The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-22
Handwriting as Means Of Identifica-
tiOu.

A gentleman well known in banking
circles in New York makes some inter-
esting observations and suggestions in
the Exeter IN. H. Ne,os Letter regard
ing penmanship as means of identifica-
ton. He says: "A good handwriting
is getting to be one of the lost arts. The
fathers and grandfathers of the present
as a general thing, wrote
handsomer and more legible hand than
do the children and grandchildren. There
is one point in penmanship to which l
have just been giving some attention.
1t relates to the testimony OF handwrit-
ing. Not long ago q man was hanged
in New England by handwriting experts.
As class, such experts ought not to
have influence enough to hang a cat.
And now it is claimed that some Brrs-
sells murderers have been run down by
telltale tricks of their penmanship. Tho
readers of this little note may be assured
that the writer of it knows individuals
who can write other peoples names SO
cunningly that these other people can
not decide whether the signatures are
their own or not. have actual cases in
mind where this puzzle has been tried.
One notable instance [ must mention.
The State of Massachusetts, not many
years since, bad two of its bonds pre-
sented for redemption which seemed
precisely alike. One was a forged
bond throughout. The officers whose
names appeared upon these bonds
could not tell which was which
But this is nothing. 1 have man
near me who can write your signature
and mine, or the signature of any person
that may be placed before him as study,
so cunningly that neither you norI can
tell which is which. 1t is lucky that he
is an honest man, or he might do danger
Gus work with your name on big check
or note. Bankers in the United States
place little reliance upon signatures as a
means of identification in payment of
checks, etc. The person who presents q
check to Boston bank for payment must
be positively identified before the money
will be paid to him. 1t is in vain for
him to offer, as evidence that he is the
right man, any handwriting testimony.
And it does not make any difference
whether the check is payable to bearer
or order. Identification in both cases is
demanded. In England one finds most
marked difference from this way of do.
ing business. The paying teller of a
London bank tries to assure himself thai
the face of a check is all right, both in
point of signature of drawer and as re
CARDS the drawers balance, and ther
slaps out the money to whoever presents
the check. 1t matters not whether the
check is payable to order or to bearer
He demands no identification in eithel
case. He only looks upon the back o
the order check to see if it has the nam,
endorsed. This check-paying custom
did not always prevail in England. A
one time the English practice in thes'
premises was the same as ours is now
At that time we copied our custom from
them. They have since progressed ou
of it. We remain tied to their oil
style. We shall get out of this rut on
of these days. The great bankers o
London long ago found they could neve
get through their business if the identi
fcation responsibility was to remain upo
them. They pressed the matter upo
the attention of Parliament. Parliamen
came to their relief. 1t is said, pa
checks to whoever presents them, an
your whole duty is done.- If l, to-day
drop my check in London, made payabl
to order of w. B. Morrill,. the first rascs
that picks it up in the streets, and put
Mr.. Morrill's name on the back, ma
collect that check-and get imprisone
for life for so doing. 1t is, of course
the imperative duty of any person wh
} has lost check to have its paymer
stopped at once"