A magnifying glass has but a
limited field in this class of work, for it is not easily held in
position steadily for continued observation and study, besides it has
not the requisite power for the work. The lower powers of the compound
microscope are but available for the examination of signatures for the
reason that when the higher powers are used but little of the
signature is in the field of vision, although the power of the lens
may be increased when some particular point or feature in the writing
requires greater enlargement for more perfect definition. The higher
powers of the microscope are sometimes used to ascertain the character
of inks with which the writing is done, and also to determine the
character of the paper on which a signature is written, which at times
becomes important. For all practical uses of the microscope in the
examination of signatures the range of object enlargement occurring
between a three-inch and an inch objective will be found to answer the
purpose, as the various powers of the lenses become important in
making the analysis.

While it is a fact that the microscope and a knowledge of its uses is
of the greatest importance in ascertaining the character of the
signatures, when the question of their being forged or genuine is the
object of the examination, it does not follow that because a person is
learned in the use of the microscope in other fields of research that
he is therefore qualified to become an e