Wichita eagle., 1889-06-07
FORGERY AN INCREASING CRIME.

Methods Of Transferring Sisnatures Df-
rect1y and with Tracin: Paper.
When Bulwer Lytton wrote the pen down
as mightir than the sword the playwright
n,nst have had In mind, along with great
literary lights, free lances OF the Gull, so to
speak, gentleman whose cunning plurnes and
points were devoted to no legitimate line in
the profession, yet neverthalesscarvedg oodly
fortunes by crafty use of pen and ink. Mems
brains were subtitle and hands initiative then
es now, but till comparatively few years
since means were lacking TO bring the art of
forgery up to the exact science 1t Is rapidly
becoming with expert, skillful rogues. -
1t was with q view OF finding out the
favorite modes Of counterfeitinr signatures
and the possible protection property has
against this foe that an authority ON such
matters was interviewed
The gentleman said he believed there was
no crime increasing more rapidly than that
Of forgery, the frequency Of its occurrence
appalling those whose business it is TO be re-
sponsible for the handling Of money. He
then explained few Of the difficulties urlder
which bank tellers labor Every one has 8
signature book, and by the likeness 10 the
writing OF each depoSitor he must pay drafts
drawn on their account In the hurry and
press OF busy day it becomes impossible 10
scrutinize every check with exhaustive care.
He looks to see that the general choracter o,
the writing talhes with bis sample. but has
not the time TO apply tests of any hind. half
OF bis security rests In recognizing the party
authorized ~ 6rayy ar~a;y,S-< 81
as Is web known, these confidential agents
are often the ones who forge their employers
names
Few tellers are experts IN full under
standing Of the term. Experience sharpens
their senses generally, and they are therefore
quick to note any glazing incongruity, but
nine times in ten the keenest can be deceived
by neat bit Of transfer work.
There are several distinct methods Of coun-
terfeiting signatures The old fashioned way
was to initiate individual writing so closely
that detection was supposed to be defied.
Practice and natural gift for imitation
could do good deal, but the process is reck-
oned too slow in these advanced DAYS, trans
fer direct u by tracing being far more expe-
ditious and sllrer in the long run. To trans
fer direct one must possess an original sigma
ture every time the deception is practicsd
Now that photography hos become so easy
an art, all the counterfeiter need do is to re-
produce by means of his pocket caIners an
indefinite number of exact copies Of the
original handwriting, and from these the
tidiest sort of transferring on TO checks can
be dona When ready for work 10 takes
tracing paper or slip OF the ordinary kind,
soft and thin IN quality, shaves a soft lead
pencil or rubs lampblack thereon, and his
homely materials are prepared for serious
effort
The prepared paper is carefully tackled be-
yond the outer edges Of the DRAFT, to steady
without mutilating it. On top Of this the
photographed chirography Is placed With
a light yet firm hand each line of the sigma
ture and writing necessary to filing in the
check is traced. When removed, behold
every upward and downward stroke, curve
and Individuality Of the writing is repro
dueed il light lines, pale and yet sufficiently
clear to guide the pen with a CORRECTNESS well
nigh infallible. It IS In this last touch with
the ink that a steady nerve Is required Hesi-
tation and faltering fingers invariably leave
broken lines, leading to instant detection,
and right here Is the degree of safety man
possesses who writes big, bold, unconpro-
missing hand, admitting OF no patchwork In
counterfeiting.
1t is the slow, psinstaking signature that
the forger seizes upon as easy prey, where he
can follow the letters at leisure
Where It is impossible to get moro than a
single original specimen Of the required writ
ing, tracing paper makes that single sample
useful more than once
TO look, at the matter impartially, one
would say the forgor had q number of points
in his favor The suit between The London
Times and Parnen proved pretty conclusive
ly that the best trained eye can be totally do
ceived By an educated hand. II does very
well to argne that hand writings are as dis
similar and individual as the human counte-
nance. At the same time chirogrGphy is
subject to duplication utterly out Of the
question with face or figure. OF course, If
one had a page or dozen sentences by which
to judge the authenticity Of e deed, then de-
lection is a comparatively easy matter, for 1t
requires one really expert TO keep up the flc-
ton to such length. But for single sen
tence it is different, and few men are found
who can write twice exactly alike.
From time 10 time suggestions are heard
for the better protection of money, hut 50 far
rot one hes proved feasible. Most men would
prefer to suffer I'D occasional loss than endure
the inconvenience Of handling money them
selves, or making its collection personal
duty. Until the good genius comes along
able to contrive mode By which circulation
Of currency can be made compatible with
more accurate methods, the matter VIII have
10 stand as now.
One danger has been cut off of late, that Of
raising drafts A little machine IL in vogue
Dy which all the space on either side Of the
amount as originally written Is thoroughly
perforated, forhddding the anneI1nE Of addi-
-ional figures. Many business houses tako
his precautionary measure and much fraud
$ thereby avoided-Eew Orleans Times
Democrat
h. II 49,