Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-10
Handwriting rs a Means Of Idcntfri.
cation.

cation.
gentleman well known in banking circles in
this city makes some interesting observations
and suggestions in the Exeter (NH Nesrs let
ter regarding penmanship as means of identf-
fcation. He says: "A good handwriting is get
ting to be one of the lost arts. The fathers and
grandfathers of the present generation, as
general thing. wrote ahandsOmer and more lepi-
Die hand than do the children and grandchildren.
There is one point in penmanship to which
nave just been giving some attention. 1t relates
man was hanged in New England by hand
writing experts. AS class, such experts ought
not to have influence enough to hang cat.
And now it is claimed that some Brussels muir
derers have been run down by telltale tricks of
their penmanship. The 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 cannot de-
eide whether the signatures are their own or
not. have actual cases in mind where this
puzzle has been tried. One notable instance l
must mention. The state of Massachusetts. not
many years since, had two of it's bonds pre-
sented for redemption which seemed precisely
allke. one was forged bond throughout
The officers whose names appeared upOn
these bonds could not tell (which was which,"
But this is nothing. l have man near me
who can write your signature and mine. or the
signature of any person that may be placed be-
fore him as a study, so cunningly that neither
you nor can tell which is which. It is lucky
that he is an honest man, or he might do dam
gerous work with your name on big check or
note. Bankers in the United States place little
reliance upon signatures as means Of identif-
cation In payment of checks, etc. The person
who presents check to Boston bank for nav
ment must be positively identified before the
money will be paid to him. It is in vain for him
to offer, as evidence that he is the right man,
any handwriting testimony And f. does NOT
make any difference whether the check is payable
to bearer or order. Identification in both cases
Is demanded. In England one finds q most
marked difference from this way of doing bust
ness. The paying teller Of a London bank tries
to assure himself that the face Of check is all
right, both IN point of signature Of drawer and
as regards the drawers balance, and then slaps
out the money to whoever presents the check.
IL matters not whether the check is payable to
order or to bearer. He demands no identified
ton In either case. He only looks upon the back
Of the order check to see If it has the name en-
dorsed; .o This :; cReckpsyng custom did not al
lish practice In these premises was the same as
ours IL now. At that time we copied our GUS
tom from them. They have since progressed out
Of it. We remain tied to their old STYLE We
shall get out Of thiSru one Of these days The
great bankers OF London long ago found they
could never get through their business If the
Identification responsibility was to remain upon
them. They pressed the matter upon the atten-
tion OF parliament. Parliament came to their
relief. It said, pay checks to whoever presents
them and your whole duty Is done. If /, to-day,
drop my check in London, made payable to or
der Of ". B. Morrill,, the first rascal that picks it
up in the streets and puts Mr.. Norrill's name on
the beck may collect that check-and get :m-
prisoned Tor lie for 90 doing. It L. Of course,
the imperative duty OF any person who has Lost
. check TO have ito payment stopped ct once"