Montshire Minute: Handwriting

Originally aired during the week of March 14, 2005

Monday

If you've ever tried to forge a signature (just for fun of course!) you quickly come to realize how hard it is to do. By adulthood you have developed very personal writing habits that make your handwriting as distinctive as your speech. Give it a try - it's hard to duplicate your friend's loopy "g" or the little curlicue at the end of her signature. And she'll have a hard time mimicking the same pressure you exert on the pen when you give your "John Hancock," or get just the right slant on your "P's" and "Q's." It's not an exact science, but expert handwriting analysis can help investigators crack cases. See what they look for in a new visiting exhibit at the Montshire called Crime Lab Investigators. You'll also learn about other sleuthing techniques like DNA testing and fingerprinting.

Tuesday

Criminals usually leave traces behind at the crime scene - a shoeprint. A tire mark on the gravel. A small thread of fabric from a piece of clothing. In cases like forgery, the clues might be in the handwriting. Often it is not the handwriting itself, but methods of expression and choice of words that can tell a good deal about the author and the truth about their written statements. Looking at letters written by alleged victims and suspects, skilled investigators can often tell if a person is writing an honest recollection of an event - the writing style will seem to flow naturally - or if the writer is putting an "editorial slant" on the truth. When the subconscious knows it is about to lie, the slant, spacing, or pressure of the pen on the page can change. Find out more about what makes handwriting distinctive at the Montshire's new Crime Lab Detectives exhibit.

Wednesday

Some states still allow handwriting analysts to testify as expert witnesses in criminal court cases. And the study of shapes, forms, and inconsistencies in handwriting can sometimes tell us tell us things about the writer. But graphology, the practice of trying to devine personality traits from handwriting, is more of a parlor trick than science. The more respectable practice of forensic handwriting analysis has helped solve many cases over the years, including the celebrated Lindbergh kidnapping. A good forensic handwriting expert can judge whether two or more samples were actually written by the same person. But there is little scientific basis to judge a person's character or predict their behavior by analyzing their handwriting.

Thursday

Remember when penmanship was an important part of elementary school? Teachers graded you on how well you drew those loopy letters. Come to think of it, I never could get the hang of that cursive "G." Some forensic investigators have become experts in inspecting people's handwriting. They aren't making corrections in red pencil like your 4th grade teacher. They are looking for clues to determine the identity of the writer. Even when a person tries to disguise his or her handwriting, some of their own unique characteristics can be discerned. Experts look for line quality - do the letters flow together or are they written in intense strokes? Are the letters consistent in height, width, and size? Does the writer lift his pen, make dramatically slanted characters, or press the pen real hard on the paper?

Friday

True handwriting analysis involves painstaking examination of the design, shape and structure of handwriting to determine who the author is. The basic premise is that, like snowflakes, no two people write exactly the same things in exactly the same way. See what role handwriting analysis plays at the Montshire Museum's visiting exhibition called Crime Lab Detectives. You become a forensic scientist as you try to determine the identity of a neighborhood burglar. Look for clues, scrutinize the evidence, and record findings in your Detective Notebook. Then, share your observations with friends or family members to determine together which suspect committed the crime. If you've already solved the mystery don't put away your magnifying glass just yet - we're rearranging the clues on March 26, so you'll have a whole new mystery to solve!