Opinion ID: 1744526
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: Bovard Proof

Text: We have not overlooked the opinion testimony of a handwriting expert that the signature of John Hoover on the Bovard trust was consistent with other, admittedly genuine, signatures of John Hoover. However, the expert conceded readily that it was extremely difficult to determine the authenticity of a signature from a photocopy, as we have here. Beyond that, this signature may actually have been that of John Hoover, obtained by subterfuge. The record contains graphic proof that Spencer Bovard was fully capable of such tactics, even where the interests of a trusting uncle were concerned. Why would he hesitate to use similar ruses against a trusting friend? Bovard admittedly signed Hoover's name to a car title application and does not deny forging Dorothy Bovard's name to a mineral deed, why not the Bovard trust? We have also examined the affidavits Bovard introduced of Guy Green and his notary public supporting, in some respects, Bovard's position. But Guy Green, according to Bovard, died around 1950 [5] and under the exceptional circumstances of this case we attach little credence to unverifiable affidavits, patently inadmissible for that matter, from persons long deceased, when the underlying instrument itself, the Bovard trust, is judged to be spurious.