The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24
Handwriting as Means Of Identified.

1
| A gentleman well known in banking
circles in New York makes some inter-
esting observations and suggestions in
the Exeter On. H. Ne,0S Letter regard
ing penmanship as means of identiica-
ton. He says: ga good handwriting
is getting to be one of the lost arts. The
fathers and grandfathers of the present
generation, as general thing, wrote a
handsomer and more legible hand than
do the children and grandchildren. There
is one point in penmanship to which
have just been giving some attention.
1t relates to the testimony of handwrit-
ing. Not long ago man was hanged
in New England by handwriting experts.
As a class, such experts ought not to
have influence enough to hang a cat.
And now it is claimed that some Brus-
sells murderers 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 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 L must mention
The State of Massachusetts, not many
years since, had 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,
Sc But this is nothing. | have a 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 a
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
London bank tries to assure himself that
the face of check is all right, both in
point of signature of drawer and as re-
CARDS the drawers balance, and then
slaps out the money to whoever presents
the check. IT matters not whether the
check is payable to order or to bearer.
He demands no identification in either
case. He only looks upon the back of
the order check to see if it has the name
endorsed. This check-paying custom
did not always prevail in England. At
one time the English practice in these
premises was the same as ours is now.
At that time we copied our custom from
them. They have since progressed out
OF it. We remain tied to their old
style. We shall get out of this rut one
OF these days. The great bankers of
London long ago found they could never
get through their business if the identi-
fication responsibility was to remain upon
them. They pressed the matter upon
the attention of Parliament. Parliament
came to their relief. 1t is said, paw
checks to whoever presents them, and
your whole duty is done. If L, to-day,
drop my check in London, made payable
to order of w. B. Morrill,, the first rascal
that picks it up in the streets, and puts
Mr.. Morrill's name on the back, may
collect that check-and get imprisoned
for life for so doing. 1t is, of course,
the imperative duty of any person who
has lost check to have its payment
stopped at once"