What is a visible record in the written strokes of the basic movement and manner of holding instrument?

HANDLING OF DOCUMENTS AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
(Osborne, 1910) '
from the moment that the genuineness of a document is questioned it should be handled and cared for in such manner as not to impair in the slightest degree its value as evidence. "

This precaution may seem unnecessary, but it frequentiy happens that through carelessness or ignorance, the evidential value of a document of great importance is seriously impaired and important interests are thus imperiled. As early as practicable the exact physical condition of every part of a suspected document should be carefully observed in detail and made a matter of definite written record and thereafter the document should be reserved as far as -possible in exactly the condition it is in when first suspected. It is usually of especial interest to one of the parties to insist that the document be properly protected and cared for.

Numerous negative directions are necessary such as: .
. A document should not be cut, torn nor mutilated in any manner in the slightest degree;
. It should not be touched with an eraser of an kind nor with pen, pencil or sharp instrument of any character.
. It should not be folded in an new place; should not be folded and unfolded unnecessarily;
. It should not be wet nor dampened and except by special permission, no chemicals should be placed upon papers of the opposing party in such a way as to injure or deface them and such tests should be made only by those properly qualified.
.To avoid even the possibility of pencil marks being made upon such a document those examining it should not be allowed to point closely at letters or any parts of it with a pencil.
. Sharp pointed dividers or measuring instruments should not be put upon a questioned writing except with the greatest care and only by those skilled in the use of such instruments and a tracing should not be made of it except under proper supervision and with a very soft pencil and the very lighted pressure. ,

. A folded document of any kind that is being investigated, such as a note, check, draft, legal paper or letter, should be unfolded and kept flat in a suitable envelope or raceptacle made of heavy paper. This should be done in order to avoid the necessity of folding and unfolding the document every time it is examined, which procedure will inevitably break the paper at the folds and also change the condition of the folds as shown when the genuineness of the paper is first questioned.

Small disputed documents such as checks, notes and similar papers, should be kept unfolded in suitable envelopes as stated and it is an excellent plan to place them between the two leaves of a folded sheet of stiff blank paper, cut a trifle larger when folded than that documents, so that they can be held in this folded sheet and not directly in the hand or between the thumb and finger as such papers are usually held. Such papers it held and handled in the ordinary way will inevitably become soiled, defaced and covered with finger marks, If the document is of a fragile character, and especially if it is to be handled by attorneys, witnesses, court and jury in a protracted trial, it is highly important that in every case it be placed between two pieces of,clear glass, cut slightly larger than the document and fastened together with binding tape at one end and a rubber band placed around the opposite end. This method permits examination of both sides of the paper and if thus protected a document will not be injured by any amount of handling. The paper can easily be removed when necessary by simply removing the band at one end of the glass covers. In order to reduce the weight and bulk of the exhibits where there are numerous disputed documents it may be better to use transparent celluloid with card backing instead of the glass, and if there is no writing on the back of the sheet one glass cover attached to a stiff card of the same size as the glass will be sufficient.

A questioned document should not be exposed to moisture of any kind; should not be exposed long to strong sunlight or left out in the air uncovered, and should not be carried in the pocket where it may 'be affected by bodily moisture or become worn, wrinkled or soiled.

In examining a questioned document with a microscope having no stage, but a special foot that allows the instrument to be placed anywhere on the paper, Special care should be taken not to soil wrinkle or fold the document.

To avoid the necessity of placing the microscope directly upon the document itself it is an excellent plan to place over the document during the examination a good strong sheet of paper from the middle of which a suitable aperture has been cut. The type of microscope just mentioned not only makes it possible to examine the middle or any portion of a large sheet of paper or page of a book, which is not possible with the ordinary instrument, but also thus avoids the danger of injuring a document by folding it in such a way as to get it on the ordinary microscope stage. If, as is often the case, the exact condition. character, tint and shade of the ink have any bearing on the question of genuineness, it is particularly important to guard the document carefully from excessive light, heat and moisture, as such exposure may seriously affect ink conditions.

. Many fireproof safes, especially when new, are somewhat damp and a questioned document involving the question of the age of ink should not be kept in such a receptacle.

. It has been proposed in connection with certain inquiries regarding the sequence of crossed ink lines that an ordinary letter-press copy be made of the part in dispute. This should never be allowed. Such a test will not ordinarily furnish any information of value and, what is more serious; will probably make it impossible thereafter to ascertain the fact by any method whatever.

.Certain foreign technical books describe numerous impracticable methods of examination in disputed document cases that would inevitably deface if not actually destroy a document. These experiments should, of course, not be allowed.

.If a disputed document becomes torn or mutilated in any way, or if it is in this condition to begin with, it should not be pasted on an opaque card. It is well in such a case to fasten the pieces together at the margins with a few small strips of transparent adhesive tissue and then put the repaired document between sheets of glass as already described.

.In important inquiries it is usually advisable as early as possible to cut a disputed document in the custody of the court or some public officer where, under proper restrictions, all parties may have access to it."

.Finally, the court stenographer should especially be cautioned when marking a questioned document as an exhibit, not to write, paste a label, or put a rubber stamp impression on it at any place where there is writing on either side of the paper.

What is the manner in which the pen moves in order to form a letter?

Is the strokes which goes over another writing strokes that is slightly to occur in other writing?

What is the interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing instrument from the paper?

What is public document in criminology?