The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-08-11
Wrote with His Tees
One Signature That There
Could BE No Mistaking.
az M sSS 7lS as .sS ..s as 7tS az NSzS7 "a

HITH reference to the testimony of
Wv handwriting experts in the Moi-
neuS case thegroup of lawyerswho were
waiting for jury to come in fell to
talking of chirographical peculiarities,
and one of them maintained in an elab-
crate argument that not even man s
signature could be beyond doubt, since
no man could, with certainty, swear to
his own signature at a period of several
wears after it was written. To this
some of the others took exception,
averring that man could always tell
his own si.s-sa ture by sort of instinct,
though he might be unable to offer
reasonable explanation of how he knew
ii TO be his own and not forgery.
From this the discussion veered TO the
manner OF holding and using pen and
its effect upon the character OF the writ
ing as shown by experts. One of the
group. middle-aged lawyer who had
taken no active part in the discussion
until ii took this form, now produced
pocketbook, and, taking from it soiled
and time-worn bit of paper, unfolded
it and tossed it out on the table.
There is specimen of writing"
said he, that have shown to number
of experts without ever having found
one who could tell me correctly the pc
culiarity of its formation. Perhaps
some of you gentlemen who are inter
ested in that sort of thing would like
to have trial at it
Gathering around, the lawyers looked
at the bit of paper. 1t was inscribed:
'Yours very truly, 4. L. Mancher."
The writing was of an indescribably
fiashy, dashing style, the letters being
long and narrow, with many hourishes,
and the name ending in a pyrotechnic
display of penmanship. One after an
other the men examined ii, and all
agreed that the writing was OF singu-
lar type and one that would be we'll
nigh impossible to initiate with even
approximate accuracy.
MY opinion of that handwriting"
said lawyer who has had much to do
with photographic experts, would be
that it was written by man who
hadn't the full use of his fingers; per-
rheumatism. There isn't any finger
motion in those words"
you're quite right" returned the
owner of the paper. THE fact is, that
isn't handwriting at all"
What, Engraving?" cried the law
yer, catching it up and examining il
closely. Impossible. There's a
spreading of the ink there and one
catch of a pointed pen that shows it's
pen work"
Pen work it is" returned the other,
but not handwriting. There's little
story connected with that bit of paper
that dates back several years. and con-
tributes one of the most successful
identifcations I've ever known"
Remembering that you are on oath"
said an ex-judge in a professional ac-
cent, please to relate all that you
know about the writing. on the slip OF
paper l now hand you"
We'll, your honor" said the lawyer,
1t goes back several years to the time
when l was an express agent out in
Montana. In those days we handled a
good deal of money out there and all
sorts Of games were put up Oh US to get
il. for the country was full of slick
crooks. After the company had given
up a few consignments of cash to the
wrong persons, who seemed to have ex-
cellent identifcations, we shut down
pretty close, and unless a man had
strawberry marks al over him as per
diagram received we weren't giving up
any packages Of money that came on
from the east TO bring the prodigal son
home again. As we found out after
ward, there was leak in the Office that
enabled the crooks TO put up fake iden-
tifications on US. 1t was while we were
going our slowest that there came into
the place one day man who looked
like siclly gorilla just back from a
two-weeks' jamboree- He was stunted
and nut-headed and he had big. long
arms that swung loose from his shout
de-s and a shock of matted beard ali
over his face. With him was
tall thin party with bandage
over one eve and miscellaneous cuts all
over his face. Take 'em together. they
were as tough looking pair as Id
seen. even out there. and wondered II
they had some little game, or were only
on the touch.
The gorilla came strolling up to the
counter and asked If | was the express
agent. ] said | was and asked him what
l could do for him. He seemed cool
enough. but there was little quaver in
his throat as he said:
lis there package here for A L.
Mancher?'
Maybe there is said. What were
you expecting if you're Mancher"
which / didn't for minute believe.
Yes; I'm Mancher,' be said. eager
~. 4 was expecting money. 1t might