Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-08-02
AN INCREASING oalME-
CeantcrfcitIng signatures by TransfoI
Ing Them with Traeing Paper.

Co0nterfeltlng Signatures by TrannfoSs
Ing Thsm with Tracing Paper.
When Bulwer Lytton wrote the pen
down rs mightier than the sword tho
playwright must have had In mind.
along with great literary lights FREQ
lances OF the quill. SO to speak, gentle
mon whose cunning plumes and points
were devoted to no legitimate line In
the profession. yet nevertheless carved
goodly fortunes by crafty use OF pen
and ink. Mems brains were subtle and
hands initiative then as now. but still
comparatively few years since means
were lacking to bring the art OF for
gerry up 10 the exact science II Is rapid
ly becoming. with expert, skillful rogues.
II was with view OF finding out the
favorlte modes OF counterfelting sigma
lures and the possible protection prop
erty has against this foe that'an au-
thority on such matters was interviewed
yesterday.
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 IL is to be responsible for the
handling OF meney. He then explained
few OF the difficulties under which
bank tellers labor. Every one has q
signature book. and by the likeness to
the writing OF each deposltor he must
pay drafts drawn on their account. In
tho hurry and press Of busy day
It becomes impossible to scrutinize ev-
cry check with exhaustive care. He
looks TO SEQ that the general character
OF the writing tallies with his sample.
but has not the time to apply tests OF
any kind. Half OF his security rests In
recognizing the party authorized to
draw against the deposit, but, as is
well known, these confidential agents
are often tho ones who forge their en-
ployers' names.
Few tellers are experts In full un.
derstanding Of the term. Experience
sharpens their senses generally, and
they are therefore quick to note any
glaring incougruity, but nine times in
ten tho keenest can be deceived by a
neat bit OF transfer work.
There are several distinct methods Of
counterfeiting signatures. The old.
fashioned way was TO initiate Individual
writing SO closely that detection was
supposed to be defed. Practice and a
natural gift for imitation could do
good deal. but the process is reckoned
too slow In these advanced days. trans
for direct or by tracing being far moro
expeditions and surer in the long run.
To transfer direct one must possess an
original signature every time the de-
ceptlon is practiced. Now that pho.
Biography has become so easy an art
nil the counterieiter need TO do Is TO re-
produce by means OF his pocket camera
an indefinite number OF exact copies oi
the original handwriting. and from
these tho tidiest sort OF transferring on TO
checks can be dono. When ready for
work he takes tracing paper. or u slip
OF the ordinary kind. soft and thin In
quality, shaves soft lead pencil or
rubs lampblack thereon. and his home
ly materials are prepared for serious
effort.
The prepared paper Is carefully tackled
beyond the outer edges OF the draft, to
study without mutilating 1t. On top oi
this the photographed chirography is
placed. With light yet firm hand
each line OF the signature and writing
necessary to filling In the check is
traced. When removed, behold every
upward and downward stroke. curve
and Individuality Of the writing
Is reproduced in light lines, pale
aud yet sufficiently clear to guide
the pen with a correctness we'll
nigh infallible. II Is in this
last touch with the ink that steady
nerve is required. Hesitation and fall
tering fingers invariably leave broken
lines, leading to instant detection. and
right here Is the degree OF safety n man
possesses who writes big, bold, un.
compromising hand, admitting OF no
patchwork In counterfeiting.
1t is the slow. painstaking signature
that the forger selzes upon as an easy
prey. where he can follow the letters at
leisure.
Where It Is impossible TO get moro
than a single original @ecimen OF the
required writing, tracing paper makes
that single sample useful more than
once.
One danger has been cut of OF late.
that OF raising drafts. A little machine
Is In vogue by which all the space on
either side OF the amount as originally
written is thoroughly perforated. for
bidding the annexing OF additional fig
ures. Many business houses take this
precautionary measure. and much fraud
Is thereby avoided. IN. o. Times-Dem-
Ocrat