Page 28 - An Inky Lead Questioned Documents
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Mock
Trial
USING THIS KIT IN THE MOCK TRIAL
An Inky Lead contains information regarding A number of non-forged receipts with
John Gretzky’s shady business dealings. The Louise Mondelo’s signature have additions
handwriting evidence collected in this lab is largely to the numeric part of the receipt in the
based on the subjective opinion of the forensic same ink used by John Gretzky and the
document examiner; relative relationships and forgeries.
chromatography analysis, however, should hold Total additions from alterations and
up to cross examination for even less experienced forgeries equal exactly $20,000.
document examiners (like your students). If
everything in the lab was performed correctly you
should have obtained the folowing information: If An Inky Lead is the only laboratory exercise
performed in the Mystery of Lyle and Louise, a
mock trial may be held to indict John Gretzky
Two receipts were found on John Gretzky’s on money laundering charges or fraudulent
desk with signatures that do not match bookkeeping. Creative students may even be
Louise Mondelo’s. able to link John Gretzky to the murders. If other
The above two receipts were filled out in exercises were performed, a mock trial can help
their entirety with the same ink as receipts students take all of the evidence presented in
filled out in their entirety that were signed the investigation and available from other kits
JW Gretzky. into account and provide a more interesting and
These receipts also had receipt numbers thorough trial. Information on running a mock trial
out of sync with dates. follows.
The forgeries of Louise Mondelo’s
signature share some characteristics with
John Gretzky’s handwriting. As a result BEFORE THE TRIAL
of these facts, a reasonable person may If a more thorough social studies activity is
conclude that John Gretzky forged two desired, students may be instructed to read
receipts. through the procedures for trial of criminal cases
and the simplified rules of evidence. Additionally,
28 THE MYSTERY OF LYLE AND LOUISE
