Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-14
VERY HARD 70 SWEAR To.

A skillfill penman writes to the New
York Mail, concerning signature ex-
perts, the occasion being the late Taylor
CASE which turned in a great measure
on the genuineness of the testator's sigma
ture. More than twenty years ago, in
Cincinnati, / copied the fac SMILES Of the
signers' names Mr.. Thomas Stevens, at
that time editor of the Cincinnati Atlas,
took occasion in a pleasant way to doubt
my assertion that had copied the sigma
lures with a pen.
To convince him l asked him to sign
his name on a sheet of paper. which he
did. Immediately wrote him.tep copies
of his signature, above and below and
handed him the paper for him to Select
his own. He was wrong. He tried again
and again, with the same result, and
finally by mere guess work, he hit the
right one. And it was a remarkable fact
that after he had really discovered his
own, he could see the most astonishing
absurdities in all the others.
Some six weeks ago was speaking
with well-known publisher of this city,
who was at his desk signing some checks
that the book-keeper had prepared for
him. The signature was of the firm, and
was peculiar one, as he wrote it. l
casually remarked that was an excellent
one for forger. He promptly responded
that there was no forger could sign that
name so as to deceive him.
''Oh, yes there is" said
where is he p
He is standing at your elbow"
do you mean to say" said he, THAT
you can initiate that signature SO i cannot
detect the forgery ?"
II mean to say" ''that think can do
it, and am willing to try it."
''f you will write that signature" he
replied, $50 that cannot distinguish it
from my own, / will
There don't he rash; should dislike
to take advantage Of your present excite
ment. II you will write the signature at
the top Of the sheet we will see what .
little impudence can do.r
He did as requested. took the sheet
and went to the book-keeper's desk. Here
/ exchanged il for another of the same
kind, and in the same. relative position
initiated the signature in very free, care
less way, not attempting seryile copy,
but preserving the Characteristic strokes
/ then very carefully wrote underneath it
three faithful limitations, making four sig
natures. all my own. These took to the
proprietor anu lOlQ MIN 10 SelecL MS own
signature. With surprisingly little effort
he pointed out the first signature, and at
once began to criticise with severity my
base limitations.
"Well," said !, 81 will confess they are
not as well done as expected to do them
or as could do them if my nerves were
steady. But, really said / "don't you
think that if one of these signatures were
placed at the bottom of your ordinary
check your bank would honor the check p
We'll, no." said he, II don't think i
would
II suppose" said /, ''there is no doub
about the top signature-that would bring
the cash ?r
''Oh, yes, should like to see our bank
refuse that signature for any ordinary
sum-"
then went to the book-keeper's desk
and produced the original signature.
How about this Pr said |. $50
He looked at the signature-then at my
"base imtations"--then at the crowd of
interested spectators who. had quietly
gathered around, and who were beginning
to take in the richness of the Joke; and
finally he brought ont an expression which
was mixture Of establishment, chargrin
merriment, vexation and perplexity, and
holding out his hand with unconditional
surrender written all over his face, he ex.
claimed 'sold'