The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-04-27
Signature EXDertS,
INTERESTING FACTS FOR BUIAEsS MEN.

S. S. Packard, noted as skiilful pen
man, writes to the New York Mail con-
corning "signature EXPERTS" the occa-
sion being the late "Taylor will case,
which turned in a great measure on the
genuineness of the testator's signature.
More than twenty years ago in Cincin-
natl copied the Declaration of indie
pendence appending fac similes designers
names. Mr.. Thomas Stevens, at that
time editor of the Cincinnati Atlas, took
occasion in pleasant way t" doubt my
assertion that I had copied the signature
with pen. To convince him, l asked
him to sign his name on sheet of pa
per, which he did. Immediately wrote
ten copies Of his 81 gnature, above and
below the original, and handed him the
paper for him to select his own. After
q careful examination he selected one of
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 remarkable
fact that after he had really discovered
his own, he conld see the most aston
ishing absurdities in all the others.
Some six years ago l was speaking
with well known publisher of this city,
who sat at his desk signing some checks
that the book keeper had prepared for
him. The signature was Of the firm, and
was a peculiar one, as he wrote it.
casually remarked that was an excel
lent signature for u forger. He prompt
ly responded that there WAS no forger
could sign that name Sc Us to deceive
him.
"Oh, yes, there is" Said 1.
Where is he 2"
He is standing at your elbow"
ado you mean to say" said he, "that
you can initiate this 81 signature so can
not detect the forgcry?"
al mean to say" said !, "thaf think
l can do it, and am willing to try it."
"Ifyou will write that signature" he
replied, " SO that can not distinguish it
from my own, l will
"Therc, there, don't be rash; should
dislike TO take advantage of our present
excitement. If you will just write the
signature at the top of that letter sheet,
we'll see what little Impotence can do. {"
He did rs requested. l took the sheet
and went to the book-keeper's desk.
Here exchanged it for another of the
same relative position. l initiated the
signature in 4 very free, careless way,
not attempting scrvile copy, but pre-
serving the characteristic strokes. l then
very carefully wrote underneath it three
faithful limitations, making four sigma
lures, all my own. These l took to the
and told him to select his own
signature. With surprisingly little cf-
fort he pointed out the first signature,
and once began to criticise with scvcri-
ty, my base limitations.
DWELL" said /, al 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 Ordi-
nary check your bank would honor the
check"
"Well, no." said he, al don't think it
would"
al suppose" said !, /" there is no doubt
about the top signature-that would
bring the cash! ?"
"Oh, yes 1 should like to see our
,ank refuse that signature for an ordina-
y sum-"
then went to the bOok-kecper's desk |
md procured the original signature.
GLOW about this ?" said /.
He looked at the signature-thcn ut
ny "base imimitations then at the
.rowd of interested spectators who had
quietly gathered around and who were
to take in the richness Of the
oke, and finally he burst out in an cx-
PRESTON which was a mixture of aston
shment chagrin, mcrrimcnt, vexatiOn
md perplexity, and holding out his hand
With unconditional surrender written all
'ver his face he exclaimed, "Soid!"
That was the only word in the Amer
can language that could adequately ex-
,ress the situation.
But the sell was very easy one and
equrcd no skill at all. The fact is that
vhen the original signature was compar-
d with the fOrgeries the discrepancies
we're SO palpablc that " a wayfaring man,
bought he be a fool" need not be taken
n; and yet if my friend had not been a
|cacon, which he was-and is-and il l
lad been as most forgcrs, l could have
von very nice sum, had offered to
AXE it on the issue.
Finally, to convicc the deacon that he
vas not the only fool in the firm, called
p one of the other partners, for him to
ecide which was the genuine. With
reat show of real discernment he selec-
ed the top one, and began at once to
Oint out the weak points in the others,
imply by comparing what he considered
D be the genuine. "Ycs," said he, they
re pretty fair limitations, but don't you
&c the length of this 9 and the turn Of
ais ne Now, look at the original, and
&c where this capital J sweeps around.
here is an attempt at it in the imi,a- !
ons but it is u very weak one" |.
"Then you couldn't be imposed upon
y one of these lower signatures" said l.
"No, not l. They bear forgery upon
lcir face" :
dwell, how about the first one? No
listake about that? would READILY
ash a check with that signature?"
ooh yes, that is all right. Anybody ,
'ho ever saw the deacon's sign manual :
ould tell that at glance"
SO the deacon divided up his chagrin
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