The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-05-03
VANDERSLIOE vs.. SNYDER.
A New Trial Refused BY Judge Rice. .-opin.
ion Of the Court.

In disposing Of this rule we shall
first consider the reasons alleging
errors in the admission and rejection
OF testimony.
FIRST.
As we understood the question
raised by the offer, 1t was whether 4
composite photograph OF several
genuine signatures might be put IN
evidence for purposes OF comparison
with the disputed signature. In his |
valuable work. A Manual Of the Study |
of Documents, Dr. Persifor Frazer
says: Composite photography is
method OF obtaining the essence OF 1 |
number of objects, and Cin so far as
those objects are typical of similar
phenomena) of recording the relations
of things to each other, and the effects
produced by certain force or certain
forces on matter P. I25. In an
earlier part OF the same work Up. I'D
the learned author SAYS: II 1t be
conceded that the result OF an effort
made by a living being to repeat an
action it has become Infatuated to
make it is within certain limits uni
form, then the way IS clear 10 study
these results and 10 obtain from their
average the ideal which each Of these
actions or series OF actions has tended,
probably without complete success, TO
produce. If We could divide such An
ideal into three component parts. A.
B. and c.. and ii We found that out
OF thirty efforts A has remained con
slant in twenty FIVE, B in twenty five,
and { in twenty i've; while 4. B and
e have oaly appeared together IN
fifteen cases out OF thirty, We are
JUSTIFIED in concluding that these
fifteen cases though they represent
but half the whole number OF results
constitute in reality the ideal which
the agent has always intended to pro
duce." The purpose then Of making
= composite photograph Of number
OF genuine signatures IS 10 show the
salient elements OF the various sigma
tures, AMI the resul, is claimed TO Be
the ideal signature. or near u. which
the writer triei TO make and had II
Ms mind, but AZ no one time ever sue
ceeded TO make perfectly. This /:
more fully explained in the testimony
OF DR.. Frazer, from which We quote
The Court: Then In examining =
10 the genulneneSs OF the signature yoJ
by this method obtain what YOU Con
sider l standard? I? A. An idea
The Court: An ideal with whic-
YOU compare the disputed signature
\. No, I, bu,-Q. II you were /
determine the question yourself? \
If were permitted 10 determine IN
question it would aid me greatly i
determining what were the characte
istic points and what were the acc
dental variations in what part OF ,h
signatures given 10 me for eXamln;
ton ;here were accidental variation
and in what paris there were con
paritiye agreements with signa,ul
in dispute. The only object Of sue
4 standard, as your Honor proper
calls it. is to enable somebody, wh
ever has the power of judging.
compare that ideal with the signatu
In dispute We have not stated
all fully the principles Of compost
photography. much less the details
their application in cases OF dispute
handwriting. yet We think We ha
fairly stated the purpose Uf the CO..
poslte As evidence. The ques,i
thus presented does not, in our op
ion, require discussion Of the AZ
ments for and against the rehabIi
and value in jury tri2l of such :
dence as j, nigh. If the law upon A,
subject OF the comparison Of ha-
writing were not so well settled
Pennsylvania, that % the comparis
is 10 be made by the jury between
disputed paper and other well auth
tlcated writings OF the same par
(al the test documents 10 6e compar
should be established by the n.
satisfactory evidence before be
admitted TO the jury Travis
Brown, 4S Pa, Q. Even letter pr
copy has been held not admissible
the purpose. Cohen vs.. Teller,
Pa, IsS. After careful reconsid,
non OF the question our opinion !
the admission OF the testimony wo
be departure from we'll settled II
remains unchanged.
SECOND.
Prior to the execution of the
lease Agnes Vanderslice would h
been incompetent 10 testify aga
the defendant as to any matter
curing prior to the death of n
Snyder, for the reason that as a
tributee OF the estate of Mary
Vandershce, her mother, she haC
interest adverse to the right repres